Written questions by Moran.

What estimate he has made of the potential cost to integrated care boards of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission proposed code of practice for services, public functions and associations, published on 20 May 2025.

To date, no assessment has been made. The Supreme Court’s ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Acy 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers.The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently consulting on the text for an updated statutory code of practice, which will close on 30 June 2025. We will consider any further implications following the outcome.

What estimate he has made of the potential cost to GPs of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission proposed code of practice for services, public functions and associations, published on 20 May 2025.

To date, no assessment has been made. The Supreme Court’s ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Acy 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers.The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently consulting on the text for an updated statutory code of practice, which will close on 30 June 2025. We will consider any further implications following the outcome.

What estimate he has made of the potential cost to hospitals of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission proposed code of practice for services, public functions and associations, published on 20 May 2025.

To date, no assessment has been made. The Supreme Court’s ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Acy 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers.The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently consulting on the text for an updated statutory code of practice, which will close on 30 June 2025. We will consider any further implications following the outcome.

What estimate he has made of the potential cost to urgent care services of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission proposed code of practice for services, public functions and associations, published on 20 May 2025.

To date, no assessment has been made. The Supreme Court’s ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Acy 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers.The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently consulting on the text for an updated statutory code of practice, which will close on 30 June 2025. We will consider any further implications following the outcome.

What estimate he has made of the potential cost to NHS Trusts of implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission proposed code of practice for services, public functions and associations, published on 20 May 2025.

To date, no assessment has been made. The Supreme Court’s ruling about the meaning of ‘sex’ in the Equality Acy 2010 case has provided much needed confidence and clarity to service providers.The Equality and Human Rights Commission is currently consulting on the text for an updated statutory code of practice, which will close on 30 June 2025. We will consider any further implications following the outcome.

What the scale of the revenue certainty mechanism will be; and how market pricing will be achieved.

The SAF Bill was introduced on Wednesday 14th May in the House of Commons, with legislative measures to implement an industry-funded revenue certainty mechanism to support SAF production in the UK.The Bill confirms the government’s position that any funding required should come from a levy on aviation fuel suppliers.Further work is required to design the allocation process for the revenue certainty mechanism. This will include greater detail regarding the size and timings of the contracts, as well as parameters around pricing. We will maintain a close and ongoing dialogue with industry on options for achieving cost control within the revenue certainty mechanism.

Whether he is taking steps with the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure green energy projects have access to CO2 storage.

The recent final investment decisions with the East Coast Cluster and Liverpool Bay CCS are the first steps in unlocking necessary CO2 storage requirements needed to deliver our carbon budgets. The Department continues to work with key regulatory and industry partners so that the capacity needed to store CO2 is accessible to green energy projects, such as cement decarbonisation or sustainable aviation fuels. The Government also recognises that non-pipeline methods of CO2 transportation (for example, road, rail, barge and ship) will be required where it is not feasible to connect to a store via pipeline.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that new green businesses receive required utility connections in a timely manner.

The Government recognises the need for timely connections to the electricity network. The Government has worked at pace with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and the energy regulator, Ofgem, to develop a new connections process where strategically important demand projects will receive the strongest possible non-financial government support to facilitate timely connections. Stalled projects will be removed from the queue to prioritise projects which are vital for economic growth and the acceleration of transmission infrastructure.

Whether British National Overseas visa holders will be impacted by her Department's proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain.

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of planned reductions in spending on official development assistance on funding for Voluntary Service Overseas.

The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security, and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Decisions on how the ODA budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors including impact assessments, and value for money.Our approach balances the UK's proud tradition of supporting the world's most vulnerable with our fundamental responsibility to protect British interests in an increasingly unstable world.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) implementing a defined standard for asbestos testing for cosmetics and (b) banning talc in (i) personal care and (ii) cosmetic products.

Regulation is clear that cosmetics must be safe. To demonstrate compliance, a safety assessment must be completed by a qualified safety assessor.Government intends to perform sector reviews of product regulation that will consider hazards that may impact consumer safety. To ensure that regulations reflects modern supply chains we recently introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill enabling government to create a proportionate regulatory framework that will protect UK consumers from risk.

When he plans to respond to Question 44527, tabled by the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon on 4 April 2025.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 May 2025 to Question 44527.

What steps the Government is taking to ensure that the (a) rights and (b) needs of older women are taken into account in policy decisions.

The Government is clear that equality and opportunity for all are at the heart of our programme of national renewal and every Mission. This includes actively considering the needs of older women and ensuring that they are not discriminated against. The Equality Act 2010 contains strong protections for older women in a variety of settings, including work and the provision of services. The Act prohibits discrimination because of age and harassment related to age. In addition, the Employment Rights Bill will introduce robust measures to further safeguard working women, including gender pay gap and menopause action plans.The Government recognises the challenges some older women can face and is committed to ensuring that support systems are in place These include improving older people’s participation online through the new Digital Inclusion Action plan, employment support through Jobcentres, and addressing healthcare inequality in the 10 Year Health Plan, to ensure the NHS is there for anyone who needs it, whenever they need it.

What estimate she has made of the proportion of schools that have asbestos present; and what steps she is taking to reduce levels of asbestos in schools.

