Written questions by McCarthy.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on supporting the Fungal Conservation Pledge since the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) in 2024.

To deliver against the statutory targets for biodiversity, in England, we are taking action at scale to create, restore, manage, and protect wildlife-rich habitats, reduce pressures on biodiversity, and take targeted action for species. This includes actions which support conservation and recovery of fungi. Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme plays a vital role in taking targeted action for threatened species, including fungi. Additionally, we are aware of the initiative led by Plantlife and Natural England to develop a national fungi conservation plan, and we will continue to engage as this plan evolves.

If he will expand access to drug detoxification services for people with substance abuse problems.

Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment services according to local need as part of their public health responsibilities, and this includes the provision of drug detoxification services.In line with recommendations in Dame Carol Black’s independent review of drug treatment and recovery, the Department created a distinct grant to support and expand inpatient detoxification for people who use drugs and alcohol. The £10 million a year grant ran between 2022/23 and 2024/25, before being consolidated into the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant in 2025/26.The additional funding has enabled four units to open and has seen a substantial increase in the number of people who have been able to benefit from medically supported detoxification in an inpatient setting.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making pensioners who live with a partner below State Pension age eligible to receive age-appropriate welfare benefits.

We have no current plans to do so. Ensuring that individuals, including those below State Pension age, can get into and stay in work is important for individuals in helping them to continue saving for their own retirement and contributes to the wider economy. Since 2019, couples have needed to claim working age benefits (usually Universal Credit) until both members reach pension age. Once in receipt of Universal Credit, the younger partner can access the same employment support that is available for customers below State Pension age. The partner above State Pension age can still receive their State Pension, but this will be taken into account in full when assessing entitlement and calculating the couple’s Universal Credit award.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to establish a (a) social media curfew and (b) cap on smartphone screen time for children.

It is important that children can seize the opportunities that being online offers whilst being safe. The Online Safety Act provides protections for children from illegal and harmful content onlineWe continue to explore evidence around the impact of social media on children. We will not hesitate to take further action to protect children from online harm, if evidence shows it is needed.

If she will take steps to send information to home educating parents on the registration measures within the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Following the Bill’s attainment of Royal Assent, the department intends to make regulations and publish statutory guidance outlining how local authorities must publicise the registers and the duties of parents in relation to the registers.We will consult on the guidance ahead of implementation, so home educating parents can share their views on how they would like to receive information on the registration measures.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68072 on Housing Benefit: Supported Housing, what further discussions he has had with stakeholders on proposals to increase the Housing Benefit disregard for working single claimants from £5 to £57.

We acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, particularly for working age customers living in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation. A wide range of customers currently receive rent support through Housing Benefit, including pensioners, residents in Supported Housing or Temporary Accommodation, and those who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper would therefore apply across these groups. Eradicating the financial cliff edge some individuals face as they incrementally increase their earnings could not be achieved by simply aligning the taper rates within the two benefits. Officials are undertaking further analysis to assess its impact on the various groups and will continue considering policy options with stakeholders. It remains our priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter and sustain employment. Any future decisions on housing support will be made in the round, prioritising measures that best meet Government objectives within the current fiscal environment.

What comparative assessment he has made of trends in NHS dental costs and average wages in England.

No direct assessment has been made, however any decision to uplift dental patient charges is accompanied by an equalities impact assessment and informed by patient demographic data from the NHS Annual Dental Statistics and the GP Patient Survey NHS dentistry questions, with further information on both available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202425https://gp-patient.co.uk/surveysandreportsThe National Health Service dental patient charge is a contribution to the cost of the NHS dental treatment the patient receives. Free NHS dental care is available to people who meet the following criteria:under 18 years old, or 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, although patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges; orreceiving low-income benefits, or under 20 years old and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits.Support is also available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for exemption or full remission of dental patient charges. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-is-entitled-to-free-nhs-dental-treatment-in-england/

If she will ensure that any forthcoming code of practice for (a) services, (b) public functions and (c) associations contains practical guidance on how small businesses can be inclusive towards transgender customers.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission - as the independent regulator - has submitted a draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations. This will provide guidance to relevant duty bearers on how they should comply with the Equality Act 2010 following the Supreme Court judgment. The Government is considering the updated draft Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Code will be laid before Parliament for a 40-day period. We expect service providers to follow the law as clarified by this judgment and seek specialist legal advice where necessary.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 September 2025 Question 76922 on Housing Benefit: Supported Housing, what further discussions he has had with stakeholders on proposals to decrease the Housing Benefit taper rate from 65% to 55%.

We acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, particularly for working age customers living in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation. A wide range of customers currently receive rent support through Housing Benefit, including pensioners, residents in Supported Housing or Temporary Accommodation, and those who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper would therefore apply across these groups. Eradicating the financial cliff edge some individuals face as they incrementally increase their earnings could not be achieved by simply aligning the taper rates within the two benefits. Officials are undertaking further analysis to assess its impact on the various groups and will continue considering policy options with stakeholders. It remains our priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter and sustain employment. Any future decisions on housing support will be made in the round, prioritising measures that best meet Government objectives within the current fiscal environment.

What steps he is taking to encourage (a) breast cancer screening and (b) cervical screening programmes to raise awareness of other gynaecological cancers.

NHS England works to ensure that core public information on screening is easily accessible and understandable to the public, and it regularly and systematically reviews this information.For example, earlier this year, NHS England updated its cervical screening guidance to include that cervical screening is not a check for other cancers of the reproductive system, such as ovary, womb, vulval, or vaginal cancer. This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-description-in-brief/cervical-screening-helping-you-decide--2

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 71739 on Flats: Fire Prevention, when he plans to publish the eligibility criteria.

