Written questions by Stephenson.

With reference to page 12 of the policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, whether parents will be able to opt-out of universal newborn genomic testing.

The 10-Year Health Plan set out an ambition to offer newborn genomic testing as part of routine care within the next decade. Delivering against this ambition will be subject to evidence gathered through the Generation Study. This research programme is evaluating the effectiveness of using whole genome sequencing to test 100,000 newborns for more than 200 rare genetic conditions.Participation in the Generation Study is voluntary, with parental consent required to store genomic and health data securely. Consent is an ongoing process, and parents can withdraw their child at any time before age 16, when the child will be asked to re-consent. If genomic testing becomes part of routine screening, parental consent will still be required, as with the current NHS screening programmes for newborn babies.

With reference to page 12 of the policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, how long individualised genomic data for newborns will be retained.

The 10-Year Health Plan set out an ambition to offer newborn genomic testing as part of routine care within the next decade. Delivering against this ambition will be subject to evidence gathered through the Generation Study. This research programme is evaluating the effectiveness of using whole genome sequencing to test 100,000 newborns for more than 200 rare genetic conditions.With parental consent, data is stored securely in the existing National Genomic Research Library which, with patient consent, already stores genomic data from the NHS Genomic Medicine Service to support ethical research. The study is exploring the risks and benefits of storing an individual's genome over their lifetime. Therefore, genomic data will be stored throughout the child’s life, unless consent is withdrawn. Consent is an ongoing process, and parents can withdraw their child at any time before the age of 16 years old, when the child will be asked to re-consent. The study will deliver an evaluation report which will inform future policy decisions around the storage of personal, including genomic, data.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to legislate to mandate the installation of smart meters for water usage.

Water companies are already able to install smart meters in homes as part of their planning and, in areas of water stress, can charge on a mandatory basis where there is overall customer support and value for money for consumers has been proved. The Government is working alongside the Ofwat Smart Meter Delivery Group to review recommendations made by Baringa in a recent report on learning lessons from energy smart metering, which includes ensuring money saving benefits for consumers are realised.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Ofwat to be abolished in biggest overhaul of water since privatisation, published on 21 July 2025, whether the new water regulator will be responsible for flooding.

This Government has confirmed that it will abolish Ofwat and bring water functions from four different regulators into one – a single regulator responsible for the entire water sector. Until the single water regulator is fully established, the existing regulators will continue to carry out their functions and responsibilities in full. The Government will respond to Sir Jon Cunliffe’s recommendations in full via a White Paper, published for consultation this autumn.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64210 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the number of civilian visits to Diego Garcia on security.

Chagossian Heritage Visits to Diego Garcia were routine prior to COVID-19. They are not frequent, are limited in the number of participants and are tightly controlled. Any person visiting Diego Garcia is subject to a number of security protocols.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Millions more families to get £150 off energy bills this winter, published on 19 June 2025, what support is available for families in properties that are not on the gas grid.

The Warm Home Discount is available for homes off the gas grid, as it is an electricity bill discount, not tied to gas supply.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled Thousands of children with SEND to benefit from assistive tech, published on 27 June 2025, which local authorities will receive that funding.

Digital assistive technology (AT) is an umbrella term that includes any device, software or system used to support individuals with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). When used effectively, AT can play a vital role in supporting pupils with SEND to achieve and thrive in mainstream education.That is why we are investing over £1.6 million to pilot assistive technology lending libraries through the SEND and alternative provision Change Programme. In participating areas, this will allow up to 3,800 mainstream schools to borrow and trial technology on a temporary basis, to identify the right products to support their pupils.The local authorities that will be participating in the trial of assistive technology lending libraries are:BedfordBradfordBrighton and HoveCalderdaleCentral BedfordshireCounty DurhamEast SussexEnfieldGatesheadGloucestershireHartlepoolCounty of HerefordshireIslingtonLeedsLeicesterLeicestershireLutonManchesterOldhamPortsmouthRochdaleRutlandShropshireStockton-on-TeesSwindonTelford and WrekinTraffordWakefieldWest SussexWorcestershire

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of teaching assistants on the provision of SEND support within schools.

Teaching assistants (TAs) play a vital role in children’s education, including for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).A departmental survey in 2023, ‘The use of teaching assistants in schools’, found that TAs across all school settings most commonly support pupils with SEND, including those with education, health and care (EHC) plans. Half (50%) spent most of their time delivering interventions for pupils with additional needs.The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has highlighted that research suggests evidence based, structured interventions, delivered by TAs, can have a positive impact on pupil outcomes. The EEF’s guidance report, ‘Deployment of Teaching Assistants’, makes a number of recommendations to help schools make decisions about how to deploy their TAs to ensure they are used effectively.This government also recognises that the availability of training and career progression opportunities for TAs helps ensure schools have the skilled staff they need to deliver high-quality education.

When he plans to confirm the (a) delivery and (b) in-service date for the new F35A jets.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to Question 63225 on 7 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Poole.

If he will commission an (a) independent and (b) peer reviewed study of the accuracy of AI in healthcare settings.

