Written questions by Mayhew.

Whether the new Great British Railways ticketing system will automatically identify the cheapest combination of fares for each journey.

Once Great British Railways is established, it will retail online by consolidating individual train operators’ ticket websites. It will work alongside a thriving private sector retail market, which will continue to play a key role in driving innovation and investment and encouraging more people to choose rail. The Railways Bill consultation, which launched on 18 February, will help us develop more detailed plans for GBR’s retail offer. We are consulting closely with industry, the private sector, and wider stakeholders.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that children can access cannabinoid medications through the NHS; and what assessment he has made of trends in the level of families using non-prescribed cannabis to treat their children.

No assessment has been made on the trends in the level of families using non-prescription cannabis to treat children. Cannabis is a class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the unlawful supply carries a maximum sentence of up to 14 years in prison, a fine, or both, while unlawful possession is up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.Like all medicines, prescribing on the National Health Service is restricted to products which have been proven safe and effective. Licensed cannabis-based medicines are routinely funded by the NHS where there is clear evidence of their quality, safety, and effectiveness. Epidyolex is used for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy, namely Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. However, clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence demonstrate a clear need for more evidence on the safety and effectiveness of unlicensed cannabis-based medicines to support routine prescribing and funding decisions in the NHS. NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have agreed funding for two trials relating to the use of cannabis-based medicines for the treatment of difficult-to-treat epilepsies. These will be world-first trials and will be crucial in informing future NHS funding decisions.Manufacturers are responsible for generating evidence to support the use of their products and for seeking regulatory approval. The Government encourages manufacturers to do so and offers scientific and research advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NIHR.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of amending the Highways Act 1980 to increase roadside trees planting.

The Department does not have plans to amend the Highways Act 1980 on this particular topic. The Department does, however, encourage local highway authorities to recognise the contribution that trees make to the economic, social and environmental well-being of communities, while National Highways is, as part of its efforts to deliver on environmental goals and achieve Net Zero Targets, aiming to plant at least 3 million trees by 2030 (in addition to the trees planted as ‘essential mitigation’ for projects), to provide landscape and biodiversity benefits and help lock up carbon.

What steps she is taking to reduce waiting times for resolutions to missed child maintenance payments.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) will do everything it can to address the nonpayment of child maintenance and reduce waiting times for missed payments. We use our enforcement powers fairly and quickly to get cases back into payment.These powers include deductions from earnings orders, removal of driving licenses, disqualification from holding a passport, and committal to prison. The CMS has also introduced powers to deduct child maintenance directly from a wider range of bank accounts and can apply for a liability order. A liability order legally recognizes the debt and is required before the CMS can take certain enforcement actions against non-compliant parents to enforce those arrears.Following the Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023 receiving royal assent in July 2023, secondary legislation is required to bring into force existing powers that allow the CMS to make an administrative liability order against a person who has failed to pay child maintenance and is in arrears.The administrative liability order will replace the current requirement for the CMS to apply to the court for a liability order, which can take up to 22 weeks. Introducing a simpler administrative process will enable the CMS to take faster action against parents who actively avoid their responsibilities and will get money to children more quickly. We expect the new liability order process to take around six to eight weeks, allowing for delays.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to meet its target of 16.5% tree cover by 2050.

We are making progress towards the statutory target to reach 16.5% tree and woodland cover in England by 2050. The Government has pledged up to £400 million for tree planting and peatland restoration over the current and next financial year. As part of that we will create new woodland including national forests to bring communities and woodlands closer together and to create new green jobs. The Government has launched a Tree Planting Taskforce to support our plans to plant millions more trees.

What steps she is taking to plant trees alongside roads.

The Department is not currently taking any specific steps with regards to tree planting as this a matter for National Highways and local highway authorities (for the strategic road network and local roads respectively). The Department does, however, encourage local highway authorities to recognise the contribution that trees make to the economic, social and environmental well-being of communities, while National Highways is, as part of its efforts to deliver on environmental goals and achieve Net Zero Targets, aiming to plant at least 3 million trees by 2030 (in addition to the trees planted as ‘essential mitigation’ for projects) to provide landscape and biodiversity benefits and help lock up carbon.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on aligning gene-editing legislation with that of the European Union.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Government is introducing legislation to enact the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for plants and food and feed before the end of March. The European Commission has published a proposal that is similar in aim to the Precision Breeding Act. The department is monitoring progress on the EU’s regulatory proposal closely and engaging with the European Commission when appropriate. Officials have met with EU counterparts several times to discuss England’s approach to precision breeding and the EU’s proposal on new genomic techniques, including through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee and through the UK-EU Joint Consultative Working Group Agri-food structured group.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his EU counterparts on UK legislation on gene-editing.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Government is introducing legislation to enact the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for plants and food and feed before the end of March. The European Commission has published a proposal that is similar in aim to the Precision Breeding Act. The department is monitoring progress on the EU’s regulatory proposal closely and engaging with the European Commission when appropriate. Officials have met with EU counterparts several times to discuss England’s approach to precision breeding and the EU’s proposal on new genomic techniques, including through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee and through the UK-EU Joint Consultative Working Group Agri-food structured group.

