Written questions by Maguire.

How much his Department spent on (a) weapons, (b) ammunition and (c) armoured fighting vehicles in (i) 2022/2023 and (ii) 2023/24; and what estimate he has made of such spending in 2024/25.

This information is not held centrally and therefore it has not been possible to provide the answer within the allotted time frame. I will write to the hon. Member with an update in due course and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the consultation entitled Review of the Computer Misuse Act 1990, which closed on 6 April 2023.

The Computer Misuse Act (CMA) plays a vital role in ensuring that the UK has the right legislative framework to allow us to tackle cyber harms. The Government is committed to ensuring the CMA remains up to date and effective to tackle criminality.As part of the Review, officials are scoping several areas of legislative reform to give law enforcement the tools and powers they need to investigate and prosecute cyber criminality.  Some of these areas are quite complex in nature and require further engagement with stakeholders to ensure we get them right.We will update in due course on any proposals that we take forward.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of regulating the prices for electric vehicle charging points.

The Government is committed to making EV charging infrastructure affordable and accessible. Energy suppliers providing energy to EV chargepoints are regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem does not currently set a limit for the price that can be charged for the resale of electricity through EV chargepoints. We continue to work with DESNZ and Ofgem on measures to keep EV charging affordable. Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, all chargepoint operators must display the price of charging using a common metric of p/kWh and make their data on pricing available freely. This allows drivers to easily compare the price of charging and find the best chargepoint for their needs.

Media and Sport, what the (a) scope of and (b) timeline for producing the National Youth Strategy is.

This Strategy, co-produced with young people and the youth sector, will better coordinate youth services, bringing power back to young people and their communities, and rebuilding a thriving and sustainable sector.Over the coming months, we will be developing our plans in partnership with young people and with organisations within the youth sector, engaging closely with them to fully understand their needs and the issues they consider to be most crucial in addressing. This National Youth Strategy will cover youth services and policy at local, regional and national levels, and will outline a long-term vision for how all young people can realise their potential, with choices and chances, and be empowered and active members of society. It will also look to empower local areas and communities, moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches.We will be holding a series of youth-led roundtables and we will set up a youth advisory board to work alongside us, influence our work and challenge us every step of the way. We will ensure this is an accessible engagement period that reaches as many young people as possible.We will be publishing the Strategy in 2025.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential (a) social and (b) economic impact of increasing investment in preventative upstream services such as youth work.

The Prime Minister has set out the Plan for Change for this government, with early intervention at the centre of the government's priorities, including giving children the best start in life, putting police back on the beat, and ending hospital backlogs. The Chancellor also set out that prevention would be a key theme of the Spending Review. HMT will work with departments to develop proposals on prevention, including their social and economic impact, through phase 2 of the Spending Review.

What steps her Department is taking to increase levels of retention of educational psychologists beyond the minimum period they are required to remain in their local authority after their training is completed.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life, breaking down the barriers to opportunity.Educational psychologists play a crucial role in the support available to children and young people, including those with SEND. Local authorities, as the employers of educational psychology services, are responsible for ensuring that their services are adequately staffed.However, the department is taking measures to support local authorities by investing in building the pipeline. We are investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists from 2024. This is in addition to the £10 million currently being invested in the training of over 200 educational psychologists who began their training in September 2023.To support retention, following graduation, trainees who have had their training funded by the department are required to remain in local authority employment for a minimum period. For trainees beginning their course in September 2024, this requirement has increased to three years.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of youth services on (a) the Government’s prevention agenda and (b) achieving positive outcomes for public health.

Youth services play a vital role in supporting the Government’s prevention agenda and for achieving positive outcomes for public health. These services provide early intervention and support that can prevent the development of more serious health and social issues, including mental health challenges, substance misuse, and physical health problems. The Department recognises the importance of youth services in promoting healthy behaviours, building resilience, and improving mental and physical wellbeing among young people. In the context of mental health, the Government’s commitment to improving outcomes for babies, children, and young people is outlined in the publication Improving the mental health of babies, children, and young people, which highlights the value of preventative approaches and the role of youth-focused interventions. Further information on this publication is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-the-mental-health-of-babies-children-and-young-people/improving-the-mental-health-of-babies-children-and-young-people-a-framework-of-modifiable-factors

How many of his Department's (a) computers, (b) laptops, (c) phones and (d) USB sticks were (i) lost and (ii) stolen in each month in 2024.

