Written questions by Morgan.

On how many occasions (a) Single Living Accommodation units and (b) Service Family Accommodation homes in (i) north Shropshire and (ii) Shropshire have experienced loss of (A) heating and (B) hot water for over 24 hours in each year since 2015.

The tables below provide a breakdown of the number of occasions a loss of (A) heating and (B) hot water for over 24 hours were reported, broken down by accommodation type and year. Single Living Accommodation (SLA) North Shropshire: 2018 (from Apr to Dec)2019202020212022202320242025 (up to and including 18 Nov)Loss of Heating for over 24 hours1626252420142811Loss of Hot Water for over 24 hours72211131281116 Shropshire: 2018 (from Apr to Dec)2019202020212022202320242025 (up to and including 18 Nov)Loss of Heating for over 24 hours 108165147195178222180111Loss of Hot Water for over 24 hours 80114140149163117142129 Data for the loss of heating and hot water of over 24 Hours in SLA prior to April 2018 is not held. Service Family Accommodation (SFA) North Shropshire: 2022 (from Apr to Dec)202320242025 (up to and including 17 Nov)Loss of Heating for over 24 hours 1527104Loss of Hot Water for over 24 hours 88130 Shropshire:2022 (from Apr to Dec)202320242025 (up to and including 17 Nov)Loss of Heating for over 24 hours 74524514Loss of Hot Water for over 24 hours 3554253 Data for the loss of heating and hot water of over 24 hours in SFA prior to 2022 is not held.

How many formal complaints have been made by personnel regarding (a) Single Living Accommodation and (b) Service Family Accommodation conditions in (i) north Shropshire and (ii) Shropshire in each year since 2015.

The tables below provide a breakdown of the number of complaints received broken down by accommodation type and since April 2022. Single Living Accommodation (SLA) 2022 (from Apr-Dec)202320242025 (up to and including 18 Nov)North Shropshire0120Shropshire 1112 Service Family Accommodation (SFA) 2022 (from Apr-Dec)202320242025 (up to and including 18 Nov)North Shropshire33613619Shropshire 17720512255 Data prior to April 2022 is not held.

How many (a) Single Living Accommodation units and (b) Service Family Accommodation homes in (i) north Shropshire and (ii) Shropshire have recorded (A) defective fire alarms, (B) missing fire doors and (C) non-compliance with modern fire safety standards in each year since 2015.

The tables below show reported (A) defective fire alarms and (B) missing fire doors in Single Living Accommodation (SLA) across Shropshire and North Shropshire, as at 18 November 2025. Data prior to 1 April 2018 is not held. Shropshire YearDefective Fire AlarmsMissing Fire Doors201810692019117232020112132021691320221410202315122024891120251145 North Shropshire YearDefective Fire AlarmsMissing Fire Doors20183202019301202016020211202022150202326020242022025150 Information on (C) compliance with modern fire safety standards is not held. This is because all SLA buildings are complaint with standards in place at the time of their construction. (b) Service Family Accommodation Service Family Accommodation in Shropshire and North Shropshire does not include flats, communal spaces, or Houses in Multiple Occupation. Therefore, homes in this area are not subject to the Fire Safety Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and fire doors and alarms are not required. However, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation must ensure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed and maintained.

How many schools contain (a) RAAC and (b) other structural risks in the most recent Condition Data Collection for (i) Shropshire, (ii) North Shropshire and (iii) England.

237 schools and colleges in England had RAAC confirmed in areas of their buildings, none of which are in Shropshire. By the end of this Parliament, every school and college in England that isn't being fully or substantially rebuilt will be RAAC-free. All schools having RAAC permanently removed through the school rebuilding programme will be in delivery, with over half already underway.The department’s current Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme is visiting every government-funded school in England to collect data about the condition of their buildings. CDC2 is a high-level, non-invasive, visual inspection of condition and not a structural survey. It does not collect structural risks, nor data on school compliance with all statutory and legislative responsibilities, including fire safety.It is the responsibility of those who run our schools to ensure that fire risk assessments are undertaken regularly. The department provides guidance about fire safety to these responsible bodies, including in the ’Good estate management for schools’ guide, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/good-estate-management-for-schools/health-and-safety.

What assessment he has made of trends in the rates of mental ill health among male carers.

