Written questions by Collins.

Whether he has made a comparative assessment of neonatal death rates in (a) the UK and (b) other European countries in the last ten years.

The United Kingdom neonatal mortality rate for babies after at least 24 weeks of pregnancy decreased between 2013 and 2020, before rising in 2021 and 2022 and falling slightly in 2023.This is similar to the trend across Europe, where rates generally decreased or fluctuated about a similar level between 2015 to 2019.In 2019, the UK neonatal mortality rate was slightly higher than the median across Europe.

What steps his Department is taking to support families who have experienced baby loss in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust and West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust all provide seven-day maternity bereavement care, meaning women and families can access support from a maternity professional trained in specialist bereavement care.Watford General Hospital has a team of midwives who provide families with individualised support and specialist bereavement care when faced with the death of their baby. The hospital has also opened the Rose Room, a special space for families who experience the loss of a baby to spend time with their baby and begin to process their grief. There are facilities for families and siblings, including hand and foot casting services, to provide lasting memories.The Hertfordshire Perinatal Trauma and Loss Care service is a psychology-led, county-wide specialist service for people who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties as a direct result of a perinatal loss of any kind, including loss by separation through safeguarding processes.The charity Petals is also now able to provide specialist counselling support to bereaved parents who are Hertfordshire residents, no matter where their maternity care was delivered.

What steps his Department is taking to establish routine data collection on miscarriages.

An update to digital record standards on maternity means that the National Health Service is now able to record the pregnancy outcome for any woman, including miscarriage, where they have been in contact with NHS maternity services.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the level of funding for the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector for clinical trials to (a) optimise existing treatments and (b) support innovation in repurposed drugs for paediatric brain cancer.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology invests approximately £200 million into cancer research annually via UK Research and Innovation. In parallel, the Department of Health and Social Care funds cancer research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research, investing £133 million in 2023/24.The government is supporting commercial clinical research through the Commercial Research Delivery Networks as part of the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth Investment Programme. Government investment and infrastructure can be used to optimise existing treatments and support innovation in drug repurposing. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will also detail plans for improving care across all cancer types, including paediatric brain cancers.

If she will take steps to review the level of fines that local authorities can levy on utility companies for (a) breaches of permit conditions and (b) defective roadworks.

Following a public consultation in 2024, the Government confirmed its intention to double the level of fixed penalty notices for certain street works offences including breaching permit conditions.The necessary secondary legislation to enact these changes has been laid in Parliament and the new penalty levels will come into force on 05 January 2026 to provide the industry and local highway authorities with the necessary time to ensure they are adequately prepared and equipped to comply with the new measures.We do know that some problems with the highway surface have been caused by utility reinstatements so to drive up the quality and durability of reinstatements following works the Department for Transport introduced a new performance-based inspections regime in April 2023 to ensure utility companies were incentivised to produce reinstatements that are fit for purpose. Each inspection carried out by an authority is paid for by the utility company and inspections are based on performance, with those that have a high rate of defects inspected more. Highway authorities also have the power to direct utility companies to carry out remedial works at the utility company’s expense if they identify reinstatements that do not meet the required standards. If the utility company still fails to put things right, the authority can carry out the works and charge the utility company the costs for doing so. Reinstatements must also be guaranteed for two years for most works, and three for deeper excavations. A period of implementation is necessary to assess the impact of the revised penalty regime and determine whether it achieves the intended improvements in compliance. The department will also evaluate the effectiveness of the updated inspection framework in delivering higher-quality reinstatements before considering any further changes to the level of fines or enforcement measures.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has had recent discussions with representatives of the creative industries on a potential copyright and AI framework.

The Government will continue to engage extensively with stakeholders on copyright and AI. This includes establishing a stakeholder working group to inform the development of copyright and AI policy.This work commenced over the Summer, where three initial meetings were convened with representatives of the creative, media and AI sectors, by the Secretaries of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.Information relating to the stakeholder working group will be published on Gov.uk, which will include further details and a list of working group members.

When her Department plans to implement the planned doubling of fines available to local councils for utility companies that breach permit conditions or carry out unauthorised roadworks.

Following a public consultation in 2024, the Government confirmed its intention to double the level of fixed penalty notices for certain street works offences including breaching permit conditions.The necessary secondary legislation to enact these changes has been laid in Parliament and the new penalty levels will come into force on 05 January 2026 to provide the industry and local highway authorities with the necessary time to ensure they are adequately prepared and equipped to comply with the new measures.We do know that some problems with the highway surface have been caused by utility reinstatements so to drive up the quality and durability of reinstatements following works the Department for Transport introduced a new performance-based inspections regime in April 2023 to ensure utility companies were incentivised to produce reinstatements that are fit for purpose. Each inspection carried out by an authority is paid for by the utility company and inspections are based on performance, with those that have a high rate of defects inspected more. Highway authorities also have the power to direct utility companies to carry out remedial works at the utility company’s expense if they identify reinstatements that do not meet the required standards. If the utility company still fails to put things right, the authority can carry out the works and charge the utility company the costs for doing so. Reinstatements must also be guaranteed for two years for most works, and three for deeper excavations. A period of implementation is necessary to assess the impact of the revised penalty regime and determine whether it achieves the intended improvements in compliance. The department will also evaluate the effectiveness of the updated inspection framework in delivering higher-quality reinstatements before considering any further changes to the level of fines or enforcement measures.

