Written questions by Darling.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact 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 six sample complainants were impacted by State Pension age changes introduced by both the Pensions Act 1995 and the Pensions Act 2011.The Ombudsman did not investigate the decisions to increase the State Pension age for women in 1995, or to accelerate that increase in 2011. The Ombudsman are clear that policy decisions to increase the State Pension age in 1995 onwards were taken by Parliament and considered lawful by the Courts and were not within their remit to consider.

If he will set targets to reduce memory clinic waiting times in (a) Torbay, (b) Exeter and (c) Barnstaple.

The Government is committed to transforming diagnostic services, including the detection and diagnosis of dementia, and will support the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services. We are committed to improving dementia diagnosis rates and recovering them to the national ambition for two thirds of people with dementia to have a formal diagnosis.NHS England has funded an evidence-based improvement project to fund two trusts in each region, making 14 sites in total, to pilot the Diagnosing Advanced Dementia Mandate tool to improve the diagnosis of dementia and provision of support in care homes. All pilots completed at the end of May 2024, and it is anticipated that learning will be shared in early 2025.To support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates and implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, NHS England has developed a dashboard for management information purposes. The aim is to support commissioners and providers of memory services with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed.

How many people are waiting for their pension credit application to be processed in each region.

We do not currently hold this information at regional level. Outstanding Pension Credit claims totalled 88,500 at the end of week commencing 30th December 2024. This includes 8,500 advanced claims. Advanced claims are where the application can be started up to 4 months before reaching State Pension age. Please note, the data shown is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standards.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 6270 on Poultry and Pigs: Animal Welfare, if he will publish a public consultation on the use of farrowing crates for pigs.

We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of farrowing crates for pigs is an issue we are currently considering very carefully.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to support indoor pig farmers to adopt free farrowing systems.

We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway supports farmers to improve their animals’ health and welfare through funded vet visits as well as targeted grants. We continue to work with the industry on how the Pathway can encourage improvements in indoor pigs’ welfare.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the level of support available to people going through tribunals for claiming (a) Universal Credit and (b) other benefits.

Appeals are lodged directly with, and administered by, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). At the First-tier Tribunal, proceedings are designed to be straightforward and accessible to all. The tribunal panel is trained and experienced in dealing with a wide range of appellants with individual needs. At the First-tier Tribunal, Legal Aid, which is administered by Ministry of Justice (MoJ) may be available through the exceptional case funding scheme, if failure to provide Legal Aid may risk a breach of an individual’s human rights. Legal Aid is still available for advice and assistance on welfare benefits appeals to the Upper Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. At all appellate stages, claimants are able to appoint a representative to assist with their appeal and there is helpful signposting to free support available on gov.uk at: https://www.gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision/submit-appeal.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many cats were imported under the Balai Directive in each month of (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

Balai Cat Imports EU: Month20232024Jan216253Feb310267Mar270256Apr179224May164165Jun170196Jul194166Aug197222Sep253287Oct282290Nov261 Dec287 Total2,7832,326 Balai Cat Imports ROW: Month20232024Jan306254Feb304292Mar372251Apr331279May321346Jun377314Jul278332Aug289307Sep338292Oct190293Nov316 Dec259 Total3,6812,960 The EU data may include animals that have originated from a non-EU country but have travelled through an EU Border Control Post (BCP). The database records the EU BCP Country as the Country of Origin for these imports. The Rest of the World data will not include any animals that have arrived through an EU BCP. This information is drawn from external IPAFF systems not directly controlled by the department.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many cats travelled to the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme in each month of (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

Month20232024Jan2,7503,207Feb1,7771,860Mar2,0242,357Apr2,2192,700May2,7622,029Jun5,6383,015Jul2,6182,692Aug3,9743,828Sep7,6342,094Oct7593,154Nov2,314 Dec3,814 Total38,28326,936 The data regarding the Pet Travel Scheme covers pets entering Great Britain and is based on information provided by checkers employed by approved carriers of pet animals. Please be aware that this is subject to change as we often receive throughput returns from carriers months later.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many cats travelled to the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme via (a) sea, (b) tunnel and (c) air in 2023 and 2024.

Means of TransportJanuary - December 2023January - October 2024Air8,7867,712Sea 16,2378,137Tunnel13,26011,087Grand Total38,28326,936 The data regarding the Pet Travel Scheme covers pets entering Great Britain and is based on information provided by checkers employed by approved carriers of pet animals. Please be aware that this is subject to change as we often receive throughput returns from carriers months later.

What projects the full-time equivalent civil servants working on rail projects in the South West are working on; and what proportion of their time is spent on each project.

Civil servants working on rail projects in the South West are predominantly focused on supporting the South West Rail Resilience Programme, Mid-Cornwall Metro, Wellington and Cullompton stations, MetroWest Phase 1b, also known as the Portishead line, and Charfield station, with many other projects in the area being worked on as and when required. Resources are allocated flexibly according to business requirements.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs travelled to the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme in each month of 2023.

