Written questions by Newbury.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the recycling rates of plastic film.

Yes, Defra is supporting the multi-million-pound FlexCollect project, launched in May 2022, funding local authorities to roll out kerbside plastic film collection trials. This will help gather insights to support effective collections more widely ahead of the requirement to collect plastic film from workplaces and households under Simpler Recycling. Kerbside plastic film collections from workplaces and households will be introduced by 31 March 2027 in England. Defra is only directly responsible for delivering this in England via Simpler Recycling. The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are working on their own plans to introduce plastic film collections under extended producer responsibility for packaging.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support the growth of co-operatives.

The Government recognises the important contribution of co-operatives to the economy, serving local communities around the UK and ensuring the UK has a diverse business sector with their model of shared ownership. There are currently 7,370 co-operatives operating across the UK, with an annual income of £42.7 billion. The Government is committed to unlocking the full potential of the mutual and co-operative sector to support inclusive growth and will work with the sector to ensure it is fully supported to grow. To help ensure co-operatives legislation is meeting the needs of co-operative and community benefit societies, the Government is funding the Law Commission’s independent review of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. This will consider ways to update and modernise the Act.

Whether his Department plans to introduce (a) low- and (b) no-cost finance for domestic energy efficiency measures in its Warm Homes Plan.

The Government recognises the important role private finance can play in helping us achieve our decarbonisation ambitions.As part of the Warm Homes Plan, officials are exploring the role of incentives and private finance to support homeowners with the upfront costs of energy efficiency improvements and low carbon heating. These are upgrades that will transform homes across the country by making them cleaner and cheaper to run. Officials are also exploring options for working with the private sector, including banks and building societies. We will set out further detail on delivering our Warm Homes Plan in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce pre-consumer plastic waste in supply chains.

The Secretary of State has convened a Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy and asked his Department to work with experts from industry, academia, civil society, and the civil service to develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strategy will include a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the Government will make in particular sectors and value chains; supporting Government’s Missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower. We will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what further interventions may be needed in the plastics sector as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy. It’s also worth noting that there is a legal obligation for waste producers to manage their waste, including plastic waste, in accordance with the Waste Hierarchy. The Hierarchy puts waste management options into priority order: prevention, reuse, recycle, recovery (including energy recovery), disposal (landfill). Landfill must always be a last resort.

What assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, of the potential merits of removing VAT from refrigerants used in heat pumps.

No assessment has been made. The installation of certain energy-saving materials, including ground- and air- source heat pumps, in residential accommodation and charity buildings benefits from a temporary zero rate of VAT until 31 March 2027 (after which it reverts to the reduced rate of 5 per cent). There are currently no plans to extend this relief to include the sale of the components used in energy-saving materials, where they are not part of such an installation. However, the Chancellor keeps all taxes under review.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of rural crime on (a) agricultural businesses and (b) Staffordshire Police.

This Government is committed to reducing crime and disorder in rural areas, given the devastating impact rural crime can have on communities and businesses. Under our reforms, rural communities will be safeguarded, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.In Staffordshire and other areas, the National Rural Crime Unit provides support to police forces in their responses to rural crime, such as the theft of farming or construction machinery, livestock theft, rural fly tipping, rural fuel theft and equine crime.The unit aims to help police forces tackle rural crime priorities through the provision of specialist operational support, as well as through sharing best practice and encouraging regional and national approaches to tackling rural crime. The NRCU also helps police forces across the country tackle organised theft and disrupt organised crime groups.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of single-use items used by the National Health Service.

As set out in the Delivering a Net Zero National Health Service report, published in October 2020, the NHS is committed to reducing its environmental impact, including by increasing the reuse and recycling of medical equipment. This report is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2022/07/B1728-delivering-a-net-zero-nhs-july-2022.pdfIn October 2024, the Government published the Design for Life roadmap, a new strategy to transition away from all avoidable single-use medical technology products towards a functioning circular system by 2045. This roadmap is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/design-for-life-roadmapThe programme is expected to support the NHS by improving resilience, reducing waste, delivering cost savings, and achieving the NHS commitment to be net zero by 2045. The Design for Life roadmap provides examples of where NHS organisations are already achieving cost, waste, and carbon savings through reusing, remanufacturing, and recycling medical devices and equipment, in line with their local Green Plans.In addition, NHS England collaborates with NHS Supply Chain to increase the availability of reusable products, and supports local NHS organisations to use more reusable medical devices and products, where it is safe to do so. For example, NHS England supported the Royal Surgical Colleges to develop the evidence-based Green Theatre Checklist to encourage sustainable theatre approaches, including promoting the use of reusable or remanufactured equipment, where appropriate. Further information on the checklist is available at the following link:https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcsed.ac.uk%2Fprofessional-support-development-resources%2Fenvironmental-sustainability-and-surgery%2Fgreen-theatre-Additionally, NHS England is supporting innovation through the Small Business Research Initiative Healthcare programme, which has funded a project to support reuse of surgical textiles, with further information available at the following link:https://sbrihealthcare.co.uk/impact-case-studies/case-studies/revolution-zero

What assessment his Department has made of the potential cost to the public purse of decommissioning the gas grid.

