Written questions by Evans.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the insolvency of NRS Healthcare Limited on (a) patient care, (b) local authorities’ duty of care and (c) relevant contracted businesses.

The principal responsibility for ensuring the provision of disability aids and community equipment lies with local authorities (LAs), as does the responsibility to maintain continuity of care for those who are eligible.Nonetheless, the Department has played a significant role in supporting LAs and the National Health Service in the period leading up to and following the insolvency of NRS Healthcare (NRS).Working closely with NHS England and the Department-funded Partners in Care and Health programme, the Department ensured that information was shared across LAs and local NHS partners and enabled co-ordinated discussions with NRS and alternative providers to ensure the continuity of care and to minimise disruption as alternative arrangements were finalised.The Department also made funding available to enable the Official Receiver to continue trading NRS for a limited period, once it became insolvent, in order to enable LAs to arrange alternative provision, to minimise the potential impacts on vulnerable individuals.The Department continues to monitor the situation closely and will support LAs to learn lessons and consider the implications for future resilience in this market.

What steps his Department has taken to keep local authorities informed on the developing situation on the winding up of NRS Healthcare Limited.

The principal responsibility for ensuring the provision of disability aids and community equipment lies with local authorities (LAs), as does the responsibility to maintain continuity of care for those who are eligible.Nonetheless, the Department has played a significant role in supporting LAs and the National Health Service in the period leading up to and following the insolvency of NRS Healthcare (NRS).Working closely with NHS England and the Department-funded Partners in Care and Health programme, the Department ensured that information was shared across LAs and local NHS partners and enabled co-ordinated discussions with NRS and alternative providers to ensure the continuity of care and to minimise disruption as alternative arrangements were finalised.The Department also made funding available to enable the Official Receiver to continue trading NRS for a limited period, once it became insolvent, in order to enable LAs to arrange alternative provision, to minimise the potential impacts on vulnerable individuals.The Department continues to monitor the situation closely and will support LAs to learn lessons and consider the implications for future resilience in this market.

What (a) due diligence and (b) risk management measures his Department undertook when it became aware of the likely winding up of NRS Healthcare Limited.

The principal responsibility for ensuring the provision of disability aids and community equipment lies with local authorities (LAs), as does the responsibility to maintain continuity of care for those who are eligible.Nonetheless, the Department has played a significant role in supporting LAs and the National Health Service in the period leading up to and following the insolvency of NRS Healthcare (NRS).Working closely with NHS England and the Department-funded Partners in Care and Health programme, the Department ensured that information was shared across LAs and local NHS partners and enabled co-ordinated discussions with NRS and alternative providers to ensure the continuity of care and to minimise disruption as alternative arrangements were finalised.The Department also made funding available to enable the Official Receiver to continue trading NRS for a limited period, once it became insolvent, in order to enable LAs to arrange alternative provision, to minimise the potential impacts on vulnerable individuals.The Department continues to monitor the situation closely and will support LAs to learn lessons and consider the implications for future resilience in this market.

What recent discussions she has had with (a) the police and (b) highways authorities about the (i) trends in the level of and (ii) reasons for equestrian related accidents and fatalities on roads.

Statistics on reported road collisions, including involving horses, are collated by the Department based on data supplied by police forces. While there is ongoing engagement with police and local authority data providers related to the data, no recent discussions have taken place specifically in relation to equestrian related incidents.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 55468 on Gender Dysphoria: Health Services, what his planned timetable is for ensuring the delivery of a gender clinic in each region by 2026.

NHS England has established NHS Children and Young People's Gender Services in the North-West, South-West, and London regions, in 2024. A fourth service is planned to open in the East England region in January 2026, following a process of mobilisation over 2025. Work remains ongoing to establish commissioned services that provide a pathway for children and young people with gender incongruence in the other regions by March 2027, on a phased basis.

Whether she has had recent discussions with (a) RMT and (b) Cross Country Trains to seek a resolution to avoid strike action and no service on the (i) Birmingham, (ii) Leicester, (iii) Cambridge and (iv) Stansted Airport line through Hinckley station on (A) Saturday 18 October and (B) Saturday 1 November 2025.

It is for CrossCountry, as the employer, to negotiate terms and conditions with their staff. Officials have been kept advised of the situation with the dispute. On Thursday 16th, sufficient progress had been made and RMT suspended strike action on Saturday 18th October, but unfortunately too late for many services to re-instated in a meaningful way. We understand CrossCountry talks continue with RMT on the remaining issues to resolve the dispute without further strikes.

What steps he is taking to improve probation services in the East Midlands.