The table below shows the number of computers, USBs, phones and laptops which were either lost or stolen in each month in 2024. The data supplied below is only for incidents which have been closed. Number of computers, USBs, phones and laptops which were either lost or stolen in 2024 (closed incidents) ComputersUSBsPhonesLaptopsJanuary191313February4467March151644April34137May03109June584117July11121910August00611September01198October023719November0142December (up to 15th)0051Total25125159138 We take the security of defence assets very seriously and have robust policies and procedures to prevent losses and thefts. Defence personnel are regularly reminded of their responsibilities to safeguard Defence assets.Proportionate security controls are used to protect electronic devices according to the classification and nature of the information which the asset can hold.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department provides farmers to (a) research and (b) implement natural defences to aphids instead of neonicotinoid pesticides.

The UK Government has provided research funding through the Farming Futures Fund to look at the potential for precision breeding in producing virus-resistant varieties of sugar beet. Separately, the British Beet Research Organisation is operating an industry-funded programme researching alternative methods to protect sugar beet crops. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is at the heart of our approach to minimise the risks associated with pesticides. Four IPM actions are available within the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Farmers are paid to complete an assessment and produce an IPM plan; establish and maintain flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips; establish a companion crop and to move towards pesticide-free farming.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government on the potential impact of targets for newly-built homes on the capacity of smaller sewage pumping stations.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential. The Government recognises the importance of having a robust drainage system both now and for future demand and expects water companies to plan their infrastructure appropriately to meet new growth. As part of the Environment Act 2021, water companies in England are required to produce Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). DWMPs set out how a water company intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances. These plans will help sewerage companies to fully assess the capacity of the wastewater network and develop collaborative solutions to current problems and future issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) progress towards a resolution, (b) support civilians and (c) work diplomatically with regional partners to secure peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The UK is committed to supporting the Luanda process which aims to bring about sustainable peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and encourages continued engagement and delivery on commitments by all parties. The postponement of the tripartite summit on 15 December was disappointing and the UK has urged both parties to return to the negotiating table. In August and September, Lord Collins visited Angola, DRC and Rwanda where he met with their respective presidents and urged de-escalation. The UK is delivering a three-year £115 million humanitarian programme in the east of DRC, providing life-saving emergency assistance and increasing the resilience of crisis affected communities.

How many people were (a) killed and (b) wounded by a (i) licensed and (ii) previously licensed firearm in each of the last ten years.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon. Lady’s Parliamentary Question of 13 December is attached.

What steps her Department is taking to help mitigate the impact of increases in the cost of living on disabled people.

The extra costs disability benefits are not means–tested, paid regardless of any income or savings and worth up to £9,580 a year, tax free.They were uprated by 6.7 per cent from April and will be uprated by 1.7 per cent from next April subject to Parliamentary approval.

Whether he has had discussions with Ofcom on the future of Royal Mail's delivery of the Articles for the Blind service.

Section 31 of the Postal Services Act 2011 outlines the minimum requirements of the universal postal service and includes the requirement that free-of-charge postal services are provided to people who are blind or partially sighted. Earlier this year, I met representatives of Ofcom, who reasserted their commitment to ensuring that the universal postal service meets the reasonable needs of users. The Government has no current plans to change the minimum requirements set out in the legislation.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of revising the eligibility criteria for the Blue Badge scheme to include children under three requiring bulky mobility aids.

There are already specific criteria in place to assess the need for a Blue Badge for children under three years old who require the use of bulky mobility aids. The Department has no plans to amend the current eligibility criteria.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the planned 10% cut to his Department's headcount on military capability.

We are currently reviewing the civil service workforce required to deliver Defence’s strategy, and to align with the Chancellor’s announcement on public spending and the recent budget. We are committed to having an agile and sustainable workforce with the right skills, whilst maximising value for the taxpayer. The Strategic Defence Review will ensure our people are at the heart of Defence’s plans, supporting the security, economic growth and prosperity of the UK. Over time the civil service workforce will be smaller, but also a team that is better able to deliver Defence outputs efficiently and effectively.

