Written questions by Anderson.

Media and Sport, for what reason she has decided to end the National Citizen Service.

NCS has enabled over a million young people to connect across backgrounds, build confidence, and gain vital life and work skills. However, the challenges young people face today are vastly different from when NCS was created. The world has changed and, as the Secretary of State set out to the House on 12 November, we need a youth strategy and youth organisations that reflects that. We are moving away from one-size-fits all approaches and bringing power back to young people and their communities.

What steps her Department is taking to support local bus services in Ashfield constituency.

Improving local bus services is a key part of this government’s growth mission. The government will introduce a Buses Bill later this Parliamentary session. This will put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in Ashfield and Mansfield, to choose the model that works best in their area, whether that be franchising, high-quality partnerships with private operators or local authority ownership.In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. This includes £243 million for bus operators and £712 million allocated to local authorities across the country. Local authorities can use this funding to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities. East Midlands Combined County Authority has been allocated £40.5 million.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase domestic food security, in the context of recent changes to the rules for Agricultural Property Relief.

Food security is national security. We need a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports British farmers, fishers and food producers. That is why this Government will introduce a new deal for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen Britain's food security. This Government will: cut energy bills by switching on GB Energy; protect farmers from being undercut in trade deals; and use the Government’s own purchasing power to back British produce. The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief here, and further explanatory information here.

What plans his Department has to help tackle backlogs of (a) road maintenance and (b) upgrades in Ashfield and Mansfield constituency.

The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. Nottinghamshire County Council is the local highway authority for the Ashfield and Mansfield constituency, and they are therefore responsible for the condition of their local network. This Government has a commitment to enable local highway authorities in England to fix up to a million more potholes a year. At Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced an extra £500 million for local highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the current financial year exceeding this Government’s manifesto commitment on repairing local roads. The Government will confirm funding allocations to English local highway authorities and mayoral combined authorities, including the East Midlands Combined Authority of which Nottinghamshire County Council is a constituent member, in due course.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has had recent discussions with the Office for Budget Responsibility on accounting for public sector funding for research and development in fiscal forecasts.

Engagement with the Office for Budget Responsibility is led by HM Treasury. The Department engages with HM Treasury on a regular basis to discuss a wide number of topics.

With reference to paragraph 5.141 of the Autumn Budget 2024, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the National Living Wage on the economy.

We will publish an Impact Assessment alongside the legislation that implements the increase to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage in April 2025.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing the rate of employer national insurance contributions on contractors working inside IR35 via an umbrella company.

Raising the revenue required to fix the public finances and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax, which is why we are asking employers to contribute more. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published alongside the legislation when it was introduced to Parliament.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to support farmers who are affected by the changes made to inheritance tax regulations at the Autumn Budget 2024.

The Government’s commitment to our farmers remains steadfast. We are reforming the Agricultural Property Relief on Inheritance Tax in way which protects small family farms. Changes are expected to only affect around 500 claims for agricultural property relief in 2026-27. The Government has committed to support farmers through a farming budget of £5 billion over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production. This will include the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history: £1.8bn for environmental land management schemes in 2025/26. This funding will deliver improvements to food security, biodiversity, carbon emissions, water quality, air quality and flood resilience. Environmental Land Management schemes will remain at the centre of our offer for family-owned farms and other farmers, with the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery all continuing. These offer funding streams for farmers to make their businesses more sustainable and resilient, including those who have been often ignored such as small, grassland, upland and tenant farmers. We will work with the sector to continue to roll out, improve and evolve these schemes, to make them work for farming and nature. The Government will invest a further £2.4bn over the next two years to protect communities across the country from the devastating impacts of flooding by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. This range of support forms part of the government's New Deal for Farmers. The Government is also supporting family-owned farms and other farmers by protecting them from being undercut by low welfare and low standards in trade deals, by lowering energy bills for farmers by switching on GB Energy, and by using the Government’s own purchasing power to back British produce so that 50% of food brought in hospitals, army bases and prisons is locally produced or certified to high environmental standards.

Whether her Department plans to increase the frequency of bus services in Ashfield and Mansfield constituency.

Improving local bus services is a key part of this government’s growth mission. The government will introduce a Buses Bill later this Parliamentary session. This will put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in Ashfield and Mansfield, to choose the model that works best in their area, whether that be franchising, high-quality partnerships with private operators or local authority ownership. Under franchising, the local authority has control of the bus network including setting routes, timetables and fares. In addition, the government has confirmed £925 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Local authorities can use the £925 million to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities. The government will continue working closely with local transport authorities including Nottinghamshire County Council, and others, to deliver better bus services throughout England.

Communities and Local Government, what plans her Department has to increase the availability of affordable housing in Ashfield and Mansfield constituency.

I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024.

