Written questions by Snowden.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51546 on Broadband: Lancashire, if he will list which specific areas within the Fylde constituency still lack access to gigabit-capable broadband; and what is the expected timeline for extending coverage to those areas.

Building Digital UK (BDUK) collects data at premises-level, rather than by area. On 13 March, BDUK published data about the status of all premises in England and Wales, which can be accessed on: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/premises-in-bduk-plans-england-and-wales. This data is designed to help technical users, including broadband suppliers and local councils, understand which premises are included in BDUK’s plans.This includes information about which premises are currently included in the Project Gigabit contract for Lancashire. Openreach is due to deliver the improved coverage under the contract by the end of 2030.

Whether he has considered negotiating a tariff-free or lower-tariff trade corridor with the US for UK SMEs that rely on international supply chains.

On 8 May, we concluded a landmark economic deal with the US which cuts tariffs for UK industry and cuts costs for businesses. What we have agreed will provide the foundation for a new reciprocal trading partnership between the US and the UK, protecting businesses and jobs across the country. We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at increasing digital trade, access for our world-leading services industries and improving supply chains. We will continue our engagement with businesses from across the UK throughout these remaining negotiations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42350 on General Practitioners: Employers' Contributions, how much and what proportion of the £22.6 billion will be allocated to (a) frontline health services, (b) primary care and (c) other services.

The £22.6 billion funding increase announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget provided an above inflation increase for all health spending, with an average growth of 3.4% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.The funding is not ringfenced and becomes part of the overall Department’s budget. It is therefore not possible to easily track how it has been deployed in a way that is distinct to how the overall budget is allocated. In primary care, we’ve made recent announcements to uplift the general practice and community pharmacy contracts, and on front line services we’ve provided an additional £1.8 billion in 2024/25 for elective care, which then rolls forward into 2025/26, which has helped the National Health Service to deliver two million additional operations, scans, and appointments in our first year of the Government.The £22.6 billion does not include the additional funding that HM Treasury is providing to departments for employer National Insurance contributions.

How many settlements do not have a daily bus service in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The Department for Transport does not readily hold this information, however local bus timetable data is available to download from the Bus Open Data Service: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-and-use-bus-open-data.The government believes that local transport authorities, working with bus operators, are best placed to determine and design local bus networks in their area. The government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December 2024 to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders and is intended to ensure bus services reflect the needs of communities that rely on them, including in Fylde and across Lancashire.In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country, of which Lancashire County Council has been allocated over £27 million. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce improvements to bus services and infrastructure to best meet the needs of passengers in their local area.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of support available to help small businesses reduce the impact of US tariffs in Fylde.

We will continue our work with businesses in the North-West and across the country to understand their assessment of the impact of US tariffs on their operations. The Government has announced a range of measures to support SMEs, including access to additional finance through the British Business Bank and sector specific measures.We are also expanding UKEF’s business support package by £20 billion, with £10 billion specifically aimed at businesses impacted by the current US tariffs. Any business which is concerned about what tariff changes mean for them can find further guidance and support on great.gov.uk.

What steps his Department is taking to increase participation by (a) young people and (b) young people from (i) disadvantaged and (ii) underrepresented communities in Cadet Units in Fylde constituencies.

We are committed to sustaining and growing the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Cadet Forces across the UK, including in the Fylde constituency. Uplift in Cadet numbers will benefit all regions of the UK, but it will be targeted at those communities most in need. Given the fantastic benefits which can be gained from the Cadet experience we want more young people to be able to join and we aim to significantly grow both community and school Cadet numbers, expanding by 30% by 2030, with an ambition to reach 250,000 in the longer term. To encourage young people to join, the Cadet Force headquarters run national and regional marketing campaigns showcasing the benefits of personal development, adventure, and community involvement. The Cadet Forces are also very active on social media with regular posts publicising activities and further information about joining is also posted on the Cadet Forces’ websites. The Cadet Forces are inclusive organisations, committed to equality of opportunity for young people with activities heavily subsidised to ensure inclusivity. We are proud of the fact that we invest a significant amount in our Cadet Forces, and it is worth noting that if the cadet experience helps just 1% of cadets every year change their life outcomes so that they are in employment, education or training, the annual cost of the Cadet Forces is covered. Independent research shows that participation in the Cadet Forces has significant positive impacts on young people. It increases their performance at school and improves their employment and career prospects and the impact is particularly strong for those cadets that suffer economic and other disadvantages.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51549 on Exercise: Older People, what the cost to public purse was of producing the NHS 10 walking app.

The NHS Active 10 app was initially launched in February 2017 by Public Health England, in collaboration with the University of Sheffield. Initial development costs totalled £700,807.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 50256 on Farms: Lancashire, what (a) criteria and (b) priorities his Department will use to guide the reopening of the Capital Grants in summer 2025.

The improved Environmental Land Management standalone Capital Grants scheme will introduce maximum thresholds to ensure funding goes further. This will provide better value for money and ensure funding goes on the right environmental projects. The limits will be:£25,000 for items in the water quality, air quality, and natural flood management groups£35,000 for the group including boundary, tree and orchard items The priorities of the Capital Grants scheme will be to focus on projects that help the environment, for example, planting hedges or improving natural flood management.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51549 on Exercise: Older People, what steps he is taking to advertise the NHS 10 walking app.

Paid for media plans are agreed annually with My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Office. Plans for the rest of the year are not yet agreed. Through the Department’s Campaign Resource Centre, promotional NHS Active 10 materials are made available year-round to support health professionals, local authorities, educators, and community organisations in promoting physical activity initiatives. The app, as well as a portfolio of digital behaviour change tools managed by the Department, are promoted through the NHS Better Health website and the associated digital prevention pathways.

