Written questions by Hall.

If his Department will take steps to ensure that NHS pay awards are implemented on 1 April each year.

The Government is committed to improving the timing of the pay round as set out in the Chancellor’s speech on 29 July 2024. We recognise the importance of giving certainty on pay settlements as early as possible and are working to be able to announce pay uplifts sooner this round.Having accepted the 2025/26 headline pay recommendations in full, the Government issued remit letters to pay review boards in July 2025 formally beginning the 2026/27 pay round. This is over two months earlier than last year and puts us on track to meet the stated ambition of my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to announce and implement pay uplifts as close to 1 April 2026 as possible.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of waiting times for cardiac care in the North West.

Tackling the waiting list is a top priority for the Government. This includes decreasing wait times for those accessing cardiac care. We have exceeded our pledge to deliver over two million more elective care appointments. More than double that number, or 5.2 million more appointments, have now been delivered in England.On 6 January 2025, NHS England published the new Elective Reform Plan. This sets out a whole system approach to delivering on the commitment that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, in line with the National Health Service constitutional standard, by March 2029.As of the end of July 2025, compared with the end of June 2024, the overall number of people waiting for cardiac treatment in the North West has fallen by 7,536. However, performance against the 18-week target has decreased by 0.3 percentage points over the same period, namely 56.2% in June 2024 and 55.9% in July 2025.

When he plans to publish the new NHS workforce plan.

We will publish our 10 Year Workforce Plan by the end of 2025.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that end-to-end encryption continues to protect personal privacy while enabling law enforcement to detect serious criminal activity.

This Government supports strong encryption, which protects our citizens online. However, this must not and need not be at the expense of public safety, which is this Government’s first priority.Targeted investigatory powers allow the authorities to investigate terrorists, paedophiles and the most serious criminals and are subject to robust safeguards, including judicial authorisations and oversight to protect people’s privacy.

When he plans to expand prescribing of GLP-1 medications beyond specialist weight-management services.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on the first two GLP-1 medicines licensed for the treatment of obesity, namely liraglutide under various brand names and semaglutide with brand name Wegovy, restricted their use to specialist weight management services. These services are primarily delivered in secondary care.NICE recommended that tirzepatide, with brand name Mounjaro, could be used for the treatment of obesity in eligible patients without a restriction on its setting. This means tirzepatide can be used in specialist weight management services but can also be prescribed in primary care by general practitioners (GPs) and other competent prescribers. From 23 June 2025, tirzepatide started to become available in primary care so the expansion beyond specialist services is underway.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are the National Health Service organisations responsible for arranging the provision of health services within their area in line with local population need and taking account of relevant guidance. ICBs have had to develop new care pathways to ensure that patients can access these medicines via their GP with appropriate wraparound support. NHS England has been working closely with ICBs to support the safe and effective roll out of tirzepatide in primary care. It has identified the groups of people to be prioritised in each phase of the initial rollout; helped develop local treatment models; provided funding support and regular communication channels to ICBs; and set up an interim, centrally funded ‘wraparound care service’, known as the ‘Healthier You: Behavioural Support for Obesity Prescribing’, for patients to be referred into, with a procurement underway for a longer-term offer.

Whether his Department has had recent discussions with Eli Lilly on the cost of Mounjaro.

The Department has held various discussions with Eli Lilly regarding the recent list price increase of Mounjaro. NHS England has worked with Eli Lilly to ensure the list price increase will not affect National Health Service commissioning of tirzepatide in England as a treatment for eligible diabetes and obesity patients in the NHS.We remain committed to the rollout of this medicine as a weight loss treatment based on clinical priority. This will enable 220,000 eligible people to access the medication over the first three years. The initial eligibility criteria will be for people with a body mass index of 40 or more in addition to four or more qualifying comorbidities.Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have also entered equivalent agreements to maintain their current commissioning approaches.Pricing in the private market is a matter for Eli Lilly and for private providers. Private patients who are impacted by price increases should discuss any concerns with their private provider. This includes their options regarding payment plans, alternative treatments, and/or stopping or tapering off their current medication. Eli Lilly is working with private providers to support continued patient access.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to include primates in the scope of the proposed ban on the import of hunting trophies.

