Written questions by McCarthy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether there will be ministerial attendance at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in August.

Awaiting answer.

What her Department's timetable is for responding to the Setting up the School Support Staff Negotiating Body consultation.

The department is currently preparing the response to the public consultation on setting up the School Support Staff Negotiating Body for publication.

What discussions he has had with representatives from prisons on allowing prisoners to have virtual visits with their children through longer and high-quality video calls.

Ministry of Justice Ministers have frequent discussions with prison staff on all aspects of the prison experience. His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) encourages prisons to make the experience of those visiting prisoners the ‘best it can be’, and to seek feedback from visitors on how to improve services. Information on the quality of social visits, including feedback from stakeholders, is included in the HMPPS Families Performance Improvement Measure.Supporting consistent contact between parents in prison and their children where it is safe and appropriate, helps to mitigate the harm arising from separation caused by imprisonment.Making prison visits family‑friendly is an important element of maintaining family ties and supporting effective rehabilitation. Visiting a prison can be a daunting experience for anyone, particularly those already coping with the emotional impact of having a loved-one in custody. A welcoming visiting environment helps to reduce fear, anxiety and stigma, enabling families to feel safe and supported during what may be a stressful experience.Family‑friendly visits allow relations to interact more naturally, supporting healthy attachment and emotional wellbeing. Simple measures such as clear information, trained staff, suitable facilities and access to play or activity areas can make a significant difference to the experience. These features help visits to feel more like a normal family interaction and allow parents in custody to maintain a meaningful role in their child’s life.Prison video calling is already an established part of the prison communications offer. The provision of secure social video calls, as a supplement to letters, telephone calls and in‑person visits, supports the maintenance of family ties and reflects key recommendations made in Lord Farmer’s reviews, which highlighted the importance of strong family relationships in reducing the risk of re‑offending.

What discussions he has had with representatives from prisons on making prison visits more suitable for children and families.

Ministry of Justice Ministers have frequent discussions with prison staff on all aspects of the prison experience. His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) encourages prisons to make the experience of those visiting prisoners the ‘best it can be’, and to seek feedback from visitors on how to improve services. Information on the quality of social visits, including feedback from stakeholders, is included in the HMPPS Families Performance Improvement Measure.Supporting consistent contact between parents in prison and their children where it is safe and appropriate, helps to mitigate the harm arising from separation caused by imprisonment.Making prison visits family‑friendly is an important element of maintaining family ties and supporting effective rehabilitation. Visiting a prison can be a daunting experience for anyone, particularly those already coping with the emotional impact of having a loved-one in custody. A welcoming visiting environment helps to reduce fear, anxiety and stigma, enabling families to feel safe and supported during what may be a stressful experience.Family‑friendly visits allow relations to interact more naturally, supporting healthy attachment and emotional wellbeing. Simple measures such as clear information, trained staff, suitable facilities and access to play or activity areas can make a significant difference to the experience. These features help visits to feel more like a normal family interaction and allow parents in custody to maintain a meaningful role in their child’s life.Prison video calling is already an established part of the prison communications offer. The provision of secure social video calls, as a supplement to letters, telephone calls and in‑person visits, supports the maintenance of family ties and reflects key recommendations made in Lord Farmer’s reviews, which highlighted the importance of strong family relationships in reducing the risk of re‑offending.

(a) what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of Lord Farmer's 2017 review and (b) whether further steps are planned.

Lord Farmer’s 2017 review highlighted the importance of family and supportive relationships in rehabilitation and reducing re-offending. Since then, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has taken extensive action to put those recommendations into practice, with the majority now completed. All prisons are required to publish local family and ‘significant other’ strategies, to seek and respond to the views of families in supporting people in custody, including in relation to release planning, and to identify and support prisoners without family or relationship contact. These principles are now embedded within HMPPS Family Services and continue to inform practice across the prison estate.HMPPS has also implemented recommendations on the positive role of prisoner-to-prisoner relationships, strengthening peer support and mentoring through existing roles such as peer mentors, Listeners, wing representatives and learning tutors. Work is under way to develop a common set of standards for peer support and mentoring, using an evidence-led approach to testing, evaluation and potential future scaling up, to improve quality, consistency and safeguards.The Ministry of Justice and HMPPS continue to work with Lord Farmer and delivery partners to monitor and strengthen delivery through inspection and performance frameworks. Further work is planned to build on this foundation, particularly to strengthen family engagement and pro-social peer relationships as part of a wider rehabilitative culture informed by desistance principles and psychologically informed practice.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on progress on its investigation into Kick Online Entertainment S.A. and harmful online content.

While enforcement decisions are a matter for the independent online safety regulator, Ofcom, the government has made it clear that it is keen to see the regulator use all the powers Parliament has provided it with under the Online Safety Act. The government therefore welcomes Ofcom’s confirmation decision of the 31 March 2026 issued to Kick Online Entertainment S.A. for failing to comply with requirements to implement Highly Effective Age Assurance (HEAA), imposing an £800,000 sanction; and a further £30,000 penalty for failing to provide information requested under its information gathering powers.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making support for parents in prisons a Key Performance Indicator.

