Written questions by Hendrick.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) condition and (b) availability of outdoor basketball courts; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure adequate funding for the maintenance, repair and construction of such facilities.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities. This means delivering a range of facilities across the country based on what each local community needs. On 17 September, the Government confirmed £5 million investment in 2026/27 towards both indoor and outdoor basketball and basketball-led multi-sport facilities in England in 2026/27. This dedicated funding for basketball will be matched by the NBA, who will invest £5 million in grassroots programmes through to 2028. We provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England provides long term investment of £12.6 million to Basketball England between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots basketball.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the impact of rising energy prices on the AI sector in the United Kingdom.

We are focused on continuing to create the right conditions for investment in the UK’s AI and data centre infrastructure.Through the AI Energy Council, we are already bringing together energy system bodies and leading technology companies, including NESO, EDF, Microsoft and Google, to address the energy implications of AI growth and ensure the system is ready to support future demand.Alongside this, the Government is bringing forward a consultation on discounting data centres' energy costs for eligible projects in areas with excess electricity supply, including Scotland, Cumbria and the North East.

What steps she is taking to minimise the risk of racial bias found in AI powered Live Facial Recognition systems.

Police forces using facial recognition must comply with existing legal obligations, including the Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010 and Data Protection Act 2018.Facial recognition algorithms provided by or procured with Home Office funding for police use are required to be independently tested for bias. Independent testing is important because it helps determine the setting in which an algorithm can safely and fairly be used.Where forces procure their own algorithms, forces must ensure that any facial recognition software does not present unacceptable levels of bias. For live facial recognition, this expectation is set out in the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice, which requires algorithms to be independently tested before use, with the results informing how systems are configured for safe and fair deployment.The government intends to bring forward a new legal framework to create consistent, resilient rules and appropriate safeguards for the use of facial recognition and similar technologies.

What assessment she has made of the increasing use of artificial intelligence by criminals in conducting cyberattacks.

As the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Security Minister set out in their letter to businesses on 15 April 2026, the cyber threat continues to change. A new generation of AI models are becoming increasingly capable at an increasing speed and scale not thought possible a year ago.In May 2025, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) judged that cyber threat actors are almost certainly already using AI in their cyber operations. AI will almost certainly continue to make elements of cyber operations more effective and efficient, leading to an increase in frequency and intensity of cyber threats. The proliferation of AI-enabled cyber tools is thought to highly likely expand access to AI-enabled capabilities to an expanded range of cyber actors, including criminals. It is highly likely that criminal use of AI will therefore increase by 2027 as AI becomes more widely adopted in society.The UK is not standing still in response to this threat. The government has built the AI Security Institute, the most advanced capability of any government in the world for understanding frontier AI systems. The NCSC is world-leading in defending the UK online and continues to publish practical guidance for industry and businesses to use. The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, will strengthen protections for critical services, and shortly the National Cyber Action Plan will be published, setting out the steps this government will take to ensure the UK’s national security against cyber threats.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help prevent the loss of UK moth species.

Defra is committed to delivering legally binding biodiversity targets including halting the decline in species abundance by 2030, reversing declines by at least 10% by 2042 compared with 2030, and reducing risk of national species extinction by 2042. The composite indicator we use to measure progress towards our species abundance targets includes over 400 moth species. The Environmental Improvement Plan sets out actions we are taking to deliver these targets, including delivering a refreshed Pollinator Action Plan, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-improvement-plan-2025/environmental-improvement-plan-eip-2025 which will set out key actions for pollinators, including moths, in England. Natural England is working with partners such as Butterly Conservation to take specific action for threatened moth species, including specific grazing and cutting regimes in chalk grassland areas for Black-Veined and Straw Belle moths in Kent, and translocations such as the Rosy Marsh moth in Cumbria.

What steps his Department is taking to mobilise private finance for the development of defence technology, a) in the start-up sector and b) from European investors.

The Strategic Defence Review 2025 set out Defence’s role in seeding innovation and growth to keep the Integrated Force at the forefront of warfare. To deliver this, we established the UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) with a £400M ring-fenced annual budget to fund and scale UK-based companies. UKDI provides a bespoke, strategic service, and capital for high-growth potential UK and allied SMEs, helping them attract private co-investment into defence innovation. As of October 2025, £9 million in Innovation Loan funding has helped 11 successful SMEs raise an additional £29 million in private finance, and 42% of the 72 businesses supported to date have secured £85.4 million in follow-on investment. To support European and international investor engagement, the Ministry of Defence partners with the National Strategic Security Investment Fund and the NATO Innovation Fund to leverage opportunities for the UK and provide targeted engagement for defence and security SMEs. We continue to break down barriers and open new avenues for innovation and technology funding through the Defence Finance and Investment Strategy which will be published this spring.

