Written questions by Johnson.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure the (a) safety and (b) privacy of biological women in single-sex spaces.

Along with all other public sector organisations, we are considering what the implications for the Home Office and policing will be of the Supreme Court ruling. It is important that our next steps are properly considered and aligned with legal advice and the Statutory Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations, which the Equality and Human Rights Commission is updating.

Whether her Department plans to update guidance to public bodies on the lawful provision of single-sex services for biological women.

Along with all other public sector organisations, we are considering what the implications for the Home Office and policing will be of the Supreme Court ruling. It is important that our next steps are properly considered and aligned with legal advice and the Statutory Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations, which the Equality and Human Rights Commission is updating.

What meetings (a) he and (b) his Ministers have had with the doctors and dentists review body since July 2024.

I along with my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Care, both met with the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration at the scheduled oral evidence sessions in February 2025, one focussing on secondary care doctors, and the other on general practitioners and dentists.Oral evidence sessions are a regular feature of the annual pay review process and enable the pay review body to ask questions directly of ministers or to clarify points from the Department’s written evidence. Officials accompany ministers to these meetings. All parties to the pay review process, including the British Medical Association, are invited to give oral evidence.

If he will list the NHS accident and emergency departments currently offering an opt out of (a) HIV, (b) Hepatitis B and (c) Hepatitis C testing to all patients requiring a blood test.

Emergency department opt out testing is currently being offered to all extremely high and high HIV prevalence areas in England until 2026/27. A detailed list of specific sites offering opt-out HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C testing is in the attached table. Emergency departments not listed in the attached table are not currently offering opt-out testing.The Department, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England are working together in the development of a new HIV Action Plan which we aim to publish this year. The plan will include a focus on scaling up HIV testing, including an assessment of the future of opt out testing, based on the programme’s progress and the available data, in line with our 2030 ambition.

What plans he has to extend opt out (a) HIV, (b) Hepatitis B and (c) Hepatitis C testing to all patients requiring a blood test in all NHS accident and emergency departments that do not currently offer it.

Emergency department opt out testing is currently being offered to all extremely high and high HIV prevalence areas in England until 2026/27. A detailed list of specific sites offering opt-out HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C testing is in the attached table. Emergency departments not listed in the attached table are not currently offering opt-out testing.The Department, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England are working together in the development of a new HIV Action Plan which we aim to publish this year. The plan will include a focus on scaling up HIV testing, including an assessment of the future of opt out testing, based on the programme’s progress and the available data, in line with our 2030 ambition.

What steps her Department is taking to support employers in providing single-sex workplace facilities for biological women.

The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity for women and employers. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has already committed to supporting organisations, including workplaces, with updated guidance; we will work closely with the EHRC as they develop this. All government departments should follow the clarity the ruling provides.

If he will list the NHS accident and emergency departments currently not offering an opt out of (a) HIV, (b) Hepatitis B and (c) Hepatitis C testing to all patients requiring a blood test.

Emergency department opt out testing is currently being offered to all extremely high and high HIV prevalence areas in England until 2026/27. A detailed list of specific sites offering opt-out HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C testing is in the attached table. Emergency departments not listed in the attached table are not currently offering opt-out testing.The Department, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England are working together in the development of a new HIV Action Plan which we aim to publish this year. The plan will include a focus on scaling up HIV testing, including an assessment of the future of opt out testing, based on the programme’s progress and the available data, in line with our 2030 ambition.

What guidance her Department issues to employers on the rights of biological women under the Equality Act 2010.

The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity and confidence that for the purposes of the Equality Act, the term ‘woman’ refers to a biological woman.The Equality and Human Rights Commission has already committed to support organisations, including workplaces, with updated guidance; we will engage them as necessary as they progress this work. All government departments should follow the ruling.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of the provision of female-only health services.

The Department has not made an assessment of the merits of female-only health services. It is for integrated care boards and trusts to commission and deliver services suitable to their local population.Services within the National Health Service are patient centred, and the NHS Constitution is clear that patients have the right to receive care and treatment that is appropriate to them, meets their needs and reflects their preferences.Patients are able to request that intimate care is provided by someone of the same sex. This is recognised through accompanying Care Quality Commission statutory guidance to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. In line with this guidance, we expect that providers will make every reasonable effort to respect patient preferences.The Government remains committed to prioritising women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 41472 on Childcare: Fees and Charges whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the £100k cut off for free childcare provision on (a) overall workforce productivity, (b) willingness of impacted employees to take on additional hours and responsibilities and (c) willingness of impacted NHS clinical staff to take on additional hours of work and responsibilities.

I refer the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham to the answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 41472.

Whether a person's passport can be used to prove their (a) biological sex, (b) genetic sex, (c) sex at birth and (d) sex as legally defined.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 31 March to question 41234.

What steps he is taking to help improve public awareness of the (a) risk factors (b) transmission and (c) symptoms of leptospirosis.

