Written questions by Shannon.

What assessment his Department has made of hearing loss causing dementia.

The 2024 update of the Lancet Commission suggests that approximately 45% of global dementia cases are estimated to be potentially preventable or delayable. One of the 14 risk factors identified by the Lancet Commission for dementia is hearing loss.The Department delivers a range of research into dementia via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). For example, the NIHR is currently funding the ENHANCE research programme, which is developing and testing an intervention app to see its effects on cognition, risk, quality of life, and affordability. The ENHANCE app seeks to address ten risk factors for dementia, including hearing loss. In the long-term, the researchers will examine health records to see if the app can reduce dementia rates.The Lancet Commission 2024 and further research will help inform Government action on dementia going forward.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle the black market sale of (a) kidneys and (b) other organs in other countries.

Gangs and criminals that exploit and traffic people are part of international organised crime networks that do immense harm. Serious and organised crime in the UK is estimated to cost at least £47 billion annually and threatens our national security and prosperity. Overseas it poses a serious threat to our international objectives, including our efforts to deliver economic development, state building and poverty reduction. The UK is committed to tackling Serious Organised Crime and the illicit financial flows that underpin it through diplomatic, programmatic and operational interventions.

How many people have been arrested for defacing (a) monuments and (b) statues in the last 12 months.

The Home Office collects and publishes data annually on arrests in England and Wales as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series.The most recent data for the year ending March 2024 is available here: Stop and search, arrests and mental health detentions, March 2024 - GOV.UKHowever, this data is collected by broader offence group only, e.g. “criminal damage”, and detailed information on specific offences is not available.

Whether she plans to take steps to help support schools to teach children about animal care.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The national curriculum in England provides a broad framework within which schools have the flexibility to develop the content of their own curricula. Animal care can be taught within both the science and the relationships, sex and health curricula.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with large banks on the potential merits of re-introducing the help to buy scheme for first time buyers.

The government has no plans for another Help to Buy scheme and the Deputy Prime Minister has not had any discussions with large banks about its reintroduction.

What steps she is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships in the renewable energy sector.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.Upskilling the country’s workforce is vital to meet the government’s clean energy 2030 target, with apprenticeships playing an important role in supporting employers in clean energy industries to develop the skills they need.Employers in England can benefit from over 40 apprenticeships that relate to clean energy industries. This includes the level 3 domestic electrician apprenticeship, which trains people to maintain domestic heat pumps, solar panels and electric charging points, and the level 4 community energy specialist apprenticeship, which trains people to help communities work together to reduce energy use and costs.

What steps she is taking to help improve school attendance.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.Tackling absence is at the heart of the government’s mission is to break down barriers to opportunity. The latest data shows that we are making progress, with children spending 3.13 million more days in school than last year. The department continues to work directly with academy trusts and local authorities to support and challenge them on improving attendance in their schools and to reduce variation in attendance outcomes. We are providing schools with market-leading, artificial intelligence-powered data tools to help them target their efforts most effectively.Alongside this, we have established 31 attendance hubs, led by schools with strong attendance practice, to offer support to around 2000 schools, and published an attendance toolkit to give schools practical advice on how to diagnose their attendance problem and implement great practice.Attendance is priority for the new regional improvement for standards and excellence teams. Supported by over £20 million, these teams will offer both mandatory, targeted intervention for schools identified by Ofsted as needing to improve and a universal service, acting as a catalyst for a self-improving system for all schools.The department recently announced an additional investment of £15 million to expand mentoring, which will see at least 10,800 secondary school pupils supported to improve their attendance.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage food suppliers to use locally sourced food products.

Our food strategy will bring together the outcomes we want from the food system to help Government and the food industry work towards shared goals and priorities. The Government will be considering the role of place-based initiatives as the food strategy is developed. Together, we can deliver a system we can be even more proud of, that protects British traditions and drives generational change in our relationship with food. For the first time in our history, the Government will also monitor where public sector food comes from so we can better understand our opportunities. We’re reforming procurement rules to make it easier for British producers to bid for a share of the £5 billion spent annually on public sector catering, given the new national procurement policy statement favours high-quality products that we believe British producers are well-placed to supply.

Whether she plans to extend eligibility for university grants.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The government is looking at its position on Lifelong Learning Entitlement-targeted grants policy and student finance and will make an announcement in due course.