Whether he plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

The Government has fulfilled its manifesto commitment to transfer to the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme investment reserve to Members. I am open to considering options put forward by the Trustees for changes to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussion she has had with local government representatives on diversity and inclusion projects.

Local authorities are best placed to decide how to meet the needs of their local communities, and to decide what diversity and inclusion work they need to carry out.

What plans his Department has to improve dementia care services in Ashfield and Mansfield constituency.

Key priorities for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) are to deliver the national target of a dementia diagnosis rate of 66.7%, reduce waiting to time for memory assessment services and to improve access to post-diagnostic support. A Dementia strategy for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will be updated following the Government’s publication of the 10-Year Health Plan expected in spring 2025.Ongoing dementia care services include a Dementia Wellbeing Service provided by Alzheimer’s Society, across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, including Mansfield and Ashfield. The service aims to support patients and carers through several interventions including cognitive stimulation therapy, carer training, 1:1 and group support.The two Ashfield Primary Care Networks (PCN), North & South, piloted an Admiral Nurse within general practices. An Admiral Nurse is a specialist Dementia Nurse supporting patients and carers to live well with Dementia. Following a successful pilot, Ashfield North Primary Care Network have chosen to retain the role to support patients and carers within the network’s practices. Rosewood PCN in Mansfield has recruited a dementia specialist Occupation Therapist to support patients and carers living with dementia within their network of practice.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing surpluses to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in line with the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.

The Government has fulfilled its manifesto commitment to transfer to the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme investment reserve to Members. I am open to considering options put forward by the Trustees for changes to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of public sector funding for research and development on private sector investment in research.

Public Sector funding for research and development has been found to leverage additional private investment in R&D. Each pound of public R&D investment is estimated to leverage, on average, £2 of private R&D investment in the long run and some studies estimate even higher levels of private investment.Businesses grow faster because of public R&D grants. In the 6 years after receiving their first R&D grant funding, employment increases in the average business by 21% and turnover grows by 23%.

How many (a) asylum seekers and (b) refugees are studying degree courses at universities.

The UK has a longstanding and proud tradition of providing a safe haven to those who have no choice but to leave their home country because of endangerment to their lives or to those of their families. Higher education student support is available to those recognised as refugees, as well as their spouses, civil partners and children who were family members on the date the refugee applied for asylum, provided they have been ordinarily (i.e. lawfully) resident in the UK and Islands (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) since being recognised by the government as a refugee and are ordinarily resident in England on the course start date. They are exempt from the three-year ordinary residence requirement.4,948 students with refugee status received student support from Student Finance England in the 2023/24 academic year to support their studies on full time undergraduate courses.Individuals seeking asylum are not entitled to student support in England, whilst they are seeking asylum.The department does not hold information on students who have self-funded their studies.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the rate of return to public investment in UK R&D.

Public R&D generates significant benefits for the UK, with each pound of public R&D investment estimated to leverage, on average, £2 of private R&D investment in the long run. We know businesses grow faster because of public R&D. In the 6 years after receiving their first R&D grant funding, employment increases in the average business by 21% and turnover grows by 23%.The measurable returns of R&D projects will vary, depending on the specific area of research. Returns for closer-to-market research are generally less challenging to quantify than those for fundamental, curiosity-driven research. To ensure that public R&D investments continue to have high impact all new significant DSIT investments are assessed for their value for money and the Department evaluates programmes’ impact.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing surpluses to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in line with the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.

I am open to considering options put forward by the Trustees for changes to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of R&D investment in (a) clean energy, (b) AI and (c) quantum technology on (i) the University of Nottingham and (ii) Nottingham Trent University.

The Government will accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world class science, research and development. Advanced science and engineering in fields such as clean energy, AI and quantum technologies support economic growth and the industrial strategy. University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University were both recognised for their world leading research including in engineering in REF2021. Decisions about public investment of R&D funding are made by experts on behalf of UK Research and Innovation in line with the Haldane Principle. For example, University of Nottingham has been awarded £6.4m to lead an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training on Resilient Chemistry which will tackle challenges including synthetic fuels and next generation battery materials.

What steps his Department plans to take to ensure that men at risk of prostate cancer can access the PSA blood test.

Currently, men who have symptoms that could be associated with prostate cancer may be offered the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, which looks at levels of PSA in the blood, in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence cancer recognition and referral guidance.However, due to the levels of inaccuracy, the PSA test is not recommended as a screening tool for healthy men with no symptoms. This is because high level of inaccuracy could lead to unnecessary tests and treatments that carry risks of life-changing harm, such as urinary and faecal incontinence, and sexual dysfunction, as well as a smaller but serious risk of sepsis. Additionally, some prostate cancers may not produce elevated PSA levels, leading to false-negative results that provide deceptive reassurance.Instead, men should be encouraged to know the symptoms of prostate cancer and look out for changes in their body, and should seek advice from a general practitioner if these changes occur.