Written questions by Wrigley.

Whether anyone in receipt of Limited Capability for Work and Work-related Activity benefits will receive reduced levels of payments following the reforms announced in her Oral Ministerial Statement on 18 March 2025.

To address the fundamental imbalance between the health top up and standard allowance of UC, we will legislate to take a decisive step to reset payment rates in UC over this Parliament, starting from April 2026. For people who already receive the UC health element the rate of the UC health element will be frozen until 2029/2030 but this group will receive an increased UC entitlement in cash terms as a result of the increased standard allowance. We will lower the rate of UC health for new claims from April 2026 – alongside increasing the standard allowance – to reduce the incentive to define yourself as unfit to work, while still providing a higher rate of benefit for disabled people and those with health conditions with extra costs. For those receiving the new reduced UC health element after April 2026, we are proposing that those with the most severe, life-long health conditions, who have no prospect of improvement and will never be able to work, will see their incomes protected through an additional premium.

What assessment she has made of the role of the Personal Independence Payment in enabling work.

Personal Independence Payment is not means-tested, it is payable in addition to any other income received and is available to people whether they are in work or not. This Government wants to alleviate people’s worries around trying work. The Pathways to Work Green Paper published this week sets out our plan to remove barriers to trying work. We will legislate to give people the confidence to try work and ensure that working will not, in and of itself, trigger an award review in PIP, removing the perceived risk of trying work whilst on benefits. We are also consulting to understand what more can be done to ensure the benefit system supports people to try work without the worry that it may affect their benefit entitlement.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide funding to support the electrification of UK fishing fleets.

The UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions programme in the Department for Transport has opened a round of funding for feasibility studies and pre-deployment trials into clean maritime solutions, with fishing vessels in scope.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposals to reform the Personal Independence Payment on (a) adults with (i) ADHD and (ii) autism and (b) other neurodivergent adults.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course. The Government is determined to improve the low current employment rate among neurodivergent adults. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 36892 on Prostate Cancer: Health Services, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) time taken and (b) effectiveness of treatment delivered for patents diagnosed with prostate cancer in Devon.

Routine Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing is not offered on the National Health Service, although men aged 50 years old or over can ask their general practitioner for a PSA test, even if they do not have symptoms. This applies to anyone aged 50 years old or over in any part of England.The NHS England Cancer Programme has commissioned clinical cancer audits, including for prostate cancer, which provide timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England may vary. These audits will help NHS England understand where to increase the consistency of access to treatments and help stimulate improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes for patients. The audits are ongoing and will act on their findings in due course.However, we recognise that patients are often waiting longer than they should for cancer treatment and services. The National Cancer Plan will highlight how we will improve diagnosis rates and the effectiveness of treatment for people across England, including in Devon.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2025 to Question 36892 on Prostate Cancer: Health Services, if he will take steps to provide (a) faster and (b) wider availability for prostate-specific antigen tests in Devon.

Routine Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing is not offered on the National Health Service, although men aged 50 years old or over can ask their general practitioner for a PSA test, even if they do not have symptoms. This applies to anyone aged 50 years old or over in any part of England.The NHS England Cancer Programme has commissioned clinical cancer audits, including for prostate cancer, which provide timely evidence for cancer service providers of where patterns of care in England may vary. These audits will help NHS England understand where to increase the consistency of access to treatments and help stimulate improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes for patients. The audits are ongoing and will act on their findings in due course.However, we recognise that patients are often waiting longer than they should for cancer treatment and services. The National Cancer Plan will highlight how we will improve diagnosis rates and the effectiveness of treatment for people across England, including in Devon.

If the Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing Business Rate Relief from 75% to 40% on Grassroots Music Venues.

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including grassroots music venues, with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.In the interim period, for 2025-26, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40% up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business.The Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee’s report on grassroots music venues recommended that RHL relief should not be wholly withdrawn in April 2025. The Committee’s report also highlighted the sector's desire for certainty and long-term stability. As set out above, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for RHL properties from 2026-27.The Government’s full response to the CMS Committee’s report was published on 14 November 2024 and is available online: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8227/grassroots-music-venues/publications/.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the findings of the report by the Music Venue Trust entitled Annual Report 2024, published on 24 January 2025, on the potential impact of the reduction in business rate relief on (a) grassroots music venues and (b) jobs.