The UK Health Security Agency publishes standard guidance on the risk factors, transmission, and symptoms of leptospirosis, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/leptospirosis#full-publication-update-history.National Health Service guidance is also available, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/leptospirosis/.Finally, guidance for workers is available from the Health and Safety Executive, at the following link:https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/hazardous-substances/harmful-micro-organisms/leptospirosis-weils-disease.htm.

What recent estimate he has made of (a) the number of cases of leptospirosis and (b) the epidemiology of those cases.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes routine surveillance for leptospirosis infections in humans and publishes a quarterly report on the common animal-associated infections, with further information available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-animal-associated-infections-2024/common-animal-associated-infections-england-second-quarter-2024#leptospirosisThe following table shows the most recent figures of confirmed cases of leptospirosis in each quarter, from quarter one of 2023 to quarter two of 2024:Quarter20232024Quarter one515Quarter two815Quarter three34N/AQuarter four23N/ATotal70N/ALeptospirosis cases in England show seasonality, with more cases reported in summer and autumn. Many cases diagnosed in England report exposure to potentially contaminated water or direct contact with rodents as the probable source of infection. Reported infections are most common in adult men, likely due to occupational and recreational exposures. However, infection can occur in anyone directly exposed to urine or urine-contaminated environments, regardless of age or sex.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of uncollected rubbish in Birmingham on (a) public health and (b) levels of Weil’s disease.

My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is closely monitoring the situation in Birmingham.Birmingham City Council is conducting a risk assessment on the potential public health impacts of uncollected waste. The assessment is being led by the Director of Public Health for Birmingham and encompasses a broad range of potential impacts, including risk of infectious diseases, including Weil’s disease.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is part of a multi-agency response Strategic Coordinating Group, led by Birmingham City Council, and has contributed to the risk assessment. UKHSA will continue to provide advice and support to Birmingham City Council as long as is necessary.

How many children were convicted of (a) murder and (b) manslaughter by (i) age, (ii) biological sex, (iii) ethnicity, (iv) country of birth, (v) care experience, (vi) history of previous criminal offences, (vii) whether they lived with both parents, (viii) county lived in at time of offence and (ix) county in which the offence took place in each of the last ten years.

The number of children that were convicted of murder and manslaughter by age, biological sex and ethnicity can be found in the criminal justice statistics: Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: June 2024 - GOV.UK.The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on the number of children convicted of murder and manslaughter by country of birth, care experience, whether they lived with both parents, country lived at time of offence and county in which the offence took place in each of the last ten years. The information requested on children convicted of murder and manslaughter by history of previous criminal offences is held by the Department but could only be obtained at disproportionate cost

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on long term public sector borrowing relating to health administration.

Ministers and senior Department officials will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to lead this transformation. The transition team will work across NHS England and the Department, bringing together the expertise and experience of both organisations.As we work to return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds, including the financial implications of the changes. By the end of the process, we estimate that these changes will save hundreds of millions of pounds a year, which will be reinvested in frontline services.

What estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) severance payments and (b) redundancy packages for NHS England staff following the abolition of NHS England.

We recognise that there may be some short-term upfront costs as we undertake the integration of NHS England and the Department, but these costs and more will be recouped in future years because of a smaller and leaner centre. By the end of the process, we estimate that these changes will save hundreds of millions of pounds a year, which will be reinvested in frontline services.As we work to return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.

What estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of restructuring administrative functions following NHS England’s abolition.

We recognise that there may be some short-term upfront costs as we undertake the integration of NHS England and the Department, but these costs and more will be recouped in future years because of a smaller and leaner centre. By the end of the process, we estimate that these changes will save hundreds of millions of pounds a year, which will be reinvested in frontline services.As we work to return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.

Innovation and Technology, what meetings (a) he has and (b) his Ministers have had with (i) the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (ii) other Ministers in the Department for Health and Social Care on the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Bill on the (A) quality of, (B) use of and (C) safety considerations for data on a person's sex.

The Secretary of State and Ministers meet with health Ministers regularly to discuss a range of topics. The Secretary of State and Ministers have not met with health Ministers specifically to discuss the Data (Use and Access) Bill and sex data. Official level engagement has taken place to share information regarding the ways the NHS handles medical records in the process of an individual changing gender, and ensures individuals are correctly registered for relevant screenings and other sex/specific treatment. We have used the insights from this engagement to inform our approach to the Bill.

What assessment she has made of the impact of the £100k cut off for free childcare provision on (a) overall workforce productivity, (b) willingness of impacted employees to take on additional hours and responsibilities and (c) willingness of impacted NHS clinical staff to take on additional hours of work and responsibilities.

All families are eligible for universal 15 hours of free childcare for three and four year-olds, including those who earn over £100,000.The £100,000 level was chosen to correspond with income tax thresholds and to be easily understandable for parents. Only a very small proportion of parents, 3.8% of parents of three and four year-olds in 2023/24, earn over the £100,000 threshold.The government needs to use public funds in a way that provides value for money and considers it reasonable to target this funding at those individuals earning under £100,000 adjusted net income.