Written questions by Maguire.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the 130,000 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospital admissions made each year.

Smoking is the number one preventable cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be the biggest public health intervention since the indoor smoking ban in 2007 and will help deliver our ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom.Poor air quality can exacerbate COPD. To address this, the Department of Health and Social Care is working across the Government with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to tackle air pollution, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to fix housing and reduce damp and mould. Infections can also exacerbate COPD, so the National Health Service is running winter vaccine campaigns against respiratory infections including COVID-19, flu, and pneumococcal disease.To enable faster diagnosis and earlier access to treatment, access to spirometry tests in community diagnostic centres (CDCs) is growing and will continue to do so as more sites come online. The first five months of 2025/26 saw an increase in CDC spirometry testing of approximately 2,000 tests per month more than in the previous year.Pulmonary rehabilitation is a key intervention to improve the health of people with COPD and reduce pressure on NHS hospitals. NHS England has published commissioning standards for pulmonary rehabilitation, setting out the benchmarks that high-quality services should aim for. This includes reducing health inequalities and ensuring equitable access.

What assessment has been done on the impact of energy bills in the event of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme being scaled back.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the costs of the UK’s transition to Net Zero are fair and affordable, and the potential impacts on consumers are being fully considered. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is not funded by a levy on energy bills and will be funded as part of the Warm Homes Plan. As set out in the Budget, the Government will provide an additional £1.5bn for those in fuel poverty, exceeding the £13.2bn commitment set out in the manifesto. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has a committed budget of £295 million for this financial year, and has been extended to 2030, with funding increasing each year. Further details will be set out soon. On 18 November, the Government published the response to a recent consultation providing detail on amendments to the scheme which will be implemented from next year. These changes are designed to increase access, stimulate further demand, and enhance existing consumer protections

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the use of private high street eye care providers to treat conditions such as glaucoma to relieve pressure from the NHS.

We recognise the vital contribution that high street eye care providers make in maintaining the nation’s eye health.Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their local population and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them. This could include the commissioning of community-based glaucoma services, such as glaucoma referral filtering or glaucoma monitoring schemes.The Getting It Right First-Time programme is currently developing best practice guidance for glaucoma services to support the adoption of high standards across the pathway, from detection onwards.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure no one is denied treatment outright because of their cleft.

Patients born with cleft should have care plans tailored to meet their individual needs, with support from multi-disciplinary teams where necessary. Access to dental care is an important part of this and we recognise that some groups of patients may find it difficult to access. We have asked integrated care boards to commission extra urgent dental appointments and are also committed to reforming the dental contract, with a focus on matching resources to need and improving access.

How his Department plans to meet its target of 9.3 million heat pumps by 2035.

The government will continue to provide financial support to households through our support schemes and by growing the market for green finance, and we will set out more details in the Warm Homes Plan. The government is supporting supply chain growth through the reformed Clean Heat Market Mechanism, investing in manufacturing capacity through the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator, and helping installers train through the Heat Training Grant. Our expectation is that the vast majority of heating system replacements will be with heat pumps and other low-carbon technologies, as these become the natural, affordable choice for consumers at the point of replacing an existing heating appliance at the end of its life.

If his Department will guarantee lifelong NHS dental care for people born with a cleft.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Eastleigh on 21 November 2025 to Question 89684, and to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Yeovil on 21 November 2025 to Question 90538.

If his Department will ensure cleft training is embedded in undergraduate dental education and ongoing professional development.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response I gave to the Hon. Member for Yeovil on 20 November 2025 to Question 90537.

If his Department will protect the Boiler Upgrade Scheme through any changes to the Warm Home Plan.

Through the Warm Homes Plan, the Government is making the biggest ever capital investment in home retrofit with an additional £1.5bn of new funding announced in the budget to tackle fuel poverty, in turn exceeding our manifesto commitment of £13.2bn. Further details will be set out soon. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has a committed budget of £295 million for this financial year, and has been extended to 2030, with funding increasing each year.On 18 November, the Government published its’ response to a consultation on potential changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, providing detail on amendments to the scheme which will be implemented from next year. These changes are designed to increase access, stimulate further demand, and enhance existing consumer protections.

What criteria was used to determine which conditions should receive a modern service framework under the NHS 10-year health plan; and whether respiratory health meets these criteria.

As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, as well as an overall quality strategy, the National Quality Board is overseeing the development of a new series of service frameworks to accelerate progress in conditions where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity.Early priorities include cardiovascular disease, severe mental illness, and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia. The Government will consider other long-term conditions with significant health and economic impacts for future waves of modern service frameworks.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to participate in the 22nd Meeting of States Parties to the Antipersonnel Mine Ban Convention.

Yes. The UK will serve in the role of Vice-President during the meeting, as well as having a role on the Committee reviewing requests by States Parties to extend their mine clearance obligations under Article 5 of the Convention.

Innovation and Technology, if the Prime Minister will appoint a space minister in the Ministry of Defence to lead cross-government space policy.

