Written questions by Reynolds.

What steps the Government plans to take to ensure that all members of the Trans and Intersex communities have access to (a) safe and (b) gender affirming (i) bathrooms, (ii) changing rooms and (iii) refuges; and that when using those facilities they are free from harassment.

Trans and intersex people deserve dignity and respect. Protections remain in place for them to live free from discrimination and harassment. Regarding service provision, we want everyone to be able to access services that meet their needs whilst protecting their privacy and safety. The EHRC’s updated Code of Practice will provide guidance to providers, and we are considering their draft.

What his planned timeline is for publishing a Government response to the Hughes Report, published on 7 February 2024.

The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government Departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s Report.

Innovation and Technology, if his Department will take steps to ensure that (a) X and (b) other social media platforms prevent their artificial intelligence systems from promoting (i) racist and (ii) anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

The Online Safety Act’s illegal content duties took effect on 17 March. These duties require user-to-user and search services to implement robust measures designed to reduce the risks that users encounter illegal content and activity, including from illegal anti-Semitic content.These duties apply to AI generated content in the same way as ‘real’ content - i.e. where it is shared on an in-scope service and is either illegal content or content which is harmful to children. Ofcom is responsible for taking enforcement action as appropriate and has published recommendations for how providers should fulfil their duties in codes of practice.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the reinstatement of UK-issued pet passports for travel to EU member states; and what his planned timeline is for implementation of those passports.

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area. This will mean taking pets on holiday into the EU will be easier and cheaper. Instead of needing an animal health certificate each time you travel, you will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU. With the principles and framework of a deal agreed, the Government will now need to negotiate the detail of an agreement. Our aim is to start the detailed negotiations as soon as possible, and Defra will provide more information on pet passports valid for travel to the EU in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to expand access to degree apprenticeships in midwifery for (a) mature students, (b) career changers and (c) other people who face (i) financial and (ii) practical barriers to undertaking traditional university training routes.

We will publish a new workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and will treat patients on time again. This will include how we ensure we train healthcare staff, through all training routes including apprenticeships, to support patients in all of our communities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with (a) EU member states and (b) (i) VFS Global and (ii) other third-party visa service providers on improving the (A) accessibility, (B) transparency and (C) efficiency of the Schengen visa application process for UK residents; and whether his Department is taking steps with relevant stakeholders to help ensure that applicants receive (1) timely communication and (2) clear recourse when experiencing (a) delays and (b) lack of response.

The Government regularly uses its diplomatic channels to facilitate conversations between the UK, the EU and EU Member States on issues impacting British Citizens overseas.Non-British Citizens experiencing difficulties applying for EU entry visas should approach the relevant Embassy or High Commission for advice on what assistance their governments can provide.More information on Schengen visa processes can be found on the website of the country to which an application is being made.

With reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much additional funding her Department plans to spend on transport projects for Maidenhead; and what those projects are.

We are yet to announce the local authority allocations for the majority of the transport funding announced in the Spending Review. This will be announced in due course. We have informed Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council of their allocation of the Local Transport Grant which is £7.336 million for the period from April 2026 to April 2030 for local transport improvements.

What steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness of the symptoms of chronic urinary tract infections.

The National Health Service provides information on the symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs), including chronic UTIs, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/The Department currently has no plans to raise public awareness of the symptoms of chronic UTIs. However, the Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is funding research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs, including chronic UTIs. This research includes the development of antimicrobial-impregnated catheters to reduce episodes of catheter-associated UTIs as well as the TOUCAN study, with further information available at the following link:https://www.phctrials.ox.ac.uk/recruiting-trials/toucan-platform-for-uti-diagnostic-evaluationThis study is evaluating rapid point of care UTI diagnostic tests in general practice surgeries that not only enable faster detection of UTIs but also provide real-time information on antibiotic resistance, ensuring patients receive the correct treatment.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to green belt protections on (a) biodiversity, (b) access to green space and (c) the long-term preservation of rural character in Cookham.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework was published on 12 December 2024, following extensive consultation, including with local planning authorities.I otherwise refer the hon. Members to the answers given to questions UIN 26508 on 5 February 2025, UIN 29375 on 18 February 2025, UIN 40156 on 26 March 2025 and UIN 43157 on 7 April 2025.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of guidance from the Highway Authority and Utilities Committee that utilities beneath tram tracks must be diverted under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 on the cost of light rail schemes; and whether her Department is taking steps to (a) review the cost-allocation model for utility diversions and (b) review the requirement to move utilities in this way.

My Department works closely with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) - which brings together highway authorities, utilities and government with the aim of working safely and smartly to reduce the impact of street and road works on members of the public throughout the UK. The Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee is currently reviewing the Diversionary Works Code of Practice with my officials. There are currently no plans to review the regulations for cost allocation. The New Road and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) balances the statutory rights of highway authorities and undertakers to carry out works with the need to minimise the disruption caused by these works. Financial incentives play an important role in ensuring compliance with requirements. There is a risk that by removing safeguards when utilities work on tram routes, reinstatements may not be fit for purpose, resulting in damage and possible safety issues that the tram company operator or local highway authority would then need to resolve.

What discussions her Department has had with Transport for London on taxi and private hire driver licence renewals.

Transport for London is the taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authority for London and is responsible for administering the licensing regime in London. The Department discusses a range of licensing matters with them.

Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring television manufacturers to include a dedicated BBC iPlayer button on remote controls in line with existing buttons for commercial streaming services.

The Government recognises the need to ensure that public service broadcasters’ (PSB) services and content remain easy to find as viewers increasingly shift online.That is why we are getting on with implementing the Media Act 2024 which introduces a new online prominence regime. This new regime will ensure that PSB apps, like BBC iPlayer, are carried and given appropriate prominence on major TV platforms. The Government will consider the case for further reforms following the publication of Ofcom’s Public Service Media review later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of air quality levels in Maidenhead constituency.

Local authorities review and assess air quality in their areas and publish an annual report on their actions to improve local air quality including local monitoring data.The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have reported continued reductions in concentrations of NO2 and PM10 over recent years and continued compliance with the Air Quality Objectives set by central Government. The council has begun to monitor local concentrations of PM2.5 and are likely to report on this pollutant later this year; Defra’s modelling for PM2.5 shows that background concentrations are also well below the annual mean Air Quality Objective in this council’s area.The most recent national air quality compliance assessment for 2023 presented air quality modelling data and measurements from national air pollution monitoring networks across the UK. The assessment was published in September 2024 on Defra’s UK-AIR website. No exceedances were reported of the limit and target values for NO2, PM10 or PM2.5 in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for adolescent mental health services in Berkshire.

We know children and young people are not receiving the mental health care they need and that waits for mental health services are too long across England, including Berkshire. We are determined to change that as part of our shift to prevention and earlier intervention and in line with our Plan for Change.The Department’s Spending Review settlement means that annual National Health Service day-to-day spending will increase by £29 billion in real terms, representing a £53 billion cash uplift, by 2028/29 compared to 2023/24.In the Spending Review announcement, we have confirmed that we will fulfil the Government’s commitments to recruit an additional 8,500 additional mental health staff by the end of the Parliament and expand mental health support teams in schools in England to cover 100% of pupils by 2029/30.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a seven-day Community Diagnostic Centre at St Mark's Hospital in Maidenhead.

Slough Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) is currently delivering temporary activity at St Mark’s Hospital in Maidenhead, and has done so since January 2024, in addition to activity at the permanent site at Upton Community Hospital, whilst the new facility is being completed. Once the new facility at Upton Community Hospital is completed later in 2025, all diagnostic activity will move to Upton Community Hospital, where it is expected that Slough CDC will be open 12 hours a day, seven days a week.The Elective Reform Plan, published on 6 January 2025, sets out that we will increase the number of CDCs offering services 12 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as delivering additional CDC capacity in 2025/26 by expanding a number of existing CDCs and building up to five new ones.NHS England is working with local National Health Service systems to identify the most appropriate locations for investments, including new CDCs. A key factor they will consider is that new CDCs are positioned in a location which addresses local need and will address health inequalities. Details will be set out in due course.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to improve broadband speeds in rural parts of Maidenhead constituency.

According to the independent website Thinkbroadband.com, over 99% of homes and businesses in the Maidenhead constituency can access superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps) and over 87% have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection (>1000 Mbps).To improve this coverage further, CityFibre is delivering a Project Gigabit contract across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and East Berkshire, targeted at bringing gigabit-capable broadband to homes and businesses in hard-to-reach areas that are unlikely to be otherwise reached by suppliers’ commercial rollout. Approximately 2,000 premises in the Maidenhead constituency are currently expected to benefit from this contract. The vast majority of these premises are in rural parts of the constituency.

What assessment her Department has made of the reliability of Elizabeth Line services (a) to and (a) from Maidenhead in the last 12 months.

Statistics published by the Office of Rail and Road show that 4% of Elizabeth Line services scheduled to stop at Maidenhead station in the year ending 26 April 2025 were cancelled. Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor, and TfL has overall responsibility for the management of the Elizabeth Line which is operated by their contractor GTS Rail Operations Limited.

Media and Sport, what funding her Department has allocated to grassroots sports clubs in Maidenhead in the last 12 months.

The Government provides the majority of our funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year. £283,300 has been invested in the constituency of Maidenhead in the last financial year.Future grassroots sport facilities funding is subject to the ongoing Spending Review process and we will announce further details in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of homes in Maidenhead that are below EPC band C.

The information requested is available on the Open Data Service here.

How many school buildings in Maidenhead are classified as requiring urgent repair under her Department’s Condition Data Collection.

From 2021 to 2026, the Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme is visiting every government-funded school and college in England to collect data about the condition of their buildings. This is providing an updated and comprehensive picture of the condition of the school estate in England to support our capital funding policy and programmes.School reports, setting out the condition of building elements, are shared with each school and their responsible body while the CDC2 programme is in progress, so that schools and responsible bodies have access to the latest assessment of their site.Information on the condition of schools, as assessed by the predecessor programme (CDC1), can be found at: https://depositedpapers.parliament.uk/depositedpaper/2285521/details.Responsible bodies, such as local authorities, voluntary-aided school bodies, and multi and single academy trusts, have the responsibility to make regular assessments of the condition of schools in their estate to inform programmes of maintenance works.The department has increased funding to improve the condition of the estate for the 2025/26 financial year to £2.1 billion, up from £1.8 billion last year. Allocations are published on GOV.UK and are partly informed by consistent data on the condition of the estate collected by the department, reflecting the relative need of schools. This is in addition to our continued investment in the current School Rebuilding Programme.