Written questions by Bool.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending the Armed Forces Covenant Duty on her departmental responsibilities.

The department has a long-standing commitment to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant and support the education of children and young people from military families within the state-funded education system in England.The department is supportive of the extension of the Armed Forces Covenant, and officials have liaised with the Ministry of Defence on plans to improve and extend key policies that target support for service pupils and their families.

What steps his Department is taking to accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar panels on commercial warehouses as part of the Solar Taskforce roadmap.

The Government is aware of the significant potential that commercial rooftops have in our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower. We are working to unlock this potential. The recently published Solar Roadmap sets out actions for government and industry including developing guidance for landlords and tenants to traverse the complex lease agreements that often hold back sector enthusiasm for rooftop solar deployment.We will convene a joint government / industry Solar Council to monitor progress and drive delivery of the actions in the Roadmap. Additionally, solar will play an important role in the Future Buildings Standard for new build non-domestic buildings due to be introduced later this year, and the UK’s overall approach to Net Zero commercial buildings will be set out in the government’s Warm Homes Plan strategy later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56079 on Agriculture: Land Use, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the statistic that 50% of land with solar panels on is used for agricultural production.

The statistics are estimates from the annual Defra June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture, a representative large scale sample survey of Defra registered farms* from across the country. Indications of accuracy in the estimates of the area of land with solar panels used/not used for agricultural production are provided below and in the published dataset https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agricultural-land-use-in-england. 2024 hectares95% confidence intervalRelative Standard ErrorLand for solar panels also used for grazing or agricultural production3,620+/- 1,192>10 and <=20%Land for solar panels not used for agricultural production3,683+/- 1,249>10 and <=20% The Relative Standard Error (RSE) is a measure of the variation in the data, expressed as a percentage of the estimated total. Low RSE’s indicate greater reliability in the figures. The 95% confidence interval indicates the likely range of the exact figure. The standard errors which underpin both the RSE’s and the 95% confidence intervals only give an indication of the sampling error and do not take into account any other sources of survey error such as non-response bias or data entry errors. *Data only covers holdings which are registered with the Rural Payments Agency for payments or livestock purposes and have significant levels of farming activity. Holdings are only included if they have more than five hectares of agricultural land, one hectare of orchards, 0.5 hectares of vegetables or 0.1 hectares of protected crops, or more than 10 cows, 50 pigs, 20 sheep, 20 goats or 1,000 poultry.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 67788 on Prescriptions: Terminal Illnesses, how many of the people who received one of the 50,330 Penalty Charge Notices issued for incorrectly claiming medical exemption from NHS prescription charges were previously in possession of an exemption certificate and remained eligible for an exemption certificate.

The information is not held in the format requested, as it could only be obtained at disproportionate cost through manual matching of data from multiple unlinked data sources.

Whether the Government’s commission on adult social care will consider reform to the means test of the Disabled Facilities Grant.

In England, we continue to fund the locally administered Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), which helps eligible older and disabled people on low incomes to adapt their homes.We have provided an additional £172 million across this and the last financial year to uplift the DFG, which could provide around 15,600 home adaptations to give older and disabled people more independence in their homes. This brings the total funding for the DFG to £711 million across 2024/25 and 2025/26.We continue to keep all aspects of the DFG under consideration. Recently, we carried out a review of the upper limit for the DFG and are currently considering the findings.We have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The Terms of Reference for the commission are sufficiently broad to enable Baroness Casey to independently consider how to build a social care system fit for the future, including aspects of the DFG if she sees fit.

What metrics are used to track early diagnosis in blood cancer.

