Written questions by Dillon.

What recent assessment the Government has made of the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023 in addressing online content that encourages, promotes or provides instructions relating to eating disorders.

The Government recognises the serious harm caused by online content that encourages, promotes or provides instructions relating to eating disorders.The Online Safety Act 2023 makes platforms legally responsible for keeping people, especially children, safe online. All providers must mitigate the risks of illegal harm, including encouraging serious self-harm, on their services. Services likely to be accessed by children must also take steps to mitigate risks to children, including exposure to content relating to eating disorders.Ofcom is responsible for ensuring that services uphold these duties. Its ‘Small But Risky Services Taskforce’ focuses on smaller platforms that host or promote the most acute harms, including self-harm and eating disorder content. These services are identified not by their size, but by the disproportionate level of harm they may present to UK users. The Taskforce has already engaged extensively with high-risk services associated with eating disorders and has assessed over 20 services relating to this harm, with over half identified as high-risk for eating disorder content.The Department continues to work across Government to ensure that online safety measures support wider public health objectives and protect children and young people from harmful content.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that rural shops have (a) reliable broadband and (b) reliable mobile connectivity.

The government is continuing to work in partnership with industry to rollout gigabit coverage and maintain a stable pro‑competition regulatory environment that encourages private investment.This is complemented by Project Gigabit, where we are delivering gigabit-capable connections to premises not included in suppliers’ commercial delivery plans. As of the end of December 2025, over 1.3 million homes and businesses in rural areas across the UK had been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through government-funded programmes.More than one million further premises, which includes rural shops, have been included in over £2.4 billion worth of Project Gigabit contracts. This includes approximately 910 homes and businesses in Newbury constituency.In Ofcom’s Connected Nations Report 2025 it was reported that the Newbury constituency has almost 100% geographic 4G coverage from at least one mobile network operator, and 96% coverage from all operators. Businesses should have access to the high-quality connectivity that allows them to thrive, and it is the government’s ambition that all populated areas should have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. Each of the network operators have set out delivery and investment plans that align with this government’s ambition.

What steps her Department is taking to raise public awareness of vehicle write-off categories.

The Government has no plans to promote awareness of vehicle write-off categories or to make the Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motor Vehicle Salvage (‘Code of Practice’) statutory. This is because the code is owned and was established by the motor insurance industry through the ABI, as part of their efforts to improve road safety by ensuring that unsafe vehicles do not end up back on the roads.There is already guidance titled ‘Scrapping your vehicle and insurance write-offs’ which can be found at gov.uk, this includes information on vehicle write-off categories and how and when to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.The Government also has no plans to review existing guidance with regards to electric and hybrid vehicles. The latest version of the ‘Code of Practice’, published in May 2025, includes guidance on ‘High Voltage (HV) Battery Electric Vehicles (Over 60 Volts)’.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that youth and enrichment initiatives across government are aligned to (a) maximise impact, (b) avoid duplication and (c) better join-up in school and out-of-schools offers.

The Government's National Youth Strategy is a 10-year plan designed to ensure that every young person nationwide has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them, and a community they feel a part of. Halving the participation gap in enriching activities between disadvantaged young people and their peers is one of the clear ambitions of this cross-government strategy.As part of our commitment to this ambition, DCMS, in partnership with DfE, will invest £22.5 million over 3 years to enable up to 400 schools in areas of greatest need across England to deliver a youth-voice led, tailored enrichment offer. This funding will help schools meet the Enrichment Framework benchmarks and improve join-up between in-school and out-of-school enrichment offers.The programme will work in tandem with other initiatives, including the Richer Young Lives fund, which will invest over £60 million across the next three years to enable organisations to deliver high-quality youth work and activities, and the £132.5 million ‘Every Child Can’ programme, which will increase disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities in the culture, sport, and wider youth sectors.We are also working closely with the Department for Education to ensure wider government programmes - including the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, National Centre for Arts and Music Education, and Music Hubs - complement the programme and avoid duplication.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of skills shortages in the vehicle repair and salvage sector on (a) road safety, (b) insurance costs and (c) repair times, in the context of increasing vehicle complexity.

