Written questions by Anderson.

What support mechanisms her Department has in place for schools in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency considered at risk of failing to meet attendance improvement targets.

Tackling absence is central to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. Children attended over 5.3 million additional days in the 2024/25 school year compared to the 2023/23 school year, with over 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent. Our statutory ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance sets clear expectations for schools to take a support-first approach, using data to identify patterns and intervene early. To support this, our attendance baseline improvement expectations (ABIEs) set out the minimum improvement expected over an academic year, based on each school’s context and previous year’s attendance. Schools’ progress against their ABIEs informs the type of support offered. ABIEs are a starting point, not a limit. Schools are encouraged to work, towards pre-pandemic attendance levels or better. Indicative ABIEs are available now, with full introduction in 2026/27. Alongside ABIEs, schools receive ‘similar schools’ reports which name higher-performing schools with comparable characteristics and provide advice on how to contact them to share strategies. Schools can also access an updated attendance improvement toolkit for practical advice on attendance improvement. For schools facing the greatest challenges, we are rolling out up to 90 Attendance and Behaviour Hubs, to deliver structured peer support and bespoke improvement plans.

What discussions her Department has had with HS2 Ltd on reducing the environmental impact of HS2 construction.

The Secretary of State requires that HS2 Ltd minimises its environmental impact throughout construction and operation. This includes through the Environmental Minimum Requirements (EMRs) for the scheme. The EMRs include an Environmental Memorandum and a Code of Construction Practice which sets out specific environmental controls that HS2 Ltd and its contractors must follow to minimise the effect of noise, air quality, waste, and water management and a range of other impacts. The Department for Transport has regular discussions with HS2 Ltd on the fulfilment of these obligations, including at the HS2 Ltd Environmental Sustainability Committee, and contractually requires the company to follow sustainable development principles and minimise adverse environmental effects through the Development Agreement between the Secretary of State for Transport (DfT) and HS2 Ltd.

What steps she has taken to reduce the potential impact of HS2 construction on ancient woodland.

A Phase One Ancient Woodland Strategy was published in 2017. It provided a full assessment for how building HS2 would affect ancient woodlands and details each individual woodland that was forecast to be impacted, based on the design at the time of submission of the hybrid Bill. As the scheme has moved into detailed design and construction HS2 Ltd have sought to avoid or minimise the impacts of construction on sensitive ecological receptors like ancient woodlands, wherever practicable. The latest design data shows that the forecast impacts on ancient woodland are now 17.7 hectares. This is a 33% reduction on the 26.6 hectares of loss that had been expected in the HS2 Environmental Statement. Where there are unavoidable impacts on ancient woodland, HS2 Ltd have implemented a range of compensatory measures including new woodland planting, enhancement of existing woodlands and a £5 million HS2 Woodland Fund to support third party landowners to deliver tree planting projects near the HS2 route. The Woodland Fund has successfully allocated all its funding and supported the creation of hundreds of hectares of new tree planting. It is therefore now closed to new applications. Further information on HS2 Ltd’s approach to managing Ancient Woodland impacts, including annual summary reports, can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-ancient-woodland-reports

What assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the HS2 Woodland Fund on Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

A Phase One Ancient Woodland Strategy was published in 2017. It provided a full assessment for how building HS2 would affect ancient woodlands and details each individual woodland that was forecast to be impacted, based on the design at the time of submission of the hybrid Bill. As the scheme has moved into detailed design and construction HS2 Ltd have sought to avoid or minimise the impacts of construction on sensitive ecological receptors like ancient woodlands, wherever practicable. The latest design data shows that the forecast impacts on ancient woodland are now 17.7 hectares. This is a 33% reduction on the 26.6 hectares of loss that had been expected in the HS2 Environmental Statement. Where there are unavoidable impacts on ancient woodland, HS2 Ltd have implemented a range of compensatory measures including new woodland planting, enhancement of existing woodlands and a £5 million HS2 Woodland Fund to support third party landowners to deliver tree planting projects near the HS2 route. The Woodland Fund has successfully allocated all its funding and supported the creation of hundreds of hectares of new tree planting. It is therefore now closed to new applications. Further information on HS2 Ltd’s approach to managing Ancient Woodland impacts, including annual summary reports, can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-ancient-woodland-reports

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of HS2 construction on ancient woodland in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

