Written questions by Cooper.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the use of the N9M protocol; and if she will issue guidance on its vulnerabilities to foreign actors accessing any data processed using N9M.

This government remains committed to ensuring that new and existing technologies are safely deployed across the UK. Whilst the government does not routinely carry out assessments of software or products it is working with industry to support them in making independent assessments about the security of software and products. To this end, the National Cyber Security Centre has set up Cyber Resilience Test Facilities (CRTFs) that will deliver assurance for a wide range of internet connected products and services. This will also enable industry and government services to independently audit and assess products and services in a consistent way.The N9M protocol is used within vehicles. Last year, the government laid the Road Vehicles (Type-Approval) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2025 that mandated internationally recognised requirements for vehicle cyber security. Vehicle manufacturers, including those that use N9M protocol, must assess and mitigate for cyber-security threats and vulnerabilities, as part of the whole vehicle evaluation for new vehicles required to obtain GB type-approval.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a national safety standard for Human Form Recognition AI technology used on (a) mobile plant and (b) heavy machinery to ensure (i) a minimum threshold for accuracy and (ii) the reduction of false-positive alerts.

AI can bring significant benefits to the workplace, workers and the wider economy. However, it is important that AI systems are developed and deployed safely and responsibly. That’s why the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is taking action to build an AI assurance ecosystem that underpins safe, trustworthy and responsible AI systems.This includes establishing the Centre for AI Measurement at the National Physical Laboratory. This will provide targeted support to industry through delivery of the AI Assurance Innovation Fund and create a collaborative environment for conducting research focused on the development of new and innovative AI assurance techniques.

What progress has been made on the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023; and what steps she is taking to support rural businesses in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England in deploying (i) advanced Human Form Recognition systems and (ii) AI-enhanced security systems to combat the theft of (A) high-value agricultural machinery and (B) fuel.

The Government is committed to the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which will introduce measures to make it harder for criminals to steal and re‑sell high‑value machinery and equipment. The Home Office has completed a Call for Evidence to inform delivery and is working closely with industry, policing and other partners to develop the necessary secondary legislation, which will be introduced in Parliament as time allows.To support rural businesses the Government is strengthening the policing response to acquisitive crime through improved neighbourhood policing, specialist national capability and legislative tools to support enforcement. This includes continuing to fund the National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit, which work with forces to tackle organised machinery and fuel theft.The deployment of specific security technologies is an operational matter for policing and business. Police reforms and wider crime prevention measures are intended to ensure that forces have the capability and flexibility to work with rural communities and businesses to tackle theft, such as agricultural machinery and fuel, that affect rural locations.

What discussions his Department has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the effectiveness of artificial intelligence-led safety systems in reducing workplace fatalities in the (a) construction and (b) logistics sectors; and if he will make a statement on the development of industry protocols for these systems.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has undertaken research into how businesses are adopting AI and its implications for workplace health and safety. This research has examined the use of AI in developing health and safety provisions across a wide range of sectors, including construction and logistics. HSE is working with industry partners to develop benchmarks that enable best use of AI in workplaces. It is also contributing toward the development of international standards for AI interaction with machinery and functional safety.

If he will consult with industry leaders in the safety-tech sector to develop a unified data standard for the reporting of safety near-misses captured by Human Form Recognition AI-enabled systems on industrial sites.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) provides the established statutory framework for reporting work-related fatalities, injuries, occupational diseases, and certain dangerous occurrences, including near misses. RIDDOR ensures that significant work-related incidents are reported to the relevant enforcing authority so risks can be identified, trends monitored and appropriate regulatory action taken where necessary to improve health and safety standards in Great Britain. RIDDOR applies regardless of how an incident is identified or recorded by duty-holders. Employers and others with duties under RIDDOR are responsible for reporting incidents that meet the legal criteria, and there is already a standardised national reporting process in place. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched a public consultation on 7 April 2026 seeking views on possible amendments to RIDDOR. This consultation includes proposals based on recommendations from its second postimplementation review, such as updates to occupational disease definitions and potential opportunities to streamline aspects of the reporting process. Stakeholders are invited to provide views on additional areas they believe should be considered, and we would encourage anyone interested in work-place incident reporting to engage with the consultation over the next 12 weeks.

