Written questions by Darling.

If he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to require all emergency service vehicles to have defibrillators.

The Government is committed to improving access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces, and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. We have made a further £500,000 available from August 2024 to fulfil existing applications to the Department’s Community AED Fund. The criteria specified for the original grant continues to apply and will go to applications for AEDs in areas of England where there is the greatest need, including in areas of high footfall, hot spots for cardiac arrest, and areas that already have low access to AEDs. Department ministers regularly have discussions with colleagues across Government on issues of cross-departmental interest.

If he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of requiring defibrillators to be placed in all new (a) social housing developments, (b) supermarkets and (c) other public buildings.

The Government is committed to improving access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces, and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. We have made a further £500,000 available from August 2024 to fulfil existing applications to the Department’s Community AED Fund. The criteria specified for the original grant continues to apply and will go to applications for AEDs in areas of England where there is the greatest need, including in areas of high footfall, hot spots for cardiac arrest, and areas that already have low access to AEDs. Department ministers regularly have discussions with colleagues across Government on issues of cross-departmental interest.

What direct funding his Department provides to support refugees with medical backgrounds with integrating into the NHS.

The Department does not currently provide financial support to any charities to assist refugees.

What charities his Department has supported to assist refugees into the NHS.

The Department does not currently provide financial support to any charities to assist refugees.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) fraud, (b) debt and (c) error through AI.

Since the pandemic, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has lost over £8 billion per year to fraud and error. DWP has committed to further fraud, error and debt measures at Autumn Budget 2024; these will deliver an additional £7bn between 2025/26 and 29/30. Detail about how DWP uses machine learning to reduce benefit fraud can be found in the Delivery Objective: tackle fraud and drive efficiencies section of our latest Annual Report and Accounts: DWP annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024 (HTML) - GOV.UK

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on providing adequate facilities for stoma bag patients.

The Government oversees policy and legislation with respect to the safe management of waste and litter as well as the protection of drains and sewers. This, however, does not extend to providing guidance to local authorities on providing adequate facilities for stoma bag patients; these decisions are for local authorities to make.

What steps he is taking to support the hospitality industry.

Hospitality businesses are at the heart of our communities and are vital for economic growth. This is why the Government is creating a fairer business rate system, reducing alcohol duty on qualifying draught products and transforming the apprenticeship levy to support business and boost opportunities. This work will be supported by the publication of The Small Business Strategy Command Paper which will be published later this year. Through the Hospitality Sector Council, we are addressing strategic issues for the sector related to high street regeneration, skills, sustainability, and productivity.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of a tourism tax on the tourist industry.

We have no plans to introduce a tourism tax. The Government keeps all tax policy under review.

What the average waiting time is for (a) ambulances held in queues and (b) people waiting at home for an ambulance.

The national average ambulance handover time was 43 minutes and 32 seconds in December 2024. The following table shows the national ambulance response time, including for people who have called for an ambulance from their home, for Category 1, 2, 3, and 4 incidents, in hours, minutes and seconds:Category of incidentDecember 2024 national averageNHS Constitution standardCategory 1 average response time00:08:4000:07:00Category 1 90th centile response time00:15:2500:15:00Category 2 average response time00:47:2600:18:00Category 2 90th centile response time01:41:4000:40:00Category 3 90th centile response time07:21:0302:00:00Category 4 90th centile response time08:15:4403:00:00Source: NHS England Ambulance Quality Indicators, which is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/

What steps he is taking to reduce ambulance waiting times (a) in the A&E queue and (b) for Torbay and South Devon NHS foundation trust.

Ambulance response times and ambulance handover times have been below the high standards that patients should expect in recent years, including at the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundational Trust.The Government has committed to supporting the National Health Service to improve performance and achieve the standards set out in the NHS Constitution, including ambulance response times, but we must be clear that there are no quick fixes.We are determined to turn things around through investment and reform. My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £25.6 billion of additional healthcare funding over the next two years, and we will set out a 10-Year Health Plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes made to Support for Mortgage Interest in 2018 on people in receipt of that loan.

