Written questions by Shannon.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing free hypnobirthing classes to pregnant women.

The majority of trusts already offer free antenatal education services. A National Health Service online tool is available for women and families to find a class local to them. These classes include support for pregnant women to make a birth plan, considering the different arrangements for labour and birth, and the choices available to them. The Department is working with NHS England on how to improve the quality of these classes, and to ensure that mothers receive information about their choices so they feel empowered throughout their pregnancy journey, and into motherhood. Pregnant women can discuss additional hypnobirthing courses with their midwife if this is something they wish to explore.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle regional inequalities in children’s (a) reading enjoyment and (b) daily reading frequency.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child, in every region of the country, the best start in life.In the 2025/26 financial year, the government has committed £27.7 million to support and drive high and rising standards in reading and writing.This includes supporting the teaching of phonics, early language and reading for pleasure via the English Hubs programme. The 34 English Hubs across England provide support to the schools in their region, with a focus on supporting children making the slowest progress in reading, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds.The English Hubs also deliver a reading for pleasure continuous professional development programme, ‘Transforming Schools Reading Culture’, in which over 2,000 schools have participated since 2021.The department is also strengthening our tools for more effective school improvement by launching new regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) teams to break down the barriers to opportunity and end the link between background and success. Supported by over £20 million in the 2025/26 financial year, RISE teams will provide both targeted intervention and universal support which will act as a catalyst for collaboration and improvement across all schools.

Media and Sport, if her Department will support initiatives to connect books with (a) TV, (b) film and (c) gaming franchises to engage children and young people with reading.

The government recognises the importance of reading for children’s development and of reading for pleasure. All children should have the opportunity to access books and other resources to support their learning and enjoyment. Many recognisable British stories start out as books before finding new audiences told through film, TV and video games adaptations, with production supported by the Government’s stable, efficient and reliable creative tax reliefs. The government is always supportive of the creative industries working together to enhance access of children to reading and literacy.Arts Council England provides funding to literature organisations, writers, and independent publishers through National Portfolio funding and project grants. This includes grants for literary festivals, and support for organisations like BookTrust, which in addition to getting millions of children reading each year, works with school children until the age of 13 to showcase the very best in children’s literature. Moreover, Into Film and their partners have developed a course “Teaching Literacy through Film” which supports the use of film in classroom settings to improve speaking, listening, comprehension, and writing attainment. Many resources are provided from Oliver Twist to How to Train Your Dragon which combine the best of film and literature to provide excellent learning outcomes.The government has also established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The review seeks to deliver an excellent foundation in the core subjects of reading, writing and maths, and a rich and broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that readies young people for life and work. This includes creative subjects such as art and design, music and drama. The Review Group has now published a well-evidenced, clear interim report, which highlights the successes of the current system, making clear that the most trusted and valued aspects of our system will remain, whilst setting a positive vision for the future. The government will respond to the final recommendations in autumn.In addition to the role that industry can play, public libraries are an important resource for teachers, parents and children to engage children and young people with reading.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of access to books in low-income households on reading outcomes among children eligible for free school meals.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The department knows that reading for pleasure is hugely important and brings a range of benefits. As well as a number of strong links with attainment, pupils who read regularly report heightened levels of social and emotional wellbeing.Evidence from the National Literacy Trust shows that in 2024, one in eight children who received free school meals (FSM) said they did not own a book of their own. There was a 4.4 percentage point gap in book ownership between children and young people who did and did not receive FSM, with 87.6% of those who received FSM having a book compared with 92.0% of their peers who did not.The department recognises and welcomes the important work of charities such as the National Literacy Trust, the Book Trust, the Reading Agency, World Book Day and many others in supporting and encouraging reading.The government has implemented a range of measures to support reading for pleasure. The English Hubs programme supports the teaching of phonics, early language development and reading for pleasure. Furthermore, the government’s Reading Framework provides guidance on improving the teaching of reading, to ensure that every child is not only able to read proficiently but also develops a genuine love of reading.