The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they receive the support they need. Through measures set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining caring tasks through a new ‘MyCarer’ section in the NHS App. We are also expanding access to mental health care through 24/7 neighbourhood services, new emergency mental health departments, and enhanced support via the NHS App, all of which will be available to carers experiencing mental ill health.Local authorities have duties under the Care Act 2014 to support unpaid carers. To help them fulfil these duties, the 2025 Spending Review provides for an increase of over £4 billion in funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.On 19 November, we published the Men’s Health Strategy. The strategy includes tangible actions to improve access to healthcare, provide the right support to enable men to make healthier choices, develop healthy living and working conditions, foster strong social, community and family networks and address societal norms. It also considers how to prevent and tackle the biggest health problems affecting men of all ages, which include mental health and suicide prevention, respiratory illness, prostate cancer, and heart disease.As Minister of State for Care, I also chair a regular cross-Government meeting with ministers across departments to consider how we can work together to provide unpaid carers with the recognition and support they deserve.The Department has no current plans to introduce a multi-year funding scheme for support groups specifically for male carers, but we will continue working across government and with local authorities to ensure that unpaid carers of all genders are able to access appropriate support.

How many fires have been recorded in (a) North Shropshire constituency, (b) Shropshire, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England’s school estate in each of the last 10 years.

Since the 2014/15 academic year, the risk protection arrangement (RPA) has received a total of 551 fire-related claims from members. 52 claims were from the West Midlands, 4 from Shropshire and 2 claims were specifically from North Shropshire.Schools and their responsible bodies are not obliged to notify the department of fires at their premises and we therefore do not routinely collect or record this data more widely, nor information on fire-safety-related repairs.The department provides guidance about fire safety to bodies responsible for schools, including in the ‘Good Estate Management for Schools’ guide, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/good-estate-management-for-schools/health-and-safety. It is the responsibility of those who run our schools to ensure that a fire risk assessment is undertaken and kept up to date, reflecting the specific characteristics of the building for which it was written.

How many schools have been identified as high fire risk in the latest Condition Data Collection by local authority area.

237 schools and colleges in England had RAAC confirmed in areas of their buildings, none of which are in Shropshire. By the end of this Parliament, every school and college in England that isn't being fully or substantially rebuilt will be RAAC-free. All schools having RAAC permanently removed through the school rebuilding programme will be in delivery, with over half already underway.The department’s current Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme is visiting every government-funded school in England to collect data about the condition of their buildings. CDC2 is a high-level, non-invasive, visual inspection of condition and not a structural survey. It does not collect structural risks, nor data on school compliance with all statutory and legislative responsibilities, including fire safety.It is the responsibility of those who run our schools to ensure that fire risk assessments are undertaken regularly. The department provides guidance about fire safety to these responsible bodies, including in the ’Good estate management for schools’ guide, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/good-estate-management-for-schools/health-and-safety.

What steps he is taking to increase awareness of support groups for male carers.

The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they receive the support they need. Through measures set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining caring tasks through a new ‘MyCarer’ section in the NHS App. We are also expanding access to mental health care through 24/7 neighbourhood services, new emergency mental health departments, and enhanced support via the NHS App, all of which will be available to carers experiencing mental ill health.Local authorities have duties under the Care Act 2014 to support unpaid carers. To help them fulfil these duties, the 2025 Spending Review provides for an increase of over £4 billion in funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.On 19 November, we published the Men’s Health Strategy. The strategy includes tangible actions to improve access to healthcare, provide the right support to enable men to make healthier choices, develop healthy living and working conditions, foster strong social, community and family networks and address societal norms. It also considers how to prevent and tackle the biggest health problems affecting men of all ages, which include mental health and suicide prevention, respiratory illness, prostate cancer, and heart disease.As Minister of State for Care, I also chair a regular cross-Government meeting with ministers across departments to consider how we can work together to provide unpaid carers with the recognition and support they deserve.The Department has no current plans to introduce a multi-year funding scheme for support groups specifically for male carers, but we will continue working across government and with local authorities to ensure that unpaid carers of all genders are able to access appropriate support.

