Written questions by Evans.

Pursuant to WPQ 122859 answered on 31 March 2026, on Business Rates. Gyms and Leisure Centres, whether she hold discussions with the leisure centre and gym sector on the impact of business rates on the financial sustainability of the sector.

HM Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with representatives from across the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors, including gyms and leisure centres, to understand the impact of business rates on the sector’s financial sustainability.

What recent discussions she has had with (a) county councils, (b) Midlands Connect and (c) regional mayors about reinstating a direct railway service between Nottingham, Leicester and Coventry.

My Department is in regular contact with county councils, Midlands Connect and regional mayors on a range of rail issues, including regional connectivity. The Department will consider the case for specific schemes in future funding rounds, subject to value for money, affordability and alignment with strategic objectives.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the implementation of the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28.

The Home Office works in partnership with DEFRA to improve the response to rural and wildlife crime. Together, we supported the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling rural and wildlife crimes.In 2025/26, the Home Office provided the first funding since 2023 to the National Rural Crime Unit as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. This funding boost of over £800,000 will help these policing units provide specialist operational and investigative support to local forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK to tackle crimes that predominantly affect rural communities. We are continuing this funding through 2026/27.The National Wildlife Crime Unit has overseen the police national response to wildlife crime, including hare coursing, which through Operation Galileo has resulted in a 40% reduction in offences.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of reinstating a direct railway service between Nottingham, Leicester and Coventry for (a) Leicestershire, (b) Warwickshire and (c) regional connectivity.

My Department is in regular contact with county councils, Midlands Connect and regional mayors on a range of rail issues, including regional connectivity. The Department will consider the case for specific schemes in future funding rounds, subject to value for money, affordability and alignment with strategic objectives.

What steps she is taking to help improve skills and training for key professions within the vehicle repair sector, as stated in the Motor Insurance Taskforce Final Report (10.12.25).

Several apprenticeships, including Level 2 Autocare Technician, Level 3 Accident Repair technician and Level 4 Vehicle Damage Assessor, are available to support employers and learners in the vehicle repair sector to develop the skills they need.For non-levy paying employers, we are fully funding apprenticeship training for eligible people aged 16 to 24 and introducing a new incentive of up to £2,000 for taking on 16 to 24-year-old apprentices as new employees.The engineering skills package will provide £182 million over three years to support engineering skills in England, working with Skills England to determine how this can increase the pipeline of skills. This includes launching Technical Excellence Colleges to address engineering skills shortages.Skills England supports multiple occupational standards in vehicle maintenance and repair, covering HGV and other heavy vehicle maintenance, light goods vehicle maintenance, servicing and accident repair. It is currently working with employers to revise and update a number of these standards, including incorporating skills relating to electric vehicle maintenance and repair.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the National Wildlife Crime Unit in (a) investigating and (b) supporting prosecutions in wildlife crime cases.

The Home Office works in partnership with DEFRA to improve the response to rural and wildlife crime. Together, we supported the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling rural and wildlife crimes.In 2025/26, the Home Office provided the first funding since 2023 to the National Rural Crime Unit as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. This funding boost of over £800,000 will help these policing units provide specialist operational and investigative support to local forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK to tackle crimes that predominantly affect rural communities. We are continuing this funding through 2026/27.The National Wildlife Crime Unit has overseen the police national response to wildlife crime, including hare coursing, which through Operation Galileo has resulted in a 40% reduction in offences.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the National Wildlife Crime Unit on the number of wildlife crime cases.

The Home Office works in partnership with DEFRA to improve the response to rural and wildlife crime. Together, we supported the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to deliver the Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling rural and wildlife crimes.In 2025/26, the Home Office provided the first funding since 2023 to the National Rural Crime Unit as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. This funding boost of over £800,000 will help these policing units provide specialist operational and investigative support to local forces and law enforcement agencies across the UK to tackle crimes that predominantly affect rural communities. We are continuing this funding through 2026/27.The National Wildlife Crime Unit has overseen the police national response to wildlife crime, including hare coursing, which through Operation Galileo has resulted in a 40% reduction in offences.

With reference to the Correspondence from the Minister of State for Care and Minister of State for Health and Secondary Care dated 26 March 2026 entitled 'NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild: next steps and how to contribute,' how much funding has been allocated for Hinckley Health Centre.

In March, we announced Wave 1 of Neighbourhood Health Centre schemes, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home 12 hours a day, six days a week, backed by up to £50 million. The schemes will accelerate and build on existing efforts to deliver more integrated, accessible, and community-based care in areas of greatest need, through estates upgrades. These initial sites, including Hinckley, will lay the foundation for national rollout, as we work towards delivering 120 neighbourhood health centres across England by 2030. Hinckley Health Centre has been allocated a provisional £300,000 for upgrades in 2026/27 to support delivery as a Neighbourhood Health Centre. This is subject to further design work and business case approval.

Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with local councils and building owners on steps to maintain Grade II listed to a robust standard.

The primary responsibility for the upkeep of a listed building rests with its owner. Where an owner fails to maintain a heritage asset, Local Planning Authorities have robust statutory powers to intervene. Our arms length body and statutory advisor for heritage, Historic England, has been in discussion with the Local Government Association regarding undertaking research that looks at both the barriers and opportunities surrounding the use of local authority powers to take action to secure the repair of Listed Buildings when they are being allowed to deteriorate. They also provide advice and guidance to help local authorities and owners with the care of listed buildings.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Urgent Works and Repair Notice process to ensure that the structures of Grade II listed rural public houses are maintained to a robust standard.

