Written questions by Snowden.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has considered creating a national register of trees with legal protection status.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 35438 on 12 March 2025.

Whether her Department has consulted (a) families in Lancashire and (b) Lancashire County Council on the future of education, health and care plans.

The department has not made any decisions about the future of education, health and care plans. There will always be a legal right to additional support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to ensure they are supported throughout their education and to enable them to move on to fulfilling adult lives.We are determined to restore confidence in the system of support for children with SEND so that every child and young person gets the chance to achieve and thrive in their education. More detail of reforms will be set out in the Schools White Paper in the autumn.As part of developing our approach, we have been engaging with a range of interested parties, including parent representatives, local authorities, SEND organisations and education settings across the country.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of replacing education, health and care plans on children in Fylde constituency with complex needs.

The department has not made any decisions about the future of education, health and care plans. There will always be a legal right to additional support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to ensure they are supported throughout their education and to enable them to move on to fulfilling adult lives.We are determined to restore confidence in the system of support for children with SEND so that every child and young person gets the chance to achieve and thrive in their education. More detail of reforms will be set out in the Schools White Paper in the autumn.As part of developing our approach, we have been engaging with a range of interested parties, including parent representatives, local authorities, SEND organisations and education settings across the country.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the (a) cost to the NHS of prescribing weight loss medications and (b) the projected cost savings from reduced obesity-related illness.

The Chancellor regularly discusses a wide range of policy issues with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.For medicines to be provided by the NHS they must meet strict cost-effectiveness thresholds set by NICE. For tirzepatide, a weightloss jab, evidence submitted by NHS England to NICE last year suggested a potential cost of £19.4bn for the drug, the patient management and the associated care over the first five years from launch if made available to all eligible patients. The NHS is working with partners, including supplies of medicines for weight management, to develop and evaluate innovative delivery models which may support more efficient implementationNICE recommended the NHS begin rolling out trizepatide, for people with a BMI of more than 35 and at least one weight-related illness. In total around 220,000 people are expected to benefit in the initial three year roll out period.The obesity crisis currently costs the NHS an estimated £11.4 billion per year and has significant wider economic and social costs, so tackling this will help to drive long term economic growth.That is why the 10 year health plan, published on 3rd July 2025, set out Government’s plans for decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our NHS and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.The Plan sets out a commitment to support people living with obesity, doubling the number of patients able to access the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme and brokering pioneering relationships with the biggest pharmaceutical companies to expand access to weight loss services and treatments across the NHS.The Plan also committed to fulfilling manifesto commitments to restrict junk food advertising and ban sale of high-caffeine drinks. Additionally it announced new proposals to reduce obesity including for large food businesses to report against standardised metrics on healthier food sales along with new targets to increase the healthiness of sales, and updating the Nutrient Profile Model to bring the current advertising and promotion restrictions up to date and make them more impactful.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of regulation of private online providers offering weight loss medications.

The Department has currently made no assessment of the adequacy of the regulation of private online providers offering weight loss medications.

What steps he is taking to ensure that NHS podiatry services are adequately resourced in Fylde constituency.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning the majority of health and care services, including podiatry services, in England. ICBs arrange healthcare services to meet the needs of their local population, within available resources, and reduce inequalities in access to, and outcomes from, healthcare services.The Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB recognises podiatry services as a vulnerable and vital service where challenges, including recruitment and retention, are reflected nationally. In response to this, it has mobilised a centralised system-wide approach looking at the range of services it provides across its integrated care system. This includes baseline review work for services, which includes the Fylde Coast services. The next steps include validating demand capacity data with provider organisations in order to support future service models that support access for our residents.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidents involving dangerous dogs have been reported in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire in each of the last five years.

Defra does not hold this data. This information may be collected by the NHS, individual police forces or local authorities.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 July to Question 65165 on Business: Lancashire, if he will provide the same data for the period between 2020 to 2024.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 14th July is attached.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help improve access to sport for (a) children and (b) young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Fylde constituency.

