Written questions by Cooper.

If he will include enforcement measures in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to prevent the sale of tobacco products on the internet to those under age.

Selling tobacco to someone underage, whether in person or online, is a serious criminal offence which carries a fine of up to £2,500 on conviction in a magistrates’ court. It is the responsibility of all retailers including those online to ensure their customers are over the age of sale. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, introduced to Parliament on 5 November 2024, is the biggest public health intervention in a generation, and takes significant action to strengthen enforcement to ensure that current and new sales regulations are successfully implemented.The Bill introduces a new £200 fixed penalty notice in England and Wales, which will enable Trading Standards Officers to act ‘on the spot’ to clamp down on rogue retailers selling tobacco, vapes or nicotine products to people underage, whether in-person or online. The Bill also provides powers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of these products. Once the scheme is introduced, it will be a criminal offence to sell these products, either in person or online, without a licence. Licensing offences will carry significant financial penalties, and those who commit sales offences could face licence revocation, enabling Trading Standards to further clamp down on rogue retailers. The details of the licensing scheme including licence conditions will be subject to consultation ahead of introduction.Alongside the Bill, the Government is exploring how we can further tackle online underage sales. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is creating a framework of standards and governance, namely the UK digital identity and attributes trust framework, underpinned by legislation, to enable the widespread use of trusted digital identity services. This framework provides a potential opportunity for companies providing age verification services to be certified, to prove they are delivering age assurance solutions that meet Government standards.

Communities and Local Government, what the timelines are for the cross-government strategy to end homelessness.

Homelessness and rough sleeping levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected and harms our communities.The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy. We will consider youth homelessness as part of the cross-government strategy.We are working at pace to deliver these new initiatives, and we will update the House on progress in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will include a youth chapter in the upcoming homelessness strategy.

Homelessness and rough sleeping levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected and harms our communities.The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy. We will consider youth homelessness as part of the cross-government strategy.We are working at pace to deliver these new initiatives, and we will update the House on progress in due course.

Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of further gambling industry regulation being considered by her Department on levels of economic growth.

The previous Government’s white paper published in April 2023 assessed the impact of key proposals contained in the paper. The estimates did not quantify the impact of all proposals and are expected to have changed in light of updated evidence and finalised policy decisions.Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) are currently being developed to estimate the anticipated impacts of key proposed legislative measures. Assessments for measures in scope of the Government’s Better Regulation Framework will undergo scrutiny from the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) and the impact assessments will be published alongside the RPC opinion.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential cost to the public purse of introducing automatic voter registration.

As set out in our manifesto, the government is actively exploring ways to improve voter registration, including the use of data and online services to help increase registration levels so that everyone who is eligible to vote can vote. Appropriate assessments will be made as policy develops.

Whether she plans to expand the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to milk based drinks.

The SDIL is internationally recognised as a successful tax intervention, with measurable reformulation and consequent health impacts. As with all taxes, the Government keeps SDIL under review as part of its Budget process.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of improving access to healthy food on the number of people who cannot work due to long-term illness.

In the United Kingdom, most people’s diet is not in line with the Government’s dietary recommendations as encapsulated in the Eatwell Guide. Most people consume too many calories, too much salt, sugar, and saturated fat, and not enough fibre, fruit, and vegetables. This increases the risk of gaining weight and suffering from type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, and some cancers at an earlier age.Whilst the Government has not made a specific assessment of the impact of improving access to healthy food for people who cannot work due to long term illness, published modelling data suggests that if population intakes were in line with the Eatwell Guide it would improve life expectancy by approximately eight years for the average 40 year old.The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions in which different types of foods and drinks should be consumed to achieve a healthy, balanced diet. It is communicated through the NHS.UK website and Government social marketing campaigns such as Better Health, Healthier Families, and Start for Life.

What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of voluntary sugar reduction programmes.

Children currently consume twice the recommended level of sugar. There is strong evidence that high sugar intakes increase the risk of tooth decay and weight gain. Being overweight increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.We face a childhood obesity crisis, and the Government is committed to tackling this and raising the healthiest generation of children. The Government has already taken action to ensure the implementation of restrictions on the advertising of high sugar food and drink, which will incentivise industry to reformulate and reduce sugar levels in their products.The Soft Drinks Industry Levy has nearly halved the level of sugar in drinks in scope, and the voluntary sugar reduction programme has also reduced sugar in many products.Working together as a mission led Government, and through our shift to prevention, we are reviewing the balance of mandatory and voluntary measures that will be required to deliver further reductions in sugar levels in everyday food and drink products.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing auto-enrolment for the Healthy Start scheme.

The Healthy Start scheme is kept under review. There have been no discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on introducing auto-enrolment for Healthy Start.The Healthy Start scheme was introduced in 2006 to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old, from very low-income households. It can be used to buy, or put towards the cost of, fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk, and infant formula. Healthy Start beneficiaries have access to free Healthy Start Vitamins for pregnant women and children aged under four years old. Healthy Start now supports over 355,000 beneficiaries. This figure is higher than the previous paper voucher scheme.The NHS Business Services Authority operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. All applicants to the Healthy Start scheme, where they meet the eligibility criteria, must accept the terms and conditions of the prepaid card at the point of application. As the prepaid card is a financial product and cannot be issued without the applicant accepting these terms, the NHS Business Services Authority is not able to automatically provide eligible families with a prepaid card. However, we remain open to all viable routes to improve uptake.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of improving access to healthy food on NHS waiting lists.

Poor diet and obesity are major drivers of physical and mental ill health. No assessment has been made to date to specifically assess the impact of improving access to healthy food on National Health Service waiting lists, however shifting the focus from treatment to prevention is one of the three shifts for the Government’s mission for an NHS fit for the future, and is a cornerstone of supporting people to live healthier lives.

Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps with technology and communications companies to mitigate harm to people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published advice on exposure to electromagnetic fields in the everyday environment, including electrical appliances in the home and mobile phones. You can find this information and the relevant fact sheets on the government website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/electromagnetic-fields.A robust regulatory framework exists to ensure that exposure to electromagnetic fields remains well within safe levels. In the UK, the control of exposures occurs through product safety legislation, health and safety legislation and planning policy.The ongoing transition from analogue to digital landlines (“the PSTN migration”) will not change the regulatory obligations on telecommunications companies to keep their users safe. We expect telecoms companies to follow guidance on product safety in relation to radio waves, as set out by the UKHSA.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that new housing developments have sufficient opportunities for residents to easily access healthy foods.

The National Planning Policy Framework already expects policies and decisions at the local level to enable and support healthy lifestyles, including through access to healthier food.As part of the consultation on proposed reforms to the Framework and other changes to the planning system, the Government sought views on how the planning system could better support local authorities in promoting healthy communities, and specifically, in tackling childhood obesity. This included considering whether a more consistent approach to controlling hot food takeaways near schools though planning policies would be effective.The consultation closed on the 24 September and officials in my department are currently analysing responses with a view to publishing a government response before the end of the year.

Communities and Local Government, what support her Department provides to district councils to help reduce the levels of homelessness.

The Government is clear that homelessness is too high and too many families are living in temporary accommodation. We want to take a long-term approach and, working with Mayors and councils across the country, we will develop a new cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness. The Deputy Prime Minister will chair an Inter-Ministerial Group to drive this forward.We are also tackling the root causes of homelessness, including by delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. We will abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions with immediate effect, preventing private renters being exploited and discriminated against, and empowering people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of pausing the measures on adult gambling centres announced in the Gambling White Paper.

The Government is committed to strengthening protections to ensure that people can continue to enjoy gambling as a pastime without the harms that can ensue from harmful gambling. We are committed to reviewing the best available evidence from a wide range of sources and working with all stakeholders in order to support the sector and ensure there are robust protections in place to protect those at risk.The Minister for Gambling has met and held wide-ranging discussions with a range of stakeholders, including the British Amusement Catering Trade Association. We will provide further updates to the House soon.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of contract inflation on the cost of district council services.

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces, including remuneration. The Government recognises the challenges local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. Future local authority funding decisions will be a matter for the Budget and Local Government Finance Settlement in which we are engaged.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of trends in public sector pay over the last three years on district council budgets.

Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces, including remuneration. The Government recognises the challenges local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. Future local authority funding decisions will be a matter for the Budget and Local Government Finance Settlement in which we are engaged.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the economic impact of (a) building more social housing and (b) reducing the number of families living in temporary accommodation.

The Government is clear that homelessness is too high and that too many families are living in temporary accommodation. We intend to take a long-term approach to prevent and end homelessness. Working with Mayors and councils across the country, we will develop a new cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness. The Deputy Prime Minister will chair an Inter-Ministerial Group to drive this forward.We are also tackling the root causes of homelessness, including by delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. Our aspiration is to ensure that, in the first full financial year of this Parliament (2025-26), the number of Social Rent homes is rising rather than falling.Our proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework include setting a clear expectation that housing needs assessments must consider the needs of those requiring Social Rent homes, and that local authorities should specify their expectations on Social Rent delivery as part of broader affordable housing policies.We have asked Homes England and the Greater London Authority to maximise the number of Social Rent homes in allocating the remaining Affordable Homes Programme funding. The Government has started to review the increased Right to Buy discounts introduced in 2012, on which we will bring forward more details and secondary legislation to implement changes in the autumn. We have also announced new flexibilities for how councils can use their Right to Buy receipts to deliver replacement homes; these flexibilities will be in place for an initial 24 months, subject to review.We are committed to setting out details of future Government investment in social and affordable housing at the Spending Review.

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with (a) gambling companies and (b) relevant trade associations on the potential introduction of a statutory levy.

The implementation of a statutory levy is under consideration as part of the Government commitment to tackle gambling harm. The Minister for Gambling has recently met and held wide-ranging discussions with the Betting and Gaming Council, the British Amusement Catering Trade Association, British Horseracing Association, GambleAware, Gambling with Lives and others.We will provide further updates to the House soon.

Media and Sport, when she plans to introduce a statutory levy on gambling operators.

The implementation of a statutory levy is under consideration as part of the Government commitment to tackle gambling harm. The Minister for Gambling has recently met and held wide-ranging discussions with the Betting and Gaming Council, the British Amusement Catering Trade Association, British Horseracing Association, GambleAware, Gambling with Lives and others.We will provide further updates to the House soon.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of physical advertising for unhealthy food products on levels of child obesity.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of outdoor physical advertising for less healthy food and drink products on levels of child obesity. However, the Government welcomes recent action at a local level to ban junk food marketing across public transport networks and public spaces that are controlled locally.Supporting people to stay healthier for longer is at the heart of the Government’s Health Mission. This includes taking bold action to tackle the childhood obesity crisis and create the healthiest generation of children ever.The Government has committed to implementing the advertising restrictions set out in the Communications Act 2003 on less healthy food and drink products without further delay. The regulations introduce a 9:00pm watershed for the advertisement of less healthy food or drink products on television, and a total restriction of paid-for advertising of these products online, which will come into force United Kingdom-wide on 1 October 2025.Evidence shows that these restrictions will have a direct impact on childhood obesity by reducing children’s exposure to advertising of less healthy products. We estimate that these restrictions will remove up to 7.2 billion calories from children’s diets per year in the UK, and reduce the number of children living with obesity by 20,000.