Written questions by Entwistle.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement of orders requiring dogs to be muzzled in public.

Defra is working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to encourage responsible dog ownership, to ensure dog control issues are addressed before they escalate and to make sure the full force of the law is applied. As part of this work, we have reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce to explore measures to promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. This includes consideration of enforcement. We look forward to receiving the findings and recommendations from the taskforce in due course.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of gambling adverts on people living in Bolton North East constituency.

Gambling adverts can appear across a significant range of channels from out of home billboards and social media, to complex dynamic or targeted adverts online. As such, the Department does not hold data on the number of gambling adverts published.This government recognises that while advertising is a legitimate advantage which licensed operators have over unlicensed gambling firms, increased exposure to gambling advertising can have an impact on gambling participation. There are existing robust rules and regulations in place to ensure that advertising and marketing, whenever it appears, is socially responsible.However, we recognise that more can be done to improve protections. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to raise standards and this work will be monitored closely.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the number of gambling adverts on people living in Bolton North East constituency.

Gambling adverts can appear across a significant range of channels from out of home billboards and social media, to complex dynamic or targeted adverts online. As such, the Department does not hold data on the number of gambling adverts published.This government recognises that while advertising is a legitimate advantage which licensed operators have over unlicensed gambling firms, increased exposure to gambling advertising can have an impact on gambling participation. There are existing robust rules and regulations in place to ensure that advertising and marketing, whenever it appears, is socially responsible.However, we recognise that more can be done to improve protections. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to raise standards and this work will be monitored closely.

What assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the proposals on gambling outlined in the letter sent to him by the Health and Social Care Committee on 8 May 2025.

The Department has responded to the letter from the Health and Social Care Committee in full. A copy of the Department’s response is attached.

Media and Sport, how many gambling adverts were published in each year from 2019 to 2025.

Gambling adverts can appear across a significant range of channels from out of home billboards and social media, to complex dynamic or targeted adverts online. As such, the Department does not hold data on the number of gambling adverts published.This government recognises that while advertising is a legitimate advantage which licensed operators have over unlicensed gambling firms, increased exposure to gambling advertising can have an impact on gambling participation. There are existing robust rules and regulations in place to ensure that advertising and marketing, whenever it appears, is socially responsible.However, we recognise that more can be done to improve protections. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to raise standards and this work will be monitored closely.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2025 to Question 52388 on Teachers: Religion, what the first degree subjects the 80 percent of entrants to RE Initial Teacher Training who did not have their first degree in Theology and Religious Studies were.

The following table shows the subject for the first degree of new entrants to religious education initial teacher training (ITT) in the 2024/25 academic year. Subject is as specified in the Higher Education Statistics Agency’s Common Aggregation Hierarchy. Trainees with unknown first degree subject are excluded. Where trainees have more than one first degree subject, they are listed as “joint honours”. Note that some degree subjects, such as philosophy that are not included within theology and religious studies, may contain relevant content for religious education. It is the responsibility of the accredited ITT provider to determine the suitability of a candidate applying for ITT. The department publishes the ITT criteria which sets out the minimum requirements that a candidate must meet to be eligible for ITT.Degree subjectNumber of traineesPercentage of traineesTheology and religious studies8920%Philosophy8218%Sociology5212%Joint honours4711%History307%Law297%Psychology (non-specific)235%Education184%Politics143%Anthropology51%Childhood and youth studies51%Others in psychology51%Liberal arts (non-specific)41%Classics31%Media studies31%Social work31%Cinematics and photography2<1%Health studies2<1%Literature in English2<1%Management studies2<1%Music2<1%Social sciences (non-specific)2<1%Sport and exercise sciences2<1%American and Australasian studies1<1%Art1<1%Business and management (non-specific)1<1%Combined, general or negotiated studies1<1%Counselling, psychotherapy and occupational therapy1<1%Creative writing1<1%Development studies1<1%Developmental psychology1<1%Drama1<1%Economics1<1%English language1<1%Forensic and archaeological sciences1<1%Geography (non-specific)1<1%Health sciences (non-specific)1<1%Nursing (non-specific)1<1%Polymers and textiles1<1%Social policy1<1%Tourism, transport and travel1<1%

When the Government will release its publicly accessible dashboard that charts the progress of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme.

