Written questions by Snowden.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions his Department has had with mobile network operators on the (a) resilience and (b) reliability of mobile infrastructure to deliver emergency alerts during (i) power outages or (ii) network congestion.

The Emergency Alerts capability relies on mobile network operators’ infrastructure to issue alerts. Under the Communications Act 2003 and Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021, UK communications providers have a statutory requirement to take appropriate and proportionate steps to identify risks to their resilience, reduce those risks, prepare for compromises and mitigate and remedy them when they do occur. These requirements are overseen by Ofcom. The Department has regular discussions with the UK’s mobile network operators and works in partnership with communications providers to ensure that their networks remain secure, resilient, and accessible, including during emergencies.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of commemoration the contribution of British famers to national security (a) through their service in the Home Guard and (b) supervision of prisoners of war during the Second World War.

The Ministry of Defence has made no such assessment. Farmers played an important role in the national effort to defeat Nazism, including through their service in the Home Guard and the supervision of prisoners of war. Farmers who undertook actual military service during the Second World War would have had their eligibility for appropriate military honours and awards considered in the immediate post-war period, alongside all other military personnel. However, any commemoration of the contribution made by farmers to national security during the Second World War would be a matter for consideration by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria are used to determine which (a) individuals and (b) companies involved in people smuggling should be recommended for sanctions.

The new regime has been established by this government to prevent and disrupt the operations of criminal gangs who smuggle people along dangerous migrant routes to attempt the channel crossing into the UK. This new regime boosts our ability to prevent, combat, deter, and disrupt irregular migration and hold smugglers and their enablers accountable.The Government has set out the following factors relevant to the consideration of designations under the Global Irregular Migration regime in a policy note here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/global-irregular-migration-sanctions-consideration-of-designations/global-irregular-migration-sanctions-consideration-of-designations#interaction-with-law-enforcement-activities. These include wider government irregular migration policy priorities and the scale, nature and impact of the activity. Sanctions are a foreign policy and national security tool under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 and the exercise of sanctions functions under that Act is a matter for the Foreign Secretary.

What steps he is taking to advertise the deadline for the closure of the War Widows Recognition Payment Scheme to eligible bereaved spouses.

An update titled "War Widows Urged to Claim Recognition Payment Before October 2025 Deadline" was published on 22 August 2025 on GOV.UK to raise awareness of the Scheme's closure to ensure those eligible have the opportunity to claim before the deadline. This followed a Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 July 2025. Details have been shared with members of the Confederation of Service Charities, the War Widows' Association and other members of the Defence Bereaved Families Group (DBFG). Details were also published on the Armed Forces Covenant website on 1 September 2025. The Ministry of Defence’s Veterans Welfare Service remains available to support individuals in completing their applications. We will report back to the DBFG in 2026 with details on the final numbers and uptake of the Scheme. Since its launch on 16 October 2023, the Scheme has approved over 240 applications, awarding more than £21 million and providing meaningful recognition to eligible recipients. Over 70% of applications were submitted in the first three months, but activity has dropped sharply, with just 14 claims in 2025. An internal review confirmed the Scheme was on track to achieving its objectives, and with demand now significantly reduced, the Government will proceed with its planned closure on 15 October 2025. A final communications push will urge those yet to apply to act before the deadline. Further details of the internal review, including analysis can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/war-widowers-recognition-payment

How many recorded breaches of the 36 hour custody limit under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 occurred in the last three years; and what (a) disciplinary and (b) legal consequences resulted from those breaches.

When the police interview a suspect they must explain that they do not have to answer questions but there could be consequences if they do not by reading to them the police caution:“You do not have to say anything. But, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”If the suspect does not understand the caution because they cannot understand English, the custody officer must arrange for the assistance of an interpreter, and if they are considered to be vulnerable then they must be supported throughout the interview by an appropriate adult. Whilst in police custody or undergoing a voluntary interview the suspect has the continuing right to free legal advice.We keep the operation of police powers, including the police caution, under regular review through engagement with policing stakeholders. We are not aware of any concerns about the effectiveness of the police caution in preventing defendants from withholding information.The Home Office collects and publishes data on detentions for over 36 hours without warrant of further detention where the person was subsequently released without charge, as part of the annual ‘Police Powers and Procedures: Custody and pre-charge bail’ statistical bulletin. The data is available here: Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK

How the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to improve the (a) monitoring and (b) reporting of adverse effects related to weight loss drugs; and what systems are in place to ensure that (i) patients and (ii) healthcare providers can report those effects.

The Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected adverse effects for all healthcare products including weight loss drugs. Reporting is open to all healthcare professionals and members of the public through a variety of methods including online, via the Yellow Card app, phone, email and paper forms. To make reporting as quick and easy as possible, there is also direct integration of Yellow Card reporting functionality available within some clinical IT systems. This includes covering over 93% of GP practices across England.To improve the quality of information captured on a Yellow Card report for weight loss medicines, we have recently introduced a number of additional questions to support ongoing monitoring of the safety of these products and rapid identification of potential safety issues.Reporting to the scheme is voluntary and therefore requires sustained efforts to promote and raise awareness of the scheme. To promote the reporting of side effects, a call to report side effects is included in all communications for weight loss medicines. For example, the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance on GLP-1 medicines contains several links to the Yellow Card Scheme, as do the Drug Safety Updates for healthcare professionals that the MHRA have published relating to these medicines. Reporting has also been encouraged on press releases issued on the illegal sales of GLP-1s and posts on the MHRA social media platforms (X, Instagram and Facebook).Alongside data collected through the Yellow Card scheme, the MHRA also monitors for adverse events through a variety of other data sources including scientific literature, epidemiological studies, regulatory reports from other countries, and periodic safety data submitted by pharmaceutical companies. All safety concerns are evaluated by our multidisciplinary teams and expert advisory groups, and where necessary, regulatory action is taken.

What steps she is taking to ensure that Prevent referrals made by school staff do not disproportionately impact neurodiverse children.

Prevent is about intervening early to stop people being drawn into terrorism.The Prevent duty guidance, which applies to those in the Education sector, helps to ensure that people who are susceptible to radicalisation are supported as they would be under safeguarding processes. Protecting pupils from the risk of radicalisation forms part of a schools’ wider safeguarding duties to protect children from a range of harms.When making referral, it is important to consider that neurodivergence, may - or may not - affect a person’s risk of radicalisation. Staff in education settings receive training to help them identify the signs of radicalisation and make appropriate referrals, taking account of any vulnerabilities that may be present or other factors that may be present.All referrals to Prevent are carefully assessed by specialist officers to ensure that there is a radicalisation risk before they receive support through the Channel process. Clinical psychiatrists work closely with counter-terrorism police to provide advice on how best to support cases where neurodiverse conditions might be present.Additionally, the first stage of a strategic policy review into how Prevent supports people with mental-ill health or who are neurodivergent has also concluded. This will help to ensure Prevent can effectively support people who are neurodivergent. Action is underway to implement those findings, and the Home Office will continue to work closely with the Department for Education to ensure that Prevent aligns with broader efforts to support neurodiverse children in schools.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of a levy on international student fees on the higher education pipeline for NHS workforce training.

The Government’s ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’ white paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic higher education and skills system.More detail around the levy will be set out in the Autumn budget, and we will work with the Department of Education to consider the impact on the higher education pipeline for NHS workforce training.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to (a) monitor and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of the people smuggling sanctions regime.

The UK has so far sanctioned 25 targets - 20 individuals and five entities - at the heart of people-smuggling networks that drive irregular migration to the UK. These targets were identified through close co-ordination across government departments, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Home Office, National Crime Agency, our global network of Diplomatic Posts and others. We will collectively continue to monitor the effectiveness of the designations imposed so far, including with international partners and others, and forthcoming designations, as we seek to demonstrate our ability to target individuals and entities around the world, disrupt the activities of criminal networks, and deter others from engaging in this vile trade.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to ensure effective coordination between the (a) FCDO, (b) National Crime Agency and (c) Border Security Command in implementing sanctions against (i) people smugglers and (ii) their enablers.

The new regime has been established by this government to prevent and disrupt the operations of criminal gangs who smuggle people along dangerous migrant routes to attempt the channel crossing into the UK. This new regime boosts our ability to prevent, combat, deter, and disrupt irregular migration and hold smugglers and their enablers accountable.Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials engage in regular consultation with a range of key stakeholders, including the National Crime Agency and Border Security Command to ensure coordination, effectiveness and implementation.

Whether her Department plans to ringfence revenue generated from any proposed levy on international student fees for reinvestment into the skills system.

The immigration white paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic HE and skills system. We will set out more details around the levy in the Autumn Budget.HE providers are independent from government and, as such, are responsible for making financial decisions that support their long-term sustainability.The government will set out its plans for HE reform soon, as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and will work with the sector and the Office for Students to deliver the change that the country needs.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed levy on international student fees on the financial sustainability of UK universities.

The immigration white paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic HE and skills system. We will set out more details around the levy in the Autumn Budget.HE providers are independent from government and, as such, are responsible for making financial decisions that support their long-term sustainability.The government will set out its plans for HE reform soon, as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and will work with the sector and the Office for Students to deliver the change that the country needs.

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on (a) the proposed international student fee levy and (b) its potential implications for (i) education, (ii) research, (iii) skills and (iv) regional economies.

The immigration white paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic HE and skills system. We will set out more details around the levy in the Autumn Budget.HE providers are independent from government and, as such, are responsible for making financial decisions that support their long-term sustainability.The government will set out its plans for HE reform soon, as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and will work with the sector and the Office for Students to deliver the change that the country needs.