The Department published research looking at Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loan take-up in March 2022. This is available here:Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): Overview - GOV.UK The Department has also commissioned further research looking at the impact of SMI on existing loan recipients. The report will be released in due course. The Department does not have any plans to revert SMI to a benefit. When SMI transitioned to a loan in April 2018, support was provided at the same level and therefore, it provides the same level of protection against repossession. Loans are repayable from any available equity when the property is sold and therefore, the policy represents excellent value for the taxpayer whilst continuing to protect homeowners.

What her timeline is for completing the second pensions review.

This government is committed to enabling tomorrow’s pensioners to have security in retirement– which is why we announced the landmark Pensions Review days after coming into office in July. The first phase focussed on boosting investment and economic growth and we are committed to a second phase focused on retirement adequacy. We will provide further details on the scope and timetable for the second phase in due course

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing Support for Mortgage Interest from a loan to a benefit.

The Department published research looking at Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loan take-up in March 2022. This is available here:Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI): Overview - GOV.UK The Department has also commissioned further research looking at the impact of SMI on existing loan recipients. The report will be released in due course. The Department does not have any plans to revert SMI to a benefit. When SMI transitioned to a loan in April 2018, support was provided at the same level and therefore, it provides the same level of protection against repossession. Loans are repayable from any available equity when the property is sold and therefore, the policy represents excellent value for the taxpayer whilst continuing to protect homeowners.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of maladministration around communications of State Pension age changes on the six sample cases in the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's report entitled Women’s State Pension age: our findings on injustice and associated issues, HC 638, published on 21 March 2024.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman set out their assessment of the impact on the six sample complainants in the report published in March 2024. Our comments on the sample complainants can be found in our detailed report placed in the House library.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Animal Welfare Committee’s December 2024 opinion on specialised dog reproductive practices.

The department is carefully considering the Animal Welfare Committee’s findings and will outline any next steps in due course. Any policy changes would be made with appropriate engagement with stakeholders.

What the terms of reference are for the Motor Insurance Taskforce.

The Motor Insurance Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover. It will evaluate the impact of increased insurance costs on consumers and the insurance industry, including how this impacts different demographics, geographies, and communities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to regulate the use of stud dogs in dog breeding.

Under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the 2018 Regulations) anyone in the business of breeding and selling dogs and/or who breeds three or more litters in a 12-month period needs to have a valid licence from their local authority. Licensed breeders who own and use stud dogs as part of their breeding activity must provide for their welfare in line with the 2018 Regulations’ licensing conditions. The Government is considering the findings of its post-implementation review of the 2018 Regulations and the Animal Welfare Committee’s opinion on the welfare implications of specialised canine reproductive practices and will outline any next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of breeding for extreme conformations on the health and welfare of (a) dogs and (b) cats.

To provide a detailed scientific view on the range of issues faced by breeding dogs and cats, the Department commissioned two Opinions from the Government’s Animal Welfare Committee. One Opinion assesses the welfare implications of specialised canine reproductive practices, and one on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices. The Opinions can be found here: Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) - GOV.UK.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the recall to prison programme.

The Government’s absolute focus is on public protection. Offenders on licence can be swiftly recalled to prison if they breach their licence conditions in such a way as to indicate that their risk to the public has increased and they are about to commit further offences. The recall of an offender to custody is an important public protection measure. We remain focused on reducing reoffending and the risks presented by offenders, so that they do not need to be recalled in the first place.The HMI Probation Thematic Report on Probation Recall Culture & Practice, published in 2020, found that: “Public protection and the protection of victims are central to probation service decision-making on recall.”We continue to work across Government to ensure that we take the necessary steps to reduce the recall population and keep the system functioning safely, whilst protecting the public which is our top priority.

If she will publish all Departmental research undertaken in relation to the Government's response to the PHSO report on communication of Women's State Pension age on 17 December 2024.

The research that has been used to inform the response is published, available online and is referenced within the response. The response itself has been deposited in the House of Commons Library and published on Gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-parliamentary-and-health-service-ombudsmans-investigation-into-womens-state-pension-age-communications-and-associated-issues