We are committed to supporting probation staff and value their hard work, commitment and dedication. Following HM Inspectorate of Probation’s (HMIP) inspection of probation services in the East Midlands, their report identified areas of improvement, making 11 recommendations. 10 of these recommendations have been accepted in full, with the 11th being partially accepted. An action plan has been agreed with HMIP and delivery against that action plan is reviewed regularly by the Area Executive Director.To address workload pressures, we have implemented initiatives such as “Probation Reset” and “Impact” and launched the “Our Future Probation Service” programme, which aims to ensure that workloads for probation staff are sustainable by deploying new technologies, reforming processes and ensuring prioritisation of probation staff time. By the final year of the spending review period, there has been a commitment to increase funding by up to £700 million for the Probation Service. Recruitment remains a priority, with significant numbers of probation officer trainees onboarded in 2024/25 and a commitment to onboard a further 1,300 in 2025/26 nationally.These efforts are supported by a new wellbeing support model across HMPPS, including regional plans such as the Midlands wellbeing strategy, to ensure staff are supported in delivering their vital public safety responsibilities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of Animal Health and Welfare Pathway grants on the transition to cage free systems for laying hens.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and will continue to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which we are considering very carefully. The Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, part of the broader Animal Health & Welfare Pathway, recently offered funding to commercial laying hen and pullet keepers in England to refurbish or replace housing, including for those transitioning from colony cages to high-welfare non-cage systems. The first stage of the application process closed in September 2024 with eligible applicants invited to submit a full application. Due to the extended timeframe of the grant, data regarding the assessment of potential impacts is not available.

What proportion of the £123 million allocated to the development of the Midlands Rail Hub has been assigned to design the East Chord of the Midlands Rail Hub.

In the 2025 Spending Review the Chancellor committed to progress the next stage of Midlands Rail Hub, which includes the East Chord, building on £123m previously released. Network Rail are procuring a contractor to design and build the scheme.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to determine the future of Animal Health and Welfare Pathway grants to support the transition to cage free systems for laying hens.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and will continue to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which we are considering very carefully. The Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, part of the broader Animal Health & Welfare Pathway, recently offered funding to commercial laying hen and pullet keepers in England to refurbish or replace housing, including for those transitioning from colony cages to high-welfare non-cage systems. The first stage of the application process closed in September 2024 with eligible applicants invited to submit a full application. Due to the extended timeframe of the grant, data regarding the assessment of potential impacts is not available.

If he will undertake a review of the (a) fitting, (b) quality and (c) patient feedback on (i) post-surgery bras and (ii) breast protheses received through the NHS.

Decisions about the funding and provision of health services, including post-surgery bras and breast protheses, are the responsibility of local integrated care boards.NHS England funded audits into primary and metastatic breast cancer to help identify and reduce inequalities and variations in care. Using routine data collected on patients diagnosed with breast cancer in a National Health Service setting, the audits bring together information to look at what is being done well, where it is being done well, and what needs to be done better. Findings were published in September 2025, and the NHS is acting on the findings.Patient experience and outcomes remain a key priority for the Department, and we will continue to look for opportunities to improve all aspects of cancer care. The National Cancer Plan, due to be published early in the new year, will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, including people living with and beyond cancer.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of raising the threshold for Pharmacy First payments on the (a) number of pharmacies claiming payment for Pharmacy First consultations and (b) the total number of pharmacy first consultations undertaken.

As part of delivering Pharmacy First, pharmacy contractors receive a monthly fixed payment if they deliver a minimum level of activity. This level increased at set intervals between February 2024 and March 2025, as agreed with Community Pharmacy England and announced ahead of the start of the service, and as set out in the Drug Tariff. This balanced giving time for the service to embed and for public awareness to grow with ensuring that the service offers value for money.There has been a steady increase in the delivery of the service. In 2024/25, the number of Pharmacy First consultations grew by an average of 5% per month.Service delivery has been carefully monitored. In July, we changed the activity requirement by introducing a lower fixed payment of £500 to support those pharmacies with lower potential for delivery. Pharmacies delivering between 20 to 29 consultations now receive the lower fixed payment. The monthly payment of £1,000 for contractors delivering at least 30 consultations was maintained.There are currently no plans to change the minimum activity requirement.

Whether his Department plans to change the Pharmacy First payment threshold.

As part of delivering Pharmacy First, pharmacy contractors receive a monthly fixed payment if they deliver a minimum level of activity. This level increased at set intervals between February 2024 and March 2025, as agreed with Community Pharmacy England and announced ahead of the start of the service, and as set out in the Drug Tariff. This balanced giving time for the service to embed and for public awareness to grow with ensuring that the service offers value for money.There has been a steady increase in the delivery of the service. In 2024/25, the number of Pharmacy First consultations grew by an average of 5% per month.Service delivery has been carefully monitored. In July, we changed the activity requirement by introducing a lower fixed payment of £500 to support those pharmacies with lower potential for delivery. Pharmacies delivering between 20 to 29 consultations now receive the lower fixed payment. The monthly payment of £1,000 for contractors delivering at least 30 consultations was maintained.There are currently no plans to change the minimum activity requirement.

