Written questions by Hume.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the National Institute for Health and Care Research Delivery Network’s new national funding model on reducing the variation in regional funding.

In 2026/27, the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Research Delivery Network will adopt a new national funding model. Historically, each Regional Research Delivery Network has a different model for how delivery organisations receive their funding, agreed through regional governance arrangements. This has led to geographic variation and inconsistency. The ambition for April 2026 is to remove variation in how regional funding is awarded. This will be achieved via a nationally agreed, consistent funding distribution model across England, where funding is allocated in a more transparent, fair, and predictable system that supports the Government’s aims and the needs of the whole health and care system, including underserved areas and settings.

What steps he is taking to support (a) Danes Dyke surgery in Scarborough and (b) other GP practices with (a) population growth and (b) capacity constraints.

The National Health Service has a statutory duty to ensure there is sufficient general practice (GP) provision in each local area, taking into account of population growth and demographic changes.At a national level, the Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that all new and existing developments have an adequate level of healthcare infrastructure for the community.The Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) advise that in North Scarborough, a total of £339,766 of Section 106 funding has been secured from housing developments to support Scarborough Medical Group and Hackness Road Surgery. Of this funding, £138,298 is currently available, and formal plans for its use are still in development. The remaining funding will become available within the next two to four years.A Project Initiation Document, to better understand a new build proposal and the associated financial implications, has been shared by the proposed landlord with Danes Dyke Surgery. The ICB expects to receive a copy in due course. In the meantime, the GP partners, as the legal owners of Dane’s Dyke Surgery’s current premises, have undertaken some remedial works to help extend the building’s usability in the short term. Responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of the existing premises lies with the GP partners, in accordance with their legal obligations.Danes Dyke Surgery is responsible for maintaining an up-to-date business continuity plan and for minimising any disruption to patient care. The ICB will support the practice with their communication of this plan. The Humber and North Yorkshire ICB is continuing to work closely with all stakeholders and is doing everything within its remit to support progress and explore viable options for the future.

Innovation and Technology, what progress his Department has made on the expert working groups on (a) transparency, (b) licensing and (c) other technical standards mandated by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

The Government has committed to establishing expert stakeholder working groups to inform the development of policy on copyright and AI.In line with debates in Parliament on the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, the Secretaries of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are convening the first meeting of these stakeholder working groups on 16th July. The Government will publish details and a list of working group members in due course.

Innovation and Technology, how he plans to update hon. Members on the progress of the expert working groups on (a) transparency, (b) licensing and (c) other technical standards mandated by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

The Government has committed to establishing expert stakeholder working groups to inform the development of policy on copyright and AI.The Secretaries of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are convening the first meeting of these stakeholder working groups on 16th July. Information relating to this group will be published on GOV.UK, which will include further details and a list of working group members.The Government has also committed to set up a Parliamentary working group for members to engage with and feed views into this process.

Innovation and Technology, how he plans to update industry stakeholders on the progress of the expert working groups on (a) transparency, (b) licensing and (c) other technical standards mandated by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

The Government has committed to establishing expert stakeholder working groups to inform the development of policy on copyright and AI.The Government is currently finalising plans for the stakeholder working groups and will publish information relating to this group on GOV.UK, which will include further details and a list of working group members.

Communities and Local Government, if she will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of creating a Minister for Coastal Communities to oversee a coastal strategy.

There are no current plans to create a Minister for Coastal Communities. As Minister for Local Growth, I am responsible for regional growth nationwide and recognise that coastal communities can make a contribution to growth. The Plan for Neighbourhoods will support regeneration across the country including in many of our cherished coastal communities.

What steps the National Institute for Health and Care Research is taking to reduce regional variations of their health research funding; and what steps they are taking to increase the trend in the level of funding in Yorkshire.

