Written questions by Maguire.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) increase the efficiency of and (b) reduce waiting times for the Access to Work Scheme

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

If he will set out the support currently in place for women on gynaecology waiting lists and for the workforce delivering that care.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What recent discussions she has had with the cold chain industry on changes in the level of fuel prices.

The Department for Transport recognises growing concerns around rising fuel and transport costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The Department fully recognises the need to maintain the continuity of critical supply chains and is actively monitoring any potential impacts. The Department continues to work and meet regularly with industry, including representatives of the cold chain industry, to understand the pressures and options to mitigate any risks.

What steps he is taking to help ensure UK compliance with the laws of war in relation to US bombing missions on Iran from UK bases.

The agreement allowing the US to use UK military bases is for specific and limited defensive action. Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is carefully considered to ensure legality.

If she will provide an update on the progress of the consultation into the Safety at Street Works and Road; Works Code of Practice, which was last updated in July 2013.

The Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice is currently being revised. Work on the updated Code of Practice is at an advanced stage and is undergoing legal review. Subject to the conclusion of that review, the Department for Transport expects to consult publicly on the draft updated Code later this year. We expect to publish the finalised Code in 2027.

When the updated Safety at Street Works and Road; Works Code of Practice will be published.

The Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice is currently being revised. Work on the updated Code of Practice is at an advanced stage and is undergoing legal review. Subject to the conclusion of that review, the Department for Transport expects to consult publicly on the draft updated Code later this year. We expect to publish the finalised Code in 2027.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will raise the situation of Palestinian Christians with her Israeli counterparts.

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world including in Palestine. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. The UK is concerned about recent restrictions on access to holy sites in Jerusalem. We have called on Israel to work with religious communities to facilitate access in line with the Status Quo, and ensure the right to worship is protected.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support the freedom of worship for Palestinian Christians.

The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world including in Palestine. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB discussed the issue of access to holy sites during his visit to the Holy See in March 2026. The UK is concerned about recent restrictions on access to holy sites in Jerusalem. We have called on Israel to work with religious communities to facilitate access in line with the Status Quo, and ensure the right to worship is protected.

What his criteria are for introducing digital breast tomosynthesis into the NHS breast screening programme.

The Government is committed to providing quality and timely care and treatment to people with breast cancer, including through equitable access to modern breast screening technology. The NHS Breast Screening Programme is seeing improvement in uptake nationally with annual data from NHS England for 2024/25 showing 70.6% of women attending their appointment.Digital mammography, which offers high quality images, currently remains the primary screening tool for the programme. At present, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is an optional tool in the assessment of screen detected soft tissue breast abnormalities following mammography.In 2025, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), who advises the Government on all screening matters, set up a working group of breast cancer screening experts to help it consider new and emerging evidence and developments that could further improve the United Kingdom’s breast screening programme. This includes exploring DBT in addition to other tests and technologies, to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. Other modalities are magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, using either hand-held or automated modalities, and contrast-enhanced mammography.If, following this work, the UK NSC makes a recommendation regarding DBT, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, would be asked to make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation, alongside wider policy and operational advice.Service providers are responsible for purchasing and maintenance of breast screening equipment, and where there are issues and updates are required, they apply to the local capital investment programmes or the funding available in the current Spending Review period via the NHS England National Diagnostics Transformation Programme.

What criteria the Department used to determine which providers were included in the Neighbourhood Health Framework; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the exclusion of optometrists from the list of providers on eye health.

The Neighbourhood Health Framework is designed to provide clarity and consistency to integrated care boards (ICBs), local authorities, and their partners, in developing and scaling neighbourhood health.General practice, primary care, pharmacies, mental health providers, community health services, social care services, local authorities, and civil society partners are included, to illustrate how services can work together to shift care from hospital to communities, improve access, and provide proactive, holistic care for people with complex needs. This is not an exhaustive list and does not prescribe which providers must be involved locally.No specific criteria were used to determine which providers were included in the framework. The framework does not prevent other providers, including optometrists, from being part of neighbourhood health services.The framework outlines the national minimum aims and objectives of Neighbourhood Health Services. It is important that reforms are locally led, as ICBs and local authorities are best placed to design services that make sense for their local populations. Local systems can therefore choose to go further than the minimum, including in relation to optometry.ICBs are already able to commission enhanced services from high street optometrists including minor and urgent eye care services and glaucoma referral filtering services.

What progress the Government has made following his comments on the 15th July 2025 to improve opportunities for communities to buy clean power locally.

The Department recognises the requests to take steps to better enable local energy markets and trading to lower bills and increase the resilience of the electricity networks. DESNZ is investigating barriers to local supply, and is working with Ofgem, Great British Energy and relevant stakeholders to find solutions that work in the best interests of local generators and consumers. Ofgem and Elexon’s work on code modifications like P441 will help more community energy groups identify and understand the different routes to market in order to sell their energy. Industry feedback informed the Draft Modification Report considered by the Panel on 12 March leading to the Final Modification Report submitted to Ofgem on 17 March.