Decisions on changes to prison key performance indicators, including whether to introduce new or more explicit measures focused on support for parents in prison, must balance the benefits of clearer accountability with the need to ensure performance frameworks remain proportionate, measurable and focused on outcomes.Any proposed changes are considered alongside inspection evidence and operational priorities.Families provision in prisons is currently monitored by the family ties performance measure. The Department will continue to consider how best to reflect the role of family and parental support in prison performance measures as we develop the prison performance framework.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 October 2025 to Question 76643 on Primodos, whether his Department plans to consider scientific evidence from Aaron. P. Adam et al (2026) titled Recurrent Constellations of Embryonic Malformations: Teratogenicity Linked to Transient Hypoxia and Hormone Pregnancy Tests Agrees With RCEM and Suggest a Reactive Oxygen Species Pathogenesis, as part of its review of the evidence on hormone pregnancy tests.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), together with the wider Government, have committed to review any new scientific evidence which comes to light regarding the use of hormone pregnancy tests during early pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In line with this commitment, the MHRA will consider whether the recent publication, Recurrent Constellations of Embryonic Malformations (RCEM): Teratogenicity Linked to Transient Hypoxia and Hormone Pregnancy Tests Agrees With RCEM and Suggest a Reactive Oxygen Species Pathogenesis, by Aaron. P. Adam et al, presents any new scientific evidence and will act as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what comparative assessment he has made of the level of support in prisons for parents on remand or serving custodial sentences with the potential impact on rehabilitation.

We know that supporting and maintaining positive family relationships, where safe and appropriate, is an important factor in reducing reoffending and desistance from crime, with recently published research finding that prisoners who received visits were 3 percentage points less likely to reoffend within one year of release (25% vs 28%). Prisons will assess the need for individual, tailored family support on a case-by-case basis, noting that this is not always appropriate for all prisoners or their families.Family support is a central component of a rehabilitative prison environment and is recognised as critical to the wellbeing of individuals in custody, regardless of their legal status. To support this, prisons across England and Wales offer a range of services to maintain family relationships including social visits, family days and the award-winning charity led initiative Storybook Mums and Dads, enabling parents in prison to record bedtime stories for their children. Both remand and convicted prisoners can access the full range of family support services, which includes access to family support workers, parenting support, and signposting to advice and external agencies.Support for maintaining family contact is consistent across remand and convicted prisoners, who can contact their family through visits, telephone and video calls, and letters. Under Prison Rules, remand prisoners are entitled to a greater number of visits than convicted prisoners which reflects the legal distinction between those awaiting a trial or sentencing, and those who are convicted. Additionally, remand prisoners can spend more money on phone credit or postage stamps, should they wish to send additional mail. This is a result of statutory entitlements, and beyond these distinctions, there is no difference in the family support offer between remand and convicted prisoners.

Whether he has had discussions with colleagues in NHS England on the development of a regenerative medicine strategy.

No such discussions have taken place. The Government is committed to ensuring the United Kingdom remains a global leader in the development of advanced therapies, including regenerative medicines, to drive innovation in the National Health Service and deliver life-changing outcomes for patients. The Department continues to work with public sector partners to promote a joined-up ecosystem that will support the development, regulation, and delivery of advanced therapies.The Government invests in research into regenerative medicine and advanced therapies through UK Research and Innovation. The £42 million UK Regenerative Medicine Platform (UKRMP) aimed at addressing the key translational challenges in regenerative medicine and at bringing innovative regenerative medicine therapies to the clinic. In its second phase, from 2018 to 2024, the UKRMP established three hubs: the Engineered Cell Environment Hub; the Smart Materials Hub; and the Pluripotent Stem Cells and Engineered Cells Hub.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of regenerative medicine techniques on surgical recovery.

Regenerative techniques, such as cell therapies, growth factors, and bioengineered scaffolds, can accelerate wound healing, which is particularly valuable in complex or high‑risk surgeries. NHS England maintains an overview of the advanced therapy medicinal products in development and assesses the potential National Health Service impact and the requirements for individual treatments as part of its due diligence, ensuring the NHS is ready to deliver innovative new treatments that secure a positive Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency licensing decision and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommendation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 112762, what process she has made since 3 March on steps to help secure the release of Jimmy Lai.

The UK continues to raise Jimmy Lai's case with the Chinese Government at every opportunity, alongside a number of international partners, calling both for his release, and for the protection of his health and wellbeing while he remains in detention. I will keep Hon Members updated on progress resulting from these efforts.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on (a) parental leave allowances and (b) childcare entitlements for PhD students in the context of the parental leave and pay review.

The Parental Leave and Pay Review is considering all current and upcoming parental leave and pay entitlements, including the needs of working families who do not currently qualify. There are a number of areas where there are clear links and interdependencies with the parental leave and pay system, including childcare provision. The Review will consider these in its policy development, but it is not within its scope to make findings on childcare entitlements. Officials are working closely across government, including with the Department for Education and His Majesty’s Treasury. The Review will conclude in early 2027.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will include representation from the organic and sustainable farming sector on the Farming and Food Partnership Board.

