Written questions by Fenton-Glynn.

How many and what proportion of students in receipt of Disabled Students' Allowance spelling and grammar assistive technology packages were required to undertake a needs assessment in each year since 2015.

The average waiting time for a needs assessment from the date of application to the date of the assessment being carried out comprises the time taken by the Student Loans Company (SLC) to process an application and then the time taken by the contracted suppliers Capita and Study Tech to process the needs assessment. The time taken by SLC to process an application is published online at GOV.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sfe-current-application-timescales. The latest weekly update, for February, shows that the average time taken for SLC to process an application, shown under the heading “a DSA application”, is currently 7 working days. The average time taken for the contracted suppliers to offer and complete the needs assessment is currently 28 days. Each supplier has been set two individual KPIs to cover the offer and completion of the needs assessment. These are KPI 1, “Booking of a Needs Assessment Appointment (Minimum of 95% of offer of needs assessment appointment made within 2 working days of referral of customer by SLC)” and KPI 2, “Completion of a Needs Assessment (Minimum of 95% of needs assessment interviews should be offered and completed within 7 working days of successful contact (excluding those where the customer has requested an alternative date))”. Following completion of the needs assessment, both suppliers are required to return the needs assessment report to SLC for review within 5 workings days, as stipulated by KPI 3, “Minimum of 95% of NARs made available to SLC within 5 working days of when needs assessments undertaken (excluding those where the customer has requested to review the needs assessment report)”. It is currently taking suppliers on average 14 days to return the needs assessment report to SLC. The needs assessment is then reviewed by SLC, following which confirmation of entitlement is communicated to the customer on the DSA2 letter. It is currently taking SLC 10 working days to complete this stage of the journey, as noted on the GOV.UK page under the heading “a Needs Assessment report”. Information on the suppliers’ performance against their KPIs is published online on a quarterly basis here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/ds. The next update will be published at the end of February. All students applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) are required to have a needs assessment. This means that assistive software for spelling and grammar support has only been awarded when recommended in a needs assessment and agreed by SLC. Data on the number of students awarded specific assistive software for spelling and grammar support through DSA for the time periods specified in the question is not immediately available, but in the 2023 calendar year this was around 36,000. A list of the assistive software products for spelling and grammar support that have previously been awarded through DSA is published online here: https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/exchange-blog/2017/april/dsa-product-review-process/. This list is for administrative purposes only. Products that are not on the list can also be funded through DSA if they are recommended by a needs assessor and agreed by SLC. Overall, agreed spend on spelling and grammar software through DSA is in the region of £4.5 million to £5 million annually. The total spend on each software product within that varies, as it depends on which products are recommended by needs assessors as being most suitable for students’ needs. As an illustration, in the 2023 calendar year, around 80% of total spend was on non-specialist grammar and spelling products, with Grammarly Premium making up 53% of total spend and Global Autocorrect 24% of total spend. Around 20% of total spend was on specialist grammar and spelling products for specific subject areas such as medicine and law, with Medincle products making up 16% of total spend.

How many patients were registered at each (a) main practice and (b) branch surgery in Calder Valley constituency as of December 2024.

The following table shows the number of registered patients at each main general practice in the Calder Valley constituency as of December 2024:Practice nameTotal registered patientsRydings Hall Surgery7,873Hebden Bridge Group Practice18,541Todmorden Group Practice16,185Brig Royd Surgery10,677The Northolme Practice16,055Stainland Road Medical Centre11,562Church Lane Surgery11,106Rastrick Health Centre5,308Bankfield Surgery11,318Longroyde Surgery5,006Source: General Practice Workforce, 30 December 2024, published by NHS England.Notes:Practices in the Calder Valley constituency were identified using the practice postcode and the National Statistics Postcode Lookup.The data does not include the number of registered patients at branch practices as they will instead be registered under the main practice. The Department does not hold data regarding how many patients were registered at main and branch practices in the Calder Valley constituency for 2010.

How many FTE GPs at each (a) main practice and (b) branch surgery in Calder Valley constituency were (i) fully qualified and (ii) in training grades in May 2010.

