Written questions by Snowden.

What steps his Department is taking to support the mental health needs of unpaid carers.

The Government is committed to ensuring that families have the support that they need. We want to ensure that people who care for family and friends are better able to look after their own physical and mental health and wellbeing.We have invested in expanding and transforming National Health Service mental health services with a focus on improving mental health support for individuals and carers.Carers experiencing common mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies services or can be referred by their general practitioner. In addition, carers experiencing a mental health crisis can speak to a trained NHS professional at any time through the mental health option on NHS 111. This service gives people the chance to be listened to by a trained member of staff who can help direct them to the right place.We are also recruiting 8,500 more mental health workers, expanding mental health support teams to cover 100% of pupils by 2029/30, introducing community-based Young Futures hubs, and modernising the Mental Health Act.Further, we have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission will start a national conversation about what care and support working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care, including exploring the needs of unpaid carers, who provide vital care and support.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of Carer’s Allowance for unpaid carers.

Many people will care for friends or family members at some point in their life, and it is right that we recognise the vitally important role of carers. Carer’s Allowance (CA) provides a measure of financial support and recognition for unpaid carers who are unable to work full time due to their caring responsibilities. The DWP provides over £4 billion of financial support per year through CA to unpaid carers. Between 2025/26 and 2029/30 real terms expenditure on CA is forecast to rise by over 6% - around £285 million. By 2029/30, the Government is forecast to spend over £4.7 billion a year on CA. Further CA caseload and expenditure information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2025 In addition to CA, carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits, such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit. These benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the carer element and the additional amount for carers respectively. Currently, the Universal Credit carer element is £201.68 per monthly assessment period. The additional amount for carers in Pension Credit is £46.40 a week. These are worth £2400 a year in additional benefit.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of high annual ground rents on the ability of leaseholders to sell their properties in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

The government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents, and we will deliver this in legislation.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing service frequency and electrification on the Lytham to Preston line on the local (a) economy and (b) environment.

Fylde Council’s business case found there was some potential to increase frequency. Economic benefits were assessed as part of the study, which also recommended further development of infrastructure options including electrification. It is now for the Local Transport Authority to decide if this project should go forward.

How many and what proportion of eligible families are receiving support through the Healthy Start scheme in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Monthly figures for the number of people on the digital Healthy Start scheme are published on the NHS Healthy Start website, at the following link:https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthcare-professionals/The NHSBSA does not hold data on the number of families receiving Healthy Start and does not currently hold the data on the number of people eligible for Healthy Start. The following table shows the number of people on the digital scheme as of 23 May 2025 in Fylde:Local authorityNumber of people on the digital schemeFylde304 In addition, the following table shows the number of people on the digital scheme in the local authorities within Lancashire:Local authorities within LancashireNumber of people on the digital schemeBurnley1014Chorley489Fylde304Hyndburn870Lancaster774Pendle782Preston1109Ribble Valley98Rossendale410South Ribble409West Lancashire610Wyre510

What assessment her Department has made of the potential economic impact of proposed changes to Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief on the holiday parks sector.

The Government has received a number of representations about inheritance tax changes from business organisations since the Autumn Budget. The Government has been listening to the different views on this subject and continues to believe its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting businesses and fixing the public finances in a fair way. The Government is not abolishing either agricultural property relief or business property relief. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. The Government has set out that around 1,500 estates only claiming business property relief are expected to be affected in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these expected to only hold shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy, that are eligible for business property relief. These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those only relating to holding shares designated as “not listed”) will not pay any more inheritance tax in 2026-27. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) certified the costing of these changes at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to respite care for unpaid carers.

The Government is committed to ensuring that families have the support they need. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, including support for carers.The Better Care Fund includes funding that can be used for carer support, including short breaks and respite services. Local areas determine how the money is best used to support carers, depending on local need and with reference to their statutory responsibilities.

What steps her Department is taking to provide support in (a) schools and (b) colleges for young carers to help them balance educational responsibilities with caring duties.

The impact of caring responsibilities on a young person’s education has been hidden for too long. The department is using school census data to shine a light on young carer’s attendance, suspensions and exclusions, and is aiming to publish data on their educational progress and attainment this autumn.This data will support our work to break down barriers to opportunity for every child, at every stage, ensuring our reforms to both education and to children’s social care work for young carers.

What data his Department holds on disparities in diabetes outcomes in different regions of (a) England and (b) Wales.

