Written questions by Evans.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure the adequacy of the UK's international advocacy role in helping to reduce global deforestation.

The UK strongly supports global efforts to protect, restore and sustainably manage forests, including working with partners to deliver the shared goal of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, while supporting livelihoods and economic development. Through partnerships, diplomacy and international climate programming, the UK is working to support forest country partners with enhancing forest governance and tackling illegality, accelerating the transition to sustainable production, trade and markets, and to mobilise finance from all sources to support forest protection and restoration. Since 2011, it is estimated that UK ICF programmes have prevented 750,000 hectares of ecosystem loss (over a million football pitches); supported the sustainable management of 4.2 million hectares of land; and reduced or avoided 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. We recognise the need to take action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation and we will set out our approach to addressing this in due course.

Pursuant to the Answers of 30 April 2025 to Questions 46842 and 46843 on Hinckley School: STEM Subjects, if he will hold discussions with (a) The Futures Trust and (b) the Hinckley School's senior leadership on the work of her Department to consider the costs of a new STEM building at Hinckley School.

The department has increased the budget for the project significantly since completion of the feasibility study and officials are working through the costs with the selected contractor. A meeting has been scheduled for 10 June 2025, including the hon. Member for Hinckley and Bosworth, the trust, and the school, during which departmental officials will provide a further update on the project.

What recent discussions she has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on approval for the final cost information for the development of a new STEM building at Hinckley School.

The department has increased the budget for the project significantly since completion of the feasibility study and officials are working through the costs with the selected contractor. A meeting has been scheduled for 10 June 2025, including the hon. Member for Hinckley and Bosworth, the trust, and the school, during which departmental officials will provide a further update on the project.

Pursuant to the Answers of 30 April 2025 to Questions 46842 and 46843 on Hinckley School: STEM Subjects, what her Department's planned timeframe is for working through the costs to develop a new STEM building at Hinckley School.

The department has increased the budget for the project significantly since completion of the feasibility study and officials are working through the costs with the selected contractor. A meeting has been scheduled for 10 June 2025, including the hon. Member for Hinckley and Bosworth, the trust, and the school, during which departmental officials will provide a further update on the project.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 46841 on Personal Care Services: Licensing, how many hairdresser and barber businesses has HMRC investigated following evidence suggesting that they may have misclassified individuals for tax purposes in the last five years.

HMRC is committed to ensuring the tax system operates fairly and efficiently, creating a level playing field for all compliant businesses. Businesses providing personal care services, including hairdressers and barbers often operate using the ‘rent-a-chair’ business model. This unique but legitimate business model, unless applied correctly, can result in individuals being wrongly classed as self-employed for employment purposes. HMRC are committed to tackling false self-employment and will investigate evidence that suggests businesses have misclassified individuals for tax purposes. HMRC have worked with trade bodies for this sector to develop new educational material including a YouTube video and have published guidance on GOV.UK to better explain the employment status and tax implications of different business models, including the ‘rent-a-chair’ model. Details can be found at: https://youtu.be/5o3au6PyXG8 & https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-if-you-work-in-hair-and-beauty. HMRC does not segment its data on businesses who have been investigated for misclassification of individuals for tax purposes by sector.

What recent discussions her Department has had with local authorities on the impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on special educational needs transport providers.

I refer the hon. Member for Hinckley and Bosworth to the answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 26397.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Advertising Standards Authority ruling on EME Aesthetics and Beauty Academy Ltd, published on 16 April 2025.

Cosmetic treatment providers have a responsibility to ensure that their advertising does not trivialise medical risks, provide misleading information or pressure customers to book without proper consultation. The Government supports the Advertising Standard Authority’s ruling to ensure that consumers are supported to make safe and informed choices about any cosmetic procedure they wish to undergo.We are exploring options for further regulation in this area and 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 assessment he has made of the potential causes of trends in the number of people being diagnosed with melanoma.

Diagnoses of skin cancers, including melanoma, have been increasing. NHS England and other National Health Service organisations, nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including melanoma. This information can be found at sources such as the NHS.UK website.As well as raising awareness, there have been changes in the way skin cancers, including melanoma, are diagnosed. NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time national report provided recommendations to encourage the wider use of technology to ensure skin cancer patients get faster and more equitable access to care.NHS England has been rolling out teledermatology services, which allow a virtual review of dermoscopic images to identify skin cancers. In providers where this has been fully implemented, improvements in workforce capacity have enabled up to double the number of patients to be reviewed per clinic. This has also resulted in an improved performance for the Faster Diagnosis Standard.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28628 on Emergency Services: Medals, what progress she has made on considering proposals for new awards for members of the emergency services injured in service.