In October 2024, we formed the motor insurance taskforce, which worked across government, bringing together departments and independent regulators to understand the complexities of the market and to agree a set of actions to help stabilise and reduce premiums. The final taskforce report was published on 10 December 2025. Member departments included the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Education, who as part of the taskforce, are acting to address the broader factors that contribute to the cost of claims. This includes transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, which will offer greater flexibility to employers and learners and support the industrial strategy. For example, government is providing £182m over the next 3 years to develop engineering skills to allow the development of short courses specially targeted at engineering skills to support the advanced manufacturing, clean energy and digital sectors. It will also fund the rollout of 14 new Technical Excellence Colleges (TEC), including four in Advanced Manufacturing and related sectors. There has also been an increase in vehicle technicians, mechanics and electrician apprenticeships with nearly 13,000 completed in the last 5 reported years and 4,000 of these in the latest year, 2024/25. The number of EV-trained technicians is also increasing through industry-led measures such as upskilling and continuous professional development.

What considerations her Department has given to placing the ABI Salvage Code of Practice on a statutory footing.

The Government has no plans to promote awareness of vehicle write-off categories or to make the Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motor Vehicle Salvage (‘Code of Practice’) statutory. This is because the code is owned and was established by the motor insurance industry through the ABI, as part of their efforts to improve road safety by ensuring that unsafe vehicles do not end up back on the roads.There is already guidance titled ‘Scrapping your vehicle and insurance write-offs’ which can be found at gov.uk, this includes information on vehicle write-off categories and how and when to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.The Government also has no plans to review existing guidance with regards to electric and hybrid vehicles. The latest version of the ‘Code of Practice’, published in May 2025, includes guidance on ‘High Voltage (HV) Battery Electric Vehicles (Over 60 Volts)’.

Whether she plans to review existing guidance on the categorisation and repair of written-off vehicles, in the context of advancing vehicle technologies, including electric and hybrid vehicles.

The Government has no plans to promote awareness of vehicle write-off categories or to make the Association of British Insurers’ (ABI) Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motor Vehicle Salvage (‘Code of Practice’) statutory. This is because the code is owned and was established by the motor insurance industry through the ABI, as part of their efforts to improve road safety by ensuring that unsafe vehicles do not end up back on the roads.There is already guidance titled ‘Scrapping your vehicle and insurance write-offs’ which can be found at gov.uk, this includes information on vehicle write-off categories and how and when to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.The Government also has no plans to review existing guidance with regards to electric and hybrid vehicles. The latest version of the ‘Code of Practice’, published in May 2025, includes guidance on ‘High Voltage (HV) Battery Electric Vehicles (Over 60 Volts)’.

What steps his Department is taking to support apprenticeship programmes and technical training in the vehicle repair and salvage sector, in the context of the skills gap in the industry.

Several apprenticeships, including Level 2 Autocare Technician, Level 3 Accident Repair technician and Level 4 Vehicle Damage Assessor, are available to support employers and learners in the vehicle repair and salvage sector to develop the skills they need. To support apprenticeship opportunities in all sectors, this government is investing an additional £725 million to deliver the next phase of the growth and skills levy and meet our ambition to support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships. We will launch a pilot with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to better connect young people to local apprenticeship opportunities and fully fund SME apprenticeships for eligible 16–24-year-olds from the next academic year. For 16-19-year-olds, the T Level in Engineering and Manufacturing for Maintenance, Installation and Repair includes a specialism in service maintenance and repair activities for light and electric vehicles, helping to equip students with the skills needed for these in-demand sectors. We have recently closed the consultation seeking views on our proposals on the Post-16 Level 3 and Below Pathways. We will be publishing the government’s response to the consultation in due course, which will set out our plans for V Levels, T Levels and qualifications at Level 2.

