Written questions by Brown-Fuller.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to orchestral tax relief for International work on the orchestral sector's ability to deliver loss-making activities in the UK.

The UK provides world-leading support for orchestras: at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government confirmed that from 1 April 2025, the rate of Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) will be set at the generous rate of 45%. From April 2024, qualifying expenditure is expenditure incurred on goods or services that are ‘used or consumed in the UK’, replacing the previous rule that qualifying costs were those incurred on goods and services provided from the UK or EEA.  To ease the transition to the new rule, orchestras with concerts in train on 1 April 2024 were permitted to continue claiming relief on goods and services provided from within the EEA until 31 March 2025. It is appropriate to refocus orchestra tax relief on UK expenditure now that the UK has left the EU. Under the new rule, the relief incentivises activity within the UK, rather than the UK and the EEA.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to give local planning authorities further powers to prevent high concentrations of (a) short-term and (b) holiday-let accommodation.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer to Question UIN 13348 on 18 November 2024.

What steps he is taking to deliver age-appropriate (a) care and (b) settings for teenagers and young adults with cancer.

The Department is committed to improving outcomes and patient experience for teenagers and young adults with cancer. We recognise that cancer in teenagers and young people is different to cancer in adults and children, and so age-appropriate care is necessary, particularly regarding treatment, diagnosis, and wider support.A national service specification is in place for the provision of teenage and young adult (TYA) cancer services. This sets out requirements for treatment and care to be delivered in age-appropriate settings, as well as the provision of age-appropriate patient information. A dedicated TYA multidisciplinary team must oversee the care of each young person, taking into account their holistic needs, including the appropriate location of all aspects of care. Further information on the national service specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-b/b05/We are committed to carefully considering this as part of our work through the relaunch of the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce in 2025, which will focus specifically on teenagers and young adults as well as children, ensuring that their clinical and non-clinical needs are met. We will set out further details on next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of (a) Smoke Control Areas and (b) Ecodesign regulations, in the context of the impact of domestic log burners on air quality.

Since the introduction of Smoke Control Areas in 1956 emissions from domestic combustion have reduced significantly. However, domestic combustion is a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions in the UK, and wood stove ownership is increasing. Whilst we are not required to carry out an assessment of the effectiveness of Smoke Control Areas or Ecodesign regulation we have commissioned reports in both areas. Kantar prepared a report on Burning in UK Homes and Gardens for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in 2020. This report included an analysis of burning in Smoke Control Areas, and can be found at Report: Burning in UK homes and gardens (plus a number of annexes) - Defra, UK Ricardo prepared reports on Emission Factors for Domestic Solid Fuels Project which for Defra in 2024. These include details of emission factors using Ecodesign-compliant stoves compared to other types of stoves. These can be found at WP1 - Report: Emission Factors for Domestic Solid Fuels Project - Work Package 1 Report - Defra, UK and Ricardo report template The final report in this series is due to be published shortly on Air Quality Library - Defra, UK.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 19 December 2023 on The Next Stage in Our Long Term Plan for Housing Update, HCWS161, if she will publish (a) the review into the wider statutory consultee system and (b) her response to that review.

The Written Ministerial Statement in question was published by the previous government. This government recognises the importance of ensuring the system of statutory consultees delivers effectively. Any announcements regarding the statutory consultee system will be made in the usual way.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the conclusions within his Department's Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 Post Implementation Review 2024, published in December 2024; and whether he plans to introduce regulatory requirements and conditions relating to cat breeding.

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the 2018 Regulations), anyone in the business of breeding and selling cats as pets needs to have a valid licence issued by their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities who have powers to issue, refuse, vary or revoke licences. The Government is considering the findings of its post-implementation review of the 2018 Regulations and will be outlining more detail on next steps in due course.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing financial protection to victims of (a) financially coercive and (b) other controlling behaviour.

This Government was elected with a landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the next decade. We will use every tool within our power to target perpetrators and address the root causes of abuse and violence, including domestic abuse.The financial difficulties which cohabitants, including victims of abuse, can face when their cohabiting relationships come to an end, is a matter of concern. That is why the Government committed in its 2024 manifesto to strengthen the rights and protections available to women in cohabiting couples. The Government will set out the next steps in due course.In relation to divorcing couples, the Law Commission’s December 2024 scoping report on financial remedies considered how conduct, such as domestic abuse, including economic abuse, is considered by the courts when making decisions about a couple’s finances on divorce. The Government will carefully consider the findings of this report.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of GP appointments that have been booked through online forms as a result of the Help Us Help you advertising scheme since the inception of that scheme.

To date, no Help Us Help You national advertising activity has promoted the use of online consultation request forms in general practice.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to regulate cat breeding.

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, anyone in the business of breeding and selling cats as pets needs to have a valid licence issued by their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities who have powers to issue, refuse, vary or revoke licences. Defra has been working on a post-implementation review of the Regulations which considers whether the objectives further improve the protections they provide. We are also carefully considering recommendations in the EFRA select committee’s report into pet welfare and abuse and the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on feline breeding, which will be published shortly.

How many and what proportion of GP practices use online forms promoted in the Help us Help You advertising scheme.

To date, no Help Us Help You national advertising campaign activity has promoted the use of online consultation request forms in general practice.

What estimate his Department has made of the potential cost saving to the public purse of GP's using online appointment forms promoted in the Help Us to Help You advertising scheme (a) in total and (b) per GP.

To date, no Help Us Help You national advertising campaign activity has promoted the use of online consultation request forms in general practice.

What estimate he has made of the FTE staff hours that have been saved (a) in total and (b) per practice as a result of GPs using online forms promoted in the ‘Help Us Help You’ advertising scheme.

