Written questions by Mierlo.

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with British Rowing on ensuring the safety of British athletes.

The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount. National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm.The Government is aware of the deeply concerning recent media reports in relation to rowing. We have not spoken directly to British Rowing, but have raised this with UK Sport and Sport England, who are both monitoring the situation. UK Sport has also confirmed they are in contact with British Rowing and encourage any member of staff or athlete on Olympic and Paralympic performance programmes to report allegations of unacceptable behaviour to Sport Integrity, their confidential reporting line.

What guidance Active Travel England have issued on the use of compulsory purchase order powers for active travel routes.

To date Active Travel England has not issued any guidance on the use of compulsory purchase order powers. A range of approaches to establishing rural active travel routes will be set out in guidance due to be published later this year, including case studies on the use of compulsory purchase orders.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure the (a) safe and (b) smooth passage of vessels along the Thames during (i) Henley Royal Regatta week and (ii) other events which attract international visitors to the town.

As the navigation authority for the non-tidal River Thames, the Environment Agency (EA) plays a key role in supporting the safe and successful delivery of over 200 river-based events each year. These events contribute significantly to the cultural heritage and public enjoyment of the River Thames, while the EA remains committed to upholding the public right of navigation and ensuring the river remains open to traffic. The EA has a long-standing and constructive relationship with the event organisers of Henley Royal Regatta. Working together, they’ve developed and implemented local navigation measures that provide a dedicated racing lane for competition and a separate channel for passing vessels. This approach ensures that competitors, commercial operators, and leisure users can all share the river safely and effectively throughout the event. The EA also maintains a visible presence on-the-water during the Regatta, working closely with professional partners including Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. This coordinated effort helps to ensure compliance with navigation rules and supports the safety of all river users. Drawing on all its operational experience, the EA is confident that this year’s Henley Royal Regatta, along with all other events along the Thames, will proceed smoothly and safely.

Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on the regulation of gaming companies under the Online Safety Act 2023.

The Government engages regularly with Ofcom to discuss implementation of the Online Safety Act.Game services are in scope of the Online Safety Act if they allow users to post content online or to interact with each other. The Act requires all user-to-user services, including in-scope gaming platforms, to have systems and processes in place to remove illegal content. In July, in-scope services will also need to take steps to protect children from harmful content.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2024 to Questions 51723 and 51724 on Active Travel: Construction, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of using compulsory purchase orders to progress active travel routes; and if he will collate data on how many local authorities have used compulsory purchase orders for this purpose.

The Department currently has no plans to make an assessment of the effectiveness of compulsory purchase order powers in progressing active travel schemes or produce a centralised record of their use by local authorities. Compulsory purchase for active travel has a high bar with a requirement for public authorities to demonstrate a compelling case in the public interest. An alternative approach to creating new active travel routes is public path creation under the Highways Act 1980, rather than outright purchase of the land through a compulsory acquistion. Active Travel England will set out further guidance on a range of approaches to establishing rural active travel routes in the Design Guidance that will be published later in the year.

What steps she is taking to ensure children are educated about online safety in PSHE lessons.

As part of statutory relationships and health education in primary schools and relationships, sex and health education in secondary schools, pupils are taught about online safety and harms. This includes being taught about the implications of sharing private or personal data (including images) online, harmful content and contact, cyberbullying and the risks associated with over-reliance on social media. The full statutory guidance for primary schools can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education/relationships-education-primary.The full statutory guidance for secondary schools can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education/relationships-and-sex-education-rse-secondary.The department is currently reviewing the statutory relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) curriculum. We are looking carefully at the consultation responses, considering the evidence and talking to key stakeholders before issuing revised guidance.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) funding and (b) the availability of trained staff for GP practices to perform blood tests for children.