The department takes the safety of children, and those who work with them, incredibly seriously which is why we expect all local authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts as responsible bodies to have robust plans in place to manage asbestos in school buildings effectively, in line with their legal duties, drawing on appropriate professional advice.As the regulator for asbestos, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) undertook inspections of a number of schools across the UK between September 2022 and April 2023 to look at compliance under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The inspections showed that most schools were complying with the legal duties, and effective management systems are in place to manage and monitor the condition of asbestos-contained materials onsite.The department is collecting data on the condition of school buildings in England as part of the Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme. To date, we have visited 18,029 schools and 13,592 (75.4%) have reported they have asbestos. The department follows the advice of the HSE as regulator that, as long as asbestos-containing materials are undamaged, and not in locations where they are vulnerable to damage, they should be left undisturbed, and their condition monitored.The department has been clear, however, that when asbestos does pose a risk to safety and cannot be effectively managed in place, it should be removed. The decision to remove asbestos should be considered on a case-by-case basis and, annual condition funding provided by the department can be used for this purpose.As part of the 2025/26 budget, we have increased capital allocations to improve the condition of school buildings to £2.1 billion, which represents £300 million more than this financial year. This is on top of the School Rebuilding Programme and targeted support for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

What steps he is taking to help reduce the risk of young adults developing Type 2 diabetes.

The Department continues to take steps to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in young adults through the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP). The programme supports individuals aged between 18 and 80 years old to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes, and has proven highly effective. More than 840,000 people have been supported through the NHS DPP, reducing their risk by 37% compared to those who did not attend.The NHS DPP continues to work in close partnership with Diabetes UK, who raises awareness amongst the public of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in children, young people, and adults through their website, social media channels, and local campaigns.We are committed to tackling the obstacles driving obesity. We have already laid secondary legislation to restrict advertisements of less healthy food and drink to children on television and online, announced changes to the planning framework for fast food near schools, and we are taking steps to ensure the Soft Drinks Industry Levy remains effective and fit-for-purpose. We are also committed to banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16-year-olds.

What steps he is taking to increase access to (a) diabetes technologies, (b) insulin pumps and (c) glucose sensors for (i) all diabetes patients and (ii) diabetes patients from deprived backgrounds.

In December 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published the technology appraisal guidance, Hybrid closed loop systems for managing blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes, which recommended hybrid closed loop as an option for managing blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes in children and young people, and specific groups of adults. Hybrid closed loop combines a continuous glucose monitor, an insulin pump, and a computer program to automatically adjust the insulin delivery for people with type 1 diabetes. NHS England also published a five-year Hybrid Closed Loop Implementation Strategy. The rollout of the strategy commenced in April 2024. Further information on the NICE’s technology appraisal guidance is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/TA943 Reducing inequity in access to continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps across the most deprived quintiles and across different ethnic groups is a key objective in NHS England’s Core20PLUS5 health inequalities strategy. DigiBete, a nationally commissioned digital self-management resource for children and young people aged zero to 25 years old, includes information and videos on the latest technology available, with information provided in ten of the most commonly spoken languages. Further information on DigiBete is available at the following link: https://www.digibete.org/type-1-technology-resources/ Data from the National Diabetes Audit suggests that the number of people with type 2 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring is increasing. In 2022/23, 37,000 people were using a continuous glucose monitor, rising to 95,000 people in 2023/24, and 155,000 people in 2024/25. Metrics that are useful for health systems to monitor access to glucose monitoring will be published later this year.

When she plans to publish the findings of the review of rodenticide stewardship.

The Government Oversight Group for Rodenticide Stewardship will meet in June to address the conclusions from working groups established to make recommendations for strengthening stewardship. Further discussions will take place over the summer, with final recommendations set for publication following discussions with the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU UK) at the end of the year.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help increase the numbers of international scientists working (a) at Oxford University and (b) in the Oxford biotech cluster.

The UK offers ambitious funding for international talent through prestigious fellowships and professorships from UKRI and the National Academies. Our competitive immigration offer, including fast-track visa routes like the Global Talent visa, facilitates high-skilled migration in key sectors, ensuring that universities like the University of Oxford benefit from global talent.The government recognises the vital role of international specialists in the UK’s Life Sciences sector and supports the Oxford biotech cluster through initiatives like the Global Talent Network, which attracts talented individuals worldwide. In addition, DSIT is collaborating with stakeholders to unlock the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor's potential for growth, investment, and job creation.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to implement a statutory code of conduct for parking operators.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 42709 on 7 April 2025.

What steps he is taking to expand the provision of capital investment for the primary care estate.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, by fixing the front door to the NHS and shifting the focus of the NHS out of hospitals and into the community. At the Autumn Budget 2024, we established a dedicated capital fund of £102 million to deliver approximately 200 upgrades to general practice surgeries across England, supporting improved use of existing buildings and space, boosting productivity, and enabling delivery of more appointments. This funding represents a first step in delivering the additional capital the primary care sector needs.The Government recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects, such as new facilities, significant upgrades, or other targeted capital investments, and the Department is currently reviewing capital requirements in line with the Government’s missions and as part of our preparations for Phase 2 of the Spending Review.