To date, no Help Us Help You national advertising campaign activity has promoted the use of online consultation request forms in general practice.

With reference to her Department's policy paper, titled Changes to the Class 1 National Insurance Contributions Secondary Threshold, the Secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions rate, and the Employment Allowance from 6 April 2025, published on 13 November 2024, if she will make an estimate of the number of businesses in the dentistry sector that will pay the proposed increase in the rate of employer national insurance contributions (a) nationally and (b) by constituency in the next financial year.

The latest forecasts for tax revenues were published alongside the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) October Economic and Fiscal Outlook. These forecasts are based on economic determinants, including wage growth and employment levels. The OBR do not forecast NICs receipts at a sector level. Detailed tax receipts forecasts can be found here: Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024 - Office for Budget Responsibility. The government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer National Insurance Contributions, i.e. central government, public corporations and local government. Dentists are independent contractors and therefore will not be exempt from these changes. The government has taken tough decisions to fix the foundations so that increased funding for the NHS in England could be announced at the Budget. Resource spending for the Department of Health and Social Care is set to increase by £22.6 billion in 2025-26 compared to 2023-24 outturn, providing a real-terms growth rate of 4% for the NHS, the largest since before 2010 excluding Covid-19 years.  This includes funding to support the NHS to deliver the first step of an extra two million NHS operations, scans, and appointments a year in England. Primary care providers – general practice, dentistry, pharmacy and eye care – are valued independent contractors who provide nearly £20bn worth of NHS services. Every year we consult with each sector both about what services they provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract. DHSC will confirm funding for dentistry for 2025/26 as part of the usual contract processes later in the year, including through consultation with the sector. Government keeps all taxes under review.

With reference to her Department's policy paper, Changes to the Class 1 National Insurance Contributions Secondary Threshold, the Secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions rate, and the Employment Allowance from 6 April 2025, published on 13 November 2024, if she will make an estimate of the (a) revenue that will accrue to the Exchequer from businesses in the dentistry sector as a result of the proposed increased rate of employer national insurance contributions and (b) average cost per business (i) nationally and (ii) by constituency of that increase in the next five financial years.

The latest forecasts for tax revenues were published alongside the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) October Economic and Fiscal Outlook. These forecasts are based on economic determinants, including wage growth and employment levels. The OBR do not forecast NICs receipts at a sector level. Detailed tax receipts forecasts can be found here: Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024 - Office for Budget Responsibility. The government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer National Insurance Contributions, i.e. central government, public corporations and local government. Dentists are independent contractors and therefore will not be exempt from these changes. The government has taken tough decisions to fix the foundations so that increased funding for the NHS in England could be announced at the Budget. Resource spending for the Department of Health and Social Care is set to increase by £22.6 billion in 2025-26 compared to 2023-24 outturn, providing a real-terms growth rate of 4% for the NHS, the largest since before 2010 excluding Covid-19 years.  This includes funding to support the NHS to deliver the first step of an extra two million NHS operations, scans, and appointments a year in England. Primary care providers – general practice, dentistry, pharmacy and eye care – are valued independent contractors who provide nearly £20bn worth of NHS services. Every year we consult with each sector both about what services they provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract. DHSC will confirm funding for dentistry for 2025/26 as part of the usual contract processes later in the year, including through consultation with the sector. Government keeps all taxes under review.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of restricting the use of treble barbed fishhooks in England and Wales.

The use of barbed hooks is currently restricted by several byelaws covering specific fisheries in areas throughout England and Wales. The suitability and need for these restrictions will continue to be monitored and may inform changes if appropriate, however there are currently no plans for a wider assessment to be made.

How much funding her Department has provided for the repair of potholes in Chichester constituency.

The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. West Sussex County Council is the local highway authority for the Chichester constituency, and it is therefore responsible for the condition of its local network. In the current financial year the Department has provided a little over £19 million of highway maintenance funding to West Sussex County Council. This Government has a commitment to enable local highway authorities in England to fix up to a million more potholes a year. At Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced an extra £500 million for local highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the current financial year exceeding this Government’s manifesto commitment on repairing local roads. The Government will confirm funding allocations to English local highway authorities in due course.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that patients in NHS Accident and Emergency waiting rooms are frequently monitored by clinicians.

Patients who attend emergency departments are triaged on arrival. This is a clinical assessment, often carried out by a registered nurse, to prioritise patients based on the urgency of their care. All National Health Service providers must have systems in place to appropriately manage clinical priority and patient safety within their emergency departments.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of cancellation of the Community Ownership Fund on the projects of applicants.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 11941 on 8 November 2024.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of limiting the use of limonene in commercial aerosol products.

The safety of commercial aerosols is regulated by the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR), and other sector specific regulations. GPSR provides a baseline of safety for applicable products, requiring that only safe products, can be sold. Additionally, limonene is also used in cosmetics and is included in the list of restricted ingredients under the UK Cosmetic Regulation. The government is confident that the current restrictions on limonene are sufficient to ensure that products are safe. However, to ensure that products remain safe, the government keeps the regulatory framework under constant review, including the use of specific chemicals in particular products.

Whether she plans to take steps to help improve the (a) reliability and (b) frequency of rail services serving Chichester constituency.

There are no current plans to make changes to rail services serving Chichester constituency following on from significant changes earlier in the year. Following a public consultation, a new West Coastway timetable was put in place from 2 June 2024. This redesigned the timetable for services in the Chichester area and doubled the number of trains towards Worthing and Brighton from two trains per hour to four trains per hour, creating a half-hourly service. This provides faster journey options towards Brighton and better spacing on the Southampton service.