Whether she plans to implement a cross-departmental strategy on improving reading outcomes for children and young people.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child, in every region of the country, the best start in life.In the 2025/26 financial year, the government has committed £27.7 million to support and drive high and rising standards in reading and writing. This includes supporting the teaching of phonics, early language and reading for pleasure via the English Hubs programme. The 34 English Hubs across England provide support to the schools in their region, with a focus on supporting children who are making the slowest progress in reading, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds.​In the 2025/26 academic year, this funding will also deliver a range of support for schools, including new training for primary schools to help children progress from the early stages of phonics through to reading fluently by the time they leave primary school, and new support and training for secondary schools to support reading at key stage 3.Departmental officials are working with the sector and other departments to consider how we can further encourage reading and reading for pleasure.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reading on the mental health of young people.

No such assessment has been made. We know that according to research reading helps to reduce stress levels and could be beneficial to mental health and well-being.

How many people have been prosecuted for espionage in the last 12 months.

From 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025, seven people have been convicted under espionage offences.These offences were contrary to section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 and conspiracy to spy offences contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.A number of related cases are proceeding through the courts at various stages though these have not yet concluded.

How many people have been prosecuted for hate crime in the last 12 months.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutes hate crimes in England and Wales.In the year to December 2024, in England and Wales the CPS prosecuted 14,657 defendants for offences flagged as hate crimes with a charge rate of 87.4%, and a conviction rate of 86.1%.Data for Q4 2024-2025 will be published on the CPS website (CPS quarterly data summaries | The Crown Prosecution Service) in due course.

What steps she is taking to raise awareness of online scams.

The national Stop! Think Fraud campaign helps the public recognise fraud and scams, including common scams people may see online, and the steps they can take to protect themselves, their family and friends.The website can be accessed at Stop! Think Fraud - How to stay safe from scams and is regularly updated. We are also working with tech companies to promote the messaging of the Stop! Think Fraud campaign on their platforms, as a commitment under the Online Fraud Charter.Improving public awareness and victim support will be one of the seven key areas in the next Fraud Strategy.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to disability payments on people in working poverty.

The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts. However, this assessment does not include the impact of the £1 billion a year, by 2029/30, funding for measures to support those with disabilities and long-term health conditions into employment, which we expect to mitigate the poverty impact among people it supports into work. As such, an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed changes on people in working poverty cannot be made. The Pathways to Work Green Paper set out a broad package of plans and proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support. Our plans are designed to protect the most vulnerable and give disabled people equal chances and choices to work. We will continue to carefully consider the impacts of reforms as we develop our detailed proposals for change.

What steps she is taking to support young people after being released from prison to prevent reoffending.

Children returning to the community after serving time in custody receive personal and structural support from youth custody establishments and Youth Offending Teams to help them reintegrate, including assistance with housing and education, training, or employment.Where appropriate, Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) is used to support this transition. A new ROTL policy is being piloted at five sites, allowing eligible children to be considered and risk assessed for ROTL after five months or halfway through their sentence—whichever comes first—enabling earlier access to ROTL opportunities such as visits to potential community accommodation, education, or job placements.

Whether her Department funds (a) research and (b) pilot programmes on the use of (i) artificial intelligence and (ii) digital technologies to encourage reading among children and young people.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has announced investment into two programmes of research this year, the EdTech Evidence Board pilot and the EdTech Impact Testbed. These will look at the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to gather comprehensive evidence on EdTech.The EdTech Evidence Board pilot will explore how we effectively build evidence of EdTech products, helping education settings feel confident that they are choosing products that work well for them and for their classrooms. We want to incentivise more evidence generation from EdTech companies by setting product quality standards and piloting how to assess products.The EdTech Impact Testbed will test products and practice in schools and colleges to generate evidence of impact in priority areas. In partnership with the Open Innovation Team, the department will be engaging the sector to understand what works, looking at how tools, including AI, can improve staff workload, pupil outcomes and inclusivity. To help address current gaps in evidence on the impact and scalability of promising technologies, we have committed £1 million in funding to this pilot. This will build on our work to improve evidence quality for EdTech by providing a structured environment for testing and evaluating technologies.

