Written questions by Brown-Fuller.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending (a) free and (b) discounted bus travel to people under the age of 22; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that young people in rural areas are not excluded from (i) education, (ii) employment and (c) family and community life due to the (A) rising cost of bus fares and (B) reduction of local services.

The government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in enabling people to get to education, work and access vital services. On 1 January, we introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London to help passengers continue to access cheaper bus services and better opportunities. At the Spending Review we announced the cap would be extended until March 2027.The majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London. The government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of our ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services. In addition, we have confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which West Sussex Council was allocated £9.6 million.  Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent, protect crucial bus routes and introducing new fares initiatives, including for young people, to reduce the cost of bus travel further. The government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review. On 11 June, the government confirmed additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.

What steps he is taking to expand access to weight loss medications through the NHS.

Until recently, the newest obesity medicines liraglutide, under various brand names, semaglutide, under the brand name Wegovy, and tirzepatide, under the brand name Mounjaro, have only been available via the National Health Service through specialist weight management services which are mainly hospital-based. From 23 June, tirzepatide has started to become available in primary care, meaning it can be prescribed by general practitioners, or other competent prescribers. NHS England’s phased rollout within primary care will prioritise those with the greatest clinical need. Approximately 220,000 people are expected to benefit in the first three years of implementation. As part of the rollout plans, the NHS will look at different service models, including digital and community options. New approaches might enable access to be expanded more quickly. Progress will be reviewed in three years, and the roll out will be sped up if possible. In addition, the 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to build on these plans by testing innovative models of delivering weight loss services and treatments to patients. On 12 August we announced an £85 million competition to fund the design and delivery of new community and primary care weight management pathways to support access to interventions such as weight loss medications. We expect tens of thousands of patients to directly benefit from increased access to interventions, such as GLP-1s. This will generate new evidence to inform the future commissioning and rollout of tirzepatide.

If she will (a) limit and (b) regulate the (i) number and (ii) frequency of (A) pleasure and (B) display flights by small aircraft above National Landscapes that are home to protected wildlife.

The Air Navigation Guidance 2017 states that National Parks and Areas of Natural Beauty are designated areas with specific statutory purposes to ensure their continued protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. Given the finite amount of airspace available, it will not always be possible to avoid overflying these areas, and there are no legislative requirements to do so. When airspace changes are being considered, the guidance states that local circumstances, including community views on specific areas that should be avoided, should be taken into account where possible. This applies to controlled airspace, although most pleasure flights by small aircraft use uncontrolled airspace, which does not contain restrictions for flying over National Parks and Areas of Natural Beauty. However, all airspace users must follow the Rules of the Air 2007.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the differing compensation payments for infected blood scandal victims based on whether they contracted HIV or Hepatitis C.

The impact of a Hepatitis infection can range from very mild to very severe, including liver failure and death as a direct result of the infection. In its second interim report, the Infected Blood Inquiry recommended that the compensation scheme should reflect the different impacts of infection by developing severity bandings. The Expert Group provided the Government with clinical advice on the distinctions between these impacts. This meant the Government could set severity bands for Hepatitis infections based on clear clinical markers. As set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025, where someone’s experience of Hepatitis, whether it is historic or in the present day, has been more severe, they will receive more compensation. In its Additional Report, published 9 July, the Inquiry stated that “that tiers are relevant to Hepatitis in a way in which they are not in cases of HIV.”

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the differing compensation payments for deceased infected blood scandal victims based on whether they contracted HIV or Hepatitis C.

The impact of a Hepatitis infection can range from very mild to very severe, including liver failure and death as a direct result of the infection. In its second interim report, the Infected Blood Inquiry recommended that the compensation scheme should reflect the different impacts of infection by developing severity bandings. The Expert Group provided the Government with clinical advice on the distinctions between these impacts. This meant the Government could set severity bands for Hepatitis infections based on clear clinical markers. As set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025, where someone’s experience of Hepatitis, whether it is historic or in the present day, has been more severe, they will receive more compensation. In its Additional Report, published 9 July, the Inquiry stated that “that tiers are relevant to Hepatitis in a way in which they are not in cases of HIV.”

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of safety regulations for the use of (a) limonene and (b) linalool in consumer products.

Limonene and linalool are used in various consumer products including cosmetics and household cleaners. The use of these chemicals in cosmetics is regulated by the UK Cosmetic Regulation and both chemicals are currently included in the list of restricted ingredients for use in cosmetics.Both chemicals are also found in household cleaners, which are regulated by the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). These regulations require that only safe products can be sold.The government is confident that the current restrictions are sufficient to ensure that products are safe. However, we keep our regulations under review to ensure that products remain safe.

