Written questions by Robertson.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the availability of ADHD medications.

The Department has worked closely with industry stakeholders, and, following extensive collaborative efforts, previous issues have been resolved and all strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules, atomoxetine oral solution, guanfacine prolonged-release tablets and methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets and prolonged-release capsules are now available.We continue to support the NHS England Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) taskforce, which brings together expertise from the National Health Service, education, and justice sectors to coordinate a system-wide response to rising demand. In collaboration with NHS England’s national ADHD data improvement plan, we are developing future growth forecasts to support improved demand planning. These forecasts will be shared with industry to help ensure a more responsive and sustainable supply of ADHD medicines.In parallel, we are also engaging with new suppliers for ADHD medicines to increase supply capacity and resilience.The Department also maintains and regularly updates a list of currently available and unavailable ADHD products on the Specialist Pharmacy Service website. This resource supports prescribers and dispensers in making informed decisions with patients. The list is available at the following link:www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/prescribing-available-medicines-to-treat-adhd

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2025 to Question 67240 on Animals in Science Regulation Unit: Inspections, how many inspectors were in post in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit as of July 2025.

The Home Office is in the final stages of delivering a comprehensive programme of regulatory reform to strengthen the Animals in Science Regulation Unit and ensure robust compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). The number of Inspectors will increase from 17 at the end of 2023, to 22 by end of 2025. This expansion will improve the Regulator’s capability to provide oversight and conduct inspections through regulation which is proportionate, targeted, robust and effective.The number of inspectors in post in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit in July 2025 was 15 – the middle of the reform process. Numbers of inspectors are published in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit annual report.The Government is fully committed to continuous improvement in regulation and strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in science and innovation.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of brand-specific prescribing on the availability of medication at pharmacies.

The Department has made no assessment of the potential impact of brand-specific prescribing on the availability of medication at pharmacies.Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers must always satisfy themselves that the medicines that they consider appropriate for their patients can be safely prescribed and that they take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards.Prescribers can normally prescribe a medicine by brand or by the generic name, and in primary care, where a prescription specifies a branded medicine, that product must be dispensed, whereas for a generic prescription, any manufacturer’s product can be dispensed. For some medicines or some conditions, switching between manufacturers’ products carries additional clinical risks and guidance regarding the appropriateness of brand or generic prescribing for specific medicines or conditions might be issued.To assist with the management of supply issues with certain medicines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, clinical experts with input from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Department developed guidance on prescribing methylphenidate generically. This guidance was issued to provide prescribers with information on how to switch between methylphenidate products. This is a guidance document and as such there is no requirement for prescribers to follow it unless they deem it necessary and suitable for their patients.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) prescribers and (b) pharmacy contractors adhere to guidance on the prescribing of ADHD medication by generic name.

The Department has made no assessment of the potential impact of brand-specific prescribing on the availability of medication at pharmacies.Decisions about what medicines to prescribe are made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers must always satisfy themselves that the medicines that they consider appropriate for their patients can be safely prescribed and that they take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards.Prescribers can normally prescribe a medicine by brand or by the generic name, and in primary care, where a prescription specifies a branded medicine, that product must be dispensed, whereas for a generic prescription, any manufacturer’s product can be dispensed. For some medicines or some conditions, switching between manufacturers’ products carries additional clinical risks and guidance regarding the appropriateness of brand or generic prescribing for specific medicines or conditions might be issued.To assist with the management of supply issues with certain medicines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, clinical experts with input from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Department developed guidance on prescribing methylphenidate generically. This guidance was issued to provide prescribers with information on how to switch between methylphenidate products. This is a guidance document and as such there is no requirement for prescribers to follow it unless they deem it necessary and suitable for their patients.

What discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on supporting London bus drivers during periods of industrial action on the London Underground.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London, this includes bus services operating in the Capital. While the Department works closely with Transport for London on a range of issues, the operation of the bus network is for Transport for London and its contractors.

What discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on the average annual salaries of (a) London Underground drivers and (b) London bus drivers.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London. They are solely responsible for operational decisions around salaries for London Underground drivers. Similarly, decisions around salaries for London bus drivers are for Transport for London and its contractors.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of tube strikes on (a) passenger load, (b) stress levels and (c) working conditions for bus drivers in London.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL, and any impacts of strike action on London’s transport network are for TfL to manage. Nevertheless, the Government understands this is disappointing for passengers and businesses and we continue to encourage all sides to work together to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible. Likewise, TfL and their contractors are responsible for operational and welfare decisions regarding bus services and bus drivers operating in the Capital.

What recent discussions her Department has had with Transport for London on the (a) welfare and (b) remuneration of bus drivers in London.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL, and any impacts of strike action on London’s transport network are for TfL to manage. Nevertheless, the Government understands this is disappointing for passengers and businesses and we continue to encourage all sides to work together to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible. Likewise, TfL and their contractors are responsible for operational and welfare decisions regarding bus services and bus drivers operating in the Capital.