The National Health Service operates within a comprehensive regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI), underpinned by rigorous standards established by numerous bodies including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Health Research Authority, and Care Quality Commission. These agencies ensure that AI technologies are safe, effective, and ethically deployed within healthcare settings.There are protocols in place to ensure that AI tools used in healthcare settings are accurate and effective. NICE, for example, routinely evaluates medical technologies, including innovative AI-enabled technologies, which are assessed in NICE’s Early Value Assessment programme for those technologies that are most needed and in-demand. This work is independent and rigorous, and reflects the high standards of our health regulators.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of improving the UK’s capability to facilitate in air refuelling.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave to Question 63066 on 4 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Huntingdon.

Whether her Department plans to support increasing the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels in addition to legislating for the certainty mechanism.

The SAF Bill, currently before the House, will deliver a SAF Revenue Certainty Mechanism that will help unlock investment in UK SAF production. In addition, we are building demand through the SAF Mandate introduced on 1 January. We are also supporting the growth of UK SAF production through the Advanced Fuels Fund, under which £63 million has been allocated across 17 UK projects for this financial year.

If he will make an estimate of the cost of the (a) pylons, (b) cables and (c) batteries required for upgrading the power grid to net zero by 2030.

In the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, the Department estimated that the plan would require around £40 billion of investment on average per year between 2025-2030, much of which will be private investment [1]. This included around £30 billion of investment in generation assets per year, together with around £10 billion of investment in electricity transmission network assets per year, estimated by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) [2]. These estimates are in 2024 prices, undiscounted, and rounded to the nearest 10 billion. A substantial proportion of the network costs estimated by NESO would be associated with pylons and cables. In their Clean Power 2030 advice to Government, NESO also estimated that of the £30 billion technology investment required per annum between 2025-30, low carbon flex capacity – which includes batteries and long duration storage – would require approximately ~£5bn per year in investment over the same period [3]. 1. DESNZ, Clean Power 2030 Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-power-2030-action-plan2. DESNZ, Clean Power 2030 Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity – technical annex: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6776727f6a79200ddfa21b81/clean-power-2030-action-plan-technical-annex.pdf3. NESO, Advice on achieving clean power by 2030, Annex 4: Costs and benefit analysis, p. 21: https://www.neso.energy/document/346806/download

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of rising block tariffs for water usage on (a) families with young children, (b) households of multiple occupancy and (c) multi-generational households.

The Government has no plans to mandate the introduction of rising block tariffs for water bills. Several water companies are currently trialling rising block tariffs. Through these trials the sector will learn how to best support customers, including families, with their water bills. Companies must consult with the Consumer Council for Water to protect or exclude vulnerable customers, which ensures customers are protected. As the trials progress, we will continue to engage with companies and customer advocates on emerging outcomes.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to legislate to mandate the introduction of rising block tariffs for water bills.

The Government has no plans to mandate the introduction of rising block tariffs for water bills. Several water companies are currently trialling rising block tariffs. Through these trials the sector will learn how to best support customers, including families, with their water bills. Companies must consult with the Consumer Council for Water to protect or exclude vulnerable customers, which ensures customers are protected. As the trials progress, we will continue to engage with companies and customer advocates on emerging outcomes.

Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on reducing funding for Level 7 apprenticeships.

This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity.From January 2026, the government will no longer fund level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22. This will enable apprenticeship opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people, whose rate of apprenticeship starts has fallen by almost 40% over the last decade.This decision was informed by a wide range of evidence, including analysis by Skills England of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with relevant stakeholders, including other government departments such as the Department of Health and Social Care.

What steps she is taking to help improve adult literacy.

The government recognises the importance of adult literacy skills. That is why the department supports participation in English through our ‘essential skills’ entitlements funded through the adult skills fund (ASF). This provides the opportunity for fully funded study up to and including level 2 for eligible adults aged 19+ who do not have essential literacy skills.Furthermore, the department supports adults aged 19+ in England who speak English as a second or additional language to access English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) provision, funded through the ASF, subject to the eligibility requirements laid out in the ASF and local rules on the provision of adult education.As part of the ASF, Tailored Learning funding can also be used to support learners to improve their essential skills if they are not ready to study for a qualification or would benefit from learning in a more informal way.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2025 to Question 63763 on Technical Excellence Colleges: Apprentices, if she will provide funding for Level 7 apprenticeships undertaken by people over 22 at Technical Excellence Colleges.

I refer the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57098.

If she will make an assessment of the reasons for changes to the number of private school pupils between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic year.

The latest school census data, as at January 2025, reveals pupil numbers remain firmly within historical patterns seen for over 20 years. This information can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25.

With reference to the press release entitled Patients and pupils to benefit from school and hospital repairs, published on 30 May 2025, whether any schools in Bedfordshire will be included.

This government has increased investment for improving school buildings to £2.1 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, almost £300 million more than last year. As part of that, close to £470 million has been made available to eligible schools and sixth-form colleges through the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).The department has published details of successful projects and applicants to the CIF for the 2025/26 financial year, including the local authority, and constituency. We can confirm that 11 schools in the county of Bedfordshire were successful.