Written questions by Reynolds.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trade negotiations with the United States under the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal on UK food safety standards of agriculture provision.

On 8 May 2025, the UK Government announced a landmark economic deal with the US that included new reciprocal market access on beef – giving UK farmers a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports. All food imports into the UK, including those agreed with the US, must comply with all of the UK’s import requirements, including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules. Decisions on food safety standards are always made in the interest of protecting human, animal or plant life or health in the UK.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase in English language requirements to B2 level on Hong Kong families using the British National (Overseas) visa route where household members have varying levels of educational attainment.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.We are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation. An impact assessment will be developed alongside the finalised policy and published in due course.In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply, including the current B1 English language requirement.

Whether her Department is taking steps to introduce a national awareness campaign as part of the new Road Safety Strategy.

Injuries and fatalities from road collisions caused by driving are unacceptable, and this Government will work hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users. That is why on 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Government’s THINK! road safety campaign delivers paid advertising to change attitudes and behaviours among those at most risk on the road, currently focused on the priority issues of speed, drink driving and drug driving. THINK! campaigns will play a key role in encouraging safer road user behaviours to support delivery of the strategy. This will include paid campaign activity to raise awareness of any potential significant changes to road safety legislation, with the introduction of these potential changes also supported by wider communications including via DfT social channels and GOV.UK, media engagement and partner and stakeholder networks. As our road environment and technologies evolve, providing education for all road users throughout their lifetime is vital to improving road safety. As announced in the strategy to support a Lifelong Learning approach in the UK, the Government will publish for the first time national guidance on the development and delivery of road safety education, training and publicity. Alongside this, the Government will publish a manual to support the implementation of a Lifelong Learning approach for road safety.

If she will take steps to ensure that community gyms and fitness facilities are not excluded from business rates relief schemes designed to support retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

The Government is introducing new permanently lower business rates tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000.On 16 October 2025, the Government published legislation and accompanying guidance detailing the eligibility criteria for the new multipliers. To ensure the new tax rates are appropriately targeted, only properties that are wholly or mainly used for providing RHL activity (as defined in legislation) to visiting members of the public are eligible for the new multipliers.This includes community gyms and fitness facilities with rateable values below £500,000 that are open to members of the public. Further details on what is meant by “visiting members of the public” can be found online here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/business-rates-multipliers-qualifying-retail-hospitality-or-leisure.

What the process is for evaluating new medical devices for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain conditions for use in the NHS.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring that medicines, medical devices, and blood components for transfusions on the market in the United Kingdom are safe, effective, and manufactured to the highest standards of quality. The Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (MDR 2002) established the statutory framework that medical devices must meet in order to comply with these standards. All medical devices, including those used for treatment of chronic neuropathic pain conditions, must comply with the MDR 2002, which include bearing the UKCA or CE marking on the packaging or labelling of the device. Manufacturers or their United Kingdom based representatives must monitor use of these devices when used in the UK. The MHRA does not grant clearance or approval for medical devices, outside of exceptional circumstances. The manufacturer holds the legal responsibility for obtaining the necessary certification and registering their medical devices with MHRA, the UK competent authority. Higher risk medical devices are assessed and approved by Approved Bodies in the UK or Notified Bodies in the European Union. The MHRA is not responsible for the procurement aspects of the NHS organisations, as that is outside the MHRA’s remit.

If she will publish the TA 501 safety assessment and Scheme Appraisal Report for the removal of motorway lighting on the M4 between junctions 8 and 12; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the TA 501 methodology is applied transparently where safety infrastructure is removed.

National Highways has a thorough, consistent and documented approach to the management of construction schemes. National Highways assessed the removal of lighting on the M4 between junctions 8 and 12 using TA49/07, which was the assessment tool before TA 501 was published in March 2020. National Highways has published the M4 J3-J8/9 and J10-J12 Road Safety Lighting Review, which included a summary of the personal injury collision data for the 5 years prior to the removal of lighting. Road casualty statistics and the underlying data are published annually by the Department for Transport.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of motorway lighting removal on the M4 between junctions 8 and 12 on road safety; and if she will publish Personal Injury Collision data for that area (a) since lighting was removed and (b) for the five years prior to removal.