What steps his Department is taking to help improve (a) rates of early diagnosis, (b) access to treatment and (c) specialist care for people with rare diseases.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community. These include helping patients get a final diagnosis faster, increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals, better coordination of care and improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We published the annual England Rare Diseases Action Plan in February, where we report on the steps we have taken to advance these priorities in the preceding year. The Government will be working with the devolved nations this year to review what comes next following the expiry of the UK Rare Diseases Framework in 2026.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of HMRC developing Making Tax Digital software without using third-party providers.

HMRC has always maintained that it would not offer its own software products for Making Tax Digital. This helps to ensure a competitive market which will better support taxpayers with a flexible and tailored range of software that integrates with other business management tools. This includes free and low-cost options, which would be undermined by an HMRC produced solution. Third party developers are also well placed to build the necessary help and support within their products that is particularly important for unrepresented customers or those who do not already use digital tools to manage their affairs.

If she will (a) limit and (b) regulate the (i) number and (I) frequency of (A) pleasure and (B) display flights by small aircraft above residential areas.

Currently there are no plans to formally limit the number of small aircraft over residential areas. However, all airspace users must follow The Rules of the Air Regulations 2007 which set out minimum heights for flight above built-up areas.

What steps he is taking to (a) help ensure that patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome have access to ongoing specialist care following diagnosis and (b) allocate funding for research into (i) Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and (ii) other persistent pain conditions.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases through the UK Rare Diseases Framework.Much of the routine care that people with chronic pain, such as some people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), receive will be provided by local primary, community and a secondary care service commissioned via local integrated care boards (ICBs). The commissioning of these services is a local matter. In some cases, patients may receive care at Specialist Pain Centres. Details on commissioning of those services are available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/adult-highly-specialist-pain-management-services/.The fourth priority of the Framework is improved access to specialist care, treatment and drugs. In February 2025, the England Rare Diseases Action Plan 2025 was published, including progress made under this priority:- Meeting to discuss the effectiveness of early access pathways for rare disease therapies;- Launching a review of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence highly specialised technology programme for evaluating rare disease treatments; and- Introducing two new actions on reforming clinical trial regulations; and developing an operational framework for individualised therapies in the National Health Service.Pioneering research is an underpinning theme of the Framework. The Department for Health and Social Care funds and supports research into rare diseases such as CRPS through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including rare diseases. The usual practice of the NIHR and other research funders is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics.The 2025 England Rare Disease Action Plan includes information on research for rare diseases through significant investments to support rare disease research. This includes the Rare Disease Research UK Platform (RDR UK), a £14 million investment over 5 years from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and NIHR, announced in 2023, which is now established and positioned well within the rare disease research landscape. In December 2024, the MRC launched the first 2 MRC Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE), both studying gene therapies, and each worth up to £50 million over 14 years.

What the provision is for manual lymphatic drainage on the NHS for patients following breast cancer treatment; and whether such treatment is routinely available.

Manual lymphatic drainage following breast cancer treatment-related lymphoedema is available through the National Health Service via referral from the healthcare team to a lymphoedema specialist or physiotherapist. Decisions regarding patient treatments are typically made by clinicians, considering all aspects of a patient's health and circumstances when recommending treatment options.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting infected blood scandal compensation payments from Inheritance Tax when such payments are transferred to the next of kin of deceased victims.

Infected Blood compensation payments are relieved from inheritance tax under Schedule 15 of the Finance Act 2020. This is applied to the estate of the recipient of the compensation payment. Where these payments are subsequently inherited, they become part of the beneficiary’s estate and are subject to standard inheritance tax rules, in line with normal practice for compensation schemes. This ensures victims receive full compensation without tax burdens whilst maintaining fairness in the tax system and protecting the public finances.

Whether targets to improve early diagnosis of myeloma will form part of the national cancer plan.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancers such as myeloma, as well as other unstageable cancers, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, in order to improve outcomes.To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancer earlier and treating it faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce delays in processing times for deputyship applications by the Court of Protection.

HMCTS is working to increase overall system capacity to decrease processing times across all types of applications. Measures taken include a targeted action plan to allocate additional administrative resources in response to higher demand, as well as training and upskilling new staff. Additional judicial sitting days have been added to support performance improvement. HMCTS has also adopted new digital systems, including an updated case management system, to help reduce overall end-to-end processing times.

What steps he is taking to support (a) people injured by vaccination and (b) families affected by vaccine-related deaths.