What steps he is taking to support people with bladder and bowel control conditions in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

Lancashire and South Cumbria (LSC) Integrated Care Board (ICB) commissions several community bladder and bowel/continence services across Fylde and Lancashire. These services consist of specialist nurses and allied health professionals, who work collaboratively with primary care, secondary care and wider community nursing services to ensure there is comprehensive support and end to end treatment pathways for residents of Lancashire and South Cumbria.Bladder and bowel services provide a holistic continence assessment, including routine observations, bladder scans and skin integrity checks, as well as reviewing past medical history, medication, mobility, carer support, and diet and fluid. They offer ongoing support and products for any bowel and/or bladder issues that are identified and may refer patients to specialist nurses for further support or district nurses for ongoing care. Self-care advice is always given, and independence is promoted during assessments, such as pelvic floor exercises for stress urinary incontinence, or bladder training and fluid intake advice for overactive bladder.LSC ICB has a dedicated programme of work supporting the transformation of core community services in line with the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, and bladder and bowel services are considered as part of the community transformation programme ensuring all residents of Lancashire and South Cumbria have access to evidence-based bladder and bowel care when and where they need it.The community services are aligned to acute National Health Service trusts. Where there needs to be surgical management or specialist input, this is generally presented through a routine referral to urology, gynaecology or gastroenterology services. All localities across LSC ICB provide these services. LSC ICB is continually reviewing and working towards transformation of clinical pathways and services to manage demand as closer to home as possible via specialist multi-disciplinary teams within the community.Across LSC ICB, there is also a urogynaecology programme that is developing the front-end of the gynaecology pathway for access to specialist women’s health physiotherapists rather than referrals direct to secondary care gynaecology services. This aims to reduce pressure in gynaecology services and to provide specialist assessments and treatments with reduced waiting times for patients.

What estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed levy on international student fees on average revenue of universities.

The immigration white paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic HE and skills system. We will set out more details around the levy in the Autumn Budget.HE providers are independent from government and, as such, are responsible for making financial decisions that support their long-term sustainability.The government will set out its plans for HE reform soon, as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and will work with the sector and the Office for Students to deliver the change that the country needs.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed levy on international student fees on local (a) economies and (b) employment.

The immigration white paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic HE and skills system. We will set out more details around the levy in the Autumn Budget.HE providers are independent from government and, as such, are responsible for making financial decisions that support their long-term sustainability.The government will set out its plans for HE reform soon, as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and will work with the sector and the Office for Students to deliver the change that the country needs.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the number of young people taking up carpentry and joinery apprenticeships.

This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity.The rate of young people’s apprenticeship starts has fallen over the last decade and we want to re-balance the programme towards young people beginning their careers.As a first step, the department has introduced new foundation apprenticeships, an employment-based training offer that gives young people a route into careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn a wage while developing vital skills.The first seven foundation apprenticeships became available in August 2025, including a foundation apprenticeship in onsite trades which supports the development of onsite construction skills, including carpentry and joinery.These foundation apprenticeships will be underpinned by an employer incentive payment of up to £2,000 to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career. This is in addition to the existing employer and provider payments for taking on younger apprentices.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed levy on international students on the UK’s attractiveness as an international education destination.

The immigration white paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic HE and skills system. We will set out more details around the levy in the Autumn Budget.HE providers are independent from government and, as such, are responsible for making financial decisions that support their long-term sustainability.The government will set out its plans for HE reform soon, as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and will work with the sector and the Office for Students to deliver the change that the country needs.

What discussions she has had with the higher education sector on the potential economic impact of a levy on international student fees.

The immigration white paper sets out a series of measures that will achieve a reduction in net migration, while maintaining the UK’s globally competitive offer to international students and making a significant contribution to growth by boosting our skills base.This includes the commitment to explore the introduction of a levy on higher education (HE) provider income from international students, with proceeds to be reinvested in the domestic HE and skills system. We will set out more details around the levy in the Autumn Budget.HE providers are independent from government and, as such, are responsible for making financial decisions that support their long-term sustainability.The government will set out its plans for HE reform soon, as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and will work with the sector and the Office for Students to deliver the change that the country needs.

What provisions will be made for children over 18 months who have missed the initial two-dose chickenpox vaccine schedule.

On 29 August, the Government announced plans to introduce chickenpox (varicella) vaccination into the routine childhood immunisation schedule from 1 January 2026. Eligible children will receive an MMRV vaccine during routine general practice (GP) appointments, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.Eligibility will primarily be based on a child’s age on 1 January 2026, and not whether a child has previously received an MMR vaccine. The eligibility criteria, including which age groups will receive the vaccine, will be announced ahead of the programme launch.It is important that children continue to come forward for their vaccinations when they are due, including the MMRV vaccine when it is available.As with other childhood immunisations, parents will be contacted by their GP surgery to arrange an appointment if their child is eligible. The National Health Service and GP practices send reminders to families of those who are not fully vaccinated, and will provide catch-up doses to children who have missed any jabs.Parents and carers can contact their GP surgery to check their child’s vaccination record and arrange a catch-up appointment, and details of vaccinations can also be found in a child’s Red Book.