Written questions by Mishra.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department's animal welfare strategy will include a plan for reviewing progress towards meeting the goals of that strategy.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Department is engaging with key animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of our overarching approach to animal welfare. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.

Whether his Department has (a) made an assessment of the barriers faced by Hong Kong BNO visa holders in transferring professional qualifications into the British labour market and (b) issued guidance to employers on the employment rights of Hong Kong BNO visa holders.

Many British National Overseas (BNO) visa holders have professional qualifications. Recognition of overseas qualifications is determined by independent occupational regulators, many of which accept Hong Kong qualifications.The recognition process can be challenging for BNO visa holders and refugees. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) developed the Regulated Professions Register, which Hongkongers can use to find information on entry requirements and regulators. DBT also published guidance on GOV.UK to support refugees, including those from Hong Kong, navigate the recognition process.BNO visa holders have the right to work in the UK, and employer guidance on right to work checks is available on GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, what is his planned timetable is for commencing the remaining provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244) and to the answer given to Questions UIN 68213 on 23 July 2025.

If he will make it his policy to exempt the BNO visa scheme from the proposed extension of the standard qualifying period for settlement.

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future. I welcomed the opportunity to listen to the views of Members in the recent 8th September Westminster Hall Debate on settlement. We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year. All will be welcome to participate. We will provide details of how the scheme will work after that consultation. We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa and will continue to do so.

Whether he plans to review the decision to outsource Civil Service Pension Scheme administration, in the context of performance levels under the present contract.

At present there are no plans to reverse or conduct a formal review of the decision to outsource Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) administration. The Government remains committed to the forthcoming outsourcing arrangement with Capita, subject to strengthened governance, enhanced oversight and performance management to secure better outcomes for all members.

What assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the National Audit Office's report of 16 June 2025 entitled Investigation into the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

The Government’s assessment is that the National Audit Office (NAO) report of 16 June 2025 reinforces the need for markedly stronger governance, oversight and performance management over the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme. There is a continuing commitment to the forthcoming outsourcing arrangement with Capita, commencing in December 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the National Wildlife Crime Unit in tackling wildlife crime in the North West.

Defra supports the valuable work of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and is providing £424,000 to the Unit in 2025-2026. It is satisfied with the NWCU’s effectiveness. The NWCU helps prevent and detect wildlife crime by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights local or national threats, and assisting law enforcers with investigations. Defra has a strict grant reporting mechanism in place with the Unit whereby each quarter it provides qualitative and quantitative information setting out how Defra funding has been spent. In 2024-25 the NWCU provided support on wildlife crime cases to every local police force in the North West and indeed the whole of the UK.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of categorising military compensation as exempt from eligibility criteria for means-tested benefits.

I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 8 July 2025 to question UIN 63814

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the ban on hunting trophy imports (a) is robust and (b) does not allow any hunting trophies to enter the UK.

The Government committed to banning the import of hunting trophies in its manifesto and we will deliver on this. Defra continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban on the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern in the most effective way.

What support hs Department is providing to people caring for family members with advanced Alzheimer’s disease.

The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for carers. We have produced guidance to help those diagnosed with dementia, or those supporting someone with dementia, to understand the kind of support and services available to them in England. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/after-a-diagnosis-of-dementia-what-to-expect-from-health-and-care-services/after-diagnosis-of-dementia-what-to-expect-from-health-and-care-servicesAs set out in the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by increasing visibility and empowering voices in care planning. We are joining up services, and streamlining caring tasks through the introduction of a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.In April, the Government also increased the Carer's Allowance weekly earnings limit from £151 a week to £196, the largest ever increase since the Carer’s Allowance was introduced.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce differences in life expectancy between different areas within the Stockport constituency.

The UK faces significant health inequalities, with life expectancy and healthy life expectancy varying widely across and between communities. Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out a reimagined service designed to tackle inequalities in both access and outcomes, to ensure the NHS is there for anyone who needs it whenever they need it.The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) North West (the Regional Team) operates across the North West of England, covering the geography of Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside and serving a population of 7.5 million people.The Regional Team works with and supports North West local authorities across a wide range of portfolios that support taking action on health inequalities. These include 0-19 services, smoking cessation, drug and alcohol services, physical activity and obesity, mental wellbeing, work and health, wider determinants of health and health literacy.In addition, the public health grant is paid to local authorities and is used to improve population health, prevent illness, and reduce health inequalities.

What steps his Department plans to take to ensure the public is made aware of the change from Physician Associate to Physician Assistant.

The principal question of the Leng Review was to assess whether the roles of physician assistants (PAs) and physician assistants in anaesthesia (PAAs) (still legally known as physician associates and anaesthesia associates) are safe and effective. The Review’s findings were clear that, with changes in line with its recommendations, there remains a place for these roles to continue as supportive, complementary members of medical teams.The Review found that the majority of stakeholders, particularly patient groups, expressed concern that the name physician associate is confusing and that patients were unclear about who they were being treated by.As set out in NHS England’s ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document, the immediate action for organisations is to make changes to the way in which roles are referred to in the workplace, to ensure that patients are not under the misapprehension that they have seen a doctor. Any changes to official job titles should be done in accordance with the organisation’s local change management policy, with proper regard to employment law and involve affected members of staff and local trade unions.The ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/leng-review-nhs-england-faqs-on-actions-for-nhs-organisations.pdf.The Government intends to commence consultation on a modernised legislative framework for the General Medical Council (GMC) by the end of this year. These proposals will include the change in role titles. Subject to parliamentary time, our expectation is that these changes will be put before the UK and Scottish Parliaments during 2026.The Leng Review recommendations are far-reaching and require cross-system partnership working to develop a detailed implementation plan that effectively delivers on the Review’s recommendations, including national clinical protocols and professional standards and information for patients. This includes working together to consider how best to standardise identification of PAs, PAAs and other staff to support patients in recognising the staff caring for them.