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, including grassroots music venues, with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above.In the interim period, for 2025-26, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40% up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business.The Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee’s report on grassroots music venues recommended that RHL relief should not be wholly withdrawn in April 2025. The Committee’s report also highlighted the sector's desire for certainty and long-term stability. As set out above, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for RHL properties from 2026-27.The Government’s full response to the CMS Committee’s report was published on 14 November 2024 and is available online: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8227/grassroots-music-venues/publications/.

If her Department will review the adequacy of its policies on police forces supporting foreign jurisdictions, in the context of the case of Ali Kololo.

Our thoughts are with Mrs. Tebbutt and her family, Mr. Kololo and all those who have been affected by this terrible crime.The operationally independent Metropolitan Police continue to progress matters relating to Mr. Kololo’s case.Under Section 26 of the Police Act 1996, the Home Secretary is responsible for providing consent for the deployment of all serving police officers and staff from England & Wales forces overseas and where advice or assistance is being provided to a foreign agency. The Section 26 process is a rigorous process undertaken by officials across His Majesty’s Government exercising due diligence on any proposed Police deployments, including that assistance overseas meets the UK’s human rights obligations and values.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of aligning UK General Product Safety Regulations with those in the EU to remove the need for an EU Responsible Person when trading with the EU.

Amending the General Product Safety Regulations that apply in Great Britain to align with the EU’s new GPSR would not remove the requirement that exists for a Responsible Economic Operator based within the EU or Northern Ireland when trading with the EU. The Responsible Economic Operator responsibilities can be fulfilled by the manufacturer, authorised representative appointed by the manufacturer, importer, or where none of these are based in the EU or Northern Ireland, the fulfilment service provider of the product. The Department’s Export Support Service provides help to businesses, including by signposting them to Responsible Economic Operator service providers.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of ending enhanced payments for NHS nurses covering staff shortages on the finances of nurses; and what estimate his Department has made of the potential change in agency staffing costs of ending those payments.

These specific assessments have not been made.We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade. This will ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.It is the responsibility of local organisations to ensure they have the right numbers of staff with the right skills to deliver services, supported by guidelines by national and professional bodies, including the management of any staff shortages. The Department does not hold information on any locally negotiated arrangements for enhanced payments that individual NHS organisations might offer as incentives to cover staff shortages.The national provisions for payment of unsocial hours premia and overtime are set out in the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook. These provisions are specific to Agenda for Change staff and include nurses.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that ending enhanced payments for NHS nurses covering staff shortages does not increase reliance on agency staff.

These specific assessments have not been made.We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade. This will ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.It is the responsibility of local organisations to ensure they have the right numbers of staff with the right skills to deliver services, supported by guidelines by national and professional bodies, including the management of any staff shortages. The Department does not hold information on any locally negotiated arrangements for enhanced payments that individual NHS organisations might offer as incentives to cover staff shortages.The national provisions for payment of unsocial hours premia and overtime are set out in the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook. These provisions are specific to Agenda for Change staff and include nurses.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS nurses providing additional cover for staff shortages are adequately compensated.

These specific assessments have not been made.We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade. This will ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.It is the responsibility of local organisations to ensure they have the right numbers of staff with the right skills to deliver services, supported by guidelines by national and professional bodies, including the management of any staff shortages. The Department does not hold information on any locally negotiated arrangements for enhanced payments that individual NHS organisations might offer as incentives to cover staff shortages.The national provisions for payment of unsocial hours premia and overtime are set out in the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook. These provisions are specific to Agenda for Change staff and include nurses.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of ending enhanced payments for NHS nurses covering staff shortages on staffing levels at (a) Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, (b) North Devon District Hospital and (c) Torbay Hospital.