For what reason the threshold for Pharmacy First payments has increased since July 2024.

As part of delivering Pharmacy First, pharmacy contractors receive a monthly fixed payment if they deliver a minimum level of activity. This level increased at set intervals between February 2024 and March 2025, as agreed with Community Pharmacy England and announced ahead of the start of the service, and as set out in the Drug Tariff. This balanced giving time for the service to embed and for public awareness to grow with ensuring that the service offers value for money.There has been a steady increase in the delivery of the service. In 2024/25, the number of Pharmacy First consultations grew by an average of 5% per month.Service delivery has been carefully monitored. In July, we changed the activity requirement by introducing a lower fixed payment of £500 to support those pharmacies with lower potential for delivery. Pharmacies delivering between 20 to 29 consultations now receive the lower fixed payment. The monthly payment of £1,000 for contractors delivering at least 30 consultations was maintained.There are currently no plans to change the minimum activity requirement.

How much of the funding allocated to the Pharmacy First scheme has not been claimed by pharmacies because they did not reach the threshold since July 2024; and whether this money been reallocated.

As part of delivering Pharmacy First, pharmacy contractors receive a monthly fixed payment if they deliver a minimum level of activity. This level increased at set intervals between February 2024 and March 2025, as agreed with Community Pharmacy England and announced ahead of the start of the service, and as set out in the Drug Tariff. This balanced giving time for the service to embed and for public awareness to grow with ensuring that the service offers value for money.There has been a steady increase in the delivery of the service. In 2024/25, the number of Pharmacy First consultations grew by an average of 5% per month.Service delivery has been carefully monitored. In July, we changed the activity requirement by introducing a lower fixed payment of £500 to support those pharmacies with lower potential for delivery. Pharmacies delivering between 20 to 29 consultations now receive the lower fixed payment. The monthly payment of £1,000 for contractors delivering at least 30 consultations was maintained.There are currently no plans to change the minimum activity requirement.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of local government reorganisation in Leicestershire on local service provision.

Local Government Reorganisation creates a huge opportunity to establish modern, responsive public services for citizens.We have asked all councils to tell us how their proposals for unitarisation will improve service provision, and to ensure high standards are maintained during the transition

What steps he is taking to support the sustainable bioethnol production sector.

Government has been in negotiations with the bioethanol sector to understand what support could be delivered to ensure its long-term sustainable future.The Department for Transport confirmed their intention to consult on amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, including options for increased targets. DfT also confirmed plans to convene an expert working group to explore whether ethanol blending in petrol can be increased beyond the current E10 blend.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the statutory role of Sports England consultee in planning decisions on the (a) development of sporting facilities and (b) maintenance of playing fields.

The government is committed to reviewing the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth. As per the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510), we intend to consult on removing a limited number of statutory consultees, including Sports England. We also intend to review the range and type of planning applications on which statutory consultees are required to be consulted and consider whether some types of application could be removed, or addressed by alternative means of engagement and provision of expert advice. Further details will be set out in due course.

What his planned timeline is for introducing a twice-weekly sitting timetable for the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme Appeal Board.

The Government recognises the profound impact that historic criminal and Service law had on LGBT veterans and is fully committed to ensuring that all veterans affected by the ban receive the recognition they deserve. The LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) received a large volume of applications when it opened, and those applicants who are terminally ill, over 80, or in significant financial distress were prioritised. The first payments were issued as planned within 15 weeks of the Scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Applications are now being processed in date order, and we are recruiting additional staff, to speed up the process. As of 8 September 2025, the FRS had made payments of £8.9 million to 237 applicants. Due to the low number of appeals received to date (eight in total), there are currently no plans for the FRS Appeal Board to sit twice weekly. Defence will continue to monitor the number of appeals received and will reassess this approach if required, as was done for the Independent Panel which, due to the volume of applications, now sits twice weekly.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage the (a) development of sporting facilities and (b) maintenance of playing fields through National Planning Policy Guidance.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that access to high-quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for the health and well-being of communities. The Framework sets out that planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities and opportunities for new provision, which plans should then seek to accommodate. It also includes strong protections for existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, setting out that they should not be built on unless they are no longer needed, equivalent or better alternatives are provided, or the development is for alternative sports or recreational provision which offers greater benefits.