A Phase One Ancient Woodland Strategy was published in 2017. It provided a full assessment for how building HS2 would affect ancient woodlands and details each individual woodland that was forecast to be impacted, based on the design at the time of submission of the hybrid Bill. As the scheme has moved into detailed design and construction HS2 Ltd have sought to avoid or minimise the impacts of construction on sensitive ecological receptors like ancient woodlands, wherever practicable. The latest design data shows that the forecast impacts on ancient woodland are now 17.7 hectares. This is a 33% reduction on the 26.6 hectares of loss that had been expected in the HS2 Environmental Statement. Where there are unavoidable impacts on ancient woodland, HS2 Ltd have implemented a range of compensatory measures including new woodland planting, enhancement of existing woodlands and a £5 million HS2 Woodland Fund to support third party landowners to deliver tree planting projects near the HS2 route. The Woodland Fund has successfully allocated all its funding and supported the creation of hundreds of hectares of new tree planting. It is therefore now closed to new applications. Further information on HS2 Ltd’s approach to managing Ancient Woodland impacts, including annual summary reports, can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-ancient-woodland-reports

What discussions she has had with HS2 Ltd on the potential impact of HS2 construction on ancient woodland in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

A Phase One Ancient Woodland Strategy was published in 2017. It provided a full assessment for how building HS2 would affect ancient woodlands and details each individual woodland that was forecast to be impacted, based on the design at the time of submission of the hybrid Bill. As the scheme has moved into detailed design and construction HS2 Ltd have sought to avoid or minimise the impacts of construction on sensitive ecological receptors like ancient woodlands, wherever practicable. The latest design data shows that the forecast impacts on ancient woodland are now 17.7 hectares. This is a 33% reduction on the 26.6 hectares of loss that had been expected in the HS2 Environmental Statement. Where there are unavoidable impacts on ancient woodland, HS2 Ltd have implemented a range of compensatory measures including new woodland planting, enhancement of existing woodlands and a £5 million HS2 Woodland Fund to support third party landowners to deliver tree planting projects near the HS2 route. The Woodland Fund has successfully allocated all its funding and supported the creation of hundreds of hectares of new tree planting. It is therefore now closed to new applications. Further information on HS2 Ltd’s approach to managing Ancient Woodland impacts, including annual summary reports, can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-ancient-woodland-reports

Whether she plans to establish benchmarks for improving access to affordable financial services among vulnerable consumers.

The Government recognises that action on financial inclusion requires a joined-up approach and will work collaboratively across local, central, and devolved governments, as well as regulators, industry, and civil society to deliver the recently published Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy sets out the Government’s plans to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. It outlines action to address a range of barriers individuals face in accessing financial products, with a key focus on access to banking services and recognition of the important links with the National Payments Vision and the opportunities this presents to embed and support financial inclusion To deliver the Strategy effectively, the Government will monitor levels of financial inclusion. There are a number of useful resources which were used in the development of the Strategy and which the Government will continue to monitor as the Strategy is delivered, including the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Financial Lives Survey and research carried out by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). The Strategy’s implementation will be reviewed in two years’ time to provide an update on progress and relevant outcomes-based metrics, which will reflect on the progress made across the sector.

Whether his Department has established indicators for employer participation in health-and-work initiatives in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

The Department has no specific indicators for employer participation in health-and-work initiatives specifically in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

What steps his Department plans to take to measure the effectiveness of early-intervention employment support for people at risk of leaving work due to ill health.

Evaluation is a key driver in delivering DWP’s priority outcomes and ensuring alignment with the Government’s Plan for Change. As set out in the DWP Evidence and Evaluation Strategy, ongoing evaluation of new and existing initiatives assesses whether they are achieving intended results and informs future policy design. All early intervention employment and health programmes are accompanied by robust evaluation strategies as per HM Treasury guidance. For example, for the WorkWell pilots there is a published feasibility study that outlines approaches to estimating the impact of the programme. On completion of the evaluation, externally commissioned evaluation reports are published. For example, the evaluation of the Work Choice programme - a voluntary scheme supporting disabled people facing employment barriers or at risk of job loss showed - published in April 2025 found that, eight years after referral, participants had a payrolled employment rate 11 percentage points higher than the comparison group. This meant the programme delivered strong value for money, returning £1.67 to the Exchequer for every £1 spent.

