Written questions by Evans.

Whether he is taking steps to support people who received help from NHS and Care Volunteer Responders.

The NHS and Care Volunteer Responders (NHSCVR) programme was first established as part of the COVID-19 response and then adapted to respond to other organisational pressures. Most patients were referred into the programme by a health professional for short-term support through the NHSCVR programme. However, a model that worked well in a national crisis is no longer the most cost-effective way of facilitating the important contribution of our much-valued volunteers. Referrers have been informed of the change in service, so that they can source alternative support for their patients if needed, and those that used the Pick up and Deliver service most frequently have been offered support from the NHS England team to identify alternative forms of support.The NHSCVR programme is just one part of a volunteering system that supports people’s health and care needs, and there are many local voluntary sector organisations that provide other forms of support. Whilst the NHSCVR service is ending, volunteers are being redirected to other National Health Service and voluntary sector organisations to ensure patients continue to be supported.The NHS Volunteer recruitment portal is already available, with 70 health and care organisations advertising opportunities. As the service grows, every NHS or voluntary organisation in health will be able to post opportunities and recruit volunteers to support their local communities, with a full launch of the service planned for later this year.In addition, there are over 72,000 volunteers who continue to support NHS trusts directly in over 300 different volunteer roles, which are unaffected by the closure of the NHSCVR.The decision to close the NHSCVR was based on NHS England’s assessment that the programme was not delivering value for money. The Department will continue to work with NHS England colleagues following the closure of the programme to mitigate risks to national health volunteer resilience.

If he will publish a list of meetings held by the Casey Commission.

Given that the commission is independent, the Department will not publish a list of its meetings. It is for the commission to determine its approach, but we expect it will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including people with lived experience and unpaid carers, as well as building cross-party consensus.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 47803 on Mental Health Services: Recruitment, what his planned timetable is for recruiting 8,500 mental health workers.

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, we are recruiting 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services to help ease the pressure on busy services.We continue to work with NHS England to consider options to deliver this commitment alongside publishing a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade. There are a wide range of factors that will affect this future growth of the NHS mental health workforce, and we will provide an update in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 43598 on Mental Health Services: Out of Area Treatment, what his planned timetable is for the reduction of at least 580 out-of-area placements.

NHS England has advised that it expects the reduction of at least 580 placements which are out of area, far from home, or outside of natural clinical flow for adult forensic, and children and young people’s mental health inpatient services to be achieved over the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of follow up care for survivors of sudden cardiac arrest (a) nationally and (b) regionally.

The NHS Long Term Plan committed to improving community first response and building defibrillator networks to help save 4,000 lives by 2028. This is being supported with education for the general public, including young people of school age, about how to recognise and respond to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. NHS England is also working with partners such as the British Heart Foundation to harness new technology and to ensure the public and emergency services are able to rapidly locate this life saving equipment in an emergency. Patients who survive cardiac arrest and their families are supported through referral to local National Health Services, and this will include rehabilitation, such as cardiac and neurological rehabilitation, and mental health services for psychological support. There are different pathways for cardiac arrest survivors, depending on the severity of the damage caused by the cardiac arrest. For people being discharged from secondary care and those with ischemic heart disease, also known as myocardial infarction, cardiac rehabilitation services are available in every region. In December 2024, to support local systems to commission high quality cardiac rehabilitation, NHS England published Commissioning standards for cardiac rehabilitation, which is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/commissioning-standards-for-cardiovascular-rehabilitation/ These standards of care complement the British Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation’s Standards and Core Components document, published in 2023, to support the delivery of high-quality care and the adherence to evidenced-based practice. This document is available at the following link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/66cc563eecc7a22020c7da6c/t/66ffa8f20aef5d0b272c6b0e/1728030962905/BACPR+Standards+and+Core+Components+2023.pdf

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of recommending the Quality Standards for Care and Rehabilitation of Cardiac Arrest Survivors and Key Supporters from the Resuscitation Council UK to (a) Integrated Care Boards and (b) NHS trusts.

NHS England welcomes the recent publication on the quality standards for care and rehabilitation of cardiac arrest survivors and their key supporters.We recognise the importance of this work and will take it into account as part of our ongoing review of all prescribed specialised service specifications. Specifically, the service specification will be reviewed in due course, and this publication will be considered as part of that process. The specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Cardiology-primary-percutaneous-cortonary-intervention-adult.pdf

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Quality Standards for Care and Rehabilitation of Cardiac Arrest Survivors and Key Supporters, published by the Resuscitation Council UK.

NHS England welcomes the recent publication on the quality standards for care and rehabilitation of cardiac arrest survivors and their key supporters.We recognise the importance of this work and will take it into account as part of our ongoing review of all prescribed specialised service specifications. Specifically, the service specification will be reviewed in due course, and this publication will be considered as part of that process. The specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Cardiology-primary-percutaneous-cortonary-intervention-adult.pdf

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of the Chagos deal is funded by his Department's budget.

The costs associated with the deal will be split between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Whether there would be any circumstances in which the UK could opt out from informing Mauritius of an armed attack on a third state.

An agreement to inform a host nation about military action from their territory is standard practice in basing arrangements. Additionally, the UN Charter has a requirement to notify the UN of military action taken in self-defence. Any notification will take place after the event and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the United Kingdom's agreement to expeditiously inform Mauritius of any armed attack on a third State directly emanating from the Base on Diego Garcia on UK security.

An agreement to inform a host nation about military action from their territory is standard practice in basing arrangements. Additionally, the UN Charter has a requirement to notify the UN of military action taken in self-defence. Any notification will take place after the event and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54377 on Veterans: Housing, if he will (a) make an assessment of the adequacy of trends in levels of Op FORTITUDE caseload and (b) review levels of (i) supply and (ii) demand for single occupancy housing for veterans.

We remain fully committed to ensuring the right support is in place for veterans, including housing support. As of June 2025, Op FORTITUDE has received a cumulative total of over 3,500 referrals and supported over 900 veterans into housing. The Government has committed £500,000 to supporting Op FORTITUDE's operation this financial year. We have also funded an evaluation of Op FORTITUDE and the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme, which has been commissioned by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. The Government is taking steps to increase affordable housebuilding, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 41721 on 3 April 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason his Department has not yet responded to the 2024 fairer food labelling consultation.

A public consultation on fairer food labelling was undertaken last year by the previous Government. A summary of responses to this consultation is available on GOV.UK.

What proportion of the 2.5% increase to defence spending on 25 February 2025 will fund the Chagos deal.

The costs of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty will be met from within the FCDO and MOD budgets set out at the spending review. The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.

What proportion of the 2.5% increase in Defence spending is accounted for by payments under the UK-Mauritius treaty on the Chagos Islands.

The costs of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty will be met from within the FCDO and MOD budgets set out at the spending review. The NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will reconvene the Responsible Dog Ownership Working Group.

The Government has reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce and looks forward to receiving its findings and recommendations.

What information would need to be passed to Mauritius in the event of an armed attack on a third State directly emanating from the military base on Diego Garcia.

It is standard practice for basing arrangements to include an agreement to inform a host nation about military action from their territory. Additionally, the UN Charter has a requirement to notify the UN of military action taken in self-defence. Any notification to Mauritius will take place after the event and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information. The United Kingdom will inform Mauritius through normal diplomatic channels.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the 2024 consultation on fairer food labelling.

A public consultation on fairer food labelling was undertaken last year by the previous Government. A summary of responses to this consultation is available on GOV.UK.

If his Department will take legislative steps to improve the regulatory oversight of the non-surgical cosmetic sector.

The Government is committed to taking action to address the longstanding concerns about the safety of the cosmetics sector and is exploring options for further regulation in this area. We will set out the details of our approach in our response to the consultation on the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England, which we will publish at the earliest opportunity.

What discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and (b) local authorities on ensuring that people who do not have digital connectivity can access (i) the Jobs and Careers Services online portals and (ii) alternative provision.

As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we are reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new service across Great Britain which will include a modern, joined up and enhanced digital offer where people can access support through the channels that best meet their needs. This reconfigured service will be accessible to everyone; it will use data intelligently to join up government and personalise support. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and officials have been in regular engagement with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and with local areas as we develop our plans for a new Jobs and Careers Service. This builds on the vision as laid out in ‘A blueprint for modern digital government’ published in January. The new service will be digital where possible, and human when needed. A large number of those seeking employment support or careers advice will be best served digitally, however we recognise this will not be appropriate for everyone and other channels of support will be available. The department also continues to work closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and other government departments to deliver on the Digital Inclusion Action Plan. Its first steps were published on 29 February 2025 and outline the government’s initial actions and long-term goals to tackle digital exclusion in the UK. As we set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we are exploring the use of digital employment support for customers and testing how to enhance collaboration between Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service. This will be key to understanding how we can better integrate employment support and careers advice in England. As part of our plans to develop the new Jobs and Careers Service, Ministers and officials are working in collaboration with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Wakefield Local Authority to design and deliver tests within our first Pathfinder that will inform the design of the new service.

Which bodies he has had recent discussions with on tackling melanoma skin cancer as part of the national cancer plan.

To address barriers and reduce the levels of melanoma skin cancer cases, the Department continues to advise patients to follow National Health Service guidance on reducing the risk of skin cancer. This advice is available publicly on the NHS website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma-skin-cancer/NHS England run Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address the barriers to acting on them, and to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms as well as encouraging body awareness to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers, including melanoma, at an earlier point.The Department and NHS England are committed to working closely with partners and patient groups to shape the long-term vision for cancer. The call for evidence for the National Cancer Plan closed on 29 April 2025, with over 11,000 responses from individuals, professionals, and organisations, sharing their views on how the Government can continue to improve cancer care in England.Alongside the call for evidence, the Department regularly engages with many cancer partners, including charities and those within the cancer community, to ensure we are hearing from a range of different voices.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how the Government will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology. The National Cancer Plan for England is planned for publication in the second half of this year.