Written questions by Dinenage.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7738 on General Practitioners: Gosport, what steps he plans to take to introduce Neighbourhood Health Centres in Gosport constituency.

We have committed to trialling Neighbourhood Health Centres to bring together a range of services, ensuring healthcare is closer to home and patients receive the care they deserve. This is part of our broader ambition to move towards a Neighbourhood Health Service, with more care delivered in local communities to spot problems earlier.I thank my Rt. Hon. friend for their suggestion of Gosport as a trial location. We are working with officials to explore options for how best to trial Neighbourhood Health Centres.

How many applications for project licences to conduct experiments on animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were refused permission between 1 January 2023 and 30 September 2024.

From 1 January 2023 to 30 September 2024, no applications for a project licence under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have been refused.The Government publishes extensive guidance for the regulated sector on applying for project licences. Applications are internally reviewed by an establishment’s Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body before being submitted to the regulator for assessment.Applications received by the regulator are frequently returned to the applicant for reconsideration. Applicants may amend or withdraw an application in response to feedback from the regulator.Generally, the number of applications refused is not an indicator for the robustness of the regulatory regime.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of private school pupils with an education, health and care plan who will (a) enter mainstream state education, (b) enter specialist state education and (c) drop out of mainstream education as a result of the proposed application of VAT to private school fees..

The department has not made any estimate of the number of pupils with an education, health and care (EHC) plan who will enter state-funded mainstream or special schools or leave private mainstream education as a result of the proposed application of VAT to private schools’ fees. The department cannot be certain of the precise level, if any, of transfer from private to state sectors additional to the movements between schools, and between the private and state sectors, which happen each year in all parts of the country. The department will monitor demand and capacity using our normal processes and will work with local authorities to meet any pressures. It is however worth noting that most pupils with EHC plans are educated in mainstream state-funded schools and more than 97% of pupils with EHC plans attending private schools have their place fully funded by their local authority. Where pupils’ places in private schools are being funded by local authorities, local authorities will be able to reclaim the VAT.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to question 6040 on Flood Control: Alverstoke, what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management catch up funding.

Defra Ministers regularly meet with the Environment Agency’s leadership team to discuss delivery of departmental priorities, including the floods investment programme. We have inherited a programme which is behind schedule due to the impacts of inflation, the covid pandemic, and skills and labour shortages. We will therefore be reviewing the programme to ensure flood risk management is fit for the challenges we face now and in the future. Decisions on future spending will be made at the Spending Review later this month.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 5225 on Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal, whether Ministers have completed the review of final policy positions relating to Simpler Recycling.

The review is still under way however the Department is aware of the urgent need for certainty for stakeholders, and we hope to provide further clarity as soon as possible.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) number and (b) frequency of train services in the South Hampshire region.

Department officials work closely with all operators on seeking to increase service levels. The Department needs to balance demand with taxpayer money when approving additional service levels across the country.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of maintaining the level of fuel duty on inflation in the next three financial years.

Fuel duty applies to petrol, diesel and other fuels for road and non-road uses, such as construction. The Government carefully considers the impacts of fuel duty rates on the fiscal position and the economy, including on inflation, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events. The Office for Budget Responsibility provide an assessment of the impact of government policies on inflation in their economic and fiscal outlook after each fiscal event.

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of freezing fuel duty on inflation since 2010.

Fuel duty applies to petrol, diesel and other fuels for road and non-road uses, such as construction. The Government carefully considers the impacts of fuel duty rates on the fiscal position and the economy, including on inflation, with decisions on rates made at fiscal events. The Office for Budget Responsibility provide an assessment of the impact of government policies on inflation in their economic and fiscal outlook after each fiscal event.

What steps he is taking to increase access to weight loss services in Gosport constituency.

Local authorities and the National Health Service provide weight management services to support their communities to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. These range from behavioural weight management programmes to specialist services for those living with obesity and associated co-morbidities. Local authorities are able to spend funding from the Public Health Grant on behavioural weight management services, whilst integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning NHS specialist weight management services. Local authorities and ICBs should consider their local population’s need and relevant guidance.A range of services are available for people in the Gosport constituency area, including: health and wellbeing coaches and social prescribers; weight loss and exercise programmes funded by Hampshire County Council; and Complications from Excess Weight clinics for eligible children in Portsmouth and Southampton.Additionally, NHS England commissions the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme nationally for people living with obesity with an existing comorbidity of either diabetes or hypertension, or both. The 12-week online programme is available to eligible people across England, including in the Gosport constituency, via direct referral from any general practice or Community Pharmacy.

Whether she plans to maintain the £2 bus fare cap after 31 December 2024.

