Written questions by Roome.

What assessment she has made of the number of schools which do not meet their statutory duty to teach swimming and water safety during (a) Key Stage 1 and (b) Key Stage 2.

Swimming and water safety lessons are compulsory at key stage 1 and 2 in the physical education (PE) national curriculum. Swimming and water safety are vital life skills, and every child should have the opportunity to learn to swim and know how to keep themselves safe around water by the time they leave primary school.Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People Survey 2023/24 reports that 95.2% of state primary schools surveyed confirmed they do provide swimming lessons. The report also states that 70.2% of pupils in year 7 say they can swim 25 metres unaided. Ofsted inspections may include a deep dive into PE, in which case the inspector will consider how the PE curriculum has been designed, and whether the various requirements are met.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to continue funding Voluntary Service Overseas.

Detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review and resource allocation processes, based on various factors including impact assessments. We are working out how our partnership with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) should evolve in line with our new approach to civil society funding which will support the sustainability of international organisations and their partners in developing countries, enabling them to become more self-sustaining and resilient in the future. We will take a rigorous approach to ensure all ODA delivers value for money. We will publish 2025/26 ODA programme allocations in the Annual Report & Accounts this summer.

Whether the Spending Review will fund all of the recommendations of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) was published on 2 June 2025, and the recommendations within it have been accepted by the government. Full details of the departmental budgets for the spending review period will be published on 11 June 2025.

Which private companies were given advance sight of the Strategic Defence Review before 5.04pm on 2 June 2025.

For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain Parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews.

Which bodies are responsible for (a) monitoring (i) shortages and (ii) unavailability of NHS prescription medicines, (b) overseeing the manufacturing locations of brands licensed for use in the UK and (c) assessing potential supply risks where multiple brands are produced by the same third-party manufacturer.

The Department has overall policy, strategic, and operational responsibility for ensuring the continuity of the supply of medicines to the National Health Service in England. The Department works closely with NHS England, which has delegated responsibility for managing the continuity of supply for medicines procured on Medicines Procurement and Supply Chain Team frameworks. Manufacturers have a legal requirement to inform the Department of any supply issues. We work closely with industry, the NHS, manufacturers, and other partners across the supply chain to make sure patients across the United Kingdom can access the medicines they need.The supply of medicines, including procurement, storage, allocation, and distribution is a devolved matter. However, we regularly engage with the devolved administrations to discuss potential supply issues.The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency regulates medicines, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion in the UK. The Home Office issues controlled drug licences for companies that possess, manufacture, produce, or supply controlled drugs in England, Wales, or Scotland, and Department of Health (Northern Ireland) for Northern Ireland.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the processes put in place for the spouses of armed forces personnel to apply for (a) statutory maternity pay and (b) maternity allowance.

Defence continues to recognise the important role that the families of UK Armed Forces personnel play in supporting their Serving person; life in the Armed Forces can be highly rewarding, but it can also make high demands of our service people. These demands can place a strain on the service family as they juggle the requirements of the service, the wants of the service person and the needs of the service family; but the support of a strong family unit can be the counterweight that every service person needs if they are to achieve a balance. This is why we are developing increasingly family friendly policies to ensure that the Armed Forces in an environment that is an attractive proposition to existing as well as new and diverse families. In 2025, Defence launched the Families Hub to help families navigate Service life. More information can be found at the following link: https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/families/ For Servicewomen, the Armed Forces’ policy and process for maternity leave and pay, known as the Armed Forces’ Occupational Maternity Scheme (AFOMS), is set out in JSP 760, Tri-Service Regulations for Leave and Other Types of Absence. Chapter 24 of JSP 760 sets out entitlement to pay, options on length of leave, and the actions required by pregnant Servicewomen and their commanding officers following confirmation of pregnancy. JSP 760, along with all related electronic application forms, is reviewed and updated frequently, with the latest version always internally accessible to all Service personnel on DefNet, the Ministry of Defence intranet, or from Unit HR staff.

Innovation and Technology, what meetings his Department has had with animal rights organisations on guidance on animal testing since 1 January 2025.

