Written questions by Frith.

If her Department will introduce a medal in recognition of severely injured emergency service personnel.

Any official award is a gift from the Government, on behalf of His Majesty The King to recognise individuals within the service. The creation of a new award requires cross Government consensus and approval from the Committee on The Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (“HD Committee”), before advice is put to HM The King to make his final decision.The Home Office will continue to consider proposals for new awards for members of the emergency services. It is only right that we recognise the sacrifices made by the emergency services, and it is important to make sure this is done in a proportionate and effective manner.

What recent discussions she has had with the Valuation Office Agency on the appropriate valuation of film and TV studios.

The Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023 and Local Government finance (Wales) Bill legislated for three yearly business rates revaluations in England and Wales from 2023. The date of completion for the next revaluation is 1 April 2026. This is to ensure that properties are assessed fairly and reflect changes in the property market over time.  The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will publish the 2026 rating lists in draft on gov.uk by 31 December 2025.The VOA keep HMT updated on the progress of discussions they are having with stakeholders in the film and TV industry whilst preparing the 2026 rating list, and expect these updates to continue.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help support the (a) long-term growth, (b) international competitiveness and (c) financial sustainability of the film production sector in the UK.

We are committed to supporting the growth and sustainability of the film sector. We provide globally competitive tax measures to incentivise production. We are investing in infrastructure through continued funding via the British Film Commission (BFC) which has doubled the amount of studio space since 2020, and we are providing a 40% business rates relief for eligible film studios until 2034. We are supporting our independent domestic sector through our 53% independent film tax relief and committing a further £7m this year to the UK Global Screen Fund to promote and distribute UK independent screen content. We are strengthening our public service broadcasters through the Media Act. And we are working with industry to support the skills pipeline to ensure the sustainability of the sector for years to come. As part of our Industrial Strategy, we will soon publish a Creative Industries Sector Plan, which will set out actions to support the growth of the film and TV sector.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that business rates do not impact the growth of the film production sector in the UK.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above – these represent less than one per cent of properties. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it would proceed with 40 per cent relief for eligible film studios in England on their gross business rates bills until March 2034. As set out in supporting guidance, the government may review the level of relief in the event of significant changes in rateable values at future revaluations. Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first and so film studios will receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability.

What steps she is taking to help mitigate the potential impact of changes in the level of business rates on film studios in the UK.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on all properties with a rateable value (RV) of £500,000 and above – these represent less than one per cent of properties. The Government will confirm the rates for the new multipliers at Budget 2025. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that it would proceed with 40 per cent relief for eligible film studios in England on their gross business rates bills until March 2034. As set out in supporting guidance, the government may review the level of relief in the event of significant changes in rateable values at future revaluations. Business rates bills are calculated by applying the relevant multiplier first and so film studios will receive 40 per cent relief on their total liability.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure the financial sustainability of film studios in the UK.

We are committed to supporting the growth and sustainability of the film sector. We provide globally competitive tax measures to incentivise production. We are investing in infrastructure through continued funding via the British Film Commission (BFC) which has doubled the amount of studio space since 2020, and we are providing a 40% business rates relief for eligible film studios until 2034. We are supporting our independent domestic sector through our 53% independent film tax relief and committing a further £7m this year to the UK Global Screen Fund to promote and distribute UK independent screen content. We are strengthening our public service broadcasters through the Media Act. And we are working with industry to support the skills pipeline to ensure the sustainability of the sector for years to come. As part of our Industrial Strategy, we will soon publish a Creative Industries Sector Plan, which will set out actions to support the growth of the film and TV sector.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she had made of the potential impact of the planning process for building film studios on economic growth.

The government is committed to supporting the growth of the creative industries, including film production. As part of its forthcoming industrial strategy, the government will publish a creative industries sector plan which will include actions to support the film and TV sector. While capacity and need would be material planning considerations in assessing any specific application, and each case is assessed on its own merits, the government is supportive of the development of appropriate new studio space. We have not made a specific assessment of the potential impact of the planning process for building film studios on economic growth.

What role his Department plans for hospices to play in shifting care into the community.

We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and hospices will have a big role to play in that shift.Whilst the majority of palliative care and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life and their loved ones.In February, I met with key palliative care and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format, with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of palliative and end of life care on patients; and how the 10 year plan will ensure that there is adequate provision of these services.

No formal assessment has been made on the impact of palliative care and end of life care on patients, but we know that currently approximately 600,000 people die per year in the United Kingdom. Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative care and end of life care provision.Whilst it is too soon to say what will be in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Department is investing £3 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research in a new Policy Research Unit in Palliative and End of Life Care. This unit launched in January 2024 and will build the evidence base on palliative care and end of life care, with a specific focus on inequalities.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of applying a currency model to the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative care and end of life care.A suite of new community service currency models, including for palliative and end of life care in children and adults, have been developed and published in the 2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme. Further information on the new community service currency models and the 2025/26 NHS Payment Scheme is available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25-26NHSPS-Community-Currency-Guidance.pdfhttps://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/2025-26-nhs-payment-scheme/Currency models will help us to understand:the needs and complexity of our populations, allowing us to develop services around these needs;the resources, care contacts, and costs of supporting patients to meet these needs; andquality indicators and outcome measures to understand the effects of the care provided.Combining these three elements provides an understanding of the overall value, and will support the achievement of the Government’s priorities for palliative care and end of life care.

If his Department will provide guidance to Integrated Care Boards on the minimum provision of palliative care that should be available for hospices in their area.