National Highways has a thorough, consistent and documented approach to the management of construction schemes. National Highways assessed the removal of lighting on the M4 between junctions 8 and 12 using TA49/07, which was the assessment tool before TA 501 was published in March 2020. National Highways has published the M4 J3-J8/9 and J10-J12 Road Safety Lighting Review, which included a summary of the personal injury collision data for the 5 years prior to the removal of lighting. Road casualty statistics and the underlying data are published annually by the Department for Transport.

Whether NICE has been asked to evaluate Scrambler Therapy for the treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not been asked to evaluate scrambler therapy for complex regional pain syndrome. Topics for new or updated guidance are considered through the NICE prioritisation process and under this process, decisions as to whether NICE will create new, or update existing, guidance are overseen by an integrated, cross-organisational Prioritisation Board, chaired by NICE’s Chief Medical Officer. The Prioritisation Board has been made aware of scrambler therapy, and the topic is likely to be considered by the board in the first quarter of 2026. Any decision or updates will appear on the prioritisation pages of the NICE website in due course, with further information available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/what-nice-does/our-guidance/prioritising-our-guidance-topics

If she will review arrangements allowing academies to act as admissions authorities, particularly for children who (a) live within a school’s designated catchment area but do not attend a primary school operated by the school’s sponsoring trust and (b) attend a trust‑run primary school outside the catchment area receiving higher priority for admission; and what steps she is taking to ensure that admissions policies do not disadvantage local children.

Admission arrangements are set and applied locally. Provided they are lawful and comply with the School Admissions Code, it is for the school’s admissions authority to decide what criteria to set, as long as they are fair, clear and objective.Admission authorities may choose to give priority to children living within a designated catchment area or those attending named feeder schools, however, these must be clearly defined and made on reasonable grounds.Admission authorities must consult locally before making any changes to their admission arrangements, or at least once every seven years, to ensure they continue to meet local need.Once a school’s admission arrangements have been determined, anyone who believes they are unfair or unlawful may submit an objection to the Schools Adjudicator. Where the Adjudicator finds that a school’s admission arrangements are unfair or unlawful, they must be revised.

What progress has been made on the review of compensation for women born in the 1950s affected by State Pension age changes; and when the review will conclude.

The Secretary of State announced in his oral statement of 11 November 2025 that we will retake the decision made in December 2024 as it relates to the communications on State Pension age. Retaking the decision should not be taken as an indication that Government will necessarily decide that it should award financial redress. The process to retake the decision is underway and it is important that we give this full and proper consideration. We will update Parliament on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached and on 2 December 2025 we committed to re-take the decision within three months.

What steps her Department is taking to incorporate equestrian safety guidance into the driving theory test.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards (DVSA) driver theory test already contains questions relating to equestrian safety, and has done for many years.DVSA has recognised the need to promote the recognition of hazards by drivers when sharing the road with horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. These are well represented within the hazard perception part of the test, a CGI video test which requires candidates to identify developing hazards on the road in good time.Both the multiple choice and hazard perception parts of the theory test are continually being updated and added to, with one of the focuses being on vulnerable road users such as horse riders.

What criteria his Department is using to assess the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's compensation recommendations for women born in the 1950s affected by State Pension age changes; and whether he will publish the full methodology and evidence considered before announcing his final decision.

The Secretary of State announced in his oral statement of 11 November 2025 that we will retake the decision made in December 2024 as it relates to the communications on State Pension age. Retaking the decision should not be taken as an indication that Government will necessarily decide that it should award financial redress. The process to retake the decision is underway and it is important that we give this full and proper consideration. We will update Parliament on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached and on 2 December 2025 we committed to re-take the decision within three months.