These specific assessments have not been made.We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade. This will ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.It is the responsibility of local organisations to ensure they have the right numbers of staff with the right skills to deliver services, supported by guidelines by national and professional bodies, including the management of any staff shortages. The Department does not hold information on any locally negotiated arrangements for enhanced payments that individual NHS organisations might offer as incentives to cover staff shortages.The national provisions for payment of unsocial hours premia and overtime are set out in the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook. These provisions are specific to Agenda for Change staff and include nurses.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2025 to Question 30796 on Childcare: Finance, if she will collect data from councils on (a) how childcare providers deliver entitlements and (b) how many and what proportion of childcare providers allow parents to stretch the 38 weeks of paid childcare to cover 52 weeks.

The department collects data directly from childcare providers on how many deliver early years entitlements, and how these can be used by families.For example, Table 7.5 of the most recent survey report, published in 2024, shows the proportion of providers where parents can use funded hours throughout the year, by entitlement. This can be found in the additional supporting files section at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/childcare-and-early-years-provider-survey/2024.

Whether all trains on the Great Western Mainline will be required to call at the proposed Old Oak Common station.

Future timetables for Great Western services will be continuously developed in the years to come, and timetable option assessment always evaluates the options for calling at Old Oak Common; but GWR trains will only stop there when there are good reasons for them to do so.

If he will convene a stakeholder roundtable to help tackle the shortage of Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy medication with (a) manufacturers, (b) patient advocacy groups and (c) other relevant stakeholders.

There are no current plans to convene such a roundtable. The Department is in regular discussion with the suppliers of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) on the latest stock availability and the actions that are being taken to mitigate the supply issue that is affecting the whole of the United Kingdom. Through these discussions, we have managed to secure additional volumes for 2025 for the UK. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the remaining gap in the market.In the longer term, the Department has had interest from non-UK suppliers of PERT wishing to bring their products to the UK and, along with colleagues in the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, we are working with these potential suppliers; if authorised these products could further diversify and strengthen the market. The Department will continue to meet with all suppliers to understand what more can be done to add further resilience to the UK market.In December 2024, the Department issued additional management advice to healthcare professionals. This directs clinicians to consider the unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable and includes actions for integrated care boards to ensure local mitigation plans are put in place and implemented.The Department meets regularly with the affected patient advocacy groups and charities to ensure they are kept informed on the latest supply picture and any communications issued.The Department will continue collaboration with clinicians and representatives from the impacted patient advocacy groups and charities so that they are informed on the supply situation and the mitigation actions being taken.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 27704 on Russia: Shipping, if she will list the Russian shadow fleet vessels that have entered UK waters in the last 12 months.

It is not possible to provide a list of suspected Russian shadow fleet vessels, due to national security considerations. However, the UK Government monitors vessels in UK waters which are of interest to the safety of mariners, the marine environment and the UK’s national security.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29983 on Parking: Fees and Charges, whether she has had discussions with parking companies on the potential impact of a parking code of practice on (a) those companies' profit models (b) the number of parking charge notices issued and (c) contracts based on the financial model of profits from the number of FPN notices issued.

My officials have regular meetings with both parking Trade Associations and representatives for motorists. Meetings with the Trade Associations are scheduled monthly, and meetings with the motorist group are quarterly. In addition to regular meetings, my officials also have ad hoc meetings with both groups dependent on the business needs. Dates for my meetings have not been confirmed. On representations on the potential impacts of implementing a Private Parking Code of Practice on businesses and operations, in 2023 the Department published a draft Private Parking Code of Practice Impact Assessment, alongside a Call for Evidence to improve the evidence base within the draft Impact Assessment. Both are available online from https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/private-parking-code-of-practice-call-for-evidence My officials have used the responses to the Call for Evidence to review previous proposals and develop new ones on which, as per my previous answer, we intend to consult shortly. A Final Impact Assessment will be published following the consultation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 34422 on Overseas Trade: Russia; if his Department will ban UK-Russian imports and exports that are not directly linked to (a) humanitarian organisations and (b) UK and Russian embassies.

Together with our international partners, we have unleashed the largest and most severe package of trade sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. As a result, Russian imports into the UK have fallen by more than 99 per cent, and UK exports to Russia are down by more than 75 per cent. Examples of unsanctioned goods include food and pharmaceutical items. UK sanctions provide for a range of exceptions and licensing grounds, including relating to humanitarian and diplomatic activity.