Written questions by Snowden.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help support small and medium-sized enterprises to meet data protection obligations.

The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 included several provisions aimed at simplifying the data protection legislation to make it easier to navigate for organisations of all sizes. We are working to commence the measures in the months ahead.The ICO is the statutory authority responsible for supporting organisations to comply with their obligations under the data protection legislation. To help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) comply, the ICO provides a wide range of practical resources on its website. These include guidance on lawful data processing, templates for privacy notices, checklists for compliance, and self-assessment tools.As part of the ICO’s growth commitments announced in March 2025, the ICO will also launch later this year its SME Data Essentials programme, offering free training to small businesses on compliance with data protection legislation. This will strengthen compliance and reduce costs, enabling SMEs to grow their businesses while building greater trust with customers.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that all pregnant women are routinely offered the whooping cough vaccine between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy.

The Department is working with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency to encourage high uptake of all immunisations, including in underserved communities and in groups with historically lower vaccination rates.Significant efforts have been made to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination to protect babies against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. These include targeted campaigns using social media, digital screen graphics, and community outreach. The National Health Service actively promotes vaccination for pregnant women to protect their newborns, and efforts are underway to enhance the recording and monitoring of vaccinations, ensuring accurate data collection to assess the programme’s effectiveness.Recent data shows maternal pertussis vaccination coverage from April 2025 to June 2025 was 71.2%, which was 11.6 percentage points higher than the period from April 2024 to June 2024.However, there is more to do to stabilise and improve uptake, and that is why we have set out actions to improve uptake in our 10-Year Health Plan for England. Putting our plans into action, we have recently launched a campaign to promote awareness and confidence in vaccination, including for pregnant women, which will run throughout the year. To improve accessibility, community pharmacies in areas of high deprivation and low uptake are now also commissioned to offer some vaccinations, making it more convenient for individuals to get vaccinated.

What assessment the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has made of whether there are (a) regional and (b) other geographic trends in the number of suspected cloned number plate reports between 2020 and 2024.

It is an offence to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates which is punishable by an unlimited fine and/or up to two years in prison. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. The evidence being gathered will be considered when evaluating potential future action to help address this important issue. It is important to note that not every case of a misidentified registration number will be a case of cloned number plates. While some reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may be the result of administrative errors, for example incorrect entry of registration numbers. Anyone who thinks their number plate may have been cloned should contact the police immediately and return any fines received to the issuing authorities. If there is a possibility that the number plate has been cloned, the DVLA can provide customers with letters that can be used as supporting evidence and can also provide a replacement vehicle registration number. Information on the suspected number of cloned number plates is not available by region or geographic location.

How many prisons in the North West the expanded pilot for the use of medication to manage problematic sexual arousal for sex offenders will operate in; what criteria he will use to select those prisons; and how many offenders will participate.

As the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 16 September, the innovative feasibility pilot of Medication to Manage Problematic Sexual Arousal for sex offenders will be expanded to two new regions – the North West and North East of England. This will extend the service across to twenty prisons in three regions, up from the current four in the South West pilot.Work is underway to establish these pilot services, which will include utilising learnings from the South West, to inform the appropriate prisons to begin the rollout in the North West. This will be based on relevant factors such as prison population composition and existing treatment pathways in place. This will allow us to expand the number of offenders eligible to receive this intervention, subject to clinical need, and determine which specific prisons will be part of the rollout.

Innovation and Technology, how many organisations have been investigated by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for breaches of data protection law in each of the last three years.

Over the past two years, in relation to data breaches of data protection law, the ICO took informal action on 12,496 occasions, initiated 452 investigations, and issued two formal regulatory actions in response to personal data breaches. For data protection complaints, which may also be related to data breaches, the ICO took informal action on 14,064 occasions, identified 7,518 infringements, initiated nine formal investigations, and issued five formal regulatory actions. Figures are based on closed cases and retained for two years in line with ICO’s data retention policy, which allows the ICO to retain data for statistical purposes for two years.The ICO publish actions taken on its website, including monetary penalties, enforcement notices, undertakings, prosecutions and reprimands they have issued. Under the Data (Use and Access) Act (DUAA) 2025, the ICO must also produce an annual report to Parliament detailing its enforcement activities, strengthening transparency and accountability.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of protections for equine welfare in relation to (a) temporary and (b) permanent construction projects on (i) agricultural and (ii) pasture land in (A) the National Planning Policy Framework and (B) other national planning policies.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence to cause any animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare. The Act is supported by the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and Their Hybrids which provides guidance on the legal duty of care for horses. This guidance applies to any land where horses are kept, including land affected by construction activity. Beyond these provisions for equine welfare, the National Planning Policy Framework sets out policy relating to the development of agricultural land. It makes clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by recognising the intrinsic beauty and character of the countryside, including the benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land. Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, areas of poorer quality land should be preferred to those of a higher quality.

