Written questions by Ingham.

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) waiting times at urgent care centres and (b) the geographical coverage of urgent care provision in Staffordshire; and what is the timetable for the (i) opening of new and (ii) upgrading of urgent treatment centres in that county.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local communities, as they are best placed to take those decisions. In doing so, ICBs – including NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, which is responsible for services in Staffordshire – consider how best to provide urgent care, including Urgent Treatment Centres, to meet patient demand.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out the steps we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster and more appropriate emergency care this winter, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. This includes the expansion of Urgent Treatment Centres to allow for the effective streaming of patients, helping to reduce waiting times and overcrowding.We have been taking key steps to ensure the health service is prepared for the colder months. This includes taking actions to try and reduce demand pressure on Accident and Emergency departments, increasing vaccination rates and offering health checks to the most vulnerable, as well as stress-testing ICB and trust winter plans to confirm they are able to meet demand and support patient flow.

What steps she is taking to support police forces to tackle (a) anti-social behaviour in town centres and (b) rural crimes in Staffordshire.

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.The Home Office is providing £66.3 million funding in 2025-26 to all 43 forces in England and Wales to deliver high visibility patrols in the areas worst affected by knife crime, serious violence and anti-social behaviour. As part of the Hotspot Action Fund 25/26, Staffordshire Police are in receipt of £1m.On 10 April, the Prime Minister announced the details of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee as part of which forces are also getting 200m on neighbourhood policing.The Safer Streets Summer Initiative launched on 30 June and ran until 30 September 2025, targeting over 600 town centres across England and Wales, through visible policing and swift, meaningful consequences. The Home Secretary has announced a “Winter of Action” in which police forces across will again partner with local businesses, authorities and police and crime commissioners to target shop theft and ASB. Staffordshire will be once again encouraged to participate.Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. Under our Safer Streets Mission reforms, rural communities will be safeguarded, with tougher measures to clamp down on equipment theft and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.This financial year the Home Office will be providing the first Government funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (£365,000) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (£450,000). This funding will enable them to tackle the crimes that mostly affect rural communities.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of financial support for small high street businesses in (a) Stafford and (b) other market towns.

Our Plan for Small Businesses sets out how government will work across departments to help SMEs, including those on the high street, to start and thrive.High street businesses will benefit from legislation to end the scourge of late payments costing the UK economy £11bn annually. With a £4bn finance boost, we are increasing access to finance for entrepreneurs and business owners through the Government-backed British Business Bank.Businesses in Stafford can access both one-on-one support from the Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire Growth Hub and our new Business Growth Service. For example, between 2012 and 30 June 2025, 142 Start Up Loans worth £1.56m were issued to entrepreneurs in Stafford.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) Israel and (b) neighbouring states on steps to (i) end the blockade of Gaza and (ii) to allow timely access for humanitarian aid.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer of 15 September to Question 77707.

What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Strategic Framework to End Violence against Women and Girls.

It is our collective shame that Northern Ireland has the highest rate of violence against women and girls in the UK.This Government is committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade, a commitment I feel very strongly about. I will work with the Executive and groups across Northern Ireland so that women, girls and children are safe.

Whether his Department is taking steps to mark Play in Healthcare Week 2025.

We recognise the importance of supporting children's right to play as games and play help build social-skills and support children’s wellbeing. In October 2025, the Starlight Children's Foundation will mark Play in Healthcare Week, celebrating 50 years of play and highlighting its importance for children in healthcare settings. Together with NHS England, Starlight co-published the Play Well Toolkit, which is designed to help services enhance the quality of health play provision.The Department remains supportive of the Starlight Foundation and NHS England’s work to champion that toolkit and promote child-centred care across healthcare settings and encourages work to publicise its use during this week.

What steps (a) his Department and (b) NHS England are taking to support the widest possible implementation of the Play Well Toolkit.

