Written questions by Mayer.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a timebound legal duty to end overfishing in UK waters.

The Fisheries Act 2020 contains a commitment to recover stocks to sustainable levels through the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs). We are taking this approach having learned from the well-intentioned but ultimately unachievable single deadline set out in the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy for getting all fish stocks to “Maximum Sustainable Yield” (MSY). Our FMPs allow us to assess the state of the stocks and set out a series of tailored and evidence-based short-, medium- and long-term measures to maintain or restore stocks to MSY.

What her planned timetable is to publish her Department's strategy on rolling stock procurement.

The Government is in the early stages of formulating a rolling stock strategy. The strategy will include considerations around the timelines for new build and refurbishments which will provide more visibility to the rolling stock market. Once established, GBR will take the strategy forward providing a long-term approach to future rolling stock needs and helping to secure better value from the private rolling stock market.

Innovation and Technology, when he plans to implement sections (a) 61 to 65, (b) 67 (c) 70 to 74 and (d) other remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.

The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.Most provisions have been implemented. Those remaining are complex and technical. We must ensure they are implemented carefully, to create certainty and avoid post-implementation delays. The Department has policy and legal resources dedicated to deliver these, and we will bring forward a consultation on the implementation of sections 61 to 64, including transitional provisions, as soon as possible.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 79 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, which regions will receive funding from the £2.4 billion allocated to the building of flood defences and flood defence maintenance for the (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 financial year; and how much funding was provided to each of region in the 2023-24 financial year.

This Government is investing £2.4 billion over this year and next year to improve flood resilience by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. The list of projects to receive government funding for 2025-26 will be consented over the coming months in the usual way through Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, with local representation. The breakdown of government investment from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 in £ millions is published online at Flood and coastal erosion risk management report: 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 - GOV.UK. The breakdown from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 will be published in due course.

If she will make a comparative estimate of the cost per mile of new (a) busways, (b) ultra light rail and (c) conventional train systems.

The estimated costs per mile for new local transportation infrastructure in England can vary significantly based on numerous factors, including specific project conditions and requirements, geography, urban density, and land values.Responsibility for local transport is largely devolved in England, where each local authority is responsible for the operations and financial sustainability of its network. This includes for upgrades and any potential extensions to existing busways and light rail systems.Local authorities are best place to identify possible opportunities and the potential benefits of local transport schemes.  The Department encourages local authorities to take a mode neutral approach to local transport, and works alongside them to ensure the development of proportionate solutions to local transport issues.Rail project costs also vary significantly from project to project based on type of project, scale of intervention, geography and supply chain status.

What her Department’s policy is on funding for Community Rail Partnerships, in the context of the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024.

My Department is committed to supporting the community rail movement. Currently, Community Rail Partnerships are funded by their Train Operating Company, with funding amounts agreed as part of the annual business planning process. The process for the next financial year is currently underway.

With reference to the oral statement entitled Rail Performance of 11 November 2024, Official Report, column 517, when she plans to issue a private train operating company with three months' notice that it will be taken into public ownership.

The Secretary of State announced on 4 December that South Western Railway’s services will transfer into public ownership on 25 May 2025, followed by c2c’s on 20 July 2025 and Greater Anglia’s in autumn 2025. No expiry notice needs to be issued to South Western Railway or c2c as their contracts are already set to expire on those dates. An expiry notice will be issued to Greater Anglia in due course.

How many and what proportion of enquiries to Action Fraud were taken up in the latest period for which data is available.

Action Fraud is the national reporting point for fraud and cyber crime, operated by City of London Police who are the national policing lead for fraud. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) analyses reports from Action Fraud for key information and considers this together with data received from industry and other agencies.Where there are viable lines of enquiry, the NFIB bundles up linked reports into investigative packages which are then disseminated to law enforcement agencies for potential investigation. The Home Office publishes data on the total number of fraud and computer misuse offences recorded by the NFIB and the number then referred to forces for investigation annually.The most recent publication, covering the year ending March 2024, can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2023-to-2024.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing local authorities to use automatic number plate recognition for car park management.

