Written questions by Shannon.

What steps she is taking to increase (a) funding and (b) staffing for public agencies responsible for investigating (i) fraud and (ii) economic crime.

We recognise the financial and emotional impacts that fraud, and wider economic crime, can have. The Home Office does not hold a specific figure on the annual cost of fraud to the economy, however, the estimated total cost of fraud to society was £6.8bn in 2019/20 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64539087faf4aa0012e132cb/Fraud_Strategy_2023.pdf).We remain fully committed to attracting and retaining the necessary talent in our workforce to crack down on economic crime, including fraud. In FY2025/26, the Home Office is allocating over £160m to public agencies, including law enforcement, to tackle economic crime. Allocations for the next Spending Review period (FY2026/27 onwards) will be confirmed in due course.The newly established National Fraud Squad (NFS) includes 400 new specialist posts led by the National Economic Crime Centre and City of London Police (CoLP). The NFS is transforming the law enforcement response to fraud, by taking a proactive, intelligence-led approach to identifying and disrupting the most serious fraudsters, domestically and overseas, to prevent frauds from reaching victims.We are also working with CoLP (in their role as National Lead Force for fraud) to support forces in overseeing wider policing’s activity on fraud, promoting best practice, sharing intelligence, providing training, and holding forces to account on delivery. CoLP continues to push for the prioritisation of fraud within police forces, and influence leadership within local forces to increase dedicated resource towards the fraud threat.

What steps she is taking to improve the effectiveness of fraud (a) prevention and (b) detection by public sector bodies.

We recognise the financial and emotional impacts that fraud, and wider economic crime, can have. The Home Office does not hold a specific figure on the annual cost of fraud to the economy, however, the estimated total cost of fraud to society was £6.8bn in 2019/20 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64539087faf4aa0012e132cb/Fraud_Strategy_2023.pdf).We remain fully committed to attracting and retaining the necessary talent in our workforce to crack down on economic crime, including fraud. In FY2025/26, the Home Office is allocating over £160m to public agencies, including law enforcement, to tackle economic crime. Allocations for the next Spending Review period (FY2026/27 onwards) will be confirmed in due course.The newly established National Fraud Squad (NFS) includes 400 new specialist posts led by the National Economic Crime Centre and City of London Police (CoLP). The NFS is transforming the law enforcement response to fraud, by taking a proactive, intelligence-led approach to identifying and disrupting the most serious fraudsters, domestically and overseas, to prevent frauds from reaching victims.We are also working with CoLP (in their role as National Lead Force for fraud) to support forces in overseeing wider policing’s activity on fraud, promoting best practice, sharing intelligence, providing training, and holding forces to account on delivery. CoLP continues to push for the prioritisation of fraud within police forces, and influence leadership within local forces to increase dedicated resource towards the fraud threat.

What steps she is taking to help reduce inequalities for young disabled people in the labour market.

As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we will launch a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work. The Government recognises that health conditions and disabilities can present significant barriers to work for many young people. A range of existing programmes already provide targeted support:“Support for Schools Advisers” work in schools to provide support to young people, including those at risk of not being in education, employment or training. This includes those with health conditions and disabilities. Advisers provide information on post-school education and training options, career pathways, as well as advice on the skills valued by employers – helping to prevent economic inactivity through early intervention.Youth Employability Coaches (YECs) offer intensive, tailored employment support to young people with complex barriers. This includes continued support for six weeks after securing employment or entering education or training. YECs can help young people access Supported Internships, Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes, apprenticeships or traineeships. They also work closely with Disability Employment Advisers and specialist partner organisations.A range of additional health-related support is available to help move young people with disabilities into sustained employment. This includes Connect to Work, employment support within NHS Talking Therapies, Access to Work grants, Supported Internships, the Individual Placement and Support programme for those with severe mental health conditions, Contracted Employment Provision and Intensive Personalised Employment support. However, we recognise that the current benefit system categorises too many young people as unable to work, often leaving them without meaningful engagement or support. For most disabled young people and young people with a health condition working at some point in the near future must be a credible ambition.That is why the Pathways to Work Green Paper sets out reform options for a joined-up work, health and skills approach and to reform the employment journey for young people, including those with disabilities. The consultation closed on 30 June, and we are now carefully reviewing all responses as we develop the new support offer and our expectations of engagement.

