Written questions by Morgan.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help support dairy farmers in North Shropshire constituency.

The UK dairy sector is highly resilient and adaptable and continues to supply healthy and affordable products in spite of the many challenges it has faced in re-cent years. This Government recognises that food security is national security, and that it requires a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports farmers. That is why we are introducing new deals for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen food security. Ensuring fairness in supply chains is key for UK dairy farmers and supporting the sustainability of the sector. The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024, which fully came into force on 9 July 2025, improve fairness and transparency, requiring dairy contracts to include clear terms on pricing, termination, and prohibiting unilateral changes.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to help improve mental health support for farmers.

The Secretary of State regularly holds confidential discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, including improving mental health support for farmers.

How many officials are working on the independent investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care.

There are 31 officials currently working on the Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal care. The full time equivalent (FTE) for the investigation team is approximately 28 FTE, taking into account individuals working part-time and in job-shares. This excludes the independent chair and expert advisors.In addition to officials, there are eight expert advisers supporting the chair, Baroness Amos.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 81420 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, how many covid-19 vaccinations were delivered in winter (a) 2025-26, (b) 2024-25 and (c) 2023-24.

COVID-19 vaccination uptake figures are published regularly during the spring and winter campaigns, as part of the national flu and COVID-19 surveillance report. Data is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/weekly-national-flu-reportsFor the winter campaigns, the following publications may be of interest:for the 2025/26 campaign, the most recent data from a campaign as of 12 November 2025, information is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/690b75e214b040dfe8292362/COVID19-vaccine-uptake-coverage-report-data-week-45-2025.ods;for the 2024/25 campaign, with the data as of the end of campaign, information is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67a47b29567402152f553cc8/weekly-influenza-and-COVID-19-report-data-week-6-2025.ods; andfor the 2023/24 campaign, with the data as of the end of campaign, information is available at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c4b8634a6778000d5b8c2f/Weekly-flu-and-COVID-19-surveillance-data-week-6.ods.Note that this data is specific to England.

What information his Department holds on waiting times for hysteroscopies with an anaesthetist in North Shropshire.

No recent formal assessment has been made of the adequacy of the availability of hysteroscopy procedures under anaesthetic in North Shropshire and in England.The information held by NHS England on hysteroscopy waiting times at the NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board does not readily allow hysteroscopy procedures with an anaesthetist to be separately identified.It is unacceptable that some women have such poor experiences of hysteroscopies. Women must be given the opportunity to speak to the doctor or nurse before having the procedure about what to expect, and to discuss pain relief options, including the option of local or general anaesthetic. Women can also discuss the option of alternative treatment, such as pelvic ultrasound.For patients in North Shropshire, the gynaecological unit within the Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford provides women with access to hysteroscopy services.It is our aim to treat all women as individuals, acknowledge they have unique expectations and unique physical, psychological, emotional, and cultural needs. The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust is committed to providing a quality service for women that provides care with courtesy, kindness, and warmth for women and their families.

How many (a) police officers and (b) civilian staff were employed by the National Rural Crime Unit on 1 November 2025.

This Government recognises the excellent work of the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the National Rural Crime Unit. The NWCU and the NRCU play key roles in helping police across the UK tackle organised theft and disrupt serious and organised crime groups.This financial year the Home Office has provided a funding boost of over £800,000, which will allow these specialist units to continue their work in tackling rural and wildlife crime which can pose unique challenges for policing given the scale and isolation of rural areas.The NWCU employs five police officers and thirteen civilian staff and the NRCU employs two police officers and six civilian staff members.

If he will take steps to make the WID-easy test available in Shropshire.

There are currently no plans to make the WID-easy test available in Shropshire. Decisions regarding resource allocation are made by local commissioners and providers based on identified priorities within the region.The Government is supportive of the implementation of innovative diagnostic tools and tests that play a crucial role in the early detection of cancer. By embracing these advancements, the aim is to not only identify cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage, but also to improve the overall efficiency of the diagnostic process.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making methoxyflurane available to all hysteroscopy patients.

Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are best made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers are supported in their decisions by national guidance, for example guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards (ICBs).NICE is the independent body responsible for translating evidence into authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the health and care system on best practice, in order to drive improved outcomes for patients. NICE has made recommendations on hysteroscopy in its guideline on heavy menstrual bleeding: assessment and management, reference code NG88, but does not make recommendations on whether pain relief, such as methoxyflurane, should be administered during hysteroscopy. NICE currently has no plans to update the guideline but it will be reviewed if there is new evidence that is likely to change the recommendations.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of hysteroscopy procedures under anaesthetic in (a) North Shropshire and (b) England.

No recent formal assessment has been made of the adequacy of the availability of hysteroscopy procedures under anaesthetic in North Shropshire and in England.The information held by NHS England on hysteroscopy waiting times at the NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board does not readily allow hysteroscopy procedures with an anaesthetist to be separately identified.It is unacceptable that some women have such poor experiences of hysteroscopies. Women must be given the opportunity to speak to the doctor or nurse before having the procedure about what to expect, and to discuss pain relief options, including the option of local or general anaesthetic. Women can also discuss the option of alternative treatment, such as pelvic ultrasound.For patients in North Shropshire, the gynaecological unit within the Shropshire Women and Children’s Centre at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford provides women with access to hysteroscopy services.It is our aim to treat all women as individuals, acknowledge they have unique expectations and unique physical, psychological, emotional, and cultural needs. The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust is committed to providing a quality service for women that provides care with courtesy, kindness, and warmth for women and their families.

How many (a) police officers and (b) civilian staff were employed by the National Wildlife Crime Unit on 1 November 2025.

This Government recognises the excellent work of the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the National Rural Crime Unit. The NWCU and the NRCU play key roles in helping police across the UK tackle organised theft and disrupt serious and organised crime groups.This financial year the Home Office has provided a funding boost of over £800,000, which will allow these specialist units to continue their work in tackling rural and wildlife crime which can pose unique challenges for policing given the scale and isolation of rural areas.The NWCU employs five police officers and thirteen civilian staff and the NRCU employs two police officers and six civilian staff members.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the NHS Getting it right first time guidance for hysteroscopies.

The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme’s role is to provide guidance to National Health Service trusts to help improve the delivery of services and, in doing so, it follows the professional standards and recommendations of the professional bodies.GIRFT has worked closely with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy to support hospital trusts in improving women’s choices and appropriate settings for gynaecological procedures, such as hysteroscopy and endometrial ablation, acknowledging the shift to more day case and outpatient procedures.Since the report was published, GIRFT has responded to feedback from patients, adding an addendum to the 2021 report and amending one recommendation to reiterate the imperative that all women undergoing day case and outpatient procedures are given clear and accurate information to enable them to make informed decisions about their preferred treatment setting and pain control. Ultimately, the decision on care setting for this procedure must be made with the patient, after due consideration of all relevant information.

What discussions he has had with NHS England on the steps it is taking to ensure women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy procedures in (a) North Shropshire and (b) England do not experience pain during those procedures.

It is unacceptable that some women have such poor experiences of hysteroscopies.The National Health Service website page on hysteroscopy was updated in January 2024. This provides information on preparing for and recovering from a hysteroscopy, including pain relief options. The importance of pain relief is reiterated in guidance from both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.In Shropshire, Telford, and Wrekin all patients receive comprehensive information about the procedure before their appointment, including advice on pain management. Patients can access both local anaesthetic and general anaesthetic for the procedure.Patients can additionally access local and general anaesthetic and there is a patient advocate always present during the procedure to provide continuous support and aid in pain management.The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future. Through our 10-Year Health Plan and the renewal of the Women’s Health Strategy we are delivering our commitment that never again will women’s health be neglected.

If she will answer Question 83934 of 21 October 2025 on support for St Martins School.

​The response to Written Parliamentary Question 83934 was published on 13 November.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 86349 on Flood Control: Shropshire, if she will provide a breakdown of the projects being funded, including the level of funding for each project, in North Shropshire constituency during 2024 to 2026.

