Written questions by Shannon.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the number of dairy farmers in the last ten years.

Information relating to the question on the number of UK dairy producers can be found publicly available here: (Livestock populations in the UK, Latest UK milk prices and composition of milk, Structure of the agricultural industry in England and the UK at June, Results by size of Farm in the UK) From 2021 to 2023, data on the milk production-to-supply ratio showed a stable trend, consistently remaining at 105%. This indicates the UK produces a milk surplus, exceeding domestic consumption needs. The production-to-supply ratio is generally understood as a broad measure of national self-sufficiency, indicating the ability of UK agriculture to meet consumer demand. We lack detailed farm type and labour data for the UK, however, hold this for England. While not all dairy herds are on these holdings, the majority are. Over the last decade (2014 – 2023), the number of dairy farm holdings in England decreased by 24%, while the number of agricultural workers on holdings classified as dairy farm type decreased by 15%. Although production of milk in the UK has increased in the last decade, the number of UK producers and employment on English dairy farms has fallen. Defra Officials Statistics: Agriculture in the UK 2023 Chapter 14: The food chain Defra Officials Statistics: Numbers of holdings and agricultural activity by farm type at 1 June each year in England

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of sexual harassment laws.

Everyone has the right to both feel safe and be safe going about their day-to-day lives. That is why tackling sexual harassment is an important part of this Government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade.There is a range of legislation that addresses sexual harassment. This includes offences in the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Public Order Act 1986 and more recently, the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment Act 2023, which we are progressing for implementation.We are strengthening protections against workplace sexual harassment through the Employment Rights Bill. It will require employers to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of their employees and introduce an obligation on employers not to permit the harassment of their employees by third parties.As with all legislation, the Government will continue to keep sexual harassment legislation under review.

What steps he is taking to help tackle addiction issues in under 18s.

The most effective and sustainable approach to tackling addiction in children and young people is by giving them the best start in life and by keeping them safe, well, and happy. Our mission-based approach will ensure that every child has the best start in life and that we create the healthiest generation of children ever.Statutory guidance on relationships, sex, and health education requires all primary and secondary schools to ensure that pupils know the key facts and risks associated with alcohol and drug use, smoking, vaping, and gambling, as well as how to manage influences and pressure, and to keep themselves healthy and safe.The Department has worked with the Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education Association to develop the lesson plans on alcohol and drugs, and has commissioned an update of the resources to be published later this year. Further information is available at the following link:https://pshe-association.org.uk/drugeducationThe Government also has an alcohol and drug information and advice service called Talk to FRANK, which aims to reduce alcohol and drug use and its harms by providing awareness to young people, parents and concerned others. Further information on Talk to FRANK is available at the following link:https://www.talktofrank.com/In addition to the Public Health Grant, the Department allocated local authorities £267 million in 2024/25 to improve the quality and capacity of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery, which includes funding for services for children and young people with, or at risk of developing, alcohol and/or drug problems. Future targeted funding for drug and alcohol treatment services beyond 2025 will be announced very shortly.The Government is providing £70 million of additional funding for local authority-led Stop Smoking Services in England in 2024/25, which includes adults and under 18 year olds, building on existing funding made available via the Public Health Grant. The Government will also provide a further £70 million of funding for Stop Smoking Services in 2025/26.While vaping can be an effective way for adult smokers to quit smoking, children should never vape. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will break the cycle of addiction and protect children from future harm by banning the advertising and sponsorship of vaping and nicotine products, and will provide powers to regulate their flavours and packaging, and will change how and where they are displayed in shops. The bill will bring about definitive and positive change to stop future generations from becoming hooked on nicotine. It will create the first smoke-free generation, and will ensure that children turning 16 years old this year or younger can never legally be sold tobacco.The Government is committed to reducing gambling-related harm through regulatory reform to strengthen protections. We continue to work with Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the National Health Service, and other delivery partners to consider how best to achieve this. Since 2019, treatment and support for under 18 year old’s experiencing gambling-related harm has been available through the NHS National Gambling Clinic.

What funding he is providing for infrastructure projects in the marine protected area.

The protection of Maritime ecosystems is devolved to the four UK nations. There are 178 Marine Protected Areas in English waters alone, covering 51% of inshore and 37% of offshore waters, and there are similar numbers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

What the cost to the public purse is of hospital repairs over the last 12 months.

