Written questions by Smart.

What steps he is taking to ensure that patients experiencing mental health problems are provided with comprehensive information on (a) potential side effects, (b) interactions with other medications and (c) the long-term implications of any medication they are advised to take.

Any decision to prescribe a medicine should be made following a conversation between the prescriber and patient. This is known as shared decision making and should involve discussing with the patient the risks, benefits and possible consequences of different options, along with the prescriber’s clinical judgement.NHS England has recently published decision support tools on depression and bipolar to help individuals to compare possible treatment options, and a leaflet on the safer use of valproate. Unless the information is on the pack, all dispensed medicines must include a patient information leaflet, which provides information on using the medicine safely. Specialist mental health pharmacists are available at the majority of mental health trusts to discuss medication options with patients, and the Medicines A-Z website and NHS App provide information about medicines and mental health.The Mental Health Bill extends access to advocacy support, currently only available to patients detained under the Mental Health Act, to all patients in mental health inpatient settings. Advocates support patients to understand and exercise their rights. The bill also introduces measures to encourage people to create an Advance Choice Document while they are well. This is a written record of their wishes, including their preferences on medication, so that these can later inform decisions during a mental health crisis. The bill also raises the threshold on when compulsory medication can be administered to a patient, by requiring that there must be a compelling reason to override the patient’s refusal, whether made at the time or in advance. Urgent and compulsory medication and electroconvulsive therapy can also only be given under a more limited set of circumstances. These measures aim to better balance patient autonomy and the ability to administer treatment at a time of mental health crisis.

If he will take steps to help support patients with mental health problems in exercising their right to refuse medication in NHS settings.

Any decision to prescribe a medicine should be made following a conversation between the prescriber and patient. This is known as shared decision making and should involve discussing with the patient the risks, benefits and possible consequences of different options, along with the prescriber’s clinical judgement.NHS England has recently published decision support tools on depression and bipolar to help individuals to compare possible treatment options, and a leaflet on the safer use of valproate. Unless the information is on the pack, all dispensed medicines must include a patient information leaflet, which provides information on using the medicine safely. Specialist mental health pharmacists are available at the majority of mental health trusts to discuss medication options with patients, and the Medicines A-Z website and NHS App provide information about medicines and mental health.The Mental Health Bill extends access to advocacy support, currently only available to patients detained under the Mental Health Act, to all patients in mental health inpatient settings. Advocates support patients to understand and exercise their rights. The bill also introduces measures to encourage people to create an Advance Choice Document while they are well. This is a written record of their wishes, including their preferences on medication, so that these can later inform decisions during a mental health crisis. The bill also raises the threshold on when compulsory medication can be administered to a patient, by requiring that there must be a compelling reason to override the patient’s refusal, whether made at the time or in advance. Urgent and compulsory medication and electroconvulsive therapy can also only be given under a more limited set of circumstances. These measures aim to better balance patient autonomy and the ability to administer treatment at a time of mental health crisis.

When he plans to respond to the correspondence of 22 April 2025 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, Ref LS05024.

I replied to the hon. Member’s letter on 14 August 2025.

Whether her Department has provided guidance to police forces following the proscription of Palestine Action on the policing of protests.

The police are operationally independent of government and have significant experience in policing protests and ensuring proscription orders are implemented and in line with legislation while facilitating peaceful and lawful protest.

When he plans to respond to the correspondence of 10 June 2025 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, Ref LS07270.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Baroness Merron) replied to the hon. Member’s letter on 29 August 2025.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to shotgun licensing on clay pigeon shooting.

The Government intends to have a public consultation later this year seeking views on the alignment of the controls on shotguns with other firearms.

What steps her Department plans to take to help ensure that police officers have the (a) time and (b) resources to seize (i) illegally modified and (ii) off-road bikes.

The Home Office does not centrally hold data on the number of illegally modified or off-road bikes that have been seized by police in England and Wales, and could only collate that information for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Grant, £200 million has been allocated to forces for 2025/26 to support the Government’s commitment to deliver additional personnel into neighbourhood policing. This includes ensuring that every force area will have a dedicated lead officer for anti-social behaviour who will work with communities to develop an action plan to reduce and prevent ASB.The Crime and Policing Bill will give police greater powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving vehicles of all types, including e-scooters and off-road and illegally modified bikes, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles. The Government also recently consulted on proposals to allow the police to more quickly dispose of seized vehicles which have been used anti-socially.

How many (a) illegally modified and (b) off-road bikes have been seized by (i) Greater Manchester Police and (ii) all police forces in the last 12 months.

The Home Office does not centrally hold data on the number of illegally modified or off-road bikes that have been seized by police in England and Wales, and could only collate that information for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Grant, £200 million has been allocated to forces for 2025/26 to support the Government’s commitment to deliver additional personnel into neighbourhood policing. This includes ensuring that every force area will have a dedicated lead officer for anti-social behaviour who will work with communities to develop an action plan to reduce and prevent ASB.The Crime and Policing Bill will give police greater powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving vehicles of all types, including e-scooters and off-road and illegally modified bikes, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles. The Government also recently consulted on proposals to allow the police to more quickly dispose of seized vehicles which have been used anti-socially.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of allowing qualified non-medical prescribers to prescribe (a) dihydrocodeine, (b) testosterone and (c) other controlled drugs on women’s healthcare.

