Written questions by Evans.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) fresh-freezing, (b) snap-freezing and (c) flash frozen capacity for brain cancer tissue samples across NHS trusts in England.

Fresh-freezing, also referred to as snap-freezing, is a standard technique used by pathology networks to preserve tissue architecture without chemical fixatives, allowing for subsequent molecular or histological analysis, typically supporting research or advanced diagnostic applications.Pathology services in England are delivered through 27 regional pathology networks, and offer a comprehensive range of tests, including the analysis of brain tissues.Individual pathology services maintain their own standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fresh tissue samples and for the snap-freezing of tissue samples. These SOPs outline local capabilities and practices.It is important that everyone, regardless of where they live, can access the latest innovations in the health and care system through research. The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year in research through the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR’s investments for capital equipment, technology, and modular buildings support NHS trusts across England to deliver high-quality research to improve the health of the population. This investment includes cutting edge research equipment and fixed assets such as ultra-low and cryogenic freezers, to strengthen research capacity and improve access to samples for research.The Department is exploring options to expand brain tissue freezing capacity.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to appoint a Freelance Champion before or after the terms of reference for the role have been established.

We committed in the Creative Industries Sector Plan to appoint a Freelance Champion in 2025, who will advocate for the creative sector’s freelancers within government and be a member of the Creative Industries Council. We have been working closely with industry through a working group of the Creative Industries Council to inform the role's remit. This group developed a draft Terms of Reference, which outlines what industry would like to see from the role including commissioning and/or informing data and evidence gathering on creative industries freelancers; establishing mechanisms to give creative freelancers voice within government policy discussions; and working with a representative cross-section of creative industries stakeholders. We will use this work to inform the role specification prior to appointment. It is important that the appointee is able to establish their priorities upon appointment, and we expect them to develop a workplan in the initial months of their appointment to address these priorities. The postholder will engage and work closely with the sector, and with ministers and government officials to represent the experiences of creative freelancers, and to build awareness of key rights, responsibilities, and resources among freelancers and their contractors. We will make an appointment in the coming months.

Media and Sport, when her Department plans to release further information on the appointment process for the Freelance Champion.

We committed in the Creative Industries Sector Plan to appoint a Freelance Champion in 2025, who will advocate for the creative sector’s freelancers within government and be a member of the Creative Industries Council. We have been working closely with industry through a working group of the Creative Industries Council to inform the role's remit. This group developed a draft Terms of Reference, which outlines what industry would like to see from the role including commissioning and/or informing data and evidence gathering on creative industries freelancers; establishing mechanisms to give creative freelancers voice within government policy discussions; and working with a representative cross-section of creative industries stakeholders. We will use this work to inform the role specification prior to appointment. It is important that the appointee is able to establish their priorities upon appointment, and we expect them to develop a workplan in the initial months of their appointment to address these priorities. The postholder will engage and work closely with the sector, and with ministers and government officials to represent the experiences of creative freelancers, and to build awareness of key rights, responsibilities, and resources among freelancers and their contractors. We will make an appointment in the coming months.

What discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on how to protect all public-facing workers from abuse in their workplaces.

Public facing workers are covered under legislation such as the Offences against the Person Act 1861, which covers serious violence, such as actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm. The Government introduced a statutory aggravating factor for assault against any public facing worker via section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The aggravating factor applies in cases of assault where an offence is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public. Retail workers will be specifically covered by a new offence which we are introducing via the Crime and Policing Bill. We have been in contact with a range of stakeholders across industries, including transport and hospitality to reiterate that violence and abuse towards any worker will not be tolerated.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of restricting the (a) sale and (b) use of fireworks on trends in the level of the illegal trade in fireworks.

No recent assessment has been made of the potential merits of giving local authorities the power to set up firework free zones or on the impact of restricting the sale and use of fireworks in respect of illegal trade.The Government regularly engages with its counterparts in Scotland and will continue to discuss the impacts of their Firework Control Zones. The Government is keen to understand the outcomes the changes have made, before considering if similar changes are needed for England and Wales.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of a) the risks associated with mainstream (i) entertainment brands and (ii) broadcasters distributing gambling (A) advertising and (B) sponsorship and b) the potential impact of this on (1) children and (2) vulnerable audiences.

The Government is clear that wherever gambling advertising appears, it must be socially responsible. There are a number of robust codes in place to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm, enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) independently of Government. The ASA regularly reviews its codes and guidance to ensure they continue to protect children and vulnerable customers in an evolving advertising landscape. For example, the ASA recently strengthened its guidance on strong appeal to children, which focused on social media and the use of influencers. Government recognises that more needs to be done, and we have now set the gambling industry a clear task to further raise standards to ensure that gambling advertising is appropriate, responsible, and does not exacerbate harm. The Government is committed to using the best available evidence on the impact of advertising from a wide range of sources when determining next steps in this space. We will continue to monitor the evidence base and will work with the Gambling Commission and ASA to ensure our advertising regulation regime is fit for purpose.

