Written questions by Gelderd.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that disabled people who are unable to walk outdoors, but who undertake other forms of physical activity, are able to participate in the NHS fitness rewards scheme.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of geographical variation in public access to defibrillator provision in rural communities.

The Circuit national defibrillator network is independently operated by The British Heart Foundation (BHF). Information on the BHF website states that there are currently 121,449 registered defibrillators, of which 58% are accessible to the public on a 24...

What steps his Department is taking to support public awareness of how to access and use community defibrillators in emergency situations.

The Circuit national defibrillator network is independently operated by The British Heart Foundation (BHF). Information on the BHF website states that there are currently 121,449 registered defibrillators, of which 58% are accessible to the public on a 24...

What estimate his Department has made of the proportion of publicly accessible defibrillators that are registered on The Circuit national defibrillator network.

The Circuit national defibrillator network is independently operated by The British Heart Foundation (BHF). Information on the BHF website states that there are currently 121,449 registered defibrillators, of which 58% are accessible to the public on a 24...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of waiting times at the Laurels Gender Identity Clinic on patients.

Awaiting answer.

What support is available for people who are struggle to manage monthly in-person appointments to obtain repeat prescriptions of long-term medicine.

No assessment has been made as patients are not routinely required to attend monthly in person appointments in order to obtain long-term prescribed medicines. Information on how to order a repeat prescription is available on the NHS.UK website at the foll...

What information his Department holds on the number of people that started private gender dysphoria treatment while on NHS waiting lists in each of the last five years.

This information is not available to NHS England or the Department.

What assessment his Department has made of the operational impacts and additional costs caused by the current process of monthly in-person appointments to obtain long-term prescribed medicine.

No assessment has been made as patients are not routinely required to attend monthly in person appointments in order to obtain long-term prescribed medicines. Information on how to order a repeat prescription is available on the NHS.UK website at the foll...

What support the NHS commissions for people awaiting assessment at Gender Identity Clinics; and what safeguarding arrangements apply to these patients.

Local National Health Service trusts, commissioned by integrated care boards, will have the necessary skills, experience, and competence to meet the needs of individuals who are on the waiting list for gender dysphoria services and who have other health n...

How many people are waiting more than 24 months for a first appointment at Gender Identity Clinics for which the latest data is available.

In 2023, the High Court, via AA v NHS Commissioning Board, considered NHS England's approach for responding to the imbalance between demand and capacity for specialised gender services, including with reference to the Equality Act 2010. The High Court fou...

If he will set out the duty of care that applies to people awaiting assessment at Gender Identity Clinics.

In 2023, the High Court, via AA v NHS Commissioning Board, considered NHS England's approach for responding to the imbalance between demand and capacity for specialised gender services, including with reference to the Equality Act 2010. The High Court fou...

What assessment he has made of the equality implications of waiting times for Gender Identity Clinic services.

In 2023, the High Court, via AA v NHS Commissioning Board, considered NHS England's approach for responding to the imbalance between demand and capacity for specialised gender services, including with reference to the Equality Act 2010. The High Court fou...

How many NHS dental posts advertised by Integrated Care Boards are unfilled in rural areas; and whether he has undertaken analysis of the reasons for issues with recruiting to those posts.

1.8 million additional courses of National Health Service dental treatment have been delivered in the seven months between April 2025 to October 2025 compared to the corresponding months prior to July 2024. However, we are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural areas. The recruitment of dentists in underserved areas remains a priority, with integrated care boards (ICBs) continuing to be able to make use of the Golden Hello scheme to encourage dentists to work in those areas that need them most.The Government is committed to ensuring people across the country can access urgent dental care when they need it. During 2025/26, ICBs commissioned additional urgent dental appointments and there is now an urgent care safety net available in all areas of the country. From April 2026, dentists are now required to deliver a set number of urgent dental appointments each year.The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will now make it a requirement for newly qualified dentists to practice in the NHS for a minimum period, intended to be at least three years.

What steps he is taking to improve the recruitment and retention of NHS dentists in rural areas.