The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. The Government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year. To support this Minister Vallance hosted a roundtable on 14.05.25 with representatives from animal welfare organisations. He also met with the Chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group on phasing out animal experiments in medical research and representatives from Animal Free Research on 01.04.25, and with representatives from Lush UK on 15.05.25. There have been additional meetings before 01.01.25.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of funding for the National Park Authorities.

The government is providing £45.2 million of core funding to the 10 National Park Authorities, with a capital uplift of up to £15 million to support their contribution to protecting 30% of land by 2030. In challenging financial circumstances, this uplift in capital investment is recognition of the vital importance of national parks to government priorities. We have also extended programmes such as Farming In Protected Landscapes, providing £30 million to support projects in our National Parks and Protected Landscapes, until March 2026. In addition to investing in these important landscapes we are also working with Protected Landscapes organisations to identify additional sources of funding and foster innovation to ensure their future for generations to come.

Food and Rural Affairs, what notifications of changes to revenue grants for financial year 2025-6 have been sent to National Park Authorities (a) on and (b) since 2 April 2025.

Letters were issued to all National Park Authorities (including the Broads Authority) in early April confirming Defra’s intent to continue grant funding for the financial year 2025/26. The letters also set out the provisional revenue and capital grant allocation for each authority.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the processes put in place for armed forces personnel to apply for (a) statutory maternity pay and (b) maternity allowance.

The Armed Forces' policy and process for maternity leave and pay, known as the Armed Forces' Occupational Maternity Scheme (AFOMS), is set out in JSP 760, Tri-Service Regulations for Leave and Other Types of Absence. Chapter 24 of JSP 760 sets out entitlement to pay, options on length of leave, and the actions required by pregnant Service women and their commanding officers following confirmation of pregnancy. JSP 760, along with all related electronic application forms, is reviewed and updated frequently, with the latest version always internally accessible to all Service personnel on DefNet, the Ministry of Defence intranet. The latest review was published on DefNet in February 2025 under JSP 760, version 39.5. All updates and revisions are documented in the JSP's version history and record of amendments included with each publication.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator supports (a) profitability and (b) resilience in the (i) food and (ii) farming sector.

The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) is responsible for enforcing regulations developed under the Agriculture Act’s 'Fair Dealing' powers (section 29). Regulations introduced using these powers promote fair contractual dealing and contribute to a more equitable relationship between producers and buyers.To date, these powers have been used to create the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 and the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025.These regulations provide greater protection for producers by requiring fair contract terms. This includes ensuring that producers are provided with clear information about how prices are set. Although the regulations do not dictate pricing expectations or directly address profitability, they help producers make more informed decisions by fostering transparency and balance in commercial relationships.The ASCA can investigate relevant complaints and has significant powers to impose fines on and/or order compensation to be paid by those found to be in breach. The ASCA also aims to be a convener across supply chains, working with both producers and purchasers/processors to improve business relationships and behaviours around contracts.Defra has recently commissioned a review on Farm Profitability. This will provide recommendations for government and industry that will support farming profitability as part of this government’s New Deal for Farmers.The food sector is also one of the UK's 14 Critical National Infrastructure sectors, and Defra recognises the importance of the food supply chain to National Security. Further, the UK Food Security Report examines past, current, and future trends to present a full and impartial analysis of UK food security.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of immigration controls on staffing levels in (a) primary and (b) secondary care.

We hugely value our health and social care workers from overseas, who work tirelessly to provide the best possible care and enhance our health and care workforce with their valuable skills, experience, and expertise. At the same time, we are also committed to growing homegrown talent and giving opportunities to more people across the country to join the National Health Service. Following publication of our 10-Year Health Plan, we will produce a refreshed workforce plan, setting out how we will train and provide the staff that the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities and treat them on time again.The immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, will reshape our immigration system towards those who contribute the most to economic growth, with higher skills standards for graduates and workers. Every area of the immigration system, including work, family, and study, will be tightened up, to reduce record-high levels of net migration and restore control and order to the immigration system. The White Paper is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paperHealth and Social Care Worker visa data is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to implement reforms for rights of way included in the Deregulation Act 2015 to provide (a) clarity and (b) certainty for land managers.