Whether his Department is taking steps to provide improved guidance to (a) employers and (b) employees on lone working.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 9 September 2025 to Question UIN 75301.

What progress his Department has made on curating accessible (a) training and (b) guidance on promoting the Armed Forces Covenant Duty.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) understands the importance of providing accessible training and guidance to support the Armed Forces Covenant Duty implementation and realise the benefits it offers. We will provide a range of accessible resources, including the provision of detailed training materials, downloadable resources, and clear, practical statutory guidance. These resources will aim to equip the bodies subject to the Duty with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively implement, comply with, and promote the Duty, to help ensure its intended outcomes are achieved. As part of MOD’s commitment to raising awareness of the Duty, we have developed a Duty toolkit, available on the Covenant website, which outlines practical implications for the Armed Forces community and key policies. The MOD is committed to working closely with other UK Government departments, devolved and local governments, the third sector, and the Armed Forces community to raise awareness of the challenges faced by Service personnel and their families, to maximise the Duty’s positive impact across the UK.

What steps his Department is taking to consult with the armed forces community when improving the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Ministry of Defence engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholders to understand how the Armed Forces Covenant is being delivered in practice and seek views on how it could be improved. The Department has been working at pace to fulfil the election manifesto commitment to put the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law, and this has included engagement with over 150 organisations, including representatives of the Armed Forces community, including those serving, veterans, family members, and the bereaved. The Department also seeks the views of the Armed Forces community through regular surveys such as the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey and Families Continuous Attitude Survey. These include questions to assess awareness of the Covenant and identify areas where the Armed Forces community may face disadvantage. This range of engagement will continue as we monitor the implementation of the Covenant Duty extension.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Premier League’s Code of Conduct for Gambling Related Agreements in football in reducing gambling-related harm.

All major sports have now published their gambling sponsorship Codes of Conduct which set minimum standards to ensure arrangements are socially responsible. We are working closely with sports bodies, including the Premier League, to review the implementation and impact of these Codes of Conduct. This review will provide key evidence to inform the most appropriate next steps for gambling sponsorship policy. The Premier League’s decision to ban front-of-shirt sponsorship by gambling firms will commence after the end of the 2025/26 season and we will also assess the impact of this measure in due course.

Media and Sport, whether the responsibilities of the Freelance Champion will include (a) evidence generation, (b) policy leadership and (c) sector engagement.

We committed in the Creative Industries Sector Plan to appoint a Freelance Champion in 2025, who will advocate for the creative sector’s freelancers within government and be a member of the Creative Industries Council. We have been working closely with industry through a working group of the Creative Industries Council to inform the role's remit. This group developed a draft Terms of Reference, which outlines what industry would like to see from the role including commissioning and/or informing data and evidence gathering on creative industries freelancers; establishing mechanisms to give creative freelancers voice within government policy discussions; and working with a representative cross-section of creative industries stakeholders. We will use this work to inform the role specification prior to appointment. It is important that the appointee is able to establish their priorities upon appointment, and we expect them to develop a workplan in the initial months of their appointment to address these priorities. The postholder will engage and work closely with the sector, and with ministers and government officials to represent the experiences of creative freelancers, and to build awareness of key rights, responsibilities, and resources among freelancers and their contractors. We will make an appointment in the coming months.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of giving local authorities the power to set up firework free zones; and what discussions he has had with his Scottish counterpart on the provisions on this matter in the Fireworks and Pyrotechnics Act (Scotland) 2022.

No recent assessment has been made of the potential merits of giving local authorities the power to set up firework free zones or on the impact of restricting the sale and use of fireworks in respect of illegal trade.The Government regularly engages with its counterparts in Scotland and will continue to discuss the impacts of their Firework Control Zones. The Government is keen to understand the outcomes the changes have made, before considering if similar changes are needed for England and Wales.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of (a) the UK’s international standing on regulation of gambling advertising and (b) what lessons the UK can learn from other countries on this subject.

The Government is committed to utilising the best available evidence to inform its gambling advertising policy. This includes regularly reviewing the impact of gambling advertising regulation in other jurisdictions and how it may or may not be appropriate for the UK, considering our existing regulatory framework and market structure.

Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Gambling Commission on the potential merits of signposting gambling support services within National Lottery (a) advertising and (b) products.

