Written questions by Snowden.

What assessment his Department has been of the (a) long-term health outcomes and (b) quality of life of patients who have undergone treatment for aplastic anaemia.

No such assessment has been made. The majority of the treatment pathway for aplastic anaemia is an integrated care board commissioning responsibility and data is not held centrally. Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is a curative treatment option for aplastic anaemia. NHS England does not directly collect data on long-term outcomes and quality of life for patients with aplastic anaemia who have received a stem cell transplant. Instead, the British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy collects data on transplants performed by United Kingdom transplant centres, and reports this back to the NHS England Blood and Marrow Transplantation Clinical Reference Group (CRG). This includes individual centre annual summary reports. These reports are reviewed by the CRG and insights from the analysis are shared with local commissioners so that they can address any issues with providers. However, HSCT is performed for a number of conditions and the CRG does not routinely review long-term outcomes for individual conditions at a granular level.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of NHS treatment protocols for chronic urinary tract infections.

No specific assessment has been made by the Department. The National Health Service treats patients with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and chronic UTIs using the same care pathway until it becomes evident that symptoms are not resolving. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidance for the NHS on the management of recurrent UTIs, which can be found at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng112

How much funding his Department has allocated to research on aplastic anaemia in each of the last five years.

The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care including aplastic anaemia.Applications to the NIHR are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Topics for new research can be proposed to the NIHR at the following link:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topicThe NIHR has not allocated funding to research on aplastic anaemia in the last five years, neither directly nor through its research programmes or career development awards, because no applications were received that were deemed fundable by the NIHR.The NIHR also works closely with other Government funders, including UK Research and Innovation, which is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and includes the Medical Research Council, to fund research into a range of conditions, including aplastic anaemia.

What steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness on (a) the signs of anaphylaxis and (b) the appropriate use of EpiPens.

Since October 2017, the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 has allowed all schools to buy adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) without a prescription, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. The Department has published non-statutory guidance to accompany this legislative change, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schoolsThis guidance advises schools on the recognition and management of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, and outlines when and how an AAI should be administered for pupils. The guidance makes clear that any AAIs held by a school should be considered as a spare device and not a replacement for a pupil’s own AAI. It also states that children at risk of anaphylaxis should have their own prescribed AAIs at school for use in an emergency, and that they should carry two devices at all times.There are many implications that would need to be given careful consideration if AAIs were to be located in public places such as shopping centres, sports venues, or transport hubs. For example, we would need to consider the impacts on the supplies of AAIs for patients who are currently prescribed them.In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and to provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs.Ambulance staff are trained in how to treat a range of conditions, including anaphylaxis. Treatment options may include a dose of adrenalin via a syringe or use of AAIs. The Community First Responder (CFR) programme enables volunteers trained by the ambulance service to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. CFRs have had first aid training but are not medically trained. CFRs are trained in the administration of a patient’s own AAI, which would ensure the correct medication and dose for that patient. In general, CFRs do not carry medication.

Whether first responders are (a) trained and (b) equipped to administer EpiPens in emergency situations; and what guidance is in place on their use.

Since October 2017, the Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2017 has allowed all schools to buy adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) without a prescription, for emergency use on children who are at risk of anaphylaxis but whose own device is not available or not working. The Department has published non-statutory guidance to accompany this legislative change, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schoolsThis guidance advises schools on the recognition and management of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis, and outlines when and how an AAI should be administered for pupils. The guidance makes clear that any AAIs held by a school should be considered as a spare device and not a replacement for a pupil’s own AAI. It also states that children at risk of anaphylaxis should have their own prescribed AAIs at school for use in an emergency, and that they should carry two devices at all times.There are many implications that would need to be given careful consideration if AAIs were to be located in public places such as shopping centres, sports venues, or transport hubs. For example, we would need to consider the impacts on the supplies of AAIs for patients who are currently prescribed them.In June 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the support of allergy awareness advocates, launched a safety campaign to raise awareness of anaphylaxis and to provide advice on the use of AAIs. The MHRA produced a toolkit of resources for health and social care professionals to support the safe and effective use of AAIs.Ambulance staff are trained in how to treat a range of conditions, including anaphylaxis. Treatment options may include a dose of adrenalin via a syringe or use of AAIs. The Community First Responder (CFR) programme enables volunteers trained by the ambulance service to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. CFRs have had first aid training but are not medically trained. CFRs are trained in the administration of a patient’s own AAI, which would ensure the correct medication and dose for that patient. In general, CFRs do not carry medication.

