Written questions by Shannon.

What discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on potential energy bill increases.

Collaboration between the UK Government and Devolved Governments is essential to accelerate Net Zero and deliver the Clean Energy Superpower Mission. The Government is working closely with governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to help work towards delivery of our respective climate targets and carbon budgets. Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

What support her Department provides to young girls with autism in schools.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.For too long the education and care system has not met the needs of all children, particularly children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with parents struggling to get their children the support they need and deserve.This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with SEND or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.The large majority of pupils diagnosed with autism as their primary type of need are boys. There is ongoing research and awareness on the different presentation of autism traits according to gender and the late, under and misdiagnosis of girls and women. This gender imbalance is greater for autism than for any other primary type of need.The department holds and funds the Universal SEND Services contract, which brings together SEND-specific continuing professional development and support for the school and further education workforce. The programme aims to improve outcomes for children and young people, including those with autism. As part of the contract, the Autism Education Trust (AET) provide a range of training and support for staff on autism including a live 90 minute ‘making sense of autism’ training. The training covers topics such as understanding autism, reasonable adjustments for pupils and how to listen to and learn from the perspectives of autistic pupils. The AET offer also addresses autism in girls and helps education staff understand more about how autism may present differently in girls. Since the contract began in May 2022, over 185,000 professionals have received training from AET training partners.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Georgian counterpart on human rights in that country.

I [Minister Doughty] spoke with Georgian Foreign Minister Darchiashvili on 9 October. I shared with him my deep concerns about the negative implications of Georgia's recent laws on Transparency and Foreign Influence and on Family Values. The pressures being applied to civil society and on human rights protections undermine the Georgian people's ambition for a modern, inclusive, Euro-Atlantic future. More needs to be done to embed Georgia's previous impressive progress - on combating corruption, improving prison conditions, and launching a human rights strategy - into reforms that enhance judicial independence and political freedoms, and protect minority rights.

Whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing funding for local council sports grants (a) for young sports groups and athletes in Ards and North Down Council Borough and (b) generally.

My officials have engaged with Treasury officials on this matter.The Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme has over 17 projects in 2024-25 in Northern Ireland. This Government is determined that, through our investment in grassroots sport, the legacy of the Paris Olympics and Euro 2024 is measured not just in trophies, but in choices and chances for every child wherever they live and whatever their background.Sport is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, and I would encourage the hon Gentleman to liaise with the Department for Communities about local sports grants in his constituency.

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of guidance issued by his Department on the best time to take blood pressure medication.

The National Health Service monitors evidence on all interventions and updates our public facing guidance accordingly. The routine review of blood pressure medication guidance on the NHS website is due in December 2024. However, the timing of medication is a clinical decision which is made by doctors, and depends on several patient factors.

What steps he is taking to help reduce delays in treatment for cancer patients.

Lord Darzi’s report has set out the scale of the challenges we face in fixing the National Health Service and the need to improve cancer waiting time performance and cancer survival. In particular, he highlighted the need to improve the number of patients starting their treatment within 62 days of referral and to increase the number of patients diagnosed at an earlier stage.We will improve cancer survival rates and hit all NHS cancer waiting time targets within five years, so no patient waits longer than they should.The NHS will maximise the pace of the roll-out of additional diagnostic capacity, delivering the final year of the three-year investment plan for establishing Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) and ensuring timely implementation of new CDC locations and upgrades to existing CDCs, with capacity prioritised for cancer diagnostics.

If his Department to will make an assessment of the adequacy of support for the physical health of service people.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the health and wellbeing of our Armed Forces personnel. For those personnel requiring medical intervention the Defence Medical Services (DMS) provides occupationally focused primary healthcare to serving Armed Forces personnel, to ensure that they are medically fit, mentally and physically, to undertake their duties. For wounded, injured and sick personnel, the Defence Recovery Capability is a MOD-owned capability designed to deliver programmed, command-led and coordinated support. Each person who comes under the Defence Recovery Capability will get a tailored Individual Recovery Plan which enables them to focus on either their return to duty or transition to civilian life. The Department is reviewing its medical capabilities, including the provision of healthcare delivered by DMS to Armed Forces personnel as part of the Strategic Defence Review. The review will report in the first half of 2025.

What guidance her Department issues to police forces on the (a) recording and (b) retention of personal information on police data bases for hate incidents that are not deemed to be a crime.

This Government has already committed to reversing the previous Government’s decision to downgrade the monitoring of antisemitic and Islamophobic hate.It is vital that the police can capture data relating to non-crime hate incidents when it is proportionate and necessary to help prevent serious crimes which may later occur.We are carefully considering how best to protect individuals and communities from hate whilst balancing the need to protect the fundamental right to free speech. We are also ensuring the police can spend their time dealing with issues that matter most to communities. We will set out next steps in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the viability of aldesleukin as a routine treatment for people who have had a heart attack.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR Cambridge Clinical Research Facility are supporting research into the benefits of low doses of aldesleukin for people who have experienced a heart attack, to reduce inflammation in the arteries after the initial heart attack.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of rises in energy costs on disabled people who use electronic aids and adaptations at home during Winter 2024-25.

