Written questions by Shannon.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of the illegal selling of weight loss drugs.

The Department for Health and Social Care are responsible for policy on human medicines, and the illegal sale and supply of human medicines is recognised as a significant challenge for regulators across the world. Buying medicines, including weight loss medicines, from illegally trading websites can be harmful to health, as the medicines received are generally unlicensed in the United Kingdom, and can contain too little, too much, or incorrect active ingredients.Some weight-loss medicines (such as Phentermine) are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and therefore a person unlawfully possessing, supplying or producing would be subject to the appropriate penalties. Further information about these penalties can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/penalties-drug-possession-dealing.This Government understands the dangers that counterfeit, and illegally imported, drugs can cause. This is why law enforcement agencies, and other partners, work around the clock to stop and intercept illegal products from crossing our borders.

How many people in the UK have genetic eye conditions impacting the AIPLI gene.

Mutations in the AIPL1 gene can cause retinal disorders. Genetic causes of retinal disorders are tested for by R32 testing that is available nationally via the National Genomic Test Directory for any patient that meets the eligibility criteria. R32 tests for 280 genes. There have been 11 individuals reported with causative variants in the AIPL1 gene from over 4000 tests. This data represents testing of patients from England only as NHS England does not hold this information for devolved nations.This number also does not capture the number of individuals identified by cascade testing following the identification of AILP1 causative variants through an R32 test of a family member. Cascade testing is the process of informing and testing family members for a genetic condition discovered within the family.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of trends in the levels of house prices in the last 12 months.

My Department continuously monitors the latest data on house prices.In the 12 months up to December 2024 (the most recent data from the ONS), average house prices in the UK rose from £256,000 to £268,000 a 4.6% increase.In England, the average house price rose from £279,000 to £291,000 a 4.3% increase. The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. The government is committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme, to support first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit, with lower mortgage costs.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing the process by which gallantry awards can be awarded retrospectively.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing the process by which gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

Whether his Department has a procedure for awarding gallantry awards previously refused because of an administrative error.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of awarding the Victoria Cross to Robert Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

If he will take steps to review the adequacy of his Department's policy on the timescale within which a Victoria Cross can be awarded.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

If he will take steps to review any evidence relating to the process through which a decision was made not to award Robert Blair Paddy Mayne a Victoria Cross.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his European counterparts on (a) religiously motivated hate crimes and (b) hostility toward religious (i) figures and (ii) communities in Europe.

The UK condemns incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, wherever this occurs, and we denounce hatred on the basis of religion or belief. We are committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We continue to address FoRB violations and protect the right to FoRB through our strong relationships with European counterparts, multilateral engagement - including through the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and Article 18 Alliance - and through our bilateral work. Ministers and FCDO officials regularly raise cases of concern. The appointment of David Smith MP, as the Special Envoy for FoRB, is a clear signal of the UK's ongoing commitment to these efforts.

Whether her Department holds data on the percentage change in uptake levels of pension credit between 2024 and 2025.

The latest Pension Credit take-up figures were published in October 2024. They showed that in financial year 2022/23, 65% of those entitled to Pension Credit claimed the benefit. This represents a 2 percentage point increase from financial year 2021/22, when the take-up rate was 63%. This data is available at: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2023 - GOV.UK and Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2022 - GOV.UK. Data on the percentage change between financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 will not be available until the end of 2026 when the 2024/25 publication is expected (release date to be confirmed).

What discussions he has had with his Northern Irish counterpart on the expansion of Northern Ireland's defence workforce.

Northern Ireland plays a vital role in the defence of the UK, as demonstrated by the £1.6 billion deal with Thales that the Prime Minister announced on 2 March 2025. The deal will see 200 new jobs created at Thales in Belfast, and hundreds more supported in the Thales supply chain across the UK. The Ministry of Defence has consulted with a wide range of stakeholders in Northern Ireland on the Government’s new Defence Industrial Strategy, which will seek to create high quality jobs across all the nations and regions of the UK.

If he will take steps with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure adequate funding of hospices in Northern Ireland.

Healthcare, including hospice care, in Northern Ireland is devolved and, therefore, a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive, although we are always happy to learn from experiences in other countries, including within the United Kingdom, and share our own experiences with countries like Northern Ireland.In England, palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission as per the Health and Care Act 2022. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on the demand in that ICB area, but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both National Health Service and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area. We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.We are pleased to confirm that the Government has released the first £25 million tranche of the £100 million of capital funding, with Hospice UK kindly allocating and distributing the money to hospices throughout England. An additional £75 million will be available from April. We, alongside key partners NHS England, will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face. Last month, I met the major palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, including Marie Curie, which have a hospice in Belfast, and long-term sector sustainability, within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan, was discussed at length.