Whether his Department has conducted recent test firings of the Spearfish torpedo in UK waters.

The Ministry of Defence has made significant progress in implementing the Spearfish Upgrade Programme, focusing on enhancing the capabilities of the Spearfish torpedo system to meet evolving defence requirements. The integration of the Spearfish MOD 1 torpedo with the submarine's combat system has been demonstrated through in-water firings. The most recent test firing of the Spearfish torpedo took place in June 2025 at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC).

Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made of the level of compliance by government departments with UK General Data Protection Regulation.

All departments are controllers of the personal data they hold and are individually responsible for demonstrating compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation. Under the same legislation, all departments are required to appoint a data protection officer (DPO), who are responsible to measure compliance. Government is taking concrete action led by the Government Digital Service in DSIT working with the Government Security Group in the Cabinet Office and the National Cyber Security Centre to improve data protection across government in a broad range of areas, including strengthening policies and placing greater emphasis on handling personal data securely in our training and communications.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question 76091 on Defence: Plymouth and Yorkshire, what other regions were considered for initial Defence Growth Deals; and what criteria was used for selection.

Multiple regions across the United Kingdom were considered and assessed as potential recipients of the Defence Growth Deal. As mentioned in the previous response, the regions were assessed using the following criteria: Defence Industrial Base and Ecosystem: The area's strategic importance to defence, including strengths in specific DIS sub-sectors. Strategic Location Alignment with existing Government regional growth initiatives. Growth Potential: Measures to boost local productivity (e.g., training, R&D) and the overall labour market.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution of the BAE Systems site at Warton to the delivery of the Future Combat Air Systems; and what proportion of FCAS-related research and development and production work is expected to take place in Lancashire.

BAE Systems is a prime contributor to the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, and the Warton site plays a central role in the development of advanced technologies, systems integration, and digital engineering as part of Team Tempest.

What steps his Department is taking to help raise awareness among (a) general practitioners and (b) the public on the (i) signs and (ii) symptoms of aplastic anaemia.

The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community, which includes increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals. With over 7,000 rare diseases, it is not possible for healthcare professionals to receive comprehensive training on every condition. It is therefore important that they are aware of rare diseases more broadly and are alert to considering them. The 2025 England Rare Diseases Action Plan updates on progress to increase awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals. This includes launching new resources on the innovative digital educational resource GeNotes and developing a range of training and educational resources on rare diseases to include rare diseases in UK health professional education and training frameworks.

What his planned timeline is for the full weapons fit of the Type 26 frigate to become operational.

The Type 26 programme remains on track to meet all user requirements and deliver world-class anti-submarine warfare frigates. T26 will be fitted with the Mk41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) and there will be options for spiral development of weapon systems throughout the ships’ life. The first T26 frigate is expected to enter service from 2028.

What assessment he has made of the reasons for the trend in the number of reports of suspected number plate (a) cloning and (b) misidentification.

It is an offence to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates which is punishable by an unlimited fine and/or up to two years in prison. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. The evidence being gathered will be considered when evaluating potential future action to help address this important issue. It is important to note that not every case of a misidentified registration number will be a case of cloned number plates. While some reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may be the result of administrative errors, for example incorrect entry of registration numbers. Anyone who thinks their number plate may have been cloned should contact the police immediately and return any fines received to the issuing authorities. If there is a possibility that the number plate has been cloned, the DVLA can provide customers with letters that can be used as supporting evidence and can also provide a replacement vehicle registration number. Information on the suspected number of cloned number plates is not available by region or geographic location.

If he will take steps to ensure that victims are (a) informed and (b) consulted about offenders who partake in chemical suppression programmes.

