Written questions by MacCleary.

What steps her Department is taking alongside the Teachers' Pension Scheme to ensure retired teachers (a) receive their pensions in a timely manner and (b) are informed of the timeline for this.

As part of the Transitional Protection (McCloud) remedy, affected members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) have the option to choose either final salary or career average benefits for the remedy period (April 2015 to March 2022). Members who had not taken TPS benefits before the remedy took effect on 1 October 2023 make that choice immediately before retirement. As calculations of the options are complex, TPS members are advised to apply six months before their intended retirement date to ensure there is sufficient time to receive and respond to their Remediable Service Statement which will set out that choice.The need to apply six months in advance is clearly set out on the Teachers’ Pensions website and in related member guidance, which can be found here: www.teacherspensions.co.uk/members/planning-retirement/how-to-apply.aspx.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take legislative steps to ensure that all small (a) businesses and (b) charities can have commercial waste collection under the new Simpler Recycling legislation, allowing for waste collection by domestic waste narrow access vehicles where necessary.

We can confirm that all small businesses and charities are in scope of Simpler Recycling. The Simpler Recycling legislation does not specify the type of vehicles that must be used for collection, provided they comply with existing standards on waste vehicles. Where commercial services are provided by local authorities, they can utilise waste vehicles that serve household collection routes.

What steps her Department is taking to support (a) blind and (b) partially sighted young people to access Further Education.

​​Support for people with visual impairments in further education is guided by legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) code of practice, with tailored provisions depending on the needs of the individual.All education and training providers, have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities, including those with visual impairments, so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled students.​Reasonable adjustments can include things such as adapting teaching methods (providing materials in accessible formats), using assistive technology (such as screen readers and magnifiers, speech synthesizers, accessible computers and tablets) modifying assessments (offering extra time or alternative formats), and offering personalised support services (including note-takers, interpreters, or mental health support).​From year 9 it is mandatory for education, health and care plan reviews to support learners in preparing for the transitions to further education and/or employment.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to help secure the release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah.

The Government is committed to securing Mr El-Fattah's release so he can be reunited with his family. We continue to engage actively in pressing for his release at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. The Prime Minister raised the case with President Sisi on 26 June. The former Foreign Secretary has also raised the case regularly, most recently in a call with Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 31 August. I most recently raised Mr El-Fattah's case with Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 28 July and with the Egyptian Ambassador to the UK on multiple occasions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help secure the safe return of Craig and Lindsay Foreman from Iran.

We are deeply concerned by Craig and Lindsay's detention in Iran. We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members. We continue to raise the case directly with the Iranian authorities.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure adequate funding for children and families.

The Spending Review, announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 11 June 2025, ensures this government can drive forward progress on its mission to break the link between background and success.Children’s early years are crucial to their development, health and life chances. Through the government’s Plan for Change, we will ensure every child gets the best start in life, investing in the strongest evidence-based interventions to ensure a record proportion of five year-olds have a good level of development by 2028 and transforming outcomes for children and young people.The Spending Review includes an additional £1.6 billion a year by 2028/29 for childcare entitlements for working parents, giving children the best start in life and supporting more parents to balance family life and work. It also includes funding to expand a network of family hubs to support families when they need it and get a record proportion of children ready for school.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to respond to Question 66793 tabled on the 10 July 2025 by the hon. Member for Lewes.

I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member's written parliamentary question. I issued a response to the hon. Member on 21 July 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing aid to women and girls in Afghanistan who had their special immigration visas for resettlement removed by the US government.

The UK is committed to supporting the rights of all women and girls in Afghanistan. Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used from 2026/27 onwards will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors including impact assessments. In 2025/26 we have allocated up to £140 million to support those Afghans most in need, including marginalised and vulnerable groups. We also remain committed to ensuring at least 50 per cent of people reached by UK aid are women and girls.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing national prescribing guidance to Integrated Care Boards to ensure the availability of Xonvea.

The Department recognises that hyperemesis gravidarum is a debilitating condition that can have a devastating impact on women and their families.Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers are accountable for their prescribing decisions.Prescribers must always satisfy themselves that the medicines they consider appropriate for their patients can be safely prescribed and that they take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline on antenatal care includes guidance on the advantages and disadvantages of different pharmacological treatments, including Xonvea, for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy to support shared decision making.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to Xonvea for women with hyperemesis gravidarum.

The Department recognises that hyperemesis gravidarum is a debilitating condition that can have a devastating impact on women and their families.Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers are accountable for their prescribing decisions.Prescribers must always satisfy themselves that the medicines they consider appropriate for their patients can be safely prescribed and that they take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline on antenatal care includes guidance on the advantages and disadvantages of different pharmacological treatments, including Xonvea, for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy to support shared decision making.

With reference to the Answer of 16 May 2022 to Question 245 on Migrant Workers: Football, whether her Department considers football academies to be places of employment for children; and if she will take steps to ensure that children on dependent visas can participate in football academy non-professional developmental programmes.

The restriction on work as a ‘professional sportsperson’ is present in certain routes’ visa conditions, including for dependent children. The condition and associated definition have been established following extensive consultation with over 60 Home Office approved Sports Governing Bodies (SGBs), including the four home nations’ football associations (FAs). The restriction includes those registered at an academy of a professional or semi-professional sports team. The definition, and the visa condition restricting such activities, is currently being reviewed.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of (a) child psychologists and (b) other qualified specialists to assess severely disabled children for (i) ADHD and (ii) other neurodevelopmental conditions where (A) a lack of assessment prevents access to appropriate medication and support and (B) in other circumstances.

