Written questions by Anderson.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of issuing retail bonds to support increased defence investment.

The majority of government borrowing is financed through the issuance of UK government bonds (known as gilts) by the UK Debt Management Office (DMO). In addition, some of the government’s financing is raised in the retail savings market through products offered by National Savings and Investments (NS&I). Finance raised via gilts or NS&I products is generally not tied to specific areas of government spending, in order to offer the best value-for-money for taxpayers. The government keeps the introduction of new debt financing instruments under regular review.

What steps he is taking to reduce gynaecology waiting times for patients in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

We are committed to returning by March 2029 to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, including for gynaecology.Our Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the reforms we are making to improve gynaecology waiting times across England. This includes innovative models of care that offer care closer to home and in the community, piloting gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding, and increasing the relative funding available to incentivise providers to take on more gynaecology procedures.Wider elective reforms will help cut waiting times for gynaecology services in Buckinghamshire and across England. These include more consistent clinical triage, tackling missed appointments, delivering new and expanded surgical hubs, and scaling up remote monitoring and use of patient-initiated follow ups.We also provided new funding for general practice to expand Advice and Guidance (A&G) services. A&G is designed to help general practitioners and hospital specialists to work together and make the best treatment plans for patients, while reducing unnecessary referrals to long waiting lists. This enables patients to be seen more quickly, closer to home, benefiting from earlier specialist input. We are also introducing an “online hospital”, NHS Online. From 2027, people on certain pathways, including severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems that may be a sign of endometriosis or fibroids, will have the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. NHS Online will help to reduce patient waiting times, delivering the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years.

What assessment he has made of workforce capacity in women’s health services serving the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

NHS England publishes monthly information on the composition of the workforce employed by National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards in England. This includes information on the workforce employed by individual bodies and for high-level staffing groups. The information can be found at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statisticsNo specific central assessment has been made of the workforce capacity of women’s health services in the region, with decisions on the provision of local services being managed by individual NHS service provider and commissioners.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of enhanced UK-US regulatory co-operation on the competitiveness of UK capital markets.

The Financial Regulatory Working Group (FRWG) was established in 2018 with a view to deepen bilateral financial regulatory cooperation between the UK and the US, including on issues relating to financial stability and to take stock of economic trends and market conditions. Further details on what was discussed at the most recent FRWG on 25 February 2026 can be found here: U.S. – UK Financial Regulatory Working Group Winter 2026: Joint Statement - GOV.UK. The UK and US are also working closely together on the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, which was established jointly by HM Treasury and US Treasury on 22 September. The Taskforce is exploring options to strengthen linkages between UK and US capital markets, supporting growth and competitiveness in both jurisdictions by reducing burdens for UK and US firms raising capital-cross border. It is also exploring opportunities for collaboration on digital assets and other innovative financial activities. HM Treasury and the US Treasury have conducted joint senior-level industry engagement in both London and Washington DC to ensure the Taskforce’s work is informed by what matters most to industry on both sides of the Atlantic. The Taskforce aims to report back to both finance ministries on its recommendations via the FRWG in summer 2026.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to women’s health services in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency under the renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy was published on 15 April 2026 and women’s access to care is a key theme. We will support integrated care board to introduce a single point of access for all non-urgent referrals to gynaecology and women's health services to speed up access to better treatmentWe will redesign clinical pathways for the most common pathways including heavy periods, menopause, and uro-gynaecology. This will standardise care pathways and remove unnecessary procedural delays.We will fund a specialist centre in each region for group-based approaches to high volume low complexity women’s health pathways. This will improve productivity and empower women in common clinical areas, helping to reduce waiting lists and supporting self-management.We will accelerate the deployment and spread of innovations that benefit women’s health, launching a FemTech healthcare challenge within two years with a pot of £1.5 million.Funded by £5.25 million, we will expand access to Musculoskeletal (MSK) Hubs in the community by leveraging the leisure and fitness workforce to deliver evidence-based physical activity for people with MSK conditions.Buckinghamshire delivers specialist gynaecology care to women through both community and secondary care, or hospital, services, with community services delivered from general practices across the county, including in Aylesbury. To further improve access to women's health services, the Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust and FedBucks are working together to expand community services, increasing clinic sites and aligning to neighbourhoods including North Bucks, to ensure more women can be seen for specialist gynaecology care more quickly and closer to home in the community service, thereby increasing capacity within the secondary care service to support waiting list reductions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to strengthen the NATO alliance.

