Written questions by Entwistle.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of loneliness on the (a) mental and (b) physical health of (i) elderly and (ii) vulnerable people.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) assesses multiple sources of evidence on loneliness including research on the impact of loneliness on physical and mental health across a range of demographic groups, including elderly and vulnerable populations. Chronic loneliness (feeling lonely often or always) can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or background, although some groups are known to be at a higher risk.Research by DCMS highlights that this covers a range of demographics which are likely to include vulnerable adults. Data from the latest Community Life Survey suggests older people are not more likely to experience loneliness than the general population, although risk factors including having a disability or long-standing health condition, being widowed and living alone could increase the likelihood of experiencing chronic loneliness in this cohort.DCMS research shows a bidirectional and cyclical relationship between chronic loneliness and mental health, with people experiencing chronic loneliness 3.7 times more likely to experience mental health distress compared to those who do not experience chronic loneliness. Furthermore, external research suggests that chronic loneliness can have negative impacts on physical health, including higher risk of heart disease, stroke and susceptibility to infection.

If her Department will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) ensure that new offences are consent-based without requiring proof of motive, (b) clarify the status of nudify apps in (i) creating and (ii) soliciting non-consensual images and (c) criminalise the solicitation of sexually explicit synthetic deepfakes.

Further to our announcement on 7 January that we would introduce legislation to tackle the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes, the Government will table an amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill that will criminalise intentionally creating an intimate deepfake without consent or reasonable belief in consent. This delivers on our manifesto commitment and is the latest important step in our mission to halve violence against women and girls.This offence will be tech neutral so would cover those using nudify apps as well as other technologies. The Government is considering options in relation to wider concerns about nudify apps themselves, and how best to tackle these technological developments.Where an individual does not commit the “creating” offence themselves, but they ask someone else to do so, they may be liable under one of the offences set out at sections 44 – 46 of the Serious Crime Act 2007. These ‘inchoate’ offences apply to almost all criminal offences and would automatically apply when the creating deepfakes offence comes into force. But we want to go further and intend to introduce further provisions at a later stage of the Data (Use and Access) Bill.On wider intimate image abuse legislation, as we announced on 7 January, we will be introducing new offences in relation to taking intimate images and installing equipment to enable someone to do so through the Crime and Policing Bill. These offences have been developed to include definitions aligned with sharing intimate images without consent, this will give law enforcement a holistic package of offences to effectively tackle non-consensual intimate image abuse, and address gaps in existing legislation. These provisions will also amend the Sentencing Code to ensure Courts have the power to order, upon conviction, that the offender be deprived of any images in respect of which they were convicted of this offence, as well as anything on which the images were stored (such as a computer or hard drive).The Courts already have this power in relation to offenders convicted of sharing intimate images (including deepfakes) without consent. The Sentencing Council is currently reviewing their guidance on ancillary orders, including deprivation orders, and we will monitor any developments closely.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) align the definition of intimate image with existing offences, (b) mandate the removal of non-consensual intimate images from perpetrators' devices after conviction and (c) tackle other gaps in legislation.

Further to our announcement on 7 January that we would introduce legislation to tackle the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes, the Government will table an amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill that will criminalise intentionally creating an intimate deepfake without consent or reasonable belief in consent. This delivers on our manifesto commitment and is the latest important step in our mission to halve violence against women and girls.This offence will be tech neutral so would cover those using nudify apps as well as other technologies. The Government is considering options in relation to wider concerns about nudify apps themselves, and how best to tackle these technological developments.Where an individual does not commit the “creating” offence themselves, but they ask someone else to do so, they may be liable under one of the offences set out at sections 44 – 46 of the Serious Crime Act 2007. These ‘inchoate’ offences apply to almost all criminal offences and would automatically apply when the creating deepfakes offence comes into force. But we want to go further and intend to introduce further provisions at a later stage of the Data (Use and Access) Bill.On wider intimate image abuse legislation, as we announced on 7 January, we will be introducing new offences in relation to taking intimate images and installing equipment to enable someone to do so through the Crime and Policing Bill. These offences have been developed to include definitions aligned with sharing intimate images without consent, this will give law enforcement a holistic package of offences to effectively tackle non-consensual intimate image abuse, and address gaps in existing legislation. These provisions will also amend the Sentencing Code to ensure Courts have the power to order, upon conviction, that the offender be deprived of any images in respect of which they were convicted of this offence, as well as anything on which the images were stored (such as a computer or hard drive).The Courts already have this power in relation to offenders convicted of sharing intimate images (including deepfakes) without consent. The Sentencing Council is currently reviewing their guidance on ancillary orders, including deprivation orders, and we will monitor any developments closely.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support holiday home facilities for disabled people in (a) Bolton North East constituency and (b) the rest of the UK.

Holiday accommodation must be accessible to all visitors. DCMS are introducing a registration scheme for short-term lets, which Parliament legislated for in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The scheme will help improve transparency around safet...

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the support available to people who have left coercive relationships but continue to be subject to attempts at (a) financial and (b) other contro

Controlling and coercive behaviour is a particularly insidious form of domestic abuse, which can continue post-separation. It is often part of a wider pattern of abuse, including violent, sexual or economic abuse.Since 5th April 2023, following the passag...

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle antisocial behaviour in (a) Bolton North East constituency and (b) the UK.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.We are committed to delivering an additional 13 000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables into neighbourhood policing roles so residen...

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle speeding on residential streets in Bolton North East constituency.

Excess speed is still a major cause of death and serious injury on our roads. Anyone who breaks the speed limit should expect to face a swift and strong sanction.Enforcement of speeding offences in Bolton North East constituency and the deployment of avai...

What steps his Department is taking to help tackle firework misuse in Bolton North East constituency.

Most people use fireworks in a responsible, safe, and appropriate manner and there are laws in place to address situations where fireworks are misused. The current regulatory framework is designed to support people to enjoy fireworks whilst lowering the r...

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing overseas constituencies for elections to the House of Commons.

The Government has no plans at this time to introduce overseas constituencies for elections to the House of Commons. We are focused on delivering on our manifesto commitments to strengthen our democracy and encourage participation – including by giving 16...

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Elections Act 2022 on overseas voting.

The Electoral Commission and the Office for National Statistics review and publish statistics on electoral registration and participation in elections. The Government will examine and reflect on this data when it is available following the 2024 general el...

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of childcare provision.

Ensuring that parents are able to access affordable and high quality childcare is a priority for this government. Our focus in reforming the system will be to ensure that there are greater and more equal opportunities to access early education for every f...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will visit the Bolton Council of Mosques to discuss the conflict in Israel and Palestine; and if he will invite that Council to a meeting in his Department.

As of now, there are no scheduled visits for the Foreign Secretary to Bolton. However, the Foreign Secretary welcomes correspondence from the Bolton Council of Mosques to learn more about their initiatives and efforts.