For what reason there is a surcharge on vehicle tax payments on periods shorter than a year.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) can be paid annually, or in monthly or 6-monthly instalments. Revenue from motoring taxes helps to fund vital public services and infrastructure, including investment in roads and transport. The cost to the exchequer is higher when VED is paid monthly or six-monthly, rather than annually, because of lost interest. To reflect this impact on the public finances, monthly and six-monthly payments for vehicle licences include an extra charge to make up for the lost interest. A six-monthly vehicle licence paid by direct debit is set at 52.5 per cent of the annual rate, and a six-monthly vehicle licence paid by non-direct debit is set at 55 per cent of the annual rate. A monthly vehicle licence paid by direct debit is set at 105 per cent of the annual rate. As with all taxes, the Government welcomes representations on how the tax system can be improved. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of public finances.

If she will make an estimate of the additional unit cost of processing vehicle tax payments on periods shorter than one year.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) can be paid annually, or in monthly or 6-monthly instalments. Revenue from motoring taxes helps to fund vital public services and infrastructure, including investment in roads and transport. The cost to the exchequer is higher when VED is paid monthly or six-monthly, rather than annually, because of lost interest. To reflect this impact on the public finances, monthly and six-monthly payments for vehicle licences include an extra charge to make up for the lost interest. A six-monthly vehicle licence paid by direct debit is set at 52.5 per cent of the annual rate, and a six-monthly vehicle licence paid by non-direct debit is set at 55 per cent of the annual rate. A monthly vehicle licence paid by direct debit is set at 105 per cent of the annual rate. As with all taxes, the Government welcomes representations on how the tax system can be improved. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of public finances.

How many patients were (a) held informally under the Mental Health Act 1983 and (b) otherwise detained in assessment and treatment units in December (i) 2024, (ii) 2023, (iii) 2022 and (iv) 2021.

The Assuring Transformation data set records information about people with a learning disability and autistic people who are receiving treatment or care as inpatients in a mental health hospital. Patients in assessment and treatment units (ATUs) in England are recorded in the Assuring Transformation data set under the bed type Acute Mental Health Unit for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism.We are only able to identify ATUs in Assuring Transformation from April 2024. Therefore, we are unable to determine the how many patients were in ATUs, including those detained under the Mental Health Act and informal patients, for the requested periods of December 2023, 2022, and 2021.In December 2024 there were 160 inpatients detained in Acute Mental Health Units for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism under the Mental Health Act. In addition to this, there were 15 informal patients in such settings at this time. These figures include patients in in ATUs, but may also include some patients who were in other inpatient mental health settings.

Whether she has conducted a study of the (a) financial and (b) operational impact of rail nationalisation in Scotland.

Decisions regarding ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper services are a devolved matter for the Scottish Government. My officials engage closely with devolved counterparts on their experiences of nationalisation.

What steps she is taking to prevent cost overruns during the transition to Great British Railways.

The Rail Sector Transformation Programme, which includes the establishment of Great British Railways, is part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio, with Departmental governance overseeing delivery.

How many patients were detained in assessment and treatment units in England in December (a) 2023, (b) 2022 and (c) 2021.

The Assuring Transformation data set records information about people with a learning disability and autistic people who are receiving treatment or care as inpatients in a mental health hospital.Patients in assessment and treatment units (ATUs) in England are recorded in the Assuring Transformation data set under the bed type Acute Mental Health Unit for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism.We are only able to identify ATUs in Assuring Transformation from April 2024. Therefore, we are unable to determine the how many patients were in ATUs, including those detained under the Mental Health Act and informal patients, for the requested periods of December 2023, 2022, and 2021.

How many patients are detained in assessment and treatment units in England.