In the very rare event where someone may have suffered a severe adverse reaction to a vaccine, care and treatment will be best met and managed by local National Health Service specialist services, augmented as appropriate by national specialist advice. Individuals will be treated and managed through existing healthcare services, with treatment dependent on the individual’s clinical needs.Individuals can also apply to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) which provides a one-off, tax-free payment of £120,000 to claimants who have been found, on the balance of probabilities, to have been severely disabled as a result of vaccinations against certain diseases listed in the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979.Outside of the VDPS, other government support remains available for those with a disability or long-term health condition, including Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and Personal Independence Payments. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/disability

Whether he plans to review the (a) scope, (b) eligibility, (c) criteria and (d) compensation level of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.

I would like to reiterate my profound sympathies to all those individuals who have experienced harm following vaccination, and to their families.Ministers continue to consider options for reforming the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS).In parallel, the Department continues to work with the NHS Business Services Authority, the administrators of the VDPS, to take further steps to improve the scheme, including through processing claims at a faster rate.

Whether her Department plans to review Business Rates.

The Government is committed to creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.At Autumn Budget 2024, we took the first step with the announcement of permanently lower tax rates for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties that make up the backbone of our high streets, from 2026-27. The Budget announcements reflected the Government’s first steps to support the high street. We wanted to go further to modernise the system, and so, we published a Discussion Paper, setting out priority areas for reform and inviting industry to co-design a fairer system. The Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.

What comparative assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of ultrasound in primary care in (a) the UK, (b) Germany and (c) the Nordic nations; and what steps his Department is taking to expand access to diagnostic ultrasound in UK primary care (i) for gynaecological conditions and (ii) in general.

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the NHS to increase diagnostic capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services.Our 10-Year Health Plan commits to shifting care from hospital to community, including diagnostic tests, and to ensuring care is more integrated across primary and secondary care.Diagnostic tests, such as ultrasounds, should be more easily accessible and located in the community and directly referred from primary care where possible, which is more convenient for patients than going to hospital. We have committed to build upon the current 169 Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) that are open across the country by expanding a number of these and by building up to five new CDCs, as well as expanding the number of CDCs that are open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.We are also working to improve access for GP services to diagnostic tests, for example in CDCs. The GP Direct Access Programme has published guidance on the use of urgent direct access referrals to specific diagnostic tests. This includes, for example, ultrasounds for abdomen and pelvis for suspected different intra-abdominal cancers including those of the pancreas, colon, urological tract or lymphoma. Guidance is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/urgent-gp-direct-access-to-diagnostic-services-for-people-with-symptoms-not-meeting-the-threshold-for-an-urgent-suspected-cancer-referral/.The Department of Health and Social Care has not currently made a comparative assessment of the adequacy of the availability of ultrasound in primary care in, the UK, Germany and the Nordic nations. NHS England monitors the age and distribution of imaging assets including ultrasound scanners (for non-obstetric use) across the country via its annual National Imaging Data Collection, which is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/national-imaging-data-collection/.In March 2024, there were 3,468 ultrasound scanners assets in England, an increase of 467 compared to 3,001 in March 2023.

What steps her Department is taking to improve standards of road safety among delivery (a) riders and (b) drivers; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the right of provisional licence holders to work in this industry.

Everyone who rides or drives, including delivery couriers, has a duty to behave in a safe and responsible manner, and to follow the rules set out in The Highway Code. I have no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of withdrawing the right of provisional licence holders to ride while working. The Department worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to update the joint DfT/HSE guidance on work related road safety. The revised guidance, published in September 2021 and called Driving and riding safely for work, clearly sets out what commercial organisations and their employees must do to manage work related road safety and what their obligations are under law. Improving road safety is one of my highest priorities. Dangerous or unsafe behaviour by anyone on our roads is unacceptable. Too many people are killed and seriously injured in road traffic collisions, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. My department is developing the Government’s Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the Crown Prosecution Service to assess the need for Criminal Behaviour Orders for defendants sentenced at their first appearance at court following a remand in police custody.

Ancillary orders, including Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs), play an important work in delivering justice, especially for victims of crime.When submitting a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in cases where it is appropriate to seek a CBO, the police are required to provide information to justify the making of a CBO. As with other ancillary orders, prosecutors apply for CBOs where the law enables them to do so, considering all the facts and circumstances in a case.In the Government’s response to the Independent Sentencing Review, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to expand ancillary orders and to explore wider powers for judges to enable them to use these orders more effectively and punish offenders. The CPS is working with the Ministry of Justice to provide prosecutorial insight in support of this work.