If she will consider making amendments to section 81 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to enable local authorities to levy fines on utility companies that fail to maintain street apparatus or to rectify reported defects.

Utility companies already have a duty to maintain their apparatus in the street to the reasonable satisfaction of the highway authority. Where an authority becomes aware of defective apparatus they should notify the owner of the apparatus requiring the utility company to carry out remedial works. If the undertaker fails to act, the authority has powers to undertake the repairs and recover the costs. We recognise that some defects and substandard reinstatements remain unresolved for extended periods. To drive improved performance and address poor compliance, we introduced a performance-based inspections regime in April 2023. This approach ensures that utility companies with higher failure rates are subject to more frequent inspections and incur proportionally higher inspection fees. The regime is underpinned by data from Street Manager, which enables quarterly adjustments to inspection rates based on reinstatement outcomes.Given that this system has only recently been implemented, we believe it is appropriate to evaluate its effectiveness before considering any further legislative changes. We will review its impact on reinstatement quality and defect resolution in collaboration with stakeholders. This will include examining whether additional enforcement mechanisms such as fines for non-compliance would be proportionate, effective, and deliver improved outcomes. Any such proposals would be subject to consultation with stakeholders and assessment of their operational and financial implications.

If she will review the April 2023 Code of Practice for Inspections in relation to the capping of inspection charges for defective reinstatements at two cycles.

In April 2023, the Department for Transport introduced a performance-based inspections regime to improve the quality of reinstatements following street works. Under this system, utility companies with higher defect or failure rates are subject to increased inspection frequencies, while those with strong compliance records are inspected less frequently. This approach ensures that inspection resources are targeted where they are most needed and creates a financial incentive for companies to meet statutory standards, as they are required to cover the cost of inspections.The regime is underpinned by the updated Code of Practice for Inspections and supported by data from the Street Manager platform, which enables authorities to monitor performance and adjust inspection rates quarterly based on inspection outcomes.Given that the regime has only been in place for a short period, we believe it is appropriate to evaluate its effectiveness in delivering better quality reinstatements before considering further changes. While the existing two-cycle inspection cap was previously agreed with stakeholders as a balanced approach, we recognise that operational challenges may have evolved. We will undertake a formal review of the regime’s impact working closely with local authorities, utility companies, and the Highways Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC) to ensure that reinstatements meet the required standards and that poor quality work is addressed swiftly and fairly.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to (a) amend planning policy and (b) issue guidance on (i) the sequential test and (ii) flood-risk management in the context of recent (A) appeal and (B) other judicial decisions.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or future). Where development is necessary in such areas, the development should be made safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere. To ensure a proportionate, pragmatic and constituents approach to surface flood risk, we published updated planning practice guidance to clarify how the sequential test should be applied in September 2025. We will consider whether any further changes are required to national planning policy for flooding as part of the new suite of national policies for decision making that we intend to consult on later this year.

What recent assessment his Department has made of delays in the probate system; and what steps are being taken to reduce waiting times for bereaved families to obtain probate in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff, alongside system and process improvements to reduce and maintain lower processing times during the last year.The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness in our regular quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK

What steps his Department is taking to support hospitality businesses at risk of closure in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

The Government recognises the vital role of hospitality businesses in our communities and economy, including those in Harpenden and Berkhamsted, and that’s why we’re taking targeted action to support them with the pressures they face. In April, we launched a Taskforce to consider ways to create a more balanced premises licensing system that not only safeguards communities but also supports responsible businesses. On 7 October the Government issued a Call for Evidence on Reforming the licensing system - GOV.UK (deadline: midday, 6 November 2025). These reforms are part of the Small Business Strategy, which also tackles late payments, improves access to finance, and cuts red tape. We want planning and licensing systems to work fairly for businesses and residents. Additionally, the Hospitality Support Scheme aims to co-invest in projects that boost productivity and help community pubs adapt to local needs. We’re also creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable value and continue to work closely with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council to boost productivity and resilience by working together to address the challenges facing businesses.

If she will review the 2023 Code of Practice for Inspections to ensure that (a) the performance-based sample inspection regime does not allow utility companies to offset local failure rates against national averages and (b) sufficient incentives remain for companies to rectify defects quickly and efficiently.

