Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Allied Universal (G4S) in delivering government contracts across every Department.

Allied Universal includes a number of G4S group entities. Contract awards may therefore be recorded under different UK legal entities (for example, G4S Care and Justice Services (UK) Ltd and G4S Facilities Management (UK) Ltd). Contracting authorities are responsible for awarding and managing their contracts, including monitoring performance and applying contractual remedies in line with the regulations in force at the time. For contracts designated as the Government’s most important contracts, performance against KPIs is published on GOV.UK. Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder). Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search). The government has taken significant steps to increase transparency in the delivery of public services. The Cabinet Office regularly publishes a list of the government’s most important contracts on GOV.UK. This includes up to four Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each contract, together with current performance. Where Allied Universal (including G4S entities) holds such contracts, the information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-performance-indicators-kpis-for-governments-most-important-contracts. For other contracts, effectiveness is monitored by the relevant contracting authorities through their contract management arrangements

Whether departments have reported concerns about Allied Universal (G4S) delivery of contracted services to the Cabinet Office in the past 12 months.

Allied Universal includes a number of G4S group entities. Contract awards may therefore be recorded under different UK legal entities (for example, G4S Care and Justice Services (UK) Ltd and G4S Facilities Management (UK) Ltd). Contracting authorities are responsible for awarding and managing their contracts, including monitoring performance and applying contractual remedies in line with the regulations in force at the time. For contracts designated as the Government’s most important contracts, performance against KPIs is published on GOV.UK. Details of central government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder). Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 inc VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search). The government has taken significant steps to increase transparency in the delivery of public services. The Cabinet Office regularly publishes a list of the government’s most important contracts on GOV.UK. This includes up to four Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each contract, together with current performance. Where Allied Universal (including G4S entities) holds such contracts, the information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-performance-indicators-kpis-for-governments-most-important-contracts. For other contracts, effectiveness is monitored by the relevant contracting authorities through their contract management arrangements

What steps his Department is taking to ensure patients receive timely updates about the status of their NHS operations through (a) the NHS App, (b) other digital platforms and (c) other means.

The National Health Service continues to invest heavily in the NHS App, and in the past two years we have been implementing digital integration between acute hospitals and the NHS App, meaning that patients can now view their clinical pathway and appointments via the NHS App. We continue to work with hospital trusts to maximise the opportunities available to update patients via the NHS App, which is a key part of the 10-year plan to reform the NHS.The NHS App has now been adopted by 88% of acute trusts, up nearly 20% since July 2024, which enables patients to view and manage their hospital appointments.Analysis shows that hospitals that make the changes to plug their systems and processes into the NHS App key app features have improved elective care waiting times.

Whether he plans to allow patients to (a) view and (b) choose from available operation appointments across different hospitals within the same region.

Patients in England can choose the hospital for their first outpatient appointments via the NHS e-Referral Service and the NHS App, allowing them to view and choose from available appointments across different hospitals within the same region.The National Health Service is a large, decentralized system, and individual NHS hospital trusts are responsible for managing their own patient portals, resulting in different systems and features. Each trust may set its own policies and internal delays before results are displayed in the portal, rather than linking them directly to the patient. A delay in displaying results is a common practice for sensitive test results linked to conditions such as cancer, to give doctors an opportunity to review them with the patient first.The NHS ensures adequate data for My Planned Care by employing a multi-faceted approach, including centralised data collection and curation, implementing shared records for better data integration across systems, establishing robust data quality checks and reporting, adhering to strict information governance and security standards, and actively working to link diverse data sources. These processes support the provision of timely and accurate information on the My Planned Care website to help patients and healthcare professionals.The NHS continues to invest heavily in the NHS App and in the past two years we have been implementing digital integration between acute hospitals and the NHS App, meaning that patients can now view their clinical pathway and appointments via the NHS App. We continue to work with hospital trusts to maximise the opportunities available to update patients via the NHS App, which is a key part of the 10-year plan to reform the NHS.The NHS App has now been adopted by 88% of acute trusts, up nearly 20% since July 2024, which enables patients to view and manage their hospital appointments.Analysis shows that hospitals that make the changes to plug their systems and processes into the NHS App key app features have improved elective care waiting times.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for urgent NHS operations in cases where patients are waiting significantly beyond the clinically recommended timeframe.

It is unacceptable that patients continue to wait lengthy periods for treatment, especially where waits are for high priority surgical procedures.We are committed to driving down waiting times. In January, we published our Elective Reform Plan, which sets out the productivity and reform efforts needed to support our commitment to return to the NHS Constitutional Standard that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment, by March 2029.We have already improved performance against this standard by 2.7% compared to last year, with performance increasing from 58.9% in June 2024 to 61.5% in June 2025. In the Operational Planning Guidance, we set a national target to reach 65% for Referral to Treatment performance by March 2026. The waiting list has reduced by over 252,000 in the past year, and we have exceeded our pledge to deliver an additional two million appointments, tests, and operations, having delivered 4.9 million more since July 2024.There is a clear clinical prioritisation process, including for the cancer standards, where our expectation is that patients are seen very rapidly. All waiting lists are rightly subject to clinical prioritisation at a local level, ensuring that patients are prioritised in line with clinical need, while considering overall wait time.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of tapering the introduction of changes to unused pension funds and death benefits into scope of Inheritance Tax from 6 April 2027.