Project NameParliamentary Constituencies - Project AreaTotal (£)Breakdown of totals (£)Total 24/25Total 25/26GiA 24/25GiA 25/26Local Levy 24/25Local Levy 25/26Private Contributions 24/25Private Contributions 25/26Severn Valley Water Management SchemeMultiple constituencies benefit which include North Shropshire2,366,2561,925,9082,366,2561,925,9080000Demonstrator Project - Nature Based Solutions - Morda DepaveNorth Shropshire120,410168,923120,410168,9230000Demonstrator Project - Nature Based Solutions - Perry and PeatlandsNorth Shropshire112,406337,406112,406337,4060000River Morda Mitigation MeasuresNorth Shropshire0400,0000200,000000200,000Gobowen Flood Alleviation Scheme Ordinary Watercourse Flooding ShropshireNorth Shropshire050,00000050,00000

If he will answer Questions (a) 81421 of 13 October 2025 on Covid-19 (b) 82016 of 14 October 2025 on prostate cancer screening and (c) 83882 of 21 October 2025 on health misinformation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 10 November 2025 to Question 81421, on 26 November 2025 to Question 82016, and on 19 November 2025 to Question 83882.

What steps he is taking to improve the speed of arrhythmia diagnoses in integrated care systems.

As announced by my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, £600 million of capital funding is being provided during 2025/26 to support the reduction of diagnostic waiting lists, which includes continued investment in new and expanded community diagnostic centres (CDCs). Between July 2024 and August 2025, existing CDCs have carried out a total of 286,260 echocardiography tests and 260,040 electrocardiography tests. Many CDCs are also implementing innovative cardiac pathways to speed up diagnosis and access to treatment for patients with symptoms suggestive of cardiac disease.We have committed to achieving the NHS Constitutional standard that 92% of patients should wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029.

What steps he is taking to increase (a) awareness of the symptoms, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of ovarian cancer in Shropshire.

The Department recognises that many cancer patients are left waiting too long for a diagnosis and treatment, including for ovarian cancer. The Government will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients survive and have an improved experience across the system, including in Shropshire.NHS England is taking a wide range of activity to increase awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. NHS England relaunched the Help Us Help You cancer campaign in 2024, to encourage people to get in touch with their general practitioner if they notice symptoms that could be cancer. Previous phases of the campaign have focused on abdominal symptoms which, among other abdominal cancers, can indicate ovarian cancer. NHS England and other NHS organisations, nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including ovarian cancer.As a first step to reducing waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment, the NHS has now exceeded its pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments in our first year of Government, delivering 5.2 million more appointments.To ensure that women have access to the best treatment for ovarian cancer, NHS England commissioned an audit on ovarian cancer. The audit looks at what is being done well, where it’s being done well, and what needs to be done much better. The audit published its second report in September 2025 and officials across the Government are considering its findings.The National Cancer Plan, due for publication in the new year, will include further details on how the NHS will improve care for cancer patients, including those with ovarian cancer in Shropshire.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of longer duration ambulatory ECG monitoring on stroke prevention.

NHS England continues to monitor data on patient access to ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring to inform future improvements in commissioning and patient access.The Government is committed to reducing premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next 10 years. To accelerate progress, we will publish a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework in 2026. The Department and NHS England are engaging widely throughout its development to ensure that we prioritise ambitious, evidence-led, and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment, and care.

What assessment his department has made of trends in the levels of variation in integrated care systems in access to prolonged ambulatory ECG monitoring.

No specific assessment has been made by the Department and data on the provision of prolonged ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring is not collected centrally.It is for local National Health Service commissioners to work with providers and other stakeholders to take decisions on the provision of services locally in the best interests of their populations.The Government is committed to reducing waiting times for services including for diagnostic services.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of disabled parking at hospitals.

The NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board recognises that accessible transport is a key enabler for patients to attend hospital appointments independently and safely. To that end, the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust works closely with local transport providers and system partners to manage transport accessibility for disabled patients.Hospital car parks are the responsibility of individual National Health Service trusts, with no central Government involvement. Where it is possible to accommodate parking, local trusts are responsible for determining the ratio of car parking for patients, hospital users, and staff.We know access to hospital car parking is important for all patients, including disabled patients. All NHS trusts that charge for car parking provide free hospital car parking in England for those most in need. This includes Blue Badge holders, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight in hospital, and NHS staff working night shifts. The Department has issued guidance to NHS trusts on the implementation of this commitment. Further information about this policy can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles