Written questions by Wrigley.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 86440 on Deposit Return Schemes, if she will take steps to ensure the deposit return scheme allows (a) bottles and (b) other deposit items (i) purchased in the UK to be returned in other European countries and (ii) vice versa.

Thank you for your interest in the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The objectives of DRS include boosting recycling levels, reducing littering, and offering greater opportunities to collect higher quality, uncontaminated materials in greater quantities. In practical terms, DRS regulations allow UK Deposit Management Organisation (Ltd), who has been appointed to operate the scheme in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, to work jointly and in cooperation with other scheme administrators, including those operating an overseas scheme.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the two-child benefit cap on working class people in Newton Abbot constituency.

Statistics related to the policy to provide support for a maximum of 2 children are published annually and provide various breakdowns including by households with someone earning. The latest publication, with April 2025 data, is published here: Universal Credit claimants statistics on the two child limit policy, April 2025 - GOV.UK data by Parliamentary Constituencies can be found in tables 12A, 12B, 12C in the published spreadsheet. All previous releases of these statistics are published here: Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit claimants: statistics related to the policy to provide support for a maximum of 2 children - GOV.UK

When his Department plans to respond to the Freedom of Information Act request of 7 October 2025 by the hon. Member for Newton Abbot regarding meetings between Boris Johnson and Peter Thiel.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires that requests are answered promptly and no later than 20 working days after receipt. Cabinet Office responded to the hon. Member’s request on 5 November 2025, within the statutory time limit.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 July to Question 65984 on NHS Databases, what assessment he has made of the challenges of hosting the NHS Federated Data Platform on cloud services.

The NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) Programme Team in NHS England have conducted a comprehensive assessment of the technical, operational, regulatory, and public trust considerations associated with hosting the platform on cloud services. It is a contractual requirement that all processing and storage of patient information take place within the United Kingdom. Data within the FDP and NHS Privacy Enhancing Technology cannot be accessed by provider personnel or contractors based outside the UK. This is stipulated in the overarching FDP Data Protection Impact Assessment and enforced through technical controls. All data is protected through strong encryption, access controls, and audit trails, in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. These measures ensure that National Health Service data remains fully under UK jurisdiction. Robust security measures are in place, including firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, regular penetration testing, and vulnerability scanning. Live service teams continuously monitor the platform to identify and address any issues promptly. The FDP has been designed to be modular and standards-based, enabling integration with multiple systems and avoiding over-reliance on any single cloud provider. Following national guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre, the NHS has adopted the 14 cloud security principles as its core means of aligning of cloud and internet security throughout the NHS and healthcare providers. All NHS data stored on cloud services in the UK is encrypted, at rest and in transit, using the highest encryption standards.

If she will take steps to introduce a discounted ticketing scheme for schools who want to take the train for school trips.

All Department for Transport contracted operators offer some form of group discount, with some offering substantial savings for groups of 10 or more people. Additionally, many train operators participate in the GroupSave offer, for groups of three to nine people travelling together. As more train operators are taken into public ownership through the Department for Transport Operator and into the establishment of Great British Railways, it will have the opportunity to provide a more consistent passenger offer across the network.

Innovation and Technology, what team in her Department produced the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025.

The Cyber Security & Digital Identity Directorate within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) are the policy owners of the overall PSTI regime and led the development of the draft Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of a framework model for functional neurological disorder (FND) care, including (a) FND care pathways, (b) the requirement for multidisciplinary teams trained in FND, (c) follow-up appointments for patients, and (d) mandatory training for (i) GPs, (ii) neurologists, and (ii) A&E staff.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) included information on functional neurological disorder (FND) in its guideline Suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral, code NG127, which covers symptoms and the appropriate referral pathways. The NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries also feature a detailed topic on FND, offering information on diagnosis and management. The guideline and Clinical Knowledge Summary are available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng127https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/functional-neurological-disorder/We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to ensure that the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, and with the right skills, to deliver the best care for patients, including those with FND, when they need it. We have recently published a call for evidence to gather views from stakeholders on the specific professions, roles, skills, and training needed to implement the reforms outlined in our 10-Year Health Plan for England.More widely, the Elective Reform Plan has committed to reforming outpatient care, which will improve outcomes for patients with FND, through:¾ clinical pathway reform, by transforming clinical pathways to build on the opportunity to deliver more activity in the community and increase the opportunities for patients to be referred straight to diagnostic tests;¾ reducing unnecessary follow up care by using remote monitoring and widening access to Patient Initiated Follow Up so that more patients can have choice and control over if and when they require follow up care, freeing up appointments for patients who need them most; and¾ focusing on the smaller aspects of service delivery than can make a big difference to productivity, by focusing on waiting list validation being properly funded as a form of activity, better use of outpatient clinical capacity, and making better use of clinic templates and job planning so clinicians have the right balance of activity to meet demand.