If her Department will introduce a transition visa at the end of the Ukraine Permission Extension period.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.From the outset, the Government has been clear that the Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route. This reflects the Ukrainian Government’s wishes for His Majesty’s Government to offer temporary sanctuary, due to their strong desire for the eventual return of its citizens to Ukraine once it is safe to do so.The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Whether his Department has had discussions with HM Treasury on the potential merits of introducing ringfenced, multi-year capital funding upgrading for breast screening equipment, including digital breast tomosynthesis, to help ensure equitable access to modern breast screening technology.

The Government is committed to providing quality and timely care and treatment to people with breast cancer, including through equitable access to modern breast screening technology. The NHS Breast Screening Programme is seeing improvement in uptake nationally with annual data from NHS England for 2024/25 showing 70.6% of women attending their appointment.Digital mammography, which offers high quality images, currently remains the primary screening tool for the programme. At present, digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is an optional tool in the assessment of screen detected soft tissue breast abnormalities following mammography.In 2025, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), who advises the Government on all screening matters, set up a working group of breast cancer screening experts to help it consider new and emerging evidence and developments that could further improve the United Kingdom’s breast screening programme. This includes exploring DBT in addition to other tests and technologies, to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. Other modalities are magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, using either hand-held or automated modalities, and contrast-enhanced mammography.If, following this work, the UK NSC makes a recommendation regarding DBT, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, would be asked to make a decision on whether to accept the recommendation, alongside wider policy and operational advice.Service providers are responsible for purchasing and maintenance of breast screening equipment, and where there are issues and updates are required, they apply to the local capital investment programmes or the funding available in the current Spending Review period via the NHS England National Diagnostics Transformation Programme.

How the Government is supporting communities to buy clean power locally.

The Department recognises the requests to take steps to better enable local energy markets and trading to lower bills and increase the resilience of the electricity networks. DESNZ is investigating barriers to local supply, and is working with Ofgem, Great British Energy and relevant stakeholders to find solutions that work in the best interests of local generators and consumers. Ofgem and Elexon’s work on code modifications like P441 will help more community energy groups identify and understand the different routes to market in order to sell their energy. Industry feedback informed the Draft Modification Report considered by the Panel on 12 March leading to the Final Modification Report submitted to Ofgem on 17 March.

If her Department will reinstate a route to settlement by allowing time spent under the Ukraine Schemes to count towards the 10‑year settlement pathway.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.From the outset, the Government has been clear that the Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route. This reflects the Ukrainian Government’s wishes for His Majesty’s Government to offer temporary sanctuary, due to their strong desire for the eventual return of its citizens to Ukraine once it is safe to do so.The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

What assessment her Department has made on the potential merits of ensuring referral to relevant authorities when evidence from a Statutory Inquiry suggests criminality.

Public inquiries operate independently of criminal proceedings.Findings of an inquiry do not constitute criminal findings, but they can inform subsequent police investigations.Inquiries have processes whereby information indicating potential criminal conduct can be shared directly with the police or other relevant authorities, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Whether guidance exists on the circumstances in which individuals identified in official Statutory Inquiries concerning safeguarding failures should be referred for criminal investigation.

Public inquiries operate independently of criminal proceedings.Findings of an inquiry do not constitute criminal findings, but they can inform subsequent police investigations.Inquiries have processes whereby information indicating potential criminal conduct can be shared directly with the police or other relevant authorities, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

What conversations he has had with Business and Trade colleagues regarding improving employment conditions for those in the mental health sector.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, meets regularly with colleagues in the Department of Business and Trade to discuss a range of topics.We are committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals, including those working in the mental health sector. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out how we will deliver this change by making sure that staff are better treated, have more fulfilling roles, and hope for the future.We are taking a number of steps to improve working conditions for NHS staff, including the development of a new set of staff standards for modern employment. The standards will focus on the areas that we know matter the most to staff, including: supporting line management; improving staff health and wellbeing; promoting flexible working; violence prevention and reduction; and tackling racism and sexual safety.

What assessment she has made of whether current frameworks provide sufficient clarity on the referral of evidence from public inquiries to prosecuting authorities.

Public inquiries operate independently of criminal proceedings.Findings of an inquiry do not constitute criminal findings, but they can inform subsequent police investigations.Inquiries have processes whereby information indicating potential criminal conduct can be shared directly with the police or other relevant authorities, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

When schools can expect to access training to implement the new RSHE curriculum, which all schools must follow from 1 September 2026; and how many schools will have access to Government funded support with the implementation of the new RSHE curriculum.

Education is a significant part of the cross-government strategy to keep women and girls safe, focusing on prevention by instilling early the values and skills needed to protect young people, disrupt dangerous attitudes, and stop harmful behaviours escalating.As with all curriculum subjects, schools are responsible for ensuring the quality of the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) they provide. This includes ensuring that staff are properly trained and equipped to teach these subjects accurately and confidently.The department is currently working at pace through a commercial process to establish the best route to support schools with implementation of the new elements of the RSHE curriculum. Through the Freedom from Violence and Abuse Strategy, the department has committed to invest £3 million over the next two years to ensure that the new curriculum has the greatest impact, and £5 million to pilot healthy relationships training delivered by external providers.