Written questions by Snowden.

With reference to the Law Commission report entitled Building families through surrogacy: a new law, published on 28 March 2023, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of implementing the recommendation on taking away a mother’s parental rights at birth* on levels of risk of adverse mental health effects for the mother should she change her mind after birth.

The Ministry of Justice has not carried out an assessment of the potential impact of implementing this recommendation. The Government will publish a response in due course. Any consideration of this specific recommendation and its implications would form part of this wider work.

If he will make it his policy to work with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to improve access to funding for people whose homes require adaptations for health reasons.

In England, we continue to fund the locally administered Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) which helps eligible older and disabled people on low incomes to adapt their homes. We have provided an additional £172 million across this and the last financial year to uplift the DFG, which could provide approximately 15,600 home adaptations to give older and disabled people more independence in their homes. This brings the total funding for the DFG to £711 million in 2024/25 and 2025/26.The Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government share policy responsibility for the DFG. We also work with other Government departments more widely on relevant issues.We continue to keep all aspects of the DFG under consideration. Recently, we carried out a review of the upper limit for the DFG and are currently considering the findings.

What steps her Department is taking to modernise public transport technology for buses in Fylde constituency.

The government is committed to delivering better bus services for passengers and has confirmed investment of £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £712 million allocated to local authorities which can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including modernising the technology used to support bus services. Lancashire County Council has been allocated over £27 million of this funding. The government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in buses at the Spending Review by confirming continued funding each year to maintain and improve vital bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027. The Spending Review also confirmed £2.3 billion through the Local Transport Grant over the Spending Review period for local transport improvements in places outside areas receiving Transport for City Regions settlements, which could include supporting improvements to bus technology and infrastructure. Lancashire County Council have been allocated £215 million of this funding over the financial years 2026-2030.

What steps she is taking to help reduce fatalities involving young drivers in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads, and we are exploring options to tackle the root causes of this. THINK!, the Government’s flagship road safety campaign aims to change attitudes and behaviours among those at risk of injury on our roads. The primary audience for THINK! is young men aged 17-24. The campaign runs nationally across England and Wales targeting priority issues such as drink driving and speeding, as well as communicating key policy interventions. Government treats road safety with the utmost seriousness, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing its Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

How many complaints have been (a) received and (b) resolved from residents living in his Department's properties that are leased to third parties in the last 12 months.

The number of complaints received and resolved for third parties leasing Ministry of Defence properties in the last 12 months is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Lancashire County Council on the financial sustainability of local services under the proposed devolution deal.

The funding and delivery of local services provided by local authorities including Lancashire County Council is separate from the Lancashire Combined County Authority. There have therefore been no discussions about the financial sustainability of local services in relation to devolution. We are continuing to work with Lancashire Combined County Authority to deepen their existing devolution agreement and, dependent on their ongoing governance review, we will explore a path towards mayoral devolution for the region.

What support she is providing to (a) Lancashire Police and (b) other forces to tackle tool theft.

We recognise the deeply damaging impact theft has on victims who rely on the tools of their trade to earn a living. We are determined to prevent those thefts from happening in the first place and, where they do occur, ensure those perpetrating them receive a criminal justice response. To do that, we need more police in our communities, tackling the local crimes that impact on people’s livelihoods. That is why this Government has increased funding for the policing system in England and Wales by up to £1.2 billion in 25/26 (compared with the 24/25 settlement), including an additional £200 million to kickstart delivery of our commitment to 13,000 neighbourhood policing roles. We will ensure that everyone has a named, contactable officer, responsive to local problems, including tool theft.Alongside this, the Home Office funds, and works with, the police-led National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) and senior policing leads to prevent the theft of tools and tackle the re-sale of stolen equipment. The NBCC shares information about theft with police forces and businesses and provides advice about preventing crime. The NBCC’s tool theft prevention guide can be found here: tool-theft-crime-prevention.pdfThe Home Office and National Vehicle Crime Working Group have additionally secured a significant new commitment which will improve the security of vans, which may be targeted in relation to tool theft. Thatcham Research (an independent, not for profit, automotive risk intelligence organisation) has agreed expand their New Vehicle Security Assessment (NVSA) to increase van security. From February 2027, vans will have locks and alarms on the back doors (previously NVSA only covers the cab area of vans) and a motion sensor on the load area of the van. This is supported by crime prevention advice for tradespeople developed by the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives: Secured by Design - Vans & Tool Theft.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on increasing the number of convictions for tool theft.

The Lord Chancellor regularly engages with the Home Secretary on a range of criminal justice matters and recognises the serious impact that tool theft has on tradespeople and small businesses. The Ministry of Justice and Home Office are working closely through the National Vehicle Crime Group, which brings together all police forces in England and Wales to coordinate efforts to reduce vehicle-related thefts, including the theft of tools from vans. With regards to individual cases, convictions and sentences is a matter for the courts based on the evidence in the case before them.

What steps his Department is taking to help increase the number of people on the bone marrow donors register.

The UK aligned stem cell registry, a national register managed collaboratively by Anthony Nolan, DKMS UK, NHS Blood and Transplant, and the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry, has over 2.3 million potential stem cell donors registered. The British Bone Marrow Registry is now known as the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry, and forms part of the UK aligned stem cell registry.The Department is taking action to increase the number of people on the UK aligned stem cell registry by funding the Stem Cell Programme, with £2.4 million for the period from 2022 to 2025. The programme is being delivered by NHS Blood and Transplant and Anthony Nolan. It aims to enhance the resilience of the United Kingdom’s stem cell supply by strategically recruiting donors to the UK aligned stem cell registry. It focuses on recruiting those most likely to donate and on addressing health disparities through targeted campaigns, with a focus on ethnic minority communities. By increasing the pool of potential donors, the programme seeks to improve the availability of matches in the UK, ultimately reducing waiting times for patients in need of stem cell treatment. Funding to both organisations has been extended by one year to 2025/26.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2025 to Question 60613 on Undocumented Migrants: Lancashire, what criteria her Department uses to determine suitable (a) locations and (b) accommodation types for relocating irregular migrants housed in hotels in Lancashire.