How many children were eligible for free school meals in Fylde constituency in each of the last five years.

The department publishes data on school level free school meals in its annual 'Schools, pupils and their characteristics' publication, in the additional supporting files. The publication can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25. This includes a parliamentary constituency indicator. The latest figures were published in June 2025, and the next figures will be published in summer 2026.

How many and what proportion of eligible children receive the expanded 30 hour childcare offer in each region.

The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity.Due to data/sample size limitations, the department does not hold data on the number of children eligible to receive the expanded 30-hour childcare offer in each region, and as a result cannot provide figures on the proportion of eligible children receiving the expanded 30 hour offer in each region.The first early years and school censuses to collect data on the number of children registered for the expanded 30-hour entitlement since the September 2025 rollout will be based on the January 2026 period. The associated statistics have a provisional release date of July 2026. More details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/funded-early-education-and-childcare-2026.

Whether she plans to increase the number of languages guidance on how to find an immigration centre is available in.

To improve the accessibility of the visitor process for immigration removal centres, the Home Office has published translated versions of the guidance on gov.uk for visiting IRCs into 20 languages.

What support her Department provides to local police forces to identify and tackle anti-social driving behaviour in known wildlife and animal collision hot spots.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for the Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We are giving police the powers they need to tackle anti-social driving in both rural and urban areas so that they will be able to more easily seize these vehicles from offenders and dispose of them.The Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament, will enhance police powers to seize nuisance vehicles which are used in an anti-social manner by removing the requirement to first give a warning to the offender and allow police to put an immediate stop to offending.The Government has also recently consulted on proposals to allow the police to more quickly dispose of seized vehicles which have been used anti-socially. The consultation closed on 8 July and the Government response will be published in due course.Combined, these proposals will help tackle the scourge of vehicles ridden anti-socially and illegally by sending a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

What assessment he has made of the link between untreated Urinary Tract infections and (a) mental confusion and (b) aggression in patients with neurological injuries.

Through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Department has funded and supported multiple studies investigating urinary tract infections (UTIs), with some funded studies studying the link between UTIs and cognitive outcomes. For example, NIHR has funded the ‘IntraVESical Preparations for REcurrent Urinary Tract Infection Prevention’ (VESPER) study. This study aims to determine whether in-bladder treatments are more effective and cost-efficient than second-line oral antibiotics in reducing recurrent UTIs in women who have not responded to first-line preventative antibiotics. It will connect clinical outcomes with quality-adjusted life year (QALY)-based evaluations that take cognitive changes into account.NIHR infrastructure is also conducting relevant research that is investigating UTIs and considering cognitive outcomes. The NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, is leading the ‘DIagnoSing Care hOme UTI’ (DISCO UTI) study which is investigating new ways to accurately diagnose and treat UTIs in care homes, as UTIs can cause symptoms like confusion, resulting in difficulties when diagnosing UTIs in care home residents.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that families are able to afford school uniforms in Lancashire.

The cost of school uniform, particularly of branded items, remains a key concern for parents. Whilst uniforms play a valuable role in creating a sense of common identity among pupils and reducing visible inequalities, too many schools still require high numbers of branded uniform items despite statutory guidance stating branded items should be kept to a minimum. Currently 24% of primary and 71% of secondary schools still require five or more branded items, with some parents saying they were asked to provide ten or more.This is why the department has introduced legislation to limit the number of branded items of uniform and physical education kit that schools can require, to bring down costs for parents and remove barriers from children accessing sport and other school activities. This will give parents more choice in where to purchase uniform and allow them greater flexibility to make the spending decisions that suit their circumstances.The department intends to introduce this limit from September 2026. On 23 October, we published updated statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.This includes draft statutory guidance to support schools in implementing any necessary changes within the proposed limit.

Media and Sport, how many visits by Ministers in her Department took place in constituencies represented by (a) Labour, (b) Conservative and (c) other hon. Members in the period between 4 July 2024 and 2 July 2025.

