Written questions by Moran.

How much was spent by NHS England on (a) each Section 7A service, (b) immunisation programmes within Section 7A services, (c) childhood immunisations within Section 7A services and (d) school-age immunisations within Section 7A services under the National Health Service Act 2006 in each financial year since 2019-20.

Funding for public health functions delegated by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to NHS England, known as section 7A services, is allocated as part of NHS England’s mandate funding total. The following table shows the spend for section 7A services by NHS England for the financial years 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2023/24:Section 7A service area/programme2019/20 (£, million)2020/21 (£, million)2021/22 (£, million)2022/23 (£, million)2023/24 (£, million)Childhood immunisations125.494.462.984.295.6School age immunisations41.141.136.542.655.4Flu vaccination260.2345.8388.6448.1403.9Other immunisations32.222.18.025.129.2COVID-19 immunisation0.0554.61,080.2386.2268.4National immunisation programmes total458.91,058.01,576.2986.2852.5National population screening programmes total644.6668.5675.8647.4701.2Child health information services total46.531.425.252.253.4Public health services in secure and detained settings total95.584.590.882.082.1Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) total33.239.042.348.152.8Grand total1,278.71,881.42,410.31,815.81,742.0Source: NHS England.Notes:the above section 7A expenditure is as reported by NHS England regions from 2019/20 to 2023/24. These figures relate to deployment costs for commissioning individual services to patients;in 2020/21 and 2021/22, some capacity normally dedicated to public health programmes was redeployed to support the response to the pandemic. As a result, funding for section 7A services was not ring-fenced, and has not since been ring-fenced, and the costs of delivering section 7A services could not be quantified accurately;from 2020/21, COVID-19 immunisation expenditure represents a material amount of the immunisations total and the section 7A expenditure total. Section 7A expenditure on vaccinations increased in 2022/23, driven by post-pandemic catch up activity;flu vaccination expenditure figures include drugs and activity reimbursement;all figures for public health in secure and detained settings and sexual assault referral centres are based on data collection done in arrears;2019/20 expenditure for public health in secure and detained settings are an estimate. The first data collection was in 2020/21; andthe costs listed for sexual assault referral centres includes minor costs from the wider sexual assault and abuse services pathway, for instance services related to supporting victims of sexual assault and abuse that sit outside of a SARC.Expenditure for 2024/25 and 2025/26 is not yet published.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Government of Pakistan on reports of a Pakistani air strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul.

The UK is concerned by the recent escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan and the resulting impact on civilians. We continue to urge dialogue and de-escalation, building on the Eid ceasefire and the recent talks in Urumqi, China.

How much further education colleges paid in VAT for non-business activities in each of the last five financial years.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold readily available data on the amount of VAT paid by further education colleges in relation to non-business activities for each of the last five financial years. Further education colleges may undertake a mix of business and non-business activities. While VAT may be incurred on costs associated with these activities, the extent to which it is recoverable depends on the specific circumstances and the application of VAT apportionment methods by individual educational institutions.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to VAT and Insurance Premium Tax to the Motability scheme on the finances of to disabled people.

An Equality Impact Assessment including consideration of the impact on affected individuals was undertaken and published by HMT as part of the Autumn Budget and can be found here: Motability Scheme: reforming tax reliefs - GOV.UK.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of recent 16–18 funding decisions on the Government’s stated ambition to develop a high‑skill workforce; and whether she plans to review the funding framework to ensure Further Education colleges can deliver the expected level of technical and vocational training.

The department has made significant increases to the average funding per student since the 2024/25 academic year, an expected per student increase of 10.5%. We expect that the average per student funding in 2026/27 will stand at £6,874, compared to £6,219 in the 2024/25 academic year.In the 2026/27 academic year, we are also introducing a high value courses premium (HVCP) for construction. This is additional funding to encourage and support an increase in skilled construction workers. We will continue to fund the demographic increase in 16 to 19-year-olds, providing significant investment to ensure there are valuable and high-quality post-16 places for every student that wants one, supporting our economy and enabling young people to be able to progress and thrive.

What assessment his Department made of the potential merits of including a Director of Midwifery on the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce.