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 care and end of life care.Whilst the majority of palliative care and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life and their loved ones.To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. It is included in the statutory guidance that ICBs must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations, which can include the hospice services available within the ICB’s catchment area.

Whether long-term reform hospice care funding will be included in the NHS 10-year plan.

The 10-Year Health Plan will set out how the Government will fix our broken National Health Service. Too many people, towards the end of their lives, are not receiving the support and care they deserve, and we know that waiting times for services are far too long. We are determined to change that, by changing the way services operate, rather than by simply funding more of the same.Whilst it is too soon to say what will be in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are continuing to support the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. We are also providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the Children and Young People’s Hospice Grant.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that all eligible NHS Trusts participate in the Early Access Programme for givinostat.

The Department understands the impact that Duchenne muscular dystrophy has on those living with it and their families, and the urgent need for new treatment options.Officials from the Department have had discussions with NHS England regarding access to givinostat through the Early Access Programme (EAP). Under the EAP, givinostat is free to both the patients taking part in it, and to the National Health Service, although NHS trusts must still cover the cost of administering it to patients.Participation to the programme is decided at an individual NHS trust level and NHS England has published guidance for integrated care systems (ICS) on free of charge medicines schemes such as EAPs, including providing advice on the potential financial, administrative, and clinical risks. The guidance aims to support the NHS to drive value from medicines and ensure consistent and equitable access to medicines across England. ICSs should follow the recommendations to determine whether to implement any free of charge schemes, including assessing suitability and any risks in the short, medium, and long term. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/free-of-charge-foc-medicines-schemes-national-policy-recommendations-for-local-systems/

Whether he has had discussions with NHS England on the reason that some NHS Trusts are not yet offering access to givinostat through the Early Access Programme.

The Department understands the impact that Duchenne muscular dystrophy has on those living with it and their families, and the urgent need for new treatment options.Officials from the Department have had discussions with NHS England regarding access to givinostat through the Early Access Programme (EAP). Under the EAP, givinostat is free to both the patients taking part in it, and to the National Health Service, although NHS trusts must still cover the cost of administering it to patients.Participation to the programme is decided at an individual NHS trust level and NHS England has published guidance for integrated care systems (ICS) on free of charge medicines schemes such as EAPs, including providing advice on the potential financial, administrative, and clinical risks. The guidance aims to support the NHS to drive value from medicines and ensure consistent and equitable access to medicines across England. ICSs should follow the recommendations to determine whether to implement any free of charge schemes, including assessing suitability and any risks in the short, medium, and long term. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/free-of-charge-foc-medicines-schemes-national-policy-recommendations-for-local-systems/

Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to take steps to modernise (a) heritage and (b) community protection schemes to support (i) nightclubs, (ii) grassroots music venues and (iii) other contemporary cultural venues.

The Government is working closely with the music and nightclub sectors, to strengthen the sustainability of the entire music ecosystem. Cultural venues, like nightclubs and music venues, provide enjoyment to many thousands of people as the opportunity to hear live music up close is an essential part of our cultural life.We are continuing to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26. This provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music.Earlier this year we announced the Arts Everywhere Fund, a £270 million investment for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector, including the £85m Creative Foundations Fund. This fund will support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. Not-for-profit and grassroots music venues will be eligible, and Arts Council England will release more details in due course. We expect the fund may be over-subscribed, so are not intending to extend its scope.Buildings that are nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces may already be considered for designation as Listed Buildings, where they meet eligibility criteria for special architectural or historic interest. Applications for listing specific nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces can be made to the Secretary of State via Historic England.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44518 on BetIndex and Football Index, if she will introduce a regulator levy to fund compensation for people who lost money through the collapse of Football Index and BetIndex.

Whilst the Government deeply sympathises with those impacted by the collapse of Football Index and BetIndex, we do not plan to introduce a regulator levy to fund compensation for people who lost money as a result.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure (a) listing and National Portfolio programmes and (b) other heritage and community protection schemes reflect (i) nightclubs, (ii) music venues and (iii) other contemporary cultural spaces.

The Government is working closely with the music and nightclub sectors, to strengthen the sustainability of the entire music ecosystem. Cultural venues, like nightclubs and music venues, provide enjoyment to many thousands of people as the opportunity to hear live music up close is an essential part of our cultural life.We are continuing to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26. This provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music.Earlier this year we announced the Arts Everywhere Fund, a £270 million investment for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector, including the £85m Creative Foundations Fund. This fund will support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. Not-for-profit and grassroots music venues will be eligible, and Arts Council England will release more details in due course. We expect the fund may be over-subscribed, so are not intending to extend its scope.Buildings that are nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces may already be considered for designation as Listed Buildings, where they meet eligibility criteria for special architectural or historic interest. Applications for listing specific nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces can be made to the Secretary of State via Historic England.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Child Poverty Strategy of Parentkind's report entitled The Missing Chapter, published in March 2025.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Bury North to the answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 46672.

What progress he has made on the 2025-2026 pay review for NHS staff.

On 30 September 2024, the Government issued remit letters to the independent Pay Review Bodies (PRBs) covering the National Health Service’s staff groups, formally beginning the 2025/26 pay round months in advance of recent annual pay rounds. The Department published its written evidence to the PRBs covering the NHS’s staff groups for the 2025/26 pay round on 10 December 2024, and oral evidence sessions took place with those PRBs in January and February 2025.We have now received the NHS Pay Review Body covering Agenda for Change staff and the Pay Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration’s reports. The Government is considering the recommendations and will respond formally in due course.

Media and Sport, what plans she has to consult on reforms to press regulation.

The Government currently has no plans to consult on reforms to press regulation.