What estimate he has made of the number of dietitians required to adequately support obesity, diabetes and malnutrition services in community healthcare settings in England.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure that the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. We are working through how the 10 Year Workforce Plan will articulate the changes for different professional groups. The plan will be published in spring 2026.As of January 2026, there are 5,624 full time equivalent (FTE) dietitians in NHS trusts and other core organisations in England. This is 220 (4.1%) more than last year, 1,040 (22.7%) than 2021, and 2,321 (70.3%) more than in 2010.

Which professional groups are currently included in NHS clinical pathways for patients prescribed weight loss medications; and what guidance his Department has issued on clinical oversight for those pathways.

Weight loss medicines are available through National Health Service specialist weight management services and, from June 2025 tirzepatide, brand name Mounjaro, is being made available in primary care through a phased approach. In specialist services, patients receive wraparound care from a multidisciplinary team providing nutritional, psychological, and medical support, tailored to individual need. In primary care, clinical oversight is provided by general practitioners and other prescribing healthcare professionals, with behavioural support delivered through locally commissioned services or via the national Healthier You: NHS Behavioural Support for Obesity Prescribing service. NHS England does not routinely hold information on the specific professional groups included in local clinical pathways. National guidance to support prescribing and clinical oversight includes: the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal 1026 Tirzepatide for managing overweight and obesity;NICE’s Practical guide to using medicines to manage overweight and obesity; andNHS England’s interim commissioning guidance. Integrated care boards are responsible for ensuring robust clinical governance of these pathways.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the adoption of (a) advanced safety technology and (b) Human Form Recognition systems on agricultural machinery to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities involving (i) farm workers and (ii) members of the public.

Through the Farming Innovation Programme, the Government is providing £50 million as part the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) fund to support on farm trials and adoption of the latest agricultural equipment. This can support farmer-led, smaller-scale innovation grants to trial and test new equipment and methods such as new advanced safety technologies aimed at reducing on-farm accidents.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of agricultural machinery accidents on the rural economy; and if she will consider including AI-driven safety equipment within the scope of future Farming Equipment and Technology Fund grants.

The Government recognises the importance of reducing agricultural machinery accidents, no specific assessment has been made on its impact on the rural economy. As announced, FETF 2026 is intended to be the final round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund. The Government wishes to build on what has worked well across all its grant schemes with the aim of bringing the strongest elements together from 2027. As part of this work, it will look at the specific types of equipment and technology that could be included, including consideration of the role of AI-driven safety equipment.

What the timetable is for lifting HS2 safeguarding directions affecting the Mid Cheshire constituency.

Following the Northern Growth Strategy announcement in January, we are carefully considering our options regarding the HS2 safeguarding direction affecting the Mid-Cheshire constituency and will set out further details in due course.

What steps he is taking to improve the (a) completeness and (b) quality of data collected on waiting times to access adult community eating disorder services.

Adult eating disorders are covered by the overall adult waiting time metrics developed through the Clinically Led Review of Standards. Work to implement adult community mental health time-based metrics therefore also applies to adult community eating disorder services. To improve completeness and quality of data submitted to the Mental Health Services Dataset (MHSDS), the Adult Mental Health team has developed SNOMED CT clinical coding guidance and national reference sets to support accurate recording of assessments, interventions, medications, and waiting time clock stops. Online training modules have been published to support providers with MHSDS submissions, with further pathway-specific modules and clinical descriptor guidance in development, alongside planned educational sessions for 2026/27. The national Data Collections Service provides proactive one-to-one data quality support to providers, and an experimental access and waiting times dashboard is available on NHS Futures. In addition, NHS England publishes data quality information on all MHSDS submissions and contacts providers monthly to address identified issues. Together, these measures are intended to strengthen the completeness and accuracy of waiting time data for adult community eating disorder services.

Whether he plans to commission national training to support the workforce delivering Children and Young People’s Eating Disorder Services.