What steps he is taking to support male carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they receive the support they need. Through measures set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining caring tasks through a new ‘MyCarer’ section in the NHS App. We are also expanding access to mental health care through 24/7 neighbourhood services, new emergency mental health departments, and enhanced support via the NHS App, all of which will be available to carers experiencing mental ill health.Local authorities have duties under the Care Act 2014 to support unpaid carers. To help them fulfil these duties, the 2025 Spending Review provides for an increase of over £4 billion in funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.On 19 November, we published the Men’s Health Strategy. The strategy includes tangible actions to improve access to healthcare, provide the right support to enable men to make healthier choices, develop healthy living and working conditions, foster strong social, community and family networks and address societal norms. It also considers how to prevent and tackle the biggest health problems affecting men of all ages, which include mental health and suicide prevention, respiratory illness, prostate cancer, and heart disease.As Minister of State for Care, I also chair a regular cross-Government meeting with ministers across departments to consider how we can work together to provide unpaid carers with the recognition and support they deserve.The Department has no current plans to introduce a multi-year funding scheme for support groups specifically for male carers, but we will continue working across government and with local authorities to ensure that unpaid carers of all genders are able to access appropriate support.

If he will consider the potential merits of a multi-year funding scheme for support groups for male carers.

The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they receive the support they need. Through measures set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining caring tasks through a new ‘MyCarer’ section in the NHS App. We are also expanding access to mental health care through 24/7 neighbourhood services, new emergency mental health departments, and enhanced support via the NHS App, all of which will be available to carers experiencing mental ill health.Local authorities have duties under the Care Act 2014 to support unpaid carers. To help them fulfil these duties, the 2025 Spending Review provides for an increase of over £4 billion in funding available for adult social care in 2028/29 compared to 2025/26.On 19 November, we published the Men’s Health Strategy. The strategy includes tangible actions to improve access to healthcare, provide the right support to enable men to make healthier choices, develop healthy living and working conditions, foster strong social, community and family networks and address societal norms. It also considers how to prevent and tackle the biggest health problems affecting men of all ages, which include mental health and suicide prevention, respiratory illness, prostate cancer, and heart disease.As Minister of State for Care, I also chair a regular cross-Government meeting with ministers across departments to consider how we can work together to provide unpaid carers with the recognition and support they deserve.The Department has no current plans to introduce a multi-year funding scheme for support groups specifically for male carers, but we will continue working across government and with local authorities to ensure that unpaid carers of all genders are able to access appropriate support.

What the estimated backlog of fire-safety-related repairs is across the school estate in (a) England, (b) Shropshire and (c) north Shropshire; and what proportion of that backlog relates to schools built before 1980.

Since the 2014/15 academic year, the risk protection arrangement (RPA) has received a total of 551 fire-related claims from members. 52 claims were from the West Midlands, 4 from Shropshire and 2 claims were specifically from North Shropshire.Schools and their responsible bodies are not obliged to notify the department of fires at their premises and we therefore do not routinely collect or record this data more widely, nor information on fire-safety-related repairs.The department provides guidance about fire safety to bodies responsible for schools, including in the ‘Good Estate Management for Schools’ guide, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/good-estate-management-for-schools/health-and-safety. It is the responsibility of those who run our schools to ensure that a fire risk assessment is undertaken and kept up to date, reflecting the specific characteristics of the building for which it was written.

Commonwealth and Development, if she has made a recent assessment of delays in processing visa applications for British nationals at the Consulate of Spain in Manchester.

The process for obtaining a Spanish visa is a matter for the Spanish authorities, and any issues with that process will need to be raised with the Spanish consulate themselves.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of increasing NHS spending on pharmaceutical products on the economy.

No such assessments have been published. We will always prioritise the needs of National Health Service patients, and we are protecting the NHS with record investment and reform to deliver better health care.Investing in the newest medicines so that patients can get access to life saving treatments is a critical part of a modern health care system and one that many charities and patient groups frequently call for.Life sciences are a cornerstone of our modern industrial strategy, driving growth through world-class research, advanced manufacturing, and innovation.

What estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of anticipated increases in medicine prices on levels of NHS staffing, equipment and activity.

No such assessments have been published. We will always prioritise the needs of National Health Service patients, and we are protecting the NHS with record investment and reform to deliver better health care.Investing in the newest medicines so that patients can get access to life saving treatments is a critical part of a modern health care system and one that many charities and patient groups frequently call for.Life sciences are a cornerstone of our modern industrial strategy, driving growth through world-class research, advanced manufacturing, and innovation.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 87461 on Arts: West Midlands, what steps he is taking to include policies relating to Mayoral strategic authorities within the Creative Industries Sector Plan.

