Written questions by Timothy.

For what reason the dementia diagnosis target has been removed from the NHS Operational Planning Guidance.

We remain committed to recovering the dementia diagnosis rates (DDR) to the national ambition of 66.7%, with rates in England being 65.4% as of the end of February 2025. A timely diagnosis is vital to ensure people with dementia can access the treatment and support they need. Overall, the rate remains higher than previous years.We have taken a new approach to National Health Service Planning Guidance this year, reducing the number of national directives from 32 to 18. These are the first steps on our journey for long-term reform of the NHS. NHS Planning Guidance is not an exhaustive list of everything the NHS does, and the absence of a target does not mean it is not an area of focus.The Darzi Investigation found that there are too many targets set for the NHS, which made it hard for local systems to prioritise their actions or to be held properly accountable. Our aim is to give more power to local systems and let them decide how they use local funding to best meet the needs of their local population. This approach signals our ambition for reform, recognises the role of the NHS in driving economic growth, and enshrines our commitment to financial rigour in the system.

Whether his Department plans to introduce retaliatory tariffs on horse importations from the US.

We remain committed to discussions with the US on a wider economic deal that works for both the UK and the US but nothing is off the table; this government will do what is necessary to defend the UK's national interest. That is why on 3 April, the government launched a Request for Input from businesses as a formal step, to keep all options on the table; and to give businesses the chance to have their say and influence the design of any possible UK response.

How many Local National Direct Hire staff members have been (a) dismissed and (b) placed on furlough in US Air Force bases in the UK this year.

The Local National Direct Hire Programme is a United States' programme and the Ministry of Defence is not privy to the information requested. It is for the US to determine how they support their mission.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether all (a) glass, (b) steel, (c) aluminium and (d) PET drinks containers are subject to reporting and payment of Extended Producer Responsibility in Wales.

All steel, aluminium and PET plastic drinks containers across the UK are exempt from pEPR disposal fees but remain subject to reporting and recycling (PRN) obligations until Deposit Return Schemes (DRS’s) enter into operation. Should DRS’s not enter into operation by the 1 January 2028 this exemption will cease. Glass drinks containers across the UK are subject to pEPR data reporting and both disposal fees and recycling obligations.

How many large area solar proposals going through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects process are requesting planning approval to acquire freehold land.

An application for development consent can include a request for the granting of rights to compulsorily acquire or temporarily possess land to facilitate the development of the proposal.Each application for development consent for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIP), including solar NSIPs, has a dedicated webpage on the Planning Inspectorate’s website which sets out its intention to acquire land or not: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/. As part of the application process, a ‘Book of Reference’ is uploaded to the relevant proposal’s webpage listing the Classes of Rights which are being sought over each plot, including acquiring freehold, if applicable.

What support is in place for Ukrainian refugees who reach the end of their three-year visa.

The UK has offered or extended sanctuary to over 300,000 Ukrainians and their families under the Ukraine Schemes, thanks to the immense generosity of the British public. We are determined to continue to provide stability for those we have welcomed to the UK and who still need our sanctuary.The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, which opened to applications on 4 February 2025, provides up to an additional 18 months’ permission to stay in the UK for those with existing Ukraine Scheme permission.

What guidance his Department issues on whether third parties should declare their political interests when recording official videos for government departments.

There is no standalone Cabinet Office policy or guidance that addresses the declaration of political interests of third parties when recording official videos.

How many large area solar proposals going through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects process have been initiated by foreign investors.

The Government does not hold the information requested.

What progress her Department has made on reforming SEND and alternative provision since July 2024.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to achieve and thrive in their education and as they move into adult life.Supporting our expert teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost the life chances for every child, as the within-school factor that makes the biggest difference to a young person’s educational outcomes is high-quality teaching. This is why we will recruit 6,500 new expert teachers and support the recruitment and retention of specialist teachers in the schools and areas that need them most.In September 2024, the department introduced a new mandatory leadership level national professional qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators to ensure they receive high-quality, evidence-based training to create inclusive environments where everyone feels welcome, safe and they belong. We have also introduced additional resources for early years educators to support children with developmental differences and SEND, including a free online training module and SEND assessment guidance and resources.The Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), which sets out the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching, contains significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND and from September 2025, will underpin the minimum entitlement to training for new teachers.The department is providing £1 billion more for high needs budgets in 2025/26, bringing total high needs funding to over £12 billion. This funding will help local authorities and schools with the increasing costs of supporting children and young people with complex SEND. All local authorities will see an increase in funding of at least 7% per head, compared to 2024/25, with some local authorities seeing gains of up to 10%.We have also published local authority allocations for £740 million of high needs capital funding for 2025/26, to invest in places for children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision. This funding will start to pave the way for this government’s wide ranging, long term plans for reform to help more pupils with SEND to have their needs met in mainstream schools.In the longer term, the department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to children and young people with the most complex needs. Ofsted will also increase its focus on disadvantaged children and learners, those with SEND and those who leaders have identified as being particularly vulnerable. Ofsted is proposing introducing a separate evaluation area for ‘inclusion’ on its report cards.The department will work with the sector to ensure our approach is fully planned and delivered in partnership. To support this approach, we have already appointed a strategic advisor on SEND to engage with sector leaders, practitioners, children and families. We have also established an expert advisory group for inclusion to improve the mainstream education outcomes and experiences for those with SEND, and set up a Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group to provide a shared understanding of what provision and support in mainstream educational settings should look like for neurodivergent children and young people within an inclusive system.