My noble friend Baroness Lloyd of Effra is the Minister responsible for leading cross government civil space policy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking with UN counterparts to help reduce child casualties from explosive weapons.

Earlier this month, the UK participated in the Second International Conference of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA), and officials emphasised the particular importance of protecting children from both direct and indirect impacts of those weapons. The UK is also a member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict and plays a key role in ensuring scrutiny of conflicts where children are harmed and holding perpetrators to account.

What discussions he has had with international counterparts on levels of civilian harm caused by military practice in international conflicts.

Protection of civilians is directed through Joint Service Publication (JSP) 985, Human Security in Defence. It is at the heart of Defence’s human-centric approach to operations and is reflected in all relevant policies and operating procedures. The department engages regularly with international colleagues regarding this topic, including at ministerial level.

Where NHS patients receiving care at the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People will now be treated.

The Government recognises the concerns of those who have benefitted from the support of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People. We are committed to ensuring that disabled people have equitable, effective, and responsive access to health and care services that meet their needs.Adult social care services are provided through a largely outsourced market of commercial organisations and charities. Ensuring good management of the market and securing continuity of care in the event of market exit due to business failure is the responsibility of local authorities.Health and care systems and providers should work together to ensure that efforts to discharge individuals from hospital into social care are joined up and make best use of available resources, in line with the duty to cooperate set out in Section 82 of the NHS Act 2006.Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a temporary duty to ensure that individuals continue to receive the services they need, including National Health Service patients receiving adult social care, if their care provider is no longer able to deliver those services. The Care Act Statutory Guidance provides guidance on managing provider failure and other service interruptions.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of Queen Elizabeth’s foundation for Disabled People on bed blockages in the NHS.

The Government recognises the concerns of those who have benefitted from the support of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People. We are committed to ensuring that disabled people have equitable, effective, and responsive access to health and care services that meet their needs.Adult social care services are provided through a largely outsourced market of commercial organisations and charities. Ensuring good management of the market and securing continuity of care in the event of market exit due to business failure is the responsibility of local authorities.Health and care systems and providers should work together to ensure that efforts to discharge individuals from hospital into social care are joined up and make best use of available resources, in line with the duty to cooperate set out in Section 82 of the NHS Act 2006.Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a temporary duty to ensure that individuals continue to receive the services they need, including National Health Service patients receiving adult social care, if their care provider is no longer able to deliver those services. The Care Act Statutory Guidance provides guidance on managing provider failure and other service interruptions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the current Noise Regulations in protecting (a) animals, (b) veterans and (c) other vulnerable people from harm.

Protections are in place to avoid significant noise impacts through our planning system, environmental permitting regulations, vehicle and product standards, and noise abatement legislation.

What support his Department is providing to (a) patients and (b) their families who have to relocate following the closure of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People.

The Government recognises the concerns of those who have benefitted from the support of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People. We are committed to ensuring that disabled people have equitable, effective, and responsive access to health and care services that meet their needs.Adult social care services are provided through a largely outsourced market of commercial organisations and charities. Ensuring good management of the market and securing continuity of care in the event of market exit due to business failure is the responsibility of local authorities.Health and care systems and providers should work together to ensure that efforts to discharge individuals from hospital into social care are joined up and make best use of available resources, in line with the duty to cooperate set out in Section 82 of the NHS Act 2006.Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a temporary duty to ensure that individuals continue to receive the services they need, including National Health Service patients receiving adult social care, if their care provider is no longer able to deliver those services. The Care Act Statutory Guidance provides guidance on managing provider failure and other service interruptions.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled Peoples on wheelchair provision for children aged under six.

This assessment has not been made. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of local wheelchair services, based on the needs of their local population.NHS England has developed policy, guidance, and legislation to support ICBs to commission effective, efficient, and personalised wheelchair services. On 9 April 2025, NHS England published the Wheelchair Quality Framework which is designed to assist ICBs and National Health Service wheelchair service providers in delivering high-quality provision that offers improved access, outcomes, and experience.

Whether his Department plans to seek participation in future EU space projects.

The Strategic Defence Review identifies space as a critical domain for national security and Defence, emphasising the importance of international collaboration to achieve the United Kingdom's (UK) defence space aspirations. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to exploring opportunities for cooperation in space that align with Defence and security commitments, working closely with cross-government partners to ensure coherence with broader UK interests and priorities. The MOD assesses participation in specific space projects on a case-by-case basis. Any decision to participate in EU space projects will be made considering strategic benefits, value for money, and alignment with national security objectives.

How much funding his Department is providing for strategic national space capabilities in each of the next three years.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to developing the Defence Space Portfolio and wider space requirements to harness space for national and military advantage. The recent publication of the Strategic Defence Review served to reinforce the importance of the space domain and the need to invest appropriately. The level of investment will be prioritised appropriately against the threat as part of the future Integrated Force and set out in the Defence Investment Plan to be published this year.