Written questions by Snowden.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51546 on Broadband: Lancashire, what steps he is taking to ensure that the remaining (a) homes and (b) businesses in (i) Fylde and (ii) the rest of Lancashire will be connected by the end of the rollout.

As part of Project Gigabit, Openreach is currently delivering a contract to bring gigabit-capable broadband to homes and businesses in Lancashire that are not expected to be reached via the commercial market, including in Fylde. This contract is due to run until 2030.For any premises that cannot be connected via this contract, and remain outside of commercial plans, the government is exploring options for where support might be required to accelerate the deployment of appropriate technologies, including fixed wireless access.

With reference to the White Paper entitled Get Britain Working, published 26 November 2024, what metrics her Department is using to measure progress in increasing employment among (a) disabled people and (b) people with health conditions.

The Government has a clear ambition to raise the employment rate to 80% and has published a set of key indicators that it will monitor closely as it carries out this work. These will build on aims set out in the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change and the Get Britain Working White Paper and recognise that there are many components of a sustained improvement to the workforce. These indicators include the disability employment gap and the health-related economic inactivity rate. DWP will shortly be publishing an update on progress in delivering the reforms outlined in the Get Britain Working White Paper over the last six months. The disability employment gap is the difference between the employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people aged 18 to 66. Disability is measured using the Government Statistical Service (GSS) Harmonised Standard definition which classes as disabled, anyone who reports a physical or mental health condition that has lasted, or is expected to last, 12 months that reduces their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. The health-related economic inactivity rate is the number of people aged 18 to 66 who are economically inactive and give long-term sickness as the main reason (most of which will also be classed as disabled) divided by the 18 to 66 population.

Whether she has had discussions with her US counterpart on (a) tax exemptions and (b) relief measures for UK-based SMEs that rely on Chinese manufacturing.

The Chancellor regularly speaks with her counterpart, the US Treasury Secretary.This government will continue to act in Britain’s national interest – for workers, for businesses and for families.The Chancellor welcomes areas of collaboration such as the recently announced UK-US economic deal of 8 May.The agreement of 8 May is the first step towards a legally binding Economic Prosperity Deal with the US which will look at increasing digital trade, enhancing access for our world-leading services industries, and improving supply chains.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) targeted relief and (b) export support for the (i) creative and (ii) publishing industries affected by changes to international trade policy.

My department has a dedicated exports promotion programme for the creative industries to grow their exports. We will continue to use trade and economic partnership agreements to reduce trade barriers for creative industries businesses.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that nuclear energy contributes to the resilience of the UK’s energy supply.

The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan makes clear that nuclear will play an important role in our future energy system, providing low-carbon, baseload power to the grid. Sizewell C continues to make good progress, while Great British Nuclear is driving forward its Small Modular Reactor competition, with final decisions to be taken shortly. The Nuclear Regulatory Task Force set up by the Prime Minister is working to identify reforms to better enable speedier, safe deployment of nuclear technology.

If she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the guidance entitled EAPC standards and legal requirements, published on 10 December 2024, in relation to preventing the sale of illegally modified electric bikes.

The Department believes that there is no need for such an assessment. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) market surveillance unit inspects vehicles, trailers and equipment to ensure they meet safety and environmental standards. This includes surveillance of the market for Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs). The DVSA is empowered to take enforcement action against retailers selling non-compliant EAPCs, including electric bikes which have been modified and not meeting regulatory standards.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) automatically enroll eligible households on and (b) inform eligible households about the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme uses data matching between the Government and energy suppliers to provide rebates automatically to the majority of eligible households (around 95%). These households will receive a letter informing them of their eligibility automatically with no further action required. Where it is not clear from the data-matching process if a household is eligible for a rebate, for instance where we have not been able to match them with a participating energy supplier or certain Government-held data on property characteristics is missing, they are sent a letter explaining that they may contact a helpline to check their eligibility. For more information on the Warm Home Discount and eligibility for the scheme, please visit GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 51548 on Primary Care: Lancashire, if he will define the term most at need in relation to those targeted by the integrated dental access programme.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, what steps his Department plans to take to evaluate the effectiveness of measures to deter waste crime.

The Resources and Waste Policy Programme Evaluation is running to 2027 and is designed to help Defra understand what has and has not been successful about the design and delivery of objectives and commitments within the policy programme, including waste crime. Link to Impact Evaluation Baseline Report.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to ensure that SMEs in Fylde can access (a) the National Housing Delivery Fund and (b) other financial support mechanisms.

