Written questions by Snowden.

What steps he is taking to improve primary care in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The Department is committed to ensuring that primary care services receive appropriate support and resources. We are investing an additional £889 million in general practice to reinforce the front door of the National Health Service, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade and means we are reversing the recent trend with a rising share of total NHS resources going to general practice.The Government has invested £82 million in the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, which has enabled the recruitment of over 1,500 recently qualified general practitioners (GPs) across England since October 2024. This will increase the number of available appointments, secure the future supply of GPs and alleviate the pressure on those currently working in the system.For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework has been increased to £3.073 billion. This represents an uplift in funding of over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.This Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most.To improve primary care, I understand Lancashire and South Cumbria (LSC) Integrated Care Board (ICB) has produced 2030 road maps for each professional group, designed to maximise skills and increase services provided. These plans are for the whole ICB footprint, including Fylde. Highlights from the plan include: the introduction of standard local enhanced services across LSC ensuring consistency of care for patients and increased funding to practices from 25 May 2025; redesigned urgent primary care access hubs from April 2027; increasing uptake of the Pharmacy First service; pilot programme to screen patients for cardiovascular disease within optometry practices; and implementation of the integrated dental access programme targeting care to those most at need.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to consult businesses affected by the extended producer responsibility scheme.

We consulted on the principles, objectives, and proposals for extended producer responsibility in 2019 and 2021, and these received high levels of support. We then consulted on the draft regulations in 2023. To ensure producers are prepared for the implementation EPR we engage widely though our monthly Business Readiness Forum, alongside events on specific topics and our regular newsletter goes to over 11,000 subscribers which contains updates and information on the requirement of the scheme. We also work with the Environment Agency and their programme of work which further supports business. This has included extensive engagement on pEPR disposal fees and the Recyclability Assessment Model. We are also actively listening to the sectors concerns and have recently announced further engagement with the sector to improve specific aspects of the scheme such, such as dual use packaging, the packaging recycling note system, and driving increased efficiency and effectiveness in local authority delivery.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to change the level of funding for farms in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

At February’s NFU Conference, the Secretary of State announced a raft of new policies that will put money in the pockets of farmers in Fylde, Lancashire, and across the country. We remain committed to investing £5 billion of funding in the farming budget over two years, and are on track to do so. We will be working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced following the spending review in summer 2025. We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome; and we are making £110 million available for new grant competitions to support research and innovation, technology and equipment for farmers. We are investing £208 million in biosecurity protections and extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years. We are backing British produce in Government catering contracts and ensuring fair competition across the supply chain through contractual reform.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to support the resilience of family farms in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

At February’s NFU Conference, the Secretary of State announced a raft of new policies to put money in farmers pockets and make them more resilient. We are making £110 million available for new grant competitions to support research and innovation, technology and equipment for farmers. We are investing £208 million in biosecurity protections and extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years. We are backing British produce in government catering contracts and ensuring fair competition across the supply chain through contractual reform. We are making good progress in appointing a Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector to help embed fair practice across the sector and expect to be able to make an announcement on this shortly. And Baroness Minette Batters has been appointed as a reviewer for the Farming Profitability Review, to understand the barriers farmers face to increasing profitability.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to revise guidance issued to producers on obligations under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.

The pEPR Scheme Administrator, working with the relevant UK regulator, will revise producer guidance, where appropriate, to assist them in understanding and meeting their obligations under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of trends in levels of taxation on working people in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the National Insurance Contributions Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.The Office for Budget Responsibility also published an Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) in October 2024, which set out the impacts of changes to Employer NICs, including the expected economic and labour market impacts. The Government is providing support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer NICs costs only. This funding is being allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way.