The Department continues to support the National Health Service to diagnose and treat cancer as early and fast as possible. There have been improvements in the prognosis of blood cancer patients, with patients now living twice as long. However, we recognise that because of the damaged NHS this Government inherited, patients with cancers with non-specific symptoms such as blood cancer, are waiting too long for diagnosis and subsequent treatment.There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. However, the Department will continue to engage with blood cancer charities and key stakeholders to determine how to support the best outcomes for blood cancer patients.At this time no current assessment has been made on the potential merits of a proxy measure for early diagnosis in unstageable blood cancers. However, we remain committed to making improvements across different cancer types and reducing disparities in cancer survival. Early cancer diagnosis is also a specific priority within the NHS’s wider Core20Plus5 approach to reducing healthcare inequalities. The NHS currently track early diagnosis in stageable blood cancers by combining the percentage of diagnoses within stage 1 or 2, as it would for any other stageable cancer.Furthermore, to tackle late, emergency setting diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. There are currently 115 NSS services operating in England with blood cancers being one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), through the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Services, collects information on how many people in England have cancer. Blood cancer is included as a distinct category, labelled haematological neoplasms. The NDRS website also shows the number of people treated for different tumour types by treatment type, as well as survival rates, mortality rates, and data on urgent suspected cancer referrals. Further information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/data/data-outputs/cancer-data-hubThe National Cancer Plan will include further details on improving outcomes for cancer patients in England, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment. It will ensure patients, including those with blood cancer, have timely access to the latest treatments and technology.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of developing a proxy measure for early diagnosis in blood cancer, in the absence of staging information.

The Department continues to support the National Health Service to diagnose and treat cancer as early and fast as possible. There have been improvements in the prognosis of blood cancer patients, with patients now living twice as long. However, we recognise that because of the damaged NHS this Government inherited, patients with cancers with non-specific symptoms such as blood cancer, are waiting too long for diagnosis and subsequent treatment.There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. However, the Department will continue to engage with blood cancer charities and key stakeholders to determine how to support the best outcomes for blood cancer patients.At this time no current assessment has been made on the potential merits of a proxy measure for early diagnosis in unstageable blood cancers. However, we remain committed to making improvements across different cancer types and reducing disparities in cancer survival. Early cancer diagnosis is also a specific priority within the NHS’s wider Core20Plus5 approach to reducing healthcare inequalities. The NHS currently track early diagnosis in stageable blood cancers by combining the percentage of diagnoses within stage 1 or 2, as it would for any other stageable cancer.Furthermore, to tackle late, emergency setting diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. There are currently 115 NSS services operating in England with blood cancers being one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS), through the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Services, collects information on how many people in England have cancer. Blood cancer is included as a distinct category, labelled haematological neoplasms. The NDRS website also shows the number of people treated for different tumour types by treatment type, as well as survival rates, mortality rates, and data on urgent suspected cancer referrals. Further information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/ndrs/data/data-outputs/cancer-data-hubThe National Cancer Plan will include further details on improving outcomes for cancer patients in England, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment. It will ensure patients, including those with blood cancer, have timely access to the latest treatments and technology.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56079 on Agriculture: Land Use, what the breakdown in the type of agricultural production on the 50% of land with solar panels which is used for agricultural production is.

The statistics are based on results from the annual Defra June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture. The specific survey category was “Area of solar panels on land also used for grazing or agricultural production” but no breakdowns of the type of production were collected and are therefore not available.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56079 on Agriculture: Land Use, what proportion of the 50% of land with solar panels that is still being used for agricultural production is being used for livestock grazing.

The statistics are based on results from the annual Defra June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture. The specific survey category was “Area of solar panels on land also used for grazing or agricultural production” but no breakdowns of the type of production were collected and are therefore not available.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the meal rate for Universal Free School Meals to cover the costs school face in providing them.

The department spends around £600 million annually supporting the provision of free and nutritious meals to around 1.3 million infants and almost £1 billion supporting around 2.2 million of the most disadvantaged pupils. In addition to this, we have set aside over £1 billion over the multiyear spending review period to back our significant expansion of free meals support to all households on Universal Credit, taking effect from September 2026. This will benefit over half a million children.For the 2025/26 academic year, we have allocated a meal rate of £2.61 for universal infant free school meals. As with all policies, we continue to keep free meals policy, including funding, under review to ensure that nutritious meals continue to be deliverable. Departmental officials meet regularly with the sector, including the school catering industry, and use these insights to inform our work.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47160 on Food: Import Controls, what additional funding has been provided to ports and airports relating to the ban on personal imports of meats and diary products from EU countries.

Defra is currently funding Dover Port Health Authority to help identify illegal meat and dairy imports. We have not provided additional funding to ports and airports relating to the ban on personal imports of certain meat and dairy products from EU countries.

What recent discussions she has had with Hewlett Packard on the change in value of pre-1997 pension scheme members’ pensions; and what steps she is taking to support affected pensioners.