What assessment her department has made of the impact of increasing oil and gas prices on fixed-rate mortgages in light of the conflict in Iran; and what steps her department will take to support homeowners affected by potential increases in mortgage rates.

The government does not comment on specific market movements. It is normal for sterling markets to vary in response to global developments. Mortgage rates, which are influenced by a range of factors, are a commercial matter for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. There are significant measures in place to protect vulnerable mortgage borrowers. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules require lenders to engage individually with their customers who are struggling or who are worried about their payments. The Mortgage Charter also remains in place, providing additional flexibilities to help customers manage their mortgage payments over a short period.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that inward investment agreements for new datacentres include binding requirements on energy efficiency, renewable power sourcing and heat‑recovery obligations; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential environmental risks arising from the absence of a single cross‑government standard for datacentre sustainability.

The government is committed to ensuring that new data centres and AI infrastructure are developed responsibly, with due consideration of environmental impacts.UK data and AI infrastructure is subject to the UK’s environmental and planning frameworks, which require assessment of impacts such as energy use. Larger data centres, which will be able to apply through the recently introduced Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project route, will also be subject to these requirements.DSIT works closely with DESNZ, DEFRA, and MHCLG to ensure that the UK’s data centre growth align with wider policy objectives, including on sustainability and Clean Power 2030 ambitions. The AI Energy Council, co-chaired by Secretaries of State for DSIT and DESNZ, brings together regulators, energy companies and tech firms to address the growing energy demands of AI in a sustainable and scalable way.

What steps he is taking to support young people identified as Not in Education, Employment or Training.

Building on the December Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy announcement, the Government has committed a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking total additional investment into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy to £2.5 billion over the next three years. This investment will support almost one million young people, and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, the expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain, and the introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres, providing more intensive support to 16-24 year olds.This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training. It will also help unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities, through £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-olds and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six month job.Together these measures demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people.

How many NHS dental appointments have been a) delivered and b) cancelled in i) Preston and ii) Lancashire in the last 3 years.

The following table shows the number of National Health Service dental treatments delivered in the first seven months of the 2025/26 financial year, in the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, which includes Preston and Lancashire: Financial yearNumber of NHS dental treatments delivered in the first 7 months of the financial year2025/26754,599 (partial year)Source: Monthly National Dental Activity data – England July 2023 to October 2025, available at the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/dental-activity-data-england-july-2023-to-october-2025 In addition, the following table shows the available data for the number of NHS dental treatments delivered in 2023/24 and 2024/25 in the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board: Financial yearNumber of NHS dental treatments delivered2024/20251,197,4102023/20241,113,655Source: Dental statistics for England for 2023/24 and 2024/25, available at the following link: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202425 Data for dentistry is measured in courses of treatment, not appointments. One course of treatment can be more than one appointment. Data on the number of NHS dental appointments cancelled is not held.The data for 2023/24 and 2024/25 are not directly comparable with the 2025/26 data due to the 2025/26 data being provisional. Final data for 2025/26 will be published in August 2026. Furthermore, the 2025/26 data covers seven months of activity, but the 2023/24 and 2024/25 data covers the full 12-month period.

What capital and revenue funding allocations have been made to local authorities in Lancashire for a) primary schools, b) secondary schools and c) specialist school places over the next 2 years.

Revenue funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for Lancashire in 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years are presented in the table below. Funding for 2027/28 will be confirmed later this year.Lancashire School FundingFinancial Year2025/262026/27Overall DSG £1,052,000,000£1,096,000,000Mainstream primary Per Pupil£5,627£5,939Mainstream secondary Per Pupil£7,088£7,440High Needs Funding£219 million£235 million*Mainstream funding includes premises and excludes growth.Local authorities meet the costs of special school places in their area through their high needs block funding in the DSG, with the total high needs funding for Lancashire set out above.The methodology for the Inclusive Mainstream Fund was published on 25 March. This details distribution of the £400 million schools will receive in 2026/27 to prepare and deliver improved inclusion practice.We have announced over £82 million of Basic Need capital grant funding to support Lancashire in creating mainstream school places needed due to forecasted growth in pupil numbers between May 2024 and September 2028. The £82 million will be paid across the 2023/24 to 2027/28 financial years.In financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27, Lancashire has been allocated just under £19.7 million and just over £23.8 million respectively through High Needs Provision Capital Allocations.

