Written questions by Smart.

Whether NHS hospital trusts are fully funded to recruit all locally trained nursing graduates.

The Government is committed to supporting nursing graduates. On 11 August 2025, the Government announced the Graduate Guarantee for nurses and midwives. The guarantee will ensure that there are enough positions for every newly qualified nurse in England. The package of measures will unlock thousands of jobs and will ensure that thousands of new posts are easier to access by removing barriers for National Health Service trusts, creating opportunities for graduates and ensuring a seamless transition from training to employment.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending eligibility for weight-loss drugs to people who are pre-diabetic.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that develops evidence-based recommendations on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE. NICE has recommended several medicines licensed for weight loss for use on the NHS for patients meeting specified clinical criteria. People with prediabetes may be eligible for treatment with weight loss medicines if they meet the other criteria specified in NICE’s guidance.

What discussions he has had with Ofgem on holding electricity providers accountable for persistent power outages experienced by households.

Great Britain has one of the most reliable energy systems in the world and maintaining a secure electricity supply is a key priority for Government. The Department works closely with industry, regulators and other stakeholders to continually improve and maintain the resilience of the energy network. To help protect customers and ensure quality and reliable electricity supply, Ofgem sets Quality-of-Service Guaranteed Standards that must be met by each electricity network company. Ofgem also sets annual targets for customer interruptions and customer minutes lost. Each year Distribution Network Operators must report their performance against these measures to Ofgem. Ofgem then assesses, if targets have been met and rewards or penalises the network operators appropriately.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent excessive annual increases in household water bills in Hazel Grove constituency.

Ofwat assesses affordability for each water company through a five-yearly Price Review process, in which water companies must detail in their business plans how they will address affordability. Ofwat’s price controls for Price Review 2024 set out that the average customer bill will increase by 36%, before inflation, over the next five years. We understand the financial pressures hardworking families are currently facing and we are pushing the sector to ensure support is available. We expect water companies to put robust support in place for vulnerable customers and keep current affordability schemes under review to ensure vulnerable customers are supported. Bills must remain affordable, and customers cannot be expected to pay the price for years of underperformance in the past. Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure households across the country are supported.

What safeguards are in place to assess the financial resilience of companies installing (a) solar panels and (b) heat pumps under government-backed schemes.

It is a requirement of the Government's microgeneration incentive schemes that installers must be a member of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) (or equivalent), and MCS currently mandate Consumer Code membership for their accredited installers. These Chartered Trading Standards Institute approved Consumer Codes assess installers’ financial resilience as part of their application for membership, and then periodically as part of the Consumer Codes ongoing monitoring of their members. As part of their impending scheme reforms, MCS intends to implement a process of checking the financial resilience of every installer in real time, every day.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that per pupil school funding is spread evenly across (a) Greater Manchester and (b) other regional areas.

The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes core funding for 5 to 16-year-old pupils in mainstream state-funded schools in England.The NFF allocates funding to local authority areas, based on schools’ and pupils’ characteristics. In the current NFF, the vast majority of funding is allocated based on pupil numbers and characteristics. The funding that individual schools actually receive is then based on their local authority’s funding formula.The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with lots of pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation or low prior attainment, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils.

What proportion of illegally modified e-bikes confiscated from minors were initially bought by adults.

The Home Office does not centrally hold data on the number of illegally modified e-bikes that have been confiscated by police in England and Wales.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the NHS eligibility criteria for tirzepatide on levels of access to treatment for people (a) with obesity and (b) who do not meet the current BMI threshold but may still be at clinical risk from excess weight.

The eligibility criteria for tirzepatide, under brand name Mounjaro, for the management of weight have been set independently by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) following a full appraisal of the clinical and cost effectiveness of the drug. NICE’s recommendations are based on the best available evidence and ensure that National Health Service treatments are targeted at those most likely to benefit, while also protecting the overall affordability and sustainability of NHS services.In line with NICE guidance and recommendations, the NHS in England is undertaking a phased roll out. 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. NHS England is actively monitoring uptake and service readiness to inform future decisions.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.Patients who do not meet the current body mass index threshold for tirzepatide under the NHS prioritisation approach will not be eligible for receiving tirzepatide. However, they do have access to other weight management support, if they are eligible. This could include the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme, the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme, and other services that may be available locally.

What proportion of newly qualified nurses in England are offered employment within the NHS within six months of graduation.