The Government is committed to transforming Britain into a clean energy superpower, including providing the country with clean power by 2030, reducing bills, and transitioning homes to low carbon heating through the Warm Homes Plan. Gas will continue to play an important role in our energy system for decades to come, and a reliable gas network is essential to support the transition. We are also working with industry to support low-carbon gases such as hydrogen and bio methane.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of creating a single service to advise households on (a) energy efficiency in the home and (b) financial support available for energy efficiency improvements.

Improving energy efficiency and decarbonising buildings is a crucial element in our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. This will also lower energy bills and support the reduction of Fuel Poverty. This is why the Government is going further to simplify the user journey for consumers, on GOV.UK, creating a single access point for all consumers homeowners, landlords and tenants) at varying points in their retrofit journey. It will bring into one space information, sources of funding and links to trusted installers, and simplify and expand the current government advice and information offer. More details will be announced in the Warm Homes Plan.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of general practice capacity in the Cannock Chase constituency.

We know that patients are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP). This was highlighted in Lord Darzi’s review, and we are committed to fixing this crisis in GPs.Our plan to increase the number of GP appointments delivered will require both investment and reform. We have already invested £82 million to recruit over 1,000 newly qualified GPs through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme. This will increase the number of appointments delivered in GPs and take pressure off those currently working in the system. We will also train thousands more GPs, securing the future of the workforce, and will end the 8:00am scramble for GP appointments by introducing a modern booking system.Cannock Chase sits within the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board, where 486,000 appointments were delivered in August 2024. In August 2023, they delivered 507,000 appointments. This is a decrease of 4.3%.

What steps he is taking to increase the number of qualified pharmacists working in (a) community pharmacy, (b) general practice, (c) hospitals and (d) mental health services.

The Government will make sure the National Health Service has the staff it needs to be there for all of us when we need it and reform the way we deliver care, so more care is delivered in the community.NHS England and the General Pharmaceutical Council have been working with education providers to increase pharmacy training places. Recent announcements include the establishment of new schools of pharmacy at Plymouth University, Teesside University, and the University of Leicester, which will improve training opportunities and build resilience across all pharmacy settings.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help support local authorities to keep council-owned leisure centres open.

The Government recognises the challenges local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. Resetting the relationship between national and local government and improving how local government is funded in this Parliament, are crucial in ensuring local people get the support and services they need and deserve.The majority of funding in the local government finance settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities. This includes funding for leisure centres. Future local authority funding decisions will be a matter for the next Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement.

Whether her Department has issued guidance to (a) police forces and (b) Police and Crime Commissioners on the powers granted to (i) Police Community Support Officers and (ii) special constables.

Under Section 38 of the Police Reform Act 2002 as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2017, chief officers can designate certain powers to any person who is employed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and is under the direction and control of that chief officer as a Police Community Support Officer. This excludes the most intrusive powers that are available to police officers, such as arrest and stop and search, and powers under the Terrorism Act 2000.Special Constables are warranted police officers and have the same powers as any other constable.The Department has not issued guidance to forces or PCCs on these powers. The College of Policing has issued guidance for PCCs, police forces, and anyone else looking to better understand the PSCO role. This is available online PCSO handbook | College of Policing

What steps she is taking to increase the number of special constables in (a) Staffordshire and (b) England.

The Government recognises and values the professionalism, dedication and sacrifice shown by special constables in their work. Special constables, along with the full range of volunteers in policing, make a vital contribution to keeping our communities safe.Data published by the Home Office in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin shows the number of special constables (headcount) in England has declined by 70% since a peak of 19,619 in March 2012 down to 5,860 in March 2024. In Staffordshire Police the number of special constables has declined by 74% from a peak of 512 in March 2012 down to 132 in March 2024.The Home Secretary has made a clear commitment to strengthen neighbourhood policing through the introduction of a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. The Guarantee will put thousands of additional neighbourhood police personnel back on the beat, including special constables, as part of the Government’s Safer Streets mission.

