Written questions by Campbell.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of climate change on the operating costs of small and medium-sized businesses.

Awaiting answer.

What financial and advisory support is available for independent charitable emergency services, such as the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, to assist with increased fuel and operating costs arising as a consequence of the Iran War.

Awaiting answer.

Whether she has made any assessment of the financial impact on students and families that experienced delays in the processing of initial BN(O) Visa applications, and/or delays in processing indefinite leave to remain applications.

Awaiting answer.

What proportion of ILR applicants using either the Priority or Super Priority Service receive decisions within their respective advertised timeframes.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to invest in Geothermal energy.

Awaiting answer.

What analysis his Department has undertaken of the geographic suitability of locations in the UK for investment in geothermal energy; and what potential has been identified for such investment in (a) the UK, (b) the Midlands and (c) Broxtowe.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing support to veterans in obtaining NHS dental care once they have left the armed forces.

We are working to improve access to National Health Service dentistry, which will also benefit members of the Armed Forces community, including our respected veterans who have spent their careers defending our country.We are also supporting more than 1,500 children in British military families overseas through our supervised toothbrushing programme.Free NHS dental care is available to people who meet the following criteria:aged under 18 years old, or aged under 19 years old and in full-time education;pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months;being treated in an NHS hospital and the treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist (patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges);receiving low-income benefits, or aged under 20 years old and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits; andreceiving War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments and the treatment is for your accepted disability. From April 2026, we began introducing a package of reforms to address some of the most pressing issues that dentists and dental teams have been experiencing. These reforms will prioritise those with the greatest need, shifting care away from clinically unnecessary check-ups.We are committed to fundamentally reforming the dental contract, with a focus on matching resources to need, improving access, promoting prevention and rewarding dentists fairly, while enabling the whole dental team to work to the top of their capability.

Which speciality training programmes allow Less Than Full Time trainees to progress on the basis of competency rather than requiring extensions to the duration of training before the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training; and whether his Department has considered adopting this approach as standard across speciality training.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to extend the length of time that wind turbines may remain in operation.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that decommissioned wind turbine blades are able to be recycled.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that ambulance services are able to communicate effectively with Deaf people who use British Sign Language (BSL).

In accordance with the Equality Act 2010 and the British Sign Language Act 2022, ambulance services have a range of options to support Deaf/deaf individuals who use British Sign Language (BSL) in accessing ambulance services. To facilitate clear and effective communication in emergency situations, individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired can utilise tools such as the 999BSL video relay platform, which is app and web-based, to contact 999 via a BSL interpreter as well as access via emergency SMS messaging. Video relay apps can also be used to support communication and face-to-face assessment by crews on scene at incidents, where, via on-board iPads, paramedics can connect patients with a remote BSL video interpreter. These resources, which are free to use and operate 24 hours, seven days a week, ensure that real-time communication is possible for BSL users when emergency and urgent assistance is required.

How many cases of Hansen's Disease have been diagnosed in the last ten years; and what steps his Department is taking to support people infected by this disease.

Hansen's Disease, or leprosy, is a statutorily notifiable disease in England and Wales. Data supplied by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is published by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and is available at the following link:https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/number-of-new-leprosy-cases.There were 56 cases of Hansen's Disease diagnosed between 2015 and 2024 in the United Kingdom. Annual case numbers ranged from two to 12 cases per year. UK Data for 2025 is due to be published on the WHO website in the coming months. There has been no documented transmission of leprosy in the UK in the last 10 years.Direct patient care is provided by the National Health Service, by specialist clinical leprosy advisors based in London, Liverpool, and Birmingham, and this is in line with UKHSA's Leprosy Memorandum, which covers diagnosis, treatment with multi-drug therapy, and long-term support for those living with disability caused by the disease. The memorandum is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/leprosy-memorandum/memorandum-on-leprosy-2023#introduction

How many Respiratory registrars and Consultants are currently working in the NHS, and what steps his Department is taking to increase their number.

NHS England publishes monthly information on the composition of the workforce employed by National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards in England.  This includes information on doctors grouped by their grade and the specialty area they are working in. The information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statisticsThe relevant data can be found in worksheet 4 of the file NHS HCHS Workforce Statistics, Trusts and core organisations – data tables, in the link above.We set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts, with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.The Government is committed to training the staff we need, including doctors, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed services set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help end the spread of Hansen's disease.