Delivering reliable and affordable public transport services for passengers is one of the government’s top priorities as we know how important this is for passengers and for local growth. The Department for Transport is looking at the future of the £2 fare cap as a matter of urgency and is considering the most appropriate and affordable approach for the future of the scheme.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce obesity rates amongst (a) adults and (b) children in Gosport constituency.

The Government recognises that prevention will always be better, and cheaper, than a cure. The prevention of ill health is a clear mission for the Government and the cornerstone of this is supporting children to live healthier lives. We face a childhood obesity crisis, and the Government will take action to tackle it head on, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. Shifting the focus from treatment to prevention is one of the three shifts for the Government’s mission for an NHS that is fit for the future.We will bring forward the necessary secondary legislation to ban junk food advertising to children and stop the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16-year-olds. The Government is also committed to stop the targeting of school children by fast food outlets by empowering councils to block the development of new fast-food shops outside schools.Officials in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ regional teams work closely with local partners, including local authorities and the NHS, to support them with local initiatives to promote a healthy lifestyle and tackle obesity.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing five-year funding settlements for (a) local transport and (b) bus service improvement plans.

This government is committed to providing greater stability to local government by giving councils multi-year funding settlements and ending wasteful competitive bidding. Improving bus services is a key part of this Government’s growth mission, and the government has set out plans to deliver better services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions. This plan includes reforming bus funding by giving local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding and allowing them to plan ahead to deliver their local transport priorities.

Whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of introducing VAT on independent schools on the arts sector.

This government is committed to ending the VAT exemption that private schools enjoy and will confirm the introduction of these changes at the Budget on 30 October. Following scrutiny of the government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, details of the government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget in the usual way.

On what evidential basis HMRC concluded that abolition of the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime will not have significant macroeconomic impacts; and if she will publish that evidence.

The abolition of the Furnished Holiday Lettings tax rules will not have any macroeconomic impact due to the small proportion of the landlord population affected. There may be a limited behavioural change over the long term. Impacts are assessed as part of the Budget process.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with Council leaders on the potential merits of allowing local decision makers greater control over the design of local household waste recycling centre services.

No, officials have not had any such discussions. The Environmental Protection Act requires that waste disposal authorities provide places for residents to dispose of household waste. Householders must be allowed to deposit waste deemed to be ‘household waste’ for free. This encourages responsible waste disposal and recycling. Local authorities may otherwise determine how best to deliver a service that meets the needs of their residents.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of plans to introduce VAT on independent schools on (a) the number of children attending choir schools, (b) the number of choir schools, (c) the music industry and (d) levels of tourism.

This government is committed to ending the VAT exemption that private schools enjoy and will confirm the introduction of these changes at the Budget on 30 October.Following scrutiny of the government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, details of the government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget in the usual way.The government is passionate about extending opportunities for children and young people in the arts through a broader curriculum, ensuring all pupils in state-funded schools can access creative subjects, alongside subjects such as mathematics, science and English.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to implement regulations through powers introduced in the Environment Act 2021 to require producers to take responsibility for the waste that arises from their products.

The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, which reform the UKs producer responsibility system for packaging, are due to be brought before parliament in autumn this year, with the aim of these regulations coming into force by 1 January 2025.

Whether she has had discussions with train operating companies on the feasibility of increasing the frequency of train services in South Hampshire.

Department officials work closely with all operators on seeking to increase service levels. The Department needs to balance demand with taxpayer money when approving additional service levels across the country.

What steps his Department is taking to increase access to GP services in Gosport constituency.

We know that patients across the country, including in the Gosport constituency, are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP), and we are committed to fixing the crisis in GPs. Our plan to restore GPs will require both investment and reform. We will increase the proportion of funding for GPs and are already investing £82 million to recruit 1,000 newly qualified GPs. This will increase the number of appointments delivered in GPs, secure the future pipeline of GPs, and take pressure off those currently working in the system.Additionally, we will introduce Neighbourhood Health Centres to bring together vital health and care services, ensuring healthcare is closer to home and patients receive the care they deserve. The Government will also bring back the family doctor by incentivising GPs to see the same patient.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to announce a further tranche of flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) funding.

Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the Department’s five core priorities. After 14 years of Conservative failure, flood defences have been left in critical condition leaving over 80,000 homes at risk of flooding. To respond to these challenges, the new Labour Government has established a Flood Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the delivery of flood defences, drainage systems, and natural flood management schemes. We will be reviewing the programme with a view to ensuring flood risk management is fit for the challenges we face now and in the future. Decisions on future spending will be made at the Spending Review later this month.