The first meeting of the Farming and Food Partnership Board took place on 25 March 2026 with an initial membership of seven industry leads and experts. This initial group includes representation across farming and food as well as the retail and out of home markets. The first meeting considered the need for additional members ahead of the next Board meeting. The first meeting also agreed task and finish sub-groups would be useful to help deliver the Board’s mission and objectives, alongside the sector groups developing Sector Growth Plans. Defra expects the nature of these task and finish groups to emerge as the Board gets into its work plan for the coming year. These groups will provide an opportunity for a wider range of stakeholders to engage with the work of the Board, and that could include organic and sustainable farming representation.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to increase scrutiny of squid imports from China.

The Government is committed to tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and addressing associated human rights abuses in global seafood supply chains. The UK has robust regulations in place, including catch certification and traceability requirements, to prevent fish caught through IUU practices from entering the UK market. The Government currently has no plans to increase specific scrutiny of squid imports from China, nor have we undertaken a species‑specific risk assessment of jumbo flying squid or Argentine shortfin squid. This reflects our assessment that existing controls apply equally across relevant imports and provide appropriate safeguards proportionate to the level of risk identified. Defra will keep its approach under review. In relation to the South-West Atlantic, Defra continues to seek progress on establishing more coordinated management of high seas fishing activity through relevant international fora. The Government liaise closely with the Falklands Islands Government in relation to this.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the risk that jumbo flying squid imported from fisheries in the South Pacific and Argentine shortfin squid imported from the South West Atlantic may be linked to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and human rights abuses.

The Government is committed to tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and addressing associated human rights abuses in global seafood supply chains. The UK has robust regulations in place, including catch certification and traceability requirements, to prevent fish caught through IUU practices from entering the UK market. The Government currently has no plans to increase specific scrutiny of squid imports from China, nor have we undertaken a species‑specific risk assessment of jumbo flying squid or Argentine shortfin squid. This reflects our assessment that existing controls apply equally across relevant imports and provide appropriate safeguards proportionate to the level of risk identified. Defra will keep its approach under review. In relation to the South-West Atlantic, Defra continues to seek progress on establishing more coordinated management of high seas fishing activity through relevant international fora. The Government liaise closely with the Falklands Islands Government in relation to this.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the commitment to phase out the use of peat in horticulture is included in the sector growth plans for horticulture.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan integrates expertise in sustainability, agroecology and nature friendly farming. This expertise will shape the plan’s approach to productivity, innovation and nature friendly farming, including the transition away from peat. Delivering this transition will require the appropriate primary legislative and supporting mechanisms to be in place to provide a clear and enforceable basis. The establishment of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board and its oversight of sector growth plans is a key part of that process. Following its first meeting, the Board has invited the Horticulture Expert Growers Group to work with the Fruit & Veg Coalition and the Environmental Horticulture Group and immediately begin work on the first Sector Growth Plan for the horticultural sector. This will ensure that the expertise and insights of the horticultural industry are fully considered by the Board.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that expertise in sustainability, agroecology, and nature friendly farming is incorporated into the development of the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan integrates expertise in sustainability, agroecology and nature friendly farming. This expertise will shape the plan’s approach to productivity, innovation and nature friendly farming, including the transition away from peat. Delivering this transition will require the appropriate primary legislative and supporting mechanisms to be in place to provide a clear and enforceable basis. The establishment of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board and its oversight of sector growth plans is a key part of that process. Following its first meeting, the Board has invited the Horticulture Expert Growers Group to work with the Fruit & Veg Coalition and the Environmental Horticulture Group and immediately begin work on the first Sector Growth Plan for the horticultural sector. This will ensure that the expertise and insights of the horticultural industry are fully considered by the Board.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on extending court and tribunal fees to challenging Section 13 rent increases through the First-Tier Tribunal.

The Ministry of Justice keeps all fees under continuous review to ensure that His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has the resources necessary to operate fairly and efficiently, while ensuring access to justice is protected for all.The Government has laid legislation to begin the process of implementing a new fees framework in the Property Chamber. The purpose of the new framework is to deliver a fair and sustainable Property Chamber that is accessible to all. The framework includes a fee of £47 for applications to appeal a rent increase, with no hearing fee – this is one of the lowest fees across HMCTS.The Help with Fees scheme will always be available to provide financial support to those who cannot afford to pay fees. In 2024/25, we remitted £91 million of fees income to protect access to justice.The changes are subject to Parliamentary consent.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of extending courts and tribunal fees to challenging Section 13 rent increases through the First-Tier Tribunal on the number of rent increase challenges.

The Ministry of Justice keeps all fees under continuous review to ensure that His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has the resources necessary to operate fairly and efficiently, while ensuring access to justice is protected for all.The Government has laid legislation to begin the process of implementing a new fees framework in the Property Chamber. The purpose of the new framework is to deliver a fair and sustainable Property Chamber that is accessible to all. The framework includes a fee of £47 for applications to appeal a rent increase, with no hearing fee – this is one of the lowest fees across HMCTS.The Help with Fees scheme will always be available to provide financial support to those who cannot afford to pay fees. In 2024/25, we remitted £91 million of fees income to protect access to justice.The changes are subject to Parliamentary consent.