Written questions by Wrigley.

Whether his Department has considered introducing a ring-fenced national funding stream to support the expansion of GP surgeries in (a) high-growth and (b) underserved areas.

It is the responsibility of the integrated care boards (ICBs) to ensure that the National Health Service estate is fit for purpose, in order to meet the needs of the local population.General practices (GPs) are independent contractors, which, alongside ICBs, are responsible for ensuring their premises are up to standard. Most practice premises are privately owned or leased.The Department and NHS England requested that ICBs develop estates infrastructure strategies. These have been developed to create a long-term plan for future estate requirements and investment for each local area and its needs. These strategies must take existing and future GP and primary care estate into account when considering how best to deliver local services. To support them in doing this, we provide an annual capital allocation, operational capital, which ICBs are free to use as they see fit, working with healthcare providers in their area including GPs, to deliver their estates and infrastructure priorities.At a national level, we continue to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure all new and existing developments have an adequate level of healthcare infrastructure for the community.In Autumn 2024, the Government announced the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund, a nationally controlled fund which will deliver upgrades this financial year to GP surgeries across England. These schemes will create additional clinical space within existing building footprints to enable practices to see more patients, boost productivity, and improve patient care. ICBs were invited to submit funding proposals that align with local integrated care system infrastructure strategies and the Primary Care Network Estates Toolkit, prioritising high-quality, fit-for-purpose estates over poorly maintained assets.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his polices of regional variances in GP surgery expansion approvals under the integrated care board-led funding mechanism.

Primary care funding is formulated within NHS England allocations, which account for elements of population growth and other factors such as weighted need. The allocations process uses a statistical formula to make geographic distribution fair and objective, so that it more clearly reflects local healthcare need and helps to reduce health inequalities. Integrated care boards prioritise how the funding is used, based on local factors and determinants.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the current Integrated Care Board (ICB)-led funding model in supporting the expansion of GP surgeries in areas with rapidly growing populations.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for assessing the requirement for the physical expansion of general practice premises to manage additional patient registrations. ICBs will also undertake assessments of housing plans and develop strategic plans to manage new populations and registered patients. Under this assessment, applications may be made via the planning authority to secure capital funding to mitigate the impact of new residents and patient registrations.Discussions about developer contributions should take place as early as possible in the planning process. Developer contributions are negotiated and agreed between planning authorities and developers on a case-by-case basis, prior to planning permission being granted. Further detail is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/planning-obligationsThe Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England are continuing to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to assess and improve the developer contribution process, to ensure health is appropriately considered and supported.

When he plans to reply to correspondence from the hon. Member for Newton Abbot of 8 July 2025.

I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member’s correspondence about solar farms on green spaces, reference MW09123. I issued a response to the hon. Member on 2 September.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed deposit return scheme will include (a) drink bottles and (b) food containers.

The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland will include single-use drinks containers from 150ml to 3 litres. Materials included are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, steel, and aluminium drink containers. All other packaging including food containers are included in the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme.

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of service specifications for multiple sclerosis.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services for their local populations, including for multiple sclerosis (MS). The Government expects ICBs to assess the demand for service provision when designing their local services.Nationally, there are initiatives to support better care for patients with neurological conditions, such as MS, across England. These include the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, which is supporting National Health Service trusts throughout England, including in Devon, to improve services by identifying and eliminating variations in care, sharing best practice, and promoting greater efficiency through clinically led reviews of neurology services. This is leading to faster diagnoses, improved access to specialist care and therapies, better coordinated and joined-up services, and better outcomes for people with MS, while also reducing costs and waiting times.NHS England is responsible for the overall framework of NHS service specifications, which are developed by specialised clinical reference groups in conjunction with specialist clinicians, commissioners, and expert patients. In August, NHS England published a new service specification covering the provision of specialised adult neurology services, including MS services. By setting out a model of care that reflects how services should work together across services and specialisms, the new specification establishes a clear framework to help ensure that care is clinically effective and responsive to patients’ needs. The specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-neurology-services-adults/

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of neurology departments in NHS hospitals.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning most services for people with long term conditions, including neurological conditions. ICBs are allocated funding by NHS England to meet local need and priorities and to improve outcomes. NHS England continues to set national standards, service specifications and clinical access policies which ICBs are expected to apply.The neurology workstream with NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is supporting neurology departments across England to tackle variations in the way services are delivered across the National Health Service, through data-driven insights and sharing best practice between trusts and systems. This includes direct, focused support for challenged services.GIRFT and the national specialised commissioning transformation programme are working closely to develop guidance to support trusts and systems to improve care pathways and to meet the national specialised neurology service specification, which sets out the core requirements of specialised neurology providers.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) digitising and (b) streamlining the HMRC process for issuing (i) VAT registration numbers and (ii) corporation tax authentication codes.

As part of the Government’s commitment to improve customer experience through reform and modernisation of tax and customs administration, HMRC recently published the Transformation Roadmap. As part of this plan, HMRC will continue to explore opportunities to digitise their services where it is right to do so. This includes the development of a secure and GDPR compliant digital method to communicate VAT registration details with customers. Until this is developed, VAT registration numbers are sent by physical post which minimises the risk of fraud by preventing the interception of VAT numbers by fraudsters. Similarly, the activation code for a customer to add corporation tax (CT) services to their business tax account must be delivered by a secure process. HMRC are investing in their legacy corporation tax system in order to provide the foundation for future improvements and will work with customers to ensure that they meet the needs of the diverse CT population.