What the average waiting time was for children with special educational needs and disabilities to receive an Education, Health and Care plan in (a) England, (b) the East of England and (c) Suffolk in each year since 2020.

Information on the number and percentage of education, health and care (EHC) plans issued within the statutory 20 week deadline, with and without statutory exceptions to that deadline applying, is published as part of the department’s EHC plans statistical release, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2024.The following table shows the number and proportion of plans issued within the statutory 20 week deadline for England, the East of England and Suffolk for each calendar year since 2020: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/176f8770-7fe7-49b2-9bba-08dd7377d1ad.

How many employees have been recruited to work on US Air Force bases under the Local National Direct Hire programme in each year since 2000.

As the Local National Direct Hire Programme is a United States’ programme the Ministry of Defence is unable to provide this information.

Whether United States Visiting Forces have suspended the Local National Direct Hire programme on US Air Force bases in the UK.

The Local National Direct Hire programme is owned by the US Air Force.We are aware of a “hiring freeze” to the Local National Direct Hire programme but have not seen anything issued formally.

What discussions (a) ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with US Air Forces in Europe – United Kingdom on the Local National Direct Hire programme.

The Secretary of State for Defence and Defence Officials have regular engagements on a wide range of Defence topics with their US counterparts.The Local National Direct Hire Programme is a United States’ programme, and it is for the US to determine how they wish to support their mission. Defence officials provide UK sponsorship for the security clearance of UK individuals hired under the US Local National Direct Hire Programme. There is no further planned engagement on this programme.

When she plans to table amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to expand checks for illegal working.

These amendments are expected to be introduced at Commons Report stage of the Bill.

If she will make an assessment of the impact of her policies on electric vehicle charging companies’ (a) pricing and (b) subscription models.

The Government is committed to ensuring public charging is affordable for all. Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, chargepoint operators are required to clearly provide the price of charging at public chargepoints in pence per kilowatt hour. While this does not cap the cost of charging or require chargepoint operators to use a specific pricing model, it does ensure consistency in the way prices are displayed, making it easy for drivers to compare public chargepoints and choose the best rate.

How many successful asylum claimants by nationality there were by (a) age and (b) sex in each year since 2020.

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of granted asylum claims in each year, by nationality, age and sex, is published in table Asy_D02 of the Asylum and resettlement detailed datasets. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relate to 2024.

How many NHS (a) hospitals, and (b) other buildings in England will be (i) sold, (ii) refurbished, and (iii) demolished between 2025 and 2030.

The Department does not currently hold estimated figures for the number of sales, refurbishments and demolitions of hospitals and other National Health Service buildings in England for 2025 to 2030.Decisions to sell, refurbish or demolish hospitals and other NHS buildings in England are matters for the local NHS organisations in line with their local infrastructure planning.Decisions on sales, refurbishments and demolitions will also be shaped by capital availability. We are backing NHS systems to invest in local priorities in 2025/26, with over £4 billion in operational capital, and national funding, including the £750 million Estates Safety Fund. Systems are in planning stages for capital investments in 2025/26, informed by the NHS capital guidance for 2025/26, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/capital-guidance-2025-26/Capital funding levels for 2026/27 to 2030/31 will be determined through the current Spending Review, which concludes in June 2025.

If she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of building new charging infrastructure for police electric vehicles in each year between 2020 and 2025.

The Home Office does not hold this data. Decisions about the allocation of police resources locally, are a matter for Chief Constables and directly elected local policing bodies (including Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors exercising PCC functions and the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime).

If she will make an estimate of the total (a) value and (b) number of payments made by her Department to Motability in each year since 2010.

The Department for Work and Pensions retains financial information for 7 years in compliance with the fifth principle of the Data Protection Act, therefore we are unable to provide historic data back to 2010. We can provide the requested estimated total Motability values data for the previous three calendar years, DWP has paid: 2022 - c£607 million2023 - c£600 million2024 - c£600 million We are unable to provide volumes data, and value data for earlier years within the timescales required for this request, due to the time required to interrogate our systems to obtain this level of information.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of restricting the acquisition, storage, and usage of lead shot on elite shooting athletes.

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) final Opinion on their restriction proposal for lead in ammunition, informed by information from public consultations as well as independent scientific advice, included consideration of the use of lead shot by athletes. In their final Opinion, HSE set out their assessment and this included a proposed exemption for competitive athletes. Now Defra has received HSE’s final Opinion on the proposed restriction, we are assessing their proposals. A decision will follow in due course, which will be taken with consent from the Devolved Governments of Scotland and Wales.