Written questions by Turner.

Pursuant to the Answer of 03 September 2025 to Question 73617, on Armed Forces: Special Educational Needs, if he will publish the February 2025 MODLAP advisory note that is referred to in that Answer.

With reference to my previous response to Question 73617, dated 3 September 2025, concerning Special Educational Needs (SEND) and the MOD Local Authority Partnership (MODLAP), please find attached the February 2025 MODLAP advisory note.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31168 on Primodos: Research and with reference to the oral contribution of Mr Roland Moyle on 26 May 1978, HC official record Volume 950, whether (a) the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and (b) Commission on Human Medicines considered the findings of the Committee on Safety of Medicines study that began in 1969 as part of the recent review that is referred to in that Answer.

The review referenced in Question 31168 considered the 2023 publication by Danielsson et al only. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) assessment of this publication focussed on new data, which concerned transient embryonic hypoxia and teratogenicity in relation to oral hormone pregnancy tests (HPTs), and has been published at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68b0696bf31f3b16cee0e937/Evaluation_of_review_of_transient_embryonic_hypoxia_and_teratogenicity_in_relation_to_oral_hormone_pregnancy_tests__including_Primodos.pdfThis MHRA assessment was considered by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) in November 2024. A copy of the minutes of this CHM meeting is attached.The study referenced by Mr Roland Moyle on 26 May 1978 is titled Maternal drug histories and congenital anomalies, and is authored by Greenberg G, Inman WHW, Weatherall, JAC et al. This was published in the British Medical Journal in October 1977, and is available at the following link:https://www.bmj.com/content/2/6091/853.abstractThe original Expert Working Group (EWG) convened by the United Kingdom’s CHM to review all available evidence on the possible association between HPTs and adverse outcomes in pregnancy considered the study by Greenberg G referenced above as part of their review.The EWG reported its findings in November 2017 and concluded that the totality of the available scientific data does not support a causal association between the use of HPTs during early pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The EWG report on the use of HPTs and adverse effects relating to pregnancy, including possible birth defects, is published online, at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-of-the-commission-on-human-medicines-expert-working-group-on-hormone-pregnancy-testsThe MHRA remains committed to reviewing any new scientific data which becomes available following the conclusion of the EWG.

What discussions her Department has held with railway trade unions on transfers of employment to DfT Operator Limited.

The Department and DFT Operator have regular discussions with trade unions on a range of topics, including the transfer of currently franchised rail passenger services into public ownership. As services are transferred into public ownership, staff employed by the privately-owned operator transfer to the public sector operator in accordance with Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations. Rail trade unions are intrinsically involved in this process.

What (a) published and (b) unpublished research her Department has considered as part of its preparation for establishing the School Support Staff Negotiating Body; and what the titles are of each piece of research.

This government values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce, which is why the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) is being established through the Employment Rights Bill.To inform the establishment and operation of the SSSNB, the department has commissioned new and detailed research into the role and value of school support staff. The research was conducted by Ipsos and findings are expected to be published by around late 2025 and early 2026. The government also included a call for evidence on pay and conditions for school support staff as part of its consultation on setting up the SSSNB, which closed on 18 July, with findings expected to be published in the autumn.Beyond this, departmental officials regularly review published research and evidence on school support staff, including statistical publications such as the School Workforce Census, survey data, and the Education Endowment Foundation’s publications on teaching assistants.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 65451 on the School Support Staff Negotiating Body, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing the body in shadow form ahead of the introduction of secondary legislation.

We anticipate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) will be operational from April 2026. In advance of this, departmental officials have established a regular working group with recognised trade unions representing school support staff and employer representative organisations to provide a forum for stakeholders to give views on the design of the body. We also engage with wider stakeholders who can share knowledge and expertise on the school support staff sector.It would not be appropriate to establish a more formal shadow SSSNB before we have confirmed which staff are in scope of the SSSNB. We have consulted on this matter and expect to publish findings in the autumn. There is also a duty for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to consult the Trades Union Congress before appointing employee representatives. It is important that we work closely with stakeholders but that we do not pre-empt the findings from these consultations.

What discussions her Department has held with the (a) Welsh and (b) Scottish governments on the potential impact of the establishment of School Support Staff Negotiating Body on (i) recruitment and (ii) retention in border areas.