NHS England, through the National Diabetes Audit (NDA), collects and publishes comprehensive data on diabetes care and outcomes across England. The NDA is a national clinical audit that measures the effectiveness of diabetes healthcare against National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines and quality standards. It is a key resource for identifying and addressing regional disparities in diabetes services.The most recent NDA annual report, for 2023/24, was published 12 December 2024 and is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/clinical-audits-and-registries/national-diabetes-audit/dashboardsData can be viewed at national, regional, integrated care board, primary care network and practice level. An example of data that can be viewed at regional level is the proportion of people receiving all eight NICE-recommended care processes. In 2023/24, 47.2% of people with type 1 diabetes in England received all eight processes. The same year, 62.4% of people with type 2 diabetes in England received all eight care processes. Regional performance varies for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. For instance, the highest achieving regional area saw completion of type 2 eight care processes at 72.2% and the lowest 58.5%. A further example is diabetes prevalence and variation between the least and most deprived quintiles. The audit reports a general practitioner-recorded prevalence of type 2 diabetes of approximately 3.5 million adults in England, with data showing that 23.6% of this cohort are in the most deprived quintile, compared to 15% in the least deprived quintile.The NDA collects and publishes some data from Wales, which is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/national-diabetes-audit/complications-and-mortality-2009-2023

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 54073 on Anti-social Behaviour: Lancashire, how the effectiveness of the Respect Order in tackling persistent anti-social behaviour in town centres will be evaluated.

We are committed to monitoring and evaluating the delivery of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee and have worked collaboratively with policing to agree a full performance framework for the Guarantee and its five pillars. To monitor the crackdown on anti-social behaviour we will be measuring public perceptions and experience of ASB in their local area, how many dedicated lead officers there are for ASB, presence of ASB action plans, police recorded incidents of ASB and police use of ASB powers. The performance framework is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neighbourhood-policing-guarantee-performance-frameworkAs part of their Hotspot Action Fund grant agreement forces are required to return precise data returns outlining the times spent patrolling ASB hotspots. This data is used by Home Office analysts to understand levels of patrolling and impact on volumes of ASB. Forces are also required to return data on the work they are undertaking as part of Hotspot Action Fund to problem solve the causes of ASB in their identified hotspots.The Respect Order was introduced in the Crime and Policing Bill, to crack down on persistent anti-social behaviour and crimes blighting our high streets and town centres. We will be piloting Respect Orders in police force areas prior to national rollout. Its use will be monitored to ensure that they are as effective as possible.In addition, through the Crime and Policing Bill, the Government will be introducing a duty for key relevant agencies including local authorities to report ASB data to the Government.Following commencement, regulations will be laid to specify which data the relevant agencies should provide, and the form and regularity of submission. This will improve the national data on how powers are being used and why, allow better monitoring of targeted ASB interventions, and help to inform future government work to tackle ASB. Additionally, a wide range of police data is already collected through the Home Office’s Annual Data Requirement. From April 2025, this includes data on police use of ASB powers in the 2014 Act. This is initially on a voluntary basis and subject to data quality, will be made mandatory from April 2026.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 54073 on Anti-social Behaviour: Lancashire, what performance indicators will be used to measure the effectiveness of additional policing resources in reducing anti-social behaviour in town centres.

We are committed to monitoring and evaluating the delivery of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee and have worked collaboratively with policing to agree a full performance framework for the Guarantee and its five pillars. To monitor the crackdown on anti-social behaviour we will be measuring public perceptions and experience of ASB in their local area, how many dedicated lead officers there are for ASB, presence of ASB action plans, police recorded incidents of ASB and police use of ASB powers. The performance framework is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neighbourhood-policing-guarantee-performance-frameworkAs part of their Hotspot Action Fund grant agreement forces are required to return precise data returns outlining the times spent patrolling ASB hotspots. This data is used by Home Office analysts to understand levels of patrolling and impact on volumes of ASB. Forces are also required to return data on the work they are undertaking as part of Hotspot Action Fund to problem solve the causes of ASB in their identified hotspots.The Respect Order was introduced in the Crime and Policing Bill, to crack down on persistent anti-social behaviour and crimes blighting our high streets and town centres. We will be piloting Respect Orders in police force areas prior to national rollout. Its use will be monitored to ensure that they are as effective as possible.In addition, through the Crime and Policing Bill, the Government will be introducing a duty for key relevant agencies including local authorities to report ASB data to the Government.Following commencement, regulations will be laid to specify which data the relevant agencies should provide, and the form and regularity of submission. This will improve the national data on how powers are being used and why, allow better monitoring of targeted ASB interventions, and help to inform future government work to tackle ASB. Additionally, a wide range of police data is already collected through the Home Office’s Annual Data Requirement. From April 2025, this includes data on police use of ASB powers in the 2014 Act. This is initially on a voluntary basis and subject to data quality, will be made mandatory from April 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55351 on Environmental Stewardship Scheme: Fylde, whether any of the Higher Level Stewardship agreements fall within the county of Lancashire.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given on 9 June 2025, PQ 55343.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55351 on Environmental Stewardship Scheme: Fylde, how many Higher Level Stewardship agreements exist in total.