What steps his Department is taking to provide preventative health services in Stockport constituency's most deprived wards.

The Government’s mission is to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between rich and poor, through the Health Mission and 10-Year Health Plan. Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out how a shift to prevention will deliver healthier, more prosperous lives for all, but particularly for those suffering the consequences of widening levels of health inequality. Our landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will help deliver our ambition for a smoke-free UK and we will take decisive action to tackle the obesity crisis and create the healthiest generation of children ever, working in partnership with schools, supermarkets, and pharmaceutical companies. We will also be asking the NHS to do more on secondary prevention, including through strengthening its vaccination and screening programmes. The public health grant is paid to local authorities and is used to provide vital preventative services that help to support health. In 2025/26, funding for all local authorities through the public health grant will be £3.884 billion. This is an average 3.4% real terms increase in local authority public health grant funding, compared to 2024/25. This is complemented by almost £490 million of additional targeted investment in local drug and alcohol treatment, early years and stop smoking services. This represents a significant turning point for local public health services, marking the biggest real-terms increase after nearly a decade of reduced spending. Our Regional Team works with and supports North West local authorities across a wide range of portfolios that support taking action on health inequalities including children's services, smoking cessation, drug and alcohol services, physical activity and obesity, mental wellbeing, work and health, wider determinants of health and health literacy.

Innovation and Technology, whether any funding will be available to deliver the Digital Inclusion Action Plan beyond the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund.

Digital inclusion is a priority for this Government, a step-change from the last ten years.That is why the Government published its Digital Inclusion Action Plan – First Steps in February 2025, which outlines the first five actions we are taking on digital inclusion.One of those first actions is the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund which launched in August with £9.5 million to support and expand local community initiatives to get people online.In addition, a recent funding programme of £2 million supported Mayoral Combined Authorities across England to deliver innovative and meaningful support for digitally excluded people in their communities.The full detail of DSIT's longer-term spending plans is still being considered, and further information will be provided as allocations are decided later in the year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to integrate water, sanitation and hygiene into the UK’s international (a) climate adaptation and (b) resilience programmes.

The Foreign, Commonwealth, Development Office's (FCDO) water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) portfolio contributes to building climate resilient systems and supporting adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Since 2020 we have supported governments to establish climate resilient and sustainable WASH services, providing technical assistance and other support to low-income countries.Through our WASH Systems for Health programme we are working with UNICEF, NGOs such as WaterAid and countries including Bangladesh, Malawi, Madagascar, Pakistan and Nepal to make systems more climate-resilient.We also support the World Bank to accelerate the Water Security and Climate Adaptation Global Challenge Programme, driving reform and attracting private finance to strengthen climate adaptation and resilience, and we are supporting the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation and other development organisations to embed water into national climate plans through the Water Resilience Tracker.

What steps his department is taking to improve (a) awareness, (b) diagnosis and (c) access to fertility treatment for men affected by infertility.

We are developing a Men's Health Strategy which will seek to improve the health and wellbeing of all men in England, and which will be informed by the call for evidence. This includes finding the right ways to promote healthier behaviours, improving outcomes for health conditions that hit men harder, and improving engagement with healthcare. The call for evidence closed on 17 July 2025 and we are now analysing the responses to inform development of the strategy.Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. We expect these organisations to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.

Whether his Department plans to fund research into treatments for psychosis.

The Department of Health and Social Care, through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), commissions a range of research into treatments for psychosis.For example, the NIHR is currently funding a £2.6 million clinical trial of Feeling Safe, a cognitive behavioural therapy programme designed to treat persecutory delusions. Additionally, the NIHR is funding a £3 million study investigating the treatment of antipsychotic induced weight gain, and a £1 million study that aims to develop a more tailored approach to Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) treatment, which will inform national commissioning of EIP services.The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including research into treatments for psychosis.

Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to support the maintenance and continued operation of swimming facilities in Stockport constituency.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to leisure facilities, including swimming pools, which are vital spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and which play an important role within communities across the country.The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, with funding levels set as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve, investing in sport and physical activity with a place-based approach, to meet the needs of individual communities.In June, we committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK over the next four years, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We will ensure that this funding promotes health, wellbeing and community cohesion and helps to remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups. We are working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need, before setting out further plans on how future funding will be allocated across the UK.

When she plans to publish a full impact assessment for the most recent statement of changes to the immigration rules on the care sector.

It is our intention to publish the Impact Assessment (IA) at the earliest opportunity. A technical annex (Restoring control over the immigration system: technical annex (accessible) - GOV.UK) was published alongside the Immigration White Paper setting out the impact of some of the key policy changes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 62269 on IVF: Finance, whether his Department has had discussions with NHS Greater Manchester on the proposed reduction in the number of NHS-funded IVF cycles.

No such discussions have taken place.Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards, and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. We expect these organisations to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.