What steps she is taking to support young disabled people into further (a) training and (b) education.

Our plan to Get Britain Working includes a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work. Eight Youth Trailblazers across England are currently piloting this at a local level.The Government recognises that health conditions and disabilities can present significant barriers to work for many young people. A range of existing programmes already provide targeted support:Department for Work and Pensions’ Youth Employability Coaches (YECs) offer intensive, tailored employment support to young people on benefits with complex barriers. This includes continued support for six weeks after securing employment or entering education or training. YECs can help young people access Supported Internships, Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes, apprenticeships or traineeships. They also work closely with Disability Employment Advisers and specialist partner organisations.Department for Work and Pensions’ Schools Advisors provide free, fully funded careers support to secondary schools and colleges across England. Their core aim is to help young people—particularly those at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), including those with health conditions or disabilities—make informed decisions about their future. Working directly in schools, Advisers offer tailored guidance on post-education options, training pathways, and the skills employers value. Through early, targeted interventions, they play a key role in preventing economic inactivity and supporting successful transitions into further education, employment, or training.Young people eligible for Department for Education’s Supported Internship programme are those aged 16 to 24 who are in full or part-time education, have special educational needs and an EHCP plan (or the equivalent in Scotland and Wales). During the work placement element of the internship, Access to Work can provide funding to support the intern’s in-work support needs, helping to ensure a successful and inclusive experience.

What estimate she has made of the annual cost of fraud to the economy; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that cost on departmental funding decisions.

We recognise the financial and emotional impacts that fraud, and wider economic crime, can have. The Home Office does not hold a specific figure on the annual cost of fraud to the economy, however, the estimated total cost of fraud to society was £6.8bn in 2019/20 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64539087faf4aa0012e132cb/Fraud_Strategy_2023.pdf).We remain fully committed to attracting and retaining the necessary talent in our workforce to crack down on economic crime, including fraud. In FY2025/26, the Home Office is allocating over £160m to public agencies, including law enforcement, to tackle economic crime. Allocations for the next Spending Review period (FY2026/27 onwards) will be confirmed in due course.The newly established National Fraud Squad (NFS) includes 400 new specialist posts led by the National Economic Crime Centre and City of London Police (CoLP). The NFS is transforming the law enforcement response to fraud, by taking a proactive, intelligence-led approach to identifying and disrupting the most serious fraudsters, domestically and overseas, to prevent frauds from reaching victims.We are also working with CoLP (in their role as National Lead Force for fraud) to support forces in overseeing wider policing’s activity on fraud, promoting best practice, sharing intelligence, providing training, and holding forces to account on delivery. CoLP continues to push for the prioritisation of fraud within police forces, and influence leadership within local forces to increase dedicated resource towards the fraud threat.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Nigeria.

Humanitarian needs in Nigeria remain high, particularly in the northern states. The protracted humanitarian crisis in Nigeria's North East continues to displace people, disrupt livelihoods and hinder access to essential services. There are an estimated 7.8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance across the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. In Nigeria's North West escalating insecurity is worsening the humanitarian situation in the region. Malnutrition remains a significant humanitarian challenge in Nigeria, with four in ten Nigerian children stunted due to malnutrition. In response, the UK's Humanitarian and Resilience Programme (HARP), reaches approximately 1 million people with the most severe humanitarian needs. This includes providing critical assistance in the Lake Chad Basin, one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of benefit rules on the risk of supported housing residents who increase their working hours being in rent arrears.

It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment. The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those living in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department will consider the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.Like Universal Credit, Housing Benefit has an income taper. As Housing Benefit may be claimed by those both in work and out of work, there are no rules around the number of hours that someone may work; instead, there are income tapers which apply. The income taper in Housing Benefit ensures people in work are better off than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health. However, the treatment of earnings in Housing Benefit is less generous than that of Universal Credit. Therefore, although customers living in Supported Housing are better off working than doing no work at all, they can be financially better off limiting the hours they work to ensure they retain a small amount of Universal Credit entitlement.Changing the current rules would require a fiscal event and funding at a Budget. As funding is required to allow a change, any future decisions will take account of the current fiscal context.

What steps he is taking to (a) improve early diagnosis of glaucoma and (b) monitoring of deterioration of the condition in patients.

Regular sight tests play a crucial role in the early detection of glaucoma, which is often symptomless in the early stages. Free National Health Service sight tests are available for many, including individuals diagnosed with glaucoma or aged 40 years old and over with a close family history of glaucoma. Over 13 million free NHS sight tests were provided to eligible groups in 2024/25.Patients with suspected glaucoma will be referred for further investigation and any clinically necessary treatment. We also recognise the importance of glaucoma monitoring which can delay its progression. Integrated care boards can commission enhanced eye care services from high street optical practices, including glaucoma monitoring.NHS England has been testing how IT connectivity between primary and secondary eye care services and the development of a single point of access, could improve the referral and triage of patients, reduce unnecessary referrals and support more patients being managed in the community to help create capacity within hospital eye services.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of harm reduction policies on levels of drug-related crime.

The Government is determined to tackle drug harms and drug-driven crime. This includes investment in drug treatment and wider healthcare services, support for those recovering from drug dependence, enforcement to tackle drugs supply overseas, at the border and within the UK, and prevention and education in schools and through public health services. The legislative framework is also a key underpinning of reducing harm by ensuring the most harmful drugs are controlled and can only be accessed with a HO licence, as well as giving police the powers they need to act against the violent and exploitative criminal gangs behind the drug trade and others involved in drug-related crime.The government is committed to a long-term, system-wide approach to reducing drug harms, learning from what works and ensuring this supports delivery of the government’s missions.

What steps he is taking to help improve the protection of cargo ships in the Red Sea from Houthi missile and drone attacks.

The UK Government strongly condemns the illegal and abhorrent attacks by the Houthis on merchant vessels; we are clear the Houthis must end their aggression immediately. The Department for Transport, supported by the Royal Navy's UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organisation, continue to provide UK-flagged shipping with advice on the risk posed by the Houthis to merchant vessels.We continue to seek to work with regional partners on a long-term strategy to contain the Houthi threat and are committed to a future Yemen Peace Process.

What steps he is taking to (a) increase clinical and public awareness of small bacterial overgrowth symptoms and (b) ensure that patients with digestive problems receive the proper diagnosis and treatment.

In the diagnosis and treatment of digestive conditions like small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) we expect health professionals to take into account best practice guidance, including that published by the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) and professional organisations.In NICE’s Clinical Knowledge Summary on the assessment, investigation, and referral of chronic, which is more than four weeks' duration, diarrhoea in adults, health professionals are advised to consider SIBO when looking for features suggestive of an underlying cause such as systemic illness affecting gastrointestinal motility. The guidance is available at the following link:https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/diarrhoea-adults-assessment/management/chronic-diarrhoea-more-than-4-weeks/The British Society of Gastroenterology provides resources and guidelines on SIBO, particularly in the context of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While not all individuals with IBS have SIBO, there's a significant overlap, with studies suggesting that up to 80% of IBS patients may also have SIBO. Additionally, the British Dietic Association provides resources and guidelines on dietary management for IBS, which can be relevant for SIBO due to the overlap in symptoms and potential dietary triggers.The NHS.UK website offers extensive information for the public on gut health, covering topics from digestive health tips and healthy eating for a healthy gut to specific conditions that are associated with SIBO including IBS, coeliac disease, and diverticular disease. The site provides advice on diet and managing common digestive issues. The national charity Guts UK also offers information, support, and resources for people with digestive health conditions, including on SIBO.The Getting it Right First Time gastroenterology programme aims to improve the diagnosis and management of digestive problems by streamlining referrals, promoting early specialist triage, and implementing proactive care. The programme focuses on ensuring that patients are seen by the right specialists promptly, leading to earlier diagnosis and more appropriate management of digestive issues.Additionally, community diagnostic centres (CDCs) offer a variety of diagnostic tests and scans for digestive problems, providing faster, more convenient access to diagnostic services closer to patients’ homes. NHS England is continuing to roll out CDCs, with additional capacity being delivered in 2025/26.