The total cost of hospital repairs in England is collected by NHS England’s Estates Returns Information Collection (ERIC) for each financial year.The latest ERIC data, for the 2023/24 financial year, showed that capital investment reported by National Health Service trusts for changing and improving existing buildings totalled £1,718,500,000, whilst capital investment for maintaining existing buildings totalled £738,600,000. The published version of this dataset is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24.Capital investment for repairing NHS hospitals occurs throughout the financial year based on engagement with individual NHS organisations. In this context, cost data for months that fall during the 2024/2025 financial year is not finalised as the financial year is not yet complete, making this the most recent 12 months of data available.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the safety of LED headlights on cars (a) generally and (b) on country roads.

All types of road vehicle headlamps are designed, tested, and approved to internationally recognised standards to help prevent undue glare and ensure safety on a broad range of roads and environments. However, noting increased public concern about headlamp glare, Government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes and develop potential countermeasures. This work is underway and due to deliver in summer 2025; it will include real-world assessment of glare on a broad range of road types and scenarios including country roads.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the uptake in cyber security jobs over the last five years.

The Government has published the ‘Cyber security skills in the UK labour market’ report annually since 2018. These reports show an increasing demand for cyber security jobs, but also a skills shortage that increases the difficulty of filling these jobs.The 2024 report, published in September, showed a reduction in the annual shortfall of individuals in the cyber security workforce from 11,200 in 2022 to 3,500 in 2023. Despite this reduction 44% of businesses still report a basic skills gap. The Government will continue to work with industry and academic networks to champion efforts to reduce these skills gaps. This work includes supporting the UK Cyber Security Council, the professional body for the cyber workforce, the CyberFirst inspiration programme and the Cyber Local regional funding initiative.The CyberFirst girls competition is in Northern Ireland.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent trends in the rate of inflation on (a) consumers and (b) businesses.

Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation has normalised after an inflationary shock resulted in it peaking at 11.1% in October 2022. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility say that they expect inflation to remain close to the 2% target throughout the forecast period. The Government fully supports the independent Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England in maintaining price stability sustainably in the medium term. Inflation creates uncertainty for consumers and businesses. Which is why we are putting the public finances on a sustainable path and investing in the future. That is the most important thing to support working people and create a stable environment for growth.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the condition of water supplied by Thames Water.

Drinking Water quality in England is regulated through the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations. The Drinking Water Inspectorate is the enforcing regulator. The Regulations require a programme of random samples to be taken from consumers’ taps, and the results are reported to the Inspectorate. Any breaches are investigated by the company and assessed by the Inspectorate and enforcement action taken as appropriate. Thames is required to notify the Inspectorate of any unusual event which could be a risk to consumers - each event is investigated by the Inspectorate, and enforcement action taken as required. The Inspectorate assessed 61 events reported by Thames Water in 2024. Thames Water adopts a water safety planning approach to drinking water, in line with the WHO recommendations. This ensures risks are identified and mitigated before there is any impact on consumers. In 2024, the Inspectorate completed technical audits at seven sites and conducted a further desktop audit of bespoke network assets. There are currently 26 improvement notices issued by the Inspectorate to improve water quality across Thames’ asset base.

What progress he has made on GP online booking services.

We want to ensure general practice (GP) online booking services are available to those who need them. That’s why we have committed to implementing a modern appointment booking system, designed to eliminate the 8:00am rush for appointments. All practices in England are required to offer online and video consultation tools, secure electronic communication methods, and online facilities to provide and update personal information.Subject to consultation with the British Medical Association, the Government proposes requiring GPs to be accessible to patients via electronic communications throughout core hours, as well as over the phone, helping more people book an appointment or speak to a GP, and supporting the Government’s aim to shift care from analogue to digital.99.4% of the primary care estate are now live with digital telephony and 90% have been enrolled to use online registration systems.

What steps he is taking to tackle delays to care packages.

Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care market and to commission services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. In performing that duty, a local authority must have regard to current and likely future demand for such services, and consider how providers might meet that demand.The Government has announced that a revised policy framework for the Better Care Fund in 2025/26 will shortly be published. This will outline redefined goals that emphasise its commitment to shifting care from hospital to home, and from sickness to prevention.The Government is supporting local authorities by making up to £3.7 billion of additional funding available for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

If he will take steps to help ensure rail stations are step free.

