Written questions by Stephenson.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislation on the treatment of flooding in the planning system before the end of the current Session.

The government has no plans to bring forward primary legislation concerning the treatment of flooding in the planning system, given the strong safeguards which already exist in national planning policy.

With reference to page 14 of the policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, if he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on his plans for the NHS workforce.

The Employment Rights Bill is the first stage of Make Work Pay, which is a core part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all. The approach is designed to help more people to stay in work, support workers’ productivity and improve living standards. Once implemented, the Bill will represent the biggest upgrade in employment rights for a generation. The measures contained in the Bill support the 10-Year Health Plan’s ambition to make the National Health Service the country’s best employer.

Which areas he plans to designate as integrated health organisations in 2026; and what criteria he will use to identify those areas.

As outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan, National Health Service foundation trusts that have shown an ability to meet core standards, improve population health, form partnerships with others, and remain financially sustainable over time will be eligible for designation as integrated health organisations (IHOs).We expect to designate a small number of IHOs in 2026 following a rigorous authorisation process. The process and criteria for assessment are currently in development.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Personal Independence Payments Bill on public finances.

As I set out in the House of Commons on 1 July 2025, this Government has listened to the concerns raised by Members from across the House regarding the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).Clause 5 of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill would have amended the legal framework underpinning PIP assessments, specifically by implementing a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. In light of the concerns raised, we have removed clause 5 from the Bill in Committee. Any changes to PIP eligibility will come after a comprehensive review of the benefit, led by myself and co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, clinicians, experts, MPs and other stakeholders, so a wide range of views and voices are heard. This review aims to ensure that the PIP assessment is fair and fit for the future.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled New drainage standards tackle pollution in England’s communities, published on 19 June 2025, if he will list the stakeholders that were consulted on the development of the new standards.

A range of stakeholders including expert consultants, devolved administrations, local authorities, arms length bodies, water companies, drainage experts, environmental groups and developers were consulted.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Chancellor announces record investment to rebuild National Health Service, published on 11 June 2025, when he plans to confirm the 350 deprived communities in receipt of funding.

At Spending Review 2025, the Chancellor announced that up to 350 of the most deprived places will receive support from government. Full profiles and detailed guidance will be published in due course.The programme will adopt a flexible approach offering areas a broad range of options to address the unique challenges in their local area. Youth clubs, libraries, parks, cultural venues, and health and wellbeing services will all be in scope of the programme.

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.

Whether patients will be able to access private healthcare services provided through the NHS on the NHS app.

We estimate there are around 450 independent sector providers that are providing National Health Service services via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). There is no classification of private healthcare or independent sector in the e-RS Directory of Services. Patients can already access referrals to these private healthcare providers via the NHS App where they have been shortlisted by their GP.

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, 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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