What steps he is taking to increase job creation in the UK.

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade outlined a clear mission: to support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and economic growth across the UK. Key departmental initiatives that support job creation include championing free trade agreements, securing foreign investment, supporting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to export, reforming regulations for economic growth, developing the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, and investing in growth sectors like life sciences, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies. Since taking office, the Government has welcomed over £100 billion in investment announcements. And the latest ONS data shows that from June 2024 to March 2025 the number of jobs in the UK increased by around 384,000.

What steps his Department plans to take to build partnerships with (a) charities, (b) community organisations and (c) people with lived experience of cancer.

The Department is committed to engaging with charities, community organisations, and people with lived experience of cancer to make sure that the Government hears and learns from different voices to meet the challenges in cancer care in England.The forthcoming National Cancer Plan for England, due for publication in the second half of 2025, will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway. The Department’s goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next 10 years, and the Department has sought the views of charities, community organisations, and people with lived experience of cancer to understand how we can do more to achieve this ambition.The Department also has the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Programme, which is a mechanism through which the Department, NHS England, and UK Health Security Agency work together with VCSE organisations to: drive the transformation of health and care systems; promote equality; address health inequalities; and help people, families, and communities to achieve and maintain wellbeing.

When the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan will be published; and what support he plans to provide to the community pharmacy workforce to deliver this plan.

We will publish our 10 Year Workforce Plan by the end of this year. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will replace the Long Term Workforce Plan with a more sustainable model. Instead of asking ‘how many staff do we need to maintain our current care model over the next 10 years?’, it will ask ‘given our reform plan, what workforce do we need, what should they do, where should they be deployed and what skills should they have?’.To support community pharmacy employers in developing their staff and delivering quality National Health Services, NHS England provides a number of funded national training opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. This includes independent prescriber training, clinical examination skills, and training the next generation of education supervisors.

How the expanded Independent Prescribing and clinical services granted to community pharmacists in the 10-year health plan will be funded.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, community pharmacies will have a vital role in the Neighbourhood Health Service, working closely with other primary care providers at a neighbourhood level to deliver services.We expect services, including those that make use of pharmacist prescribing qualifications, to be commissioned both nationally, where that is most cost effective, and locally, to meet specific local needs and to support local populations. Commissioning arrangements and funding streams will vary depending on the service being commissioned and arrangements for local health provision.National commissioning of pharmacies includes vaccination and related services and the services commissioned through the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. As is custom and practice, we will consult Community Pharmacy England on the scope of those services and the funding available.

Whether he plans to increase funding within the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework to help pharmacists deliver on their expanded roles under the 10-Year Health Plan.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, community pharmacies will have a vital role in the Neighbourhood Health Service, working closely with other primary care providers at a neighbourhood level to deliver services.We expect services, including those that make use of pharmacist prescribing qualifications, to be commissioned both nationally, where that is most cost effective, and locally, to meet specific local needs and to support local populations. Commissioning arrangements and funding streams will vary depending on the service being commissioned and arrangements for local health provision.National commissioning of pharmacies includes vaccination and related services and the services commissioned through the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework. As is custom and practice, we will consult Community Pharmacy England on the scope of those services and the funding available.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring NHS England to establish an agreement in principle with pharmaceutical companies that commercial flexibility may be granted for a multi-indication medicine pending the outcome of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence evaluation of such medicines.

