Written questions by Narayan.

What steps he is taking to support the adoption of health technology innovation in the NHS.

The Department is looking to encourage greater innovation in the health sector to help support the three big shifts in healthcare, from hospitals to communities, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention, which are set out as part of the Government’s Health Mission.The upcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan, as part of the United Kingdom’s industrial strategy, and the 10-Year Health Plan present significant opportunities to strengthen the UK’s life sciences sector and ensure that innovation is embedded across the healthcare system. This will build on the Department’s MedTech Strategy, published in February 2023, and the subsequent One Year On Report in April 2024, outlining our priorities for improving the adoption and spread of safe, effective, and innovative medical technologies across the National Health Service.The 15 Health Innovation Networks across England are our regional support structure for the development and adoption of health innovation. These networks are health innovation adoption experts, with each delivering services for their local population, as well as working as a national network. They transform lives through innovation by supporting health and social care teams to find, test, and implement new solutions at scale to tackle one of the NHS’ greatest challenges, driving economic growth.

What steps he is taking to support employee share ownership in venture capital-backed startups.

Venture capital-backed startups will frequently offer shares in the business to employees, as part of their remuneration. Most of these startups will be eligible to use the Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) scheme, which is open to firms with assets of £30 million or less and fewer than 250 employees. Using EMI firms may award share options up to a value of £250,000 in a 3-year period, free of Income Tax and National Insurance to the employee subject to certain conditions.

What steps his Department plans to take to increase defence procurement from UK startups in the the (a) cybersecurity, (b) AI, (c) quantum computing and (d) other emerging technology sectors.

The Ministry of Defence is bringing forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) that will ensure that the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned. Through the DIS we are considering how to better support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), reduce barriers and set the conditions that unlock the full potential of SMEs to innovate at pace and seize future opportunities. The Government recently announced plans to launch a new hub to provide SMEs better access to the defence supply chain, and committed to set direct SME spending targets for the Ministry of Defence by June this year. Technology will be at the heart of the new DIS. As part of a defence innovation drive, the Government will promote investment in defence start-ups and scale-up technology and capability, including through the National Security Strategic Investment Fund.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there is adequate competition in the veterinary care sector.

The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) are currently conducting full market investigation into the supply of veterinary services for household pets in the UK. Defra appreciates any recommendations that support the services that consumers of veterinary services receive, whilst retaining a strong and healthy veterinary profession within the UK. The CMA operates as an independent, non-ministerial department, which is separate from Defra. As such, Defra is not able to provide comment on any investigations currently being conducted but will consider the recommendations once the investigation is complete.

What recent discussions she has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the devolved Administrations on the potential for expanding the Stay Aware, Stay Safe, Stay Together campaign to schools and colleges across the UK; and what steps her Department is taking to promote the inclusion of similar safety awareness initiatives within the curriculum for 16-19 year olds.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The department is currently reviewing the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance for schools and will look carefully at responses to the public consultation conducted last year, consider the relevant evidence and discuss with stakeholders before setting out next steps to make sure the guidance draws from the best available evidence. As part of this process, we will explore whether additional content is required, including on personal safety and safety awareness.Sixth-form colleges and further education colleges are autonomous, and as such are responsible for determining the content of teaching provision, including whether to teach young people about personal safety and how to stay safe when going abroad.

If he will release £2.3 billion in reserves from the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme to former scheme members; and what his planned timeline is for reducing the financial disparity between that scheme and the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.

The Government is receptive to representations regarding the BCSSS. I recently met with the Trustees of the Scheme to discuss their proposals, and will be discussing the matter with the Treasury in due course.

What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of net migration; and what steps she is taking to reduce these.

Under the previous government, between 2019 and 2023, net migration more than quadrupled, driven by a big increase in overseas recruitment.This Government has set out a new approach to end the over reliance on international recruitment and boost economic growth by linking the UK’s immigration, labour market, and skills systems and by training up our domestic workforce.We have also commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to review key sectors, and our long-term plan will see departments working together across government, partnering with agencies and experts, to build our skills base and reduce our reliance on migration.Building on the Prime Minister’s speech on migration on 28 November 2024 - the Government will publish a White Paper later this year setting out measures to reduce net migration and link the points-based system with requirements for training in the UK.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that the AI Opportunities Action Plan (a) creates high-quality jobs and (b) enhances public services in (i) Vale of Glamorgan constituency and (ii) other rural areas.

The Action Plan sets out how we will achieve our AI ambitions by laying the foundations for AI growth, driving adoption and encouraging country wide growth.The opportunities of AI are for the whole of the UK. We will partner with devolved administrations, regional and local authorities on AI Growth Zones (AIGZs).On Skills, the Plan sets out the essential role that equipping our workforce with the right skills will play in supporting the growth of the UK’s AI sector.Regarding public sector adoption, the Plan outlines how AI will improve public services and drive growth across the economy.