MonthTotalJanuary18,840February14,838March15,790April24,722May20,738June21,633July31,068August51,913September29,096October6,581November16,779December36,711Total288,709 The data regarding the Pet Travel Scheme covers pets entering Great Britain and is based on information provided by checkers employed by approved carriers of pet animals. Please be aware that this is subject to change as we often receive throughput returns from carriers months later.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of enhancing the banking offer within Post Offices.

Post Office continues to provide vital banking services through the Banking Framework to communities and businesses alike and protect access to cash for those who choose to use it. Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all. Customers can pay in cash, pay cheques, make cash deposits, withdraw money and check their balance at all branches as well as at Banking Hubs operated by the Post Office. Government has committed to work closely with banks to roll out at least 350 banking hubs, which will provide individuals and businesses across the country with critical cash and banking services.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs travelled to the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme by (a) sea, (b) tunnel and (c) air in each of the last 12 months.

Means of TransportNovember - December 2023January – October 2024Air213113662Sea12097105568Tunnel39262160014Total53490279244The data regarding the Pet Travel Scheme covers pets entering Great Britain and is based on information received to date, provided by checkers employed by approved carriers of pet animals. Please be aware that this is subject to change as additional throughput returns from carriers may be received.

If he will issue guidance to integrated care boards on representation for NHS Primary Care stakeholders.

The Health and Care Act 2022 sets out the legislative minimum integrated care board (ICB) membership requirement, with a mandated partner member nominated for primary medical services, along with nominated partner members from the National Health Service trusts and local authorities to bring knowledge and a perspective from their sectors. ICBs can exceed the legislative minimum requirements for ICB membership to address local needs, which may include additional representation from a diverse range of stakeholders, including primary care. Currently there are no plans to issue any guidance on representation of NHS primary care stakeholders.

What steps his Department is taking to help young universal credit claimants into work.

Our plan to go further, as laid out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, is critical to growing the economy. This includes implementing a new national jobs and career service to help get more people into work alongside a Youth Guarantee, meaning more quality opportunities for training, an apprenticeship or help to find work for all young people aged 18-21 years old, to prevent them becoming excluded from the world of work at a young age. The Department understands the negative effects of unemployment can be particularly pronounced for young people and can have longstanding implications on their future earnings potential and life chances. This is why the Department for Work and Pensions has a particular focus on ensuring young people are supported into employment, whilst also recognising their needs will vary depending on where they live and their own individual circumstances. The Department for Work and Pensions currently provides young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need, nationwide employment programmes and support delivered by work coaches based in our Jobcentres and in local communities working alongside partners.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will introduce legislative proposals to ban wet wipes containing plastic.

The Government is working together with the devolved Governments to understand the issue, with a view to legislate to ban wet wipes containing plastic across the UK.

How many full-time equivalent staff are currently working on her Department's response to the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled Women’s State Pension age: our findings on injustice and associated issues, published on 21 March 2024.

In responding to the Ombudsman’s report work was undertaken by civil servants across grades who worked both full and part-time. The Ombudsman’s report was detailed and complex. It took around 6 years to complete and the issues it considered spanned a period of some 30 years. It is not possible to determine the exact number of people who worked on this as it fluctuated as we reviewed and considered different elements of the Ombudsman’s report and evidence. This work included input from teams across the Department, who supported as and when needed. Following careful consideration of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report into how changes to the State Pension age were communicated, the Government has decided we will not be paying compensation. We have made our decision on the facts of the matter which we have set out in our detailed response and deposited in the House Library.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of universal credit payment levels in the context of (a) food costs, (b) bills and (c) other essential costs.

No assessment has been made. Benefits increased by 6.7% in April 2024, in line with inflation. The Basic and New State Pensions were also uprated by 8.5% in line with earnings, as part of the ‘triple lock.’ We have recently announced a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions will be introduced from April 2025, helping approximately 1.2 million of the poorest households benefit by an average of £420 a year. Much more needs to be done, but this is the first step towards delivering on the manifesto commitment to review Universal Credit. Further details about the review will be set out in due course.

How many and what proportion of mandatory reconsiderations of work capability assessment decisions have resulted in a different decision in each of the last three years.

Statistics on mandatory reconsiderations of work capability assessment decisions for Employment and Support Allowance can be found at https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html. An account is not required to use Stat- Xplore, the ‘Guest Login’ feature gives instant access to the main functions. Statistics on mandatory reconsiderations of work capability assessment decisions for Universal Credit Work Capability Assessments are not available, but are in phase 3 of the proposed development timeline of those statistics, so are expected to be published in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of trialling automated recording of health assessment information under the Health Transformation Programme.

The Health Transformation Programme (HTP) is modernising benefit services to improve customer experience, build trust in our services and create a more efficient service. As we develop these services, we are exploring a range of ideas to establish what works best for our customers with HTP providing the platform for change and the flexible capability to trial new ideas. Audio recording is available on an opt-in basis for face-to-face and telephone assessments. Customers are informed of the audio recording offer prior to their assessment in invitation letters. The programme is looking at how audio recording can also be offered for video assessments and will be seeking ways to improve the whole process. We will set out the detail of any changes in due course. We have undertaken initial tests where assessment reports are shared with customers. We are evaluating the outcomes of these tests to establish next steps.