Written questions by Robertson.

Media and Sport, how much of the £400m UK Government funding for grassroots sports facilities will go to (a) tennis and (b) padel facilities.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this.The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives in England that will benefit as many people as possible.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2025 to Question 72865 on Local Government: Hampshire and Isle of Wight, if his Department will publish a breakdown of consultation responses by local authority area.

The government published a response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2025 to Question 72865 on Local Government: Hampshire and Isle of Wight, whether his Department plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of that proposed devolution area on (a) transport services and (b) disparities between urban and rural areas.

A Mayoral Strategic Authority over Hampshire and the Solent will play a key leading role on transport planning and delivery for the area, becoming the Local Transport Authority, with responsibility for producing a Local Transport Plan setting out their local transport policies and how these will be delivered. We would also expect the Mayoral Strategic Authority to deliver for all communities and address disparities, this could include through designating a member of the leadership Cabinet with a Rural portfolio to ensure equality of attention across all areas of the region, as has been done in other Strategic Authorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether proposals for English devolution will require the re-organisation of (a) NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board and (b) other integrated care boards.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), alongside NHS England, continue to work closely on any proposals to reorganise integrated care boards (ICBs). In areas where Strategic Authorities are known, DHSC, alongside the MHCLG and NHS England, will proceed with integrated care board (ICB) reorganisation to ensure coterminous boundaries wherever feasibly possible.

If he will publish details of what the deliverables were for the contract awarded to Thinks Insight, Kaleidoscope Health and Care and the Institute for Public Policy Research in relation to the engagement exercise for the 10 Year Health Plan.

To develop the 10-Year Health Plan, we had the biggest ever conversation on the future of the National Health Service with over a quarter of a million contributions from the public, staff, and partners including charities and patient groups.Full information on the deliverables of the initial contract is available at the following link, on pages 172-174:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/80963989-c4d6-4a16-8e12-c31b43a81ddaIn summary, the deliverables were to:design and run deliberative events;open and operate an online portal;develop and disseminate assets for local organisations to run engagement events;design an analytical framework for data collection;report interim findings every three weeks;co-design the engagement plan with the Department; andproduce an engagement exercise report.We committed to co-designing the engagement exercise with our delivery partners following the awarding of the contract, therefore, the scope and requirements were reviewed and adjusted during the contract.A detailed 10-Year Health Plan engagement report will be published shortly, which will set out the methodology and results of this engagement exercise.

Which organisations are represented in each Workshop in a Box for the development of the 10 Year Health Plan.

To develop the 10-Year Health Plan, we had the biggest ever conversation on the future of the National Health Service with over a quarter of a million contributions from the public, staff, and partners including charities and patient groups.A detailed 10-Year Health Plan engagement report will be published in due course, which will set out the methodology and results of this engagement exercise.

What criteria his Department used to define which participants in the engagement process for the 10 Year Health Plan were sex workers.

To develop the 10-Year Health Plan, we had the biggest ever conversation on the future of the National Health Service with over a quarter of a million contributions from the public, staff, and partners including charities and patient groups.A detailed 10-Year Health Plan engagement report will be published in due course, which will set out the methodology and results of this engagement exercise.

Which charities received funding from the supplementary fund to support engagement with seldom heard groups as part of the 10 Year Health Plan consultation; and how much funding each organisation received.

National Voices, Friends, Families and Travellers, Homeless Link, and the Race Equality Foundation, carried out these engagement sessions. The total sum of funding provided was £81,311.00. The following table shows the total funding and the amount of funding each charity received: CharityFunding receivedNational Voices£21,070.00Friends, Families and Travellers£14,998.00Homeless Link£6,673.00Race Equality Foundation£11,550.00Maternity Consortium£27,020.00Total£81,311.00

How many (a) members of the travelling community, (b) sex workers, (c) asylum seekers, (d) victims of modern slavery, (e) people from ethnic minority backgrounds, (f) people experiencing homelessness, (g) people affected by drug or alcohol addiction and (h) people in contact with the justice system participated in engagement activities in relation to the 10 Year Health Plan.

To develop the 10-Year Health Plan, we had the biggest ever conversation on the future of the National Health Service with over a quarter of a million contributions from the public, staff, and partners including charities and patient groups.A detailed 10-Year Health Plan engagement report will be published in due course, which will set out the methodology and results of this engagement exercise.

With reference to FOI-1626381, what methods of engagement were used by the Department to engage with individuals from (a) the travelling community and (b) the sex worker community as part of the development of the 10-Year Health Plan.

To develop the 10-Year Health Plan, we had the biggest ever conversation on the future of the National Health Service with over a quarter of a million contributions from the public, staff, and partners including charities and patient groups.A detailed 10-Year Health Plan engagement report will be published in due course, which will set out the methodology and results of this engagement exercise.

What selection criteria were used to identify charities eligible for funding to support community engagement with (a) sex workers, (b) travelling communities, (c) asylum seekers and (d) other seldom heard groups.

All members of the Health and Wellbeing Alliance were approached to support the 10-Year Health Plan engagement process to help ensure we reached seldom-heard groups and communities. Charities were selected based on their ability to deliver engagement sessions with communities and groups that were under-represented in the national conversation.

What proportion of project licences applied for under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were refused between 1 January and 1 September 2025.