1.8 million additional courses of National Health Service dental treatment have been delivered in the seven months between April 2025 to October 2025 compared to the corresponding months prior to July 2024. However, we are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural areas. The recruitment of dentists in underserved areas remains a priority, with integrated care boards (ICBs) continuing to be able to make use of the Golden Hello scheme to encourage dentists to work in those areas that need them most.The Government is committed to ensuring people across the country can access urgent dental care when they need it. During 2025/26, ICBs commissioned additional urgent dental appointments and there is now an urgent care safety net available in all areas of the country. From April 2026, dentists are now required to deliver a set number of urgent dental appointments each year.The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will now make it a requirement for newly qualified dentists to practice in the NHS for a minimum period, intended to be at least three years.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of provision of NHS dental services in rural areas.

1.8 million additional courses of National Health Service dental treatment have been delivered in the seven months between April 2025 to October 2025 compared to the corresponding months prior to July 2024. However, we are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in more rural areas. The recruitment of dentists in underserved areas remains a priority, with integrated care boards (ICBs) continuing to be able to make use of the Golden Hello scheme to encourage dentists to work in those areas that need them most.The Government is committed to ensuring people across the country can access urgent dental care when they need it. During 2025/26, ICBs commissioned additional urgent dental appointments and there is now an urgent care safety net available in all areas of the country. From April 2026, dentists are now required to deliver a set number of urgent dental appointments each year.The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will now make it a requirement for newly qualified dentists to practice in the NHS for a minimum period, intended to be at least three years.

What assessment his Department has made of (a) trends in the levels of respiratory disease and (b) the number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in South East Cornwall, compared with national averages.

Data is available for emergency Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’. The following table shows the number of FAEs where there was a primary diagnosis of 'respiratory conditions’ for South East Cornwall and England, for activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector, for 2024/25 and provisionally for 2025/26:Westminster Parliamentary Constituency of Residence2024/25 (August 2024 to March 2025)2025/26 (April 2025 to November 2025)South East Cornwall725530England608,449423,588Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS England.Available data on trends in respiratory conditions can be found on the Department’s fingertips dataset. Data is not available by parliamentary constituency. Data is available at regional, county, unitary authority, and integrated care board level. Information for Cornwall can be found at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/Respiratory#page/1/gid/1/pat/15/ati/502/are/E06000052/iid/40701/age/163/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/1/cid/4/tbm/1

What his department’s timeline is for deciding on the second wave of Modern Service Frameworks; and whether respiratory conditions will be considered.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire on 20 February 2026 to Question 112322.

What steps his department is taking to require Food Business Operators to provide written information on allergens for non-pre-packed food at the point of ordering, in line with the Food Standards Agency guidance of 5 March 2025.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) published best practice guidance on 5 March 2025 to help food businesses provide written allergen information at the point of ordering. This includes information on menus, printed materials or digital platforms, supported where appropriate by a verbal conversation. The guidance is intended to support clearer, more consistent communication of allergen information to consumers.At present, this guidance is non‑statutory, and no mandatory requirement for written allergen information has been introduced. The FSA is however, monitoring how the guidance is being adopted by food businesses and providing the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with regular updates.A robust evaluation has begun this year which will assess uptake and effectiveness. This evidence will help determine whether further measures, including legislation to require written allergen information at the point of ordering, are needed once the guidance has had time to embed.

What steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in South East Cornwall constituency.

Through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to give children and young people the best start in life, including in the South East Cornwall constituency. The Government is expanding access to mental health support teams in all schools and colleges to reach all pupils by 2029, ensuring that every pupil has access to early support services. More widely, we are investing £26 million in new crisis centres, rolling out young futures hubs, and hiring 8,500 more mental health staff to reduce waiting times.

What steps he is taking to provide support for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to improve early intervention for children with emerging mental health difficulties.

Through our Plan for Change, we’re determined to give children and young people the best start in life. The Government is expanding access to mental health support teams in all schools and colleges to reach all pupils by 2029, ensuring that every pupil has access to early support services. More widely, we are investing £26 million in new crisis centres, rolling out young futures hubs, and hiring 8,500 more mental health staff.