Written questions by Stafford.

What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of recent legislative changes at enhancing private sector participation in sovereign debt relief for low-income countries; and whether she plans to introduce further initiatives to help ensure (a) timely and (b) equitable debt restructuring.

The government is not currently pursuing legislative changes to enhance private sector participation in debt restructurings for low-income countries. The UK, alongside the G20 and Paris Club, expects private creditors to participate in debt restructurings on comparable terms and we have seen private creditors’ willingness to engage and provide debt treatments where needed, including for Zambia and Ghana. We work closely with the private sector on several aspects of their participation in debt treatments – including to help ensure timely and comparable treatments – through bilateral meetings, engagement with representative institutions, and the Paris Club’s regular discussions with the private sector. The government is focused on enhancing a market-based approach to private sector participation – including through working to strengthen the contracts underpinning debt issuance, and to increase transparency. The Chancellor recently announced the launch of the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt, which will promote the uptake of UK-led contractual innovations – namely, Climate Resilient Debt Clauses and Majority Voting Provisions – in private lending.

How revenues from the sale of NHS Property Services assets are re-allocated.

Where integrated care boards (ICBs) declare NHS Property Service (NHSPS) owned assets surplus to their future clinical requirements, the NHSPS markets these properties for sale with the net proceeds, after the cost of sale, being reinvested into operational healthcare facilities. All sales follow the process set out in Managing Public Money, to maximise value for the taxpayer.All net proceeds from the sale of surplus NHSPS assets are split equally between local and national capital investment projects, with half of the proceeds being invested in local priority capital investment schemes agreed with the local ICB, and the remainder being reinvested in NHSPS owned properties, to ensure that all NHSPS properties continue to meet statutory requirements. Running cost and rental savings associated with the rationalisation of the estate and the disposal of surplus sites accrue to the National Health Service. NHSPS is a not-for-profit company wholly owned by My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the cost of rolling stock contract renegotiations on the nationalisation of South Western Railways.

South Western Railways services will transfer into public ownership on 25 May 2025, as its National Rail Contract with the Department expires. New rolling stock leases will be in place prior to the date of transfer. The expected cost of renewing leases were already recognised in the expected future budget requirements.

Whether she plans to review the (a) subsidies and (b) tax reliefs available to (i) Rosebank, (ii) Jackdaw and (iii) other new oil and gas developments.

The OBR’s most recent forecast of tax revenues from the oil and gas sector is available at the following link: https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-march-2025/. Similarly, where data is available, estimates of the cost of tax reliefs applicable to the oil and gas sector are at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-relief-statistics. This publication contains non-disclosive estimates of the number of claimants for each relief. The UK does not give any subsidies to fossil fuel companies in line with the International Energy Agency’s definition of a fossil fuel subsidy. A predictable and stable fiscal regime is essential to create the right conditions for investment and to protect jobs in the North Sea. On 5 March 2025, the government published a consultation https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/oil-and-gas-price-mechanism-consultation setting out options for the design of a new permanent oil and gas price mechanism to respond to future oil and gas price shocks, which will replace the Energy Profits Levy (EPL) when that ends in 2030 or earlier if the EPL’s price floor is triggered.

What progress has been made on research into a breath test to enable early detection of Pancreatic Cancer.

The PANACEA study will recruit 8,000 patients across 40 sites by September 2026 to evaluate breath test performance and is expected to complete in March 2027. This is one strand of the Office for Life Sciences’ Cancer Healthcare Goals Programme, which supports the development of technologies that enable earlier, more effective cancer diagnosis and improved treatment. The Department invests over £1.6 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR spent £133 million on cancer research in 2023/24.

How many Channel crossings by irregular migrants have taken place since 1 January 2025.

The Home Office publishes the number of Channel crossings on a daily basis. Since 1 April, the UK Border Force has continued to work with their French counterparts and other partners around the world to take action against the organised immigration crime groups responsible for the cross-Channel trade, disrupting their supply chains and dismantling their networks.