The Department for Health and Social Care does not hold the data requested.Nurses upon graduation may take up registered nursing roles in a range of organisations such as local authorities, social care providers, charities or private sector providers as well as in the National Health Service.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS digital services related to (a) medicine ordering, (b) appointment notifications and (c) other requirements are accessible via standard web browsers.

NHS Digital services are accessible via standard, modern web browsers such as Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. We are working to improve access to digital services, outcomes, and experiences for the widest range of people, based on their preferences. Patients unable to use digital channels can continue to access services via telephone and through traditional face-to-face services.Citizens can access a range of information on different health conditions on the National Health Service website, which is all clinically verified.Centrally built services, such as the NHS App and NHS website, which enable citizens to order repeat prescriptions and view and manage their general practice and hospital appointments, are designed to meet international accessibility standards. We are modernising the mobile patient experience within the NHS App, ensuring information is clearly structured and easy to find and understand.

Whether her Department has issued guidance to Jobcentres on making reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010 for claimants with complex disabilities which may prevent them from attending Universal Credit verification appointments in-person; and if she will make it her policy to require Jobcentres to proactively offer remote or home-based alternatives.

Where customers need assistance to access our services and information, we will make reasonable adjustments to meet their individual needs, in line with our obligations under the Equality Act 2010. Guidance on reasonable adjustments is available for all staff. This includes recognising when an adjustment is needed, recording the customer need and the types of reasonable adjustments available, which includes a visiting service for customers who are unable to use our other contact routes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54442 on Oxygen: Medical Treatments, whether the recompression chambers in (a) Wirral, (b) Hull, (c) the Midlands and (d) Whipps Cross will close.

The hyperbaric oxygen therapy services in Wirral, Hull and the Midlands will continue to be commissioned by NHS England.From 1 October, the service currently commissioned for the London and South East regions will be delivered by a provider in Chichester. As such, from 30 September, the current centre based at Whipps Cross will cease to be funded for National Health Service activity.NHS England remains committed to ensuring high-quality, accessible and cost-effective hyperbaric oxygen therapy services which meet optimal time to treatment from symptom onset standards based on clinical evidence.

What steps he is taking to help ensure continuity of weight-loss medication for people who have already demonstrated clinically significant (a) weight reduction and (b) health improvements from private prescriptions of such drugs.

As we shift the focus from treatment to prevention through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay.NHS England has worked with Eli Lilly to ensure that the list price increase will not affect National Health Service commissioning of tirzepatide in England as a treatment for eligible patients, and we remain committed to the rollout of this medicine as a weight loss treatment based on clinical priority. This will enable 220,000 eligible people to access the medication over the first three years. Not everyone who wants tirzepatide will be able to access it at first, and the initial eligibility criteria will be for people with a body mass index of 40 or more in addition to four or more qualifying comorbidities.Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have also entered equivalent agreements to maintain their current commissioning approaches.Pricing in the private market is a matter for Eli Lilly and for private providers. Private patients who are impacted by price increases should discuss any concerns with their private provider. This includes their options regarding payment plans, alternative treatments, and/or stopping or tapering off their current medication. Eli Lilly is working with private providers to support continued patient access.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 47877 on NHS dental professionals, what criteria his Department uses to identify which areas are in greatest need of increased numbers of NHS dental professionals.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care dentistry to meet the needs of local populations is delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England.ICBs have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years. Dental practices in specific areas, determined locally as experiencing significant dental pressures due to workforce challenges impacting patient access, were invited by their ICBs to express interest in participating in the scheme and notified of the outcome of their application via their ICB. Further information on the dental recruitment process can be found in guidance issued by NHS England, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/dental-recruitment-incentive-scheme-2024-25/

What discussions her Department has had with local authorities on ensuring the availability of support for parents of children with severe SEND needs who require two-to-one support during the school holidays.

Local authorities have a legal duty to complete an annual childcare sufficiency assessment. In this assessment, they must have regard to the needs of parents in their area for the provision of childcare which is suitable for disabled children. Where adequate childcare provision is not available, parents have the right to request a wraparound or holiday childcare place for their child.The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme funding is primarily for school-aged children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals (FSM). Local authorities have discretion to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related FSM but who the local authority believes could benefit from HAF provision.The department regularly meets with local authorities to discuss HAF provision and encourages them to engage with local and national organisations, including special schools with expertise in working with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or additional needs. Local authorities are obligated to include the numbers of children with SEND or additional needs who have participated in their programme in their post provision reporting to us.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of issuing further reminders to parents who claim free childcare for working parents to reconfirm their details after the deadline has passed.

It is our ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We are delivering more support to working families than ever with the rollout of 30 hours government-funded childcare. Reconfirmation ensures parents continue to meet the eligibility criteria, which is based on expected income for the next three months. To reconfirm, parents receive an email and/or text prompt four weeks and two weeks before the reconfirmation deadline.A notification is also sent on deadline date to notify a parent they are no longer eligible and to reconfirm as soon as possible.If a child is already in a funded place, they will enter a ‘grace period’ which allows the child to continue their place temporarily. If the parent becomes eligible again during this period, the child can continue to access their place. Specific grace period dates are set out in the department’s statutory guidance.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reminding parents who are claiming free childcare for working parents to reconfirm their details by (a) telephone call and (b) letter.

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. The department is delivering more support to working families than ever with the rollout of 30 hours government-funded childcare. Reconfirmation ensures that parents continue to meet the eligibility criteria. Eligibility for 30 hours is based on expected income for the next three months.Parents receive an email and/or text prompt four weeks before their reconfirmation deadline and again two weeks before the deadline if they still have not reconfirmed. This email will remind parents that they will need to confirm their details are up to date and will provide instructions on how to reconfirm.Parents who do not have access to a mobile phone or email address will receive letters reminding them to reconfirm.

What steps he is taking to ensure that patients experiencing mental health problems are provided with comprehensive information on (a) potential side effects, (b) interactions with other medications and (c) the long-term implications of any medication they are advised to take.

Any decision to prescribe a medicine should be made following a conversation between the prescriber and patient. This is known as shared decision making and should involve discussing with the patient the risks, benefits and possible consequences of different options, along with the prescriber’s clinical judgement.NHS England has recently published decision support tools on depression and bipolar to help individuals to compare possible treatment options, and a leaflet on the safer use of valproate. Unless the information is on the pack, all dispensed medicines must include a patient information leaflet, which provides information on using the medicine safely. Specialist mental health pharmacists are available at the majority of mental health trusts to discuss medication options with patients, and the Medicines A-Z website and NHS App provide information about medicines and mental health.The Mental Health Bill extends access to advocacy support, currently only available to patients detained under the Mental Health Act, to all patients in mental health inpatient settings. Advocates support patients to understand and exercise their rights. The bill also introduces measures to encourage people to create an Advance Choice Document while they are well. This is a written record of their wishes, including their preferences on medication, so that these can later inform decisions during a mental health crisis. The bill also raises the threshold on when compulsory medication can be administered to a patient, by requiring that there must be a compelling reason to override the patient’s refusal, whether made at the time or in advance. Urgent and compulsory medication and electroconvulsive therapy can also only be given under a more limited set of circumstances. These measures aim to better balance patient autonomy and the ability to administer treatment at a time of mental health crisis.

If he will take steps to help support patients with mental health problems in exercising their right to refuse medication in NHS settings.

Any decision to prescribe a medicine should be made following a conversation between the prescriber and patient. This is known as shared decision making and should involve discussing with the patient the risks, benefits and possible consequences of different options, along with the prescriber’s clinical judgement.NHS England has recently published decision support tools on depression and bipolar to help individuals to compare possible treatment options, and a leaflet on the safer use of valproate. Unless the information is on the pack, all dispensed medicines must include a patient information leaflet, which provides information on using the medicine safely. Specialist mental health pharmacists are available at the majority of mental health trusts to discuss medication options with patients, and the Medicines A-Z website and NHS App provide information about medicines and mental health.The Mental Health Bill extends access to advocacy support, currently only available to patients detained under the Mental Health Act, to all patients in mental health inpatient settings. Advocates support patients to understand and exercise their rights. The bill also introduces measures to encourage people to create an Advance Choice Document while they are well. This is a written record of their wishes, including their preferences on medication, so that these can later inform decisions during a mental health crisis. The bill also raises the threshold on when compulsory medication can be administered to a patient, by requiring that there must be a compelling reason to override the patient’s refusal, whether made at the time or in advance. Urgent and compulsory medication and electroconvulsive therapy can also only be given under a more limited set of circumstances. These measures aim to better balance patient autonomy and the ability to administer treatment at a time of mental health crisis.

When he plans to respond to the correspondence of 22 April 2025 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, Ref LS05024.

I replied to the hon. Member’s letter on 14 August 2025.