Written questions by Shannon.

What discussions he has had with his counterparts in Northern Ireland on tackling violence against women and girls.

The UK Government has welcomed the Northern Ireland Executive’s Strategic Framework on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. At the end of January, I welcomed the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, to Northern Ireland for a two day visit including meetings with Executive Ministers, the PSNI, academics and frontline service providers. The Minister and I used this opportunity to reaffirm this Government’s support as we work towards our shared objective of tackling violence against women and girls.

What discussions he has had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland on encouraging international steel investment in Northern Ireland.

We believe that our Plan for Steel will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a real difference for this industry. It will address the problems the sector faces and create a competitive business landscape across the entirety of the United Kingdom.Supporting the strategy is the Steel Council to which the Minister for the Economy is a member and met in January. In addition, I met with Minister Archibald prior to the launch of the consultation on the strategy in February.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland on the preservation of biodiversity in Northern Ireland.

The UK’s National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP) was discussed with Minister Muir, as well as other devolved government ministers, at the Inter-Ministerial Group for EFRA held on 16 September. The UK has published the full NBSAP during the resumed COP16 that commits us to achieving all 23 targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework at home. The four governments, and relevant Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have worked collaboratively to develop the NBSAP and now we need to work together to deliver it.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on reversing the changes to inheritance tax for family farmers.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues.

What steps he is taking to improve HIV testing across the UK.

Health is a devolved matter, and it is the responsibility of the individual administrations to commission comprehensive healthcare based on population need. All four nations, however, are committed to reducing HIV transmissions.The Government is committed to ending new transmissions of HIV in England by 2030. The Department, the UK Health and Security Agency, NHS England, and partners are developing the new HIV Action Plan for England, which we aim to publish this year. Scaling up and increasing the availability of testing is a key objective of the new plan.HIV testing is funded by local authorities through the ringfenced Public Health Grant (PHG). In 2025/26, we are increasing funding through the PHG to £3.858 billion, providing local authorities with an average 5.4% cash increase and a 3% real terms increase, the biggest real-terms increase after nearly a decade of reduced spending.The Department is investing over £5.5 million from 2021 to 2026 to deliver the HIV Prevention Programme (HPE). The HPE aims to increase the awareness and acceptability of HIV testing and reduce barriers to access through the delivery of public campaigns such as National HIV Testing Week, during which we dispatch over 20,000 HIV testing kits in England.On 28 November, the Prime Minister announced £27 million of additional funding to expand the highly successful National Health Service emergency department opt-out testing programme for 2025/26. This is particularly important in population groups less likely to access HIV testing via traditional sexual health services, such as people of black African and black Caribbean heritage.

How many people have been hospitalised for Norovirus in the last six months.

The information is not available in the format requested. NHS England publishes Daily Situation Reports throughout the winter period, which include information on the number of hospital beds taken up by patients with norovirus-like symptoms. This information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/uec-sitrep/urgent-and-emergency-care-daily-situation-reports-2024-25/

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on the rights of Ahmadi Muslims in that country.

Promoting the rights of religious minorities is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I raised the deteriorating situation for Ahmadi Muslims when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November 2024, and discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 November 2024. On 3 March, our High Commissioner in Islamabad raised the issue of Ahmadi rights in a meeting with Prime Minister Sharif. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people, including Ahmadi Muslims, in accordance with international standards.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of the illegal selling of weight loss drugs.

The Department for Health and Social Care are responsible for policy on human medicines, and the illegal sale and supply of human medicines is recognised as a significant challenge for regulators across the world. Buying medicines, including weight loss medicines, from illegally trading websites can be harmful to health, as the medicines received are generally unlicensed in the United Kingdom, and can contain too little, too much, or incorrect active ingredients.Some weight-loss medicines (such as Phentermine) are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and therefore a person unlawfully possessing, supplying or producing would be subject to the appropriate penalties. Further information about these penalties can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/penalties-drug-possession-dealing.This Government understands the dangers that counterfeit, and illegally imported, drugs can cause. This is why law enforcement agencies, and other partners, work around the clock to stop and intercept illegal products from crossing our borders.

How many people in the UK have genetic eye conditions impacting the AIPLI gene.

Mutations in the AIPL1 gene can cause retinal disorders. Genetic causes of retinal disorders are tested for by R32 testing that is available nationally via the National Genomic Test Directory for any patient that meets the eligibility criteria. R32 tests for 280 genes. There have been 11 individuals reported with causative variants in the AIPL1 gene from over 4000 tests. This data represents testing of patients from England only as NHS England does not hold this information for devolved nations.This number also does not capture the number of individuals identified by cascade testing following the identification of AILP1 causative variants through an R32 test of a family member. Cascade testing is the process of informing and testing family members for a genetic condition discovered within the family.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of trends in the levels of house prices in the last 12 months.