What processes are in place to identify and manage conflicts of interest involving members of the board of AWE.

AWE operates within an assured framework of corporate governance arrangements to ensure that the company conducts its business ethically, transparently and in the public interest. As part of these arrangements, all AWE Board members are vetted for potential professional conflicts of interest and are subject to the highest levels of security vetting. A register of interests is updated at each AWE Board meeting to ensure that no Board member facing a conflict of interest participates in related discussions or decision making.

What information his Department holds on the progress of consultations between AWE and Prospect.

I am taking a keen interest in the negotiations and continue to urge dialogue, meaningful consultation and a constructive resolution between AWE and Prospect.The Ministry of Defence keeps AWE’s processes under regular review to support the delivery of crucial defence outputs, both now and in the future.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of workforce planning and recruitment practices at AWE in recent years.

I am taking a keen interest in the negotiations and continue to urge dialogue, meaningful consultation and a constructive resolution between AWE and Prospect.The Ministry of Defence keeps AWE’s processes under regular review to support the delivery of crucial defence outputs, both now and in the future.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce speeding on rural roads in Newbury constituency.

As part of the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January 2026, the department is exploring new sub-categories for rural roads to help target safety and speed management interventions more effectively, ensuring resources are focused where they will have the greatest impact.Local authorities have a duty under section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to manage the safe movement of vehicular and other traffic, including pedestrians, and are best placed to assess matters such as speed management interventions.Responsible authorities are asked to have regard to the Department for Transport’s Setting Local Speed Limits guidance, which ensures speed limits are set appropriately and consistently while allowing flexibility to respond to local circumstances.As committed to in the Strategy, the Government will be updating this guidance to further support local authorities in making well‑informed decisions about managing speed on their roads. Final decisions on local speed limits remain with the relevant authority, working with the police who are responsible for enforcement.

Whether she has made an estimate of the proportion of automotive technicians qualified to work on electric vehicles.

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK has the right vehicle maintenance and repair skills to remain at the forefront of the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). According to the Institute of the Motor Industry there are 71,942 qualified EV technicians. This means 26% of all technicians in the country are qualified to work on EVs, which make up about 13% of all licensed vehicles in the UK.

Whether her Department plans to review diversion routes for M4 closures to ensure that country lanes are not used.

For planned closures on the M4, National Highways will identify and review diversion routes in advance to ensure they are safe, suitable and appropriate for the surrounding road network, including for heavy goods vehicles. National Highways will agree diversion routes with the relevant local highway authorities, ensure they are clearly signed in line with national standards and ensure they are monitored while in operation. Diversion routes are kept under review and may be amended where issues are identified.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed hydrofluorocarbon phasedown reforms will include mandatory training requirements for the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump workforce.

The regulatory phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons has been in place since 2015, with the gradual transition of industry to alternative refrigerants occurring as the phasedown has continued. As stated in last year’s consultation document, the proposal put forward only covered reform of the phasedown. Other changes to the fluorinated gas regulatory framework may be considered in the future. The UK Government, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments, is committed to further exploring areas for fluorinated gas regulatory reform considered out of scope of the consultation, which could for example include training and certification relating to alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons. The current regulatory framework already sets minimum training and certification requirements for handling hydrofluorocarbons as regards refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump engineers receive training in handling flammable and toxic alternative refrigerants before the proposed hydrofluorocarbon phasedown adjustments take effect.

The regulatory phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons has been in place since 2015, with the gradual transition of industry to alternative refrigerants occurring as the phasedown has continued. As stated in last year’s consultation document, the proposal put forward only covered reform of the phasedown. Other changes to the fluorinated gas regulatory framework may be considered in the future. The UK Government, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments, is committed to further exploring areas for fluorinated gas regulatory reform considered out of scope of the consultation, which could for example include training and certification relating to alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons. The current regulatory framework already sets minimum training and certification requirements for handling hydrofluorocarbons as regards refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the performance of AJM Healthcare in delivering wheelchair services to the NHS.

