Written questions by Anderson.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of legalising recreational cannabis on (a) physical health, (b) mental health, (c) the NHS and (d) antisocial behaviour.

No.

How many hectares of arable farmland have been reallocated to (a) solar panels and (b) wind turbines since July 2024; and how many he plans to reallocate in the next four years.

The Government does not hold the information requested.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that Jewish people in the UK are not (a) physically and (b) verbally attacked.

There is no excuse for violence or abuse driven by antisemitic hatred and discrimination, and we support the police in taking the strongest possible action against those crimes.In her speech to the annual dinner of the Community Security Trust on 26 March, the Home Secretary made clear the Government’s commitment to protect Jewish communities against antisemitic attacks and other security threats - https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/home-secretary-speech-at-the-community-security-trustThe Jewish Community Protective Security (JCPS) Grant provides protective security measures (such as security personnel services, CCTV and alarm systems) at synagogues, Jewish educational establishments and community sites. It is managed on behalf of the Home Office by the Community Security Trust.From 2024/25 to 2027/28, the Community Security Trust has been allocated £18 million annually through the JCPS Grant to continue this important work. We continue to work closely with the CST to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities across the UK.

What steps she is taking to ensure the safety of staff at the Israeli embassy in London.

We take all appropriate steps to ensure the safety of diplomatic staff, however we do not comment on operational and security matters concerning individual locations and personnel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to secure the release of Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity.

Since day one, this Government has been clear that we need to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages cruelly detained by Hamas, better protection of civilians, significantly more aid consistently entering Gaza, and a path to long-term peace and stability. The remaining hostages must be released and the only way to return them safely is through a deal. The UK is playing an active role in coordination with our international partners and continues to urge all parties to re-engage in ceasefire negotiations to get the hostages out and to secure a permanent end to the conflict.

What steps his Department is taking to increase funding for research into lobular breast cancer.

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department of Health and Social Care invests over £1.6 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.The level of funding for research generally depends on funding applications received. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality, high impact funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including lobular cancer and ductal breast cancer.The Department of Health and Social Care has invested £29 million into the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden NIHR Biological Research Centre from 2022 to 2027, supporting their research on cancer and lobular breast cancer. This is complemented by wider investments into breast cancer research including, for example, a £1.3 million project to determine whether an abbreviated form of breast magnetic resonance imaging can detect breast cancers missed by screening through mammography, again including lobular breast cancer.Current NIHR funded research into breast cancer covers aspects of prevention, detection, treatment and follow-up care, which are relevant to both lobular and ductal breast cancer. Of 29 currently active studies, totalling £49.54m in funded awards, there is currently one active study designed to look at the impact of screening on ductal breast cancer diagnosis and treatment specifically.On 4 February 2025, the Department announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health (EDITH) trial is backed by £11 million of Government support via the NIHR.The Department of Health and Social Care recognises that further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and disease processes of cancer, including lobular and ductal breast cancer, to unlock pathways for developing new treatments. This type of discovery research is supported by the Medical Research Council, which is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, via UK Research and Innovation, though funding decisions are made independently from Government.

What the difference in funding levels is for research into (a) lobular and (b) ductal breast cancer.

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department of Health and Social Care invests over £1.6 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.The level of funding for research generally depends on funding applications received. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality, high impact funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including lobular cancer and ductal breast cancer.The Department of Health and Social Care has invested £29 million into the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden NIHR Biological Research Centre from 2022 to 2027, supporting their research on cancer and lobular breast cancer. This is complemented by wider investments into breast cancer research including, for example, a £1.3 million project to determine whether an abbreviated form of breast magnetic resonance imaging can detect breast cancers missed by screening through mammography, again including lobular breast cancer.Current NIHR funded research into breast cancer covers aspects of prevention, detection, treatment and follow-up care, which are relevant to both lobular and ductal breast cancer. Of 29 currently active studies, totalling £49.54m in funded awards, there is currently one active study designed to look at the impact of screening on ductal breast cancer diagnosis and treatment specifically.On 4 February 2025, the Department announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health (EDITH) trial is backed by £11 million of Government support via the NIHR.The Department of Health and Social Care recognises that further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and disease processes of cancer, including lobular and ductal breast cancer, to unlock pathways for developing new treatments. This type of discovery research is supported by the Medical Research Council, which is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, via UK Research and Innovation, though funding decisions are made independently from Government.