The following table shows the number of fully qualified and training grade Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) general practitioners (GPs) at each main practice in the Calder Valley constituency, in December 2024:Practice nameFully qualified FTE GPsTraining grade FTE GPsRydings Hall Surgery4.31.9Hebden Bridge Group Practice10.42.1Todmorden Group Practice7.00.5Brig Royd Surgery6.52.1The Northolme Practice6.04.9Stainland Road Medical Centre5.64.1Church Lane Surgery3.93.6Rastrick Health Centre2.04.3Bankfield Surgery4.21.5Longroyde Surgery2.20.0Notes:practices in Calder Valley were identified using the practice postcode and the National Statistics Postcode Lookup;data does not include estimates for practices that did not provide fully valid staff records;figures shown do not include staff working in prisons, army bases, educational establishments, specialist care centres, including drug rehabilitation centres, walk-in centres, and other alternative settings outside of traditional GPs, such as urgent treatment centres and minor injury units; andFTE refers to the proportion of full time contracted hours that the post holder is contracted to work, so 1 would indicate they work a full set of 37.5 hours, and 0.5 that they worked half that time. In training grade FTE GP contracts, 1 FTE equals 40 hours, and in this table, these FTEs have been converted to the standard Workforce Minimum Data Set measure of 1 FTE equalling 37.5 hours for consistency.The data requested is not broken down by branch surgery, and the data for 2010 is not held centrally.

How many patients were registered at each (a) main practice and (b) branch surgery in Calder Valley constituency as of May 2010.

The following table shows the number of registered patients at each main general practice in the Calder Valley constituency as of December 2024:Practice nameTotal registered patientsRydings Hall Surgery7,873Hebden Bridge Group Practice18,541Todmorden Group Practice16,185Brig Royd Surgery10,677The Northolme Practice16,055Stainland Road Medical Centre11,562Church Lane Surgery11,106Rastrick Health Centre5,308Bankfield Surgery11,318Longroyde Surgery5,006Source: General Practice Workforce, 30 December 2024, published by NHS England.Notes:Practices in the Calder Valley constituency were identified using the practice postcode and the National Statistics Postcode Lookup.The data does not include the number of registered patients at branch practices as they will instead be registered under the main practice. The Department does not hold data regarding how many patients were registered at main and branch practices in the Calder Valley constituency for 2010.

How many FTE GPs at each (a) main practice and (b) branch surgery in Calder Valley constituency were (i) fully qualified and (ii) in training grades in December 2024.

The following table shows the number of fully qualified and training grade Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) general practitioners (GPs) at each main practice in the Calder Valley constituency, in December 2024:Practice nameFully qualified FTE GPsTraining grade FTE GPsRydings Hall Surgery4.31.9Hebden Bridge Group Practice10.42.1Todmorden Group Practice7.00.5Brig Royd Surgery6.52.1The Northolme Practice6.04.9Stainland Road Medical Centre5.64.1Church Lane Surgery3.93.6Rastrick Health Centre2.04.3Bankfield Surgery4.21.5Longroyde Surgery2.20.0Notes:practices in Calder Valley were identified using the practice postcode and the National Statistics Postcode Lookup;data does not include estimates for practices that did not provide fully valid staff records;figures shown do not include staff working in prisons, army bases, educational establishments, specialist care centres, including drug rehabilitation centres, walk-in centres, and other alternative settings outside of traditional GPs, such as urgent treatment centres and minor injury units; andFTE refers to the proportion of full time contracted hours that the post holder is contracted to work, so 1 would indicate they work a full set of 37.5 hours, and 0.5 that they worked half that time. In training grade FTE GP contracts, 1 FTE equals 40 hours, and in this table, these FTEs have been converted to the standard Workforce Minimum Data Set measure of 1 FTE equalling 37.5 hours for consistency.The data requested is not broken down by branch surgery, and the data for 2010 is not held centrally.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of Regulation 9A of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 in protecting the physical health of vulnerable people in health and social care settings during pandemic disease outbreaks.