The Government is committed to continuing to drive forward the implementation of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s 2024 recommendations, and the progress made on responding to these recommendations will be publicly available via a dashboard which is due to be published before summer recess.For progress specifically on the delivery of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority is responsible for the delivery of compensation and publishes the latest compensation figures on its website every two weeks.

How many and what proportion of religious education teacher trainees held degrees in subjects other than religious education in the 2024-25 academic year; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of removing the subject knowledge enhancement grant for religious education on the quality of religious education provision.

Religious education (RE) is not a degree subject recognised by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The closest subject in HESA’s Common Aggregation Hierarchy is theology and religious studies. In 2024/25, there were 444 new entrants to RE initial teacher training (ITT), for whom we have data on first degree subject. Of these, 89 (20%) had degrees in subjects categorised as theology and religious studies, and 355 (80%) had degrees in other subjects. Some degree subjects, such as philosophy, that are not included within theology and religious studies, may contain relevant content for RE. It is the responsibility of the accredited ITT provider to determine the suitability of a candidate applying for ITT. The department publishes the ITT criteria which sets out the minimum requirements that a candidate must meet to be eligible for ITT.The department continually reviews the support available to trainee teachers and the annual review of the subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) package will take place before the new academic year to ensure that available SKE provision is focused on the candidates who need it the most.The department remains committed to recruiting the teachers we need. We have announced an ITT financial incentives package worth up to £233 million for the 2025/26 ITT recruitment cycle, a £37 million increase on the last cycle. This includes a £10,000 tax-free bursary for RE trainee teachers.

How many pregnant women were accompanied by (a) the child's father and (b) their partner during (i) antenatal booking-in appointments and (ii) antenatal scans in the most recent 12 month period for which data is available.

The Department does not hold information on how many pregnant women were accompanied by the child's father and their partner during antenatal booking-in appointments and antenatal scans.

How many times were the partners of women diagnosed with postnatal depression (a) engaged with and (b) assessed for their mental health by NHS mental health services in the most recent 12 month period for which data is available.

NHS England collects some management data on the mental health service offers made to partners. However, this data is not centrally validated.

What steps his Department is taking to support the (a) mental and (b) physical health of (i) fathers and (ii) their (A) partners and (B) families in the perinatal period.

The Government is committed to improving the support available to mothers, fathers, and partners who experience mental health difficulties, including postnatal depression, during the perinatal period.Fathers and partners of women accessing specialist perinatal mental health services and maternal mental health services should be offered an evidence-based assessment for their mental health and signposted to sources of support as required. This can include NHS Talking Therapies services, which are available for anyone who needs support with their mental health. People can refer themselves online via the National Health Service website or by contacting their general practice.In addition, in January 2025, the Department announced £126 million for the continuation of the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme in 2025/26 in 75 local authorities with high levels of deprivation. This includes £36.5 million for bespoke perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationship support, including for fathers.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) create a pathway for (i) expectant and (ii) new fathers and (b) ensure that NHS staff are trained to (A) engage with and (B) provide (1) information and (2) support to fathers.

Listening and responding to all women and families, including expectant and new fathers, is an essential part of providing safe and high-quality care. There are multiple actions in place that recognise and involve new and expectant fathers. These include:ensuring that fathers’ perspectives shape improvements to services and care, through Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships;encouraging fathers’ involvement in care for their babies in neonatal units, through Family Integrated Care, helping to strengthen the parent-infant bond and improve infant health outcomes;providing evidence-based mental health assessments and support for partners, including fathers, through Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services. This has helped 5% to 10% of fathers experiencing mental health conditions during the perinatal period;ensuring that health visiting services are parent focussed and include both mothers and fathers, including in perinatal mental health support; andoffering antenatal education services which are available to women and their families, including fathers, in the majority of trusts.In addition, in January 2025, the Department announced £126 million for the continuation of the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme in 2025/26, in 75 local authorities with high levels of deprivation. This includes £36.5 million for bespoke perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationship support, including for fathers.Employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver appropriate treatment for patients.To support employers, NHS England has launched a number of initiatives to ensure that NHS staff are trained to engage with and provide information and support to fathers. This includes an e-learning module on handling difficult situations, and a Core Competency Framework, which sets out clear expectations for all trusts, aiming to address known variations in training and competency assessments. The framework includes a module on equality, equity, and personalised care.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of routinely (a) recording and (b) matching new fathers’ health records to those of their children.

