Written questions by Shannon.

How many people are being prescribed Ozempic for weight loss in the UK.

Ozempic is only licenced for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and can only be prescribed off-label for use in weight management.The data requested is not held centrally. Although the NHS Business Services Authority collects data on the number of prescriptions dispensed in England for Ozempic, they do not collect data on the clinical condition it is prescribed for.

How many women have had mastectomies in the last three years.

The following table shows a count of Finished Consultant Episodes at hospitals in England for female patients where there was any procedure of mastectomy, from 2021/22 to 2024/25:YearTotal excision of breast, or complete mastectomiesOther excision of breast, or partial mastectomies2021/2216,94144,1232022/2316,52544,5812023/2416,99444,1452024/2512,28733,811Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England.The data for 2024/25 is provisional and covers the period from April to December 2024. Provisional data may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. In addition, the data is a count of activity, not patients. A patient may have had more than one admission within this requested timeframe, and may therefore be counted multiple times.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department offers support to Sudan to help combat the spread of cholera.

The conflict in Sudan and the widespread destruction of sanitation and health services has caused a devastating cholera outbreak. In response, the UK is supporting UNICEF and others who are delivering lifesaving emergency health interventions including cholera treatment and prevention. We are also contributing to an ongoing cholera vaccination campaign in Kosti and Rabak, targeting one million people. UK aid is also addressing related needs across the region given the cross-border risks of Sudan's cholera outbreak. We continue to urge all parties in Sudan to facilitate humanitarian access so that aid reaches those most in need.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with international counterparts on freedom of (a) religion and (b) belief in Georgia.

All Georgians, regardless of their religion or belief, must be protected by their government and feel safe to gather peacefully. No one should live in fear for what they do, or do not, believe in. The UK regularly discusses the promotion and protection of human rights with international counterparts and vocally supports the right to freedom of religion or belief and other rights in Georgia, including through our work in the Council of Europe, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 October 2024 to Question 5319 on Peripheral Arterial Disease, whether he plans to include policies on the treatment of (a) peripheral arterial disease and (b) other cardiovascular diseases in the 10-Year Health Plan.

The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts the National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to improving cardiovascular health in all parts of the county.More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their long-term conditions, including cardiovascular disease, closer to home. Moving from sickness to prevention will help us reduce the causes of the biggest killers, and provide treatment earlier, rather than only intervening when conditions deteriorate.As part of the 10-Year Health Plan engagement exercise, I hosted a symposium on cardiovascular disease on 13 March 2025. This brought together a range of charities and clinical experts in the disease. This is in addition to the responses received to the consultation from numerous national and local charities and organisations and their attendance at the National Partners Council.

Representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church is taking steps to promote the (a) cultural significance and (b) history of the church organ.

The Church of England works closely with the Royal College of Organists to encourage and promote the playing of the organ and encourage young people to develop their talents. The increased visibility of some high-profile players on social media is also increasing awareness of the instrument and opportunities for playing the organ in and beyond the church.The Church of England offer grants to support the conservation of historic organs in CofE churches and works closely with organisations that promote organ culture and heritage, including the Royal College of Organists, British Institute of Organ Studies, and Institute of British Organ Building, to share policy interests and promote good practice.

Representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church has made of the potential impact of rural parishes on social isolation amongst elderly people.

Churches in rural areas often play an important role as a community hub and a place to connect with others. The Church of England has many examples of communities tackling social isolation and loneliness; this may be through traditional offering of worship services, via a home visit for the housebound, or through providing social spaces in the church or church hall for people to gather.Across the country, and especially in rural communities, churches run around 31,000 community-based initiatives, offering warm spaces, intergenerational children and community projects, coffee mornings, health and wellbeing groups, dementia cafés, community libraries, village shops, as well as spaces for cultural experiences and art exhibitions.A good example of this work can be found in the research produced by the Archbishops' Commission on Reimagining Care. Commission Members visited a church-led cafe in Kirkby Thore in Cumbria, part of the Renew Wellbeing movement. This provided space for refreshments, games and quiet reflection for people of all ages, but proved particularly popular with older people.The growing movement towards social prescribing in primary care recognises the important role that faith groups, including churches, play in the health of their communities. Churches are working closely with local GPs in many parts of the country to offer a wide range of specific activities that encourage group work or physical activity. Some good examples of this have been the development of churchyard working groups and gardening projects, community book group and discussion groups, and craft clubs, which all offer people the opportunity meet, chat and make new connections. A recent report has been published by the think-tank Theos, assessing some of the range of projects churches are engaging with, which can be found here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/research/2023/08/09/faith-in-social-prescribing

Representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church is taking to encourage more young people to attend places of worship.

One of the key priorities set by the National Church Institutions, working with the dioceses, is to double the number of children and young active disciples by 2030. From 2022-2023, there was an increase of 4% in the number of children and young people attending places of worship. The commitment to growing engagement with young people is not merely about increasing numbers in congregations, but improving understanding, cultural awareness, and engagement with Christianity, its teachings and theology. Significant central funding has been allocated to support the vision, and in 2023/24, the Diocesan Investment Programme (DIP) invested £158 million to deliver the Church's vision and strategy in local communities and parishes. 27% of this funding was dedicated to young people, and research was conducted to address key challenges. Investments are being made in training for clergy, starting new worship services, and building relationships between schools and churches. Resources have been produced for churches to encourage them to develop volunteers with young people. We are also seeking to grow digital engagement through 'The Way UK’.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of wind turbines on avian mortality.