How many inquests are outstanding in the Isle of Wight Coroner’s Office; and how long they have been waiting to be heard.

Real-time information is not centrally collated on the total number of uncompleted coroner investigations in individual coroner areas, and their length.However, the number of open inquests at 31 December 2024 is published in the Coroner Statistics (Coroners statistics 2024 - GOV.UK). The data for each coroner area can be found in the CSV tables published alongside the statistical report.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department has provided to small and medium-sized food producers to help manage the costs of the extended producer responsibility scheme.

The Government has provided a comprehensive package of support to small and medium-sized food producers to manage costs under the extended producer responsibility for packaging scheme (pEPR). A de-minimis threshold exempts producers with turnover below £2 million and placing less than 50 tonnes of packaging on the market from cost obligations, thereby shielding around 70 per cent of small producers from pEPR fees. Practical support is delivered via a monthly Business Readiness Forum, sector-specific events and a regular newsletter, while collaboration with the Environment Agency also provides guidance and support. The Department continues to encourage small producers to reduce packaging use and adopt reusable systems to further lower pEPR-related costs.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on food price inflation.

HM Treasury does not produce forecasts of the UK economy. Forecasting the economy, including the impact of Government policy decisions, is the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR does not publish estimates of the impact of policy decisions, including the Extended Producer Responsibility, (EPR) on levels of food inflation. There is an impact assessment of the EPR system published, where the system’s impact on inflation can be found. It estimates the impact on headline CPI at around 0.07% and does not provide a separate estimate for food inflation The Bank of England’s August Monetary Policy Report notes that, under full pass-through of costs, packaging EPR would raise the level of food prices by a little over 0.5%.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a breakdown of responses to the Hampshire and Solent devolution consultation by local authority area.

The government published a detailed response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes number of responses and detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.

Communities and Local Government, whether responses from Isle of Wight Council to the Hampshire and Solent devolution consultation will be published separately to general consultation responses.

The government published a detailed response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes number of responses and detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.

Communities and Local Government, how many responses were received to the Hampshire and Solent devolution consultation.

The government published a detailed response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes number of responses and detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.

Communities and Local Government, how many responses to the Hampshire and Solent devolution consultation were submitted by (a) residents and (b) organisations based on the Isle of Wight.

The government published a detailed response to the Hampshire and the Solent Devolution Consultation on 17 July which is available on gov.uk here. This includes number of responses and detailed breakdowns by several categories of respondents.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is monitoring the potential impact of extended producer responsibility scheme costs on food and drink prices in the (a) on-trade and (b) off-trade market.

In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the packaging extended producer responsibility scheme (pEPR). The impact assessment sets out the estimated inflationary impact of pEPR on the UK economy as a whole. The central estimate for the increase in the Consumer Price Index is 0.29%. This is based on an assumption that producers pass on 85% of the costs incurred through pEPR. The pEPR impact assessment does not split out impacts on individual sectors.

Media and Sport, how she plans to allocate dormant assets to youth organisations.

On the 2nd June, DCMS Secretary of State announced that £132.5 million of dormant assets funding will be allocated to support the provision of services, facilities or opportunities to meet the needs of young people. This will increase disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities in the arts, culture, sports and wider youth services, aimed at improving wellbeing and employability, and be delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund.It also includes the £15 million ‘Building Futures’ programme announced under the previous government in September 2023, and delivered by Youth Futures Foundation.Further details, including how the funding will be allocated, will be shared in due course.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to encourage people into the youth work profession.

This Government recognises the vital role that youth workers play in the lives of young people. In 2024-25, we provided over £600,000 of bursary funding to support over 400 individuals from underrepresented groups to gain a youth work qualification. In a written ministerial statement on 15 May 2025, the Secretary of State announced DCMS's commitment to provide over £3 million in the financial year 2025-26 to increase youth sector and workforce capacity, this includes a further £250,000 in bursary funding to support up to 160 individuals to gain a qualification, and funding to the National Youth Agency to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum to ensure a sufficiently qualified and trained youth work workforce.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the introduction of combined authorities on youth services funding.

We are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the introduction of combined authorities and the potential impact this will have on youth services. Local Authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people in their area. DCMS published the updated, more fit-for-purpose guidance in 2023 to support local authorities to better understand what their existing duty is and how to deliver it. We have launched the Local Youth Transformation Pilot which will test a new way of working and supporting local authorities to deliver for young people.

Media and Sport, whether funding for the National Citizenship Service will be redistributed to other youth services.

This Government recognises the transformative role that youth services play in young people’s lives. We know that being part of supportive communities and having access to youth provision can improve a young person’s wellbeing, health and personal development.The Secretary of State previously committed to set out this department's 2025-26 funding for youth programmes - an investment of over £145 million - to provide stability to the youth sector and ensure young people can continue to access opportunities, as we transition to the new National Youth Strategy.The Government will publish the National Youth Strategy this Autumn. The detail and scale of the funding commitments included in the strategy will be shaped by engagement with young people and the youth sector and will be announced in due course.