Written questions by Snowden.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making an additional payment to people who (a) will qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment in 2025 and (b) did not qualify for that payment in 2024.

From this winter, individuals with an income of £35,000 or below, will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. Winter Fuel Payments are £200 for a household with someone of State Pension age and £300 for a household with someone aged 80 or over. They will be paid automatically to anyone who has not opted out. Individuals with a taxable income above £35,000 a year will see any Winter Fuel Payment recouped via HMRC. This means that the majority of pensioners in England and Wales – around 9 million individuals – will now benefit from Winter Fuel Payments.

What steps his Department is taking to help tackle health inequalities impacting children in poverty in Fylde constituency.

The United Kingdom faces significant health inequalities, with healthy life expectancy varying widely across and between communities. Through our Health Mission, we are focused on addressing the wider determinants of health to improve healthy life expectancy for all and to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between different regions of England.The Department is working closely with the Child Poverty Taskforce to develop and deliver an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty, tackle the root causes, and give every child, including those in Fylde constituency, the best start in life. This will help fulfil our ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever. An important part of this will be alleviating the negative experience of living in poverty through supporting families and enhancing public services.The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ North West Regional Team is working to provide system leadership for population health and for reducing health inequalities across the North West, including the Fylde constituency.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of child poverty on educational attainment in Fylde constituency.

All children and young people should have every opportunity to succeed, no matter who they are or where they are from. The Opportunity Mission will break the unfair link between background and success.High and rising standards are at the heart of this mission and the key to strengthening outcomes for all children no matter their background. The department will deliver this through excellent teaching and leaders, a high-quality curriculum, strong accountability with faster school improvement and an inclusive system which removes the barriers to learning.​​This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We have now announced that we are extending free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. It will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.Providing over half a million children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day will also lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adopting the Guest Beer Agreement scheme introduced in Scotland.

Hospitality businesses, including pubs and independent breweries, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth across the UK.The government wishes to see small brewers retain and expand their access to UK pubs, maximising drinkers’ choice and supporting local economies. The Government is currently assessing the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small brewers' from accessing pubs.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55226 on Electric Bicycles: Road Traffic Offences, what data her Department has collected on the prevalence of illegally modified e-bikes on public highways.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has a market surveillance unit which inspects vehicles and equipment to ensure they meet safety and environmental standards. In 2024 the DVSA identified 39 suppliers of e-cycles and 21 of these were found to be selling e-cycles that were compliant with regulations. Subsequent “mystery shopper” exercises, carried out by the DVSA and involving 18 suppliers, found 2 suppliers to be selling non-compliant e-cycles for use on the roads. One of these suppliers has since brought their selling practices into compliance, while the other is being investigated further. In addition, over 400 listings of non-compliant e-cycles have been removed from online marketplaces following intervention by the DVSA. The police also have the powers to seize non-complaint e-cycles being used on the public roads. Some police forces have published statistics in relation to this, but this information is not collated centrally by the Government.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55226 on Electric Bicycles: Road Traffic Offences, whether her Department is taking steps with (a) the Home Office and (b) other agencies on implementing a consistent approach to (i) enforcement and (ii) public safety.

While enforcement of road traffic offences concerning e-cycles is a matter for the police, the Department is working with the Home Office on new offences intended to tackle those rare instances where a cyclist’s behaviour is dangerous or careless, and results in the death or serious injury of another road user.This is in addition to the new powers for the police to seize any vehicle, including e-cycles, being used in an anti-social manner and without first being required to give a warning.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55226 on Electric Bicycles: Road Traffic Offences, whether her Department plans to amend the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 to reflect (a) modern technologies and (b) usage patterns.

The Department consulted on potential changes to regulations on e-cycles in 2024. The Government’s response to that consultation was published in January 2025 and can be viewed here: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/smarter-regulation-proposed-changes-to-legislation-for-electrically-assisted-pedal-cycles/smarter-regulation-proposed-changes-to-legislation-for-electrically-assisted-pedal-cycles In summary, the Government concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to take forward any changes to regulations at this stage, but we may consider this again in the future and, for example, as part of any broader review on micromobility.

How many people are eligible for free travel under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme due to disability in Fylde constituency.

The Department for Transport does not hold data on the number of people eligible for free travel under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme due to disability at any geographic level.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55226 on Electric Bicycles: Road Traffic Offences, whether her Department has considered the use of (a) technology and (b) certification systems to help identify (i) compliant and (ii) illegally modified e-bikes.