NATO is the cornerstone of UK and Euro-Atlantic security, and we work continually with our partners throughout the alliance to help protect our safety and prosperity here at home.Together with our European Allies, we are increasing investment in our armed forces and shouldering more of the burden for NATO’s defence, and working closely with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on preparations for a successful Ankara Summit in July.NATO also remains steadfast in our military, political and humanitarian support for Ukraine, as we continue to stand together against Russia’s illegal and brutal war against the Ukrainian people.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of data collection on women’s health outcomes in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

A women's health data dashboard is available on the NHS Futures website and is available to anyone working within health and care sector who requires insight into women's health.The dashboard is intended to provide national and local insight into the key aims of women's health aligned with the priorities of NHS England’s Women’s Health Programme and highlight potential unmet need, unwarranted variation, and health inequalities.The Government will make the data dashboard publicly available with the next year, as set out in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy published on 15 April 2026.

What steps he is taking to help improve access to menopause support and services in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we reform the National Health Service, and we acknowledge the impact that women suffering from symptoms of menopause has on their lives, relationships, and participation in the workplace.In Buckinghamshire, a specialist menopause service was launched in August 2025 and was accessible to all Buckinghamshire women via referral from their general practitioner (GP), delivered by telephone as standard to ensure this holistic and patient centred specialist menopause care is delivered close to the patient, in their own home, with face to face provision available where required within GPs across the county.As announced in October 2025, we will be asking local authorities across the country to include menopause in the NHS Health Check later this year. This will support eligible women across England to access high quality information on the menopause, including advice on managing symptoms, where to seek support, and a diagnosis.Menopause and menstrual health conditions will be among the priorities for the NHS’s revolutionary new online hospital when it launches next year, providing faster access to specialist care.On the 15 April 2026, we published the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy which identifies menopause as a core women’s health priority, recognising its impact on women’s health, wellbeing, work, and quality of life.The strategy shifts menopause care into primary and community settings, including neighbourhood women’s health services and women’s health hubs, making care easier to access and closer to home.The strategy commits to each region having a specialist centre to support group based approaches to high volume low complexity women’s health pathways such as menopause services, improving access, peer support, and consistency, with early rollout focused on areas of highest need.The strategy recognises that menopause symptoms are often under recognised and poorly understood, and commits to improving information so women know their symptoms can be effectively managed, including through evidence-based treatments.

What steps her Department is taking to strengthen UK–US co-operation on digital finance and innovation.

The Financial Regulatory Working Group (FRWG) was established in 2018 with a view to deepen bilateral financial regulatory cooperation between the UK and the US, including on issues relating to financial stability and to take stock of economic trends and market conditions. Further details on what was discussed at the most recent FRWG on 25 February 2026 can be found here: U.S. – UK Financial Regulatory Working Group Winter 2026: Joint Statement - GOV.UK. The UK and US are also working closely together on the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, which was established jointly by HM Treasury and US Treasury on 22 September. The Taskforce is exploring options to strengthen linkages between UK and US capital markets, supporting growth and competitiveness in both jurisdictions by reducing burdens for UK and US firms raising capital-cross border. It is also exploring opportunities for collaboration on digital assets and other innovative financial activities. HM Treasury and the US Treasury have conducted joint senior-level industry engagement in both London and Washington DC to ensure the Taskforce’s work is informed by what matters most to industry on both sides of the Atlantic. The Taskforce aims to report back to both finance ministries on its recommendations via the FRWG in summer 2026.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of developments in the Middle East on global financial stability.

Since the start of the conflict the Government has engaged allies and partners to urge de-escalation and shared efforts towards diplomacy, and has taken action to protect the UK public from the rising cost of living by providing immediate support for vulnerable heating oil customers and bringing energy bills down. HM Treasury has also been working closely with the financial regulators to monitor potential risks to financial stability, including through its membership of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) and the global Financial Stability Board (FSB). The FPC is responsible in the UK for identifying, monitoring and taking action to remove or reduce systemic risks to the UK financial system. In its April 2026 Record, the FPC assessed that conflict in the Middle East represents a negative supply shock to the global economy. The FPC noted that while the financial system has remained resilient, and the UK banking system has the capacity to support households and businesses even if conditions were to be substantially worse than expected, the conflict has increased global uncertainty following a period of already elevated risks and called for firms to actively manage their risks.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of discussions at the UK–US Financial Regulatory Working Group on (a) financial stability and (b) cross-border regulatory co-operation.

