Written questions by Mayer.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of local authorities franchising bus services on smaller bus operators.

The Bus Services Act 2017 contains a duty for local authorities to make a statement on how they will facilitate participation from small and medium sized operators in service provision as part of the franchising process.The Department, as part of the Impact Assessment for the Bus Services (No.2) Bill, has considered the potential effects of franchising; this includes the effect on small-to-medium-sized operators.The Department is also providing support and guidance to authorities considering franchising and we will continue working with local authorities to develop different franchising models that could be smaller scale, require less financial commitment and support participation from a range of operators.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a single Public Service Operator licence for each traffic area in England.

Under current arrangements, licensing for Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators in Great Britain is divided into eight traffic areas. No entity can hold more than one PSV licence in any single traffic area (except in the case of Special Restricted licences). This means that in effect an operator could hold a single PSV operator licence in each traffic area in England.

With reference to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit’s annual report 2023, published on 17 December 2024, what steps her Department is taking to increase compliance with (a) legislation and (b) licence conditions with respect to the provision of care for animals.

The Regulator’s annual report details the range of ways in which it detects instances of non-compliance and seeks to drive greater compliance with the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and licence conditions.The Regulator conducts regular on-site audits. The published framework for audit is based on clear benchmarks and assessing compliance through organisational governance to encourage greater commitment to compliance. The framework is publicly accessible at: www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-research-technical-advice#process-and-standards-for-establishment-full-system-audits.To provide assurance of compliance with the Regulation, the Regulator provides clear and accessible operational guidance. All establishments licensed to breed or supply animals, or to carry out regulated procedures on animals, under ASPA must comply with the Code of Practice which sets out mandatory standards for the appropriate care and accommodation of animals.

How many roads were closed during flooding in (a) Bedfordshire, (b) the East of England and (c) nationally in (i) 2024 and (ii) the latest period for which data is available.

The Department recognises the profound importance of our country’s road network in moving people, goods, and services around the country. The impact of closing roads will vary greatly depending on the roads in question and on the scale and severity of the flooding. The Government does not keep centralised lists of local road closures during periods of severe weather and flooding, either in Bedfordshire or nationally. These are matters for local highway authorities.Bedford Council and Central Bedfordshire Council, as the relevant local highway authorities for Bedfordshire, are responsible for the management of their respective local networks, including making operational network decisions in the event of severe weather events including flooding. On a national basis, management of the English highway network is the responsibility of over 150 highway authorities, who make operational decisions based on the scope and severity of severe weather affecting their area.

How many penalty charge notices have been issued against patient transport service vehicles in each of the last five years for which data is available.

The data requested is not held centrally.

With reference to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit’s annual report 2023, published on 17 December 2024, for what reasons has there been an increase in incidents involving failure to provide adequate care for animals.

The Home Office takes non-compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 very seriously. The numbers of non-compliance cases vary in any given year. The total number of non-compliance cases reduced from 175 to 169 cases from 2022-23. Between these same years there was also a 48% reduction in adverse welfare cases.The reasons for each non-compliance involving failure to provide adequate care is provided in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit annual report. The Regulator has not made any further assessment.

What steps his Department is taking to support patients adversely impacted by pelvic mesh implants.

There are nine specialist mesh centres across England, ensuring that women in every region with complications due to mesh inserted for urinary incontinence and vaginal prolapse gets the right support. Each mesh centre is led by a multi-disciplinary team to ensure patients get access to the specialist care and treatment that they need, including pain management and psychological support.The Medical Devices Outcomes Registry was established by NHS England in April 2024 to fulfil Recommendation 7 of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, also known as the Cumberlege Review. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Stress Urinary Incontinence registry will be launched in early 2025. This will ensure that appropriate clinical vigilance data is collected, surgical outliers can be identified, and that comparative performance and outcomes across the centres are routinely available. NHS England is extending the registry to be United Kingdom-wide, to improve the recording of patient outcomes and experience.Furthermore, the Department has commissioned, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, a £1.56 million study to develop a patient reported outcome measure (PROM) for prolapse, incontinence, and mesh complication surgery. Longer term, the PROM will be integrated into the pelvic floor registry.

What assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of influenza cases in hospitals in the last 12 months.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) surveillance of influenza hospitalisations operates during winter season only, where most influenza activity is typically observed. Trends vary across the season and are published weekly at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-2024-to-2025-seasonUKHSA surveillance confirmed influenza cases admitted to hospital, shows the overall influenza hospitalisation rate in the most recent published data, namely week 52 commencing 23 December 2024, was 14.09 per 100,000. For comparison, in the 2023 to 2024 season, influenza hospitalisation rates peaked in week 52, namely the week commencing 25 December 2023, with a rate of 6.65 per 100,000 and again in week 4, namely the week commencing 22 January 2024, with a rate of 7.55 per 100,000.

What criteria he uses for defining whether an area is a dental desert; and in what areas dentistry graduates will receive golden hellos.