Indication-specific pricing can support access to treatments, including for rare conditions, by enabling companies to propose a specific price for smaller indications that would otherwise be commercially unviable under a uniform price.In January 2025, following public consultation, NHS England published an updated NHS Commercial Framework for New Medicines, setting out their approach for assessing the eligibility of medicines with multiple indications to qualify for indication-specific pricing.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been able to recommend many medicines licensed for the treatment of rare and very rare diseases through its standard technology appraisal process which are now available to National Health Service patients in England. In addition, NICE operates a separate Highly Specialised Technologies evaluation programme for medicines that meet specific criteria for very rare conditions. This programme applies a higher cost-effectiveness threshold than standard appraisals to support access to treatments for very rare conditions.As set out in the Life Sciences Sector plan, we will be introducing a new and proportionate approach to NICE appraisals and NHS indication-specific based pricing agreements for medicines with large numbers of indications, strong long-term outcome data, and low affordability risk.The NHS Commercial Framework encourages early and open dialogue between companies and NHS England where indication-specific pricing or other commercial flexibilities may be needed to support access to treatments. NHS England is open to providing early guidance on such arrangements and to working with companies to explore suitable commercial options.

With reference to the NHS commercial framework for new medicines, updated on 29 January 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the requirement to provide value at or below the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence cost-effectiveness threshold on access to treatments for (a) rare and (b) ultra-rare diseases.

Indication-specific pricing can support access to treatments, including for rare conditions, by enabling companies to propose a specific price for smaller indications that would otherwise be commercially unviable under a uniform price.In January 2025, following public consultation, NHS England published an updated NHS Commercial Framework for New Medicines, setting out their approach for assessing the eligibility of medicines with multiple indications to qualify for indication-specific pricing.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been able to recommend many medicines licensed for the treatment of rare and very rare diseases through its standard technology appraisal process which are now available to National Health Service patients in England. In addition, NICE operates a separate Highly Specialised Technologies evaluation programme for medicines that meet specific criteria for very rare conditions. This programme applies a higher cost-effectiveness threshold than standard appraisals to support access to treatments for very rare conditions.As set out in the Life Sciences Sector plan, we will be introducing a new and proportionate approach to NICE appraisals and NHS indication-specific based pricing agreements for medicines with large numbers of indications, strong long-term outcome data, and low affordability risk.The NHS Commercial Framework encourages early and open dialogue between companies and NHS England where indication-specific pricing or other commercial flexibilities may be needed to support access to treatments. NHS England is open to providing early guidance on such arrangements and to working with companies to explore suitable commercial options.

What steps he is taking to ensure that the (a) pricing and (b) reimbursement system for multi-indication medicines is adequate for patients with (i) rare and (ii) ultra-rare conditions.

Indication-specific pricing can support access to treatments, including for rare conditions, by enabling companies to propose a specific price for smaller indications that would otherwise be commercially unviable under a uniform price.In January 2025, following public consultation, NHS England published an updated NHS Commercial Framework for New Medicines, setting out their approach for assessing the eligibility of medicines with multiple indications to qualify for indication-specific pricing.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been able to recommend many medicines licensed for the treatment of rare and very rare diseases through its standard technology appraisal process which are now available to National Health Service patients in England. In addition, NICE operates a separate Highly Specialised Technologies evaluation programme for medicines that meet specific criteria for very rare conditions. This programme applies a higher cost-effectiveness threshold than standard appraisals to support access to treatments for very rare conditions.As set out in the Life Sciences Sector plan, we will be introducing a new and proportionate approach to NICE appraisals and NHS indication-specific based pricing agreements for medicines with large numbers of indications, strong long-term outcome data, and low affordability risk.The NHS Commercial Framework encourages early and open dialogue between companies and NHS England where indication-specific pricing or other commercial flexibilities may be needed to support access to treatments. NHS England is open to providing early guidance on such arrangements and to working with companies to explore suitable commercial options.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's polices on air travel safety of the plane crash at Southend airport in July 2025.

I would like to reassure you that UK airspace and operators are among the safest in the world. However, we are not complacent, and the government is committed to maintaining and improving high safety standards in aviation in the UK and across the world.The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is currently leading the investigation into the recent accident at Southend Airport. At this stage, we are unable to comment on the progress or findings of the investigation. However, should any safety concerns arise regarding the aircraft or its operator, the Department stands ready to take prompt and decisive action to mitigate any risks in collaboration with the AAIB and Civil Aviation Authority.