Written questions by Bonavia.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating internet service providers to charge existing customers the same as new ones.

The Government continues to work closely with Ofcom, the independent regulator of telecommunications, to ensure customers are empowered to navigate the telecoms market and find the best deals for their needs.A range of measures have been implemented, for example since 2020 Ofcom has required providers to issue end-of–contract notifications. These alert customers when their contract/discounts are ending, encouraging them to secure better deals.The Government has no plans to mandate providers to charge new and existing customers the same price, however we will continue to work with Ofcom to monitor the market to ensure that consumers are receiving fair deals.

What assessment he has made of the potential benefits of allowing paramedics to prescribe oxycodone.

The Department remains committed to exploring the extension of medicine responsibilities for non-medical professionals. This will support the aim that patients are cared for and treated by the most appropriate healthcare professional to meet their needs, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. Many regulated healthcare professionals have already received extended medicine responsibilities, and the Department is committed to assessing the impact that these changes have had on patient care.Regarding the extension of paramedics’ medicine responsibilities, there is a process in place for making changes to ensure proposals are safe and beneficial for patients. Officials are carefully considering proposals relating to a range of healthcare professionals, including paramedics, as a part of wider work building on work delivered by the Chief Professions Officers’ medicines mechanisms programme.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take legislative steps to ban disposable barbeques.

The Government has no plans to ban disposable barbeques at present. Local authorities already have powers to apply local bans on council or public land. It would also be a crime to litter a disposable barbecue for which councils have powers to issue fixed penalty notices (on-the-spot fines) of up to £500 or prosecute.

If she will review the minimum floor cap for self-employed individuals receiving universal credit.

The Minimum Income Floor (MIF) encourages self-employed customers to progress in work and grow their earnings to a sustainable level. The Government has committed to reviewing Universal Credit to ensure it is supporting the Government’s objectives to make work pay and tackle poverty.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to make government digital services accessible to people in rural areas.

The new digital centre exists to enable Departments to deliver digital public services that work for everyone. GDS guide, monitor and assure all digital public services, incentivising departments to provide support for service users with low digital skills or limited access to the web.Through Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network, we are continuing to deliver broadband and mobile connectivity to hard-to-reach areas with limited or low coverage.

What recent discussions he has had with NATO allies on strengthening European security.

We regularly engage with NATO and our Allies on strengthening Euro-Atlantic security. The Prime Minister met the NATO Secretary General on 3 February, underlining our unshakeable commitment to the Alliance. European Allies must take greater responsibility for our own security, spending more and producing more. That is the message the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary continue to deliver to our Allies.

What steps he plans to take to improve treatment for people with glioblastoma brain tumours.

One of the Secretary of State’s first acts as Minister was to meet with clinicians to discuss what more we can do to diagnose and treat patients with brain tumours including glioblastoma.In September 2024, my Department announced new funding opportunities...

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with metro mayors and local authorities on further devolution.

In the first days of this Government, the Prime Minister and I met Mayors in Downing Street to discuss devolution and the critical role for mayors in delivering our Mission of Economic Growth.Building on the last Labour Government’s legacy of the devolution in Scotland and Wales, the Prime Minister and I are determined to see devolution extended to every corner of England and I have invited local areas without a devolution agreement to come forward.We will continue to work with local leaders, councils, Members of Parliament and stakeholders to deepen and widen devolution across England.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to enable local authorities to bring in rent controls for people in the private rented sector.

The Government does not support the introduction of rent controls. We have made clear that we intend to use the Renters’ Rights Bill to provide tenants with greater protections against unreasonable within-tenancy rent increases.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to help (a) younger people and (b) first time buyers onto the housing ladder.

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many young people are now locked out of homeownership. In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, the Government has committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme and to giving first-time buyers the first chance to buy homes.

What steps his Department plans to take to help support the defence sector in the (a) East of England and (b) UK.

This Government recognises the vital role Defence plays not only in our national security but also to the economic prosperity and growth of the United Kingdom. The Government is committed to delivering a new Defence Industrial Strategy, working in partnership with our domestic defence industry across the UK, to support UK innovation and resilience.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to review the (a) efficiency and (b) reliability of postal voting for UK nationals living abroad during the General Election on 4 July 2024.

I refer my Hon Friend to the answer given to Question UIN 199 on 26 July 2024.

What steps she is taking to help improve (a) the physical and mental health and (b) other aspects of the lives of unpaid and kinship carers.

Kinship carers play an extremely important role in both their kin children’s lives and in the children’s social care system.The government is committed to working in partnership with local government to support children in care, whether they are being looked after by their community or kinship, foster carers and adoptive parents. The department recognises the challenges many kinship carers face. The government will consider how to most effectively transform the children’s social care system so that it is better delivering for children and families. This will include considering how best to support kinship carers and children in kinship care.The department will recruit the first ever National Kinship Care Ambassador to advocate for kinship carers and work directly with local authorities to improve services. The ambassador will be appointed in 2024 and will support government and local authorities to keep kinship carers at the heart of their services.The government is extending the delivery of peer support groups, which will sustain over 140 peer support groups across England where all types of kinship carers, including private foster carers, can come together to share stories, support each other, and exchange advice.The department is also funding a package of in person and online training and support that all kinship carers across England may access. The service went live in April 2024 and is being delivered by the charity, Kinship.

If she will widen Bilateral Social Security Agreements including index-linked state pensions for UK nationals abroad with Commonwealth countries.

UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality. The policy on the uprating of UK State Pensions paid overseas is a longstanding one. UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality, and are only uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so - for example in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement that provides for up-rating. There are no plans to widen Bilateral Social Security Agreements to include the uprating of State Pensions paid to recipients abroad.