‘Dental desert’ is a term used colloquially to describe areas struggling with access to National Health Service dentistry. There are a range of metrics which can be used to assess dental access.The responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of the local population is delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.ICBs have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years. Dental practices in specific areas, determined locally, were invited by their ICBs to express interest in participating in the scheme and notified of the outcome of their application via their ICB. Further information on the process can be found in guidance issued by NHS England, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/dental-recruitment-incentive-scheme-2024-25/As of 16 December 2024, 706 Expressions of Interest have been received of which 320 have been approved for participation in the Dental Recruitment Incentive Scheme. 212 posts have been advertised, with 19 dentists commenced in post.

How many coaches were registered by the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain in (a) 2024 to date and (b) each of the last five years.

The Office of the Traffic Commissioner (OTC) collects annual data on the number of active and newly issued public service vehicle (PSV) operator licences and the vehicles authorised to operate under these licences. Coach operators are required to hold a valid PSV licence to operate in the UK. The PSV licence data covers both bus and coach operators and does not distinguish between the two. The number of PSV operator licences and vehicles authorised to operate under these licences from 2024 to date: Reporting Year (to date)Number of valid PSV operator licencesNumber of vehicles authorisedApril 2024 - January 2025546588992 Reporting Year (to date)Number of new PSV operator licences grantedNumber of vehicles authorised as a result of a new applicationApril 2024 - January 20252661386 The figures for the number of PSV operator licences and the vehicles authorised to operate under these licences for the last five years: Reporting year (April to March)Number of valid PSV operator licencesNumber of vehicles authorised2019-206852908652020-216602899802021-226158885822022-235809863712023-245451886642024-January 2025546588992 Reporting Year (April – March)Number of new PSV operator licences grantedNumber of vehicles authorised as a result of a new application2019-2047428102020-2131713232021-2226422922022-2331014632023-2436814512024-January 20252661386

How many of the planned additional 700,000 urgent dental appointments a year will be in (a) Bedfordshire and (b) the East of England.

The Government is committed to tackling the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care. We are working to ensure patients can start to access 700,000 additional urgent dental appointments as soon as possible, targeting areas that need them most including the East of England. We will set out further information on this commitment, including how this will be measured, in due course.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the level of contribution of coaches to the tourism industry.

Coaches are a really important part of the tourism industry, enabling millions of people every year to go on day-trips, visit heritage sites, go to the theatre or travel around the UK, often at affordable prices. We remain committed to collaborating with stakeholders to strengthen our partnerships and promote sustainable growth within the sector.

Whether her Department holds data on the number of coaches booked by schools for (a) cultural and (b) sports trips in (i) 2024 to date and (ii) the last five years.

The department does not hold data on the number of coaches booked by schools, including for (a) cultural and (b) sports trips.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, how many and what proportion of soaps and other skincare products used on the parliamentary estate are cruelty free certified.

Our supplier contract stipulates all products used should be, so far as is reasonably possible, cruelty free, and compliant with the recommendations of Cruelty Free International.All soaps supplied comply with the relevant cosmetic regulations (Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products) which means they are not allowed to be tested on animals.

What discussions her Department has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on reforms to the Bus Service Operators Grant.

We are committed to simplifying and consolidating bus funding from the Government, and we are considering next steps for reform of the Bus Service Operators Grant as part of this work. This will include engagement with other government departments.

What discussions his Department has had with the Post Office on the number of expressions of interest for remaining directly-managed Crown Post Office branches.

As the Minister responsible for the Government's interest in Post Office Limited, I meet regularly with the CEO and Chair of Post Office to discuss various issues related to Post Office Limited, including directly managed branches. My officials also meet regularly with Post Office and discuss a range of issues including directly-managed branches.

If she will make an estimate of recent trends in the number of coach companies that have ceased trading.

The Department recognises the importance of good transport links and this Government aims to improve connections between towns and cities across the country. We recognise the important role the coach sector can play in making these connections across the country for education, business and leisure travel. Coaches are a deregulated sector, so commercial decisions, such as whether to cease trading, are a matter for the operators concerned. The Department does not have the data to estimate the number of coach companies that have ceased trading. We are, however, working with the sector to hear their concerns and address the challenges they face.

If she will commission research on the potential impact of room temperature during examinations on student performance.

The department is not currently considering commissioning research on the effect of room temperature during examinations on student performance, although we continue to keep abreast of research in this area. The department has provided advice for schools about how they can manage the learning environment during hot weather.

Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on neurodiversity-affirmative approaches in schools.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has regular discussions on a wide range of matters with Cabinet colleagues, including my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education.

What discussions she has had with Shadow Great British Railways on future management of the 20 railway stations directly managed by Network Rail.

The Secretary of State has not yet held any conversations with Shadow Great British Railways on the future management of stations. The government has set Shadow Great British Railways several initial priorities, including being passenger focused - improving services for passengers and freight-customers, unlocking barriers to delivery and moving the rail network towards greater financial sustainability. The government will shortly be setting out plans for how Shadow Great British Railways will be delivering on these priorities.