Every child should have the opportunity to play sport and do regular physical activity including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.The Prime Minister recently announced a new School Sport Partnerships approach and a new Enrichment Framework for schools to ensure all young people have equal access to high-quality sport and extracurricular activity. The ongoing independent expert-led review of the curriculum will ensure that all children can engage with a broad range of subjects, including PE and sport.On 20 June 2025, the Culture Secretary announced that following the Spending Review, at least £400 million is going to be invested into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities in communities right across the UK, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We will now work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs, including for children and young people, and then set out further plans.In the last financial year, 2024-25, Sport England, our Arm’s Length Body for community sport, invested £11,750 into the Fylde constituency to improve access to sport and physical activity.

What steps his Department is taking to support research into antimicrobial resistance in relation to sepsis treatment.

The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Over the past five years, the NIHR has allocated over £6 million in programme funding to support research into antimicrobial resistance in relation to sepsis treatment. The funded research studies multiple aspects of sepsis treatment, including optimising treatment for sepsis and investigating the impact of antibiotics in patients with sepsis.The Department also funds sepsis research through investment in NIHR infrastructure. For example, NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) support translational research, to move scientific discoveries toward patient benefit. The NIHR Sheffield BRC is conducting research to better understand how different blood components contribute to the development of sepsis, to improve patient outcomes and identify potential targets for new sepsis treatments.The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including into antimicrobial resistance in relation to sepsis treatment. These applications 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. The NIHR supports translational and applied research, working closely with the life sciences industry, medical research charities, and UK Research and Innovation.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle pavement parking in Fylde constituency.

The Flyde constituency is a civil enforcement area and therefore pavement parking is a civil matter for Department for Transport (DfT) and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

How many people with no right to be in the UK were removed between 4 July (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.

The Home office published transparency data relating to the return of individuals without lawful status in the UK, on 14 July. This can be found on gov.uk at Returns from the UK between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025 - GOV.UKThe next immigration system statistics quarterly release will be published on 21 August 2025, providing comprehensive statistics on the number of returns from the UK.

What steps his Department is taking to improve early diagnosis of sepsis in NHS hospitals.

Sepsis has no specific diagnostic test, and the signs and symptoms can vary hugely. As a result, sepsis can be challenging to diagnose early. It is therefore critical that all acutely unwell patients are treated promptly and appropriately regardless of cause.Screening, diagnosis, and treatment of suspected sepsis is supported in National Health Service hospitals, including emergency departments, through the use of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2). NEWS2 is a clinical screening tool that supports healthcare professionals to recognise acutely unwell adults at risk of deterioration, including those with sepsis. NEWS2 supports clinicians to determine the need for immediate care and is used in 99% of acute NHS trusts and 100% of ambulance trusts in England. Several trusts have also implemented the National Paediatric Early Warning Score to support the recognition of sepsis in children.To further aid clinical staff in diagnosing sepsis early, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence published updated national guidance in March 2024 on sepsis recognition, diagnosis, and early management, which staff can access alongside NHS England’s online sepsis training programmes. Additionally, the Department continues to fund research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to improve our understanding of sepsis diagnosis and immediate management.Treatment of sepsis in NHS hospitals relies on effective antibiotics. The Government is committed to delivering the United Kingdom’s 2024 to 2029 national action plan to confront antimicrobial resistance, to ensure that antibiotics keep working for patients with sepsis.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of treatment pathways for sepsis patients in emergency departments.