Local Authorities are allowed to use ANPR and associated recording equipment for enforcing both on and off-street parking contraventions. However, the use of ANPR by Local Authorities as the sole means for enforcing parking contraventions is forbidden under the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) Regulations. This means that whilst local authorities can use ANPR, they cannot issue penalty charge notices via post following the detection of a parking contravention by ANPR in all but a very limited number of exceptions. Such exceptions include if the motorist drives away before the ticket can be issued, and certain on-street circumstances relating to bus lanes and red routes.The rationale behind this restriction of ANPR usage is to make non-compliant motorists aware at the time that they have contravened a parking regulation. There are currently no plans to revise the TMA.

If her Department will take steps to reduce the cost of electric vehicle public charging.

The Government is committed to delivering an equitable transition to zero emission vehicles, which works for all drivers. Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, all chargepoint operators must display the price of charging using a common metric of p/kwh and make their data on pricing available freely. This will allow drivers to easily compare the price of charging, and find the best chargepoint for their needs.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the requirement to hold a provisional bus, coach or HGV licence to undertake the theory and off-road modules of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence test.

In April, the Department launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions following requests from industry, the consultation ran for 8 weeks and closed on 5 June. It consulted on measures to amend licensing restrictions which would enable 18- to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach over 50km when driving a regular service and enable some of the tests required to be passed in order to gain a driver certificate of professional competence (DCPC) to be taken before a provisional licence is issued.Officials are reviewing responses to the consultation and the Department will publish a response in due course.

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Rare Diseases Framework to include provisions for improving patient-centred care pathways for Achalasia.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as achalasia. The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities, collaboratively developed with the rare disease community, which include better coordination of care and improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We remain committed to delivering under the framework, and will publish an annual England action plan in 2025.There are no plans to amend the UK Rare Disease Framework for this condition. The framework is a high-level document focused on improving the lives of all people living with rare conditions. Whilst there are approximately 7,000 rare conditions, many share common challenges, which the framework seeks to address. Pathways for managing patients with achalasia are set out in the NHS England Specialised Commissioning Paediatric Medicine: Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Service Specification. This specification is due to be updated in 2024/25.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to enhance monitoring of wildlife exposure to (a) rodenticides and (b) other toxic substances; and whether he plans to allocate additional resources to improve (i) reporting and (ii) response mechanisms in relation to wildlife affected by those substances.

The UK Government is investing in enhancing England's capability to monitor for and report on exposure to wildlife of: anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs); legacy contaminants such as metals; and persistent bio-accumulative and toxic chemicals. This has been partly achieved through funding of the “interim H4: Exposure and Adverse Effects of Chemicals on Wildlife in the Environment” indicator under the 25 Year Environment Plan, and Environment Improvement Plan. From a terrestrial perspective, Natural England is a partner and co-funder of the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS), hosted at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Through collaboration with PBMS, Natural England has delivered an annual report on Red Kite exposure to SGARs. Through work with other partners, it has been developing and expanding its work to monitor exposure and adverse effects of chemicals in the terrestrial environment. Defra also provides funding for England’s Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme which determines the underlying cause of death in wildlife where approved use, misuse or illegal use of pesticides or rodenticides is suspected; and the National Wildlife Crime Unit which helps prevent and detect wildlife crimes involving illegal use of such substances. In each case, budgets for 2025-2026 and beyond have not yet been set.

What data her Department holds on penalty charge notice rates for different offences, broken down by (a) year and (b) location.

The Department for Transport does not hold data on penalty charge notice levels applied by local authorities with civil enforcement powers, either on an annual basis, or between parking or other road traffic contraventions by location. Local authorities outside London with civil parking enforcement powers may only select from two banded Parking Penalty Charge Notice levels as prescribed in the Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022. Penalty charges for parking contraventions in London are set by the Mayor for London with the consent of the Secretary of State. The Department for Transport’s statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions recommends local authorities should adopt the lowest charge level consistent with a high level of public acceptability and compliance. Banded penalty charge levels for other civilly enforceable contraventions, i.e. bus lane and moving traffic contraventions, are set in the 2022 regulations in line with penalties for higher level parking contraventions, for example parking in a disabled bay.

What steps his Department is taking to promote the uptake of (a) Covid-19 and (b) flu vaccinations in the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB area.

