Written questions by Maguire.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure that (a) universities and (b) students' unions have a duty of care to students while undertaking student-led outdoor activities.

I refer the hon. Member for North Cornwall to the answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 54501.

If her Department will hold discussions with (a) universities and (b) students' unions on introducing (i) safety frameworks, (ii) standardised risk assessments, (iii) training and (iv) a duty to report incidents in relation to student-led outdoor activities.

I refer the hon. Member for North Cornwall to the answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 54501.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Saudi counterpart on the cases of seven Egyptian nationals facing execution for non-lethal drug offences.

The UK strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries and circumstances. We regularly discuss human rights with the Saudi authorities, including individual cases of concern. I raised the cases of several Egyptian nationals with the Saudi authorities this year. The Government will continue to engage on this matter.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with President Trump on global security.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are deepening defence and security ties with the US to uphold peace and security, working together to respond to a more contested and volatile world.  Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary regularly engage with our US counterparts on wide ranging security issues. When the Foreign Secretary last spoke with Marco Rubio, they discussed efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, and our commitment to Iran never developing or acquiring a nuclear weapon.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of public transport to and from other healthcare centres around Launceston, in the context of the upcoming closure of Launceston Minor Injuries Unit.

The Government is aware of the temporary closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), which is a decision that was made due to staffing challenges. The responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioning body, which in this case is the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB), rather than the Government. This includes the responsibility to conduct an impact assessment on traveling, provision of services, and an equality impact assessment. The Government has been informed that the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust completed an Equality Impact Assessment for the closure, which identified the impact to be increased travel time or distance to an alternative MIU.In some scenarios, such as this one, the NHS provider may need to make a temporary service change due to a risk to safety or the welfare of patients or staff. These temporary changes do not represent a permanent or irreversible decision about an NHS service. Permanent changes would only be possible by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.The Government expects the local NHS to develop clear plans for reverting temporary service changes. If this cannot be done safely, the ICB will need to develop plans for a permanent solution by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of healthcare services in Launceston, in the context of the upcoming closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit.

The Government is aware of the temporary closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), which is a decision that was made due to staffing challenges. The responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioning body, which in this case is the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB), rather than the Government. This includes the responsibility to conduct an impact assessment on traveling, provision of services, and an equality impact assessment. The Government has been informed that the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust completed an Equality Impact Assessment for the closure, which identified the impact to be increased travel time or distance to an alternative MIU.In some scenarios, such as this one, the NHS provider may need to make a temporary service change due to a risk to safety or the welfare of patients or staff. These temporary changes do not represent a permanent or irreversible decision about an NHS service. Permanent changes would only be possible by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.The Government expects the local NHS to develop clear plans for reverting temporary service changes. If this cannot be done safely, the ICB will need to develop plans for a permanent solution by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.

If his Department will conduct an impact assessment of the closure of Launceston Minor Injuries Unit.

The Government is aware of the temporary closure of the Launceston Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), which is a decision that was made due to staffing challenges. The responsibility for the delivery, implementation, and funding decisions for services ultimately rests with the appropriate National Health Service commissioning body, which in this case is the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB), rather than the Government. This includes the responsibility to conduct an impact assessment on traveling, provision of services, and an equality impact assessment. The Government has been informed that the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust completed an Equality Impact Assessment for the closure, which identified the impact to be increased travel time or distance to an alternative MIU.In some scenarios, such as this one, the NHS provider may need to make a temporary service change due to a risk to safety or the welfare of patients or staff. These temporary changes do not represent a permanent or irreversible decision about an NHS service. Permanent changes would only be possible by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.The Government expects the local NHS to develop clear plans for reverting temporary service changes. If this cannot be done safely, the ICB will need to develop plans for a permanent solution by following the due process, including appropriate engagement with people and communities.

What steps his Department is taking to develop a long-term strategy for regional air connectivity that (a) reduces reliance on (i) Gatwick Airport (ii) Heathrow Airport and (iii) other major hubs and (b) supports the growth of (1) Cornwall Airport Newquay and (2) other regional airports.

The Department recognises how vital aviation is to maintaining connectivity between the regions of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and to the wider world. Ministers and officials at the Department meet regularly with regional airports, including Cornwall Newquay Airport, to discuss issues such as regional air connectivity. Government supports connectivity across the union through our joint-funding of three Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes into London from Newquay, Dundee and Derry/Londonderry. The Government keeps PSO policy under review. This includes recommendations made through the Union Connectivity Review published in November 2021.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department is offering to small independent family (a) butchers and (b) abattoirs.

The Government recognises the important contribution small independent family butchers and abattoirs make to the food supply chain and remains committed to maintaining a resilient and accessible meat processing sector. A strong network of local abattoirs and local butchers is vital for supporting rural economies, strengthening small-scale livestock farmers with private kill facilities and access to local markets, sustaining rare and native breeds, and providing skilled employment opportunities. Defra continues to work closely with stakeholders representing both small abattoirs and local butchers including through the Small Abattoirs Working Group and the Small Abattoirs Task and Finish Group. These groups help both identify challenges and opportunities faced by these sectors and co-operate in developing practical solutions to improve sustainability.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will produce an impact assessment on the potential impact of increases in costs for (a) butchers, (b) abattoirs and (c) other food business operators on those businesses.

The UK food processing and manufacturing sectors are highly resilient and adaptable and continue to supply healthy and affordable products in spite of the many challenges they have faced in recent years including the covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The Government continues to support food businesses more widely through a range of initiatives. The upcoming SME Strategy Paper will outline a cross-Government vision to help small and medium-sized enterprises, including food businesses, scale up and thrive. This includes improving access to finance, markets, and tailored support. The new Business Growth Service will streamline access to advice and resources, delivered locally in partnership with Growth Hubs and devolved governments. Funding for Growth Hubs and Help to Grow: Management in 2025-26 will further strengthen business capabilities and resilience. The Government remains focused on maintaining a fair and competitive environment for all businesses and to reducing burdens through targeted, proportionate measures.