We are reviewing the rights of way reform programme alongside our policies for delivering improved access to nature for all users.

When she will publish the Rural Crime Strategy.

The Government is committed to tackling rural crime, safeguarding rural areas through tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and action to prevent fly-tipping.That is why we are working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the next iteration of their Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy.The strategy will set out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, as well as ensuring Government priorities under our Safer Streets Mission are reflected.In addition, we are providing funding of £800,000 in the current financial year to the National Rural and National Wildlife Crime Units. This will ensure these specialist units continue to help police forces tackle rural and wildlife crime, including helping to combat organised theft and disrupt the activities of serious and organised crime groups.

What steps his Department is taking to help develop manufacturing capacity in the offshore renewables sector.

Last week, the Prime Minister announced an initial £300 million investment through Great British Energy to accelerate domestic offshore wind supply chains to boost domestic jobs, mobilise private investment, and secure manufacturing facilities for critical clean energy supply chains. The Government’s Clean Industry Bonus rewards fixed and floating offshore wind developers who choose to invest in the UK’s poorest communities, or in cleaner manufacturing. The Government will be publishing its Industrial Strategy in spring and will set out its approach to driving investment and growth in the highest potential sectors, including Clean Energy Industries, creating good jobs.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the rate of clawback on Universal Credit on people employed with (a) irregular and (b) low incomes.

The government is committed to a sustainable, long-term approach to drive up opportunity and drive down poverty across the UK. As announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget, a new Fair Repayment Rate has now been introduced from 30 April 2025, reducing the Universal Credit (UC) overall deductions cap from 25% to 15% of a customer’s UC standard allowance. This measure will help approximately 1.2 million of the poorest households benefit by an average of £420 a year.The Department has also committed to reviewing Universal Credit to make sure it is doing the job we want it to, to make work pay and tackle poverty.A key part of UC’s core design is that it supports customers with their finances. As part of our work to review UC, we are working with expert stakeholders to understand the impacts and causes as well as considering the ways in which we can better support customers who experience irregular or fluctuating household income.

With reference to the Home Office's letter to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, dated 29 September 2023, what his Department's planned timetable is for the use of electronic signatures for Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs within (a) secondary care and (b) the health and justice system.

The Department is unable to confirm a timetable at this stage. Amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and Misuse of Drug Regulations 2001 would be required to enable electronic prescribing in named settings, such as secondary care and the health and justice system. Changes to this legislation would require public consultation and agreement with Parliament under the affirmative procedure.

When her Department plans to (a) report on the consultation entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18th March 2025, and (b) publish recommendations on changes to the Access to Work Scheme.

Once the Pathways to Work Green Paper Consultation closes on 30 June 2025, a White Paper will follow later this year with final proposals ahead of future, further legislation required. The consultation and subsequent White Paper will also inform the chosen future direction of Access to Work. Once this is established, we will consider implementation timelines and work closely with stakeholders to ensure an appropriate transition.

What steps his Department is taking to support people whose home values have been affected by spray foam insulation installed under the 2020 Green Homes Grant Scheme.

All installations under government scheme, including the Green Homes Grant Scheme must be installed by Trustmark registered installers. If the installation has met the standards required, it is not expected removal will be required. Where measures have not been installed correctly, homeowners can use the TrustMark dispute resolution process to seek remediation or redress. If the installer is no longer trading, they should contact the guarantee provider. The Government has also consulted the insulation, lending and surveying communities and published an inspection protocol that surveyors can use to appropriately assess spray foam installations (https://www.property-care.org/resources/spray-foam-insulation-inspections). It is important a surveyor with appropriate knowledge of spray foam and the protocol is used to give an accurate assessment.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of pre-pack administration procedures on the defence supply chain.

The Ministry of Defence recognises the importance of ensuring our supply chains are resilient to shocks and threats, and that we can have confidence in their ability to deliver and maintain the critical outputs we require. We work closely with our defence suppliers to ensure continuity of supply for our programmes, though it is not for Government to intervene in supply chains as a result of industry transactions.