Written questions by Bool.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the risk of bluetongue serotype 12 outbreaks in the UK; and what contingency plans are in place for such an outbreak.

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.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) veterinary pharmaceutical companies and (b) international partners on the (i) development, (ii) approval and (iii) potential deployment of a vaccine for bluetongue 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.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 57937 on Roads: Closures, whether her Department has considered introducing a centralised digital platform to improve transparency and real-time coordination between (a) statutory undertakers, (b) HS2 Ltd and (c) local authorities during roadworks planning and implementation.

My department has already introduced Street Manager, our digital service that is used by all highway authorities and statutory undertakers in England. Our online service allows highway authorities to plan and manage street and road works on their road network. HS2 Ltd also uses this service. We stream open data on live and planned works that is made available to the public via apps and websites. Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) can be used during works to regulate or restrict use of a road. My department has been developing a central publication platform, known as D-TRO (digital TRO service). The service will improve efficiency and provide real time updates on restrictions. It is currently in private beta testing with a selection of authorities.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57938 on Investment: Fraud, what steps her Department is taking to ensure consistency and transparency in how Payment Service Providers determine eligibility for reimbursement under the APP scam regime.

In October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) introduced a mandatory reimbursement regime for authorised push payment (APP) scams which take place over the Faster Payments system, as required by the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2023. The PSR’s regime requires payment service providers to reimburse victims for losses up to £85,000. FSMA 2023 also gave the PSR powers to take action to require reimbursement for other payment systems which have been designated by HMT. The details of the reimbursement regime and its enforcement are a matter for the independent PSR, but it has committed to carry out an independent evaluation of the reimbursement requirement after the rules have been in place for 12 months, including considering the maximum level of reimbursement.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56079 on Agriculture: Land Use, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of commissioning commissioning independent research to assess the cumulative impact of solar farm development on (a) rural land use and (b) visual amenity.

The Land Use Framework will provide a long-term view of land use change. Over the next 25 years, England’s landscapes will need to change to support climate change mitigation and adaptation, economic growth, housing delivery, food production, clean energy and meeting statutory targets for nature recovery The Land Use Consultation published this year was underpinned by analysis of land use change for nature restoration and other objectives. This included analysis produced by Defra’s Land Use Analysis and Research Programme of potential spatial distributions of change through to 2050. The evidence base for this consultation also underpins wider Government reform, including a Farming Roadmap, the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan and review of the Environmental Improvement Plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56079 on Agriculture: Land Use, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that planning decisions on solar farms are informed by up-to-date assessments of local agricultural productivity and landscape sensitivity.

This Government places great importance upon our agricultural land and food production and has committed to empower Protected Landscapes to become greener, wilder and more accessible. There are established routes in the planning system to consider the impacts of renewable and low carbon energy projects, as well as processes to enable communities to engage in the consultation of applications. 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. Guidance on assessing development proposals on agricultural land is available from Natural England to ensure decisions are informed by up-to-date assessments of agricultural land.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57938 on Investment: Fraud, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the £85,000 reimbursement cap for victims of investment fraud where losses significantly exceed this threshold.

In October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) introduced a mandatory reimbursement regime for authorised push payment (APP) scams which take place over the Faster Payments system, as required by the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2023. The PSR’s regime requires payment service providers to reimburse victims for losses up to £85,000. FSMA 2023 also gave the PSR powers to take action to require reimbursement for other payment systems which have been designated by HMT. The details of the reimbursement regime and its enforcement are a matter for the independent PSR, but it has committed to carry out an independent evaluation of the reimbursement requirement after the rules have been in place for 12 months, including considering the maximum level of reimbursement.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 55644 on Arts and Cultural Heritage: South Northamptonshire, what discussions she has had with (a) Arts Council England and (b) National Lottery Heritage Fund on evaluating the potential long-term impact of arts grants on levels of local (i) cultural participation and (iI) economic development in South Northamptonshire constituency.