Whether her Department plans to work with (a) The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and (b) other relevant charities to help reduce the high interest public debt owed by certain developing countries.

The UK is concerned by impacts of the high debt servicing costs faced by developing countries. We fully support the World Bank and IMF’s ‘three pillars’ approach to countries facing liquidity (i.e. short-term payment) challenges. Enhanced transparency will be a focus of the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt, which launched on 23rd June. As part of its wider objectives, the group will work with UK and global private creditors to develop a better understanding of the debt obligations owed by developing countries UK Government officials engage with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and other relevant organisations on a regular basis and will continue to do so as we work to address the challenge of high-interest public debt in developing countries.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of high interest public debt obligations owed by developing nations to UK private creditors on the public finances of those developing nations.

The UK is concerned by impacts of the high debt servicing costs faced by developing countries. We fully support the World Bank and IMF’s ‘three pillars’ approach to countries facing liquidity (i.e. short-term payment) challenges. Enhanced transparency will be a focus of the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt, which launched on 23rd June. As part of its wider objectives, the group will work with UK and global private creditors to develop a better understanding of the debt obligations owed by developing countries UK Government officials engage with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development and other relevant organisations on a regular basis and will continue to do so as we work to address the challenge of high-interest public debt in developing countries.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the registration scheme for short-term lets will include appropriate (a) checks and (b) enforcement to ensure that holiday lets are both (i) legal and (ii) safe.

During the Short Term Lets registration process, providers of short-term lets will be reminded of their legal responsibilities and required to confirm that their properties comply with legal requirements and meet safety standards. Details of the scheme, including enforcement, are still being determined and will be announced in due course. Public testing on the register is due to start later in 2025 and a full version of the scheme is due to arrive in 2026.

Whether her Department plans to include the A30 junction at Plusha in the Road Safety Strategy.

The Department is aware of the safety issues at the junction between the A30 and B3257 at Plusha. National Highways is investigating a number of possible modest safety improvements for this stretch of the A30 as part of its A30 Kennards House to Five Lanes Safety Study, for possible delivery in a future Road Investment Strategy.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to build the new Women and Children's Hospital at Treliske on the local community.

The new Women and Children's Hospital scheme at the Royal Cornwall Hospital is in Wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme (NHP), as set out in the Plan for Implementation, and is due to commence construction between 2027 and 2028. An equality impact assessment was carried out for the review of the NHP, which included assessing the extent to which service users might be impacted by these delivery proposals, with specific reference to the impact that these might have on relevant protected characteristics. This was laid in the House Library and published on 20 January 2025, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-equality-impact-assessment

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a Clean Waters Forum including (a) charities, (b) NGOs and (c) representatives from (i) his Department and (ii) the Environment Agency to lay out a cohesive strategy to tackle sewage pollution.

Following a public call for evidence with over 50,000 responses, the Independent Water Commission (IWC), led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. The IWC published its interim findings on 03 June 2025; the report's findings can be found at Independent Water Commission publishes interim findings - GOV.UK. The IWC will submit its final report to the UK and Welsh governments later in summer 2025 with recommendations on how to reset the sector for the future. Both Governments will then respond and consult on proposals, including potential legislation. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, including charities and NGOs, on many issues related to the water sector including on sewage pollution. As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record of over £11 billion of investment to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales. This investment will be targeted at those affecting the most sensitive sites for ecological and human health.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a nationwide ten minute grace period for private car parks where users cannot not be fined for non-purchase of a ticket.

On 11 July, the government published a consultation setting out its proposals for raising standards across the private parking industry ahead of preparing a code of practice and an accompanying compliance framework for private parking operators. The consultation seeks views on the minimum grace periods set out in the previously withdrawn government code.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of (a) affordable and (b) social housing for key workers in North Cornwall constituency.

The government recognises the need for social and affordable housing for key workers in North Cornwall and other areas.The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 makes clear that local planning authorities should assess the size, type, and tenure of homes needed, including for those who require affordable housing, and to reflect this in their planning policies. When identifying affordable housing need in their areas, the Framework makes clear that local planning authorities should incorporate the minimum proportion of Social Rent homes required.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing flexibility for term-time absences for children from families employed in the (a) agricultural and (b) tourism sectors.

The department has high expectations for all pupils’ attendance. Parents are legally responsible for ensuring regular attendance if their child is of compulsory school age and registered at a school.Taking children out of school for holidays can significantly disrupt their education. Missing one week each year, combined with typical absences for illness, can add up to two full terms missed by year 11. This also disrupts teaching and impacts the wider class.While holidays can be enriching, the school year allows ample time for breaks outside of term time. Schools do have discretion to approve leave in exceptional circumstances, but holidays generally do not qualify.The department understands some sectors face pressures at peak times, but we are not aware of any employer that prohibits leave during every school holiday. Schools also have flexibility to plan term dates and inset days to help families manage their schedules.

What steps his Department is taking to support local, independent coffee shops.

Hospitality businesses, including independent coffee shops, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth and community cohesion.The government plans to permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000 and we’ve introduced a Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects which aim to help those furthest from the job market into employment and boosting productivity.In addition, the government announced a Zero Carbon Hospitality Trial, meaning over 600 small and medium sized hospitality businesses will receive free energy and carbon reduction assessments to help cut energy costs, this will include cafes.Our Small Business Strategy will set out further measures which will assist local, independent coffee shops.