Overall, ensuring adequate general practice (GP) provision is the responsibility of the integrated care boards (ICBs).GPs are independent businesses, providing primary care services, based on a National Health Service GP Contract, to their local populations. Most commonly, GPs are run by GP partners who, alongside other GPs and healthcare staff, are responsible for running their own practice. This allows them to have relative autonomy in deciding how to provide contracted services, and provides opportunities for innovation.Local enhanced services, such as blood tests, are negotiated and agreed locally, and are commissioned by ICBs to fit the needs of the local population. GPs can choose whether or not they would like to participate in providing these services. These services can vary in scope and funding across the country.

When the document entitled Guidance to support local authorities in the design and delivery of active travel routes will be published; and whether this guidance will include the use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers for active travel routes.

ATE is developing specific guidance for good practice application in rural areas and expects to publish this later this year. Officers in ATE are currently seeking the input of stakeholders on the document, and the current draft includes case studies on the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders for active travel routes. Compulsory purchase orders has a high bar with a requirement for public authorities to demonstrate a compelling case in the public interest. An alternative approach to creating new active travel routes is public path creation under the Highways Act 1980, rather than outright purchase of the land through a CPO.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of phlebotomy services to perform blood tests for children in (a) Oxfordshire and (b) nationally.

The Government is committed to putting patients first. This means making sure that patients are seen on time and ensuring that patients have the best possible experience during their care.Community diagnostic centres (CDCs) offer local populations a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home as well as greater choice on where and how they are undertaken. This reduces the need for hospital visits, reduces pressure on hospitals, and speeds up diagnosis. CDCs are expected to offer their services to children and young people where it is safe and appropriate to do so. The Oxfordshire, Oxford CDC in Cowley delivers a range of diagnostic services, including phlebotomy services.Phlebotomy services are also provided by general practices (GPs). Where services are provided by GP, they are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs), based on local population need, and are funded as part of their annual funding allocations.In Oxfordshire, the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB has commissioned GPs to deliver phlebotomy services for all ages, including children. Services must be led by suitably trained professionals.Guidance communicated to GPs from the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Local Medical Committee, the body representing all NHS GPs practising in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire area, is that GPs should not perform blood tests for patients under 12 years old and instead that these should be performed by specialist paediatric trained staff. Where GPs have clinical staff with the training, competence, and experience to perform blood tests on patients under 12 years old, these services may be available. However, at practices that do not have these staff, they will instead refer the child to alternative providers, such as in a children’s hospital clinic.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Henley and Thame dated 7 May 2025 on lock keepers' safety concerns.

A reply to the hon. Member is being prepared and will be issued as soon as possible.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 51082 on National Landscapes: Chilterns, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing changes to the budget of Natural England in the context of the cancellation of the project to expand the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Beauty; and if she will publish the technical review completed by LUC.

For year 2025/26 the direct funding for National Landscape designation work was not continued. Natural England is using baseline budget to fund a reduced programme of landscape designation work. Decisions on future funding for Natural England will be made as part of the 2025 multi-year Spending Review and through finance settlement processes. Natural England are considering how the evidence base which has been gathered so far through their designation work can best be shared and used.

What discussions he has had with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on encouraging manufacturers to apply for UK licenses for Hormone Replacement Therapy implants.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Department have kept ministers informed of the ongoing issues in the manufacturing of unlicenced products used as medicines for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) implants. Regular discussions have been held with the importer of the unlicenced medicines, and the Medicines Supply team in the Department are actively looking at licenced alternatives to ensure ongoing supply.A medicine can only become licensed if an application is made for such a licence, usually by the manufacturer, and the MHRA is only able to grant a marketing authorisation after the supporting data has been assessed to demonstrate its quality, safety, and efficacy for the conditions it is intended to treat, and to confirm that it has an acceptable balance of risk and benefit. In our role as the medicines regulator, we are not in a position to solicit for new product licence applications.However, the MHRA welcomes marketing authorisation applications for HRT implants and has processes in place to review applications as soon as they are received. In addition, manufacturers can seek scientific advice on their product from the MHRA at any stage of development.

What steps he is taking to ensure access to licenced Hormone Replacement Therapy implants for women.