The UK supports the World Health Organization's (WHO) Neglected Tropical Diseases Roadmap 2021-2030, which includes targets to interrupt Hansen's disease (leprosy) transmission, prevent disability and address stigma and discrimination, including through our £248 million contribution to WHO in support of its 2025-2028 programme of work. Our wider support to global health also helps countries to strengthen their health systems and indirectly supports efforts to combat Hansen's disease.

What steps his Department is taking to support patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AT).

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AT) is a rare inherited condition which can affect the lungs and liver. The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, including work to improve diagnosis and the use of genomics in rare disease care. NHS England’s National Genomic Test Directory includes testing for A1AT, where clinically appropriate. The Government also supports patients with A1AT through wider action to improve care for people living with rare conditions and long-term respiratory disease. NHS England’s respiratory disease programme is focused on earlier and more accurate diagnosis, reducing inequalities, and improving treatment and support. This includes support for diagnostic testing such as spirometry, expansion of pulmonary rehabilitation, and improvements in medicines optimisation and personalised care. NHS England has also published commissioning standards for spirometry, and community diagnostic centres are providing respiratory diagnostic tests to improve access closer to home.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that police forces are able to communicate effectively with Deaf people who use British Sign Language (BSL).

Policing is operationally independent, and it is for Chief Constables to ensure that their forces are able to communicate effectively with all members of the public, including those who use British Sign Language.The National Police Language Services (NPLS) team oversees the procurement and provision of language and interpretation services for police forces across the UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to enforce the ban on single-use vapes in (i) the constituency of Broxtowe, (ii) the East Midlands and (iii) England.

The ban on the supply of single-use vapes is enforced by Local Authority Trading Standards in England. To support their vital work, the Government has provided £10 million of funding to support Trading Standards officers across England. Where an individual is caught supplying single-use vapes, they are liable to receive a £200 fixed monetary penalty and may also receive other civil sanctions. If these sanctions are not complied with, the individual will be guilty of an offence and could be liable for an unlimited fine or imprisonment. Trading Standards have powers which allow them to enter premises to inspect for single-use vapes. They will be able to make enquiries as needed; this includes searching premises and breaking open containers to inspect stock. Regulators will be able to remove vapes from the premises, either for the purpose of investigation or for disposal.

What steps his Department is taking to address the increase in missed deliveries against targets by the Royal Mail.

Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services, monitors and assesses Royal Mail’s provision of the universal service. It can investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification.I met Royal Mail’s CEO, Alistair Cochrane, on 3 February to press him on the action Royal Mail is taking to make demonstrable improvements to service levels as a matter of urgency. I will continue to raise concerns with Royal Mail if the company’s quality of service does not improve.Royal Mail has publicly committed to publishing a detailed deployment and quality of service improvement plan as soon as possible following the conclusion of its discussions with the Communication Workers Union.

How many and what proportion of GP practices are partner-run in (a) Broxtowe constituency, (b) the East Midlands and (c) England.

NHS England has advised that, within the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire clustered Integrated Care Board (ICB) boundary, 65 out of 81 practices, or 81%, in Lincoln are general practice (GP) partnership model practices. 115 out of 126 of practices, or 91%, in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are GP partnership model practices.Within the NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB boundary, 115 out of 126 practices, or 90%, are GP partnership model practices. Within the Northamptonshire ICB boundary, 64 out of 65 practices, or 98%, are GP partnership model practices.Within the NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB boundary, 99 out of 109 practices, or 89%, are traditional GP partnerships. The other 10, or 11%, are partner-run, but not in the traditional way. Of these:- four are managed by Royal Primary Care, Chesterfield;- four are managed by Derbyshire Community Health Services; and- two are managed by Derbyshire Healthcare United.In the Broxtowe constituency, 11 out of 11 practices are GP partnership model practices. The Department does not hold national-level data, however, we expect that a large majority of practices in England operate as traditional GP partnerships.

What steps his Department is taking to support GPs who are the subject of a complaint arising from a specialist denying a person a face-to-face appointment.

As independent businesses who hold contracts with the National Health Service, general practices (GPs) are responsible for managing patient complaints relating to services delivered by their GP and the wider health system. In cases where specialist advice has been used, such as Advice and Guidance, and the outcome of the advice was that care management in GPs is clinically appropriate, the GP may still subsequently refer their patient again at any point if they have concerns. NHS England has published guidance for both primary care referrers and specialists to support effective use of Advice and Guidance.For patients who have been under a specialist’s care, clinical governance procedures for the relevant provider will apply.