The Secretary of State has not carried out an assessment of the funding allocated for arts and heritage in the South Northamptonshire constituency specifically, however, the Department has carried out an initial review of publicly funded arts, culture and heritage sectors, including looking at national and local government funding. This work ensures any future policy development is evidence driven.Ministers have also launched a review of Arts Council England, our arms-length body who are responsible for the distribution of arts funding across England. The review will examine everything from funding mechanisms to community engagement. Baroness Hodge of Barking is leading the review and will provide government with her report and recommendations in the autumn of 2025. The government will then publish the conclusions of the review along with the government’s response in 2026.Details of Arts Council England funding since 2021 can be found on the Arts Council England website here https://culture.localinsight.org/#/mapThe Secretary of State has a range of discussions with Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund across the whole of her portfolio, and DCMS officials regularly discuss support for arts, culture and heritage with their counterparts at our arms-length bodies.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57938 on Investment: Fraud, whether her Department has considered establishing a centralised redress mechanism for victims of investment fraud that fall outside the scope of the Faster Payments System or the PSR reimbursement regime.

In October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) introduced a mandatory reimbursement regime for authorised push payment (APP) scams which take place over the Faster Payments system, as required by the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2023. The PSR’s regime requires payment service providers to reimburse victims for losses up to £85,000. FSMA 2023 also gave the PSR powers to take action to require reimbursement for other payment systems which have been designated by HMT. The details of the reimbursement regime and its enforcement are a matter for the independent PSR, but it has committed to carry out an independent evaluation of the reimbursement requirement after the rules have been in place for 12 months, including considering the maximum level of reimbursement.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 57937 on Roads: Closures, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Code of Practice for the Co-ordination of Street and Road Works in reducing levels of disruption caused by overlapping works from (a) statutory bodies and (b) HS2 Ltd.

My department provides the statutory code of practice for the co-ordination of street and road works. It is not possible to assess the effectiveness of this code of practice alone in reducing disruption. The code of practice is one tool amongst many others, including other legislation, statutory guidance and guidance that enables highway authorities to coordinate works on their network and reduce disruption caused by overlapping works. HS2 Ltd also use a range of mitigation measures to manage disruption across the route and keep local communities informed. To help coordinate works with other parties in the area, HS2 Ltd uses traffic management plans, and holds regular local traffic liaison meetings with highway authorities along the route.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 57937 on Roads: Closures, what mechanisms are in place to ensure accountability when coordination between HS2 Ltd and local authorities fails to prevent avoidable road closures or extended disruption.

Highway authorities have a duty to coordinate works on the highway. HS2 Ltd holds regular local traffic liaison meetings with highway authorities to assist with this. Whilst traffic disruption is inevitable on a project of HS2’s scale, HS2 Ltd is committed to ensuring that this is minimised as far as reasonably practicable. This includes ensuring that any plans for road closures or works that may cause extended disruption are scrutinised carefully to ensure that they cannot be avoided and that appropriate mitigations are put in place.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing a reserve-style service as part of the Cyber and Specialist Operations Command.

SDR 2025 directs that “the future Cyber & EM Force should be a whole force endeavour, drawing heavily on reserves and civilians where expertise lies”. The future Cyber & EM Forces will be part of the Cyber & Specialist Operations Command. Planning to date is drawing heavily on our experience of using specialist cyber reserves and will seek to expand opportunities for reserve-style service; this is likely to include increasing the number of cyber specialist reserves, adjusting forms of military service (including expanding the Cyber Direct Entry scheme), and partnering differently with industry to leverage skills & capacity in wider workforce.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 55644 on Arts and Cultural Heritage: South Northamptonshire, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the funding allocated for arts and heritage in (a) South Northamptonshire constituency, (b) rural and semi-rural communities and (c) urban areas since 2021.