With regard to support for small and medium-sized housebuilders, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 June 2025 (HCWS673).With regard to the National Housing Delivery Fund, the government will set out further details at the Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, what criteria she plans to use to allocate National Housing Delivery Fund funding to SME housebuilders in Fylde.

With regard to support for small and medium-sized housebuilders, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 June 2025 (HCWS673).With regard to the National Housing Delivery Fund, the government will set out further details at the Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to ensure adequate (a) transparency and (b) accountability in the (i) allocation and (ii) use of National Housing Delivery Fund funding.

With regard to support for small and medium-sized housebuilders, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 June 2025 (HCWS673).With regard to the National Housing Delivery Fund, the government will set out further details at the Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the reforms announced in her Department's press release entitled Government backs SME builders to get Britain building, published on 28 May 2025, what steps she is taking to support SME housebuilders in Fylde.

With regard to support for small and medium-sized housebuilders, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 June 2025 (HCWS673).With regard to the National Housing Delivery Fund, the government will set out further details at the Spending Review.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to publish annual updates of regional waste crime heatmaps produced by the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency have had a positive response to their recent article that included regional waste crime heatmaps and have committed to publishing future updates.

What steps she is taking to help support children with SEND following the application of VAT to private school fees in Fylde constituency.

The majority of children with special educational needs (SEN), including most with education, health and care (EHC) plans, are already educated in mainstream state-funded schools where their needs are met. The department works to support local authorities to ensure that every local area has sufficient places for children that need them, including pupils with SEN requiring places at state-funded schools.The government is providing an almost £1 billion uplift in high needs revenue funding for the 2025/26 financial year. The government has also announced £740 million of high needs capital funding for 2025/26 to invest in places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, or who require alternative provision.Local authorities fund pupils’ places in private schools where their needs can only be met in a private school. Where this is the case, local authorities will be able to reclaim that VAT on the fees from HMRC.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2025 to Question 46934 on Energy: Prices, what his Department's timetable is for publishing its response to the consultation entitled Expanding the Warm Home Discount Scheme, 2025 to 2026, published on 25 February 2025.

The Government will publish its response to the consultation on expanding the Warm Home Discount Scheme in due course.

What steps Great British Energy plans to take to support projects in Lancashire.

On 21 March 2025, the government announced £180 million of funding for rooftop solar panels for schools and hospitals delivered through Great British Energy (GBE). Five NHS trusts within Lancashire will be fitted with solar panels under this scheme. Successful schools will be announced in due course. GBE will strategically develop, invest in, and own clean energy projects across the UK. It will also create thousands of good jobs and build supply chains in every region of the UK through the projects that it supports.

How many households were in receipt of the Warm Home Discount in Fylde constituency on 30 May 2025; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of households in Fylde constituency that would be eligible for the Warm Home Discount under its proposals.

The latest published Warm Home Discount statistics are for 2023-24 and use the constituency boundaries operating prior to the 2024 General Election. Most (85%) of the residential premises in the current Fylde constituency come from the Fylde constituency under the previous boundaries, in which 3,919 households received the Warm Home Discount rebate in 2023-24. The Warm Home Discount statistics for 2024-25 will be published on 26th June 2025. The statistics only cover receipt of the Warm Home Discount and estimates of eligibility are not available.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 50256 on Farms: Lancashire, what the start date of the new Higher Tier scheme will be; and how farmers can apply.

Defra will open the rolling application window for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) later in the year. Currently, CSHT is by invitation only following contact by Natural England or the Forestry Commission. This ensures that bespoke pre-application advice is provided to support those invited. We have published information that sets out what you can do now to prepare to apply for CSHT on GOV.UK. (Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier: preview guidance - GOV.UK).

What recent discussions she has had with banking sector representatives on the future of face-to-face banking services for (a) older people, (b) people with limited digital access and (c) other people.

Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of remote banking. The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. The Government also recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Under its rules, the UK’s largest banks and building societies are required to assess the impact of a closure or material alteration of a relevant cash withdrawal or deposit facility and put in place a new service if necessary. The FCA is required by law to keep its access to cash rules under review and is monitoring the impact of these rules on an ongoing basis to ensure they deliver the right outcomes for businesses and consumers. The FCA also requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers, such as the elderly and disabled. Additionally, under the Equality Act 2010, banks must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all. Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK. Furthermore, the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, allowing people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 160 are already open.