Written questions by Bailey.

What estimate she has made of the costs of implementing the EHRC’s proposed Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations for railway stations.

I am not aware of any such estimates being made of implementing the proposed EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions, and Associations for railway stations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Rt. hon and hon. Members on the Climate and Nature Bill since 24 January 2025.

This Government is absolutely committed to tackling the climate and nature crises. Accordingly, we have engaged extensively with Roz Savage MP on the proposed Climate and Nature Bill and agreed how we can take forward the spirit and substance of the Bill. The minister responsible for the Bill area, Minister Creagh, met with Roz Savage on 27 January to discuss the government’s approach to taking forward the spirit of the Bill.

What recent discussions she has had with public transport providers on the cost of implementing the proposed EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions, and Associations.

I am not aware of any recent discussions on this issue with public transport providers. The EHRC are currently consulting on the draft statutory Code of Practice and are seeking views from affected stakeholders. This consultation closes on Monday 30th June after which we will consider the final draft.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of placing sanctions on (a) Itamar Ben Gvir and (b) Bezalel Smotrich.

On the 10 June 2025, together with international partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, we announced measures against Israeli government ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. We sanctioned these individuals in their personal capacity as a result of their repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. Both will be subject to an asset freeze, travel ban, and director disqualification. We have long been clear that Israel must cease expansion of illegal settlements which undermine a future Palestinian state. It is right that we, along with international partners, demonstrate our commitment to ensuring they are held accountable for encouraging and inciting human rights abuses. Our joint statement made clear our commitment to continuing a strong friendship with the people of Israel based on shared ties and values. We remain committed to a two-state solution which ensures a safe and secure future for Israelis and Palestinians.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his counterparts in Indonesia on corporal punishment in relation to consensual intimacy between adult men.

The UK opposes all forms of discrimination and is committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of LGBT people around the world. The UK also opposes the use of judicially imposed corporal punishment. In Indonesia, we actively engage with Civil Society Organisations, legislators, and the Government of Indonesia, through our Embassy in Jakarta, to oppose discrimination against minority groups, including the LGBT community. We encourage Indonesia to ensure that its laws, both at national and local level, are non-discriminatory and celebrate the diversity and tolerance of its people.

How many people that receive (a) enhanced daily living Personal Independence Payment awards and (b) standard daily living Personal Independence Payment awards did not score four or more in any individual activity in Leyton and Wanstead constituency in January 2025.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

With reference to the Ministry of Defence's Sex Offending Strategy, published in July 2022, whether he plans to review the current rules on the reporting of sexual offences within the Armed Forces; and whether he plans to change policy to allow certain categories of sexual offences to be reported to civilian police forces.

Since 2009, the Civilian and Service police have shared jurisdiction for dealing with allegations of criminal offending by Service personnel in the UK. A Service person therefore has the choice to report any crime, including sexual offences, to the Civilian or Service Police. The establishment of the Defence Serious Crime Command in 2022 created a an independent tri-Service investigative capability, and placed victims at the centre of a more streamlined and effective service.  Where a report of sexual offending, or any serious crime, is made to the Service Police, the Defence Serious Crime Unit carries out an independent investigation and the Victim and Witness Care Unit provides support and advice from the point a crime is reported.

What progress his Department has made on replacing enhanced combat body armour for frontline troops.

The safety of personnel remains the Ministry of Defence’s top priority and we are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our forces and maintain operational readiness. Where it is appropriate, alternative body armour plates have been issued to those on high-threat deployments. Work continues, at pace, to test and ensure the safety of sufficient Enhanced Combat Body Armour (ECBA) plates. To date 30% of the required number of ECBA plates have been scanned and are in the process of being distributed back to units. This is being prioritised based on operational requirements. It is anticipated that the most impacted users will receive tested ECBA plates by the end of this month. The Tactical Ballistic Plate programme, which will replace both Osprey body armour and ECBA plates, is expected to deliver from 2027.

What progress his Department has made on waiving visa fees for (a) non UK nationality veterans who have served for four or more years and (b) dependents of those veterans; and whether he plans to introduce such waivers prior to the planned extension of the Armed Forces Covenant Duty to further authorities.

This Government is committed to scrapping visa fees for non-UK veterans who have served our country for four or more years, and their dependents. The Ministry of Defence is actively working with the Home Office to take this forward.

What information his Department holds on the number and proportion of prostate cancer cases that had presented with stage 4 metastatic disease at first diagnosis in Leyton and Wanstead constituency in the most recent year that data are available.

The Department does not have specific data for Leyton and Wanstead. However, we can provide diagnosis data at an integrated care board (ICB) level. Specifically, we can offer information on diagnoses at stages 3 and 4 for the North-East London ICB. In 2022, 400 men were diagnosed with stage 3 or stage 4 conditions within the NHS North East London ICB.

Media and Sport, what support her Department has offered local authorities to help facilitate local VE Day 2025 celebrations.