The safety of all patients, whether they are treated in the National Health Service or the independent sector, is a top priority for the Government. There are a range of providers of NHS wheelchair services across England. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for monitoring service provision and effectively managing contracts with their commissioned providers.NHS England are aware there have been a number of separate complaints about the quality of services provided by AJM Healthcare, which are being dealt with on an individual basis by the Ombudsman’s office. NHS England supports ICBs to make improvements and commission effective, efficient, and personalised wheelchair services. Actions taken include:- establishing a national wheelchair dataset, where data has been collected quarterly from ICBs, formerly clinical commissioning groups, since July 2015 and which supports the drive for improvements in wheelchair services. This data looks at waiting times across the pathway to enable targeted action if improvement is required. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/national-wheelchair/- the Wheelchair Quality Framework, which was published on the 9 April 2025, and which was co-produced with key stakeholders, including Whizz Kids. The framework sets out quality standards and statutory requirements for ICBs, such as offering personal wheelchair budgets, with further information available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/wheelchair-quality-framework/- personal wheelchair budgets, with NHS England having introduced personal wheelchair budgets, including in legal rights, in 2019, providing a clear framework for ICBs to commission personalised wheelchair services which are outcomes focused and integrated. Personal wheelchair budgets give people greater choice over the wheelchair provided, with further information available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/guidance-on-the-legal-rights-to-have-personal-health-budgets-and-personal-wheelchair-budgets/

If he will make it his policy to end the use of body mass index as a criterion for determining eligibility for joint replacement surgery.

It is the responsibility of individual integrated care boards to determine clinical commissioning policies for their local areas, including eligibility for joint replacement surgery.As with all surgery, body mass index (BMI) should be considered as part of a holistic, personalised perioperative evaluation of the risks versus the clinical need for joint replacement surgery of an individual patient. BMI should not be considered in isolation as a barrier to surgery.As part of the NHS Elective Reform Plan, the Government has committed to expanding access to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme for patients waiting for hip and knee replacements. This will help optimise patients for their surgery, potentially leading to a reduced length of hospital stay and minimising their risk of post-operative complications.

Whether he plans to implement Hospice UK’s four-point plan for fair hospice funding.

Hospice UK’s four-point plan highlights key challenges faced by the hospice sector. We are addressing these concerns through wider reforms. The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Modern Service Framework (MSF) for England. The MSF will drive improvements in the services that patients and their families receive at the end of life and enable integrated care boards (ICBs) to address challenges in access, quality, and sustainability through the delivery of high-quality, personalised care. This will be aligned with the ambitions set out in the recently published 10-Year Health Plan.Through our MSF, we will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative care and end-of-life care services to ensure that services reduce variation in access and quality. Contracting and commissioning arrangements will be considered as part of this work. We recognise there is currently a mix of contracting models across the hospice sector, and by supporting ICBs to commission more strategically, we can move away from grant-based and block-contract models and help hospices’ ability to plan ahead.As part of the MSF’s development, we have invited colleagues from a range of organisations, including Hospice UK, to engage in this process. It would not be right to pre-empt exactly what will be in the final MSF at this time, as we develop it with our palliative care and end-of-life care stakeholders.Additionally, the Government has also invested significantly in the hospice sector, including £125 million of capital funding for adult and children and young people’s hospices in 2024/25 and 2025/26, with a further approximately £80 million of revenue funding support for children and young people’s hospices over the next three years in England.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to introduce animal welfare standards for imports to ensure that products produced in ways that are illegal in the UK cannot enter the UK market.

All agri-food products must comply with our import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. This includes ensuring imported meat products have been slaughtered to animal welfare standards equivalent to our domestic standards. The Government shares the public’s high regard for the high welfare standards we have in this country. As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, Defra will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. Defra recognises concerns about methods of production which are not permitted in the UK. While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases and other contextual reasons, Defra will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect our most sensitive sectors.