Sepsis has no specific diagnostic test, and the signs and symptoms can vary hugely. As a result, sepsis can be challenging to diagnose early. It is therefore critical that all acutely unwell patients are treated promptly and appropriately regardless of cause.Screening, diagnosis, and treatment of suspected sepsis is supported in National Health Service hospitals, including emergency departments, through the use of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2). NEWS2 is a clinical screening tool that supports healthcare professionals to recognise acutely unwell adults at risk of deterioration, including those with sepsis. NEWS2 supports clinicians to determine the need for immediate care and is used in 99% of acute NHS trusts and 100% of ambulance trusts in England. Several trusts have also implemented the National Paediatric Early Warning Score to support the recognition of sepsis in children.To further aid clinical staff in diagnosing sepsis early, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence published updated national guidance in March 2024 on sepsis recognition, diagnosis, and early management, which staff can access alongside NHS England’s online sepsis training programmes. Additionally, the Department continues to fund research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to improve our understanding of sepsis diagnosis and immediate management.Treatment of sepsis in NHS hospitals relies on effective antibiotics. The Government is committed to delivering the United Kingdom’s 2024 to 2029 national action plan to confront antimicrobial resistance, to ensure that antibiotics keep working for patients with sepsis.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to weight loss drugs across NHS trusts.

The medicines liraglutide, under various brand names, semaglutide, brand name Wegovy, and tirzepatide, brand name Mounjaro, are already being made available for managing obesity for some patients attending National Health Service specialist weight management services, depending on factors like local pathways and clinical eligibility. From 23 June, the newest obesity medicine, tirzepatide, started to become available in primary care, meaning it can be prescribed by general practitioners, or other competent prescribers. Approximately 220,000 people could receive tirzepatide over the first three years of NHS rollout. Access will be prioritised based on clinical need. To support equitable access across the NHS in England and to help integrated care boards (ICBs) to fulfil their duty to make the medication tirzepatide available to eligible patients for treating obesity, NHS England has provided funding to ICBs, based on each area’s estimated population of people living with obesity. It has also provided guidance to ICBs and is continuing to work with them to implement the phased rollout of tirzepatide, as well as other weight loss medications where appropriate. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence will review progress at three years. Rollout will be sped up if possible, and the NHS is developing and testing new models of care to support this. As we set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we are committed to expanding access to weight loss medications through the NHS to ensure that people are able to access them based on clinical need, rather than ability to pay. We will build on the current plans by establishing pioneering relationships with industry and local health systems to test further innovative models of delivering weight loss services and treatments to patients effectively and safely. Additionally, we will explore a range of innovative commercial models that aim to increase patient access, whilst ensuring improved health outcomes and value for money.

What steps he is taking to help reduce waiting times for patients eligible for NHS-prescribed weight loss medications.

The medicines liraglutide, under various brand names, semaglutide, brand name Wegovy, and tirzepatide, brand name Mounjaro, are already being made available for managing obesity for some patients attending National Health Service specialist weight management services, depending on factors like local pathways and clinical eligibility. From 23 June, the newest obesity medicine, tirzepatide, started to become available in primary care, meaning it can be prescribed by general practitioners, or other competent prescribers. Approximately 220,000 people could receive tirzepatide over the first three years of NHS rollout. Access will be prioritised based on clinical need. To support equitable access across the NHS in England and to help integrated care boards (ICBs) to fulfil their duty to make the medication tirzepatide available to eligible patients for treating obesity, NHS England has provided funding to ICBs, based on each area’s estimated population of people living with obesity. It has also provided guidance to ICBs and is continuing to work with them to implement the phased rollout of tirzepatide, as well as other weight loss medications where appropriate. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence will review progress at three years. Rollout will be sped up if possible, and the NHS is developing and testing new models of care to support this. As we set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we are committed to expanding access to weight loss medications through the NHS to ensure that people are able to access them based on clinical need, rather than ability to pay. We will build on the current plans by establishing pioneering relationships with industry and local health systems to test further innovative models of delivering weight loss services and treatments to patients effectively and safely. Additionally, we will explore a range of innovative commercial models that aim to increase patient access, whilst ensuring improved health outcomes and value for money.

What steps his Department is taking consult men’s mental health organisations on the men’s health strategy In Lancashire.

The Men's Health Strategy will seek to improve the health and wellbeing of all men in England and will be informed by a call for evidence which closed on 17 July 2025. The call for evidence was open to the public, academics, health and social care professionals and stakeholder organisations in England, including men’s mental health organisations in Lancashire. We are now analysing responses to the call for evidence to inform development of the strategy. We will continue to engage with stakeholders during its development.