The Financial Regulatory Working Group (FRWG) was established in 2018 with a view to deepen bilateral financial regulatory cooperation between the UK and the US, including on issues relating to financial stability and to take stock of economic trends and market conditions. Further details on what was discussed at the most recent FRWG on 25 February 2026 can be found here: U.S. – UK Financial Regulatory Working Group Winter 2026: Joint Statement - GOV.UK. The UK and US are also working closely together on the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future, which was established jointly by HM Treasury and US Treasury on 22 September. The Taskforce is exploring options to strengthen linkages between UK and US capital markets, supporting growth and competitiveness in both jurisdictions by reducing burdens for UK and US firms raising capital-cross border. It is also exploring opportunities for collaboration on digital assets and other innovative financial activities. HM Treasury and the US Treasury have conducted joint senior-level industry engagement in both London and Washington DC to ensure the Taskforce’s work is informed by what matters most to industry on both sides of the Atlantic. The Taskforce aims to report back to both finance ministries on its recommendations via the FRWG in summer 2026.

What steps his Department is taking to improve early diagnosis of endometriosis for patients in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce. We are committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for endometriosis. It is unacceptable that women can wait so long for an endometriosis diagnosis and we are taking action to address this.Nationally, we are establishing an “online hospital”, NHS Online, which will give people across the country, on certain pathways, the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. It will connect patients with clinicians across the country through secure, online appointments accessed through the NHS App.Menstrual problems, which may be a sign of endometriosis, will be among the first nine conditions available for referral to NHS Online from 2027. We’ve chosen some of the conditions with the longest waits and where online consultation works best. NHS Online will help to reduce patient waiting times, delivering the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years, four times more than an average trust, while enhancing patient choice and control over their care. This will allow women with menstrual problems which may be a sign of endometriosis across the country to reach a diagnosis and explore treatment options sooner.Buckinghamshire delivers specialist gynaecology care to women through both community and secondary care, or hospital, services, with community services delivered from general practices across the county, including in Aylesbury. To further improve access to women's health services, the Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust is working to expand community services, increasing clinic sites, and aligning to neighbourhoods including North Bucks, to ensure more women can be seen for specialist gynaecology care more quickly and closer to home in the community service, thereby increasing capacity within the secondary care service to support waiting list reductions.

What steps her Department is taking to mitigate risks to UK economic security arising from financial instability in the Middle East.

Since the start of the conflict the Government has engaged allies and partners to urge de-escalation and shared efforts towards diplomacy, and has taken action to protect the UK public from the rising cost of living by providing immediate support for vulnerable heating oil customers and bringing energy bills down. HM Treasury has also been working closely with the financial regulators to monitor potential risks to financial stability, including through its membership of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) and the global Financial Stability Board (FSB). The FPC is responsible in the UK for identifying, monitoring and taking action to remove or reduce systemic risks to the UK financial system. In its April 2026 Record, the FPC assessed that conflict in the Middle East represents a negative supply shock to the global economy. The FPC noted that while the financial system has remained resilient, and the UK banking system has the capacity to support households and businesses even if conditions were to be substantially worse than expected, the conflict has increased global uncertainty following a period of already elevated risks and called for firms to actively manage their risks.

What steps her Department is taking with other Government departments to improve (i) financial education and (ii) investment literacy among the public.

The Government wants to see more people benefit from the higher returns and long-term financial resilience that investing can provide, which will also benefit UK capital markets and the wider economy. That is why the Chancellor has set out a series of bold measures to get Britain investing again, including the reforms to ISAs announced at Autumn Budget. The Government and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are working closely with the industry-led initiatives to promote the benefits of investing to the public, and to reform how firms talk about the risks and benefits of investing. In addition, HM Treasury has worked closely with the FCA on the introduction of targeted support, which went live on 6 April. This allows authorised firms, with the relevant permission, to provide customers with proactive help on investment decisions, including suggesting specific products – helping people to act on information and make choices that are right for their circumstances. In the longer term, HM Treasury is working closely with the Department for Education to strengthen financial education. As part of the Financial Inclusion Strategy, published in November 2025, the Government announced that financial education will be made compulsory in primary schools in England, alongside a renewed focus on financial education in secondary schools.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support organic food producers in Buckinghamshire to access export opportunities to Japan.