Education is a devolved matter, and the application of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body provisions in the Employment Rights Bill is therefore for state-funded schools in England only.

What steps he is taking to increase the number of Accident and Emergency intake staff.

The 10-Year Workforce Plan, which will be published later this year, will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, including in vital services such as Accident and Emergency, with the right skills to care for patients when they need it.

With reference to NHS England’s publication entitled Interim commissioning guidance: Implementation of the NICE Technology Appraisal TA1026 and the NICE funding variation for tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for the management of obesity, published on 27 March 2025, what estimate (a) NHS England and (b) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence have made of the number of patients eligible for Mounjaro in each year from 2025-26 to 2027-28.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on the use of licensed medicines based on an assessment of their clinical and cost-effectiveness. NICE published the estimated total eligible population for tirzepatide for obesity (Mounjaro) in its technology appraisal, with the code TA 1026, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta1026The following table shows the estimated total eligible population for tirzepatide for obesity, from 2025/26 to 2028/29:YearPopulationCurrent year (2025/26)3,600,000Year 1 (2026/27)3,640,000Year 2 (2027/28)3,670,000Year 3 (2028/29)3,700,000 The figures are based on the population estimated to have an initial body mass index (BMI) of at least 35, and with at least one weight-related comorbidity. They include the impact of the predicted population growth, but they do not include potential increases in obesity prevalence, or include the 2.5 BMI unit reduction that is recommended for people from certain ethnic minority backgrounds. From 23 June, tirzepatide has started to become available in primary care, meaning it can be prescribed by general practitioners, or other competent prescribers. NHS England’s phased rollout within primary care will prioritise those with the greatest clinical need. The NHS is undertaking a phased roll out, as agreed with NICE. This is based on prioritisation led by clinical need. Patient eligibility will increase in stages, up to approximately 220,000 patients after the first three years, as outlined in NHS England's Interim Commissioning Guidance, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/interim-commissioning-guidance-implementation-of-the-nice-technology-appraisal-ta1026-and-the-nice-funding-variation-for-tirzepatide-mounjaro-for-the-management-of-obesity/The total eligible population should have access within the maximum period of 12 years but, as part of the rollout plans, the NHS will look at different service models, including digital and community options. New approaches might enable access to be expanded more quickly. Progress will be reviewed in three years. In addition, the 10-Year Health Plan sets out our ambition to build on these plans by testing innovative models of delivering weight loss services and treatments to patients. On 12 August we announced an £85 million competition to fund the design and delivery of new community and primary care weight management pathways to support access to interventions such as weight loss medications. We expect tens of thousands of patients to directly benefit from increased access to interventions, such as GLP-1s. This will generate new evidence to inform the future commissioning and rollout of tirzepatide.

Communities and Local Government, how many approvals for the disposal of allotments were made under section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925 between 7 May 2010 and 4 July 2024; and what the (a) location and (b) reference number of each disposal was.