When setting up the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, careful consideration has been given to ensuring a diversity of experience, region, and discipline across the maternity and neonatal system.We recognise that the inclusion of midwifery perspectives and expertise is vital to developing an action plan that drives real, lasting change. For example, its membership includes the Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, and the Chief Midwifery Officer at the Norwegian Directorate of Health.The taskforce will also be supported by a wider range of experts as part of expert reference groups that will bring broader views and perspectives. This includes a dedicated workforce, clinical, and academic group, bringing together Directors of Midwifery with other senior and frontline professionals, ensuring the taskforce benefits from a wide range of perspectives. Other groups span charitable and grassroots organisations, families and seldom heard voices, and regulatory and investigatory bodies.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she will publish a response to the consultation on reforming the approach to floods funding.

On 14 October 2025, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy. Further information can be found here.

With reference to the Answer of 1 May 2024 to Question 19413 on NHS: Expenditure, how much NHS England, clinical commissioning groups and integrated care boards spent in aggregate on (a) mental health services, (b) acute health services, (c) NHS community health services (d) social care services, (e) primary medical services, (f) specialised services, (g) NHS continuing healthcare, and all other recorded spending categories in each financial year since 2015-16; and how much those organisations plan to spend in aggregate in each of those areas in the 2025-26 financial year.

The table attached sets out the spend categories for the specified services commissioned by NHS England and the integrated care boards, formerly the clinical commissioning groups, using audited figures between 2015/16 to 2024/25. Information for 2025/26 is unvalidated and not quality assured. In-year data is not routinely reported on with the breakdown of spend used this answer and would be subject to material change between plan and outturn as a result. 75% of NHS England commissioned social services are within the community services line.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the disaggregation of local authority responsibilities in the context of local government reorganisation on (a) flood management and (b) resilience planning.

Lead Local Flood Authorities are required, under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, to develop and maintain a strategy for managing local flood risk. They also have a duty to collaborate with other flood risk management authorities and to keep a register of flood risk management assets. During the local government reorganisation process, councils continue to deliver their business‑as‑usual services and duties, which remain unchanged until reorganisation is complete. Commitments undertaken by existing councils will become the responsibility of any new unitary authorities, the exact details of which will be worked out and planned for in the transition period jointly with the new and predecessor councils. Local government reorganisation remains a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create stronger local councils empowered across local services, equipped to drive economic growth, improve local public services, and empower their communities.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of local government reorganisation on the (a) implementation of transport infrastructure projects and (b) strategic planning.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the lead department for the planning system, and the Department for Transport works with it closely on the impacts of local government reorganisation. Existing district councils have responsibilities for taxi licencing and spatial planning, but transport infrastructure is generally delivered by county and unitary authorities. New unitary authorities formed by local government reorganisation should have appropriate scale to effectively deliver transport infrastructure projects and, outside of Strategic Authorities, to undertake their local transport authority responsibilities.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that decisions relating to local government reorganisation meet relevant (a) public sector equality duties and (b) provisions of the Equality Act 2010.

Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence, including governance and service delivery considerations. All public bodies, including the Government, are required to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. This duty applies to the local government reorganisation process.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the disaggregation of services in local government reorganisation proposals on (a) governance and (b) service delivery.

Decisions on the most appropriate option for each area will be judgements in the round, having regard to the statutory guidance and the available evidence, including governance and service delivery considerations. All public bodies, including the Government, are required to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. This duty applies to the local government reorganisation process.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of local government reorganisation on educational services for children with SEND.

The department fully recognises the importance of ensuring that any structural changes to local government protect the safety, wellbeing, and life chances of children and young people. The department is already working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to put in place resource, structures and processes that support effective reorganisation, including in relation to provision of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services, to ensure that we improve outcomes for children as these changes take place.The department is reviewing all local government reorganisation (LGR) proposals and will provide feedback to MHCLG, with a particular emphasis on how proposals will ensure the effective delivery of SEND, children’s social care and education services and reforms. The department will also work with individual local authorities throughout the LGR process to ensure local, contextual knowledge is embedded into feedback provided.

Media and Sport, whether her Department requires sports bodies in receipt of public funding to demonstrate how their participation policies promote inclusion and safe access to grassroots sport for transgender people.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that sport is a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. Under the Code for Sports Governance, all National Governing Bodies (NGBs) receiving public funding must have robust inclusion policies in place. NGBs are responsible for setting their own policies, taking into account the specific requirements of their sport. They are supported in this through guidance developed by our Sports Councils, who are currently considering the implications of the Supreme Court ruling on this guidance.The Government continues to work closely with Sport England to monitor how NGBs deliver on their inclusion targets, ensuring that grassroots sport remains a safe space for everyone to stay active.