NHS England already has comprehensive eating disorder training in place for staff across mental and physical health services, including those delivering Children and Young People’s Eating Disorder Services (CYP ED). This covers both awareness-raising and specialist up-skilling, with e-learning and simulation training available to doctors, general practitioners and primary care clinicians, nurses across all four branches, acute hospital staff, dietitians, and pharmacy teams. Following the 2017 Ombudsman report Ignoring the Alarms, NHS England worked with Beat and the Royal College of Psychiatrists to strengthen training on the safe medical management of eating disorders, which remains available. More recently, NHS England has commissioned further specialist training to support the CYP ED workforce, including the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Eating Disorders Credential, family-based therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders, and training on Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Together, this national programme of training ensures that the workforce is better equipped to identify risk early and provide safe, effective, evidence-based care for children and young people wherever they present.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of converting short-term tenancies into periodic tenancies on the number of tenancies required to make anniversary calculations for Stamp Duty Land Tax.

Tenant wellbeing is central to the government’s recent Renters’ Rights Act, which will transform the experience of private renting, and give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer. We are aware that the Act, which abolishes fixed-term tenancies, may bring these tenancies into the SDLT regime. We will act to ensure that no one will be brought into paying SDLT as a result of the Renters’ Rights Act. We will update the House with more detail shortly.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to bring forward sanctions relating to human rights violations and abuses in Eritrea.

The UK Government consistently considers the full range of policy tools at our disposal to protect human rights and deter violations of international humanitarian law. It is the UK's long-standing policy not to comment on potential sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their effectiveness.

Media and Sport, whether she has (a) made an assessment of the current classification of deaf sport within UK sporting-funding frameworks, (b) what consideration her Department has given to the disparity in funding provided to Deaflympic athletes compared with Paralympic athletes, and (c) what steps she is taking to ensure that deaf athletes are not systematically overlooked in future funding decisions.

The Government is dedicated to making sport across the country accessible and inclusive for everyone, including d/Deaf people. Sport England are exploring a series of talent pilots for deaf athletes. These pilots will see Sport England, National Governing Bodies, and UK Deaf Sport working together to explore issues around accessibility and suggest potential solutions. Sport England has also awarded UK Deaf Sport £150,000 to fund a specialist Talent Inclusion post to further the work of the pilots. The Government, through the UK Sport grant, supports Olympic and Paralympic success. Beyond this the Government does not provide additional funding to performance sport, in line with our approach to a great many other areas of individual sporting performance.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent of the duties of the Canal and River Trust to maintain the River Weaver Navigation for navigation purposes in terms of (a) draught and (b) the furthest distance upstream required to meet the duty.

It is the responsibility of organisations with statutory duties, including the Canal and River Trust, to ensure compliance with them. Maintaining the River Weaver for navigation is an operational matter for the Trust, and it’s important the Government respects the Trust’s operational independence.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to multidisciplinary rehabilitation services for people with functional neurological disorder across Integrated Care Boards (a) in general and (b) for people under 18.

The National Institute for Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders, including acquired brain injury, was published in October 2025 and with the code NG252, includes functional neurological disorder within its scope. The guideline, which covers rehabilitation in all settings for children, young people, and adults with a chronic neurological disorder, neurological impairment, or disabling neurological symptoms, recommends a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation. The guideline emphasises the need for personalised care plans that address physical, cognitive, and psychological needs.We expect integrated care boards to take NICE guidelines fully into account when designing and commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations. NICE guidelines represent authoritative, evidence-based recommendations on best practice, including clinical and cost-effectiveness considerations. This approach ensures consistency, quality, and equity in service provision across the National Health Service. The guideline is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng252

Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for publishing the cross-government homelessness strategy.

We will publish our cross-Government homelessness strategy later this year.

Whether she has had discussions with Manchester Airport on the level of that airport's (a) drop-off and (b) pick-up charges.

Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and the provision and charging of car parking at airports (including drop-off and pick-up charges) is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify.However, DfT expects car parking at airports, such as Manchester, to be managed appropriately and consumers treated fairly.

What fiscal steps her Department is taking to utilise the (a) protection and (b) restoration of nature to increase trends in the level of green economic growth.

The Government recognises that nature makes an important contribution to green economic growth and is taking action to invest in our natural assets. The Government is investing in sustainable farming and nature recovery, both boosting productivity and supporting food and economic security. To help deliver its environmental ambitions, the Government is also seeking to create the conditions to mobilise additional private finance into nature, including by driving the development of high-integrity nature markets for the UK.