Between July 2018 and 4 July 2024 the sitting Secretary of State approved 58 allotment disposals. The location, town, reference number where available and date of disposal are listed in the table below. Due to a change in case management systems, records for the number of allotment disposals do not go back further than July 2018.LocationTownReferenceDateDene Park AllotmentsHexhamN/A13/06/2024Land North of Courteenhall RoadBilsworthNA12/04/2024Redbridge Lane West AllotmentsLondonRedbridge Lane West Allotments02/01/2024Central Avenue AllotmentsKirby in AshfieldW300503/08/2023Leadgate Bradley Bungalows Allotment Site. Adjacent to 50Bradley Bungalows, ConsettLeadgate Bradley Bungalows28/06/2023Land at Saltings AllotmentsGrimsbyB200207/06/2023Castlefield AllotmentsDartfordN/A24/03/2023Windmill Lane Allotment Site,GreenfordLegal/RK/0068486502/02/2023Milner Royd AllotmentsSowerby BridgeSP/100921702/02/2023Bellfield AllotmentsGuildford12401253.1/674661.0202208/11/2022Tursdale Allotment siteCassop-cum-QuarringtonN/A23/09/2022Grazing Land at Beech AllotmentsGrayshottN/A16/08/2022Land at Cliff RoadWakefieldxxxxxx03/08/2022The AllotmentsColchesterN/A06/07/2022Bulbourne RoadTringN/A04/07/2022Land fronting Bowes Road AllotmentsEnfieldQ5300030/06/2022Land at Beever RoadTiptonN/A23/05/2022Jerome AllotmentsActonN/A18/05/2022Bellfields AllotmentsGuilldfordN/K10/02/2022Furge Lane FieldHenstridgeHenstridge19/11/2021Melbourne Park AllotmentsChelmsfordN/A25/08/2021Wesley Street AlotmentsKirkby-in-AshfieldN/K08/07/2021Middleton AllotmentsMilton KeynesN/A08/06/2021Part of Silver Acre Allotments, off Scott Road, Kettering NN16 9NSKetteringn/a17/02/2021Harcourt Road AllotmentsMiddlesbroughN/K16/02/2021Brandon Road and Wilton RoadFeltwelln/a20/08/2020Club TerracePontefractUnknown09/07/2020Newland RoadBristolN/A08/06/2020Wolf Field Allotments,Norwoodn/a02/06/2020Bushey CroftHarlowN/K26/05/2020Stones Road Allotment SiteEpsomN/A06/05/2020Bulborne AllotmentsTringTBC26/03/2020Lillands AvenueBrighouseN/A23/03/2020Hamm Moor AllotmentsAddlestoneNA18/03/2020Beechwood AllotmentsMiddlesbroughN/A09/03/2020Redfield Hill AllotmemntsBristoln/a05/03/2020Lockleaze AllotmentsBristolN/K08/01/2020Coneybeare Allotment SiteAshfordN/A07/10/2019White Hart Allotment SiteSwindonTBC03/10/2019Portobello/Grove AllotmentsKingston- Upon_HullHS34332805/09/2019Meadway AllotmentsDunstablexxxxx/xxxx/xcxx03/09/2019Lampits AllotmentsHoddesdonLampits Allotments15/08/2019Eldon Road AllotmentsRotherhamn/a20/05/2019Grammar School Road AllotmentsBriggN/A07/05/2019Farnham Road AllotmentsBishops StortfordN/A27/03/2019Fleet Meadow,OxfordshireDidcotC Wayman14/03/2019Merry Hill Allotment, SmethwickBirminghamn/a14/03/2019Redesdale PlaceMoreton-in-MarshN/A05/03/2019Silverdale AllotmentsDinnington St JohnN/A26/02/2019Bardney AllotmentsLincolnN/A14/02/2019Spaxton allotment fieldSpaxtonn/a25/01/2019Acton Allotment, Hanbury RoadEalingP/2012/070821/01/2019Land off East Anglian Way / Land on the west side of Church RoadGorlestonEE/EE-GYBC/3871412/12/2018Marlpool AllotmentsHeanorN/A30/11/2018Leys Allotment SiteHigh Peakn/a26/11/2018Schofield StreetMexboroughN/A15/11/2018Butt FieldGoggeshallN/A24/10/2018Ilchester CrescentBristolN/A02/08/2018

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of resuming the Official History Programme.

The Government will consider resumption of the Official History Programme when circumstances allow.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2022 to Question HL 6355 on History: Publications, what recent progress has been made on the publication of Volume 2 of the Official History of the Joint Intelligence Committee.

The Official History of the Joint Intelligence Committee will be published in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to help support service personnel to obtain education, health and care plans for dependent children.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) established, operates and chairs the MOD Local Authority Partnership (MODLAP) principally consisting of those Authorities with the highest numbers of Service children. MODLAP has developed a number of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) related initiatives, which include the SEND Principles. These focus on supporting Service children that require provisions typically contained within Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). In recognition of the unique circumstances of Service children, the SEND Principles enhance provisions already contained within the SEND Code of Practice. These Principles also include measures to ease the conversion of MOD issued Service Children’s Assessment of Needs (SCAN) documentation (MOD equivalent of EHCPs) to EHCPs, following Service children’s return to England after attendance at MOD schools overseas. In addition, in February of this year, MODLAP issued an advisory note to every Director of Children’s Services in England. This provided advice to Local Authorities and schools in regard to how SEND services may meet the unique needs of Service children with SEND, in keeping with their Armed Forces Covenant statutory duties. The MOD also provides Service Personnel with access to SEND information, advice and guidance via its Education Advisory Team, based within Defence Children’s Services. This team is staffed with specialists who are qualified teachers and include backgrounds within SEND services and as school SEN Coordinators. This support, combined with their intimate knowledge of Service-related challenges, means our Service Personnel receive an expert support package. Alongside ongoing Grant in Aid funding provided to the Armed Forces Families Federations, the MOD also delivers grant programmes focused on education issues, including a specific funding theme for SEND. Over the course of the last two funding cycles, the MOD has provided over £2M in SEND grants to Local Authorities and schools to deliver projects and activities that provide added value to support Service children’s SEND needs.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2024 to Question 763, on Special Educational Needs: Tribunals, if she will update the table given in that Answer for the most recent year for which figures are available.