Medication to Manage Problematic Sexual Arousal (MMPSA) is a pharmaceutical intervention for offenders with ongoing clinical needs who may continue to pose a risk of harm to others because their sexual offending behaviour is driven by obsessive thoughts about sex and display compulsive sexual behaviour. As MMPSA is a medication prescribed by clinicians according to the health needs of individuals, it would be inappropriate to share personal medical information on treatment with victims in accordance with medical confidentiality. Eligible victims, including those of serious sexual offences, are supported through the Victim Contact Scheme where Victim Liaison Officers will offer tailored guidance, keep victims informed where appropriate, and help them navigate the parole process. Victims are entitled to measures such as being able to request a summary of a Parole Boards decision, and request additional conditions to an offender’s license in relation to themselves. These services are designed to ensure victims feel heard and supported, while also helping to maintain trust in the system.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the performance of the Sea Ceptor system during recent naval (a) exercises and (b) deployments.

The SEA CEPTOR system delivers Local Air Defence capability against complex air threats both now and into the future. SEA CEPTOR is already in service on the Type 23 frigates and will be installed on the Type 26 and 31 classes. All six Type 45 destroyers are adding the SEA CEPTOR system to their arsenal. The Ministry of Defence does not comment on effectiveness of weapon systems but I can reassure the hon. Member that we would not install weapon systems on our Royal Navy ships if they were not effective.

How the newly established Office of Defence Exports will measure success; and what target increase in export orders is expected in the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 September 2025 to Question 76093. Design work for the Office of Defence Exports is well underway. Initial stand up continues at pace, with full implementation - including the development of performance measures - continuing over the next 12 months.

What estimate he has made of the level of uptake of (a) flu, (b) RSV and (c) whooping cough vaccinations among pregnant women in Fylde constituency in the last 12 months.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) routinely monitors and reviews vaccination coverage of all routine immunisation programmes in England. UKHSA does not collect or publish data at constituency level and is therefore unable to provide these data. UKHSA publishes data for uptake of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pertussis vaccinations for England at national and NHS commissioning region level. For pertussis and influenza, data are published by integrated care board level for Lancashire and South Cumbria.Flu vaccine uptake for pregnant women in Lancashire and South Cumbria integrated care board was 31.4% during the 2024 to 2025 flu season.RSV vaccine uptake for pregnant women is published for England at a national and NHS commissioning region level only. Uptake for women in the North-West region was 53.2%. The latest assessment for women delivering in May 2025 is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rsv-maternal-vaccination-coverage-in-englandPertussis vaccine uptake for pregnant women is published for England at a national and NHS commissioning region level only. Uptake for women in the North-West region was 66.2% and in Lancashire and South Cumbria integrated care board was 62.1%.The latest assessment for women delivering in June 2025 is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pertussis-immunisation-in-pregnancy-vaccine-coverage-estimates-in-england-october-2013-to-march-2014/prenatal-pertussis-vaccination-coverage-in-england-from-april-to-june-2025

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the ceremonies undertaken during the state visit by President Trump on economic growth.

During the state visit, we announced a record-breaking £150 billion of inward investment from US firms into the UK economy – supporting 7,600 jobs in all areas of the UK which will drive economic growth and create real opportunities for working people.

What recent assessment he has made of the availability of Jobcentre Plus services for people who are in work and seeking (a) alternative employment and (b) career progression.

As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, the Government is committed to building an inclusive and thriving labour market where everyone has the opportunity of good work, and the chance to get on in work. Mandatory work coach support is available for UC claimants in employment with low earnings. UC claimants with employed earnings receive tailored support with their work coach every 8 weeks, which reflects their situation as employees. The work coach will support claimants with either career progression in their current employment or through taking steps to change careers to alternative employment with better prospects of long-term progression. For some claimants (England only), a work coach may also refer to a National Careers Adviser for more in-depth discussions about career information, advice, or guidance. For claimants with higher earnings, they may also seek work coach support on a voluntary basis. The Jobs and Careers Service will support individuals including people in employment and not claiming benefits to make informed choices about their careers including helping them to boost their skills as well as helping them move into higher paid, higher quality and more productive work.

Whether her Department has issued or plans to issue updated guidance to local authorities on the use of road signage in known wildlife crossing areas.

Local authorities are responsible for placing traffic signs including signs warning of hazards due to the presence of animals in the road. All traffic signs used on public roads must comply with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 which includes a range of such signs for different situations. The Department has issued guidance on the use of these signs, which can be placed in wildlife crossing areas, in Chapter 4 of the Traffic Signs Manual which is available here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual