Written questions by Dance.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to take steps to ensure (a) Wessex Water and (b) Environment Agency impact surveys are considered in new planning decisions in Somerset.

The Environment Agency is a statutory consultee in the planning system, while water companies can comment on relevant planning applications.By law, planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. This means that where relevant planning matters are raised, including as a result of surveys, the local planning authority should take them into account when making decisions.The National Planning Policy Framework includes strict policies to prevent inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding. Where these tests cannot be met, development should not be approved.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to help farmers reduce the level of agricultural run-off in Somerset.

We are focused on working with farmers in Somerset and across England to achieve our long-term goals for farming and the environment. Nationally, support is in place to enable farmers reduce agricultural run-off. Environmental Land Management schemes are available and pay farmers to deliver environmental benefits, including improved water quality. The Catchment Sensitive Farming programme provides farmers specialised advice to help them reduce pollution to water, soil and air. We also regulate agricultural activities which cause harms and require farmers to take necessary steps to reduce and prevent pollution. Across Somerset, the Environment Agency (EA) has a programme of farm compliance inspections to tackle both diffuse and point source pollution. Engagement events have provided farmers with a clear understanding of the environmental legislation relevant to their practices and regulatory intervention has been crucial in stopping immediate pollution incidents and ensuring long-term environmental protection. In addition, The EA’s Natural Flood Management Co-ordinator works with partners in Somerset catchments to enable farmers to reduce agricultural run-off and provide guidance and links to funding for interventions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to help residents protect their property from frequent flooding in South Somerset.

The Government is investing a record £2.65 billion over two years in building, maintaining and repairing our flood and coastal defences, better protecting 52,000 properties. As part of this investment, £72 million is being reprioritised into maintaining Environment Agency flood defences in 2025/26. This reprioritisation will benefit a further 14,500 properties. Property flood resilience (PFR) is delivered by multiple risk management authorities. We have a local programme of PFR across Somerset to provide resilience to individual properties where a capital scheme is not viable. The Environment Agency have installed resilience measures to properties to move them out of the highest risk of flooding. A consultation will be launched in the coming months which will include a review of the existing flood policy funding formula to ensure a wider range of measures (such as property level resilience and nature-based solutions) can be supported to improve flood resilience for businesses and rural and coastal communities. The consultation will be open to everyone, and we will be inviting all stakeholders, including organisations that play a role in flood resilience, community groups and members of the public, to be part of the consultation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of preventative measures to tackle recurring flooding in South Somerset.

£2.65 billion is being invested by the Environment Agency over this year and next to help communities to adapt and build resilience to flooding, this includes building new, repairing and maintaining flood defences. Reoccurring flooding in South Somerset (including Sea and Dowlish Ford) was investigated in 2024 as part of a larger Initial Investigation. The investigation has recently been shared with Ilminster Town Council and the lead local flood authority, Somerset Council.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to help improve the (a) coordination and (b) efficiency between (i) Government and (ii) local authority agencies in responding to flash flooding and storms in Somerset.

As discussed when we met earlier this year, protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government. We recognise the devastation the storms this winter have caused to those affected. The Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum brings together organisations involved in preparing, responding and recovering from civil contingency risks, including flooding and storms. This includes the Local Authorities and the Environment Agency. After major events, Local Resilience Forums typically conduct a review to consider if there are changes required. Somerset residents also benefit from the Somerset Rivers Authority. This brings together all the flood risk management authorities regularly so that the complex nature of flooding can be managed effectively and efficiently. The Regional Flood and Coastal Committee chair attends these meetings ensuring fully integrated public investment in flood risk management. After any significant flood event in Somerset, flood risk management authorities work together to deliver flood drop-in engagement events for impacted communities and businesses. These events are an opportunity to better understand what happened, what can be done, and to provide support and advice for affected residents. If there are nationally significant lessons identified from these discussions, they can be submitted to Defra for consideration, including by the Floods Resilience Taskforce.

What discussions she has had with stakeholders in (a) Somerset and (b) the South West on the proposed increase in firearms licencing fees.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.The fees were previously increased in 2015 and they no longer met the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that the fees provide full-cost recovery so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.The new fees are based on data produced by a 2023 review of firearms licensing costs in 31 police forces, including Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. This data has since been updated to reflect increases in costs since then. The review was discussed at the Firearms Fees Working Group, chaired by the Home Office, which met in 2022 and 2023, and which included representation from the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, and national representative shooting organisations, including the British Shooting Sports Council, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, the Gun Trade Association, the National Rifle Association, the Countryside Alliance and the National Gamekeepers Organisation.It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that full cost recovery fees were introduced. I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables, including those in the South-West, to make clear that the income from increased fees must be invested into their firearms licensing operations, in the interests of both public safety and to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.