How many patients in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) Milton Keynes have received home-based NHS care in each of the last three years.

NHS England does not hold data on the number of patients in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes who have received home-based National Health Service care in each of the last three years.The NHS provides a range of services in peoples’ homes such as community health services, virtual wards, community mental health support, and palliative care.The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service.The Neighbourhood Health Service will embody our new preventative principle that care should happen as locally as it can, digitally by default, in a person’s home if possible, in a neighbourhood health centre when needed, and only in a hospital if necessary.

Food and Rural Affairs, how she plans to (a) monitor and (b) report progress on establishing new national forests.

All grants funded by the Nature for Climate fund are subject to the appropriate scrutiny as outlined in Defra’s Integrated Assurance and Approvals Strategy including checks on feasibility and value for money.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of mechanisms in place to co-ordinate financial inclusion delivery across (a) central government and (b) regulators.

The Government recognises that action on financial inclusion requires a joined-up approach and will work collaboratively across local, central, and devolved governments, as well as regulators, industry, and civil society to deliver the recently published Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy sets out the Government’s plans to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. It outlines action to address a range of barriers individuals face in accessing financial products, with a key focus on access to banking services and recognition of the important links with the National Payments Vision and the opportunities this presents to embed and support financial inclusion To deliver the Strategy effectively, the Government will monitor levels of financial inclusion. There are a number of useful resources which were used in the development of the Strategy and which the Government will continue to monitor as the Strategy is delivered, including the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Financial Lives Survey and research carried out by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). The Strategy’s implementation will be reviewed in two years’ time to provide an update on progress and relevant outcomes-based metrics, which will reflect on the progress made across the sector.

What estimate she has made of the resources allocated for data collection to support financial inclusion monitoring.

The Government recognises that action on financial inclusion requires a joined-up approach and will work collaboratively across local, central, and devolved governments, as well as regulators, industry, and civil society to deliver the recently published Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy sets out the Government’s plans to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. It outlines action to address a range of barriers individuals face in accessing financial products, with a key focus on access to banking services and recognition of the important links with the National Payments Vision and the opportunities this presents to embed and support financial inclusion To deliver the Strategy effectively, the Government will monitor levels of financial inclusion. There are a number of useful resources which were used in the development of the Strategy and which the Government will continue to monitor as the Strategy is delivered, including the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Financial Lives Survey and research carried out by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). The Strategy’s implementation will be reviewed in two years’ time to provide an update on progress and relevant outcomes-based metrics, which will reflect on the progress made across the sector.

What discussions her Department has had with local authorities on identifying areas of financial exclusion for targeted support.

The Government recognises that action on financial inclusion requires a joined-up approach and will work collaboratively across local, central, and devolved governments, as well as regulators, industry, and civil society to deliver the recently published Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy sets out the Government’s plans to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. It outlines action to address a range of barriers individuals face in accessing financial products, with a key focus on access to banking services and recognition of the important links with the National Payments Vision and the opportunities this presents to embed and support financial inclusion To deliver the Strategy effectively, the Government will monitor levels of financial inclusion. There are a number of useful resources which were used in the development of the Strategy and which the Government will continue to monitor as the Strategy is delivered, including the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Financial Lives Survey and research carried out by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). The Strategy’s implementation will be reviewed in two years’ time to provide an update on progress and relevant outcomes-based metrics, which will reflect on the progress made across the sector.

What steps she is taking to ensure that financial inclusion initiatives remain aligned with developments in (i) digital payments and (ii) banking.

The Government recognises that action on financial inclusion requires a joined-up approach and will work collaboratively across local, central, and devolved governments, as well as regulators, industry, and civil society to deliver the recently published Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Strategy sets out the Government’s plans to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. It outlines action to address a range of barriers individuals face in accessing financial products, with a key focus on access to banking services and recognition of the important links with the National Payments Vision and the opportunities this presents to embed and support financial inclusion To deliver the Strategy effectively, the Government will monitor levels of financial inclusion. There are a number of useful resources which were used in the development of the Strategy and which the Government will continue to monitor as the Strategy is delivered, including the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Financial Lives Survey and research carried out by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). The Strategy’s implementation will be reviewed in two years’ time to provide an update on progress and relevant outcomes-based metrics, which will reflect on the progress made across the sector.