What steps he is taking to raise awareness of the symptoms of pneumonia.

NHS England currently has no campaigns designed to raise awareness of the symptoms of pneumonia. The main ‘awareness’ engine of the National Health Service is the NHS website, which holds clear information on pneumonia symptoms, with further information available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pneumonia/The NHS is focusing on protecting those at most risk of pneumonia, including via the provision of pneumococcal vaccines, with further information available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/pneumococcal-vaccine/

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help reduce global warming.

While DESNZ leads across Government on net zero, Defra is responsible for reducing emissions from agriculture, land use (including peat), F-gases and waste (including wastewater), whilst simultaneously increasing England's carbon saving potential through our forestry policies. DESNZ will deliver an updated plan that sets out the policy package out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all sectors by October 2025. This will outline the policies and proposals needed to deliver Carbon Budgets 4-6 and our Nationally Determined Contribution commitments on a pathway to net zero.

What progress the NHS has made on the (a) prevention and (b) treatment of breast cancer.

The Government and the National Health Service recognise a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the biggest risk factors of breast cancer. To address risks related to overweight and obesity across the United Kingdom, the Government has laid secondary legislation to restrict advertisements of less healthy food and drink and is taking steps to ensure the Soft Drinks Industry Levy remains effective. In England, to promote physical activity, the NHS’s Better Health Campaign signposts people to digital support like the NHS Active 10 walking app. The Department will continue to work across Government to understand how to reduce alcohol-related harms in England and the UK, including in relation to breast cancer.The NHS in England has made important progress on the treatment of cancer, including breast cancer, delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week to ensure faster treatment for those who need it most. NHS England also funded an audit into primary and metastatic breast cancer to improve treatment. Using routine data collected on patients diagnosed with breast cancer in an NHS setting, the audits bring together information to look at what is being done well, where it is being done well, and what needs to be done better. Findings were published on 12 September 2024 and officials in the Department and NHS England are considering next steps. Further information is available at the following links:https://www.natcan.org.uk/audits/metastatic-breast/https://www.natcan.org.uk/audits/primary-breast/Finally, the National Cancer Plan for England will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology. The plan will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to improve the experience and outcomes for people with cancer, including breast cancer.

What steps he is taking to raise awareness of the uses of different asthma inhalers.

To support the implementation of the updated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence asthma guidelines, NHS England has been engaging with health system partners to coordinate resources and implementation efforts to make sure that patients are on the appropriate treatment regimen, and are using their inhaler at the right time, with the right technique. Updates to patient facing information on asthma management and treatments in line with the updated guidelines are ongoing. For example, the recently published Quality and Outcomes Framework and guidance has been updated to reflect the updated asthma guidelines.The over-prescribing of reliever inhalers amongst people with asthma has seen a steady fall over the past few years. The percentage of patients on the Quality and Outcomes Framework asthma register who received six or more Short Acting Beta-2 Agonist reliever inhaler prescriptions over the previous 12 months fell from 19.8% in April 2022 to 15.9% in February 2025, a percentage change of 19.8%. Further information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mi-network-contract-des

If he will take steps to ensure the RSV vaccine is free of charge for people over 80.

In line with independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes were introduced in England in September 2024 to protect infants, via maternal vaccination, and older adults at the greatest risk of harm from RSV infection. The routine RSV programme for older adults offers vaccination to those turning 75 years old on or after 1 September 2024, alongside a catch-up programme to vaccinate those aged between 75 and 79 years old on 1 September 2024. These individuals will remain eligible until the day before their 80th birthday, except for people who turn 80 years old in the first year, who have until 31 August 2025 to get vaccinated.When advising on the introduction of the RSV programmes, the JCVI said that an extension to the initial programmes would be considered when there was more certainty about protection for patients at higher risk of severe illness from RSV, including people aged 80 years old and older, and the real-world impact of the programme for 75 to 80 year olds.At its October 2024 main committee meeting, the JCVI agreed that it would need to formally review the evidence for a potential extension to the programme for people aged 80 years old and older, and for those in clinical risk groups. During the main committee meeting of 5 February 2025, the JCVI noted that it planned further discussions on potential advice towards extending the programme to those over 80 years of age. The minutes from JCVI meetings are publicly available online, at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation.The JCVI will continue to review the necessary scientific evidence once it is available, and the Department will consider any further JCVI advice on who should be offered an RSV vaccine in due course.