The Care Quality Commission Fundamental Standard on Visiting and Accompanying (Regulation 9A) came into force on 6 April 2024 to strengthen the requirements for health and care providers to facilitate visiting, including during pandemics, as long as it is safe to do so. Visiting is essential to supporting the health and wellbeing of patients and residents, and enabling loved ones to provide support and advocacy.We continue to monitor the situation regarding visiting through Capacity Tracker data and intelligence from external partners. We will conduct a review of Regulation 9A from April 2025, 12 months on from the legislation coming into force, to assess whether the legislation has been effective in addressing concerns about visiting in health and care settings. In conducting the review, we will draw on a wide range of evidence, including data, intelligence, and the perspectives of people and organisations with an interest.Depending on the outcome of the review we will consider whether further action is needed.

What discussions he has had on Regulation 9A of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 with (a) Non-Departmental Public Bodies of his Department, (b) Government Executive Agencies, (c) Care Rights UK and (d) other external stakeholders.

The Care Quality Commission Fundamental Standard on Visiting and Accompanying (Regulation 9A) came into force on 6 April 2024 to strengthen the requirements for health and care providers to facilitate visiting, including during pandemics, as long as it is safe to do so. Visiting is essential to supporting the health and wellbeing of patients and residents, and enabling loved ones to provide support and advocacy.We continue to monitor the situation regarding visiting through Capacity Tracker data and intelligence from external partners. We will conduct a review of Regulation 9A from April 2025, 12 months on from the legislation coming into force, to assess whether the legislation has been effective in addressing concerns about visiting in health and care settings. In conducting the review, we will draw on a wide range of evidence, including data, intelligence, and the perspectives of people and organisations with an interest.Depending on the outcome of the review we will consider whether further action is needed.

What assessment he has made of the potential risk of introducing a legal right for vulnerable people in health and social care settings to be visited by close family members during (a) pandemic disease outbreaks and (b) other healthcare crises.

The Care Quality Commission Fundamental Standard on Visiting and Accompanying (Regulation 9A) came into force on 6 April 2024 to strengthen the requirements for health and care providers to facilitate visiting, including during pandemics, as long as it is safe to do so. Visiting is essential to supporting the health and wellbeing of patients and residents, and enabling loved ones to provide support and advocacy.We continue to monitor the situation regarding visiting through Capacity Tracker data and intelligence from external partners. We will conduct a review of Regulation 9A from April 2025, 12 months on from the legislation coming into force, to assess whether the legislation has been effective in addressing concerns about visiting in health and care settings. In conducting the review, we will draw on a wide range of evidence, including data, intelligence, and the perspectives of people and organisations with an interest.Depending on the outcome of the review we will consider whether further action is needed.

Whether his Department plans to review the Care Quality Commission Fundamental Standard on Visiting and Accompanying to include (a) data on and (b) experiences of family and friends visiting vulnerable people in health and social care settings.

The Care Quality Commission Fundamental Standard on Visiting and Accompanying (Regulation 9A) came into force on 6 April 2024 to strengthen the requirements for health and care providers to facilitate visiting, including during pandemics, as long as it is safe to do so. Visiting is essential to supporting the health and wellbeing of patients and residents, and enabling loved ones to provide support and advocacy.We continue to monitor the situation regarding visiting through Capacity Tracker data and intelligence from external partners. We will conduct a review of Regulation 9A from April 2025, 12 months on from the legislation coming into force, to assess whether the legislation has been effective in addressing concerns about visiting in health and care settings. In conducting the review, we will draw on a wide range of evidence, including data, intelligence, and the perspectives of people and organisations with an interest.Depending on the outcome of the review we will consider whether further action is needed.

Whether his Department plans to strengthen the visitation rights of family and friends of vulnerable people in health and social care settings to provide (a) emotional support and (b) advocacy.