What steps he is taking to help ensure areas with high levels of housebuilding have adequate capacity in (a) general practice and (b) dentistry.

The Government recognises the challenges facing areas of significant housing and population growth. We understand the pressure such growth can place on primary care infrastructure. While we have big ambitions to further boost house building, we recognise it must be sensitive to local needs. The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) are currently analysing the results from a recent consultation on making changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to make sure better account is taken of local healthcare infrastructure requirements. Also, additional capital funding for ICSs and GP Practices to meet increased demand as a result of housing developments in their locality may be available through Section 106 (s106) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), or the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including general practice and NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across England. For Cannock Chase constituency, this is NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB.The NHS has a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient medical services – including general practice – in each local area, with funding and commissioning reflecting population growth and demographic changes. The National Health Service (NHS) contracts with independent dental providers to deliver NHS dental treatment in primary care settings. NHS England and ICBs across England work together to ensure that patients have access to the dental care they need. This includes an assessment to identify potential gaps in NHS dental service provision and to consider what actions may be required.

If she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of trends in the number of requests to schools to remove LGBT+ literature from school libraries.

The current national curriculum requires teachers to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. It also emphasises the importance of children listening to, discussing and reading for themselves a wide range of stories, poems, plays and non-fiction books. Within the framework of the national curriculum, schools make their own choices about which specific books or other resources they use. No authors, books or genres have been banned. Teachers have flexibility in their choice of books to teach within the context of the curriculum.  Any sensitive issues should be covered by the school’s own policy and in consultation with parents.

How much and what proportion of funding available through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme has been spent on mental health practitioners since 2019.

Funding available through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) for mental health practitioners accounts for 50% of the costs of these roles, with the other 50% provided by mental health trusts. Mental health practitioners were not introduced into the ARRS until 2021/22. The following table shows the spend on mental health practitioners through the ARRS, and that spend as a proportion of overall ARRS funding, for 2021/22 to 2023/24:YearMental health practitioner spend through the ARRSProportion of overall ARRS funding2021/22£3,402,0000.5%2022/23£18,281,0001.8%2023/24£31,000,0002.2%

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the central costs of academy trusts on the budgets of academy schools.

The primary responsibility for the financial oversight of academy trusts rests with the trustees themselves, who are supported by the financial management and governance requirements set by the department in academy trusts’ funding agreements, the academy trust handbook and academies accounts direction. The department expects academy trustees to deliver strong governance and monitor the financial health of their trust or school. It is with strong financial management and governance that schools are able to operate most effectively and deliver high quality teaching and learning that prepares our children for the future.Academy trusts can take a cut from their funding to pay for central services for their schools. This can be more efficient and cheaper than individual schools running or procuring the functions themselves.Where academy trusts take a cut to pay for central services, they must be transparent by disclosing the basis and value in their published, audited, annual accounts. They must also include additional disclosures in their accounts about the services they deliver centrally and the charging policy they apply. They must also identify the share against each academy.The government is clear that strong accountability is non-negotiable. That is why the government has committed to bring multi-academy trusts into the inspection system, to make the system fairer and more transparent, and to enable intervention when schools and trusts are not performing to the required standards.

What guidance her Department has provided to local authorities on consulting communities on (a) proposals for new and (b) the adequacy of existing bus routes.

Improving local transport services is a key part of this government’s growth mission, and the government has set out plans to deliver better bus services, grow passenger numbers and drive opportunity to under-served regions.  The government have been clear that bus services need to work better for the local communities who rely on them.The Department for Transport recently consulted on improving guidance for local authorities who are considering franchising bus services. This guidance includes consideration of the best ways to consult with local communities, and forms part of a package of bus franchising reforms announced on 9 September 2024.The Department for Transport also published the Bus Service Improvement Plan guidance in 2021, which includes guidance for consulting with communities. The government will continue working closely with local transport authorities on delivering better bus and public transport services throughout England.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to promote the (a) development and (b) use of bioplastics for single-use packaging.

No, Defra has not taken steps to promote the development or use of bio-based plastics for single-use packaging. More research is needed to ensure bio-based plastics lead to better environmental outcomes overall. During the production of these materials, there are factors such as land use change, water consumption and crop switching that could lead to detrimental environmental effects. The bio-based nature of the plastic does not affect the behaviour of the material produced. As we are committed to transitioning the UK to a circular economy, the Government is prioritising principles of reduction, reuse, and recycling to keep resources within the economy rather than increasing production of materials and injecting additional resources.