What his Department's long-term strategy is to help tackle the risk of lobular breast cancer.

Improving early diagnosis of cancer, including lobular breast cancer, is a priority for the Government. The Department will improve cancer survival rates and hit all National Health Service cancer waiting time targets, so that no patient waits longer than they should.We are working with cancer partners, including charities and patient representative bodies, to develop a National Cancer Plan. The plan will include more details about how to improve outcomes for all tumour types, including lobular breast cancer.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of online taxi app companies on (a) independent taxi companies and (b) their drivers.

Government supports choice for passengers in the taxi and private hire vehicle sector. It is a matter for taxi drivers if they wish to use a taxi app company as an intermediary between them and the passenger. All private hire vehicle journeys must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. It is for private hire vehicle drivers to decide which operators they wish to work with, subject to licensing requirements. The Department’s taxi and private hire vehicle survey provides information on the numbers of licensed taxi and private hire vehicle drivers, vehicles and private hire vehicle operators and how these have changed since the adoption by passengers and the sector of new technology.

Whether her Department holds data on changes in bus usage in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England since the increase in the bus fare cap.

The bus fare cap was increased in January 2025. Currently, the only available data relating to bus usage after this date comes from the Domestic Transport Usage by Mode publication available on GOV.UK, which contains daily figures at the Great Britain outside London level only. No data are held on bus usage at (a) constituency level. On 19 June, daily data for (b) Nottinghamshire are due to be published on GOV.UK for the first time as part of the new Daily local bus passenger and trip statistics publication. In November, annual data for the year ending March 2025 covering (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England are due to be published on GOV.UK as part of the regular Annual bus statistics publication.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54343 on Tobacco: Smuggling, how many and what proportion of those referrals resulted in a penalty; and what the average penalty was.

Of the 312 referrals received by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) from local authority Trading Standards, 87 have so far progressed through casework to the issuing of a financial penalty for breaches of the Tobacco Track and Trace requirements. The average penalty charge to date has been £6,005. The progression of the remaining, and future referrals are expected to result in additional penalty charges being issued.

What steps she is taking to ensure that people (a) in Ashfield constituency and (b) nationwide have access to face to face banking services.

The Government recognises the importance of face-to-face banking to communities, businesses and high streets in Ashfield and across the UK. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 160 are already open. Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, allowing people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services. Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, assesses a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions where it considers that a community requires additional cash services, such as a banking hub or deposit service. Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

What assessment has she made of the potential impact of money laundering by Turkish barber shops on (a) the community and (b) the wider economy.

Money laundering not only enables serious and organised crime and national security threats but impacts our communities by drawing people into crime, gangs, and exploitation. It also undermines the integrity of our financial system and impacts on economic prosperity and growth. Driving it down is an important part of this Government’s key missions to deliver safer streets and economic growth.We know that cash intensive businesses such as barber shops can be exploited by criminals who seek to launder their cash enabling them to profit from their illegal activities. Addressing cash-based money laundering is therefore one of the strategic priorities of the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC), which sits within the National Crime Agency. In March, the NECC coordinated a three-week crackdown against barbershops and other cash intensive business across England and Wales involving 19 different police forces and Regional Organised Crime Units, as well as national agencies including HMRC, Trading Standards and Home Office Immigration Enforcement. In total, 380 premises were visited across the three-week operation, with officers securing freezing orders over bank accounts totalling more than £1m, executing 84 warrants and arresting 35 individuals. Officers also seized more than £40,000 in cash, 200,000 cigarettes, 7,000 packs of tobacco, over 8,000 illegal vapes and two vehicles.This is the first phase of targeted action against criminals and organised crime groups who use high-street businesses to launder criminal monies, and the NECC is committed to continue working with Policing and partners to reduce this threat.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54350 on Cash Dispensing: Ashfield, how she defines the reasonable provision of free cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal current accounts.