As of the 11 June 2025 the Rural Payments Agency can confirm there is currently a total of 5,471 Higher-Level Stewardship related Environmental Stewardship agreements.

What steps he is taking to retain workers in the health system.

The Government is committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work, to ensure the retention of our hardworking and dedicated staff. We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.NHS England is leading work nationally through its retention programme to drive a consistent, system-wide approach to staff retention across NHS trusts. This ensures trusts have access to proven retention strategies, data-driven monitoring, and can foster a more stable, engaged, productive, and supported workforce.

If she will make an estimate of the number of students in state schools who have transferred from the private sector in the last year in Fylde.

The number of state school pupils in Lancashire decreased by more than 1,000 between January 2024 and January 2025. This suggests that any transfers from the private sector within the relevant local authority have been easily absorbed, alongside other pressures.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55229 on Electric Bicycles: Sales, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to implement a cross-Government strategy on tackling illegally modified electric bikes.

The Department believes a cross-Government strategy on illegally modified e-cycles is not needed. E-cycles, including those that have been modified, can only be legally used on the roads where they comply in full with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Unit has a market surveillance unit and has the powers to act against retailers selling non-complaint e-cycles. Where such e-cycles are used on the roads, the police have powers to seize them. The powers for the police to act are being strengthened in the Crime and Policing Bill, with the police no longer required to provide a warning before seizing any vehicle, including an e-cycle, where it is being used anti-socially.

What steps he is taking to support people with motor neurone disease in Fylde constituency.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning most services for people with long-term conditions, including motor neurone disease (MND) services. ICBs are allocated funding by NHS England to meet local need and priorities, and improve outcomes. The NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB oversees healthcare services in the region, including in the Fylde area. NHS England continues to set national standards, service specifications, and clinical access policies, which ICBs are expected to apply.At the national level, there are several initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with MND, including those patients in the Fylde constituency. These initiatives include the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit. NHS England has also established a Neurology Transformation Programme, a multi-year, clinically led programme, which has developed a new model of integrated care to support ICBs to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, including those with MND.NHS England commissions the specialised elements of MND care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. Within these specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure that patients can access a range of health professionals and specialised treatment and support, according to their needs.Government responsibility for delivering MND research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation. Government funders are continuing to invest into MND research, for example: investing £12.5 million to support the best discovery science in MND at the UK Dementia Research Institute; £6 million of Government funding for the Motor Neurone Disease Translational Accelerator, which is seeking to speed up the development of treatments for MND; and £8 million investment into EXPERTS-ALS, which screens for drugs that have the potential to be successful in clinical trials for people with MND.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with (a) local authorities and (b) people living in areas in which 6G masts are proposed on the (i) location and (ii) visual impact of those masts.

The Government has not yet had discussions with local authorities or residents on the location of any 6G infrastructure to date. 6G technology will not be deployed in the UK or elsewhere until the 2030s based on current industry development and standardisation cycles.Currently, ground-based radio masts up to 30 metres in non-protected areas, and up to 25 metres in protected areas benefit from permitted development rights. Prior approval from the local planning authority is needed on certain matters, including siting and appearance of any masts up to this height.

Innovation and Technology, what environmental impact assessments are required prior to the installation of 6G infrastructure.

The Government has not yet made any formal decision on what environmental impact assessments may be needed prior to the installation of 6G infrastructure. 6G technology will not be deployed until the 2030s based on current development and standardisation cycles. Were a specialised impact assessment needed for 6G infrastructure specifically, it would need to reflect the known characteristics, architectures and design aspects of 6G technologies, which will not be known until the industry-led standardisation process is complete.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the (a) security and (b) resilience of 6G infrastructure against potential (i) cyber threats and (ii) foreign interference.

The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK's telecommunications infrastructure. The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 introduced a robust security framework throughout the United Kingdom and requires public telecoms providers to identify, reduce, and prepare for security and resilience risks, including from cyber threats and foreign interference.The development of 6G technology is still in its early stages, but Government is actively working with industry to ensure that cybersecurity and resilience requirements are addressed from the outset. Government is directly participating in the development of technical standards for 6G, working with industry to understand emerging security and resilience challenges, and actively supporting innovative solutions to cybersecurity challenges through our R&D programmes on advanced connectivity.