The Government does not have estimates of the number of birds killed by wind turbines. Wind developments have the potential to cause environmental damage, including impacts to birds from collisions, displacement, and foraging pressures.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with counterparts in NATO countries on improving sexual health education in relation to (a) AIDS and (b) HIV in developing countries.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials do not engage directly with NATO regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) HIV education.The UK is proud to defend and promote universal and comprehensive SRHR, which includes comprehensive sexuality education, family planning, maternal and newborn health, HIV and AIDS treatment and prevention, safe abortion and period poverty. We remain committed to the global HIV response and to working in partnership with other UN member states as well as with the global health institutions towards a collective goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat. Together we have helped to reduce new HIV infections by 60 per cent since the peak in 1995 and reduce AIDS-related deaths by 69 per cent since the peak in 2004.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his EU counterparts on the use of AI in China to target and persecute religious people.

The Foreign Secretary has not discussed this specific issue with EU counterparts. However, he regularly discusses with likeminded partners a range of issues relating to China.

What information he holds on the number of workers who work full-time from home.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 4th March is attached.

What discussions he has had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland on encouraging international steel investment in Northern Ireland.

We believe that our Plan for Steel will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a real difference for this industry. It will address the problems the sector faces and create a competitive business landscape across the entirety of the United Kingdom.Supporting the strategy is the Steel Council to which the Minister for the Economy is a member and met in January. In addition, I met with Minister Archibald prior to the launch of the consultation on the strategy in February.

What steps she is taking to encourage employers to take advantage of the apprenticeship levy to use these funds to develop skills in young people.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only. The government is reforming the current levy-funded apprenticeships offer to deliver greater flexibility for employers. Apprenticeships will remain at the heart of the offer. To support more businesses to participate in apprenticeships, the department is introducing shorter duration apprenticeships and foundation apprenticeships in targeted sectors. Foundation apprenticeships will be a new work-based training offer that give more young people a foot in the door at the start of their working lives, whilst supporting the pipeline of new talent that employers will need to drive economic growth. The department is working closely with employers and providers to design foundation apprenticeships that offer young people a good route into good, skilled work and meet the needs of the industrial strategy. To support smaller employers to access apprenticeships, the government pays the full training costs for young apprentices aged 16 to 21, and for apprentices aged 22 to 24 who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan or have been in local authority care. Employers of all sizes can also benefit from £1000 payments when they take on apprentices aged 16 to 18, or apprentices aged 19 to 24 who have an EHC plan or have been in local authority care. This is in recognition of the additional support that younger apprentices may require when entering employment. Employers can choose how they spend these payments. Employers also benefit from not being required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 where they earn less than £967 a week (£50,270 a year).

What discussions he has had with his counterparts in Northern Ireland on tackling violence against women and girls.

The UK Government has welcomed the Northern Ireland Executive’s Strategic Framework on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. At the end of January, I welcomed the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, to Northern Ireland for a two day visit including meetings with Executive Ministers, the PSNI, academics and frontline service providers. The Minister and I used this opportunity to reaffirm this Government’s support as we work towards our shared objective of tackling violence against women and girls.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland on the preservation of biodiversity in Northern Ireland.

The UK’s National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP) was discussed with Minister Muir, as well as other devolved government ministers, at the Inter-Ministerial Group for EFRA held on 16 September. The UK has published the full NBSAP during the resumed COP16 that commits us to achieving all 23 targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework at home. The four governments, and relevant Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have worked collaboratively to develop the NBSAP and now we need to work together to deliver it.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on reversing the changes to inheritance tax for family farmers.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues.

What steps he is taking to improve HIV testing across the UK.

Health is a devolved matter, and it is the responsibility of the individual administrations to commission comprehensive healthcare based on population need. All four nations, however, are committed to reducing HIV transmissions.The Government is committed to ending new transmissions of HIV in England by 2030. The Department, the UK Health and Security Agency, NHS England, and partners are developing the new HIV Action Plan for England, which we aim to publish this year. Scaling up and increasing the availability of testing is a key objective of the new plan.HIV testing is funded by local authorities through the ringfenced Public Health Grant (PHG). In 2025/26, we are increasing funding through the PHG to £3.858 billion, providing local authorities with an average 5.4% cash increase and a 3% real terms increase, the biggest real-terms increase after nearly a decade of reduced spending.The Department is investing over £5.5 million from 2021 to 2026 to deliver the HIV Prevention Programme (HPE). The HPE aims to increase the awareness and acceptability of HIV testing and reduce barriers to access through the delivery of public campaigns such as National HIV Testing Week, during which we dispatch over 20,000 HIV testing kits in England.On 28 November, the Prime Minister announced £27 million of additional funding to expand the highly successful National Health Service emergency department opt-out testing programme for 2025/26. This is particularly important in population groups less likely to access HIV testing via traditional sexual health services, such as people of black African and black Caribbean heritage.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on the rights of Ahmadi Muslims in that country.

Promoting the rights of religious minorities is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I raised the deteriorating situation for Ahmadi Muslims when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November 2024, and discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 November 2024. On 3 March, our High Commissioner in Islamabad raised the issue of Ahmadi rights in a meeting with Prime Minister Sharif. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people, including Ahmadi Muslims, in accordance with international standards.

How many people have been hospitalised for Norovirus in the last six months.

The information is not available in the format requested. NHS England publishes Daily Situation Reports throughout the winter period, which include information on the number of hospital beds taken up by patients with norovirus-like symptoms. This information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/uec-sitrep/urgent-and-emergency-care-daily-situation-reports-2024-25/