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The government’s 10 Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future, recognising the need for early intervention and support, without the need for diagnosis.It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access to ADHD and autism assessments and support, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is bringing together those with lived experience with experts from the NHS, education, charity and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support. An interim report was published on 20 June, with the final report expected to be published later in the year and we will carefully consider its recommendations.The Government is supporting inclusive environments for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through the ‘Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools’ programme and earlier intervention through the ‘Early Language Support for Every Child’ programme. In addition, through local commissioning, the Government will ensure that Neighbourhood Health Services work in partnership with family hubs, schools, nurseries and colleges to offer timely and joined-up support to children, young people and their families.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has assessed the potential merits of a focus on plant-based foods in the forthcoming food strategy.

The Government is committed to ensuring access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food for all, and recognises the role that plant-based options can play in supporting a healthier, more sustainable, and resilient food system. Through the lens of a new food strategy, there is an opportunity to explore where we can go further to create a positive food culture with access to healthier diets for all. The Eatwell Guide sets out government recommendations for a healthy diet. This guidance recognises the valuable contribution of plant-based foods and drinks, illustrating that both plant-based products and animal-based products can be part of a healthy balanced diet.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department holds data on the number of EU airports which (a) offer and (b) are expected to offer e-gate access for UK passport holders by 23 July 2025.

At the UK-EU Summit on 19 May, we secured confirmation that there will be no legal barriers for British nationals to use eGates after the introduction of the EU's Entry/Exit system (EES). Whether to grant British Citizens eGates access is a matter for Member States.A number of Member States already offer British Citizens eGates access at certain airports and ports, in a range of circumstances, including Italy, France and Spain. We are working at pace with individual Member States to expand access to eGates for British Citizens where this is currently limited. Recently, Bulgaria has begun offering eGates access in Sofia airport and the UK-Germany Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation Treaty signed on 17 July commits to rolling out eGate access for frequent travellers by the end of August, followed by rollout for all UK nationals as soon as technically possible.We anticipate more Member States will be able to offer access at further locations over the coming months.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department holds data on the number of EU airports which (a) offer and (b) are expected to offer e-gate access for UK passport holders by 23 July 2025.

At the UK-EU Summit on 19 May, we secured confirmation that there will be no legal barriers for British nationals to use eGates after the introduction of the EU's Entry/Exit system (EES). Whether to grant British Citizens eGates access is a matter for Member States.A number of Member States already offer British Citizens eGates access at certain airports and ports, in a range of circumstances, including Italy, France and Spain. We are working at pace with individual Member States to expand access to eGates for British Citizens where this is currently limited. Recently, Bulgaria has begun offering eGates access in Sofia airport and the UK-Germany Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation Treaty signed on 17 July commits to rolling out eGate access for frequent travellers by the end of August, followed by rollout for all UK nationals as soon as technically possible.We anticipate more Member States will be able to offer access at further locations over the coming months.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage farmers to ensure that (a) rivers, (b) streams and (c) lakes are protected from pollution.

We are taking action to address agricultural pollution and support farm businesses. We are, as a priority, working with farmers and environmental groups to improve farm pollution regulations to ensure they are simple and effective. We are also doubling funding for Environment Agency farm inspections to work with farmers to raise standards and have issued amended Statutory Guidance on the Farming Rules for Water to set clearer expectations on enforcing the rules. We continue to invest in our farmers through Environmental Land Management schemes.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive on (a) (i) hedgerow and (ii) soil restoration, (b) pollinating wildflowers and (c) tree planting.

Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced in summer 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support the long-term financial security of farmers, in the context of changes made to the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

We have allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. We are investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history to put healthy, nutritious food on our tables. We are working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future SFI offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced in summer 2025. That is only part of our commitment to farmers. We have also protected farmers in trade deals and provided a five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker route, giving farms certainty to grow their businesses. We have appointed former NFU president Minette Batters to recommend new reforms to boost farmers’ profits.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage farmers to farm sustainably.

The Government is backing British farming. We are prioritising investment that supports the Government’s Plan for Change and building on the Secretary of State’s work to reform Defra to drive growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to farming, food security, and nature’s recovery. We are providing farmers and land managers with the support needed to help restore nature, which is vital to safeguard our long-term food security and build resilience to climate change. There are currently record numbers of farmers taking part in farming schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive. As of April 2025, these schemes supported 885,000 hectares of arable land being farmed without insecticides; 330,000 hectares of low input grassland being managed sustainably; and 85,000 kilometres of hedgerows being protected and restored. In the recent spending review, we committed to carrying on the transition towards paying to deliver public goods for the environment, with over £7 billion directed into nature’s recovery between 2026 and 2029. This includes environmental farming schemes (£5.9 billion), tree planting (£816 million) and peatland restoration (£85 million).

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of (a) child psychologists and (b) other qualified specialists to assess severely disabled children for (i) ADHD and (ii) other neurodevelopmental conditions in (A) cases where a lack of assessment prevents access to appropriate (1) medication and (2) other support and (B) other cases.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism assessments and support, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is bringing together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support. An interim report was published on 20 June, with the final report expected to be published later in the year, and we will carefully consider its recommendations.The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, sets out the core principle of early intervention and support, without the need for diagnosis, including specifically for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In the autumn, the Government will bring forward a schools white paper, which will detail the Government’s approach to SEND reform, ensuring joined-up support for children and young people, including education and healthcare providers working together with other local services to plan and deliver evidence-based early interventions for children.The 10-Year Health Plan also sets out plans for new neighbourhood health services to work in partnership with family hubs, schools, nurseries, and colleges to offer timely support to children, young people, and their families, including those with SEND.