Written questions by Shannon.

How many women have been newly prescribed hormone replacement therapy in the last 12 months.

The NHS Business Services Authority does not hold data relating to the number of women who have been newly prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products in the last 12 months. However, the available data does indicate that the estimated number of identified patients who were prescribed at least one HRT drug item in England increased by 12%, from 2.3 million in 2022/23 to 2.6 million in 2023/24. Further information is available at the following link:https://nhsbsa-opendata.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/hrt/hrt_June_2024_v001.html

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of proposals to end funding of IsaPD.

We have made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service based on an assessment of their costs and benefits.The NICE is currently updating its existing guidance on the use of isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, following a period of managed access via the Cancer Drugs Fund.The NICE was unable to recommend isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone as a clinically and cost-effective use of NHS resources in its final draft guidance published on 20 June. The NICE received two appeals against its draft recommendation which were heard by an independent panel. The panel has upheld the appeal on some grounds and the NICE’s appraisal committee will meet to consider the appeal panel’s findings.Any changes to the NICE’s recommendations for isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone are not intended to affect people who started treatment during the period of managed access, who will continue to have access to isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone until they and their clinician consider it appropriate to stop.It is right that the NICE makes its decisions at arm’s length of the Government and in line with its carefully developed methods and processes. As such, it would not be appropriate for the Department to intervene in the NICE’s decision-making.

Whether he is taking steps to help domestic energy customers to (a) reinsulate their homes and (b) replace their boilers.

The Government’s Warm Homes Plan will support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other home improvements to cut bills. We will set out full details in due course. Targeted schemes currently in place to deliver energy efficiency measures to low income and fuel poor households include the Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation Scheme. The Boiler Upgrade scheme offers grant support to consumers wishing to replace their fossil fuel heating system. We have also announced a new Warm Homes: Local Grant and Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, with delivery expected in 2025. Support will be targeted at low-income homeowners, social housing and private tenants in England with energy performance upgrades and cleaner heating.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland on tackling fly tipping.

I have not discussed fly-tipping specifically with the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland. Environmental policy making, including with respect to fly-tipping, is devolved. The Secretary of State chaired the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in September 2024 which the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs attended. The group discussed reducing waste and pollution.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to encourage equal (a) pay and (b) opportunity in STEM jobs.

We are committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination. The plan to ‘Make Work Pay’ will transform the lives of working women, including by strengthening rights to equal pay and providing protections from maternity and menopause discrimination and sexual harassment.With regard to STEM opportunities, we will continue to support learners who wish to have a career in STEM through our technical education offer with a range of high quality qualifications and apprenticeship opportunities at all levels. We have also looked specifically at support for those returning to the sector after a break for caring, and will feed this learning into wider work on breaking down barriers for women in the workplace.

What steps she is taking with the devolved Administrations to help increase awareness among pensioners of benefits they may be entitled to.

This Government remains completely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. DWP uses a wide range of channels including information on Gov.uk, in letters, leaflets and via telephone to communicate information to older people about pensioner benefits, including how to claim, and signposts to devolved provision where appropriate. Where there is devolved provision for pensioner support, the Devolved Governments provide their own information and communications.

What steps she is taking to ensure the accessibility of PIP assessment centres for people with disabilities.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) takes its responsibility to ensure all individuals have access to our services without disadvantage very seriously. We have a range of provisions in place to ensure assessments are accessible to all individuals, in line with the standards under the Equality Act 2010.At all stages of the claim, individuals are asked to advise of any individual restrictions which could prevent / limit their ability to attend an assessment centre. Assessment suppliers will accommodate these or, if more suitable, make alternative arrangements for the individual to visit a different assessment centre or be assessed via a different assessment channel. Our agreement with the suppliers regarding accessibility of the assessment centres is detailed in Annex 2 - Design Standards of part 3 of the Functional Assessment Service contracts. This is available on GOV.UK contracts finder - Functional Assessment Service (FAS) 2024 - Contracts Finder.

Whether he has had discussions with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland on improving health outcomes for people on waiting lists for the treatment of endometriosis.

It is unacceptable that patients across the United Kingdom continue to wait lengthy periods for treatment, including for endometriosis. Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for the Government. We recognise the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the significant impact it has on their lives, their relationships and their participation in education and the workforce.Departmental officials have met and continue to meet with counterparts across the four nations to share learning across a range of women’s health policy issues, including menstrual health. Together we aim to deliver faster, improved, and more equitable health outcomes for all patients across the UK, and to strengthen our collaboration in achieving these common goals.The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has identified challenges within gynaecology care, including for endometriosis and commissioned NHS England's Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme to conduct an independent review of gynaecology waiting lists in Northern Ireland, published in January 2024. The report set out a number of recommendations and is available at the following link:https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/gynaecology-girft-report-january-2024

What assessment he has made of implications for his policies of the level of methane emissions in (a) 2010 and (b) 2024; and what steps he is taking to reduce those emissions to help the UK meet its 2030 net zero targets.

The UK has committed to the fastest reduction in GHG emissions between 1990 and 2030 of any major economy. Between 1990 and 2022, UK methane emissions dropped by 62%. As part of the Clean Energy Superpower Mission, we are leading the way towards rapid national and global action to reduce short-lived climate pollutants, including methane, and are taking domestic action across the waste, agriculture and energy sectors.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Malaysian counterpart on reports of persecution of (a) Shia and (b) Ahmadiyya Muslims in that country.

The Foreign Secretary has not had discussions with his counterpart on reports of persecution of Shia and Ahmadiyya Muslims in Malaysia.However, the UK is committed to promoting and defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). The UK High Commission in Malaysia raises concerns about limitations on freedom of expression and other human rights issues, including freedom of religion, on a regular basis, both publicly and in private. We also work through the UN to promote and protect these rights, including raising country specific issues at the UN Human Rights Council.

Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on steps to increase awareness among young people of potential education and training opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

The Department understands that more needs to be done to improve awareness and promote opportunities for young people in the clean energy sector, as these jobs can offer secure, well-paid careers. We are working closely with the Department for Education, Skills England, as well as industry and Trade Unions, to explore what can be done to improve this to encourage the uptake of skills and training provisions on offer for young people.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports that the sport of shooting has not been selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The sporting programme for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, and the recent decision not to include shooting as a sport, is a matter for the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Scotland.Shooting has been an optional sport for Commonwealth Games since a decision made at the 2015 Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly, and its status as such is not, therefore, a decision for the UK Government.In the last year, 315,700 people have participated in shooting activities, and Government continues to support the success of the sport. Sport England have funded British Shooting £1,197,420 from 2022-27 as part of their system partner investment. UK Sport will invest over £8m in supporting Olympic and Paralympic shooting 2021-2025, and will be making future funding decisions in due course.

What his Department's policy is on legalising medicinal cannabis.

Since 1 November 2018, there has been a legal route for cannabis-based products for medicinal use to be prescribed by doctors on the General Medical Council specialist register, in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. The Government has no current plans to change this.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the implementation of sustainable drainage systems to reduce flood risk.

The Government is committed to improving the implementation of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to help mitigate flood risk and reduce the quantity of water that ends up in our drainage infrastructure. SuDS also provide filtration, amenity and biodiversity benefits. The current implementation route for SuDS in new developments is via the National Planning Policy Framework, see paragraphs 173 and 175. We believe that stronger SuDS outcomes can be achieved through either improving the current planning led approach using powers now available or commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. It is also important to ensure that appropriate adoption and maintenance arrangements are in place. To help inform thinking, the Government asked a question on flooding in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) consultation that concluded in September 2024. A response will be published by the end of the year.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the conviction rate for the offence of stalking; and if she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on increasing the maximum sentence for that offence.

This Government is committed to tackling stalking as part of our ambitious mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.Since 2017, there have been yearly increases in the number of stalking offences charged which proceeded to a first hearing in the magistrates’ courts. In 2018/19, there were 2,208 such cases, and in 2023/24, they more than doubled to 5,859. However, more can be done.In April 2023, the CPS amended prosecutorial guidance on stalking which has assisted prosecutors to better select the appropriate charge.Earlier this month and in partnership with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, I welcomed the CPS’ Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan, which aims to improve the way that cases are prosecuted and handled. Stalking features prominently in the plan, which applies to all forms of stalking, and is captured within high-harm, high-risk repeat offending.The Government has also delivered on a manifesto commitment to launch an Independent Review of Sentencing, chaired by former Lord Chancellor David Gauke, to bring sentencing up to date and ensure the framework is consistent and clear to victims and the public.

How many convictions for burglary there were in the last 12 months.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions for a wide range of offences, including burglary up to and including June 2024 in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.This can be accessed by navigating to the ‘Prosecutions and Convictions’ tab and using the Offence filter to search ‘Burglary’ in the Outcomes by Offence Tool.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Northern Ireland Water on water quality in Northern Ireland.

Water is a devolved policy area and so engagement with Northern Ireland Water is a matter for Northern Ireland's Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of targeted sanctions against violators of freedom of religion or belief in Iran.

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all in Iran, and beyond. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We condemn Iran's restrictions against FoRB and we are committed to holding Iran to account for its attacks against religious minorities, including at the UN Third Committee.We maintain sanctions on senior Iranian decision makers responsible for human rights violations and will continue to respond to Iran's repression of fundamental rights, including through the potential use of further sanctions.

Whether he plans to review the funding model for hospices for children and young people as part of the 10-Year Health Plan for the NHS.

Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing services within the National Health Service. The amount of funding charitable hospices receive varies by integrated care board (ICB) area, and will, in part, be dependent on the breadth of palliative and end of life care provision within each ICB catchment area.We have committed to develop a 10-year plan to deliver an NHS fit for the future. We will carefully be considering policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our stakeholders, including those in the hospice sector, as we develop the plan.The engagement process has been launched, and I would encourage the palliative and end of life care sector, including hospice providers, service users and their families, to engage with that process to allow us to fully understand what is not working as well as it should and what the potential solutions are. More information is available at the following link:https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/

What data his Department holds on the number of people diagnosed with sleep apnea in the last 12 months.

The Department can provide the number of hospital admissions where there was a diagnosis of sleep apnoea, although it should be noted that there are likely to be other cases where the condition was diagnosed in a primary care setting. The number of hospital admissions for 2023/24 where there was a diagnosis of sleep apnoea was 21,042. Please also note that this data is a count of episodes, not patients, as a patient may have had more than one admission within the requested timeframe.