Ministers and officials regularly engage with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues related to gambling regulation and player protection. This engagement includes ensuring the National Lottery operates in a socially responsible manner and that appropriate measures are in place to support those who may be experiencing gambling-related harm.DCMS is also developing a new, evidence-based model for independently developed safer gambling messaging in partnership with the Department for Health and Social Care and Gambling Commission.

Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on the responsibilities of a Freelance Champion.

We committed in the Creative Industries Sector Plan to appoint a Freelance Champion in 2025, who will advocate for the creative sector’s freelancers within government and be a member of the Creative Industries Council. We have been working closely with industry through a working group of the Creative Industries Council to inform the role's remit. This group developed a draft Terms of Reference, which outlines what industry would like to see from the role including commissioning and/or informing data and evidence gathering on creative industries freelancers; establishing mechanisms to give creative freelancers voice within government policy discussions; and working with a representative cross-section of creative industries stakeholders. We will use this work to inform the role specification prior to appointment. It is important that the appointee is able to establish their priorities upon appointment, and we expect them to develop a workplan in the initial months of their appointment to address these priorities. The postholder will engage and work closely with the sector, and with ministers and government officials to represent the experiences of creative freelancers, and to build awareness of key rights, responsibilities, and resources among freelancers and their contractors. We will make an appointment in the coming months.

What assessment her Department has made of the safeguarding risks posed by extracurricular activity providers who fall outside statutory safeguarding requirements.

The government is committed to safeguarding children across all education settings, including extracurricular providers outside the statutory education and childcare system, referred to as out-of-school settings (OOSS).All OOSS have a legal duty of care to ensure the safety of children attending their settings. To support providers to meet this duty, the department has published guidance and free accompanying e-learning outlining the safeguarding standards we expect them to meet.The department has also published guidance for parents and carers to help them make informed decisions when choosing OOSS, which includes potential issues to watch out for and steps to take if concerns arise. These resources are regularly reviewed, including with key stakeholders such as safeguarding partners, sector representatives, and parent groups.Whilst the department believes most OOSS offer enriching education in a safe environment, we want this to be true for all. That’s why the government launched a call for evidence on 29 May to better understand safeguarding practices in the sector and invite views on approaches for further strengthening safeguarding, including potential regulation. This closed on 21 September, and we are currently analysing responses. We will publish our response, including next steps, in due course.

Whether her Department plans to take legislative steps to put safeguarding in extracurricular settings on the same statutory footing as (a) schools and (b) statutory services.

The government is committed to safeguarding children across all education settings, including extracurricular providers outside the statutory education and childcare system, referred to as out-of-school settings (OOSS).All OOSS have a legal duty of care to ensure the safety of children attending their settings. To support providers to meet this duty, the department has published guidance and free accompanying e-learning outlining the safeguarding standards we expect them to meet.The department has also published guidance for parents and carers to help them make informed decisions when choosing OOSS, which includes potential issues to watch out for and steps to take if concerns arise. These resources are regularly reviewed, including with key stakeholders such as safeguarding partners, sector representatives, and parent groups.Whilst the department believes most OOSS offer enriching education in a safe environment, we want this to be true for all. That’s why the government launched a call for evidence on 29 May to better understand safeguarding practices in the sector and invite views on approaches for further strengthening safeguarding, including potential regulation. This closed on 21 September, and we are currently analysing responses. We will publish our response, including next steps, in due course.

What discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on how to equip parents with the knowledge to ask appropriate safeguarding questions when choosing extracurricular activities.

The government is committed to safeguarding children across all education settings, including extracurricular providers outside the statutory education and childcare system, referred to as out-of-school settings (OOSS).All OOSS have a legal duty of care to ensure the safety of children attending their settings. To support providers to meet this duty, the department has published guidance and free accompanying e-learning outlining the safeguarding standards we expect them to meet.The department has also published guidance for parents and carers to help them make informed decisions when choosing OOSS, which includes potential issues to watch out for and steps to take if concerns arise. These resources are regularly reviewed, including with key stakeholders such as safeguarding partners, sector representatives, and parent groups.Whilst the department believes most OOSS offer enriching education in a safe environment, we want this to be true for all. That’s why the government launched a call for evidence on 29 May to better understand safeguarding practices in the sector and invite views on approaches for further strengthening safeguarding, including potential regulation. This closed on 21 September, and we are currently analysing responses. We will publish our response, including next steps, in due course.

How many households receiving Universal Credit have been impacted by the benefit caps for (a) less than three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six to 12 months, (d) 12-24 months and (e) more than 24 months in each February since 2019.

The requested information is not part of our routinely released statistical series.

How many households receiving housing benefit have been impacted by the benefit caps for (a) less than three months, (b) three to six months, (c) six to 12 months, (d) 12-24 months and (e) more than 24 months in each February since 2019.

The requested information is not part of our routinely released statistical series.