There are currently no licensed United Kingdom suppliers of oestrogen and testosterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) implants in the UK, and companies are free to decide what they market.The Department is working closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to ensure safe access to these products. As part of this, we have also reached out to specialist importers who can source unlicensed medicines in order to find HRT implants for UK patients.

What steps he is taking to encourage Hormone Replacement Therapy implant manufacturers to apply for UK licenses.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Department have kept ministers informed of the ongoing issues in the manufacturing of unlicenced products used as medicines for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) implants.Regular discussions with the importer of the unlicenced medicines have been held, and the Medicines Supply team in the Department are actively looking at both licenced and other sources, to ensure an ongoing supply of appropriate products.The MHRA welcomes these applications and has processes in place to review applications for HRT implants, as soon as they are received.

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with local authorities on the availability of books in public libraries which feature (a) characters, (b) storylines, (c) lives and (d) the history of the LGBTQ+ community.

The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 requires all local authorities to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. Public libraries are funded by local authorities and each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources.It is for each local authority to determine its stock management policy, including which books and other materials are made available for the benefit of its residents. We expect library collections to represent a variety of perspectives and topics.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the criteria for medical exemption certificates to include everyone with a (a) disability and (b) chronic illness.

The Department has no plans to expand the criteria for medical exemption certificates.Individuals with qualifying medical conditions or with a continuing physical disability which prevents them from leaving their residence without the help of another person are entitled to apply for a medical exemption certificate.People may also be exempt from prescription charges depending on their age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.People who do not qualify for an exemption and who need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate, which allows people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost. People on a low income can seek help under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

What recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the service provided by the (a) probate service and (b) probate service contractors.

Official statistics published by the Ministry of Justice show that despite continued high levels of receipts, the effectiveness of the service being provided continues to improve. Average waiting times are reducing and was 6 weeks, from receipt of the documentation needed across all types of grants, for grants issued during October to December 2024, down from 13 weeks for the same period in 2023 and the open caseload has reduced to 39,142 as at the end of December 2024, down from 77,904 at the end of 2023.HMCTS administers the probate service with civil servants. When a third party provides a service, such as document scanning, HMCTS regularly meets with them to review performance against Service Level Agreements and has no concerns.Average waiting times and open caseload for probate grants are routinely published on gov.uk via the Family Court Statistics: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

What funding is available for the (a) repair and (b) maintenance of (i) sports facilities and (ii) swimming pools at schools.

​Schools provide important opportunities for all pupils to be physically active, with sports facilities being key to the provision of high quality physical education lessons and extra-curricular sport.The department supports academy trusts, local authorities and voluntary-aided bodies, who are responsible for managing the safety and maintenance of their estates, with capital funding, rebuilding programmes and guidance on effective estate management.We recently confirmed details of £2.1 billion of capital funding for the 2025/26 financial year to improve the condition of the school estate, including sports facilities and school swimming pools, up from £1.8 billion committed for the 2024/25 financial year. Capital funding is not ring-fenced for sports facilities, and decisions on capital projects to improve the estate are primarily taken at a local level. Details of funding are published on GOV.UK.​Capital funding for schools beyond 2025/26 will be confirmed following the next phase of the spending review.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential merits of expanding eligibility for free prescriptions to include everyone in receipt of Universal Credit.

No discussions have been held between my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on expanding eligibility to all claimants in receipt of Universal Credit. The Department keeps the earnings thresholds for free prescriptions under review on an annual basis.Approximately 89% of prescription items dispensed in community pharmacy in England are free of charge, and for the first time in three years prescription charges have been frozen, meaning around 40% of the population will save money on their prescriptions.

If he will make it his policy to review the adequacy of the earnings criteria for free prescriptions.

No discussions have been held between my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on expanding eligibility to all claimants in receipt of Universal Credit. The Department keeps the earnings thresholds for free prescriptions under review on an annual basis.Approximately 89% of prescription items dispensed in community pharmacy in England are free of charge, and for the first time in three years prescription charges have been frozen, meaning around 40% of the population will save money on their prescriptions.