The 2024 Get Winter Strong campaign supports the uptake of winter vaccinations for influenza and COVID-19. Launched on 23 September, it focuses on eligible cohorts with low uptake, including pregnant women, parents of two to three-year-olds, for the flu only, and people with long-term health conditions.Activity includes paid-for marketing and partnerships, no-cost national media, and social and stakeholder engagement. Advertising is delivered across public spaces, video on demand, and live television. Partnerships with YouTube creators and the online network for parents Netmums target specific, eligible audiences. Media and other no-cost activities will continue into 2025, using virus surveillance and vaccine uptake data from the UK Health Security Agency and the National Health Service.Specific actions by the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board include a well-publicised winter plan, promoting vaccine uptake via a variety of mediums, and outreach campaigns targeted to low uptake groups, schools, and health settings.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote (a) safer and (b) environmentally friendly pest control alternatives to rodenticide for (i) residential and (ii) commercial use.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for approving biocidal products such as rodenticides. To ensure that the risks associated with professional use of anticoagulant rodenticides could be properly managed, the UK Government worked with industry stakeholders and a stewardship regime was developed by the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK (CRRU) to promote responsible use. This regime is overseen by a Government Oversight Group (GOG), chaired by HSE. The stewardship regime is currently under review and the outcome is expected in 2025. CRRU’s Code of Best Practice promotes a ‘risk hierarchy’ when deciding on a rodent control strategy and this aligns with Defra’s previously published view that anyone seeking to manage wildlife should consider the most humane method of control and apply the least severe solution to control problem animals. CRRU advise there are a range of effective methods for successful rodent management including elimination of harbourage, food and water; and certain forms of trapping. Many methods of rodent control, such as spring traps and live capture and release traps, are inexpensive, reusable and widely available to both the general public and professional pest controllers, whether acting in a residential or commercial setting.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of removing the 50km restriction for 18- to 20-year-old bus and coach drivers on a regular service.

In April, the Department launched a consultation on amending licensing restrictions following requests from industry, the consultation ran for 8 weeks and closed on 5 June. It consulted on measures to amend licensing restrictions which would enable 18- to 20-year-olds to drive a bus and coach over 50km when driving a regular service and enable some of the tests required to be passed in order to gain a driver certificate of professional competence (DCPC) to be taken before a provisional licence is issued.Officials are reviewing responses to the consultation and the Department will publish a response in due course.

What data his Department holds on the number of A&E visits resulting from animal bites.

NHS England publishes data on the number of hospital attendances, and this information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-accident--emergency-activity/2023-24This includes the number of attendances due to external causes, including animal bites. In 2023/24, there were 53 hospital attendances in England where the primary diagnosis was recorded as an animal bite.

Whether her Department is taking steps to strengthen restrictions on the use of rodenticides in order to reduce exposure to non-target wildlife.

Rodenticide products are regulated under the Great Britain Biocidal Products Regulations (GB BPR). Under this legislation, evaluations of the safety of biocides to humans, animals and the environment are carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on behalf of Ministers. The Rodenticides Stewardship Scheme was developed by The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK to further promote responsible use by the three groups of professional users (pest controllers, farmers and gamekeepers). Compliance with the scheme and its principles is a legal requirement as part of the authorisation and use of rodenticide products. The scheme is overseen by the Government Oversight Group for Rodenticide Stewardship (GOG), chaired by HSE and includes representatives from relevant government departments and agencies. The GOG is conducting a review to consider how rodenticide stewardship in the UK can be strengthened. It will consider all relevant and appropriate evidence. The detailed work of this review is expected to be completed in 2025.

What data her Department has on increases in penalty charge notice fees for parking compared to fines for other traffic contraventions.

The Department for Transport does not hold data on penalty charge notice levels applied by local authorities with civil enforcement powers, either on an annual basis, or between parking or other road traffic contraventions by location. Local authorities outside London with civil parking enforcement powers may only select from two banded Parking Penalty Charge Notice levels as prescribed in the Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022. Penalty charges for parking contraventions in London are set by the Mayor for London with the consent of the Secretary of State. The Department for Transport’s statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions recommends local authorities should adopt the lowest charge level consistent with a high level of public acceptability and compliance. Banded penalty charge levels for other civilly enforceable contraventions, i.e. bus lane and moving traffic contraventions, are set in the 2022 regulations in line with penalties for higher level parking contraventions, for example parking in a disabled bay.