Written questions by Mayer.

If he will hold discussions with the Bedfordshire Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board on funding options for a health hub in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade.

The Government recognises the pressure on primary care infrastructure in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade, and across the wider National Health Service estate. We acknowledge that, nationally, change is desperately needed to bring healthcare closer to home, to provide patients with the care they deserve.Unfortunately, the Minister cannot commit to meeting with the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (ICB) at this time. However, we would encourage the ICB and indeed staff and patients to contribute to our forthcoming consultation on the 10-year plan for Health which, among other things, will consider this Government’s ambition to move healthcare from acute settings to the community. We would welcome contributions for those who recognise the need to invest in our primary care estate to make this ambition a reality.

If she will make an assessment of the number of police hours spent on investigating shoplifting crimes in Bedfordshire in which the value of the goods taken was less than £200, in the latest period for which data is available.

The latest Police Recorded Crime figures showed 443,995 shoplifting offences for the year ending March 2024, an increase by 30% compared to the previous 12 months. Although the volume of charges for shoplifting rose by 47% in the year ending March 2024 (to 74,221 charges), shoplifting continues to increase at an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers when committing these thefts. The Government will not stand for this.We welcome the National Police Chiefs Council Retail Crime Action Plan Fighting retail crime: more action - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) which includes a commitment to prioritise police attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel.We do not hold the data for the number of police hours spent on investigating shoplifting crimes in which the value of goods taken was less than £200. However, through the Crime and Policing Bill, the Government will end the effective immunity, introduced by the previous government, granted to low level shoplifting of goods under £200. We will also introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.

What steps the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is taking to reduce waiting times for practical tests in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard constituency.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards. To increase the number of available test slots, it is conducting tests outside of regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays, and buying back annual leave from driving examiners. To increase the number of car driving test slots, the DVSA deployed eligible managers and administrative staff back on the front line to do driving tests from the beginning of October 2023 until the end of March 2024, which created over 145,000 additional test slots. Driving examiners from areas with lower waiting times continue to travel and test in those centres with longer waiting times. This is in addition to the DVSA recruiting additional examiners at Luton, Leighton Buzzard and Aylesbury driving test centres that serve the Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard constituency. The DVSA’s examiner recruitment campaigns are ongoing across the country but, like many employers, the DVSA is finding the job market extremely competitive. As it moves through each recruitment campaign, the DVSA will continually review and make changes and improvements to its recruitment and selection processes.

Innovation and Technology, if his Department will take steps to help improve the quality of mobile phone signal in (a) Houghton Regis and (b) Bidwell West.

The Government is committed to improving mobile coverage across the UK. Ofcom’s most recent coverage data for the former constituency of South West Bedfordshire shows 98% 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile network operators and that 5G is available from at least one mobile network operator outside 93% of premises.I am aware that Ofcom’s coverage data does not always reflect consumers’ experience of mobile networks at a local level. I understand that Ofcom has an ongoing programme of work to improve the accuracy of its reporting on mobile coverage and I am taking a close interest in the outcome of this work.Alongside this, the Government intends to reform the planning system in a way that - amongst other things - will make it easier to build digital infrastructure.

If she will make it her policy to allow local leaders to use Skills Bootcamp funding to support training for bus drivers.

Skills Bootcamps are a great way for learners and local areas to develop the skills they need and the department provides grant funding to 30 mayoral combined authorities and local areas to deliver Skills Bootcamps training that meets local skills’ priorities. In the 2023/24 financial year, the total value of grant funding contracts awarded was approximately £114 million.The department continues to keep the sectors eligible for Skills Bootcamps funding under review.

With reference to the Written Statement of 17 May 2023 on Regulation Update, HCWS779, if she will make it her Department's policy to reinstate a full ban on the testing of cosmetic products on animals covering chemicals used (a) exclusively and (b) predominantly as cosmetic product ingredients.

Animal testing of cosmetics for consumer safety has been banned in the UK since 1998 and this remains in force.Additionally, the Government does not issue licences for animal testing of chemicals that are used exclusively as cosmetics ingredients, carried out under chemicals (REACH) regulations for the purpose of worker and environmental safety.No animal testing is being conducted, nor will any testing be authorised, of chemicals that are exclusively intended to be used as ingredients in cosmetics products.

Whether he is taking steps to ensure commitments to academic freedom are discussed in the negotiation of trade agreements.

The Department for Business and Trade are currently assessing progress across the programme of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) currently under negotiation and determining which matters will be raised in negotiations. The Department's trade deals will be aligned with our industrial strategy and designed to bring prosperity to communities across the country and fulfil our mission of securing the highest sustained growth in the G7.The UK maintains the right to regulate public services, including the education sector, in all our trade agreements. FTA commitments typically do not prevent treaty partners from imposing domestic restrictions on academic freedom.

Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the of the potential merits of minimum standards for mobile phone signal on new-build housing estates.

Regulations are in place which require developers of new build homes, including new-build housing estates, in England to install the infrastructure necessary for gigabit-capable broadband connectivity. There is currently no equivalent provision relating to mobile coverage. The government is committed to updating national planning policy to ensure the planning system meets the needs of a modern economy, and this includes making it easier to build digital and mobile infrastructure.

What recent assessment she has made of (a) the adequacy of services provided by London Northwestern Railway and (b) whether London Northwestern Railway is meeting its obligations set out in the West Midlands Trains Limited 2021 rail contract.

The Department continues to work closely with West Midlands Trains (WMT), which operates London Northwestern Railway services to monitor its adequacy. The Department also monitors compliance with WMT’s contractual obligations. Although operational performance has recently been impacted by a significant number of infrastructure and weather-related incident. WMT’s performance was above expectations and other contractual metrics have also been within acceptable levels overall.

What information her Department holds on the number and proportion of miles of roads in (a) Dunstable and (b) Leighton Buzzard that are in poor condition.

The Department for Transport collects information on the condition of roads from local highways authorities. Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard make up part of the local highway authority of Central Bedfordshire. Information on the condition of roads specifically in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard would be held by the local highway authority of Central Bedfordshire. Unfortunately, it is not held by the Department at this level of granularity. Information on the condition of roads in England is collected and published by the Department annually here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-network-size-and-condition. However, no information for the condition of roads in Central Bedfordshire has been provided to the Department since the financial year ending March 2019. The data held by the Department for the financial years ending March 2010 to March 2019 showed that: The percentage of A road that should have been considered for maintenance (‘red roads’) was between 1% and 3% for Central Bedfordshire, while during the same time-period the national level of red road was between 3% and 5%.The percentage of red B & C road was between 2% and 5%, whereas the national level was between 6% and 10%.The percentage of red Unclassified (‘U’) road was between 3% and 21%, and the national level was between 15% to 18%.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the risk of flooding in central Bedfordshire.

The Environment Agency (EA)’s current Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Capital Programme (2021-2027) includes 10 projects within the central Bedfordshire area, with a current estimated total project value of £3.5 million. This includes several schemes delivered by Central Bedfordshire Council to better manage surface water in locations which have experienced surface water flooding historically, including Blunham and Shefford. The EA is also completing a first stage appraisal of the flood risk to Leighton Buzzard to better understand the case for flood risk mitigation and the likelihood of achieving a cost beneficial solution. It expects this to be completed by autumn 2024. The EA’s annual maintenance programme for main rivers in the catchment includes desiltation projects, vegetation clearance and flood defence improvements, and is funded by a combination of Government grant in aid and local flood funding. The EA is also working in partnership with Central Bedfordshire Council, the Internal Drainage Board and Anglian Water to gather evidence about flooding during January 2024, following one of the wettest winters on record. This work will identify the causes of flooding and determine any necessary actions. The EA has also been engaging with communities to understand the impacts from these events.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a maximum workplace temperature.

The Government is committed to modernising health and safety guidance including that addressing workplace temperatures. The Government will work with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to bring forward detailed proposals for consultation on workplace temperature.

How many Demand Responsive Transport schemes in which locations have been funded under the Bus service improvement plan..

We estimate around 19 Local Transport Authorities are using or planning to use Bus Service Improvement Plan funding to fund Demand Responsive Transport schemes around England.

Whether she is taking steps to help ensure that shoplifters who steal goods worth under £200 are charged.

Police Recorded Crime figures showed 443,995 shoplifting offences for the year ending March 2024, an increase by 30% in the 12 months leading up to. Shoplifting continues to increase at an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers to do this. The Government will not stand for this.Through the Crime and Policing Bill, the Government will end the effective immunity that has been granted to low level shoplifting of goods under £200. We will also introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a medal for seriously injured and medically retired emergency service personnel.

We owe a tremendous gratitude to dedicated emergency service workers for their continued hard work and sacrifice to protect the public. There is no doubt that those who have their service cut short have made, and in many cases will continue to make, an invaluable contribution to the emergency services.Medals are awarded by the Government, on behalf of His Majesty The King to recognise individuals within the service. The creation of a new medal requires a cross Government consensus before advice is put to HM The King, the implementation of a fair set of criteria and processes, and the allocation of funding. Ultimately, these decisions sit with The Monarch but the Government is happy to consider the case for any new medal or award, subject to comprehensive assessment across government to consider whether a medal of this kind would be feasible.

What steps his Department is taking to tackle waiting lists for mental health services in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard constituency.

Waiting lists for those referred for support are too high, and especially so for young people. People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve, which is why we will fix the broken system and ensure that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.The Government will recruit 8,500 additional staff across children and adult mental health services, introduce a specialist mental health professional in every school, and roll out the Young Futures hubs to further support young people’s mental health.

Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the number of unoccupied shops on high streets in (a) Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard constituency and (b) the UK.

The information requested is not held centrally. We are committed to safeguarding our high streets. Through the English Devolution Bill, we will introduce a strong new ‘right to buy’ for valued community assets that will empower local communities to reclaim and revitalise empty shops, pubs, and community spaces, revamping our high streets and eliminating the blight of vacant premises.

If she will publish the average cost per passenger journey to the public purse of the £2 bus fare cap in each local transport authority.

The £2 National Bus Fare Cap is a voluntary scheme for eligible bus operators, who are provided a bespoke funding allocation to reimburse the difference between the cap and the shadow commercial fare. This is calculated using the Department for Transport’s methodology which uses each operator’s historic and present data to predict ticket sales for each period of the scheme. It is not possible to calculate the average cost per passenger journey in each Local Transport Authority (LTA) because the reimbursement is provided directly to bus operators, who do not operate exclusively within LTA boundaries. The total government investment to cap bus fares at £2 between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2024 is around £600 million.