The Secretary of State has not carried out an assessment of the funding allocated for arts and heritage in the South Northamptonshire constituency specifically, however, the Department has carried out an initial review of publicly funded arts, culture and heritage sectors, including looking at national and local government funding. This work ensures any future policy development is evidence driven.Ministers have also launched a review of Arts Council England, our arms-length body who are responsible for the distribution of arts funding across England. The review will examine everything from funding mechanisms to community engagement. Baroness Hodge of Barking is leading the review and will provide government with her report and recommendations in the autumn of 2025. The government will then publish the conclusions of the review along with the government’s response in 2026.Details of Arts Council England funding since 2021 can be found on the Arts Council England website here https://culture.localinsight.org/#/mapThe Secretary of State has a range of discussions with Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund across the whole of her portfolio, and DCMS officials regularly discuss support for arts, culture and heritage with their counterparts at our arms-length bodies.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 55645 on Legal Aid Scheme: Rural Areas, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the £6 million legal support grant funding reaches legal aid deserts in rural areas.

Citizens in England and Wales should be able to access legal aid services regardless of where they live, provided they meet the relevant eligibility criteria. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services, and it monitors the numbers of providers in each procurement area and across all categories of law. It takes operational action where it can, to respond to market pressures that may arise and works closely with the Ministry of Justice on policy solutions concerning the supply of legal aid.Greater use of technology can enable people to access a wide range of specialist advice from across the country. For example, legal advice for education, discrimination, housing and debt issues is always available through the Civil Legal Advice telephone service, wherever you are in England and Wales.As part of the £24 million increase for criminal solicitors implemented in 2024, the Ministry of Justice is paying for travel time for solicitors who work or commute to work in a small number of scheme areas with fewer than two legal aid providers, as well as the Isle of Wight.The Department continues to monitor office locations and travel distances between providers and clients as part of its assessment of geographical coverage.The Government’s grant funding of over £6 million going to 60 frontline organisations in 2025/26 funds charitable, benevolent or philanthropic organisations delivering legal support and information services in relation to a range of social welfare legal problems. Organisations include some local Citizen’s Advice centres, Shelter and Law Centres, who provide legal support services across England and Wales, including in rural areas, with some organisations also providing outreach services. Online services delivered by organisations like AdviceNow also provide support and information to individuals in relation to civil, family and tribunal matters regardless of location. The Advicenow website includes information about how to get legal aid in relevant areas of law and signposts users to further information and support.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 55645 on Legal Aid Scheme: Rural Areas, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the legal aid procurement model on improving access to legal aid services in rural areas.

Citizens in England and Wales should be able to access legal aid services regardless of where they live, provided they meet the relevant eligibility criteria. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services, and it monitors the numbers of providers in each procurement area and across all categories of law. It takes operational action where it can, to respond to market pressures that may arise and works closely with the Ministry of Justice on policy solutions concerning the supply of legal aid.Greater use of technology can enable people to access a wide range of specialist advice from across the country. For example, legal advice for education, discrimination, housing and debt issues is always available through the Civil Legal Advice telephone service, wherever you are in England and Wales.As part of the £24 million increase for criminal solicitors implemented in 2024, the Ministry of Justice is paying for travel time for solicitors who work or commute to work in a small number of scheme areas with fewer than two legal aid providers, as well as the Isle of Wight.The Department continues to monitor office locations and travel distances between providers and clients as part of its assessment of geographical coverage.The Government’s grant funding of over £6 million going to 60 frontline organisations in 2025/26 funds charitable, benevolent or philanthropic organisations delivering legal support and information services in relation to a range of social welfare legal problems. Organisations include some local Citizen’s Advice centres, Shelter and Law Centres, who provide legal support services across England and Wales, including in rural areas, with some organisations also providing outreach services. Online services delivered by organisations like AdviceNow also provide support and information to individuals in relation to civil, family and tribunal matters regardless of location. The Advicenow website includes information about how to get legal aid in relevant areas of law and signposts users to further information and support.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 55645 on Legal Aid Scheme: Rural Areas, what data her Department holds on the average (a) travel distance and (b) waiting time for residents to access in-person legal aid services in (i) rural and (ii) urban areas.