Whether her Department has a long-term strategy for improving road safety in Fylde constituency.

There is not a specific DfT road safety strategy for Flyde or Lancashire. It is for local authorities to decide upon the most appropriate road safety interventions, based on its knowledge of an area and taking into account local needs and considerations. However, the Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Department is developing its Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

What initiatives are in place for local communities to help identify road safety issues in Fylde constituency.

There is not a specific DfT road safety strategy for Flyde or Lancashire. It is for local authorities to decide upon the most appropriate road safety interventions, based on its knowledge of an area and taking into account local needs and considerations. However, the Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Department is developing its Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure consistent enforcement of food hygiene certification standards by local authorities in England.

To support food law enforcement consistency, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) publishes a Food Law Code of Practice. This provides statutory guidance to local authorities on how to meet their legal obligations as regulators of food law.The FSA operates the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in partnership with local authorities. The scheme protects public health by publishing a clear rating to indicate how compliant a business is with food hygiene law.To be an effective incentive, the scheme must be operated consistently. The FSA expects all local authorities to operate the scheme in line with its guidance. The FSA monitors local authority compliance and will intervene when evidence suggests a lack of consistency. The FSA coordinates regular consistency training in which all local authorities are expected to participate.

What guidance he provides to SMEs that face disruption as a result of changing tariff regimes.

The Government is conscious that this is an anxious time for all businesses, not just those trading with the USA. We have announced a range of measures to support SMEs dealing with cashflow difficulties linked to recent changes in global tariff rates, including an additional £500 million in lending capacity under the Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS), delivered by the British Business Bank. We are also expanding UKEF’s business support package by £20 billion, £10 billion of which will be used specifically for businesses impacted in the short term by the current US tariffs.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 38171 on Farmers: Lancashire, what steps his Department has taken to ensure support from the Farming Recovery Fund reaches the most vulnerable farmers (a) quickly and (b) effectively.

Environment Agency and Met Office data was used to identify which farm businesses will receive the Farming Recovery Fund recovery payment. This data on river flooding and exceptional rainfall allows us to determine affected land and make payments directly to eligible farms. By focusing on those with the most significant impacts, this approach ensures the payment contributes to uninsured costs resulting from the extreme wet weather.There was no need for farmers to submit an application or claim form. This straightforward process meant payments could be made quickly—usually within 28 days of receiving a letter or email from the RPA — without further evidence or confirmation of eligibility.

What regional economic development schemes are in place to support small creative businesses in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities including those in the creative industries. The Government has a wide range of offers aimed at supporting SMEs in Lancashire and across the UK SMEs in Fylde can benefit from specialist business advice, accessing finance and reaching new markets through Boost – Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub We will be launching the Business Growth Service (BGS) this summer, making it easier for businesses to get the advice and support they need. Any SME in Lancashire and across the UK will be able to access expert, impartial services within the BGS free of charge.

What plans her Department has to introduce a public awareness campaign on road safety in Fylde constituency.

The Government's longstanding road safety campaign, THINK!, aims to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads. The campaign currently runs across all of England and Wales, including the constituency of Fylde. The campaign uses highly targeted channels to reach 17-24 year old men, who are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than other drivers, prioritising issues such as speeding and drink driving.

Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of funding available through the Supporting Grassroots Music Fund for (a) non-electronic and (b) electronic music venues in each English region.

The Government is providing Arts Council England (ACE)’s Supporting Grassroots Music Fund with £2.5 million funding in 2025-26. This supports grassroots music venues, festivals, promoters and recording and rehearsal studios, all for both non-electronic and electronic music, across England. Applicants can apply for grants of up to £40,000 to develop new revenue streams, make repairs and improvements, and enhance the live music experience for fans.The fund does not draw a distinction between electronic and non-electronic music.

What steps he is taking to prevent the sale of illegally modified electric bikes.

The UK’s product safety framework requires businesses, including those that modify electric bikes, to only place safe and compliant consumer products on the market. The Office for Product Safety and Standards and Local Authority Trading Standards have powers to tackle the supply of unsafe or non-compliant consumer products and remove them from the market.The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will enable the Government to modernise product safety law, including placing new duties on online marketplaces to better protect consumers from unsafe products.Enforcement of illegally modified electric bikes used on public roads is a matter for the police.

What steps her Department is taking to assess the quality of road construction in Fylde constituency.

Local authorities are required to provide data to the Department for Transport each year on the condition of their classified roads. The data is available on gov.uk.In September 2024, the Government released a new data standard for road condition monitoring (PAS 2161) that will help the sector to innovate and drive efficiencies. Local highway authorities will be required to gather road condition data using this standard from the 2026/27 financial year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 51543 on Cost of Living: Fylde, how the new Fair Repayment Rate for Universal Credit debt deductions is being implemented; and how this will ensure that people who are struggling with debt are adequately supported in Fylde constituency.

The Fair Repayment Rate was implemented from 30 April 2025. This measure reduced the overall deductions cap taken from the Universal Credit standard personal allowance from 25% to 15% enabling approximately 1.2 million UC households retain, on average, an additional £420 a year or £35 per month of their award. This change will be applied to assessment periods starting on or after the 30 April 2025. The Department encourages anyone unable to afford the proposed rate of repayment to contact Universal Credit or DWP Debt Management at the earliest opportunity. The Department will seek to do as much as they are permitted to do to support customers through the recovery of their overpayments.