We understand that energy bills are a concern for many people. We believe the only way to protect bill payers permanently, including disabled people, is to accelerate the green transition towards homegrown, clean energy.This Government is committed to championing the rights of disabled people and working with them so that their views and voices are at the heart of everything we do.We know disabled people face extra costs every day and this has been exacerbated by the increased cost of living. Ministers and officials have met with disabled stakeholders to discuss the impact of high energy costs for disabled people, including those who use electronic aids and adaptations in the home.We also expect energy suppliers to do everything they can to support customers who are struggling with their bills, especially vulnerable households such as those with individuals who are disabled. We encourage any vulnerable consumer who needs extra support to sign up to the Priority Services Register.

What data his Department holds on the number of people being prescribed propranolol to treat anxiety.

The information requested is not held. National Health Service prescriptions do not list the indication for which the medicine is prescribed. It is therefore not possible to determine from prescribing data held by the NHS Business Services Authority the number of people being prescribed propranolol to treat anxiety.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to increase the use of digital technologies across Government; and what steps he plans to take to improve the training for such technologies.

We are fully committed to the goal of driving a modern digital government and harnessing data and technology to help deliver the government’s five missions.To achieve this goal, this government is creating a new digital centre of government within DSIT, bringing together several expert teams. The new digital centre of government will champion digital and data across government, accelerating the use of digital technologies in order to deliver a modern digital government that gives citizens a better experience. This modern digital government will also build on existing programmes such as the Digital Excellence Programme and Tech Track to recruit, develop and retain digital talent across government.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to increase cross-government collaboration with the devolved Administrations.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State made clear the importance of resetting her department’s relationship with devolved governments so that we are increasing collaboration on shared opportunities and challenges.The Deputy Prime Minister has held productive meetings with First Ministers and Deputy First Ministers across the UK, and look forward to continuing positive engagement in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.Ministers are also working actively with counterparts in the devolved governments, with recent meetings on housing and the Grenfell announcement.

What steps he is taking to improve the Government's national security risk assessment policies, in the context of the recent CrowdStrike software outages.

The UK is facing an ever-changing and growing set of risks. All risks in the government's National Risk Register (NRR) are kept under review to ensure that they are the most appropriate scenarios to inform emergency preparedness and resilience activity.

Whether he has had recent discussions with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland on the potential impact of the Mental Health Bill on Northern Ireland.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has made clear his commitment to ongoing engagement and collaboration with the devolved governments. Officials are currently working to find a date for the next Health and Social Care Interministerial Group.The Department has engaged with Northern Ireland Department of Health officials on the Mental Health Bill. Officials have established a regular Four Nations Meeting on mental health reform, in which the Mental Health Bill’s measures and potential implications for the devolved governments are discussed. We will continue to engage our counterparts in Northern Ireland closely throughout the bill’s passage.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the current level of tuition fees.

Education is a devolved matter, and this response outlines the information for England only. The government is determined that the higher education (HE) funding system should deliver for our economy, for universities and for students. The department will look carefully at all options and come forward with proposals. Funding plans for the HE sector will be set out at the relevant fiscal event in line with the approach to public spending commitments across government. The department recognises the immediate financial strain that some providers are under. As such, the department will continue to work closely with the Office for Students to monitor any risks and to ensure there are robust plans in place to mitigate them.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of prison workforce numbers.

We know that sufficient and skilled frontline staffing is fundamental to delivering safe, secure, and rehabilitative prison regimes. In England and Wales, we are currently above our target staffing levels for prison officers, although challenges remain in some sites with higher numbers of vacancies. Recruitment efforts will continue at all sites with a current or projected future need, and we have a number of targeted recruitment interventions that can be deployed where needed. Where establishments feel that their staffing levels will affect stability or regime, we look to provide short-term tactical support.HMPPS has also commissioned a workforce delivery project to refresh the current staffing model for prisons, and to help improve our analysis of resource allocation across the system, so we are better able to prioritise our staff resources to improve delivery.

Whether she has made an assessment of trends in the number of sales of electric vehicles in the last 12 months.

The total number of EVs registered in the UK continues to increase, amidst a growing overall market. Just under 270,000 battery electric cars have been sold so far this year, according to industry statistics, 13% higher than the number sold this time last year. The battery electric vehicle share of the new car market in the year to date is 17.8%, and in the month of September 2024 this was 20.5% - a record high.

What discussions she has had with police forces on tackling violence at football games.

The Government is committed to tackling and preventing violence and disorder at football matches and tournaments in England, Wales and overseas. Policing is devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland.The Government funds the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), a unit designed to reduce violence, antisocial behaviour and disorder at football events involving UK football teams. The UKFPU undertakes various statutory and operational national policing functions, including maintaining oversight of the football banning order regime, working with overseas policing counterparts and coordinating policing deployment at international matches, and coordinating policing’s football disorder strategy.The Home Office works closely with the UKFPU, the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Football Policing and other police stakeholders to ensure the police are supported to tackle football-related violence and disorder.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of interest rates on SMEs.

For SMEs that pay interest at a variable rate, or those contemplating new borrowing, lower interest rates are clearly beneficial.