The Department for Transport keeps all statutory guidance under regular review, including the 2023 Code of Practice for Inspections. The performance-based sample inspection regime introduced in April 2023 is designed to ensure that undertakers are inspected proportionately to their performance at the local level. Inspection rates are calculated by each highway authority based on the undertaker’s failure rate in that specific area, and cannot be offset by performance elsewhere. This ensures that poor performance in one locality is not masked by better results nationally. The Code also includes provisions to incentivise prompt and effective defect rectification. These include financial penalties, non-compliant reinstatement inspections, and escalation procedures for unresolved defects. We remain committed to working with stakeholders to ensure the inspection regime continues to uphold high standards, promote accountability, and support the efficient maintenance of the highway network.

Whether her Department (a) has considered and (b) plans to consider expanding requirements for lifesaving equipment in vehicles used for public or quasi-public purposes.

The Department is not considering mandating public vehicles to carry defibrillators. In England outside London, commercial bus operators provide the majority of bus services and have responsibility for managing their fleets. Any decision on whether to fit buses with defibrillators is one for operators to make, and some have taken the decision to equip their depots with these.Similarly, it would be the decision for individual taxi and private hire vehicle operators to decide to carry defibrillators.The Department also encourages train operating companies to equip their stations with defibrillators where possible, and both Network Rail and train operators have made progress towards this in recent years.

Innovation and Technology, whether Ofcom plans to (a) measure and (b) report on the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023 for tackling online child grooming.

Monitoring and evaluation are key to understanding how effective the online safety regime is. The Government and Ofcom are actively monitoring the regime’s impact through a programme of evaluation work.This work will track the effect of the online safety regime over time and feed into a statutory Post Implementation Review of the Online Safety Act. The review will assess the performance of the legislation against its primary objectives, including how the online safety regime has protected children online.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to (a) amend planning policy and (b) issue guidance on how local planning authorities should frame enforceable planning conditions where delivery of critical drainage works depends on access to third-party land.

My Department’s Planning Practice Guidance already provides guidance on the use of negatively-worded planning conditions (often termed Grampian conditions) to deal with the delivery of infrastructure required for a development (such as drainage) which is on third party land.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of mandatory training requirements for food handlers in businesses serving the public on increasing awareness of (a) allergens, (b) gluten-free diets and (b) other food hygiene regulations for people with coeliac disease.

Under United Kingdom law, food business operators must ensure that staff training is appropriate to the type of food handled, including high-risk foods such as those containing allergens or gluten. While there is no standalone legal requirement for allergen-specific training, the Food Standards Agency provides free online allergy training, allergen guidance for food businesses, and technical guidance on food allergen labelling, which includes gluten-free considerations.While food allergen training is the responsibility of the food business operator, local authorities assess its adequacy during inspections to ensure compliance with allergen management requirements.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Section 106 obligations on developer funding for the (a) long-term maintenance or (b) adoption of sustainable drainage infrastructure where those assets fall outside the red line boundary of new housing developments.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that developments of all sizes should use sustainable drainage techniques where the development could have drainage impacts. This is supported by National Planning Guidance which sets out that local authorities should be satisfied that all Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) have maintenance and adoption arrangements in place for the lifetime of the development.It is the responsibility of local planning authorities to consider whether otherwise unacceptable development could be made acceptable through the use of conditions or planning obligations when determining applications. All section 106 contributions must comply with the three tests in regulation 122 of the CIL regulations (necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms, directly related to the development; and reasonable in scale and kind). Infrastructure such as SUDS, which can lie outside the red line boundary of new housing developments, can be capable of being funded by section 106 contributions where it meets the statutory tests.National design guidance, which is part of the Planning Practice Guidance, also explains that well-designed places are designed and planned for long-term stewardship, and well-managed and maintained by their users, owners and other stakeholders.

Whether he will ask the Pensions Commission to consider the potential merits of allowing people of working age living with a terminal illness to claim state pension.

The government recognises the importance of ensuring that individuals who are terminally ill are treated with compassion and dignity. The Terms of Reference for the Pensions Commission, which set out the scope for the Commission, were published on the 21st July. The Commissioners will consider what is required in the long term to deliver financial security in retirement through a pensions framework that is stronger, fairer and more sustainable. The Commissioners will engage with a wide range of issues relevant to their terms of reference and will publish their findings in due course.

What estimate her Department has made of the travel costs to families for their child to meet their (a) educational, (b) pastoral and (c) mental health needs where the local school is unable to meet those needs; and whether she plans to review support for home-to-school transport in such cases.

The government’s ambition is that all children receive the support they need to achieve and thrive. Our home-to-school travel policy aims to make sure no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport.A child is eligible for free home-to-school transport if they are of compulsory school age (5 to 16), attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or the safety of the route. If they have an education, health and care plan, the school named in that plan will usually be considered their nearest for home-to-school transport purposes. There are extended rights to free travel for children from low-income households.We have committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools so fewer children need to travel long distances to a school that can meet their needs and will bring forward a White Paper with plans to improve the special educational needs and disabilities system.