What assessment she has made of potential impact of the Spring Statement 2025 on levels of employment in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

The government is committed to helping people start or stay in work, while protecting those who cannot work due to ill health. At Spring Statement 2025, as part of the Pathways to Work Green Paper, the Chancellor announced investment from 2026-27 in crucial employment, health, and skills support of up to an additional £1 billion a year by 2029-30. Additionally, in November the government published the Get Britain Working White Paper, backed by £240m funding, which set out its strategy to tackle the root causes of economic inactivity, support people into good work and help people progress in work. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s March 2025 forecast expects that unemployment will remain low by historical standards. In line with its mandate as set out in law, the OBR does not produce forecasts at a sub-national level.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on public services in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the National Insurance Contributions Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.The Office for Budget Responsibility also published an Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) in October 2024, which set out the impacts of changes to Employer NICs, including the expected economic and labour market impacts. The Government is providing support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer NICs costs only. This funding is being allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on levels of employment in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the National Insurance Contributions Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.The Office for Budget Responsibility also published an Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) in October 2024, which set out the impacts of changes to Employer NICs, including the expected economic and labour market impacts. The Government is providing support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer NICs costs only. This funding is being allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including (a) nightclubs, (b) electronic music and (c) other contemporary night-time culture in (i) Cultural Sector Plans, (ii) Growth and Innovation Funds and (iii) other Government-funded schemes.

The Government is working closely with the music and nightclub sectors, to strengthen the sustainability of the entire music ecosystem. Cultural venues, like nightclubs and music venues, provide enjoyment to many thousands of people as the opportunity to hear live music up close is an essential part of our cultural life.We are continuing to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26. This provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music.Earlier this year we announced the Arts Everywhere Fund, a £270 million investment for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector, including the £85m Creative Foundations Fund. This fund will support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. Not-for-profit and grassroots music venues will be eligible, and Arts Council England will release more details in due course. We expect the fund may be over-subscribed, so are not intending to extend its scope.Buildings that are nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces may already be considered for designation as Listed Buildings, where they meet eligibility criteria for special architectural or historic interest. For example, The Crown Hotel, Station Street, Birmingham was listed at grade II in 2024. The music venue has special historical interest for its importance in the 1960s folk music revival, and in the late 1960s as the venue where Black Sabbath created their sound which shaped a new internationally popular genre of music; heavy metal.Applications for listing specific nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces can be made to the Secretary of State via Historic England.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Children's Wellbeing and School Bill on academies in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The department published impact assessments on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill measures on GOV.UK. These include assessments of the impact on all types of school across the country.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) listing, (b) National Portfolio programmes and (c) other (i) heritage and (ii) community protection schemes include (A) nightclubs, (B) music venues and (C) other contemporary cultural spaces.

The Government is working closely with the music and nightclub sectors, to strengthen the sustainability of the entire music ecosystem. Cultural venues, like nightclubs and music venues, provide enjoyment to many thousands of people as the opportunity to hear live music up close is an essential part of our cultural life.We are continuing to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26. This provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music.Earlier this year we announced the Arts Everywhere Fund, a £270 million investment for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector, including the £85m Creative Foundations Fund. This fund will support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. Not-for-profit and grassroots music venues will be eligible, and Arts Council England will release more details in due course. We expect the fund may be over-subscribed, so are not intending to extend its scope.Buildings that are nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces may already be considered for designation as Listed Buildings, where they meet eligibility criteria for special architectural or historic interest. For example, The Crown Hotel, Station Street, Birmingham was listed at grade II in 2024. The music venue has special historical interest for its importance in the 1960s folk music revival, and in the late 1960s as the venue where Black Sabbath created their sound which shaped a new internationally popular genre of music; heavy metal.Applications for listing specific nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces can be made to the Secretary of State via Historic England.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of modernising (a) heritage and (b) community protection schemes to include (i) nightclubs and (ii) grassroots music venues.

The Government is working closely with the music and nightclub sectors, to strengthen the sustainability of the entire music ecosystem. Cultural venues, like nightclubs and music venues, provide enjoyment to many thousands of people as the opportunity to hear live music up close is an essential part of our cultural life.We are continuing to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26. This provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music.Earlier this year we announced the Arts Everywhere Fund, a £270 million investment for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector, including the £85m Creative Foundations Fund. This fund will support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. Not-for-profit and grassroots music venues will be eligible, and Arts Council England will release more details in due course. We expect the fund may be over-subscribed, so are not intending to extend its scope.Buildings that are nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces may already be considered for designation as Listed Buildings, where they meet eligibility criteria for special architectural or historic interest. For example, The Crown Hotel, Station Street, Birmingham was listed at grade II in 2024. The music venue has special historical interest for its importance in the 1960s folk music revival, and in the late 1960s as the venue where Black Sabbath created their sound which shaped a new internationally popular genre of music; heavy metal.Applications for listing specific nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces can be made to the Secretary of State via Historic England.