The Department has not carried out a recent assessment of the merits of routinely recording and matching new fathers’ health records to those of their children.The Personal Demographics Service (PDS) can record many relationships, including 'mother', 'father' and 'parent'. If a baby is born in England, then the midwife will create a PDS record and grant them a National Health Service number. They will link the birth mother's record to the child, and if the local maternity system supports it, they could also add the second parent at that time.

What steps she is taking to help increase prosecution rates in cases of violence against women and girls.

This Government was elected with a landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. A key part of this will be delivering effective prosecutions, and we continue to see improvements in the prosecution of VAWG offences.As Solicitor General, I superintend the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is continuing to transform its approach to adult rape prosecution through the implementation of its new national operating model, based on robust evidence from Operation Soteria. Through this work, the CPS has seen substantial increases in referral, charge, and prosecution volumes for adult rape.These improvements have also informed the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan with policing which launched in November 2024. Better partnership with policing has already led to modest initial increases in domestic abuse referrals, setting a strong foundation for future improvements. Pilots are now underway in three CPS areas, to improve timeliness of investigations, efficiency of charging decisions and communication throughout cases.To address the increasingly complexity of VAWG offending and the holistic needs of victims, the CPS will also begin implementation of its 2025-30 VAWG strategy. This will ensure prosecutors have the right skills and tools to prosecute VAWG effectively.

What steps his Department is taking to support Greater Manchester ICB to increase the speed of access to diagnostic tests for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Data on the number of people waiting to receive a spirometry test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB) is not held centrally.The Government is committed to putting patients first, including in Greater Manchester. This means making sure that patients, including those waiting to receive a spirometry test or other diagnostic tests for COPD, are seen on time, and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care.The Government is supporting the Greater Manchester ICB to increase the speed of diagnostic tests for COPD, for instance through community diagnostic centres (CDCs). There are seven CDCs across the Greater Manchester ICB, of which four are either a standard or large model CDC. All standard and large CDCs are required to offer respiratory tests such as spirometry, and full lung function tests.The Greater Manchester ICB is also exploring and testing innovative case finding tools for patients with COPD and asthma as part of a Greater Manchester toolkit for respiratory care, including developing remote spirometry as a proof of concept. The Greater Manchester ICB has also trained approximately 300 staff to provide quality assured spirometry to patients, and is currently working towards getting staff accredited to Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology standards.In January 2025, we published the Elective Reform Plan. The plan sets out the productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the 18-week constitutional standard by the end of this Parliament. The Elective Reform Plan commits to transform and expand diagnostic services and speed up waiting times for tests, a crucial part of reducing overall waiting times and returning to the Referral to Treatment 18-week standard.This includes expanding existing CDCs, as well as building up to five new ones in 2025/26, to support the NHS to return to meeting the elective waiting time constitutional standard. The plan also commits to CDCs opening 12 hours per day, seven days a week, delivering more same-day tests and consultations, and to an expanded range of tests.

How many people are waiting to receive a spirometry test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Greater Manchester integrated care board.