What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the proposed energy link between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Details of Ministers' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

How many carers have received an earnings-related Carer’s Allowance overpayment since (a) 16 October and (b) 9 December 2024.

We do not have the in-year estimates for the time frame suggested however last year’s statistics are a guide to the overall overpayment levels.Levels of Carer’s Allowance overpayments for the year 23/24 can be found here:Fraud and error in the benefit system, Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2024 - GOV.UK For ease, here are the latest statistics: Expenditure (£m)Total Rate (%)Total Value (£m)Fraud Rate (%)Fraud Value (£m)Claimant Error Rate (%)Claimant Error Value (£m)Official Error Rate (%)Official Error Value (£m)3,7005.21903.01102.0800.110

How many carers have received a Carer’s Allowance overpayment since (a) 16 October and (b) 9 December 2024.

We do not have the in-year estimates for the time frame suggested however last year’s statistics are a guide to the overall overpayment levels.Levels of Carer’s Allowance overpayments for the year 23/24 can be found here:Fraud and error in the benefit system, Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2024 - GOV.UK For ease, here are the latest statistics: Expenditure (£m)Total Rate (%)Total Value (£m)Fraud Rate (%)Fraud Value (£m)Claimant Error Rate (%)Claimant Error Value (£m)Official Error Rate (%)Official Error Value (£m)3,7005.21903.01102.0800.110

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help reduce sewage in rivers.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Act, which will strengthen regulation, including delivering new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bringing criminal charges against persistent law breakers. We are also carrying out a full review of the water sector. The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further legislation to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. A public Call for Evidence went live on 27 February for 8 weeks, with all interested parties invited to share their views. This Call for Evidence will play a key role in shaping the Commission’s thinking going forward and into the review's final recommendations to the UK and Welsh Governments. This forms the next stage in the Government’s approach to ensuring we have a sufficiently robust and stable regulatory framework to attract the investment needed to clean up our waterways, speed up infrastructure delivery to support house building and restore public confidence in the sector. As part of Price Review 24, Water companies are investing £12 billion, a record amount, to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales, with OfWat requiring them to reduce spills by 45% compared to 2021 levels. The regulators will continue to take action if any illegality is identified. They have launched the largest criminal and civil investigations into water company sewage discharges ever. As part of their investigations, Ofwat has proposed fines of £168 million against three water companies. This investigation is a priority for Ofwat, and it will continue to work as quickly as possible on their investigations into all remaining companies.

What estimate her Department has made of the amount of Russian assets in bank accounts in the UK.

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), part of HM Treasury, announced in December 2023 that £22.7 billion of Russian Assets had been reported as frozen since February 2022 as of October 2023. This figure is collated from a cumulation of various asset types, of which bank accounts form part, and is a cumulative total of assets reported.

What steps she has taken to reduce frequent absences of children from school.

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 to break down barriers to opportunity. If children aren’t in school, it doesn’t matter how effective or well-supported teaching and learning is, they will not benefit. Thanks to the hard work of parents and teachers there has been progress, but levels of absenteeism remain far too high.The department has set out clear expectations of local authorities and schools in the ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance, which was made statutory on 19 August 2024. This guidance can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bf300da44f1c4c23e5bd1b/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance_-_August_2024.pdfThe guidance promotes a 'support first' approach and sets out clear expectations on how schools, trusts, local authorities and wider services should work together and with families to address attendance barriers and provide the right support, including where a pupil is not attending due to special educational needs.The department has also established 31 attendance hubs that have offered their support to around 2000 other schools. Hubs are established and led by senior leaders in schools with strong attendance practice. The meetings led by hubs are intended to give senior leaders in other schools a forum to discuss and share effective attendance practice.Last year, the department published an attendance toolkit, bringing together effective practice from across the hubs. The toolkit gives schools practical advice on how to diagnose and target their attendance problem and how to effectively implement great practice.We are also strengthening our tools for faster and more effective school improvement by launching the new regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) 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 RISE teams have begun work with the first group of schools eligible for the targeted, bespoke service, including support for attendance as necessary. Improving school attendance is a national priority for RISE teams.

How many people have been sanctioned for claiming unemployment or sickness benefits whilst working and not declaring hours.

The department does not typically issue sanctions in these circumstances and a fraud or error penalty would instead be considered, where appropriate. We always encourage individuals to notify the department when a change of circumstances occurs, to avoid incurring a penalty. Instructions on how to inform us of any changes can be found here: Benefits: report a change in your circumstances - GOV.UK