With reference to the Stroke Association's report entitled Unlocking Potential: A Bold Vision for Stroke Care in England, what steps his Department is taking to (a) reduce disability and death from stroke, (b) improve access to stroke care in the community and (c) help tackle social inequalities in stroke outcomes.

The Stroke Association’s report, Unlocking Potential: A Bold Vision for Stroke Care in England, provides comprehensive plan to improve stroke care in England over the next decade highlighting several key areas for improvement, including prevention, digital innovation, and community support. These areas align with the Department's commitment to the 10-Year Health Plan’s three transformative shifts in healthcare: moving more care from hospitals into homes, prioritising prevention over treatment, and advancing from analogue to digital solutions. These strategic shifts are the building blocks to our health mission, namely reducing time spent in poor health, tackling health inequalities and reducing the lives lost from the biggest killers, which includes stroke.NHS England is prioritising implementation of the National Service Model for an Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS model) with delivery of specialist stroke rehabilitation at home and in care homes, as well as improving life after stroke support and six-month follow-up reviews by working closely with the voluntary sector. The ICSS model is vital to support physical, cognitive and psychological recovery, return to work and quality of life. More information on the model is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-service-model-for-an-integrated-community-stroke-service/The ICSS model includes provision of tailored and patient centred reablement care, through joint working between the National Health Service and social care. Provision of peer support and reviews every six months, information, and longer-term support in the community is also achieved through integrated and collaborative working with the voluntary sector.The National Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation (SQuIRe) programme is driving implementation of the integrated community stroke services model in England. NHS England funds SQuIRe posts in each NHS region to work with integrated care boards (ICBs) to improve provision of community-based stroke rehabilitation, promote recovery from stroke and improve patient outcomes. ICBs also receive a separate funding allocation to support prevention services which include stroke rehabilitation.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the cost of extended producer responsibility fees in (a) the UK and (b) other European countries.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4th April 2025, UIN 42346.

Whether she has had recent discussions with (a) the Welsh government, (b) Natural Resources Wales and (c) the Canal and River Trust on the extraction of water during drier periods to supply the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal.

I have regular discussions with Welsh Government Ministers and stakeholder organisations in Wales on a wide range of matters, including the environment. Whilst water management is devolved to the Welsh Government, the UK Government recognises the environmental and economic value of canals in Wales and is investing £13.9m in restoring the Montgomery canal.

Whether he plans to include measures to support palliative and end of life care in the 10 Year Health Plan.

We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and families receive the care they need when and where they need it, including those who need palliative and end of life care.As part of the work to develop a 10-Year Health Plan, we have been carefully considering policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our partners, including the hospice sector.

What steps the UK Border Force has taken to tackle Channel crossings by irregular migrants since 1 April 2025.

The Home Office publishes the number of Channel crossings on a daily basis. Since 1 April, the UK Border Force has continued to work with their French counterparts and other partners around the world to take action against the organised immigration crime groups responsible for the cross-Channel trade, disrupting their supply chains and dismantling their networks.

What steps his Department is taking to improve cross communication between NHS organisations.

The Government is committed to harnessing technology and modernising the health system by shifting from analogue to digital, including through streamlined data sharing to improve communication across National Health Service organisations.Regulations have been introduced in Parliament to establish the process for preparing and publishing information standards which will be mandatory for public and private health and adult social care providers. Information standards allow for interoperability between systems, and for information to be shared easily between the systems in different organisations, to improve outcomes for patients.We have also announced the development of a single patient record which will give professionals in different services access to patient information they need to make the best-informed decisions when delivering care and treatment.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) improve alternative provision arrangements for children with SEND during the process of waiting for a tribunal.