From 6 April 2027 most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included within the value of a person’s estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. This change was announced on 30 October 2024 and will only impact those who die on or after 6 April 2027. There are no plans to change this commencement date. The government has published draft legislation in July 2025 for technical consultation and will publish full guidance ahead of these changes coming into effect.

What plans his Department has to increase the availability of (a) daily and (b) weekly surgical appointments for operations in NHS hospitals.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we are committed to returning to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients, including those waiting for surgical appointments, wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.We are investing in additional capacity to deliver appointments to help bring lists and waiting times down. We provided additional investment in the Autumn Budget that has enabled us to fulfil our pledge to deliver over two million more elective care appointments early. More than double that number, 4.9 million more appointments, have now been delivered.We are also continuing to deliver dedicated and protected surgical hubs to deliver high volume low complexity (HVLC) surgery more efficiently. Surgical hubs help to create additional capacity for surgical appointments, whilst improving outcomes for patients. Health Foundation analysis found that HVLC activity was on average 21.9% higher in a trust with a new hub in the first year of opening, with effects seen within three months of opening.We have committed to increase the number of surgical hubs over the next three years on top of the 120 currently operational. At the Autumn Budget 2024, my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an additional £1.65 billion in funding to support NHS performance across secondary and emergency care, including for surgical hubs.

Whether his Department plans to increase the use of capacity in local private hospitals to reduce NHS waiting times for surgical procedures.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we have committed to return to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.Independent sector providers have a role to play in supporting the NHS as trusted partners to deliver elective services by using additional capacity to tackle the backlog whilst delivering value for money, delivering more than 100,000 elective appointment and procedures every week for the NHS.Patients have a legal right to choose where they go for their first appointment when referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient. This includes the independent sector who hold contracts with integrated care boards across the country to deliver services for the NHS.The NHS and the independent sector have established a partnership agreement, the first of its kind for 25 years, setting out how we will work together to reduce the elective care waiting list (including that for surgical procedures). This will see more NHS patients able to choose to be treated in a private hospital where there is capacity, at no cost to patients.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of Co-Op's Project Lunar proposals.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has the policy lead for regulation of workplace health and safety in Great Britain. The primary responsibility for managing risk to health and safety lies with employers. An employer is the person or organisation that is legally responsible, under health and safety law, for managing and controlling risks created by their work activities. It is for the employer to determine the best way to manage those risks taking account of the circumstances of their business and work activity. There may be greater risks for lone workers without direct supervision or someone to help them if things go wrong, and an employer must identify the risks to lone workers and put control measures in place to protect them. HSE provides guidance on lone working: Lone working: Protect those working alone - HSE which includes advice on violence in the workplace. HSE has not made an assessment of the Co-op’s Project Lunar.

How Allied Universal (G4S) performed against the key performance indicators at the most recent performance review on their electronic monitoring contact.

AUEM performance against the two contracts they deliver for Electronic Monitoring is published quarterly. The most recent reported performance can be found here: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts - GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of post-consumer textiles collected in the UK is (a) processed domestically and (b) exported (i) in total and (ii) of material categorised as unsellable.

While the department does not hold internal estimates on the proportion of post-consumer textiles processed domestically, exported, and respective proportions deemed unsellable, industry partners provide some insight. WRAP estimates that the UK generated approximately 1.453 million tonnes of post-consumer textiles in 2022. Of this,1.032m tonnes (71%) was processed or resold domestically, while 421,000 tonnes (29%) was exported. Of the 1.032m tonnes processed domestically, 276,000 tonnes (26.7%) was estimated to be resold to the UK public, and 759,000 tonnes (73.5%) was estimated to be sent to end of life (percentages do not sum to 100%. This is due to double counting where there is uncertainty). Of the 421,000 tonnes of exported post-consumer textiles, while the proportion categorised as unsellable is not disclosed, 99% were categorised as worn clothing, while 1% was categorised as rags.

Whether departments have raised concerns about Allied Universal (G4S) compliance with contractual obligations relating to the (a) timeliness and (b) accuracy of electronic monitoring installations.

No concerns about Allied Universal’s performance against Electronic Monitoring contractual obligations about timeliness and accuracy of installation have been escalated from the Ministry of Justice to the Cabinet Office. Nor have the Cabinet Office raised any escalations from other Departments with the Ministry of Justice.