Media and Sport, what oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that national governing bodies receiving funding from Sport England assess and mitigate safeguarding risks for transgender participants arising from their eligibility policies.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that sport is a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. Under the Code for Sports Governance, all National Governing Bodies (NGBs) receiving public funding must have robust inclusion policies in place. NGBs are responsible for setting their own policies, taking into account the specific requirements of their sport. They are supported in this through guidance developed by our Sports Councils, who are currently considering the implications of the Supreme Court ruling on this guidance.The Government continues to work closely with Sport England to monitor how NGBs deliver on their inclusion targets, ensuring that grassroots sport remains a safe space for everyone to stay active.

What data her Department holds on the number of prosecutions under the Vagrancy Act 1824 in the last five years.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) holds management information which shows the number of offences charged by way of the Vagrancy Act 1824 in which a prosecution commenced. The table below shows the number of these offences from 1st April 2020 to 30th September 2025. 2020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025April - Sept 2025Vagrancy Act 18241,0791,222829662633335Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System The figures relate to the number of offences and not the number of individual defendants prosecuted. It can be the case that an individual defendant is charged with more than one offence against the same complainant. No data are held showing the final outcome or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at finalisation. Volumes provided for the financial year 2020-2021 have been impacted due to court closures and recovery during Covid-19 from Mid-March to the end of June 2020.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether a letter of comfort or other formal assurance has been given to allow Thames Water to issue debt to finance South East Strategic Reservoir Option.

No letter of comfort or formal assurance has been provided by Defra to Thames Water on the financing of the White Horse Reservoir (formerly SESRO).

When his Department plans to release an impact assessment for changes to the NICE cost-effectiveness threshold.

There are no plans to publish an impact assessment or details of the modelling in relation to changes to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence cost-effectiveness threshold. Information included in the impact assessment is commercially sensitive.The United Kingdom and United States’ pharmaceutical deal is a vital investment that builds on the strength of our National Health Service and world leading life sciences sector.

Whether she has issued guidance to early years educational settings on the use of screens in nurseries.

The ‘Early years foundation stage’ (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards and requirements early years providers must meet to ensure children have the best start in life and are kept healthy and safe. Details about the framework are available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68c024cb8c6d992f23edd79c/Early_years_foundation_stage_statutory_framework_-_for_group_and_school-based_providers.pdf.pdf.The department has published guidance to inform practitioners about online safety and appropriate device usage in early years settings, including an ‘Internet safety’ page on the Help for Early Years Providers platform here: https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/internet-safety. This includes information on how device use affects development, outlining both benefits and challenges.Following the publication of new screen time guidance for parents, we will update this page to provide further emphasis on screen time and outline considerations around adult use of technology within settings. We will also incorporate updated guidance into the EYFS frameworks and review Development Matters to include information on screen time and digital literacy.

How lipoedema is classified within NICE guidance and NHS commissioning frameworks; and whether he plans to review the categorisation of lipoedema-related interventions to ensure they reflect clinical need.

Lipoedema services in England are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs), which are responsible for assessing the needs of their local populations and determining the most appropriate services to support people with long‑term conditions such as lipoedema.There is no single national specification for lipoedema services. Instead, ICBs draw on a range of national guidance and best‑practice resources when designing care pathways. These include guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and best‑practice frameworks produced by bodies such as Wounds UK and the Royal College of General Practitioners. This helps ensure that services are safe, effective, and based on the best available evidence.Most people with lipoedema are supported through primary and community care services, including assessment by local lymphoedema teams, compression therapy, advice on skin care and movement, and support with self‑management. These services aim to help people manage symptoms and maintain mobility and quality of life.NICE classifies lipoedema within its interventional procedures guidance on the use of liposuction for chronic lipoedema, reference code HTG618, as a chronic, often painful, and progressive condition characterised by the abnormal, symmetrical accumulation of fat in the legs, hips, buttocks, and sometimes arms. In this guidance, NICE concluded that current evidence on both safety and effectiveness is limited and, therefore, recommends that liposuction should only be undertaken within the context of research or under rigorous governance arrangements. This guidance informs, but does not mandate, local commissioning decisions. NICE will review this guidance once the full results of the ongoing LIPLEG clinical trial are available, and will update its recommendations if new evidence supports doing so.