Since April 2024, step free upgrades at 13 stations have been completed, with a further 18 due to be completed by April 2025. This will be the most stations completed in one year since the programme started in 2006. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time taken to diagnose (a) mouth and (b) throat cancer.

No specific assessment has been made on the adequacy of mouth and throat cancer diagnosis waiting times.However, it is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer as early and quickly as possible, to treat it faster, and ultimately to improve outcomes.The Department is committing to improving waiting times for cancer treatment, starting by delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, to support faster diagnosis and access to treatment.

What steps he is taking to increase awareness of the warning signs of lobular breast cancer.

NHS England runs Help Us Help You campaigns to increase the knowledge of cancer symptoms and address barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms, including symptoms of lobular breast cancer, as well as encouraging body awareness, to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers at an early point.NHS England and other National Health Service organisations, nationally and locally, also publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including lobular breast cancer. Further information can be found on the NHS.UK website.

How many organs were donated for transplant in 2024.

The following table shows the number of organs donated, the number of donors, and the number and percentage of organs donated that were transplanted, from the UK Transplant Registry, between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, as of 10 January 2025:United Kingdom solid organ donor typeNumber of donorsOrgans donatedOrgans transplantedLiving donors938938938 (100%)Deceased donors1,3854,5133,787 (84%)Note: there are many reasons why organs cannot be transplanted, including the organ being clinically unsuitable.Figures are subject to change due to the delayed notification of living organ donor transplants and the current proximity to the end of 2024.

What military funding he plans to provide to Ukraine in 2025.

The Government is committed to providing £3 billion of military support to Ukraine each financial year for as long as needed. In addition, over the next two financial years this Government will provide a further £1.5 billion of support from the first part of a £2.26 billion loan through the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration scheme which will enable Ukraine to undertake major procurement projects. The loan will be repaid using the extraordinary profits on immobilised Russian sovereign assets.

What steps he is taking to provide immediate mental support to veterans medically discharged from service.

Structured Mental Health Assessments are conducted by Defence GPs as part of the medical discharge process to screen for mental health concerns and enable follow up in primary care or referral to specialist mental health services if required. Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for mental healthcare, Defence Medical Services work in partnership with the NHS to ensure continuation of care. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMH) for up to six months after discharge to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required. All patients who leave the Services through a medical discharge for mental health reasons or are under the care of a DCMH as they transition are offered an assessment with a DCMH Mental Health Social Worker (MHSW) to ascertain their mental healthcare transition needs. The Veterans Welfare Service and Defence Transition Service deliver additional support to service leavers and their families who are most likely to face challenges as they leave the Armed Forces, including facilitating access to NHS services. Wherever they live in UK, veterans can access bespoke services, including Op COURAGE in England. The Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland (VWS NI) provides professional help and advice to veterans to help them access specialist healthcare available to eligible veterans who are experiencing conditions related to their military Service. The through life mental health support now provided to Service personnel will have a positive impact on the veterans of the future; the Ministry of Defence is ensuring that Armed Forces personnel have the psychological resilience training they need to recognise mental ill-health in themselves and those around them and know how to manage it.

What estimate she has made of how many people have been absent from work because of long term sickness over the last six months.

The latest available data for long-term sickness absence covers the period from July 2023 to June 2024. In July 2023 to June 2024, 1.55 million people in the UK had been absent from work because of long-term sickness. This statistic can be found in the employment of disabled people 2024 table SAB001.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria during December 2024.

The UK is committed to supporting Nigeria to address ongoing security challenges, including intercommunal violence and violent extremism, which continue to impinge on the rights of Nigerians to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). The root causes of this violence are complex, and whilst religious identity can play a role, so can loss of economic opportunity, competition over land and natural resources. Our support includes funding to programmes which strengthen mechanisms to resolve conflict and build resilience in affected communities. Through our UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, we also engage with Nigerian security actors to address these complex issues.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that airports are accessible.

The Department for Transport launched the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group in November 2024. Led by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, it brings together experts from industry and consumer representatives to develop practical and achievable industry-led actions to improve aviation accessibility throughout the consumer journey. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) - the sector’s independent regulator – is also responsible for ensuring industry is meeting its legal obligations in relation to aviation accessibility. It undertakes annual assessments of airports against the Airport Accessibility Performance Framework, which provides a ranking of UK airports.