The Creative Industries Sector Plan includes a universal offer to drive growth in the creative industries in any place in the UK, outlining new measures to break down barriers such as access to finance, supply of skills, and new support to kickstart innovation.This Sector Plan has been shaped by engagement with MSAs and with businesses in the regions. We will continue to work closely with Mayors and have established a new Creative Places Group with representatives from DCMS, devolved governments, high potential MSAs, and others to create a network of policy makers committed to unlocking the potential across our nations and regions.The Creative Industries Sector Plan spotlights 12 high-potential clusters for Creative Industries growth and their unique investment offer. The Sector Plan also included the new Creative Places Growth Fund which will provide £150m of devolved funding to six Mayoral Strategic Authorities across England, empowering local leaders to turbocharge growth in their places.

What steps he is taking to help ensure timely delivery of NHS letters to patients.

The Government is putting patients first, making sure they are seen as quickly as possible and have the best possible experience. This should include all patients receiving timely communication and information about their health and care.The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025 as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, sets out the reform we will deliver to reduce waiting times and improve experience of care. We know that communications can sometimes fall short of the standards that we would expect, and this has a significant impact on patients. This is why we are working with patients, carers, and their representatives to improve the things that matter most to them and will be introducing a set of minimum standards that patients on the waiting list should expect to experience.The Government’s focus on shifting from ‘analogue to digital’ will streamline information and communication processes, including by improving the NHS App. This will make it easier and quicker for patients to access information about their appointments, to cancel and reschedule appointments, and to receive correspondence on National Health Service test results. 87% of acute trusts in England now allow patients to view appointment information via the NHS App if they wish, reducing reliance on physical letters. Expanded use of the NHS App has prevented over 1.5 million missed hospital appointments since July 2024. It also saves staff time to focus on providing high quality, non-digital communication for those who want and need it.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) track school days lost due to dental problems and (b) reduce that number through preventive oral health programmes.

The use of absence Code M and Code I allows schools to track pupils’ medical appointments and illness respectively. Accurate use and tracking of absence codes enables schools to know their pupils, understand why they are absent and provide appropriate support when it is needed. Medical appointments and dental appointments are both marked using Code M. Schools are not expected to routinely request evidence of a medical or dental appointment. However, parents should get the school’s agreement in advance if it has not been possible to book the appointment outside of school hours.If schools request further information about the nature of the medical appointment or illness, additional details may be recorded on the school’s Management Information System. The Department of Health and Social Care is taking action to prevent dental problems, where tooth decay is the most significant for children. This includes implementing a national supervised toothbrushing programme, introducing healthier baby food standards and placing restrictions on junk food advertising.

When details of further NHS dental contract reforms are planned to be published; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing more flexible commissioning models to support mixed dental practices to expand access to care and deliver more preventive services.

The Government's response to the recent consultation on National Health Service dental contract reforms will be published shortly.We are committed to reforming the dental contract, with a focus on matching resources to need, improving access, promoting prevention, and rewarding dentists fairly, while enabling the whole dental team to work to the top of their capability.Commissioners can use flexible commissioning where they identify a need that cannot be met effectively through the provision of mandatory services. In doing so, they must satisfy themselves that these arrangements are appropriate and offer good value for money.

What steps his Department is taking to improve working conditions for dental care professionals.

Dental care professionals, including dental therapists, dental hygienists, and dental nurses, play a vital role within our dentistry teams and are highly valued members of the workforce.We recently held a public consultation on a package of changes to improve access to, and improve the quality of, National Health Service dentistry, which will deliver better care and seek to make NHS dentistry a more attractive workplace. The Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation and will publish a response shortly.

What steps his Department plans to take to ensure the dental workforce is equipped and supported to deliver (a) fluoride varnish and (b) other preventive interventions within neighbourhood health settings.

Our Neighbourhood Health Service will provide opportunities for dental care professionals to work as part of neighbourhood teams. We have consulted on changes to improve access to, and the quality of, National Health Service dentistry. To support practices to make better use of the skill mix of their team and to improve delivery of fluoride varnish, we have proposed introducing a new course of treatment for children for fluoride varnish to be applied by suitably trained dental nurses. Public consultation closed on 19 August, and the Government will publish a response shortly.We have also published guidance on how dental health professionals can improve the oral and general health of their patients, including fluoride varnish and other preventative interventions. This is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evidence-based-toolkit-for-prevention