While the Department has not considered the detail of the technology required, any such system for certifying or registering e-cycles would likely be both costly and complex to administer and enforce. There is also the possibility that some people may be put off cycling, thereby reducing the health and environmental benefits which we know cycling can bring. The Government therefore has no plans to introduce such a system at present.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer 5 June 2025 to Question 56531 on Avian Influenza: Lancashire, what steps his Department is taking to help support poultry producers in areas at risk of avian influenza outbreaks that have no confirmed cases.

This Government is committed to working closely with industry to anticipate the potential social and economic risk from avian influenza, so that response strategies are as effective as possible. Whilst the economic impact of an outbreak of avian influenza on Flyde and Lancashire has not been specifically assessed at the regional level, the impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of avian influenza were assessed for the National Risk Register published on gov.uk in 2025. These national risks are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account new developments. In addition, the joint Government and industry avian influenza taskforce has committed to publishing a full report on vaccination strategies in the UK this summer; this will include economic assessments from previous outbreaks, including the 2022 outbreak. Compensation paid for birds culled by the Government for disease control purposes is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion of disease and is only payable for healthy birds as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control or measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. However, to support improvements and resilience in the poultry sector laying hen housing for health and welfare grants have been made available to poultry keepers in England through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. Any commercial egg producer or pullet rearer, who is a registered keeper of 1000 or more birds are eligible to apply for these grants.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of increased use of e-cigarettes on young people in Fylde constituency.

The health advice is clear, that while vapes are less harmful than smoking and can be an effective quit aid for smokers, children and non-smokers should never vape. The main established health risk associated with vaping is from nicotine, which can cause addiction. Children and young people are particularly susceptible to the addictive nature of nicotine as their lungs and brains are still developing.This is why the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will ban vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately promoted and advertised to children to stop the next generation from becoming hooked on nicotine. The bill, currently going through Parliament, includes a range of measures to tackle youth vaping, which will benefit the young people of Fylde. In addition, the disposable vapes ban came into effect on 1 June, making the sale and supply of single use vapes illegal. This ban protects the environment and removes products from the market that particularly appeal to children.We are also committed to funding research in this area to inform policy across the United Kingdom. Earlier this year, we announced a £62 million research project into adolescent health, funded by UK Research and Innovation, that will investigate the long-term health effects of vaping on young people’s health and wellbeing. We have also commissioned, via the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the most comprehensive analysis of youth vaping studies ever conducted in this area, which is due to be published later this year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55229 on Electric Bicycles: Sales, whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of enforcement action taken by Local Authority Trading Standards against the sale of illegally modified electric bikes in the last 12 months.

Under product safety regulations, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and Local Authority Trading Standards (LATS) have powers to remove unsafe products or prevent them entering the UK. In 2023-2024, 2.4m goods, including e-bikes, were denied entry. LATS report serious risk products to OPSS, which has published 22 recalls and 29 other safety alerts on unsafe e-bikes and associated products since 2022. Last year OPSS led a LATS programme to inspect businesses that repair, maintain or modify e-bikes and raise awareness of legal responsibilities for safety.Enforcement of illegally modified electric bikes on public roads is a police matter.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local planning authorities on the installation of 6G masts.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. We expect 6G technologies to be available from the early 2030s.The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes the latest national planning policy on how telecommunications and mobile network infrastructure should be considered. Chapter 10 outlines the government’s current policy on supporting high quality communications infrastructure.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54450 on Transport: Disability, whether her Department plans to provide funding to improve accessible transport infrastructure under the measures in the Bus Services (No.2) Bill in Fylde constituency.

The Bus Services (No.2) Bill will require local authorities commissioning the provision of new bus stations and stops or the upgrading of existing ones, to pay regard to new stopping place safety and accessibility guidance, with the aim of helping them to make best use of funds by designing infrastructure inclusively from the outset. The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes capital funding for local authorities which can be used to improve infrastructure such as bus stations and stops. Lancashire County Council has been allocated over £27 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services, including £12.4 million in capital funding. Future funding for buses will be announced following the conclusion of the multi-year spending review.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54450 on Transport: Disability, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that transport operators in Fylde comply with the disability (a) awareness and (b) assistance training requirements proposed in the Bus Services (No.2) Bill.