How much funding his Department has allocated to genomic testing in Lancashire for the (a) 2026-27 (b) 2027-28 and (c) 2028-29 financial years.

NHS England is responsible for commissioning the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) for patients in the National Health Service in England. Genomic testing is currently delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). This includes the North West NHS GLH, which delivers genomic testing for patients in the North West of England, including those in the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. NHS England has undertaken a procurement of the NHS GMS lead providers for services to be delivered from 1 April 2026, including genomic testing. The 2026/27 contract, that will include the financial value for the NHS GMS lead providers, will be complete by Quarter four of 2025/26. Financial values for subsequent years are to be agreed on an annual basis thereafter.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) encourage cyclists to comply with the legal requirement to use appropriate lights and (b) promote the use of (i) reflective and (ii) high‑visibility clothing.

On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. Rule 60 of The Highway Code states that cycles must be fitted with a rear reflector and must have front and rear lights lit at night. Cycling without proper lights is an offence and enforcement is a matter for the police. Rule 59 of the Highway Code recommends that cyclists should wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing to help other road users to see them in daylight and poor light, with reflective clothing and/or accessories in the dark. This advice was made clearer in the updated version of The Highway Code that was published in January 2022.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of car sharing clubs on her (a) decongestion and (b) decarbonisation targets.

Government understands the value of car sharing as a sustainable travel option that can offer a flexible, cost effective alternative to private car ownership for drivers. Alongside our actions to deliver excellent public transport, promote active travel and our support for electric vehicles, car clubs can help people get where they need to go, whilst easing congestion. Car clubs often feature newer vehicles, which are more likely to be electric or have lower emissions than many private cars, which helps reduce carbon emissions and air pollution.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when her Department plans to lay the Kensington Treaty before Parliament for ratification.

The Treaty between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany on Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation will be laid before Parliament for scrutiny shortly after the Christmas recess.

What steps he is taking to ensure the safety of North West Ambulance Service personnel in the context of a trends in the number of violent and abusive incidents directed at frontline NHS staff.

Everyone working in the National Health Service has a fundamental right to be safe at work, including those in the ambulance setting. Trends in violence towards NHS staff have generally stayed at the same levels in recent years and there is in place a zero-tolerance approach to any violent and abusive incidents.Individual employers are responsible for the health and safety of their staff, and they put in place measures, including, security, training, and emotional support for staff affected by violence. These measures will be strengthened by the introduction of a new set of staff standards, as detailed in the 10-Year Health Plan, which will cover issues that matter most to NHS staff including tackling violence in the NHS workplace.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with AI companies on ensuring that AI chatbots do not promote or encourage self-harming behaviour.

I meet regularly with civil society, industry and Ofcom to discuss online safety, including the risks of AI chatbots.AI services allowing users to share content with one another or that search the live web are covered under the Online Safety Act and have a duty to protect users from illegal content, and children from harmful content.To build on this, I have made encouraging self-harm a priority offence under the Act and in-scope chatbots will need to have measures in place to prevent users from encountering this content.

If she will make it her policy that people with convictions for any sexual offences should be prevented from serving in the police forces.

One of the Government’s key priorities is to restore public confidence in policing. To achieve this, we must ensure that those who enter policing are vetted in line with standards the public would expect.That is why, in alignment with our manifesto commitment, we are strengthening the vetting system by introducing new regulations which will place vetting standards on a legislative footing. These regulations will seek to include robust measures which will enable forces to exclude individuals from policing who have a caution or a conviction for relevant domestic abuse or sexual offences.

Media and Sport, what data her Department holds on gender disparities in access to youth sports training facilities; and what steps she is taking to decrease those disparities.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. The Government has invested £98 million through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme across the UK in 2025/26, funding projects such as new and upgraded grass pitches, pitch maintenance equipment and floodlights. Following the Spending Review we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK over the next four years. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. We are committed to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, are able to participate in sport and physical activity. We will more than double priority access to grassroots football pitches for women and girls in England over the next five years as part of a series of plans to honour the success of the Lionesses following the team’s victory at Euro 2025, as well as dedicating flagship sites and pitches to the Lionesses. The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport in England through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that access to information about the contribution of good eye care is readily available.

The NHS.UK website sets out the importance of regular sight tests whilst also providing information about entitlement to free National Health Service sight tests. The Department also looks for opportunities to promote the importance of NHS sight tests, such as through National Eye Health Week.