Data on the number of people waiting to receive a spirometry test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board (ICB) is not held centrally.The Government is committed to putting patients first, including in Greater Manchester. This means making sure that patients, including those waiting to receive a spirometry test or other diagnostic tests for COPD, are seen on time, and ensuring that people have the best possible experience during their care.The Government is supporting the Greater Manchester ICB to increase the speed of diagnostic tests for COPD, for instance through community diagnostic centres (CDCs). There are seven CDCs across the Greater Manchester ICB, of which four are either a standard or large model CDC. All standard and large CDCs are required to offer respiratory tests such as spirometry, and full lung function tests.The Greater Manchester ICB is also exploring and testing innovative case finding tools for patients with COPD and asthma as part of a Greater Manchester toolkit for respiratory care, including developing remote spirometry as a proof of concept. The Greater Manchester ICB has also trained approximately 300 staff to provide quality assured spirometry to patients, and is currently working towards getting staff accredited to Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology standards.In January 2025, we published the Elective Reform Plan. The plan sets out the productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the 18-week constitutional standard by the end of this Parliament. The Elective Reform Plan commits to transform and expand diagnostic services and speed up waiting times for tests, a crucial part of reducing overall waiting times and returning to the Referral to Treatment 18-week standard.This includes expanding existing CDCs, as well as building up to five new ones in 2025/26, to support the NHS to return to meeting the elective waiting time constitutional standard. The plan also commits to CDCs opening 12 hours per day, seven days a week, delivering more same-day tests and consultations, and to an expanded range of tests.

How many patients in (a) Greater Manchester ICB and (b) England are waiting for an appointment with a specialist respiratory clinician following a referral from their GP.

The number of cases where patients on a consultant-led referral to treatment pathway were waiting for a first appointment under the Respiratory Medicine or Paediatric Respiratory Medicine treatment functions as of 20 April 2025 in the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board was 7,417, and in England was 150,484.

What steps his Department is taking to help tackle health inequalities linked to the (a) diagnosis and (b) management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board.

Respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a clinical priority and the National Health Service is investing in the provision of more and better rehabilitation services for respiratory patients. This has the objective of improving outcomes for people with COPD through early diagnosis and increased access to treatments.The NHS RightCare COPD pathway has been rolled out nationally and defines the optimal service for people with COPD. Furthermore, the National Respiratory Audit Programme aims to improve quality of care, services, and clinical outcomes for patients with asthma and COPD, by collecting and providing data on a range of indicators and pulmonary rehabilitation activityA national programme of work is underway to support systems with improving access to Pulmonary Rehabilitation for the eligible population; increase capacity of provision to reduce waiting lists; and improve the quality and consistency of rehabilitation programmes through accreditation. Pulmonary rehabilitation is effective for people with COPD, improving exercise capacity or increased quality of life in 90% patients who complete a programme.The NHS England Core20PLUS5 approach strives to inform action that targets the most deprived 20% of the population and other inclusion health groups, with the aim of reducing health inequalities. The approach focuses on improving the 5 clinical areas at most need of accelerated improvement, namely cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory, maternity and mental health outcomes, in the poorest 20 percent of the population, along with other disadvantaged population groups identified at a local level.Within NHS Greater Manchester, steps to address health inequalities linked to COPD include: improving equity of access to diagnostic spirometry and FeNO, particularly for disadvantaged population groups; increasing capacity and reducing waiting times for pulmonary rehabilitation services; increasing vaccination uptake and focusing on secondary prevention of pneumonia; running smoking cessation services; and introducing a respiratory standard to improve quality in general practice in managing COPD.This standard utilises a tool to identify patients with COPD who are at the highest risk and asks practices to do an enhanced review and management of these patients to help manage their COPD better.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that meeting patients' communications needs is included in the 10 year plan objective to shift from analogue to digital.

We have committed to develop a 10 Year Plan to deliver a National Health Service fit for the future. While it is too soon to say exactly what will be in the plan, digital services will support and complement face to face care and will help meet patients’ communication needs.The Government will create a more modern NHS by bringing together a single patient record, summarising patient health information, test results, and letters in one place, through the NHS App. It will put patients in control of their own medical history, meaning they do not have to repeat it at every appointment, and that staff have the full picture of patients’ health.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that aid can reach people in Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary met with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 15 April to press Israel to restore the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and raise concerns about the safety of aid workers in the region. On 21 March, the UK issued a joint statement with France and Germany, making clear that Israel should fully respect international law and allow the flow of aid immediately. We called on Israel to restore humanitarian access, restore water and electricity, and ensure access to medical care and medical evacuations in accordance with international humanitarian law. I also spoke to the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, about the humanitarian situation in Gaza on 14 March. We announced £129 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2024/25 Financial Year and will continue to play a key humanitarian role in Gaza.