Written questions by Maguire.

If he will put Women’s Health Hubs at the centre of the Neighbourhood health framework.

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

Whether her Department's proposed SEND reforms will support children who receive education otherwise than at school packages.

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

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to monitor developments in the implementation of Hong Kong’s National Security Law; and whether she plans to issue revised guidance to UK nationals on compliance with local authorities’ requests for access to personal data and electronic communications.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 April in response to Question 127028.

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 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.

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 support is available to help the cold chain and general haulage industry to manage cost increases across the supply chain, including to help stabilise costs for businesses and consumers.

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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with international partners on coordinating updated travel guidance on the Hong Kong National Security Law.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 April in response to Question 127028.

What steps she is taking to support the cold chain and general haulage industry given recent changes in the price of fuel.

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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Hong Kong National Security Law on the safety and legal rights of UK nationals (a) visiting and (b) residing in Hong Kong.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 April in response to Question 127028.

If he will set out the support for disabled workers whose reconsideration Access to Work Scheme request is refused.

The support that a customer will receive from Access to Work is dependent upon their needs and circumstances at the time they make an application or award renewal. Case managers will use the current guidance to ensure Access to Work principles are considered when making a decision on support. Separate to the Access to Work scheme, we have a range of specialist initiatives to support disabled individuals, including those that join up employment and health systems. Measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies, and WorkWell.

If his Department will review the Access to Work Scheme renewal process for existing claimants who have already evidenced their needs.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.