This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023 in tackling harmful content on social media platforms.

Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must protect all users from illegal content, and children from age-inappropriate content. The Act’s illegal content duties have been in force since March 2025, and the child safety duties since July 2025.Ofcom, the independent regulator, conducts regular surveys to track the experiences of users on regulated services. The next outputs of this work are due to be published in Autumn 2025. DSIT is also working with Ofcom to develop a longer-term monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the Act’s impact.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure safe staffing levels at The Harbour mental health facility in Blackpool.

As of July 2025, the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust’s in-patient settings achieved a fill rate of above 90% for planned rostered hours, as clinically required. Fill rates are a key metric for monitoring whether enough staff are available to meet patient needs.The trust is also required to report care hours per patient day monthly. The most recent figures for the trust and Harbour hospital were 12.9, and 16 respectively. This is above the national average of 9, and the highest out of all mental health trusts in the North West region.Nationally, the Government has also committed to recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers by the end of this Parliament, to ease pressure on busy mental health services. We are more than halfway towards our target.

What steps he is taking to (a) codify and (b) simplify the law of contempt of court in England and Wales in light of the Law Commission’s recommendations.

The Law Commission review into the law of contempt of court in England and Wales is ongoing. The Commission will report with proposals for reform to clarify the law in this area and improve its consistency, coherence, and effectiveness. The first report is expected to be published in November 2025 and the second in 2026.The Government will carefully consider any recommendations proposed by the Law Commission following the publication of these reports.

What support is available for NHS mental health staff who are injured at work or absent due to work-related stress.

The health and wellbeing of National Health Service staff is a top priority, including those who work in mental health settings. It is important that employers across the NHS take a preventative and proactive approach to supporting their staff and keeping them healthy. At a national level, NHS staff have access to the SHOUT helpline for crisis support alongside the Practitioner Health service for more complex mental health and wellbeing support, including for trauma and addiction. The 10-Year Health Plan aims to significantly reduce sickness absence rates. We will introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment which will ensure employers support staff to work healthily and flexibly. We will also roll out Staff Treatment hubs, starting in 2027, to ensure staff have access to high quality support for mental health and back conditions.

Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to review the future funding model of the BBC.

To ensure the BBC is on a stable financial footing, the Government has committed to the current licence fee model for the remainder of the current Charter period.The licence fee will increase annually in line with CPI inflation until the end of this Charter period, as required by the Licence Fee Settlement agreed by the last Government in 2022.Looking ahead, the Secretary of State is a strong supporter of the BBC and has been clear that it must be funded by a model that is sustainable. The Government is keeping an open mind about the future of the licence fee, and the forthcoming Charter Review will provide an opportunity to consider the best possible funding model to set the BBC up for success long into the future.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of staffing shortages on patient and staff safety in psychiatric wards in Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

As of July 2025, the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust’s in-patient settings achieved a fill rate of above 90% for planned rostered hours, as clinically required. Fill rates are a key metric for monitoring whether enough staff are available to meet patient needs.The trust is also required to report care hours per patient day monthly. The most recent figures for the trust and Harbour hospital were 12.9, and 16 respectively. This is above the national average of 9, and the highest out of all mental health trusts in the North West region.Nationally, the Government has also committed to recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers by the end of this Parliament, to ease pressure on busy mental health services. We are more than halfway towards our target.

What recent discussions his Department has had with the Nursing and Midwifery Council on the balance of academic and practical training in nurse education programmes.

No recent discussions have taken place. Higher education institutions and practice placement providers develop the content of programmes and determine the balance of academic and practical learning in line with the outcome standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).Nursing students are required to complete 2,300 hours of practice learning as part of their pre-registration programme, 600 of which can be completed through simulated training. The NMC is currently conducting a review of nursing and midwifery practice learning requirements.

Innovation and Technology, if his Department will take steps to require online platforms to verify contact details for companies on their platforms.

The Online Safety Act ensures online services remove illegal content, including fraudulent content. Ofcom, as the independent regulator, is responsible for setting out in codes of practice the steps services can take to comply with their safety duties.The DMCC Act 2024 also clarifies that online marketplaces must exercise professional diligence in relation to consumer transactions promoted or made on their platforms. This provision applies from 6 April 2025.