We recognise the importance of supporting and maintaining children’s right to play, as games and active play in all settings build social skills and support children’s wellbeing. The Play Well toolkit that was recently jointly launched by NHS England and the charity Starlight helps services to identify opportunities to improve health play services.While funding decisions for health play services remain the responsibility of local commissioners, the Department remains supportive of NHS England’s work to continue to champion the toolkit and the importance of child-centred care across healthcare settings.To support implementation, NHS England is promoting the Play Well toolkit to managers of health play services across a wide range of settings, including community clinics, emergency departments, children’s hospices, and acute paediatric wards.A range of communication channels have been used to raise awareness, including engagement with services via professional bodies, messaging via the Chief Nursing Officer, and a forthcoming blog post and press release in partnership with Starlight. Starlight will be co-leading a webinar with NHS England this month to raise awareness of the toolkit.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory follow-up ultrasounds after surgery related to miscarriage in (a) general and (b) cases of pregnancy being over 10 weeks gestation.

Experiencing pregnancy or baby loss can be extremely difficult and traumatic and we are determined to make sure all women receive the right care.An assessment has not been made of the potential merits of introducing mandatory follow-up ultrasounds after surgery related to miscarriage in (a) general and (b) cases of pregnancy being over 10 weeks gestation.Best practice guidance for the care of women following surgical management of miscarriage is based on evidence about what will give the best outcomes of care. Ultrasound following the procedure is only clinically indicated in a small proportion of cases. Performance of ultrasound post procedure is determined by clinical need and judged on a case-by-case basis both before and after 10 weeks gestation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on improving sexual and reproductive health by implementing the programme entitled Strengthening grassroots organisations and countering efforts to roll back.

The UK is working with other governments globally to protect and progress sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) including through diplomacy and ODA programming. In December 2024, the Prime Minister announced the Grassroots and Counter Rollback Programme, which includes support to high-level cross country political coordination to defend and progress SRHR. The programme also works with other government donors in support of pooled funds, including the Robert Carr Fund, which strengthens, connects and amplifies bottom-up efforts to change laws and policies, improve accountability and expand access to services, including for the most marginalised people.The Foreign Secretary appointed Baroness Harman as Special Envoy for Women and Girls on 08 March 2025. She met international counterparts and programme partners at a Wilton Park meeting on SRHR in June 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote (a) the sexual and reproductive health and rights and (b) other rights of women and girls globally.

We are strongly committed to standing up for the rights of women and girls, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). We are proud of the UK's long history as an influential global leader on gender equality and SRHR. We will continue to use our diplomacy with partners to defend and champion these fundamental rights in international fora. We will also make strategic use of our funds and technical partnerships.For example, in December 2024, the Prime Minister announced the Grassroots and Counter Rollback programme. This strengthens local and national civil society organisations' and movements' ability to expand access to SRHR and counter rollback. It focuses on neglected issues, including safe abortion, and marginalised groups whose rights and access to services are denied or being attacked. As the largest donor to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership (£60 million in 2024), the UK continues to ensure SRHR commodities reach where they are needed most.On International Women's Day, I appointed Harriet Harman to be the new UK Special Envoy on Women and Girls, progressing our foreign policy and development objectives to protect women and girls' rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, access to education and freedom from gender-based violence. Following this appointment, she spoke at a UK co-hosted event at the Commission on the Status of Women to galvanise renewed action to end child marriage. She also launched a Signature Initiative to champion the vital role of women's rights organisations and drive a focus on supporting them across our policy and programming.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will continue funding the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health Programme, implemented by MSI Reproductive Choices and IPPF.

The UK is proud to defend and promote universal and comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Official Development Assistance (ODA) is one of multiple levers to achieve this. Over the coming months, we will work through how the ODA budget will be used in future years, informed by internal and external consultation and consideration of equalities impact assessments ahead of making decisions on budgets for individual programmes in the autumn.The transition to spending 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) on ODA requires significant shifts in the shape and scale of the work we do. However, we will continue to work with international and national partners and use targeted funding, technical partnership and diplomatic engagement to provide leadership on SRHR.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of maintaining levels of funding commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The UK remains committed to tackling global health challenges and will continue to work with all international partners towards the collective goal of a healthier, safer and more prosperous world. We have long been a strong supporter of the Global Fund and are proud to be co-hosting the 8th replenishment this year in partnership with South Africa. Over the coming months, we will work through decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used, and the impact on specific programmes, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments.

What mechanisms are in place to (a) monitor and (b) hold accountable (i) CAFCASS and (ii) family courts in private law proceedings where safeguarding concerns for children are identified; and what procedures there are to ensure action is taken in cases involving known risks to prevent serious harm.

As a Non-Departmental Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, the oversight and assurance arrangements for Cafcass are carried out in accordance with the Arms-Length Body Code of Practice. Specific areas of oversight are also covered in the Framework Document between the Ministry of Justice and Cafcass, which broadly sets out sponsorship governance arrangements, financial management and performance reporting. Cafcass is subject to regular inspection by Ofsted. The most recent inspection took place in January 2024 and key findings are available here.The judiciary is independent, and the Government therefore does not hold them to account, however support is available in the family courts where safeguarding concerns are identified and to ensure that action is taken to protect children.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of community provision of palliative care in Stafford constituency.

We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. ICBs, including the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB, which covers the Stafford constituency, are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.As set out in the Government’s recently published 10-Year Health Plan, we are determined to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Palliative care and end of life care services, including hospices, will have a big role to play in that shift, and were highlighted in the plan as being an integral part of neighbourhood teams.The Government and the National Health Service will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative and end of life care services to ensure that, in future, services reduce variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.Officials will present further proposals to ministers over the coming months, outlining how to operationalise the required shifts in palliative care and end of life care to enable the shift from hospital to community, including as part of neighbourhood health teams.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2024 to Question 11995 on Park Homes: Sales, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing the 10 percent commission on the sale of park homes.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 44299 on 16 April 2025.

What her plan is for the next phase of free breakfast club provision in primary schools.

The government is committed to delivering on its pledge to provide a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary-aged children. This will ensure every child, regardless of circumstance, has a supportive start to the school day.From the start of the summer term, we have funded 750 schools to deliver a free breakfast club as early adopters.We are currently working through the outcomes of the latest spending review and the departmental business planning processes. Further details will follow in due course, including the timing of national rollout and the details of funding and support for schools.

What correspondence her Department has had with Fenland District Council on their decision not to permit the passage of the Terra Marique barge on the River Nene between Sutton Bridge and Wisbech.

The Department sought clarification from Fenland District Council of its decision not to permit passage, and the Council confirmed that its decision had been made on the basis of a risk assessment by qualified advisers. The Department remains committed to its ‘water-preferred’ abnormal load movement policy.

What recent discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on tackling online misogynistic radicalisation.

Tackling misogyny, both online and offline, is central to our mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade and we will address the drivers and root causes of VAWG as part of our upcoming cross-Government Strategy, due to be published this year. I have regularly engaged with VAWG stakeholders to help inform this work and held a roundtable on technological harms.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act on (a) Stafford High Street and (b) Eccleshall High Street.

This Government is committed to rejuvenating high streets across the country including those in Stafford and Eccleshall. While no specific assessment has been made of the potential impact of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 on Stafford and Eccleshall high streets, High Street Rental Auction powers commenced by the Government in December 2024 were introduced by the Act. The Government encourages all councils, including Stafford Borough Council, to exercise these powers to tackle persistent vacancy on the high street.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of farrowing crates on the welfare of pigs.

We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. Defra’s statutory welfare Code of Practice for Pigs states that the aim is for farrowing crates to no longer be necessary and for any new system to protect the welfare of the sow as well as her piglets. Whilst the farrowing crate reduces the risk of piglet mortality, it also restricts sow movement, preventing her from turning around and performing normal behaviours such as nest building. The use of farrowing crates for pigs is an issue we are currently considering very carefully.