What the timeline is for the opening of new Fracture Liaison Services in (a) Somerset and (b) the South West.

Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a globally recognised care model and can reduce the risk of refracture for people at risk of osteoporosis by up to 40%.FLS are commissioned by integrated care boards (ICBs), which make decisions according to local need. This is the case for all ICBs in the South West, including the NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB and the NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB. We remain committed to rolling out FLS across every part of the country by 2030.In the meantime, we are investing in 14 high-tech DEXA scanners, which are expected to provide an extra 29,000 scans to ensure that people with bone conditions get diagnosed earlier.

What progress has been made on the negotiations with Biomarine on the provision of Brineura as a treatment for Batten disease.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing guidance for the National Health Service on whether Brineura (cerliponase alfa) can be recommended for routine NHS funding, taking into account real-world evidence collected during a period of managed access. The NICE and NHS England are actively engaging with BioMarin, as well as other stakeholders in the development of the guidance. These discussions are complex, and given the exceptional nature of this evaluation and the impact on patients and their families, it is essential that they take the necessary time and care to reach the best possible outcome. All parties are also committed to providing updates to stakeholders, notwithstanding the necessity that discussions are undertaken in a confidential setting.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of adding the Six Nations rugby union championship to the category A list of events not permitted to be broadcast solely on paid television services.

The current listed events regime is designed to ensure that sporting events of national significance are available to as wide an audience as possible, by prohibiting exclusive broadcasting of the event without prior consent from Ofcom. Listing does not guarantee that an event will be broadcast live, or on a free to air channel. Rights holders are not required to sell live rights for listed events and free-to-air broadcasters are not obliged to purchase them.The Government believes that the current list of events works well and that it strikes an appropriate balance between access to sporting events and allowing sports to maximise broadcasting revenue. Therefore, the Government has no plans to review the list at this time.It is right that the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Six Nations Rugby take a considered and balanced approach: recognising the need to achieve reach with existing and new fans, the importance that the Six Nations has for the cultural pride of each of the Home Nations, all the while maximising broadcast revenue.

What assessment she has made of the potential (a) administrative and (b) psychological impact of children not being on school registers on home schooling families of neurodivergent children.

There is currently no duty on parents to notify local authorities when they have elected to home educate their child. The ‘Children Not in School’ measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will help remedy this by placing a duty on local authorities to maintain compulsory registers of all children not in school in their areas, and accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for these registers.Information recorded on registers could include whether an eligible child has special educational needs. This would enable local authorities to provide tailored support to these children and their families, and for a more accurate assessment to be made of the impact on these children of not being on school registers. Statutory guidance will be produced to go alongside the measures, which will set out requirements for local authorities and parents.The department has conducted an Equalities Impact Assessment on the ‘Children Not in School’ measures. As part of this assessment, we have considered the potential impact on children with special educational needs and disabilities, including those who are neurodivergent.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of farm diversification on the working hours of farmers.

Defra does not hold information on the impact of diversification on the working hours of farmers. Annual statistics on farm diversification of farm businesses in England are published. The latest results cover 2023/24 (Chapter 5: Diversification - GOV.UK) and include the proportion of farms engaging in diversified activities, the type of activities and the average income produced. They show that the proportion of farm businesses in England that have some diversified activity has gradually increased since 2014/15 and in 2023/24 was 71% of farms; these farms had an average (mean) income from diversified activities of £26,900.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the methodology used to calculate the carbon sequestration generated by cattle.

Defra has evaluated the methodologies used in on-farm carbon calculators to assess greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration on-farm. This found that methodologies differed between these calculators. For example, there was no consistent, agreed approach taken to assess and report carbon removals or emissions from soil, land use or land use change. This divergence and a lack of verification has driven confusion, reducing trust and confidence in the resulting figures. Building on the recommendations from the above research, Defra remains committed to developing a harmonised approach for measuring carbon emissions from farms. This will increase consistency and comparability across tools, thereby reducing uncertainty for farmers and the rest of the supply chain. Defra also funds research to establish the impacts of farm systems, including bringing the latest cutting-edge science into the UK’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of prescription charges on the uptake of prescribed medication for people who have undergone a kidney transplant.