The Department intends to provide further information on cladding remediation funding for buildings under 11m in height in England in due course.

What estimate she has made of the cost of extending the Childcare Grant to postgraduate students.

The government introduced new support packages for students starting postgraduate master’s degree courses from the 2016/17 academic year onwards and postgraduate doctoral degree courses from 2018/19 onwards. These loans are not based on income and are intended as a contribution to the cost of study. They can be used by students according to their personal circumstances to cover the costs of fees and living costs, including childcare. The new support packages have provided a significant uplift in support for postgraduate students while ensuring the student support system remains financially sustainable.Students studying on postgraduate courses can apply for loans towards their course fees and living costs up to £12,858 in 2025/26 for new students undertaking postgraduate master’s degree courses and up to £30,301 in 2025/26 for new students undertaking postgraduate doctoral degree courses.Postgraduate students are eligible for a different package of support to undergraduate students to help with course fees and living costs, including childcare. These students are therefore not eligible to receive the childcare grant.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure the availability of housing-related advice services in Bristol.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 78811 on 15 October 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what his Department's timetable is for implementing the Renters’ Rights Act (2025).

The government intends to set out detailed implementation plans for the Renters’ Rights Act in the near future. As part of those plans, we will support all stakeholders through detailed guidance and communications.

What steps he is taking to ensure adequate access to free immigration advice in (a) Bristol and (b) the South West.

We are committed to making sure timely advice is there for those who need it, and this sits right at the heart of our vision for a better, more effective justice system.We have confirmed we will be uplifting housing and immigration legal aid fees. This represents a significant investment – the first since 1996 – resulting in an increase of £20 million a year once fully implemented.We are also supporting the sector through targeted grants. The Government is funding the costs of accreditation for immigration and asylum caseworkers, providing up to £1.4 million in 2024 and a further £1.7 million in 2025.The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for commissioning legal aid services, and it monitors the numbers of providers in each procurement area and across all categories of law. It takes operational action where it can, to respond to market pressures that may arise and works closely with the Ministry of Justice on policy solutions concerning the supply of legal aid.In response to challenges around the supply of legal aid providers in the south-west, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) put in place a list of immigration providers in England and Wales who are willing and able to provide immigration advice to individuals from the Southwest who are unable to find a local provider. This list remains in force and is regularly updated and provided to individuals that call the Civil Legal Aid advice line, as well as being published/accessible on the LAA’s website.Beyond legal aid, the Ministry of Justice is funding the delivery of wider legal support services, which provide advice and support to people facing social welfare legal problems, including immigration issues. In 2025-26 we are providing over £6 million of grant funding to 60 frontline organisations to improve access to legal support and information, both in person and online, to help people resolve their problems as early as possible. This includes funding for organisations such as some regional Citizens Advice, Law Centres (including Bristol Law Centre), Asylum Support Appeals Project, Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support, as well as AdviceNow, which provides online support on their website across a range of civil, family and tribunal problems.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness among renters about the provisions of the Renters’ Rights Act ahead of its implementation date.

The government intends to set out detailed implementation plans for the Renters’ Rights Act in the near future. As part of those plans, we will support all stakeholders through detailed guidance and communications.

If he will ensure early diagnosis of primary bone cancer is included in the National Cancer Plan.

Early diagnosis is a key focus of the National Cancer Plan. It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including primary bone cancer and other rare cancers, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes.We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.Furthermore, we have implemented non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways, designed to speed up the diagnosis of cancer by introducing a route to possible diagnosis for patients who display symptoms that could indicate cancer but do not align to specific cancers. The new NSS pathway complements current cancer diagnostic pathways, as well as providing elements that can be applied to existing pathways.The Government welcomes the recent publication of Sarcoma UK’s sarcoma state of the nation report as it highlights the importance of early diagnosis, care co-ordination across complex pathways, research into new treatments, and survivorship. Our forthcoming National Cancer Plan, which will be published in the new year, will set out how we will improve outcomes for all cancers, including sarcoma.

What steps his Department has taken to help ensure that the Infected Blood Compensation Authority claims process is accessible to people whose historic NHS records are difficult to locate.

Given the historic nature of the infected blood scandal, the Government recognises that not all medical records will still be available. The Compensation Scheme has been designed to minimise as far as possible the burden on those applying, and eligibility for compensation will be determined based on the balance of probabilities. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority will provide assistance to those who believe their medical records have been lost or destroyed. The role of IBCA’s claim managers includes helping individuals who are claiming to gather information, including medical evidence where available, to support their claim.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 78048 on General Practitioners: Recruitment, whether he plans to recruit more experienced GPs whose Certificate of Completion of Training Date was more than two years ago.

As self-employed contractors to the National Health Service, it is for general practices (GPs) to determine how they run their operations, including recruitment decisions.We are investing an additional £1.1 billion into GPs to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.4 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest cash increase in over a decade and will facilitate the recruitment of GPs. The 8.9% boost to the GP Contract in 2025/26 is greater than the 5.8% growth to the NHS budget as a whole.In my previous response to Question 78048, I discussed the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), which has now recruited over 2,500 GPs since being introduced in October 2024, and which was brought in as a targeted response to the risk of new GP unemployment. Every year we consult with the profession about what services GPs provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract, taking account of the cost of delivering services. This includes reviewing the terms of various schemes such as the ARRS.

When he plans to publish his response to the Grocery Code Adjudicator statutory review, which closed on 5 August 2025.

The fourth statutory review of the effectiveness of the GCA covers the period from 31 March 2022 – 1 April 2025. The review commenced on 1 April 2025 and a consultation to gather stakeholder views and evidence closed 5 August. The government is currently analysing responses to the consultation, alongside other publicly available evidence, and will publish a report on the findings of the review as soon as practicable..