Defra is continuing to engage with relevant stakeholders to help determine the most appropriate scope for the ban on the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. Species of conservation concern are listed primarily on Appendices I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) according to the level of threat international trade has on their conservation status. This includes a large number of primate species.

What recent progress his Department has made on the implementation of the Oliver McGowan mandatory training on learning disability and autism across the NHS and social care workforce.

On 19 June 2025, the Department laid a Code of Practice in Parliament which sets out how providers can meet the statutory requirement for learning disability and autism training.Over three million people have completed the e-learning package, the first part of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism (Oliver’s Training). National Health Service providers have reported that approximately 520,000 people have completed either Tier 1 or Tier 2 of Oliver’s Training. At the end of August 2025, 2,850 people have been trained to deliver Oliver’s Training and have been added to the Approved Trainer list.Data on completion of Oliver’s Training by the NHS is held locally and is reported to NHS England by the integrated care boards. This data does not differentiate between completion by frontline staff and other NHS and social care staff and is instead focussed on the overall completion of Tier 1 and Tier 2.The Department will be providing funding in autumn 2025 to support rollout of Oliver’s Training to the adult social care sector, via the same online claims service as the Learning and Development Support Scheme.

Whether the forthcoming National Cancer Plan for England will include targets to improve the timeliness of diagnosis of blood cancers.

Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan. It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes.To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the NHS is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancer earlier and treating it faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and ultimately drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on the killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza.

Reports and footage of the chaos at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites are horrifying. It is appalling that at least 2,294 people have been killed and over 16,839 injured at or near the distribution sites. This further illustrates why humanitarian partners such as the UN and humanitarian non-governmental organisations must be allowed to operate in line with their principles. We have repeatedly urged Israel to remove restrictions on aid and ensure that aid can be delivered across the Gaza strip safely.The UK has been clear that we will not support any aid mechanism that seeks to deliver political or military objectives or puts vulnerable civilians at risk while retrieving aid.On 11 July, I called for an independent investigation into the killing of women and children while collecting aid in central Gaza. Indications that Israel's Military Advocate General may open an investigation into allegations of deliberate targeting of civilians at aid distribution sites are a step in the right direction. We expect those responsible to be held to account.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with farmers to help improve the resilience of domestic food supply chains.

Food security is national security. We need a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British farmers, fishers and food producers. As part of the Government’s Plan for Change we are delivering on the Government’s New Deal for Farmers which includes a raft of new policies and major investment to boost profits for farmers. We've allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of menopause support services.

We are committed to prioritising women’s health as we reform the National Health Service. NHS England is working on menopause workforce support packages for employees and developing a range of tools and interventions that will help to upskill more GPs in menopause care, including awareness of mental health symptoms during menopause, and improve access to treatments. We are also using Community Diagnostic Centres to pilot pathways for women that suffer from post-menopausal bleeding. We also know that support in the workplace during the menopause can be crucial. Which is why we will: require large employers to detail the steps they are taking to support their staff as part of an action plan; and, publish guidance for small and medium employers on the measures they should consider to enable women to better manage their symptoms.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many used beverage cans were exported outside of Europe under the Packaging Waste Export Recycling Note system in 2024-25.

Under the Producer Responsibility Regulations, waste exporters are accredited by packaging material, not by format, so it is not possible to provide an exact tonnage of beverage cans exported for recycling. In terms of total tonnages, in 2024, and as part of the PRN/PERN system, 157,049 tonnes of aluminium packaging waste was recycled, of which 51,690 tonnes (33%) was exported outside of the EU for recycling.

What plans he has to improve early diagnosis of bowel cancer in patients under 50.

The latest available data, from 2022, showed that there were 2,648 diagnoses of bowel cancer in people under the age of 50 years old. It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including bowel cancer at all ages, as early as possible.Beginning this year, the NHS expanded its bowel cancer screening program by lowering the eligibility age to 50 years old to ensure earlier diagnosis for those at risk. NHS England also runs the Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptom and to address barriers to acting on them, encouraging people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The bowel cancer campaign urged people to take up the offer of bowel screening when invited.Furthermore, an NHS testing programme is helping to diagnose thousands of people with a genetic condition, Lynch Syndrome, that increases the chance of developing certain cancers, including bowel cancer. The national programme ensures that all people diagnosed with bowel cancer are offered genomic testing, along with their relatives, to help detect any cancers early and start timely treatment as needed.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on what will be done to improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, including for bowel cancer patients.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of light pollution on biodiversity.