Patients in assessment and treatment units in England are recorded in the Assuring Transformation data set, under the bed type Acute Mental Health Unit for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism.In December 2024, there were 160 inpatients detained in Acute Mental Health Units for Adults with a Learning Disability and/or Autism. This figure includes patients detained in assessment and treatment units, but may also include some patients who are held in other inpatient mental health settings. Patients held informally under the Mental Health Act, those that are not detained, have been excluded from the count.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the work of Great British Rail is held to account.

Great British Railways’ new passenger-focused culture will ensure passengers are at the heart of everything it does. It will be operationally independent of, but accountable to, the Secretary of State, as well as to the UK and devolved Parliaments, supported by the Office for Rail and Road and a new passenger watchdog, the Passenger Standards Authority. We will be consulting on our proposals for the legislation that will establish GBR as an arm’s length body, in due course.

How many full-time equivalent staff are working on the transfer of South Western Railways into a directly operated railway.

A new Public Ownership Programme Directorate has been established in the Department to deliver the programme to transition passenger services into public ownership over the next three years. The Directorate currently has 34 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees who work across the entire public ownership programme, not just South Western Railway. Other capabilities from across the Department, as well as external expertise, will be drawn upon as required to support the transfer of all ten operators transferring to public ownership, starting with South Western Railway in May 2025.

How much (a) Network Rail and (b) the Rail Delivery Group spent on lobbying activities, including expenses related to attending party conferences and engaging public affairs consultancies, for financial years (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

We do not hold this information; the Rail Delivery Group’s (RDG’s) structure reflects the role the organisation has played as a means of facilitating collaboration and delivering whole-system outcomes within a multi-operator sector. As a Non-Departmental Public Body, Network Rail strictly adheres to Cabinet Office rules which prohibit attendance at party conferences and the use of consultancies for lobbying activity. The Secretary of State has not put any restrictions on RDG from attending party political conferences, international railway meetings overseas and other lobbying activities. Furthermore, we have not carried out a value for money assessment in relation to RDG and Network Rail engaging public affairs agencies for lobbying purposes. RDG undertakes and provides a wide range of critical functions across the rail industry which deliver high value for money for the industry. Network Rail has a profitable international consultancy arm which involves international travel and conferences; and also necessarily participates in international activities as railway standards and the railway supply chain are both international. The Rail Delivery Group will be overtaken by GBR in due course which will be an arms-length body of the Department for Transport and therefore subject to Cabinet Office rules.

What restrictions she has placed on the Rail Delivery Group on attending (a) party political conferences, (b) international railway meetings overseas and (c) other lobbying activities.

We do not hold this information; the Rail Delivery Group’s (RDG’s) structure reflects the role the organisation has played as a means of facilitating collaboration and delivering whole-system outcomes within a multi-operator sector. As a Non-Departmental Public Body, Network Rail strictly adheres to Cabinet Office rules which prohibit attendance at party conferences and the use of consultancies for lobbying activity. The Secretary of State has not put any restrictions on RDG from attending party political conferences, international railway meetings overseas and other lobbying activities. Furthermore, we have not carried out a value for money assessment in relation to RDG and Network Rail engaging public affairs agencies for lobbying purposes. RDG undertakes and provides a wide range of critical functions across the rail industry which deliver high value for money for the industry. Network Rail has a profitable international consultancy arm which involves international travel and conferences; and also necessarily participates in international activities as railway standards and the railway supply chain are both international. The Rail Delivery Group will be overtaken by GBR in due course which will be an arms-length body of the Department for Transport and therefore subject to Cabinet Office rules.

If her Department will make an assessment of the value for money of (a) the Rail Delivery Group, (b) Network Rail and (c) other publicly funded railway bodies engaging public affairs agencies for lobbying purposes.

We do not hold this information; the Rail Delivery Group’s (RDG’s) structure reflects the role the organisation has played as a means of facilitating collaboration and delivering whole-system outcomes within a multi-operator sector. As a Non-Departmental Public Body, Network Rail strictly adheres to Cabinet Office rules which prohibit attendance at party conferences and the use of consultancies for lobbying activity. The Secretary of State has not put any restrictions on RDG from attending party political conferences, international railway meetings overseas and other lobbying activities. Furthermore, we have not carried out a value for money assessment in relation to RDG and Network Rail engaging public affairs agencies for lobbying purposes. RDG undertakes and provides a wide range of critical functions across the rail industry which deliver high value for money for the industry. Network Rail has a profitable international consultancy arm which involves international travel and conferences; and also necessarily participates in international activities as railway standards and the railway supply chain are both international. The Rail Delivery Group will be overtaken by GBR in due course which will be an arms-length body of the Department for Transport and therefore subject to Cabinet Office rules.