As the regulator responsible for the access to cash regime, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) defines reasonable provision on a geographic basis, whilst having regard to the cash access policy statement set out by HMT. The FCA’s rules set out that 95% of people in urban areas should be within 1 mile of a cash access point and 95% of people in rural areas should be within 3 miles of a cash access point. However, the FCA also notes that assessments should take into account local factors when considering whether there is a deficiency of cash services in a local community. Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website. In circumstances where LINK considers that a community requires additional cash services, the financial services sector will provide a suitable shared solution, such as an ATM, cash deposit service, or shared Banking Hub, for cash users in that community. To ensure the reasonable provision of cash and banking services, the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK, which will provide individuals up and down the country with critical cash and banking services. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 225 hubs have been announced so far, and over 150 are already open.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54343 on Tobacco: Smuggling, how many and what proportion of those referrals resulted in the revocation of the business's economic operator registration.

The majority of referrals received so far have been in respect of businesses who do not hold an economic operator registration because they do not sell, or intend to sell, any legitimate tobacco products. Under The Tobacco Products (Traceability and Security Features) Regulations 2019, a valid Economic Operator ID (EOID) holder who breaches the requirements on a second or subsequent occasion, may have their EOID registration revoked for either 6 months or 5 years. No referrals have met this criterion so far.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) the Family Farm Tax and (b) increased solar panel construction on arable land on national food security.

The Government recognises that food security is national security. We need a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports British farmers and food producers. The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses and fixing the public finances. The reforms announced by the Government are expected to result in up to around 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others, and compared to the position before 1992. On solar panel construction, the Government recognises that there will be questions about the effects of land use change and impacts on the local environment. However, the Government does not believe that the rollout of solar generation poses a risk to food security. Planning guidance makes clear that developers should utilise brownfield land wherever possible. Where agricultural land must be used, lower-quality land should be preferred. In any case, the total area of land used for solar is very small – less than 0.1% of UK land, as of September 2024.

What steps her Department is taking to improve (a) reliability and (b) frequency on the Robin Hood Line in Nottinghamshire.

The Department meets the train operator every four weeks to discuss performance. Last period 89 per cent of Robin Hood Line services arrived on time or within three minutes. Currently, there are no plans to increase the frequency of services on this route.

What steps his Department is taking to improve working conditions for people who work in distribution centres.

Government cares about working conditions and employment rights, that is why we are delivering the Employment Rights Bill. The Bill will deliver significant benefits, including better working conditions, more secure work, reducing inequalities and improving industrial relations. Stronger employment rights for workers will ensure a fairer and more equal labour market. For example, over 2 million people on zero or low hours contracts could benefit from the right to guaranteed hours, and the right to payment for shifts cancelled, moved or cut at short notice.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate on towns with large vehicle production industries.

The government does not hold data on how the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate has impacted on towns with large vehicle production industries specifically. However, we speak regularly to all the major UK automotive stakeholders to take the temperature of the sector and their concerns. The government is committed to ensuring the transition to zero emissions works for the industry. That is why we introduced significant changes to the Mandate in April 2025, allowing for greater flexibility in meeting ZEV targets and extending the sale of hybrid vehicles to 2035.

Whether she is taking steps to give the police increased powers to tackle antisocial behaviour.

Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are strengthening the powers available to the police, local authorities and other relevant agencies to tackle ASB, including introducing new Respect Orders to tackle the most persistent ASB offenders.Unlike the existing Civil Injunction, which the Respect Order partially replaces, breach will be a criminal offence, enforceable by arrest and tried in the criminal court. Penalty for breach will include community sentences, unlimited fines, and prison time for the most serious breaches.We are also introducing, through the Crime and Policing Bill, the following measures:Removing the requirement for a police officer to issue a warning before seizing a motor-vehicle being used to cause ASB.Extending the maximum exclusion period for dispersal directions from 48 hours to 72 hours, with a mandatory review at 48 hours.Increasing the upper limit for a fixed penalty notice for breaches of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) or a Community Protection Notice (CPN) from £100 to £500.Extending the timeframe that relevant agencies can apply to a magistrates’ court for a closure order from 48 hours after service of a closure notice to 72 hours.Extending the power to issue closure notices to registered social housing providers.Extending the powers available under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) to allow CSAS officers to issue fixed penalty notices for breach of CPNs and PSPOs.Creating a duty for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to promote awareness of the ASB Case Review in their police force area and provide a route for victims to query decisions via their office.Introducing new ASB data reporting requirements by creating a power for the Home Secretary to make regulations requiring local bodies, such as councils and social housing providers, to report specified ASB data to the Home Office.