The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders including in Lancashire, to fulfil our statutory obligations and deliver our commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels, by the end of this Parliament.

What discussions she has had with (a) local authorities and (b) communities in Lancashire on relocation plans for migrants.

The Home Office continues to work with a range of stakeholders including in Lancashire, to fulfil our statutory obligations and deliver our commitment to reduce the overall cost of asylum accommodation, including ending the use of hotels, by the end of this Parliament.

What steps he is taking to fund improved provision for addiction support services in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The Government is committed to ensuring that anyone with a drug or alcohol problem can access the help and support they need, and we recognise the need for evidence-based, high-quality treatment. Local authorities are responsible for assessing the local need for alcohol and drug prevention and treatment in their area, and for commissioning services to meet those needs. In addition to the Public Health Grant, in 2025/26, the Department is providing Lancashire with £10,424,106 to help improve drug and alcohol treatment and recovery systems, as set out at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drug-and-alcohol-treatment-and-recovery-funding-2025-to-2026All funding is provided at the Lancashire level, and it is for Lancashire County Council to determine how to meet needs in Fylde.This year, the Government is providing an additional £70 million for local authority-led Stop Smoking Services in England, building on existing funding made available via the Public Health Grant. Additional funding for Stop Smoking Services is based on the number of smokers in each local authority, and Lancashire has been allocated an extra £1,678,549 for 2025/26. In April 2025, a new statutory levy on gambling operators, expected to raise approximately £100 million per year, was introduced to fund the research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harms. The levy will be distributed across the three workstreams, with 50% allocated to NHS England, alongside appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales, to commission the development of effective treatment and support services at national and sub-national levels.

What steps his Department is taking to support HIV (a) prevention and (b) care services in (i) Fylde constituency and (ii) Lancashire.

The Government is committed to ending new transmissions of HIV in England by 2030 and is developing the new HIV Action Plan which we aim to publish this year. The plan will address ways to improve and support HIV prevention and HIV care services across the whole of England, including in Lancashire and the Flyde constituency.Local authorities such as the Lancashire County Council are responsible for commissioning comprehensive open access to sexual health services, including HIV prevention. It is for individual local authorities to commission HIV prevention services that best suit their population. In 2025/26, the Department has increased funding through the Public Health Grant to £3.858 billion, providing local authorities with an average 3% real terms increase, the biggest real-terms increase after nearly a decade of reduced spending.NHS England is responsible for providing HIV treatment and care, which continues to have very high coverage and effectiveness across England. Commissioning responsibility for adult specialist services for people living with HIV has been delegated by NHS England to the integrated care boards.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to NHS-funded fertility treatment in Fylde constituency.

We expect integrated care boards to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guidelines and will consider whether the current recommendations for access to National Health Service-funded treatment are still appropriate.In the light of broader pressures on the NHS and on-going changes within NHS England, we have been looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to fertility services and fairness for all affected couples.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure access to NHS-funded fertility treatment for people in Fylde constituency.

We expect integrated care boards to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guidelines and will consider whether the current recommendations for access to National Health Service funded treatment are still appropriate.In the light of broader pressures on the NHS and on-going changes within NHS England, we have been looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to fertility services and fairness for all affected couples.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing tax relief for pensioners undertaking unpaid caregiving responsibilities.

This Government is committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement, including those who are unpaid carers. The Government has launched an independent commission, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, to start a national conversation about what care and support working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care, including exploring the needs of unpaid carers who provide vital care and support. Providing tax relief for pensioners undertaking unpaid caregiving responsibilities would not benefit those earning under the Personal Allowance, and would have a cost at a time when the Government has already had to take a number of difficult but necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to restore economic stability, fix the public finances, and support public services.

What recent estimate she has made of employment rates among people with Down syndrome in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The Department publishes the employment rates of disabled people using the Labour Force Survey which is conducted by the Office for National Statistics. The Labour Force Survey collects data on main and main or secondary health conditions, this includes Severe or specific learning difficulties but does not specifically collect data for Down’s syndrome. In 2020 to 2022, the overall disability employment rate in Fylde was 52.5%. In 2023/24, the overall disability employment rate was 55.1% in Lancashire. Statistics on disability employment by main and main or secondary health condition can be found here: The employment of disabled people 2024 - GOV.UK

What estimate she has made of the number of eligible pensioners in Lancashire who have not claimed Pension Credit in the most recent year for which data is available.

The latest available Pension Credit take-up statistics for Great Britain cover the financial year 2022 to 2023 and are available at: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2023 - GOV.UK. The next edition of the Pension Credit take-up statistics will be released between September and October 2025. Statistics are only available at Great Britain level and cannot be broken down to smaller geographical areas.

If he will publish the cost-benefit modelling for the prescription of (a) donanemab and (b) lecanemab for patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published the company’s evidence submission, which includes the company’s evidence on costs and benefits, and the external assessment group report, which assesses the company’s evidence submission as part of the papers that were considered by the independent Appraisal Committee. Information that is commercially confidential has been redacted.The economic models themselves cannot be published because they contain commercially confidential information. The papers for lecanemab are available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta11220/documentsIn addition, the papers for donanemab are available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta11221/documents.

How many hotels are being used for the housing of migrants and asylum seekers in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

Data is published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, in each local authority area, at: Asylum seekers in receipt of support detailed datasets, year ending March 2025.