What steps his Department is taking to improve coordination between NHS hospitals within the same region to offer patients earlier appointments at alternative sites.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we have committed to return to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment (RTT) by March 2029.Planning Guidance for 2025/26 sets a target that 65% of patients wait for 18 weeks or less by March 2026, with every trust expected to deliver a minimum 5 percentage point improvement on current performance over that period.It is for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to determine how best to manage their system capacity to meet this target. Mutal aid is a route some systems are using for those waiting longest. This can mean that some patients receive treatment at a different hospital to the one they originally selected (with the patient’s agreement).NHS England regional and national teams work with providers and ICBs with particularly significant waits, and this can include identifying alternative capacity outside of individual systems.Patients have a right to choose their provider when they are referred to consultant-led care as an outpatient, informed by waiting times information. Patients also have a right to request their ICB find an alternative provider if they are waiting over 18 weeks for consultant-led care.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce export controls under the textile Extended Producer Responsibility framework to ensure that producers contribute to (a) recycling and (b) end-of-life infrastructure in countries receiving UK textile exports.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming autumn. The Circular Economy Taskforce will initially focus on six sectors that have the greatest potential to grow the economy: textiles; agri-food; built environment; chemicals and plastics; electrical and electronic equipment; and transport. The Taskforce has been extensively engaging with industry leaders, trade associations, and other key stakeholders to ensure that the Strategy reflects the needs and insights of all involved. As we develop the strategy, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy, and alongside The Circular Economy Taskforce we will assess what interventions may be needed across the textiles sector. The Taskforce will consider evidence across a range of interventions.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to include digital product passports within the (a) Extended Producer Responsibility framework and (b) Circular Economy Strategy.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming autumn. The Circular Economy Taskforce will initially focus on six sectors that have the greatest potential to grow the economy: textiles; agri-food; built environment; chemicals and plastics; electrical and electronic equipment; and transport. The Taskforce has been extensively engaging with industry leaders, trade associations, and other key stakeholders to ensure that the Strategy reflects the needs and insights of all involved. As we develop the strategy, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy, and alongside The Circular Economy Taskforce we will assess what interventions may be needed across the textiles sector. The Taskforce will consider evidence across a range of interventions.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for textiles will include obligations for (a) producers and (b) importers to contribute to downstream waste management costs in countries where UK origin textiles are received.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming autumn. The Circular Economy Taskforce will initially focus on six sectors that have the greatest potential to grow the economy: textiles; agri-food; built environment; chemicals and plastics; electrical and electronic equipment; and transport. The Taskforce has been extensively engaging with industry leaders, trade associations, and other key stakeholders to ensure that the Strategy reflects the needs and insights of all involved. As we develop the strategy, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy, and alongside The Circular Economy Taskforce we will assess what interventions may be needed across the textiles sector. The Taskforce will consider evidence across a range of interventions.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for textiles will include mandatory requirements for transparency on (a) exported textile waste, (b) related financial transfers and (c) the reporting of overseas end-of-life outcomes.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming autumn. The Circular Economy Taskforce will initially focus on six sectors that have the greatest potential to grow the economy: textiles; agri-food; built environment; chemicals and plastics; electrical and electronic equipment; and transport. The Taskforce has been extensively engaging with industry leaders, trade associations, and other key stakeholders to ensure that the Strategy reflects the needs and insights of all involved. As we develop the strategy, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy, and alongside The Circular Economy Taskforce we will assess what interventions may be needed across the textiles sector. The Taskforce will consider evidence across a range of interventions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Russian counterpart on the rights of Falun Gong practitioners in Russia.

The Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad and regularly condemns the Kremlin's dire domestic human rights record in international fora. On 31 July, the UK condemned the Russian authorities' repression of internal political opposition at the UN Security Council. On 4 August, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador reiterated our call for the Russian authorities to release all political prisoners. The Prime Minister, Chancellor and former Foreign Secretary all raised human rights recently with their Chinese counterparts. We continue to closely monitor the situation for Falun Gong practitioners and maintain a dialogue with non-governmental organisations and international partners on the issue.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Ghanaian (a) government agencies, (b) waste management entities and (c) market associations on the development of Extended Producer Responsibility proposals for textiles.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming autumn. The Circular Economy Taskforce will initially focus on six sectors that have the greatest potential to grow the economy: textiles; agri-food; built environment; chemicals and plastics; electrical and electronic equipment; and transport. The Taskforce has been extensively engaging with industry leaders, trade associations, and other key stakeholders to ensure that the Strategy reflects the needs and insights of all involved. As we develop the strategy, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy, and alongside The Circular Economy Taskforce we will assess what interventions may be needed across the textiles sector. The Taskforce will consider evidence across a range of interventions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) compliance measures and (b) enforcement mechanisms he is developing to ensure (i) producer, (ii) sorter and (iii) exporter adherence to the (A) transparency and (B) traceability requirements of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming autumn. The Circular Economy Taskforce will initially focus on six sectors that have the greatest potential to grow the economy: textiles; agri-food; built environment; chemicals and plastics; electrical and electronic equipment; and transport. The Taskforce has been extensively engaging with industry leaders, trade associations, and other key stakeholders to ensure that the Strategy reflects the needs and insights of all involved. As we develop the strategy, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy, and alongside The Circular Economy Taskforce we will assess what interventions may be needed across the textiles sector. The Taskforce will consider evidence across a range of interventions.