How many of his Department’s firearms were (a) lost and (b) stolen in each month in 2023.

The security of firearms is taken very seriously within the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and we have robust procedures in place to deter and prevent loss and theft. All losses and thefts of firearms and ammunition are fully and rigorously investigated.The below table details firearm losses and thefts from MOD Facilities in 2023 under the previous Government. This includes military establishments, ranges, training areas and on operations.2023DecemberGlock 19 Pistol1StolenAugustDeactivated WWI German Machine Gun1[1]LostJulySA80 Rifle1[2]LostJuneDeactivated WWII Luger Pistol1LostJuneDeactivated WWII Sten Gun SMG1Lost[1] Weapon subsequently found.[2] Weapon subsequently found.

What steps he is taking to tackle health inequality caused by childhood poverty.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity, and its commitment to raising the healthiest generation of children in history.The Department is working closely with the Child Poverty Taskforce to develop and deliver an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty, tackle the root causes, and give every child the best start in life. An important part of this will be alleviating the negative experience of living in poverty, through supporting families and enhancing public services.The National Health Service also makes a central contribution to tackling inequalities, in access to services, patient experience, and healthcare outcomes. For example, the 2024/2025 NHS Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance makes explicit the requirement to address the inequalities of healthcare facing children and young people.

What steps his Department is taking to improve (a) urology and (b) continence services.

NHS England published the Excellence in Continence Care on 23 July 2018, bringing together evidence-based resources and research for guidance for commissioners, providers, and health and social care staff, and which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/excellence-in-continence-care/In addition, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance on the management of faecal incontinence in adults, which healthcare professionals and commissioners are expected to take fully into account when delivering services for people with bowel incontinence.

How many incidents of (a) mould, (b) fire, and (c) flooding were recorded in military service personnel housing in each month in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

The number of reported incidents of damp and mould, fire, and flooding in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in each month in 2022 and 2023 is detailed in the tables below: Damp and Mould reported in SFA:2022Number of incidents2023Number of incidentsJan-22-Jan-231,204Feb-22-Feb-23592Mar-22-Mar-23534Apr-22176Apr-23341May-22326May-23325Jun-22268Jun-23192Jul-22225Jul-23199Aug-22207Aug-23201Sep-22215Sep-23199Oct-22389Oct-23408Nov-221157Nov-23575Dec-22817Dec-23455Total3,780Total5,225 Fire Incidents reported in SFA:2022Number of incidents2023Number of incidentsJan-22-Jan-232Feb-22-Feb-231Mar-22-Mar-230Apr-223Apr-232May-220May-230Jun-222Jun-233Jul-221Jul-232Aug-221Aug-231Sep-221Sep-230Oct-222Oct-232Nov-221Nov-230Dec-221Dec-232Total12Total15 The figures for fires in SFA, include smells of burning or a melted plug and the figures for flooding in Service Family Accommodation include incidents that occur inside the property and includes garages and outhouses. Flooding Incidents reported in SFA:2022Number of incidents2023Number of incidentsJan-22-Jan-2359Feb-22-Feb-2333Mar-22-Mar-2334Apr-229Apr-2316May-2214May-2318Jun-2218Jun-2321Jul-2220Jul-2318Aug-2212Aug-2325Sep-2225Sep-2318Oct-2210Oct-2329Nov-2225Nov-2317Dec-2281Dec-2330Total214Total318 The number of reported incidents of damp and mould, in Single Living Accommodation (SLA) in each month in 2022 and 2023 is detailed in the table below: Damp and Mould in SLA:2022Number of incidents2023Number of incidentsJan-22-Jan-23226Feb-22-Feb-23240Mar-22-Mar-23216Apr-2274Apr-23119May-22126May-23216Jun-22132Jun-23241Jul-22134Jul-23163Aug-2293Aug-23155Sep-2299Sep-23167Oct-22153Oct-23233Nov-22171Nov-23305Dec-22101Dec-23182Total1,083Total2,463 The number of reported incidents of fire and flood, in SLA can only be provided at a disproportionate cost. Data relating to incidents prior to April 2022 is not held as this predates the current Future Defence Infrastructure Services contracts. The figures for damp and mould include work orders raised and can include small amounts of mould where a bathroom has not been ventilated.