No such assessment has been made. Local planning authorities have powers to take action where a designated heritage asset has deteriorated to the extent that its preservation may be at risk. It is for Local Planning Authorities to determine use of their urgent works powers where appropriate. Historic England provides guidance and expert advice to local authorities to support them in using these statutory tools effectively to protect heritage assets at risk.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of digital case management systems on tackling CVD.

The Government is aware of the need for robust digital case management systems to identify, monitor, and track individuals who are at risk or who are living with cardiovascular disease.As stated in the 10-Year Health Plan, to accelerate progress on the Government’s ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next 10 years, a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework will be published in spring. The framework will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care, whilst fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway in line with the Government’s three key shifts, from hospital to community, from sickness to prevention, and from analogue to digital.We are engaging with key stakeholders, including National Health Service leaders, on priorities for the modern service framework, such as the role digital case management systems could play to support efforts to tackle cardiovascular disease.

If he will assess the role of digital case management CVD prevention systems in supporting efforts to facilitate trends in [i] moving from hospital to community care and [ii] analogue to digital care.

The Government is aware of the need for robust digital case management systems to identify, monitor, and track individuals who are at risk or who are living with cardiovascular disease.As stated in the 10-Year Health Plan, to accelerate progress on the Government’s ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next 10 years, a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework will be published in spring. The framework will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care, whilst fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway in line with the Government’s three key shifts, from hospital to community, from sickness to prevention, and from analogue to digital.We are engaging with key stakeholders, including National Health Service leaders, on priorities for the modern service framework, such as the role digital case management systems could play to support efforts to tackle cardiovascular disease.

What conversations he is having with NHS leaders about [i] the future of the PASS system and [ii] the role of digital case management system to support efforts to tackle CVD.

We are aware of the need for robust digital case management systems to identify, monitor, and track individuals who are at risk or are living with cardiovascular disease, including opportunities systems such as the Pedigree and Cascade Screening System may present.To accelerate progress on the Government’s ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% in the next ten years, a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework will be published in spring. The framework will support consistent, high quality, and equitable care, whilst fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway.We are engaging with key stakeholders, including National Health Service leaders, on priorities for the modern service frameworks, to support efforts to tackle cardiovascular disease.

What assessment he has made of the compatibility of NHS England's policy of mandatory Advice and Guidance and Elective Single Point of Access with NHS England's Patient Choice Guidance published December 2023.

The policy intention for Advice and Guidance (A&G) and the Elective Single Point of Access (SPoA) model is fully compatible with NHS England’s Patient Choice Guidance, published December 2023. Patients must continue to be offered a choice of provider at the appropriate point in the pathway, and local pathways should be designed to ensure that choice rights operate in practice.The purpose of A&G is to support decision‑making, reduce unnecessary referrals, and deliver more care closer to home. SPoA acts as a single ‘front door’ to support clinical triage to the most appropriate service or outcome, meaning timelier, more joined-up care for patients, without altering patients’ statutory right to choice.NHS England has published system guidance The Elective Single Point of Access: Technical Guidance for 2026/27, which specifies that patients must continue to be offered choice of provider and team at the appropriate point in the pathway when they can make an informed choice. An elective SPoA diagram showing touchpoints of choice is included in the technical guidance annex.

If she will introduce updated guidance for the inclusion of community and independent gym and leisure facilities within RHL relief categories.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To respond to those who are seeing large increases, Government has already acted to limit increases in bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion package at the Budget. The Government is also introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties. The Government published information on the effects of the changes to business rates made at Budget 2025 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/effects-of-the-business-rates-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-multipliers-and-high-value-multiplier/effects-of-the-business-rates-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-multipliers-and-high-value-multiplier#multipliers

What recent discussions she has had with the leisure centre and gym sector on the impact of business rates on the financial sustainability of that sector.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To respond to those who are seeing large increases, Government has already acted to limit increases in bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion package at the Budget. The Government is also introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties. The Government published information on the effects of the changes to business rates made at Budget 2025 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/effects-of-the-business-rates-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-multipliers-and-high-value-multiplier/effects-of-the-business-rates-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-multipliers-and-high-value-multiplier#multipliers

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of business rates on the sustainability of the leisure centre and gym sector.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To respond to those who are seeing large increases, Government has already acted to limit increases in bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion package at the Budget. The Government is also introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties. The Government published information on the effects of the changes to business rates made at Budget 2025 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/effects-of-the-business-rates-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-multipliers-and-high-value-multiplier/effects-of-the-business-rates-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-multipliers-and-high-value-multiplier#multipliers

If she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the impact of business rate costs on the ability of the gym and leisure centre sector to provide services for the health and wellbeing of communities.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To respond to those who are seeing large increases, Government has already acted to limit increases in bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion package at the Budget. The Government is also introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties. The Government published information on the effects of the changes to business rates made at Budget 2025 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/effects-of-the-business-rates-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-multipliers-and-high-value-multiplier/effects-of-the-business-rates-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-multipliers-and-high-value-multiplier#multipliers

Innovation and Technology, what recent progress she has made on supporting the development of alternative methodologies to the use of animals in science.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25th November 2025 to Question UIN 91769 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-11-17/91769

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the aviculture and caged bird sector on the impact of avian influenza- related restrictions on the operation of that sector.

Defra officials have engaged with the aviculture and caged bird sector, including regional bird clubs and other avicultural organisations, via stakeholder forums and individual discussions as appropriate to understand the impacts of the changes in bird gathering licences on their activities. The Great Britain wild bird and poultry risk levels are reviewed weekly. The avian influenza disease control and prevention measures are kept under regular review and informed by the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice. Defra Ministers regularly meet with APHA on a range of issues including the Government's response to exotic disease outbreaks.