The Home Office continues to work on this proposal with relevant stakeholders, including other government departments.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 44000 on NHS England, what ongoing assessments his Department is currently undertaking to assess the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England healthcare delivery.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. Ongoing assessment is part of the reform programme, and the evidence collected will inform the programme as appropriate and ensure our decisions focus on improving patient care.The Government is committed to transparency, and will consider how best to ensure the public and parliamentarians are informed of the outcomes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 44000 on NHS England, what criteria his Department is using to assess and understand the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on healthcare delivery.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. Evidence from these ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate, and will ensure our decisions focus on improving patient care.When appropriate, we will update Parliament on progress with the plans for the organisational changes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 43999 on NHS England, what evidence is being collected from these ongoing assessments.

At this stage, it is too early to share details of the assessments. The joint programme team has been assessing resourcing, responsibilities and functions from across both organisations, whilst also mapping statutory functions.The Government is committed to transparency to Parliament, staff and the public. When appropriate, we will update Parliament on progress with the plans for the organisational changes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 43997 on NHS England: ICT, if he will publish a (a) timeline and (b) outline of the plans he intends to put in place to ensure a smooth integration of IT systems.

Ministers and senior Department officials are working closely with the new NHS England executive team on the creation of a new centre and to ensure delivery is prioritised and protected during this period of change. The Government is committed to transparency to Parliament, staff and the public.When appropriate, we will update Parliament on progress with the plans for the organisational changes. We will put plans in place to ensure, where appropriate, a smooth integration of internal IT systems; and the continued operation of those providing live services to the National Health Service.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 44003 on NHS England, when the next meeting between Ministers and the new executive team in NHS England is planned.

Ministers and senior Department officials are working closely with the new NHS England executive team on the creation of a new centre and to ensure delivery is prioritised and protected during this period of change.Ministers meet regularly with members of the new NHS England executive team on a range of topics.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 45881 on NHS England: Redundancy Pay, if he will publish the modelling data on the offsetting of the redundancy package costs.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts and costs, as is due process. Evidence from these ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate.The Government is committed to transparency and will consider how best to ensure that the public and parliamentarians are informed of the outcomes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 43999 on NHS England, if he will publish the evidence from the ongoing assessments.

It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. Evidence from these ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate.The Government is committed to transparency and will consider how best to ensure that the public and parliamentarians are informed of the outcomes.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the number of (a) GP appointments and (b) GPs recruited through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme since August 2024.

Appointment numbers continue to increase year-on-year, and in the 12 months to March 2025 an estimated 383.4 million appointments were delivered. This is an increase of 3.7% compared to the 12 months up to March 2024, with 369.7 million appointments delivered, and an increase of 23.6% compared to the 12 months up to March 2020, with 310.3 million appointments delivered.In response to this growing demand, the Government has invested £82 million in the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, which has enabled the recruitment of more than 1,500 recently qualified general practitioners (GPs) in England since October. This will increase the number of available appointments, secure the future supply of GPs, and alleviate the pressure on those currently working in the system.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of implementing new caps on clinical pathway consultations on Pharmacy First from April 2025.

Caps on Pharmacy First clinical pathway consultations were first introduced in April 2024. In October 2024, the methodology used to calculate clinical pathway caps changed to be based on actual delivery, and from April 2025 caps will be calculated monthly instead of quarterly.As part of the 2024/25 and 2025/26 Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework, we have agreed to maintain the current cost control mechanism linked to Pharmacy First, which will manage the growth of the service to ensure delivery remains within the agreed funding envelope. This methodology has been designed to ensure fair and consistent access for all contractors. Any underspend, where caps are not met, will be redistributed and moved into subsequent months.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 44003 on NHS England, what his planned timetable is to determine the (a) leadership, (b) structure and (c) requirements for abolishing NHS England.

Work has already begun on bringing teams in NHS England and the Department even closer together, to share knowledge and allow for joint planning, whilst we progress the design of the new centre, so clarity can be given to staff as soon as possible. This is in line with the one-team culture we have been building over the past eight months.Since the announcement, the Department has set up a joint board, assessed resources and responsibilities across existing organisations, developed proposals on the role, functions, and structure of the new centre, and started detailed operational and legislative planning.NHS England will continue to carry out its statutory duties until parliamentary time allows for legislation to be brought forward. We are aiming for the work to be completed within two years.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 45881 on NHS England: Redundancy Pay, on what evidential basis he said that the cost of abolishing NHS England will be offset by future reductions in spending.

The organisational change programme is still in its early phases, but we expect a contribution to overall efficiency to be realised from functional integration, more coherent policy and delivery alignment, and improved performance and accountability mechanisms, which will all in turn reduce reporting burdens and empower local leaders. While there will be some upfront costs, we expect the reform to wipe out duplication and drive a smaller centre, based in a single organisation, will generate significant savings in the long run allowing us to divert savings to the front line. Further detail will be provided as the programme develops.