Whether his Department has commissioned research into multiple sclerosis services in the last year.

The Department of Health and Social Care delivers research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR delivers research into multiple sclerosis across a range of areas, including services associated with the condition.For example, the NIHR is currently supporting, through investments in infrastructure and workforce, research to examine the feasibility of identifying patients with psychological distress in multiple sclerosis services and provide a form of cognitive behavioural therapy, COMPASS, as a treatment intervention.The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care including multiple sclerosis. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on multiple sclerosis to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.

What comparative assessment she has made of the effectiveness of IT systems used by (a) Companies House and (b) HMRC.

No comparative assessment has been completed of the IT systems. HMRC and Companies House have a joint commitment on sharing data and analytics to tackle corporate fraud relating to accounting and registration services.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring tariff payments for electricity exported to the grid from solar panels to be backdated to the commissioning date of the installation, rather than the date of Distributor Network Operator approval.

Backdating payments made under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) to an installation’s commissioning date is not permitted, as exports cannot be accurately measured until an export Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN) is in place. An MPAN can only be issued once the District Network Operator (DNO) has approved an installation, confirming it meets adequate technical and safety standards. This process ensures electricity exports are correctly settled and attributed while safeguarding both the installation and the network.

If she will make a comparative assessment of the average processing times for (a) VAT and (b) Corporation Tax registration by (i) HMRC and (ii) other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

HMRC is not able to provide a comparative assessment of the average processing times for (a) VAT and (b) Corporation Tax registration by (i) HMRC and (ii) other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The OECD do not publish information of this nature.

What steps he is taking to improve multiple sclerosis services in NHS hospitals in Devon.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services for their local populations, including for multiple sclerosis (MS). The Government expects ICBs to assess the demand for service provision when designing their local services.Nationally, there are initiatives to support better care for patients with neurological conditions, such as MS, across England. These include the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, which is supporting National Health Service trusts throughout England, including in Devon, to improve services by identifying and eliminating variations in care, sharing best practice, and promoting greater efficiency through clinically led reviews of neurology services. This is leading to faster diagnoses, improved access to specialist care and therapies, better coordinated and joined-up services, and better outcomes for people with MS, while also reducing costs and waiting times.NHS England is responsible for the overall framework of NHS service specifications, which are developed by specialised clinical reference groups in conjunction with specialist clinicians, commissioners, and expert patients. In August, NHS England published a new service specification covering the provision of specialised adult neurology services, including MS services. By setting out a model of care that reflects how services should work together across services and specialisms, the new specification establishes a clear framework to help ensure that care is clinically effective and responsive to patients’ needs. The specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-neurology-services-adults/

What estimate he has made of the potential impact of delays in (a) processing applications for solar panel installations and (b) issuing Distributor Network Operator reference numbers on household finances.

No estimate has been made. Most domestic solar installations (<3.68kW) can be made under G98 regulations, whereby no application is required – the installer must merely notify the DNO within 28 days of commissioning. Households can benefit from bill savings immediately. We are aware of some delays in customers’ receiving the Meter Point Administration Number required to sell electricity under the Smart Export Guarantee. The Government keeps this issue under review.

Whether the National Grid is under a (a) statutory and (b) regulatory obligation to process solar panel installation applications within a specified timeframe.

For solar installations of 3.68kW per phase, or below, no application is required. The Distribution Network Operator (DNO) must only be notified within 30 days of the installation. For larger projects, DNOs are required to provide a connection offer within 45-65 working days, depending on the size of the installation. Customers are entitled to compensation should these deadlines be missed.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ensure that the proposed deposit return scheme has adequate collection zones in (a) rural areas and (b) villages in Newton Abbot constituency.

The scheme administrator, UK Deposit Management Organisation Ltd. (UK DMO), is responsible for ensuring there is a comprehensive network of return points so that consumers can easily return their containers, including in rural areas. The scheme requires all supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores and newsagents that sell drinks that are included in the scheme to host a return point, unless they qualify for an exemption. Government continues to work closely with UK DMO as they work to deliver the scheme in October 2027.

If his Department will take steps to help ensure that administrative delays in the processing of solar panel installation applications do not reduce levels of public confidence in renewable generation.

The Government is pleased that public support for renewable energy, including solar, remains very high. We continue to monitor the experiences of those seeking to install rooftop solar panels. We are aware that, in some cases, customers have been affected by delayed connections or procedural inefficiencies. Ofgem are undertaking an end-to-end review of connections, to ensure that customers connecting to the grid receive a high standard of service. DESNZ liaises closely with stakeholders on these matters, and keeps policy under constant review.

What data his Department holds on the average time taken by the National Grid to (a) process applications for solar panel installations and (b) issue Distributor Network Operator reference numbers in each of the last three years.

The Department does not hold the data requested.

Whether he plans to present the Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill during this parliamentary session.

Due to the current volume of legislation before Parliament, the Government will not publish a draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill this session. We will improve our proposals further through consultation on the details with stakeholders in the Autumn.

If she will take steps to improve the MP hotlines for Members staff.

The Department recently streamlined the MP hotline service for Universal Credit, by consolidating multiple telephone numbers into a single national contact number.