My Department continuously monitors the latest data on house prices.In the 12 months up to December 2024 (the most recent data from the ONS), average house prices in the UK rose from £256,000 to £268,000 a 4.6% increase.In England, the average house price rose from £279,000 to £291,000 a 4.3% increase. The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. The government is committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme, to support first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit, with lower mortgage costs.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of awarding the Victoria Cross to Robert Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing the process by which gallantry awards can be awarded retrospectively.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

If he will take steps to review the adequacy of his Department's policy on the timescale within which a Victoria Cross can be awarded.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

If he will take steps to review any evidence relating to the process through which a decision was made not to award Robert Blair Paddy Mayne a Victoria Cross.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing the process by which gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

Whether his Department has a procedure for awarding gallantry awards previously refused because of an administrative error.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne’s brave actions and leadership in command of 1 SAS Regiment on Operation HOWARD in April 1945 were recognised with the award of a third bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Whilst he was originally recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), it is clear from the associated recommendation form that, at some point during the process, it was considered more appropriate to award him a third bar to the DSO. There is nothing on the form to explain why this change was made, but it is clear that the change was the result of the rigorous review of contemporaneous accounts by his chain of command, rather than an administrative error. Gallantry awards can be awarded posthumously, as has been the case since 1931 and, in all the years of WWII, in 1945 more were awarded posthumously than in any other. However, it is the long-standing policy of the Government that gallantry awards and other state honours cannot be awarded retrospectively more than five years after the service or actions in question. Revisiting decisions which were made in the past, with the benefit of hindsight, and applying contemporary views and sensitivities, is inappropriate, and we cannot know or understand all the circumstances that may have been taken into consideration at the time. This policy has been in place since the end of World War Two and was approved by King George VI. It has also been examined and approved by the Cabinet Office Honours and Decorations Committee on numerous occasions since and successive governments have seen fit not to change it. The Ministry of Defence has no reason to recommend that the Government should review this longstanding policy now, neither is there an intention, nor is it possible, to reconsider the award of a VC to Lt Col Mayne.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his European counterparts on (a) religiously motivated hate crimes and (b) hostility toward religious (i) figures and (ii) communities in Europe.

The UK condemns incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, wherever this occurs, and we denounce hatred on the basis of religion or belief. We are committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We continue to address FoRB violations and protect the right to FoRB through our strong relationships with European counterparts, multilateral engagement - including through the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and Article 18 Alliance - and through our bilateral work. Ministers and FCDO officials regularly raise cases of concern. The appointment of David Smith MP, as the Special Envoy for FoRB, is a clear signal of the UK's ongoing commitment to these efforts.

If he will take steps with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure adequate funding of hospices in Northern Ireland.

Healthcare, including hospice care, in Northern Ireland is devolved and, therefore, a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive, although we are always happy to learn from experiences in other countries, including within the United Kingdom, and share our own experiences with countries like Northern Ireland.In England, palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission as per the Health and Care Act 2022. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. The amount of funding each charitable hospice receives varies both within and between ICB areas. This will vary depending on the demand in that ICB area, but will also be dependent on the totality and type of palliative and end of life care provision from both National Health Service and non-NHS services, including charitable hospices, within each ICB area. We are supporting 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 pleased to confirm that the Government has released the first £25 million tranche of the £100 million of capital funding, with Hospice UK kindly allocating and distributing the money to hospices throughout England. An additional £75 million will be available from April. We, alongside key partners NHS England, will continue to proactively engage with our stakeholders, including the voluntary sector and independent hospices, on an ongoing basis, in order to understand the issues they face. Last month, I met the major palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, including Marie Curie, which have a hospice in Belfast, and long-term sector sustainability, within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan, was discussed at length.

What discussions he has had with his Northern Irish counterpart on the expansion of Northern Ireland's defence workforce.

Northern Ireland plays a vital role in the defence of the UK, as demonstrated by the £1.6 billion deal with Thales that the Prime Minister announced on 2 March 2025. The deal will see 200 new jobs created at Thales in Belfast, and hundreds more supported in the Thales supply chain across the UK. The Ministry of Defence has consulted with a wide range of stakeholders in Northern Ireland on the Government’s new Defence Industrial Strategy, which will seek to create high quality jobs across all the nations and regions of the UK.

Whether her Department holds data on the percentage change in uptake levels of pension credit between 2024 and 2025.

The latest Pension Credit take-up figures were published in October 2024. They showed that in financial year 2022/23, 65% of those entitled to Pension Credit claimed the benefit. This represents a 2 percentage point increase from financial year 2021/22, when the take-up rate was 63%. This data is available at: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2023 - GOV.UK and Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2022 - GOV.UK. Data on the percentage change between financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 will not be available until the end of 2026 when the 2024/25 publication is expected (release date to be confirmed).