Japan is the second largest organic market in Asia, valued at an estimated £1.4 billion in 2023, and expanding rapidly, driven by Japanese government initiatives to promote organic consumption domestically. The UK-Japan agreement to formally recognise the equivalency of each other’s organic livestock standards will help British exporters to meet growing consumer demand for organic products in Japan. Defra has a network of 16 agri-food and drink attaches who work to remove trade barriers and support UK agri-food businesses to export. This includes an attaché based in Japan. Last year the network removed over 50 trade barriers, estimated by industry to be worth £127million per annum. Businesses in Buckinghamshire can access a range of 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 Business Academy, which is a free training programme for UK businesses looking to grow their international sales.

What steps she is taking to ensure that regulatory frameworks support greater access to low-cost retail investment products.

The Government wants to see more people benefit from the higher returns and long-term financial resilience that investing can provide, which will also benefit UK capital markets and the wider economy. That is why the Chancellor has set out a series of bold measures to get Britain investing again, including the reforms to ISAs announced at Autumn Budget. The Government and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are working closely with the industry-led initiatives to promote the benefits of investing to the public, and to reform how firms talk about the risks and benefits of investing. In addition, HM Treasury has worked closely with the FCA on the introduction of targeted support, which went live on 6 April. This allows authorised firms, with the relevant permission, to provide customers with proactive help on investment decisions, including suggesting specific products – helping people to act on information and make choices that are right for their circumstances. In the longer term, HM Treasury is working closely with the Department for Education to strengthen financial education. As part of the Financial Inclusion Strategy, published in November 2025, the Government announced that financial education will be made compulsory in primary schools in England, alongside a renewed focus on financial education in secondary schools.

What steps his Department is taking to improve engagement with pension planning among individuals before they reach their 50s.

The Government ensures everyone has access to free, impartial pensions guidance through the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). MaPS’ MoneyHelper guidance is available to individuals at any age and covers all areas of UK pensions. For those that wish to make decisions about their pension savings, we are transforming the advice and guidance landscape through targeted support, which went live earlier this month. This will enable FCA-authorised firms to proactively suggest appropriate products or courses of action to customers of any age, using limited information about the customer and their circumstances. MaPS is also making good progress in delivering pensions dashboards. Enabling individuals of any age to view their pensions picture securely in one place online will remove a significant barrier to engagement and support better retirement planning. Users will be signposted to further guidance and information within MoneyHelper to assist their decision making, and we are working closely with MaPS to develop this.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the transition from defined benefit to defined contribution pension schemes on retirement outcomes for Generation X.

The Department carries out and publishes analysis of projected future retirement incomes, which provides estimates of the number and proportion of working age individuals under saving for their retirement against different measures of adequacy. This analysis is broken down by different characteristics such as decade of retirement and pension provision which can be found on GOV.UK: Analysis of Future Pension Incomes 2025 - GOV.UK.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of (i) employment history, (ii) health status and (iii) demographic characteristics on disparities in pension adequacy.

The Department carries out and publishes analysis of projected future retirement incomes, which provides estimates of the number and proportion of working age individuals under saving for their retirement against different measures of adequacy. This analysis is broken down by different characteristics such as decade of retirement and pension provision which can be found on GOV.UK: Analysis of Future Pension Incomes 2025 - GOV.UK.

What steps her Department is taking to encourage greater participation in equity investment among UK households.

The Government wants to see more people benefit from the higher returns and long-term financial resilience that investing can provide, which will also benefit UK capital markets and the wider economy. That is why the Chancellor has set out a series of bold measures to get Britain investing again, including the reforms to ISAs announced at Autumn Budget. The Government and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) are working closely with the industry-led initiatives to promote the benefits of investing to the public, and to reform how firms talk about the risks and benefits of investing. In addition, HM Treasury has worked closely with the FCA on the introduction of targeted support, which went live on 6 April. This allows authorised firms, with the relevant permission, to provide customers with proactive help on investment decisions, including suggesting specific products – helping people to act on information and make choices that are right for their circumstances. In the longer term, HM Treasury is working closely with the Department for Education to strengthen financial education. As part of the Financial Inclusion Strategy, published in November 2025, the Government announced that financial education will be made compulsory in primary schools in England, alongside a renewed focus on financial education in secondary schools.