On March 5th, the Government announced a UK-wide programme to mark the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day, with a series of events and celebrations that will share stories of the Second World War generation. Commemorations will kick off on Monday 5 May and will include a range of events as well as community activity such as street parties, BBQs and community get-togethers. Local Authorities are encouraged to amplify and support street parties and community activity on Monday 5 May, echoing the celebrations that took place 80 years ago. More information can be found on the Government’s dedicated interactive website: ve-vjday80.gov.uk.Funding will be made available through the National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All for organisations across the UK to bid for grants to host community events, activities and exhibitions to help tell the stories of the Second World War at a local level, ensuring the legacy of the war and its impact on individuals and communities across the country is not forgotten.

What recent discussions he has had with the National Screening Committee on the evidence that will be used to inform the criteria for a prostate cancer screening programme.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries of the United Kingdom on all aspects of population and targeted screening, and supports implementation. It uses research evidence, pilot programmes, economic evaluation, expert stakeholders, and consultation to assess the evidence for national screening programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria covering the condition, the test, the treatment options, and the effectiveness, ethics, and acceptability of the screening programme.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has been appraised of the UK NSC’s evidence review for prostate cancer screening which is currently underway. This will cover modelling the clinical effectiveness and cost of several approaches to prostate cancer screening. This will include different potential ways of screening the whole population as well as targeted screening aimed at groups of people identified as being at higher than average risk, such as black men or men with a family history of cancer.Once the modelling and evidence review are complete it will be considered by the UK NSC. Subject to no further revisions being required, the UK NSC plans to hold a public consultation towards the end of 2025. After this, the UK NSC will make a recommendation. Ministers will then be asked to consider whether to accept the recommendation.

What assessment he has made of recent trends in levels of prostate cancer diagnoses; and what steps he plans to take to support (a) equitable access and (b) high-quality treatment strategies for people with prostate cancer.

The Department is committed to improving the adequacy of all cancer services, including for prostate cancer. NHS England has funded 10 clinical audits, which includes a national prostate cancer audit. Using routine data, collected on patients diagnosed with cancer in a National Health Service setting, the audit is looking at what is being done well, where it’s being done well, and what needs to be done better. This will seek to reduce unwarranted variation in treatment and reduce inequalities across different groups. To address disparities and find ways to better detect prostate cancer earlier, we have invested £16 million in the United Kingdom-wide TRANSFORM trial, aimed at helping find the best ways of detecting prostate cancer in men, even if they are not displaying any symptoms.The Government recognises that a cancer-specific approach is needed to meet the challenges in cancer care, and to improve all cancer services and outcomes for people living with cancer, including those with prostate cancer. Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a new National Cancer Plan, which will include further details on how we will improve cancer services across England.

What guidance her Department has issued to (a) the police, (b) local authorities and (c) other authorities on removing covers from illicitly-covered licence plates in public spaces to help enforce existing legislation and regulations; and whether she has received representations on the risk of criminal damage complaints if authorities remove coverings.

Disguising a vehicle’s identity is an offence and should be reported to the police to be investigated and, where appropriate, taken through the courts.The Home Office has not issued any specific guidance on the removal of covers from licence plates.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of his Department's budget he plans to allocate to mine action in the 2025-26 financial year.

We are currently considering Official Development Assistance programme allocations for 2025/26 and will publish them in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts in the summer.

What discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (b) devolved administrations on the potential impact of waiting lists for medical care required in order to pass recruitment standards on the number of candidates dropping out of armed service recruitment processes; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of NHS waiting lists on household income disparities for people awaiting recruitment into the armed services.

In the United Kingdom the provision of healthcare to the general population is devolved; however, the Ministry of Defence (MOD)/UK Departments of Health Partnership Board facilitates joint working across the UK to support recruitment to the Armed Forces and the retention of personnel in Service. Ministers from the MOD and the Department of Health and Social Care have regular discussions on wide range of issues, including those facing the Armed Forces in recruitment.

Whether his Department has received representations from relevant stakeholders on the potential impact of the (a) STEM curriculum and (b) attainment differences between (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland on recent rates of completed recruitment into the armed services.

The Ministry of Defence is not aware of having received representations of the kind described.

With reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the MODnet Evolve programme since 31 March 2024.

Significant progress has been made on the MODNET Evolve programme since 31 March 2024, when the programme was rated Red. The development of the next generation MODNET Official service is nearing completion, and rollout of the new service to MOD’s 200,000 users worldwide will commence in June 2025. The new Managed Print Service has been rolled out to over 90% of sites worldwide, with the remainder due for completion this year. The contract for the MODNET Secret service was awarded in December 2024 with all 17,000 users transitioning to the new service by June 2025. All contracts deliver considerable cost savings to defence, enhance the quality of service to users, and ensure MOD has a modern ICT infrastructure that aligns to the Department’s need. In April 2024, the IPA’s formal review of the programme recognised the considerable progress and improved the rating to Amber.

What representations his Department has received in relation to the potential impact of uncompensated devolved (a) taxes and (b) other charges between (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) other devolved authorities on recent rates of completed recruitment into the armed services.

The Ministry of Defence is not aware of having received representations of the kind described.

With reference to the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 16 January 2025, what progress has been made with the Collective Training Transformation Programme since 31 March 2024.

Since March 2024, the Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP) has launched its competition for a Strategic Training Partner for British Army collective training. It is now selecting the final two tenderers and remains on track to meet its delivery target of 2026.