The Bus Services (No.2) Bill will require relevant bus staff to complete both disability awareness and disability assistance training to give them the knowledge, skills and confidence to support every passenger appropriately. The Bill provisions include a power for the Secretary of State to make regulations prescribing how carriers and terminal managing bodies should collate and publish data on the completion of relevant training by their staff. The Traffic Commissioners will be able to use existing powers to issue a financial penalty in the case of non-compliance.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer 5 June 2025 to Question 56531 on Avian Influenza: Lancashire, whether his Department has provided discretionary financial assistance to poultry producers indirectly affected by avian influenza control measures in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

This Government is committed to working closely with industry to anticipate the potential social and economic risk from avian influenza, so that response strategies are as effective as possible. Whilst the economic impact of an outbreak of avian influenza on Flyde and Lancashire has not been specifically assessed at the regional level, the impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of avian influenza were assessed for the National Risk Register published on gov.uk in 2025. These national risks are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account new developments. In addition, the joint Government and industry avian influenza taskforce has committed to publishing a full report on vaccination strategies in the UK this summer; this will include economic assessments from previous outbreaks, including the 2022 outbreak. Compensation paid for birds culled by the Government for disease control purposes is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion of disease and is only payable for healthy birds as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control or measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. However, to support improvements and resilience in the poultry sector laying hen housing for health and welfare grants have been made available to poultry keepers in England through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. Any commercial egg producer or pullet rearer, who is a registered keeper of 1000 or more birds are eligible to apply for these grants.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer 5 June 2025 to Question 56531 on Avian Influenza: Lancashire, whether his Department has modelled the potential impact of a confirmed outbreak of avian influenza in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire on the economy.

This Government is committed to working closely with industry to anticipate the potential social and economic risk from avian influenza, so that response strategies are as effective as possible. Whilst the economic impact of an outbreak of avian influenza on Flyde and Lancashire has not been specifically assessed at the regional level, the impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of avian influenza were assessed for the National Risk Register published on gov.uk in 2025. These national risks are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account new developments. In addition, the joint Government and industry avian influenza taskforce has committed to publishing a full report on vaccination strategies in the UK this summer; this will include economic assessments from previous outbreaks, including the 2022 outbreak. Compensation paid for birds culled by the Government for disease control purposes is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion of disease and is only payable for healthy birds as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control or measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. However, to support improvements and resilience in the poultry sector laying hen housing for health and welfare grants have been made available to poultry keepers in England through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. Any commercial egg producer or pullet rearer, who is a registered keeper of 1000 or more birds are eligible to apply for these grants.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54084 on Roads: Fylde, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the road maintenance backlog in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The Government takes the condition of the country’s roads very seriously and is committed to supporting local highway authorities across the country in maintaining and renewing the local highway network. The highway maintenance backlog in Lancashire and elsewhere is the result of a decade of underinvestment by the previous government, and is one of the reasons why this Government has announced nearly £1.6 billion in capital funding for local highways maintenance in England for the financial year 2025/26. This includes £500 million of additional funding when compared to the previous financial year. Funding allocations for individual local authorities can be found on gov.uk. Local highway authorities are required to provide data regularly on the condition of their local roads. In addition, in March 2025, the department wrote to all local highway authorities to request further data on the condition of their network and their maintenance plans and practices, with first returns being due by the end of June. This information will help the government and local people understand the activities of local highways authorities better, as well as understanding the state of local roads and the scale of the challenges each authority faces. Authorities that fail to publish these reports may have a portion of their funding uplift withheld. A copy of the letter can be accessed on gov.uk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55229 on Electric Bicycles: Sales, what plans his Department has to improve consumer awareness of the legal requirements for electric bikes and the risks of using illegally modified versions.

As part of DBT's programme of activity tackling unsafe e-bikes and associated products, last October I launched a consumer awareness campaign Buy Safe, Be Safe to encourage consumers to buy safe e-bikes from reputable sellers; to only use manufacturer recommended replacements; and to only engage professionals if modifying products. DBT partners with fire services, consumer bodies and relevant businesses to ensure these messages reach gig economy workers and those most likely to use e-bikes. DBT also collaborates with other departments, including MHCLG on fire safety, and DfT on safe road use, to raise public awareness on using e-bikes safely.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to increase the impact of (a) Britain in Bloom and (b) regional in bloom contests on communities.

Britain in Bloom has a huge impact upon our local environments and communities, inspiring thousands to get involved in their community. It is one of many excellent initiatives to create better access to green spaces for all sections of society. Whilst we are not taking direct steps to increase the scope of Britain in Bloom specifically, the government’s own Green Flag Award sets the standard for green spaces across the UK. In 2024 a record 2,227 Green Flag Awards were awarded. To increase the impact of the green flag award, we have modernised the Award, adjusting its aims and deliverables to focus on community engagement, increased access and usage of parks and to address local health and environmental priorities.