Alternative provision (AP) schools contribute to a more inclusive whole-school system by working with mainstream schools to identify children’s special educational needs at the earliest stage. They can help devise interventions and provide additional support, enabling children to remain in a mainstream classroom or successfully transition into specialist provision.In future, the department’s focus will be on providing early intervention and support to mainstream schools to equip all their children with the skills and confidence needed to thrive in education and reduce the need for AP placements. This early intervention will help children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) awaiting their Tribunal hearing, to get back on track quickly and have the skills to achieve and thrive.If a local authority has issued an education, health and care plan naming a school or college, the plan carries statutory force until it is reviewed and amended, including when a plan is being appealed at the First Tier SEND Tribunal. This means the local authority must secure the specific special educational provision set out in the plan and that the setting must admit the child or young person, including those in AP, even whilst an appeal is ongoing.The department monitors and holds local authorities to account for delivery of their SEND services through joint inspections by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission. These inspections place greater emphasis on the outcomes being achieved by children and young people and are the primary tool to maintain a focus on high standards in the SEND system across all partners.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) local authorities and (b) social housing providers to tackle anti-social behaviour in residential premises.

Social landlords already have a range of powers and enforcement tools to tackle anti-social behaviour including powers to evict perpetrators. We expect landlords to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response. The government is strengthening these powers through the Renters’ Rights Bill for private registered providers. Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders. The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help support housing associations to seek possession of a property when there is substantial evidence of anti-social behaviour.

Social landlords already have a range of powers and enforcement tools to tackle anti-social behaviour including powers to evict perpetrators. We expect landlords to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response. The government is strengthening these powers through the Renters’ Rights Bill for private registered providers. Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders. The police, local authorities and social landlords may already apply for a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to prevent behaviour that is causing housing-related nuisance and annoyance.

What steps he is taking to improve early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

The Government is committed to improving care pathways for all those with cancer, including pancreatic cancer. This threshold is key to improving outcomes and survival rates, including for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose due to its unspecific symptoms. The National Health Service is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with vague and non-site-specific symptoms which do not clearly align to a tumour type. This includes symptoms of pancreatic cancer.NHS England is providing a route into pancreatic cancer surveillance for those at inherited high-risk to identify lesions before they develop into cancer. NHS England is additionally creating pathways to support faster referral routes for people with non-specific symptoms and is increasing direct access for general practitioners to diagnostic tests. We have submitted an expression of interest to be a part of the upcoming national case finding pilot, which aims to improve earlier diagnosis of pancreatic cancers.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of supporting local authorities to fund (a) education, health and care plans and (b) specialist school placements for children with additional needs.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.To achieve that ambition, we expect mainstream schools to welcome pupils from across the whole community, including pupils who may need additional support. We are working with Ofsted to ensure that schools are held accountable for their approach to inclusion, so that all children are given the high-quality support they need to achieve and thrive. This government has created an Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion, led by Tom Rees, that consists of experts across the SEND sector to advise on how to drive inclusive education practice and improve mainstream education outcomes and experiences for children and young people with SEND, whether or not they have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.The department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, following the Autumn Budget 2024. This brings total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to over £12 billion. This funding makes a significant contribution to the costs of mainstream school pupils with EHC plans and funds the placement of pupils in special schools.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the use of the Transformation Fund to reform palliative and end of life care services.

The Spending Review is underway and details will be announced on 11th June. As part of the Spring Statement, Government announced a £3.25bn Transformation Fund to drive efficiencies across government and save money later in the Parliament and set out how this would be allocated over the Spending Review process. Government is determined to make sure that everyone has access to high-quality end of life care. In December 2024 we announced a £100 million boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, and £26 million revenue to support children and young people’s hospices.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has contingency plans for a national bin strike.

Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for managing industrial relations and the impacts of any potential industrial action.

Whether the Comprehensive Spending Review will contain measures to (a) improve and (b) reform the current funding allocations for palliative and end of life care services.

We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and palliative and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift. In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.As part of the Spring Statement, Government announced a £3.25 billion Transformation Fund to drive efficiencies across government and save money later in the Parliament, and set out how this would be allocated over the Spending Review process.The Spending Review is underway, and details will be announced on 11 June 2025.