The Department for Work and Pensions has had no discussions with Hewlett Packard on this issue. Discretionary increases in benefits above the statutory minimum and those required by scheme rules are a matter for the scheme sponsor and trustees.Most schemes do pay some pre-1997 indexation, because of scheme rules or as a discretionary benefit. Analysis published last year by the Pensions Regulator shows that as of March 2023, only 17 per cent of members of private sector defined benefit pension schemes did not receive any pre-1997 indexation on benefits. This information can be found at: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests#f3a5fe60511a445f91112bd7dd8a64aeThe Government’s pension reforms on the use of surpluses in defined benefit schemes will make it easier for individual schemes to make decisions that improve outcomes for both sponsoring employers and members, which could include discretionary benefit increases. These changes are being taken forward through the Pension Schemes Bill which had its second reading on Monday 7th July.

How many (a) patients and (b) terminally ill patients have been (i) prosecuted under the 1999 Health Act, (ii) fined and (iii) investigated for fraudulently claiming prescription charge exemptions.

The Department has made no assessment of the cost to the public purse of the requirement for patients, including terminally ill patients and patients with type 1 diabetes, to renew their medical exemption certificate every five years.Between 1 June 2024 and 1 July 2025, 50,330 people received a Penalty Charge Notice after claiming a medical exemption certificate on a National Health Service prescription.There has been one prosecution in relation to non-payment of NHS prescription charges, which was in 2019. Data that specifically identifies patients with a terminal illness in relation to prosecutions, fines, or investigations under the 1999 Health Act for fraudulent prescription charge exemptions is not held. Data is recorded based on a qualifying medical condition which entitles someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

If he will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of a universal, paediatric Type 1 Diabetes screening programme.

In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening, and which supports implementation. A proposal for screening for neonatal diabetes mellitus was submitted to the UK NSC via its 2021 annual call process. An evidence-mapping exercise was conducted at that time which concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to recommend screening for this condition. The UK NSC received a submission via its 2024 annual call process to consider screening for autoimmune type 1 diabetes through blood testing. The committee requested further information from the submitter, and this is now in the process of being reviewed. Further information on the annual call process is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-annual-call-submitting-a-screening-proposal/uk-nsc-annual-call-how-to-submit-a-proposal The UK NSC is aware of the ELSA study that is looking at screening children for type 1 diabetes and looks forward to receiving the results of this study in due course. When the UK NSC makes a recommendation to introduce any screening programme they consider the cost effectiveness of the programme, and the Department estimates the cost of implementing the recommendation before ministers agree to the recommendation. Therefore, if the UK NSC makes a recommendation to screen for type 1 diabetes, a cost assessment will be made.

What the annual cost of treating (a) patients over 18 and (b) children with Diabetic Ketoacidosis is.

A central mission of the Government is to build a health and care system that is fit for the future. Tackling preventable ill health, such as type 2 diabetes, is crucial. Shifting the focus from treatment to prevention is one of three shifts for the Government’s mission for a National Health Service that is fit for the future, and is a cornerstone of supporting people to live healthier lives.Preventing diabetes, like obesity, is a complex issue and requires multi-faceted action across both the public and private sector. Prevention involves collaboration across the public and private sectors to tackle underlying issues such obesity, poor diets, and lifestyle issues.The Department is taking steps to prevent type 2 diabetes through programmes such as the NHS Health Check, England’s flagship cardiovascular disease prevention programme for those aged between 40 and 74 years old, which aims to identify people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and some cases of dementia, and to signpost them to behavioural support such as weight management and clinical treatment if needed.Once identified, those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes can also be referred by their general practitioner into the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. The programme is highly effective, cutting the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 37% for people completing the programme, compared to those who do not attend.The annual costs of treating patients over 18 years old and children with diabetic ketoacidosis is not available, as this data is not routinely collected and/or analysed nationally.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question 64957 on Prescriptions: Terminal Illnesses, if he will make an assessment of the cost to the public purse of the requirement for patients to renew their medical exemption certificate every five years for (a) all patients, (b) terminally ill patients and (c) patients with Type 1 diabetes.