Information about appeals to the First-tier Tribunal for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) is published at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.The table below sets out the number of appeals to the SEND Tribunal against decisions made by Birmingham City Council for the academic years 2021 to 2023 (the latest period for which data are available); and the numbers of those appeals that were (i) determined in favour of the appellants, (ii) determined in favour of the local authority, (iii) withdrawn, (iv) conceded before the hearing, and (v) still awaiting a hearing.Appellants would include appeals made by parents and young persons.Academic yearTotal appeals registered(1)Total appeals determined in favour of the appellantsTotal appeals determined in favour of the local authorityTotal appeals withdrawnConceded before the hearingAwaiting a hearing date (4)2021(2)54736731488912022525365105284122023(3)642410224614418 1. Appeals registered and appeals concluded will not tally due to spanning over academic years.2. Appeal data are only available for three years due to the Tribunal’s record retention and disposal policy.3. The latest period for which data have been published.4. This figure includes appeals with a consent order or a hearing has been vacated awaiting a new hearing date.

What steps Network Rail are taking to ensure that its trackside vegetation management programmed is adequate.

Network Rail works hard to keep the rail network running. Its work to manage trees and other vegetation alongside the railway helps to keep trains running safely and on time. Network Rail carries out its activities in a way that minimises harm, and wherever possible improves the natural habitat while maintaining the performance and safety of the railway. Network Rail is committed to achieving an increase in biodiversity across the network by 2035 and publishes annual State of Nature reports to update on progress towards this commitment.

If she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to help increase public awareness of dyspraxia.

The Government is committed to creating a more inclusive society where neurodiverse people, including those with dyspraxia, are supported to thrive. The Government is working to improve provision and expertise in mainstream schools, supporting earlier intervention, including through the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools programmes.

Whether her Department holds historic records relating to the Birmingham pub bombings that have not been deposited in the National Archives.

I can confirm that the Home Office do hold historic records relating to the horrific 1974 Birmingham Pub bombings that have not yet been deposited in the National Archives.Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, files can be retained by Government departments for a range of reasons, including if such documents pertain to national security matters or if they relate to ongoing investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities. For these reasons, it has been the long standing position of the Home Office under successive governments to retain the aforementioned documents, like all security matters, this decision is kept under regular review.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42776 on Marriage: Humanism, what progress she has made on reviewing the recommendations of the Law Commission's report on marriage reform, published in July 2022.

The Government appreciates the importance of this issue and will provide an update in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37879 on Cats: Animal Breeding, what progress he has made in reviewing the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee Opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices, published in December 2024.

The Government is still carefully considering the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 65477 on Railways: Capital Investment, if she will publish each iteration of that graph during the fourth quarter of 2022.

The chart(s) in question represent scenario planning that was used to inform decision making of the previous administration and it is not appropriate to disclose them.

What recent progress Network Rail has made on the potential replacement of the Total Operations Processing System.

The Network Rail Route Service’s Digital, Data and Technology Services Team has a project progressing to replace the Total Operations Processing System (and related Passenger Operations Information System). This was started in January 2024 when funding had been allocated from the Control Period 7 settlement and is forecast to complete by Quarter 2 2029. The System Release Proposal provides additional information about this work. This document was issued for formal consultation on 9 May 2025 to 8 July 2025 to at least 60 stakeholders. (This number may be greater due to onward sharing). The Network Rail project team has received six formal responses of which only one was negative to the approach. Therefore, the project continues as planned.