The Department supports non-medical professions to use legal mechanisms to prescribe, administer and/or supply medicines to patients, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. Some non-medical healthcare professionals train as independent prescribers, allowing them to prescribe a wide range of medicines, including testosterone, dihydrocodeine and some controlled drugs, within their professional scope of practice. In addition, some non-medical professions can also supply and/or administer specified controlled drugs via Patient Group Directions.The Department also supports further expansion of medicines responsibilities of non-medical healthcare professionals. Officials are carefully considering proposals relating to a range of healthcare professionals, as part of wider work concerning non-medical prescribing. However, currently, the Department has made no assessment of the potential impact of allowing qualified non-medical prescribers to prescribe dihydrocodeine, testosterone and other controlled drugs as part of women’s health care.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the use of e-scooters in (a) town centres and (b) neighbourhoods.

The Home Office does not centrally hold data on the number of illegally modified or off-road bikes that have been seized by police in England and Wales, and could only collate that information for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) and the harm it causes is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Grant, £200 million has been allocated to forces for 2025/26 to support the Government’s commitment to deliver additional personnel into neighbourhood policing. This includes ensuring that every force area will have a dedicated lead officer for anti-social behaviour who will work with communities to develop an action plan to reduce and prevent ASB.The Crime and Policing Bill will give police greater powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving vehicles of all types, including e-scooters and off-road and illegally modified bikes, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles. The Government also recently consulted on proposals to allow the police to more quickly dispose of seized vehicles which have been used anti-socially.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of the requirement in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 that micro-entities publicly file their profit and loss accounts on small businesses.

The Department is currently engaging with stakeholders on proposed changes in filing requirements at Companies House, to ensure they strike the right balance between tackling economic crime and avoiding undue burden on business. In 2022, the department estimated that proposed changes to the small accounts regime, which included among other policies the requirement for small and micro-entities to file profit and loss accounts, would result in one-off familiarisation costs to business of £3.2 million in the first year, or £0.4m annual net direct costs to business over 10 years. Recurrent costs from profit and loss account filing were estimated to be negligible.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) promote respect in workplaces across the UK and (b) support people who have been the victims of bullying at work.

The Government is promoting fairness, equality and wellbeing in the workplace through a range of measures in its Employment Rights Bill. For example, the Bill would require employers to take "all reasonable steps" to prevent sexual harassment of their employees and strengthen protections for whistleblowers by making it explicit that sexual harassment can be the basis for a protected disclosure. While there is no legal definition of 'bullying' in the UK, a range of existing laws protect workers from unwanted behaviour in the workplace. The Government supports these protections by providing guidance for workers, businesses, and funding the Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service (Acas).

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories plans to respond to the correspondence of 12 May 2025 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, ref LS06284.

A response to the hon. member for Hazel Grove's correspondence of 12 May 2025, ref LS06284, was sent on 22 August.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories plans to respond to the correspondence of 7 May 2025 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, Ref LS06171.

A response to the hon. member for Hazel Grove's correspondence of 12 May 2025, ref LS06171, was sent on 22 August.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure private tenants are impacted by the Warm Homes Plan.

The Warm Homes Plan will help households, including those in the private rented sector, take up measures like solar panels, heat pumps, batteries and insulation, helping them save money on their bills and benefit from cleaner, cheaper heating. The Government has pledged to take action to stand with tenants and deliver the safety and security of warmer, cheaper homes. We have recently consulted on improving energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector in England and Wales. The consultation closed on the 2nd May and we are currently reviewing responses. Further detail will be given in the Warm Homes Plan when it is published in October.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increasing draft duty relief for (a) consumers, (b) pubs and (c) breweries in Hazel Grove constituency.

The Chancellor’s draught rate cut at Autumn Budget 2024 applied to approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This took a penny of duty off a typical strength pint.Draught beer and cider now pay 13.9% less in duty than their packaged equivalents – an increase of over 50% on the previous draught discount of 9.2%.The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events. The Government welcomes representations from the beer and pub sectors in advance of the Budget.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including dementia specialist nurses as core members within plans for a new Neighbourhood Health Service.

The Neighbourhood Health Service will bring together teams of professionals closer to people’s homes to work together to provide comprehensive care in the community. We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations, and this could include dementia specialist nurses. While we will be clear on the outcomes we expect, we will give significant licence to tailor the approach to local need. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean the service will look different in rural communities, coastal towns, or deprived inner cities.The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services, which may include dementia specialist nurses/admiral nurses, based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE recommends providing people living with dementia with a single named health or social care professional who is responsible for coordinating their care.Under the 10-Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services.  We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the rate at which asbestos is removed from schools in (a) Greater Manchester, (b) Stockport borough and (c) Hazel Grove constituency.

The department expects all local authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts to have robust plans in place to manage asbestos in school buildings effectively, in line with their legal duties, drawing on appropriate professional advice and our published guidance.Asbestos management in schools and other buildings is regulated by the Health and Safety Executive. We follow their expert advice that, provided asbestos-containing materials are in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed, it is generally safest to manage them in place, otherwise, they should be removed.Asbestos is often removed over time as part of wider rebuilding, refurbishment or major repairs work, including projects delivered by the department, such as the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP), or delivered by responsible bodies, such as local authorities or academy trusts.The government has given a long-term commitment for capital investment through to 2034/35 to improve the condition of schools and colleges across England, investing almost £3 billion per year by 2034/35 in capital maintenance and renewal, rising from £2.4 billion in 2025/26. This is in addition to investment in continuing and expanding the SRP, with a further 250 schools to be selected within the next two years.

Communities and Local Government, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention plans to respond to the correspondence of 16 May 2025 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, ref LS06955.

The department provided a response on 29 August 2025.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that people affected by dementia in the Hazel Grove constituency can access guaranteed specialist care.

The provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services, which may include dementia specialist nurses, based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Dementia care in the Hazel Grove constituency is delivered as part of the wider NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership.Under the 10 Year Health Plan, those living with dementia will benefit from improved care planning and better services. We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for frailty and dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.