The Care Quality Commission Fundamental Standard on Visiting and Accompanying (Regulation 9A) came into force on 6 April 2024 to strengthen the requirements for health and care providers to facilitate visiting, including during pandemics, as long as it is safe to do so. Visiting is essential to supporting the health and wellbeing of patients and residents, and enabling loved ones to provide support and advocacy.We continue to monitor the situation regarding visiting through Capacity Tracker data and intelligence from external partners. We will conduct a review of Regulation 9A from April 2025, 12 months on from the legislation coming into force, to assess whether the legislation has been effective in addressing concerns about visiting in health and care settings. In conducting the review, we will draw on a wide range of evidence, including data, intelligence, and the perspectives of people and organisations with an interest.Depending on the outcome of the review we will consider whether further action is needed.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of Regulation 9A of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 in protecting the mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable people in health and social care settings during pandemic disease outbreaks.

The Care Quality Commission Fundamental Standard on Visiting and Accompanying (Regulation 9A) came into force on 6 April 2024 to strengthen the requirements for health and care providers to facilitate visiting, including during pandemics, as long as it is safe to do so. Visiting is essential to supporting the health and wellbeing of patients and residents, and enabling loved ones to provide support and advocacy.We continue to monitor the situation regarding visiting through Capacity Tracker data and intelligence from external partners. We will conduct a review of Regulation 9A from April 2025, 12 months on from the legislation coming into force, to assess whether the legislation has been effective in addressing concerns about visiting in health and care settings. In conducting the review, we will draw on a wide range of evidence, including data, intelligence, and the perspectives of people and organisations with an interest.Depending on the outcome of the review we will consider whether further action is needed.

How many agricultural crime offences in Calderdale District resulted in suspects being (a) charged, (b) convicted and (c) not convicted in each year since 2010.

The Government recognises the impact that crimes of theft have on all our communities, whether rural or urban, and we are committed to tackling the problem.There is no specific legal definition of agricultural crime and therefore data on it cannot be collated. However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) holds data on the number of prosecutions where the principal offence category was theft and handling stolen goods.It is important to note that CPS principal offence category data is only extracted from the Case Management Information System once the prosecution case has been finalised, this means that the following offence data only relates to completed prosecutions and not any ongoing prosecutions.From 2010 to date, the CPS has prosecuted 57,641 cases with a theft and handling stolen goods principal offence category originating from the West Yorkshire police force area. Of these, 52,286 resulted in a conviction and only 5,355 resulted in an acquittal.

How many offences involving agricultural crime resulted in (a) charges or summons, (b) evidential difficulties outcomes and (c) investigations completed but no suspects identified. in each year since 2010.

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities. That is why this Government is committed to reducing crime in rural areas.The National Police Chiefs’ Council is expected to publish its next four-year Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy in April. We fully support the aims of the Strategy and are working closely with the NPCC, including to ensure wider Government priorities are reflected.We are committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and support its intentions to tackle the theft and re-sale of high-value equipment, particularly for use in an agricultural setting.The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of offences and their investigative outcomes recorded by the police in England and Wales on a quarterly basis. However, offences involving agricultural crime cannot be separately identified from the data held centrally.NFU Mutual estimated that the total cost of agricultural vehicle theft claims in 2023 was £10.7 million. This estimate only includes costs of agricultural vehicle thefts where a subsequent claim was made through NFU Mutual.

What discussions she has had on updating the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Rural Crime Strategy to better prevent farm machinery, plant and vehicle theft when the current strategy expires in 2025.

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities. That is why this Government is committed to reducing crime in rural areas.The National Police Chiefs’ Council is expected to publish its next four-year Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy in April. We fully support the aims of the Strategy and are working closely with the NPCC, including to ensure wider Government priorities are reflected.We are committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and support its intentions to tackle the theft and re-sale of high-value equipment, particularly for use in an agricultural setting.The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of offences and their investigative outcomes recorded by the police in England and Wales on a quarterly basis. However, offences involving agricultural crime cannot be separately identified from the data held centrally.NFU Mutual estimated that the total cost of agricultural vehicle theft claims in 2023 was £10.7 million. This estimate only includes costs of agricultural vehicle thefts where a subsequent claim was made through NFU Mutual.