There are no plans to assess the impact of prescription charges on people who have undergone a kidney transplant.There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with long term or chronic conditions may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in instalments.

What steps she is taking to reduce bullying in schools.

I refer the hon. Member for Yeovil to the answer of 23 January 2025 to Question 22877.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the the adequacy of the implementation of the Rock Review.

Defra works closely with the Farm Tenancy Forum and together have delivered the majority of the Rock Review recommendations. These include making Environmental Land Management schemes more accessible for tenants, setting the standard for landlord, tenant and agent behaviour with a new Code of Practice and announcing England’s first Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector. Defra continues to ensure that the unique needs of the sector are accounted for in policy design.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the average cost to the public purse was of vets fees for testing cattle herds for bovine tuberculosis in 2023 and 2024.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) holds contracts with regional Delivery Partners to deliver the TB Eradication Strategies across England and Wales respectively. Each regional Delivery Partner maintains its own network of subcontracted veterinary practices who deliver TB skin testing on farms following TB Test allocation by APHA. Contract costs between APHA and its Delivery Partners include TB test delivery on farm, quality assurance, administration, travel, and a contribution to overhead costs of both the Delivery Partner organisations and their subcontractors. For England: The average cost per TB skin test event* in the 2023/24 financial year was circa £715 (based on an average test calculation). The average cost per Head of Cattle in the 2023/24 financial year was circa £5.40. The average cost per TB skin test event in the 2024/25 financial year (to date) is circa £760 (based on an average test calculation and based upon data from April to December 2024 inclusive). The average cost per Head of Cattle in the 2024/25 financial year (to date) is circa £5.70 This information does not include costs of Gamma Interferon testing. * A TB test event may include the whole herd (usually all the animals of at least 42 days of age), a proportion of a herd, or a few individual animals in a herd.

What estimate he has made of the number of people not taking prescribed medication due to prescription charges.

No assessment has been made of the number of people not taking prescribed medication due to prescription charges.There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with long term or chronic conditions may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in instalments.

What estimate she has made of the potential cost to local authorities of the provisions of the Children’s Wellbeing and School Bill.

I refer the hon. member for Yeovil to the answer of 20 January to Question 24930.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the farming sector's provision of access to (a) healthy eating and (b) nature on preventative health care.

Shifting the focus from sickness to prevention is one of the three shifts in the Government’s mission for a National Health Service fit for the future, and is a cornerstone of supporting people to live healthier lives. We are working collaboratively across Government to deliver a resilient food system that promotes health and food security, protects the environment, and champions British farming.Consuming fruit and vegetables are critical parts of the Government’s dietary recommendations under the Eatwell Guide. Consumers in the United Kingdom would need to eat at least 30% more of a variety of fruits and vegetables by weight to meet the Government’s dietary recommendations. For fruits and vegetables, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affair’s data suggest UK farms provide 53% of vegetables that are sold domestically, as well as 16% of the fruit. This means the farming sector plays a critical role in the sustainable and resilient food and nutrition security of the country, with a direct impact in preventing obesity and improving diet-related health.The food strategy will work to provide healthier, more easily accessible food to help people live longer healthier lives, and will support the Farming Roadmap to reduce the impact of farming on nature and biodiversity.Access to nature, including green spaces provided by farms, plays a crucial role in preventative healthcare. Studies have shown that exposure to natural environments can reduce stress, improve mental well-being, and lower the risk of conditions such as heart disease and obesity. Green spaces linked to farming, such as walking trails, woodlands, and agricultural land, help encourage physical activity, and foster social well-being.

What estimate she has made of the cost of home schooling a child for (a) parents and (b) local education authorities in this financial year.

The department does not hold data on the cost of elective home education for parents or local authorities.As set out in our elective home education guidance, parents who home educate assume the full financial responsibility for their child’s education, since a state-funded school place is available for their child.The new duties created by the Children Not in School measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will include the creation of a duty on local authorities to create and maintain Children Not in School registers and a duty to provide support to home educating families, should it be requested. Local authority delivery will be funded by central government in line with the New Burdens Doctrine. To determine the level of funding, the department will carry out a new burdens assessment.