Citizens in England and Wales should be able to access legal aid services regardless of where they live, provided they meet the relevant eligibility criteria. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services, and it monitors the numbers of providers in each procurement area and across all categories of law. It takes operational action where it can, to respond to market pressures that may arise and works closely with the Ministry of Justice on policy solutions concerning the supply of legal aid.Greater use of technology can enable people to access a wide range of specialist advice from across the country. For example, legal advice for education, discrimination, housing and debt issues is always available through the Civil Legal Advice telephone service, wherever you are in England and Wales.As part of the £24 million increase for criminal solicitors implemented in 2024, the Ministry of Justice is paying for travel time for solicitors who work or commute to work in a small number of scheme areas with fewer than two legal aid providers, as well as the Isle of Wight.The Department continues to monitor office locations and travel distances between providers and clients as part of its assessment of geographical coverage.The Government’s grant funding of over £6 million going to 60 frontline organisations in 2025/26 funds charitable, benevolent or philanthropic organisations delivering legal support and information services in relation to a range of social welfare legal problems. Organisations include some local Citizen’s Advice centres, Shelter and Law Centres, who provide legal support services across England and Wales, including in rural areas, with some organisations also providing outreach services. Online services delivered by organisations like AdviceNow also provide support and information to individuals in relation to civil, family and tribunal matters regardless of location. The Advicenow website includes information about how to get legal aid in relevant areas of law and signposts users to further information and support.

What assessment Department has made of the cost to the public purse of the requirement that (a) all and (b) terminally ill patients should renew their Medical Exemption Certificates every five years.

The Department has made no assessment of the cost to the public purse of the requirement for patients to renew their medical exemption certificate every five years.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of data protection laws in ensuring that legitimate complaints processes are dealt with effectively by health bodies.

The handling of patient complaints in the National Health Service is governed by the Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009. These regulations set out in law the minimum standards NHS organisations must adhere to in respect of their complaint handling arrangements.There are strong protections in law to ensure that health and care information is used in a safe, secure, and legal way, and these must be observed in any complaints process. These include: the UK General Data Protection Regulation; the Data Protection Act 2018, which establishes a legal framework for processing personal information and keeping it secure, and for only using it for the purposes for which it was collected; the Human Rights Act 1998, which requires public bodies to respect the private life of an individual, including protecting any information held about them; and the common law duty of confidentiality.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients do not (a) miss and (b) cancel hospital appointments due to a lack of (i) affordable and (ii) accessible transport options.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we will ensure that 92% of patients return to waiting no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015. The Government is clear that reforming elective care must be done equitably and inclusively for all adults, children, and young people.We know there is also geographical variation in waiting times. It is important that patients, including older and disabled patients, do not miss or cancel hospital appointments due to a lack of affordable and/or accessible transport options in their area.This is why the Elective Reform Plan, published January 2025, committed to reviewing existing national health inequalities improvement initiatives to develop them and increase their uptake. Specifically, the plan committed to reviewing local patient transport services and improving the signposting to and the accessibility of them for patients, to make it easier for vulnerable groups to travel to and access appointments.This includes improving the accessibility, awareness, and efficiency of The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme, with a focus on reducing health inequalities and improving the patient experience.

What assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy and (b) accessibility of transport services for (i) older and (ii) disabled patients attending NHS hospital appointments in rural areas.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we will ensure that 92% of patients return to waiting no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015. The Government is clear that reforming elective care must be done equitably and inclusively for all adults, children, and young people.We know there is also geographical variation in waiting times. It is important that patients, including older and disabled patients, do not miss or cancel hospital appointments due to a lack of affordable and/or accessible transport options in their area.This is why the Elective Reform Plan, published January 2025, committed to reviewing existing national health inequalities improvement initiatives to develop them and increase their uptake. Specifically, the plan committed to reviewing local patient transport services and improving the signposting to and the accessibility of them for patients, to make it easier for vulnerable groups to travel to and access appointments.This includes improving the accessibility, awareness, and efficiency of The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme, with a focus on reducing health inequalities and improving the patient experience.