Media and Sport, if she will extend the Arts Everywhere Fund to include (a) nightclubs, (b) electronic music and (c) other core contemporary culture.

The Government is working closely with the music and nightclub sectors, to strengthen the sustainability of the entire music ecosystem. Cultural venues, like nightclubs and music venues, provide enjoyment to many thousands of people as the opportunity to hear live music up close is an essential part of our cultural life.We are continuing to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26. This provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music.Earlier this year we announced the Arts Everywhere Fund, a £270 million investment for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector, including the £85m Creative Foundations Fund. This fund will support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. Not-for-profit and grassroots music venues will be eligible, and Arts Council England will release more details in due course. We expect the fund may be over-subscribed, so are not intending to extend its scope.Buildings that are nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces may already be considered for designation as Listed Buildings, where they meet eligibility criteria for special architectural or historic interest. For example, The Crown Hotel, Station Street, Birmingham was listed at grade II in 2024. The music venue has special historical interest for its importance in the 1960s folk music revival, and in the late 1960s as the venue where Black Sabbath created their sound which shaped a new internationally popular genre of music; heavy metal.Applications for listing specific nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces can be made to the Secretary of State via Historic England.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on levels of wages in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the National Insurance Contributions Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.The Office for Budget Responsibility also published an Economic and Fiscal Outlook (EFO) in October 2024, which set out the impacts of changes to Employer NICs, including the expected economic and labour market impacts. The Government is providing support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer NICs costs only. This funding is being allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, how many affordable homes she plans to provide in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire this Parliament.

My Department published an update on targets in the 2021-26 Programme on 30 July 2024 which can be found on gov.uk here.At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549).The investment made at Spring statement follows the £800 million in new in-year funding which has been made available for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme and that will support the delivery of up to 7,800 new homes, with more than half of them being Social Rent homes.Exact funding to different places and the locations of homes that will be built will depend on the bids received from local authorities and housing associations. The government encourages social housing providers in all areas to come forward with bids for new ambitious projects, including those ready to commence quickly.We will set out set details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for social rent.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce industrial electricity prices in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. The Government recognises that one of the barriers to industrial electrification is that electricity is significantly more expensive than gas. We also recognise that the UK’s industrial electricity costs are currently higher than those of our competitors, which partly reflects how the costs of the electricity system are distributed across households and industrial customers. There is support in place through the British Industry Supercharger to reduce the cumulative impact of energy and climate change policies on industrial electricity prices for eligible energy intensive industries (EIIs), including compensation for indirect emission costs of the UK ETS and Carbon Price Support and reductions in the indirect cost due to the Contracts for Difference, Renewables Obligation and small-scale feed-in-tariffs.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Climate Change Committee’s Seventh Carbon Budge on (a) his Department's policies and (b) people in Fylde constituency.

The actual costs of delivering the Seventh Carbon Budget will be determined by the choices that government makes. The costs and funding scenarios set out in the CCC’s Seventh Carbon Budget report are illustrative and do not represent government policy and Government is not bound to accept their recommendations. We will set the level of Carbon Budget 7 by June 2026, in line with our statutory duties.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce household energy bills in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past. We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we are delivering the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households this winter. In February, we published a consultation on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would bring around 2.7 million households into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million.

What steps he is taking to support the hospitality industry in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

Hospitality businesses are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth across the UK.The Government recently launched a licensing taskforce to reduce red tape and barriers that too often hold businesses back and intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value less than £500,000 Additionally, we recently announced a £1.5 million Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects that align with Department of Business & Trade and Hospitality Sector Council Priorities. I am working with Council Members to maximise the benefits of this funding.