What steps will be taken to implement the recommendations of the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group.

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025. The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

What the current status is of the report of the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group.

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025 .The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

What progress he has made on implementing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership provisions to facilitate UK-Canada trade; and whether his Department has identified any specific sectors where Canadian exporters continue to face non-tariff barriers when trading with the UK.

Businesses will benefit from better trade terms with Canada once they ratify our CPTPP accession, which should happen later this year. Canada began its ratification legislative process last September, and it is making good progress through their Parliament.My Department is helping businesses take advantage of the opportunities offered by CPTPP through engagement, guidance, and practical support, and we will share detailed guidance on Canada at entry into force. The Government will continue to work with our Canadian counterparts to reduce barriers and enable businesses in both countries to reap the benefits offered by CPTPP.

What assessment he has made of the types of trade barriers faced by Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises when exporting to the UK; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce regulatory and customs friction for Canadian exporters following the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

My Department is committed to supporting British exporters, including by ensuring they can trade under CPTPP terms with Canada as soon as possible.UK businesses will benefit from the CPTPP Customs Chapter, which promotes efficient, consistent, transparent, and predictable customs procedures, while also allowing Parties to maintain effective customs control. CPTPP members have also committed to updating and enhancing the customs Chapter, as set out within the General Review Report in the CPTPP Ministerial Joint Statement, November 2025.These enhancements will apply to the UK-Canada relationship once CPTPP enters into force between our countries, which should be later this year.

When he will publish the findings of the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group.

In line with the commitment made between our Prime Ministers in June 2025, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group met over the course of last year in order to identify ways in which the UK and Canada can deepen cooperation, tackle market access barriers and grow our bilateral trading relationship, which was worth £30bn in the 12 months to June 2025.The Working Group has identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026, including updating the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin, and deepening cooperation on critical minerals, carbon border measures, economic security, and defence procurement and trade.The joint report for Prime Ministers itself is subject to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada, and will be finalised in due course.

Whether she plans to introduce tax incentives for businesses to upgrade their cyber security infrastructure.

The government is committed to strengthening cyber security across the UK. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides a range of tools, guidance and support to businesses to improve their cyber security. At last year's Spending Review, the government increased the Single Intelligence Account's budget by £1 billion over the Spending Review period, which funds the critical cybersecurity work conducted by NCSC. The existing tax regime already provides relief for IT and digital expenditure. Day-to-day IT costs are deductible at 100% rate as revenue expenditure. Longer-term investments may qualify for capital allowances, including full expensing and the Annual Investment Allowance, which provide 100% relief over the costs in the year of expenditure, or the Intangibles Fixed Assets regime, which also provides 100% relief over time. The Government keeps all taxes under review.

What estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of cyber attacks in 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to UIN 102698.

Innovation and Technology, what estimate she has made of the cost of cyber attacks to the economy in 2025.

In November 2025, the government published a set of independent research reports quantifying the impact of cyber attacks on the UK economy. These reports demonstrate the scale of the potential cost of cyber attacks to UK businesses, with KPMG’s report Economic Modelling of Sector Specific Costings of Cyber Attacks estimating the average cost of a significant cyber attack for an individual business in the UK to be almost £195,000. Scaled to an annual UK cost to businesses, this amounts to an estimated £14.7 billion.The Government has developed tools for businesses to protect themselves, including:The highly effective Cyber Essentials Scheme, shown to reduce the likelihood of a cyber insurance claim by 92%,The Cyber Governance Code of Practice, to help boards and directors manage cyber risks, andA wide range of free NCSC tools and support, including training for boards and staff, the Early Warning system and the Cyber Action Toolkit for small businesses.The Government is also taking further action to protect the economy. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will boost our cyber defences and better protect our essential services. This year, we will publish a new National Cyber Action Plan setting out how Government will respond to the cyber threat and work with industry to raise resilience across the economy.