Written questions by Morgan.

What steps he is taking to (a) end and (b) prevent strike action by hospital facilities staff.

This is a local issue that is for National Health Service trusts to manage, working in partnership with trade unions.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to publish a consultation on potential changes to the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024.

Defra is committed to enhancing fairness across supply chains, which will support farmers to boost Britain’s food security. The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations (2024), which were introduced earlier this year, represent an important step forwar...

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure (a) transparency and (b) accountability in dairy supply chains.

Defra is committed to delivering this Government’s ambition to support British farmers to boost Britain’s food security. Central to achieving this ambition will be pursuing the right approach to fairness across the supply chain. The Fair Dealing Obligatio...

How many hospices there were in England in each year since 2015; and how many of those received Government funding in each of those years.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in ...

How much Government funding has been provided to hospices in each year since 2015.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in ...

What the mean payment to each Government funded hospice was in each year since 2015.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in ...

If his Department will take steps to discover the full extent of health issues in aircrew exposed to (a) fuel and (b) exhaust fumes from helicopters.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to the health and wellbeing of our people. The Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG) was previously tasked to review independently the evidence base for causality between Sea King helicopter exhaust fumes and rare ca...

What plans she has to ensure step-free access to Whitchurch Railway Station.

The Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.Given the short time since the general election, I regret I am not yet able to comment on next steps regar...

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of (a) Sea King (b) Westland Wessex (c) Puma and (d) CH-47 Chinook helicopters on air quality in areas with high helicopter air traffic.

Neither the Sea King nor Westland Wessex remain in service with the Ministry of Defence. They were retired in 2018 and 2003 respectively. We do not believe that there is an increased risk to air quality from Puma and Chinook helicopters. However, we fully...

What steps his Department is taking to protect aircrew members from exposure to helicopter (a) fuel and (b) exhaust fumes.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in rela...

What the highest individual settlement paid to an aircrew member has been for the impact of helicopter exhaust fume exposure in each of the last five years.

In the last five financial years, damages have been paid in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2023-24 to former aircrew who have made common law compensation claims alleging adverse impacts of helicopter exhaust fumes. I have concerns that disclosing individual damage...

Whether he has had discussions with his (a) German and (b) Dutch counterpart on longer exhausts in (a) CH-47 Chinook, (b) Puma, (c) Sea King and (d) Westland Wessex helicopters.

We have found no record of any discussions with Dutch or German counterparts regarding longer exhausts on Chinook and Puma aircraft. The German military does not operate Chinook nor Puma helicopters. The Netherlands does not operate Puma helicopters. Due ...

Whether her Department took into account the scale of the reduction in bus miles in each authority area over the past five years when allocating Bus Service Improvement Plan funding for 2025-26.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. S...

Whether her Department made an assessment of Shropshire Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan before deciding the authority’s 2025-26 funding.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. S...

If her Department will publish the criteria used to decide the bus service improvement plan funding allocations for 2025-26.

The government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. S...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of exposure to (a) Sea King (b) Westland Wessex (c) Puma and (d) CH-47 Chinook helicopter (i) fuel and (ii) exhaust fumes on aircrew’s (A) health and (B) risk o

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in rela...

How many legal claims made against his Department in relation to the impact of aircrew’s exposure to helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were outstanding on 14 November 2024.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in rela...

When his Department first became aware of the potential link between long exposure to exhaust fumes from helicopters used by the Armed Forces and the risk of cancer.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in rela...

How many compensation payments have been made by his Department for health issues relating to Armed Forces helicopters since 23 April 2023; and what was the total value of those payments.

Common law claims alleging adverse impact from helicopter fuel and exhaust fumes were first received in 2019. Without any admission of liability, since 23 April 2023 the Ministry of Defence has made five compensation payments, totalling £3,578,566 in rela...

What assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious accidents on roads in Shropshire.

This Government takes road safety seriously, and we are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department is developing our road safety strategy and will set out more details in due course. Local government is the m...