The Department is committed to funding health and care research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) across England, to ensure that the research we support is inclusive and representative of the populations we serve.NIHR infrastructure has national coverage across the whole of England. Our infrastructure schemes aim to build research capacity and capability across the country, including in Yorkshire.The NIHR Research Delivery Network is the main vehicle by which the Department enables clinical research delivery. The Research Delivery Network will adopt a new national funding model for National Health Service support costs and research delivery from 2026/27. This will be a consistent, nationally agreed funding distribution model across all regions of England. The new model will reduce regional variations of health research delivery funding and enable a more transparent, fair, and predictable system of funding that supports the Government’s priorities and the needs of the whole health and care system, including underserved areas and settings.11 NIHR-funded research infrastructure sites are based within Yorkshire, which is approximately 10%. These span the health and care research pathway, from invention to evaluation and implementation, and include: the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Regional Research Delivery Network; the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and NIHR Clinical Research Facilities in Leeds and Sheffield; the NIHR Applied Research Collaborative Bradford; the NIHR Sheffield Children’s Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) and the NIHR Bradford and West Yorkshire CRDC; and the NIHR Patient Safety Research Centre in Yorkshire and Bradford.NIHR research funding opportunities are advertised through either commissioned calls to answer specific research questions, researcher-led workstreams, or themed calls and highlight notices, which provide funding opportunities in Government high-priority areas. Funding committees assess applications that apply to the funding calls and are briefed to consider the equitable distribution of funding.

If he will publish an updated version of the Critical Minerals Strategy that includes policies on promoting the use of polyhalite.

Building on the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre’s (CMIC) updated criticality assessment, government has worked hand in hand with industry to develop a new Critical Minerals Strategy this year. This new, targeted Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure our supply chains for the long term and drive forward the green industries of the future and will be published in the coming weeks.CMIC assessed 82 candidate materials as part of its 2024 criticality assessment. Polyhalite, a combination of various minerals including potassium, was not one of these candidate materials. However, government is fully aware and acknowledges the importance of polyhalite to the UK.As we plan for future criticality and growth assessments, we will look to evaluate which additional minerals and materials, such as polyhalite, will need to be in scope to reflect the UK economy’s growing demands amidst evolving global supply chain dynamics.

If she will prioritise active travel funding for (a) capital and (b) revenue spending related to school journeys.

The Government is providing £8.5 million over 25/26 for Cycling UK, Living Streets and Modeshift to deliver walking, wheeling and cycling initiatives in schools and communities. This funding is in addition to £222.5 million for local authorities for the development and delivery of local walking, wheeling and cycling schemes over 24/25 and 25/26, including for school-related journeys. The Spending Review announced £616 million for Active Travel England up to 2029-30, and a further £18 billion to local authorities through the Transport for City Region settlements and the Local Transport Grant. This funding will support local authorities to invest in their local transport priorities, including encouraging more active journeys to schools.

What estimate she has made of the number and proportion of children (a) walking, (b) wheeling and (c) cycling to school in the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority area.

The Department does not hold a dataset regarding active travel journeys made by children to schools in the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority area. The Department publishes data on travel to school by children nationally using data collected in the National Travel Survey. Active Travel England is supporting more children to walk, wheel and cycle to school by working with local authorities to deliver safe and accessible infrastructure and engagement programmes.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential environmental impact of Europa's proposed proppant squeeze project at the Burniston Mill site in North Yorkshire.

The Department does not have a role in assessing the potential environmental impacts or carbon emissions of a proposed onshore oil and gas project. The relevant Mineral Planning Authority considers such impacts as part of providing planning permission and can request an Environmental Impact Assessment to be completed. Relevant planning permissions and permits, including from the Environment Agency, are required before any operations can take place.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential carbon emissions that would be released by Europa's proposed proppant squeeze project at Burniston Mill in North Yorkshire.

The Department does not have a role in assessing the potential environmental impacts or carbon emissions of a proposed onshore oil and gas project. The relevant Mineral Planning Authority considers such impacts as part of providing planning permission and can request an Environmental Impact Assessment to be completed. Relevant planning permissions and permits, including from the Environment Agency, are required before any operations can take place.

If he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the proppant squeeze process of gas extraction.

Proppant squeezes are not currently defined in legislation as high volume hydraulic fracturing for shale gas extraction. We are committed to banning fracking for good and any future decision on national planning policy for fracking will take into account all volumes of hydraulic fracturing.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the proppant squeeze process of gas extraction.

Proppant squeezes are not currently defined in legislation as high volume hydraulic fracturing for shale gas extraction. We are committed to banning fracking for good and any future decision on national planning policy for fracking will take into account all volumes of hydraulic fracturing.

What steps is he taking to help ensure that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis are followed by NHS staff.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines are not mandatory, but the Government does expect healthcare commissioners to take the guidelines fully into account when designing services to meet the needs of their local population, and to work towards their implementation over time. NHS England remains committed to supporting integrated care boards to ensure equitable access and evidence-based care. This partnership will support the integration of best practices and insights to enhance service quality and consistency across the system.There are steps that the Government is taking to improve care for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). It is a priority for the Department to publish the final ME/CFS delivery plan by the end of June 2025. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. The responses to the interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with other parts of the Government, the National Health Service, and external stakeholders including the NICE, will inform the development of the final ME/CFS delivery plan.

If he will make it his policy to renew the UK Rare Diseases Framework.

The Government remains committed to improving the lives of people living with rare diseases and their families, and will be working with the devolved administrations this year to review what comes next following the expiry of the UK Rare Diseases Framework in 2026.

When he will publish the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Delivery Plan.

We aim to publish our myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), final delivery plan by the end of June 2025.The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. The responses to the interim delivery plan consultation, along with continued close engagement with other parts of the Government, the National Health Service, and external stakeholders, will inform the development of the final ME/CFS delivery plan.

What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has regular discussions with my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a whole host of issues across our brief, including myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care including ME/CFS. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on ME/CFS to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.Together with the Medical Research Council, which is part of UK Research and Innovation, we are actively exploring the next steps for research in ME/CFS, and we will outline further research actions as part of the final ME/CFS Delivery Plan, which we aim to publish by the end of June. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. This will outline the additional support we will offer to the research community to increase the volume and quality of applications and, therefore, increase the allocation of funding to this area.

Media and Sport, with reference to the White Paper entitled High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age, published on 27 April 2023, whether an assessment has been made of the potential merits of introducing Cumulative Impact Assessments (CIAs) for gambling licensing.

Local authorities play a crucial role in the regulation of gambling at a local level and have a range of powers in relation to gambling premises. We want local authorities to feel empowered to make decisions that are in their communities’ best interests.As set out in the gambling white paper, cumulative impact assessments, which local authorities are already familiar with due to the role they play in alcohol licensing, would allow local authorities to take into account a wide range of evidence to inform licensing decisions and to consider the cumulative impact of gambling premises in a particular area.We will look to complement local authorities’ existing powers in relation to licensing of gambling premises, in line with the gambling white paper published in April 2023, when parliamentary time allows.

Media and Sport, with reference to the policy paper entitled High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age, published on 27 April 2023, what progress her Department has made on introducing Cumulative Impact Assessments for gambling licensing.

Local authorities play a crucial role in the regulation of gambling at a local level and have a range of powers in relation to gambling premises. We want local authorities to feel empowered to make decisions that are in their communities’ best interests.As set out in the gambling white paper, cumulative impact assessments, which local authorities are already familiar with due to the role they play in alcohol licensing, would allow local authorities to take into account a wide range of evidence to inform licensing decisions and to consider the cumulative impact of gambling premises in a particular area.We will look to complement local authorities’ existing powers in relation to licensing of gambling premises, in line with the gambling white paper published in April 2023, when parliamentary time allows.