Between 1 January 2021 to 1 January 2025, one application for a project licence under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 has been refused.The Home Office does not routinely collect information on refused project licences as, due to the structure of the legal framework, this metric is not an indicator for the robustness of the regulatory regime.The Government sets clear expectations of applications through publishing extensive guidance for the regulated sector. Before being submitted to the Regulator for assessment, the regulation requires that applications must be internally reviewed by an establishment’s Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body and be signed off by the Establishment Licence Holder. Home Office Inspectors in the Regulator will only review applications from establishments that fulfil all requirements of the legislation. Applications received by the Regulator may be returned to the applicant for clarification and/or amendment before being re-assessed. Applicants may also amend or withdraw an application in response to feedback from the regulator. This system means that the number of refusals tends towards zero.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the availability of ADHD medications.

The Department has worked closely with industry stakeholders, and, following extensive collaborative efforts, previous issues have been resolved and all strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules, atomoxetine oral solution, guanfacine prolonged-release tablets and methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets and prolonged-release capsules are now available.We continue to support the NHS England Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) taskforce, which brings together expertise from the National Health Service, education, and justice sectors to coordinate a system-wide response to rising demand. In collaboration with NHS England’s national ADHD data improvement plan, we are developing future growth forecasts to support improved demand planning. These forecasts will be shared with industry to help ensure a more responsive and sustainable supply of ADHD medicines.In parallel, we are also engaging with new suppliers for ADHD medicines to increase supply capacity and resilience.The Department also maintains and regularly updates a list of currently available and unavailable ADHD products on the Specialist Pharmacy Service website. This resource supports prescribers and dispensers in making informed decisions with patients. The list is available at the following link:www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/prescribing-available-medicines-to-treat-adhd

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2025 to Question 67240 on Animals in Science Regulation Unit: Inspections, how many inspectors were in post in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit as of July 2025.

The Home Office is in the final stages of delivering a comprehensive programme of regulatory reform to strengthen the Animals in Science Regulation Unit and ensure robust compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). The number of Inspectors will increase from 17 at the end of 2023, to 22 by end of 2025. This expansion will improve the Regulator’s capability to provide oversight and conduct inspections through regulation which is proportionate, targeted, robust and effective.The number of inspectors in post in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit in July 2025 was 15 – the middle of the reform process. Numbers of inspectors are published in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit annual report.The Government is fully committed to continuous improvement in regulation and strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in science and innovation.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of brand-specific prescribing on the availability of medication at pharmacies.

The Department has made no assessment of the potential impact of brand-specific prescribing on the availability of medication at pharmacies.Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers must always satisfy themselves that the medicines that they consider appropriate for their patients can be safely prescribed and that they take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards.Prescribers can normally prescribe a medicine by brand or by the generic name, and in primary care, where a prescription specifies a branded medicine, that product must be dispensed, whereas for a generic prescription, any manufacturer’s product can be dispensed. For some medicines or some conditions, switching between manufacturers’ products carries additional clinical risks and guidance regarding the appropriateness of brand or generic prescribing for specific medicines or conditions might be issued.To assist with the management of supply issues with certain medicines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, clinical experts with input from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Department developed guidance on prescribing methylphenidate generically. This guidance was issued to provide prescribers with information on how to switch between methylphenidate products. This is a guidance document and as such there is no requirement for prescribers to follow it unless they deem it necessary and suitable for their patients.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) prescribers and (b) pharmacy contractors adhere to guidance on the prescribing of ADHD medication by generic name.

The Department has made no assessment of the potential impact of brand-specific prescribing on the availability of medication at pharmacies.Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers must always satisfy themselves that the medicines that they consider appropriate for their patients can be safely prescribed and that they take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards.Prescribers can normally prescribe a medicine by brand or by the generic name, and in primary care, where a prescription specifies a branded medicine, that product must be dispensed, whereas for a generic prescription, any manufacturer’s product can be dispensed. For some medicines or some conditions, switching between manufacturers’ products carries additional clinical risks and guidance regarding the appropriateness of brand or generic prescribing for specific medicines or conditions might be issued.To assist with the management of supply issues with certain medicines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, clinical experts with input from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Department developed guidance on prescribing methylphenidate generically. This guidance was issued to provide prescribers with information on how to switch between methylphenidate products. This is a guidance document and as such there is no requirement for prescribers to follow it unless they deem it necessary and suitable for their patients.

What discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on supporting London bus drivers during periods of industrial action on the London Underground.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London, this includes bus services operating in the Capital. While the Department works closely with Transport for London on a range of issues, the operation of the bus network is for Transport for London and its contractors.

What discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on the average annual salaries of (a) London Underground drivers and (b) London bus drivers.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London. They are solely responsible for operational decisions around salaries for London Underground drivers. Similarly, decisions around salaries for London bus drivers are for Transport for London and its contractors.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of tube strikes on (a) passenger load, (b) stress levels and (c) working conditions for bus drivers in London.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL, and any impacts of strike action on London’s transport network are for TfL to manage. Nevertheless, the Government understands this is disappointing for passengers and businesses and we continue to encourage all sides to work together to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible. Likewise, TfL and their contractors are responsible for operational and welfare decisions regarding bus services and bus drivers operating in the Capital.

What recent discussions her Department has had with Transport for London on the (a) welfare and (b) remuneration of bus drivers in London.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL, and any impacts of strike action on London’s transport network are for TfL to manage. Nevertheless, the Government understands this is disappointing for passengers and businesses and we continue to encourage all sides to work together to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible. Likewise, TfL and their contractors are responsible for operational and welfare decisions regarding bus services and bus drivers operating in the Capital.