What estimate he has made of the number of deaths in the UK linked to the consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Scientific risk assessment and the United Kingdom’s dietary recommendations are based on robust independent risk assessments by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).No specific assessment has been made of the number of deaths in the UK linked to the consumption of ultra-processed foods. However, the SACN has considered the impact of processed foods on health more generally in position statements published in 2023 and 2025.The SACN has concluded that the observed associations between higher consumption of processed and ultra processed foods and adverse health outcomes, including morbidity and mortality, are concerning.The SACN recommended that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, and which are low in fibre. This is based on the nutrient content of many ultra processed foods and concerns raised in relation to health.The SACN will continue to keep the topic under review.

Whether she plans to implement a youth mobility scheme deal with the EU.

I am not going to give a running commentary on our talks with the EU. This Government is taking action to reduce net migration, but supports the 13 existent controlled schemes which create opportunities for young people to experience different cultures, travel, and work.

What steps she is taking to increase security for online shopping to tackle cyber attacks.

The Home Office continues to work closely with enforcement partners and industry representatives to assess the risk of cyber attacks across a range of platform, and take action both to mitigate those threats, and hold perpetrators to account.

What steps he is taking to support veterans.

This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country. I am working across Government and with civil society to ensure veterans get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need.Housing support is available across the United Kingdom via Op FORTITUDE, a single referral pathway to connect veterans with help and support. This system provides housing guidance and assistance to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Veterans can also access a range of tailored employment support, including the Career Transition Partnership, which is the initial point of provision for those leaving military Service in search of new job opportunities, and via Op ASCEND, the employment pathway for veterans. For veterans resident in Northern Ireland, the Veterans’ Welfare Service Northern Ireland is a specialist statutory welfare service for veterans and their families. The service provides information and practical support, including physiotherapy and psychological therapies for eligible veterans. The service works closely with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, which is part of the Ministry of Defence and recently enhanced its presence in Northern Ireland, along with the independent Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner and the 11 Veterans’ Champions in councils across Northern Ireland.

When the weight loss pill Orforglipron will be available on the NHS.

In the United Kingdom, medicines need to have a licence before they can be marketed. These are granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Licences confirm the health condition the medicine should be used for and the recommended dosage. To get a licence, the manufacturer of the medicine has to provide evidence which shows that the medicine is safe and effective enough to be used for a specific condition and for a specific group of patients, and that they can manufacture the medicine to the required quality. If the company makes an application for a licence in the UK for orforglipron, it will be evaluated by the MHRA accordingly.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based guidance on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of National Health Service resources. The NICE aims wherever possible to issue draft guidance on new medicines close to the time of licensing. The NHS in England is legally required to fund drugs recommended by the NICE, usually within three months of final guidance.

What steps he is taking to help prevent Russian forces increasing the use of banned gas weapons in Ukraine.

Russia’s use of chemical weapons on the front lines in Ukraine is wholly unacceptable. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has published two reports confirming the presence of CS gas in samples collected by Ukraine from the battlefield. In October, the UK sanctioned Russian troops and laboratories for their involvement in the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. The UK will not allow such blatant violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention and rules-based order to go unpunished. The UK continues to work closely with our international partners, both bilaterally and in multilateral forums, to coordinate our response to Russia’s use of Chemical Weapons. This includes ensuring the coordinated provision of Counter-CBRN support and assistance to Ukraine and coordinating our response in international fora. The UK has consistently called out Russian use of chemical weapons in Ukraine at the UN and the OPCW. The UK has been at the forefront of international support and assistance to Ukraine. In the first few months of Russia’s illegal invasion, UK MOD provided respirators and decontamination kits to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as other protective measures to enhance Ukraine’s protective capabilities against chemical weapons. In December 2024, following a direct request for UK Assistance by Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence announced a further funding of £3million for the procurement of respirators to protect Ukraine's forces. This is being procured jointly with Canada with through the G7 led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction. The UK has also provided funding to the OPCW’s Assistance to Ukraine trust fund to procure assistance and detection equipment to Ukraine, including equipment to help assist Ukraine detect the use of chemicals on the battlefield.