Defra has supported international assessments of drivers of change on insects and wider biodiversity such as the global IPBES Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production (2016), which notes that the effect of light on nocturnal insects may be growing and identifies the need for further study. The National Planning Policy Framework, updated in 2024, sets out how the possible ecological impacts of artificial light should be considered in the planning system. It includes a specific requirement to limit the impact of light pollution on nature conservation. Defra has also contributed to associated guidance published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of levels of aluminium scrap being exported to Asia on the environment.

The Government takes the control of waste exports and our international obligations very seriously. The export of aluminium scrap is subject to strict controls and exporters are required to ensure that the waste they ship is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout shipment and recycling. The Government has not issued any specific proposals to amend existing waste regulations relating to aluminium scrap.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that individuals holding a registered Power of Attorney can access banking services on behalf of people with conditions such as dementia without undue delay or administrative barriers.

Ensuring all individuals have access to the appropriate financial services and products they need is a key priority for Government. Like all service providers, banks and building societies are bound under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, where necessary, in the way they deliver their services. This may include allowing for a carer or deputy to act for the disabled person. A Lasting Power of Attorney must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in order for it to be used. Whilst the OPG does not have statutory powers to tell banks or financial institutions how to manage their customers’ accounts, they do work closely with them to help improve their understanding of the role of OPG and how Powers of Attorney should be recognised and supported. OPG regularly engages with the finance sector and finance membership groups to discuss any issues experienced with the use of OPG products. Recently, OPG have been working with the UK Regulators Network (UKRN) on updating joint guidance to help improve the understanding of LPAs with their members, including the banking sector. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates the financial services sector, recently completed a review of retail banks’ Power of Attorney services. They recognised several areas for improvement in how banks allowed customers to manage the finances of the person for whom they were the Attorney, particularly highlighting the current limitations of app-based and online banking for attorneys. Following this, the FCA wrote to the banks involved, setting out their findings and the expected next steps for firms to follow. The Government is supportive of this work.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the UK are subject to clear and robust regulation.

On 29 April, HM Treasury published draft legislation for the future financial services regulatory regime for cryptoassets. The draft legislation includes a new regulated activity for operating a cryptoasset trading platform, meaning firms carrying on this activity and dealing directly or indirectly with UK consumers will need to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Government is seeking to bring forward final legislation before the end of this year.

What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of child poverty; and what steps she is taking to ensure that families with children have adequate financial support.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child. Child poverty has increased by 900,000 since 2010, with 4.5 million children now living in poverty in the UK. The Child Poverty Taskforce will publish a Child Poverty Strategy in the autumn that will deliver fully funded measures to tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty. The Strategy will look at levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments. The Strategy will tackle overall child poverty as well as going beyond that to focus on children in deepest poverty lacking essentials, and what is needed to give every child the best start in life. As a significant downpayment ahead of strategy publication, we have already announced substantive action across major drivers of child poverty. This includes an expansion of Free School Meals that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament. and a new £1 billion package to reform crisis support, including funding to ensure the poorest children do not go hungry outside of term time. This comes alongside a £39 billion investment in social and affordable housing – the biggest investment in a generation – and £13.2bn including Barnett impact across the Parliament for the Warm Homes Plan. We’ve also committed to rolling out Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority by April 2026 and creating up to 1,000 hubs across the country by the end of 2028. Backed by £500m funding, this vital support will relieve pressure on parents and give half a million more children the very best start in life. And last month, we confirmed funding of £600m for the Holiday Activities and Food programme for the next three years, ensuring that children and young people can continue to benefit from enriching experiences and nutritious meals during the school holidays. These commitments come on top of the existing action we have taken which includes expanding free breakfast clubs, capping the number of branded school uniform items children are expected to wear, increasing the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions. To further support struggling families, funding of £742 million will be provided to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 in England, plus additional funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to amend waste regulations to impose stricter controls on the (a) destinations and (b) environmental standards of aluminium scrap exports.

The Government takes the control of waste exports and our international obligations very seriously. The export of aluminium scrap is subject to strict controls and exporters are required to ensure that the waste they ship is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout shipment and recycling. The Government has not issued any specific proposals to amend existing waste regulations relating to aluminium scrap.