How many offences involving agricultural crime were investigated in each year since 2010 in (a) England and Wales, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) Calderdale District.

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities. That is why this Government is committed to reducing crime in rural areas.The National Police Chiefs’ Council is expected to publish its next four-year Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy in April. We fully support the aims of the Strategy and are working closely with the NPCC, including to ensure wider Government priorities are reflected.We are committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and support its intentions to tackle the theft and re-sale of high-value equipment, particularly for use in an agricultural setting.The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of offences and their investigative outcomes recorded by the police in England and Wales on a quarterly basis. However, offences involving agricultural crime cannot be separately identified from the data held centrally.NFU Mutual estimated that the total cost of agricultural vehicle theft claims in 2023 was £10.7 million. This estimate only includes costs of agricultural vehicle thefts where a subsequent claim was made through NFU Mutual.

What estimate her Department has made of the costs associated with the theft of agricultural vehicles in each year since 2010 in (a) cash terms and (b) 2024-25 real terms prices.

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities. That is why this Government is committed to reducing crime in rural areas.The National Police Chiefs’ Council is expected to publish its next four-year Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy in April. We fully support the aims of the Strategy and are working closely with the NPCC, including to ensure wider Government priorities are reflected.We are committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and support its intentions to tackle the theft and re-sale of high-value equipment, particularly for use in an agricultural setting.The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of offences and their investigative outcomes recorded by the police in England and Wales on a quarterly basis. However, offences involving agricultural crime cannot be separately identified from the data held centrally.NFU Mutual estimated that the total cost of agricultural vehicle theft claims in 2023 was £10.7 million. This estimate only includes costs of agricultural vehicle thefts where a subsequent claim was made through NFU Mutual.

How many Departments have social media accounts by social media platform; and how much each Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years.

Departmental social media accounts and subscriptions are not centrally managed. As with any media planning approach, channels are selected based on their ability to engage with relevant audiences in alignment with the government's strategic objectives. The Cabinet Office is consistently tracking and reviewing spending on communications to ensure efficiency and that the appropriate strategy is implemented. We will not spend more than is needed to be effective and ensure best value for the taxpayer.

If she will make an estimate of the total value of unused NHS estate per region.

NHS England collects data on the potential value of surplus land on a national, not regional, basis.Quarter 4 of the National Health Service’s 2023/24 annual report on surplus land showed that 128 plots of land were surplus, with the landowner actively seeking to dispose of the plot, whilst 199 plots were classified as potentially surplus, meaning the plot could be declared surplus by the landowner subject to identified issues or constraints being resolved. The estimated sales receipt for surplus or potentially surplus land stands at £830 million, but the investment required to unlock this potential would be £1.8 billion. Further details on NHS surplus land are available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-surplus-land/quarter-4-2023-24.I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 October 2024 to Question 8599 for the information held on the cost of unoccupied whole sites. NHS England’s definition of unoccupied sites covers empty spaces, those not in use, and those closed awaiting disposal, and includes hospitals, health centres, mental health hubs, stores and warehouses, and administrative buildings.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of maintaining unused NHS (a) buildings, (b) parts of buildings and (c) other spaces in each of the last five years.

The following table shows data that NHS England has collected and published on occupancy costs, the total expenses associated with occupying and operating buildings, including finance costs, hard and soft facilities management costs, and other management costs, for unoccupied National Health Service sites since 2021/22:Financial YearNumber of Sites UnoccupiedOccupancy Cost Incurred2021/2218£2,740,5532022/2323£3,468,5362023/2427£4,350,825Source: NHS EnglandNote: NHS England does not hold pre-2021 data and is unable to allocate occupancy costs to parts of unused buildings or spaces. As such the above data represents only unoccupied whole sites. The NHS ENgland definition of unoccupied sites covers empty spaces, those not in use, and those closed awaiting disposal, and includes hospitals, health centres, mental health hubs, stores and warehouses, and administrative buildings.The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future. This means not only upgrading but better utilising infrastructure across the entire NHS estate to reduce vacant or unused spaces and their associated costs over time.