Whether his Department plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of employer-partnership programmes on labour market participation in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

The Department for Work and Pensions continually monitors and evaluates the impact of its programmes on labour market participation across Great Britain, including in Buckingham and Bletchley. Employer-partnership initiatives such as the Restart Scheme, Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), and Skills Bootcamps are subject to independent evaluation, which informs future policy and contractual decisions. For example, the Restart evaluation by the Learning & Work Institute and Ipsos UK, and the Skills Bootcamp evaluation by CFE Research, are publicly available on GOV.UK. Locally, Jobcentres in Aylesbury and Milton Keynes deliver a range of employer-led programmes to help people move into sustainable employment. These include tailored support through Restart, mentoring circles with NHS and other employers, and SWAPs in sectors such as construction, logistics, retail, and health and social care. The Department’s wider reforms will create a new service across Great Britain, enabling people to access support to find good, meaningful work and progress in employment, while working with employers to overcome recruitment barriers and meet skills needs. Through these measures, the Department aims to improve labour market participation and ensure inclusive employment opportunities in Buckingham, Bletchley, and beyond.

Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of support for reducing trade barriers has been allocated to food and drink producers in Buckinghamshire.

Our global network of 16 agrifood and drink attachés are breaking down market access barriers and creating new export opportunities, delivering benefits to businesses in Buckinghamshire and across the UK. So far this year we have pulled down 41 trade barriers, estimated by industry to be worth nearly £100 million to the British food and drink sector. We work closely with industry to identify and resolve barriers, taking into account value and sectoral priorities. Barriers are identified and prioritised at national level but importance to local economies is taken into account. Our attaches focus on removing regulatory barriers for the agri-food and drink sector, including access for animal and plant products, as well as addressing issues such as labelling and other technical barriers to trade which can hinder exports. Together with market access secured through Free Trade Agreements, such as the recent agreement with India, this opens the door to British businesses to capitalise on strong global demand for British produce. Businesses in Buckinghamshire can report a barrier directly through the online report a barrier service or via their trade association to Defra market access groups for each commodity category. There are a range of SME targeted tools and support available through the Business Growth Service via business.gov.uk to help businesses sell abroad and find the best country for their product. Additional support can be accessed through the UK Export Academy, which is a free training programme for UK businesses looking to grow their international sales.

How his Department plans to monitor participation in trade promotion programmes by SMEs in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

As outlined in our 2025 UK Trade Strategy, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to the monitoring and evaluation of its performance to ensure continuous improvement.DBT has developed a robust monitoring and evaluation framework for its existing export promotion activities, and data on participation is published in DBT’s Export Client Quality Survey.In 2023/24, 17,449 businesses were supported by DBT export promotion services, of which 85% were classified as SMEs. We do not monitor participation by individual constituencies, but would be happy to be advised of any suitable SMEs in Buckingham and Bletchley.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of trade facilitation interventions on export volumes from Buckinghamshire.

Our global network of 16 agrifood and drink attachés are breaking down market access barriers and creating new export opportunities, delivering benefits to businesses in Buckinghamshire and across the UK. So far this year we have pulled down 41 trade barriers, estimated by industry to be worth nearly £100 million to the British food and drink sector. We work closely with industry to identify and resolve barriers, taking into account value and sectoral priorities. Barriers are identified and prioritised at national level but importance to local economies is taken into account. Our attaches focus on removing regulatory barriers for the agri-food and drink sector, including access for animal and plant products, as well as addressing issues such as labelling and other technical barriers to trade which can hinder exports. Together with market access secured through Free Trade Agreements, such as the recent agreement with India, this opens the door to British businesses to capitalise on strong global demand for British produce. Businesses in Buckinghamshire can report a barrier directly through the online report a barrier service or via their trade association to Defra market access groups for each commodity category. There are a range of SME targeted tools and support available through the Business Growth Service via business.gov.uk to help businesses sell abroad and find the best country for their product. Additional support can be accessed through the UK Export Academy, which is a free training programme for UK businesses looking to grow their international sales.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure local communities are involved in the management of new national forests.

Community engagement is central to the approach we will encourage these new national forests to apply, and reflects the approach embedded by the original National Forest in the Midlands, which is managed by the National Forest Company. As an illustration of their dedication to community engagement, in 2021 the National Forest Company brought together its 70 community woods groups and conservation organisations under the Community Woods Network.