Written questions by Kirkham.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the planned timescales are for the action points in the Cross-government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Group Roadmap on addressing levels of fipronil and imidacloprid detected in UK waterways; and how she plans to measure their levels of success.

The Cross-government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PiE) Group Roadmap sets out a phased approach to addressing the presence of fipronil and imidacloprid in UK waterways. It outlines three broad categories of action: immediate efforts focused on communication and education; medium-term actions centred on evidence gathering; and longer-term regulatory interventions. To ensure the roadmap remains responsive to emerging evidence and evolving priorities, the timelines have been intentionally kept broad. This flexibility is essential to allow the programme to adapt to new challenges or opportunities as they arise. While we have indicative timeframes, i.e. immediate actions are expected to show significant progress within a year, medium-term actions within five years, and longer-term actions will be shaped by the evidence gathered during the medium term, we recognise that agility is key. In particular, the longer-term regulatory actions will require careful consideration of the evidence base as it develops. Success will be measured through progress against roadmap actions, including delivery of stakeholder engagement, improved guidance, and evidence outputs. In addition, environmental monitoring, led by the relevant UK environment agencies, will track levels of fipronil and imidacloprid in surface waters over time. Collectively, these measures will help assess the effectiveness of stewardship efforts and guide future regulatory decisions.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has considered requiring pet products containing pesticides that are sold off the shelf to the public to provide explicit (a) advice and (b) warnings of their potential impacts on the environment at the point of sale.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is aware of stakeholder concerns regarding veterinary medicines that can be sold without a prescription and are available from general retailers (AVM-GSL distribution category) for some companion animal flea and tick products. A review of this distribution category for these products remains an option that the VMD is considering in order to assess the requirements for advice and environmental warnings at the point of sale.

How many of the 10,910 additional urgent dental appointments allocated to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board have been delivered since April 2025.

We have asked the integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission extra urgent dental appointments to make sure that patients with urgent dental needs can get the treatment they require. ICBs have been making extra appointments available from April 2025.Appointments are available across the country, with specific expectations for each region. These appointments are more heavily weighted towards those areas where they are needed the most.Data on delivery of urgent dental care, including additional delivery, will be published annually as part of the NHS Dental Statistics England Official Statistics series. These statistics are released each August and are the primary source of data on the delivery of NHS dental care.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of deploying specialist endometriosis nurses in GP surgeries.

The Government is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care for gynaecological conditions including endometriosis.As self-employed contractors to the National Health Service, it is for general practices to determine how they run their operations, including decisions regarding nursing staff.The Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, has also commissioned a number of studies focused on endometriosis diagnosis, treatment, and patient experience.

What (a) physical, (b) mental and (c) financial support is available to people diagnosed with endometriosis.

The Government recognises the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline on endometriosis diagnosis and management recognises that endometriosis can be a long-term condition, and can have a significant physical, sexual, psychological, and social impact. On 11 November 2024, NICE published its updated version of this guideline, making firmer recommendations on referral and investigations which will help women receive a diagnosis and effective treatment faster.Research has led to new treatments being made available for endometriosis, including the NICE approval of two pills to treat endometriosis this year, namely Relugolix and Linzagolix.Individuals, including those diagnosed with endometriosis, can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies or their general practitioner can refer them. NHS Talking Therapies offer evidence-based psychological therapies to help with common mental health problems.Many integrated care boards are taking an innovative approach to endometriosis care. For example, in the North East and West of England there is the endometriosis transformation programme. This programme is addressing long waits for patients with severe endometriosis and improving patient pathways, from presentation in general practice through to management in secondary care.

Whether his Department has exempted the company Instro Precision UK from applying for arms export licences for the sale of targeting equipment.

The basis on which export licences are required for different military and dual-use goods is set out in the Export Control Order 2008. Export licence applications for all controlled goods are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against strict assessment criteria, the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. The Export Control Joint Unit does not issue exemptions from requirements for export licences except those specifically prescribed in law. Where individual licence applications include items that are not covered by the 2008 Order, exporters can be informed that no licence is required.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a public awareness campaign on endometriosis.

The Government recognises the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated their guideline on endometriosis, to make firmer recommendations to healthcare professionals on the referral and investigation for women with a suspected diagnosis, in order to help the estimated one in 10 women with endometriosis receive a diagnosis faster. Alongside the updated guidelines, new treatments have been approved, and we are investing £5.6 million into research and taking action to cut gynaecology waiting lists through our Elective Reform Plan.On 15 July, the Department for Education published the revised relationships education, relationships and sex education, and health education statutory guidance. This revised guidance emphasises the importance of ensuring that pupils have a comprehensive understanding of women’s health topics, including endometriosis.We know that women deserve better, which is why we are renewing the Women’s Health Strategy, to assess the progress that has been made so far and to continue progressing delivery while empowering women with information about heavy menstrual bleeding and reproductive health conditions.The 2022 Women’s Health Strategy identified many important issues which remain valid, so we now need to align the strategy with the 10-Year Health Plan and identify areas where we need to go further.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support the rollout of high speed broadband in rural areas.

Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. Our goal is for nationwide gigabit coverage by 2032, ensuring at least 99% of UK premises can access a gigabit-capable connection.More than £2.4 billion of Project Gigabit contracts have already been signed to connect over one million more premises with gigabit-capable broadband. These premises fall predominantly in rural areas.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Physical Infrastructure Access fees on the rollout of high speed broadband in rural areas.

As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.For this reason, while we are engaging with Ofcom on this issue, the Department has not made any formal assessment of the impact of PIA fees on the roll-out of high-speed broadband in rural areas.

Innovation and Technology, how many and what proportion of premises have access to gigabit-capable broadband in Cornwall.

According to the independent website, Thinkbroadband.com, over 71% of premises in Cornwall currently have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection.

With reference to the GB Energy founding statement, published on 25 July 2024, when Local Power Plans will be published.

The Local Power Plan is a joint strategy between GBE and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. This document will outline our shared long-term vision for the local and community energy sector: to drive the growth of locally-owned renewable energy projects and support efforts to unlock cleaner, cheaper and more resilient power at the community level. This will give communities a direct stake in the transition to net zero. We are continuing to develop the Local Power Plan with GBE and other key stakeholders and updates on publication will be provided soon.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department plans to take to support fishers to adopt innovative gear with proven selectivity benefits.

As a member of the UK Gear forum, Defra will continue working with the fisheries administrations and industry to promote the commercial uptake of innovative fishing gear. Together, we are exploring opportunities to overcome barriers to the adoption of more selective gear types. Defra will work with industry to explore how the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund can be used to target investment where it matters most, which could include investment in new technology and equipment to modernise our fishing fleet.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with devolved fisheries administrations on a coordinated approach to supporting the commercial uptake of innovative fishing gear.

Defra is engaging with the devolved fisheries administrations through the UK Gear Forum to identify opportunities for joint action, including potential funding routes.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the report by Seafish entitled Supporting the Commercial Uptake of Innovative Fishing Gear, published on 10 September 2025.

The results of this Defra funded report provides a useful insight into the issues and potential barriers to the adoption of more selective fishing gear. The UK fisheries administrations encourage the commercial uptake of innovative fishing gear and will work together to explore how to unlock the barriers to the take up of more selective gears, which this report can inform on. Defra remains committed to keeping the dialogue open with industry partners and our partners in the devolved Governments. Defra will continue to support the use of trials of new innovative and selective fishing gear. Where a trial clearly demonstrates that the new fishing gear is shown to minimise the wider impact on the marine environment and reduces unwanted bycatch, Defra will look to make the necessary changes to regulations to facilitate this change.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to establish a registration scheme for UK vessels to provide ring-fenced funds to tackle the issue of abandoned end of life boats.

The Government recognises that end of life recreational vessels are a source of litter and pollution when abandoned and is leading an action in the OSPAR Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter to improve the management of end-of-life recreational vessels. As part of this work, the Government commissioned research on the number of vessels reaching end-of-life across the North East Atlantic area, and on policy options to reduce the issue of marine litter from abandoned vessels. This research is being used to inform the development of best practice guidance.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help tackle the issue of abandoned boats in UK rivers.

Responsibility for operational matters on regulated rivers rests with the navigation authorities that own them and includes dealing with abandoned boats. The Government does not have a role in that. Navigation authorities have statutory powers to remove such boats when they deem it necessary and appropriate, but only statutory duties to do so where they present an environmental or navigation risk. Where there is no navigation authority for a river, responsibility for removing boats falls to riparian landowners and local authorities.

How much and what proportion of the £25 million funding for the pilot Women’s Health Hubs was allocated to the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB.

The Department invested £25 million in the establishment of Women’s Health Hubs through the two-year pilot from April 2023 to March 2025. Each integrated care board (ICB) received £595,000 of the £25 million of funding for Women’s Health Hubs.We are supporting ICBs to continue improving their delivery of Women’s Health Hubs, in line with their responsibility to commission services that meet the needs of their local populations.

If she will consider the introduction of mandatory autism awareness training for staff working in the police.

Training on mental ill health and autism is already integrated throughout the initial police learning programme which all new recruits must complete.Policing is operationally independent, and it is a matter for the chief constables of each force to decide what additional training their officers should undertake. The National Police Chiefs’ Council has produced an e-learning course and a glossary of terms on neurodiversity, which are available to all police officers.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 8706 on UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, when she plans to respond to the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration’s final report, published on 18 September 2023.

Further to the answer I gave on 21 October 2024/ Question 8706, we are continuing to give careful consideration to the recommendations made by the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. I hope to be able to update the House in due course on our plans to publish a response.

Media and Sport, whether she has considered providing funding for the creation of a covid-19 memorial in Truro and Falmouth constituency.

The UK Commission on Covid Commemoration consulted on how to commemorate the COVID-19 pandemic and mark this distinctive period in our history at a national and community level. The Commission made a number of recommendations, including the importance of local memorials in commemorating the Covid-19 pandemic in providing a place to grieve and remember their loved ones. Since the publication of the Commission’s report, a number of COVID-19 memorials have been developed across the country by local government, businesses and community groups.This government is giving careful consideration to all the Commission's recommendations, working with Bereaved Family groups, wider stakeholders and the Devolved Governments to do justice to the hard work of the Commission, and will publish a response, including to the recommendation around the creation of new memorials, in due course.