What recent changes (a) HMRC and (b) Companies House has made to the filing requirements for small and medium-sized businesses.

The Department for Business and Trade is currently engaging with stakeholders on proposed changes in filing requirements at Companies House to ensure they strike the right balance between tackling economic crime and avoiding undue burden on business.HMRC has required companies to file electronic company tax returns since 2011 and announced earlier this year that, from 31 March 2026, it would be withdrawing the joint online filing service it runs with Companies House.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the probation service in Lancashire.

Lancashire is part of the North West region of the Probation Service. The North West region has developed a Quality Improvement Plan that prioritises and focuses improvement activity. It includes actions derived from internal audits and reports by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation. Progress is regularly monitored, assured and supported by regional and national, Performance, Assurance and Risk functions.Data on probation performance are published at regional and national level. Performance statistics for Probation Delivery Units in Lancashire in 2023-24 are shown in the table below:Performance MeasureTarget (%) Lancashire Performance (%)PS02 SL004 Initial appointment for community sentences95.0%97.0%PS02 SL005 Initial appointment for releases from custody95.0%96.7%PS02 SL006 Initial sentence plan for community sentences and releases95.0%73.1%PS02 SL007R Monthly appointments offered95.0%91.3%PS02 SL010 Timely risk management plans (recall reports part B)90.0%93.2%PS02 SL011 Timely parole reports90.0%94.9%PS02 SL012R Completion of targeted interventions for people convicted of sexual offences70.0%66.8%PS02 SL013 Requirements completed by sentence expiry85.0%82.4%PS02 SL014 Housed on release from custody90.0%85.1%PS02 SL015a Settled accommodation at 3 months post release or disposal (custodial sentences)80.0%72.6%PS02 SL015b Settled accommodation at 3 months post release or disposal (community sentences)80.0%86.6%PS02 SL016 Employed at 6 weeks post release from custody19.0%23.1%PS02 SL017a Employed at 6 months post release or disposal (custodial sentences)32.0%34.9%PS02 SL017b Employed at 6 months post release or disposal (community sentences)37.0%44.4%PS02 SL023 Pre-release sentence plans for enhanced cases59.0%33.9%PS03 SL022R POM/COM handover meeting93.0%61.9%PS04 SL026 Unpaid work assessment90.0%91.6%PS04 SL027 Unpaid work starts within 15 business days of sentence80.0%89.1%PS04 SL028 Unpaid work stand downs2.5%[x]PS04 SL029 Unpaid work completions within 12 months75.0%62.0%PS05 SL031 Accredited programme starts [targeted]89.0%[x]PS05 SL033 Accredited programme completions [targeted]57.0%[x]PS09 SL040R Recording protected characteristics95.0%100.0%Note:These data are the aggregated outcomes from the four Probation Delivery Units in Lancashire (PDU Central Lancashire; PDU East Lancashire; PDU North West Lancashire; PDU Blackburn and Darwen).PS04 SL028 Unpaid work stand downs performance is not available at PDU level for this area.PS05 SL031 (Accredited programme starts [targeted]) and PS05 SL033 (Accredited programme completions [targeted]): performance for these measures are not available at PDU level. A number of cases are assigned to an organisational level PDU in the region, and are therefore not reflected in these geographic PDUs. This has been marked by “[x]”.Outcomes for the North West Region and National probation (including scorecard rating) can be found at: Community Performance Annual, update to March 2024 - GOV.UK.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating in-person appointments for personal independent payment assessments.

The Department is committed to assessing people as quickly as possible to ensure they receive the support they are entitled to in a timely manner.Where there is sufficient available evidence, assessments are done by paper-based review, without the need for a formal consultation. If an in-person consultation is required this is completed either face-to-face, via telephone or via video call.We announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper our intention to increase the number of face-to-face assessments, while preserving alternative health assessment channels to meet the specific needs of people who require them, for example as a reasonable adjustment. We are committed to continuing a multi-channel assessment service approach to meet the obligations of the Equality Act 2010.