The Department has made no assessment of the cost to the public purse of the requirement for patients, including terminally ill patients and patients with type 1 diabetes, to renew their medical exemption certificate every five years.Between 1 June 2024 and 1 July 2025, 50,330 people received a Penalty Charge Notice after claiming a medical exemption certificate on a National Health Service prescription.There has been one prosecution in relation to non-payment of NHS prescription charges, which was in 2019. Data that specifically identifies patients with a terminal illness in relation to prosecutions, fines, or investigations under the 1999 Health Act for fraudulent prescription charge exemptions is not held. Data is recorded based on a qualifying medical condition which entitles someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the ELSA Diabetes screening study; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of scaling it to a universal programme.

In the United Kingdom, national screening programmes are introduced based on the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects of population and targeted screening and supports implementation. The UK NSC is aware of the ELSA study that is looking at screening children for type 1 diabetes and looks forward to receiving the results of this study when the trial is complete.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56079 on Agriculture: Land Use, whether he plans to collect date on the potential impact of large-scale solar farms on (a) agricultural land use and (b) landscape character to inform future land use policy.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 June 2025 to Question 56079. Defra does not collect information on the potential impacts of constructing green energy infrastructure on agricultural land use or landscape character. However, Defra does produce statistical estimates of agricultural land areas each year from the annual June Survey of Agriculture: In 2024, the utilised agricultural area (UAA) in England was 8.7 million hectares and this has remained broadly stable, only changing by around +/-1% each year over the past decade. Full breakdowns of agricultural land areas are published here Agricultural land use in England - Agricultural land use in England - GOV.UK.In 2024, around 7,300 hectares of this land were used for solar panels (less than 0.1% of UAA). However, 50% of this land is still being used for agricultural production e.g. for livestock grazing.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56079 on Agriculture: Land Use, whether his Department plans to introduce (a) guidance and (b) thresholds to balance solar farm development with (i) the protection of landscape character and (ii) food production capacity in rural areas.

There are already robust measures in place to protect landscape, biodiversity and agricultural land, including comprehensive environmental assessments where relevant. The Government agrees that prime agricultural land should be safeguarded, and where a proposal involves agricultural land, the National Planning Policy Framework sets out how the best and most versatile agricultural land should be reflected in planning policies and decisions, making clear that where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, areas of poorer quality land should be preferred to those of a higher quality. This will, where relevant, be a material consideration in planning decisions, including those made by the Secretary of State. Solar and farming can be complementary, supporting each other financially, environmentally and through the shared use of land – whilst maintaining UK food production. The Government has also committed to empower Protected Landscapes to become greener, wilder and more accessible. As set out in the NPPF, great weight should be given to conserving and enhancing landscape and scenic beauty in National Parks, the Broads and National Landscapes which have the highest status of protection in relation to these issues.

Food and Rural Affairs, what research and development initiatives his Department is supporting to accelerate the development of a vaccine for Bluetongue Virus serotype 12.

Defra’s approach to bluetongue is based on the latest scientific evidence and veterinary advice. Disease control measures aim to limit the spread of infection through proportionate and evidence-based control measures. This is reflected in the Great Britain (GB) Bluetongue Virus Disease Control Strategy, which was produced jointly between Scottish and Welsh governments and Defra, and in consultation with experts and industry stakeholders. The GB disease control strategy covers actions that would be considered and implemented in the event any bluetongue serotype was detected, including BTV-12.The Government also conducts annual targeted surveillance for BTV. This is designed to detect new serotypes of bluetongue virus, including BTV-12 that may be circulating. The annual surveillance uses diagnostic testing protocols at the bluetongue national reference laboratory, The Pirbright Institute, that can detect and differentiate between different serotypes of bluetongue virus including BTV-12. It was through this annual surveillance that the single case of BTV-12 in a single animal was detected on 7 February 2025 on a farm in England and no further cases of BTV-12 have been detected since.Whilst there are currently no authorised vaccines for BTV-12 in the UK or Europe, Defra regularly engages with manufacturers on bluetongue vaccine availability and supply. The Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) has responsibility for assessing applications submitted by manufacturers for veterinary medicinal products, including vaccines. Following assessment of the supporting data, if the benefits of use outweigh the risks when used in accordance with the approved labelling, a Marketing Authorisation will be issued permitting the sale of the product. The VMD also regulates the distribution and supply of veterinary medicines.