What progress she has made on teaching the importance of cyber safety in schools.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.As part of statutory relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), pupils are taught about online safety and harms, including the implications of sharing private or personal data (including images) online, harmful content and contact, cyberbullying, and the risks associated with over-reliance on social media. Cyber safety is also embedded across all key stages of the computing curriculum, with progression in content to reflect the different and escalating risks that young people may encounter.The department is currently reviewing the RSHE curriculum. We are looking carefully at the consultation responses, considering the evidence, and talking to key stakeholders before issuing revised guidance.The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which seeks to deliver a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that readies young people for life and work. The Review’s interim report notes the rise of artificial intelligence and trends in digital information, and that it is necessary that the curriculum keeps pace with these changes. The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in autumn with the government’s response.

What steps he is taking to support the yacht building sector.

The Government remains fully committed to delivering a thriving UK shipbuilding sector, including the yacht building sector. Skilled manufacturing is critical to UK prosperity and the leisure marine manufacturing sector plays a key role in creating jobs and growth in our coastal communities. The National Shipbuilding Office regularly engage with stakeholders across the yacht building sector. Yacht builders are also represented on one of the main shipbuilding Government/industry forums, the Shipbuilding Enterprise for Growth. The Department for Business and Trade’s Civil Maritime team works closely with the sector through the British Marine Federation, in partnership with officers in key markets overseas to further promote the sector and its potential.

Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on promoting reading through (a) song lyrics, (b) fan fiction and (c) social media content.

The Secretary of State has not held specific discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on the areas listed. However, the Secretary of State speaks regularly to the Secretary of State for Education and fully supports that department's ambitions for a rich and broad curriculum that values creativity.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply for blood donation.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood services in England. Blood donation in the devolved nations is run by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, and the Welsh Blood ServiceThe National Blood Transfusion Committee's shortage plans for red cells and platelets outlines four phases for the supply of blood to hospitals, supported by a framework of actions for NHSBT and hospitals at each phase. Further information on the shortage plans for red cells and platelets is available at the following link:https://nationalbloodtransfusion.co.uk/recommendationsThere has been an Amber Alert, when there is reduced availability of blood for a short or a prolonged period which impacts on clinical activity, in place in England for O group blood since July 2024, due to high hospital demand following a cyber-attack on pathology services in South-East London.NHSBT has been using a number of initiatives to increase blood donations and in turn improve blood stocks, particularly to increase the diversity of the donor base to meet demand for Ro blood needed by sickle cell patients. The opening and reopening of the Brixton and Southampton donor centres respectively have increased NHSBT’s capacity to collect blood, and communications during National Blood Week have pushed for a million people to become regular donors via local, national, and online channels. The Department continues to work closely with NHSBT to ensure there is the right mix of donors across blood groups to meet hospital demand.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help prevent dangerous parking in residential areas.

Parking is the responsibility of local authorities, and they are best placed to decide what is best for their local area. Local Authorities are empowered to determine their parking arrangements through the Traffic Management Act 2004, which requires them to ensure that parking policies be proportionate, support town centre prosperity, and reconcile competing demands for kerb space whilst ensuring traffic moves freely and quickly on their roads and the roads of nearby authorities.

What steps he is taking to improve uptake for jobs in the ambulance service.

As of March 2025, there were over 21,900 full time equivalent ambulance staff in National Health Service trusts and other core organisations in England, representing an increase of over 1,900, or 9.6%, compared to the previous year.We will publish a refreshed workforce plan for staff across the NHS, including ambulance services, to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, to ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.

What assessment he has made of trends in the level of job applications to the civil service in the last 12 months.

The number of vacancies advertised via the Civil Service (CS) Jobs website has decreased over the past full financial year and applications received via CS Jobs have increased.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle instances of drought.

Drought plans must be produced by Water Companies every 5 years. A drought plan is a tactical plan that shows how a secure water supply is maintained, while minimising impacts on the environment during dry weather and drought. There are a range of actions/tools that can be utilised in a drought plan. These range from Temporary Use Bans (known as 'hosepipe bans'), drought permits-which enable companies to take more water from environment (as prescribed in the Water Resources Act 1991 (WRA91)). In addition, there are also Drought Orders which enable companies to take further water from environment and/or other abstractors and implement water restrictions or restrict other non-essential use. Defra Minister Hardy attended the National Drought Group, chaired by the Environment Agency, held on 5 June, to ensure actions are being taken to secure water supplies, should recent dry weather continue. We continue to monitor the situation and further National Drought Group meetings are planned, should the dry weather continue.