Innovation and Technology, how much paid civil service time did it take to create The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025.

The UK is the most targeted country in Europe for cyber-attacks and with most connected products used here manufactured abroad, so developing these Regulations required collaboration with international partners to reduce complexity for manufacturers and consumers.The process of developing any legislation is inherently complex and time-consuming, involving extensive consultation, drafting, and scrutiny. Development of the draft Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 was no different and involved a collaborative effort between DSIT policy officials and legal experts, as well as discussing the appropriate terminology used in the draft Regulations with our counterparts in Japan and Singapore.We do not have figures for the exact amount of civil service time involved but can confirm that developing this Statutory Instrument was part of the work of the Cyber Security & Digital Identity Directorate within DSIT.We have worked closely with global partners to develop the internationally recognised European Standard for Cyber Security in Consumer Internet of Things devices ETSI EN 303 645. This standard is the foundation for nearly every major consumer product security regime worldwide and we are engaging with international partners to encourage its uptake in their connected devices regimes.

What steps he is taking to increase the number of NHS dentists in the Newton Abbot constituency.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Newton Abbot constituency, this is the Devon ICB.We have asked ICBs to commission extra urgent dental appointments. ICBs have been making extra appointments available from 1 April 2025.ICBs are recruiting dentists through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.We are committed to reforming the dental contract, with a focus on matching resources to need, improving access, promoting prevention, and rewarding dentists fairly, while enabling the whole dental team to work to the top of their capability. The Government is committed to achieving fundamental contract reform before the end of this Parliament.We recently held a full public consultation on a package of changes to improve access to, and the quality of, NHS dentistry, which will deliver better care for the diverse oral health needs of people across England. The consultation closed on 19 August. The Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation and will publish a response in due course.

What steps he is taking to increase cancer survivability rates in Devon.

Early cancer diagnosis is a key priority for the Government, as the chances of survival are higher if cancer is diagnosed at an early stage.The Department recognises that cancer patients, including those with in Devon, are often waiting too long for referral and treatment. As the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and treatment, NHS England has delivered an extra 100,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week since the start of this administration. This is supported by an increase in capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new MRI and CT scanners. The government is investing an extra £26 billion in the NHS and opening up community diagnostic centres (CDCs) at evening and weekends, including three CDCs located within NHS Devon Integrated Care Board, to help diagnose cancer earlier.Reducing the number of lives lost to cancer is a key aim of the National Cancer Plan for England. The plan will include further details on how the Government will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including brain cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and ultimately driving up this country’s cancer survival rates.

What steps he is taking to improve breast cancer screening rates in Devon.

The Government is taking a range of actions to improve participation in breast screening in Devon, through the NHS Breast Screening Programme. These actions include:creating videos for different audiences, such as people with a learning disability or dementia;collaborating with local schools to provide information and promote breast screening awareness;contacting patients who do not attend their booked appointment to understand the reasons for non-attendance, and addressing barriers on an individual level to support attendance;sending text messages to remind patients of appointments;offering a chaperone service to individuals who are nervous about attending their appointment; andcollaborating with a local menopause nurse to raise awareness of breast screening.

What information his Department holds on the number of (a) dentists currently accepting NHS patients, (b) NHS dental appointments offered each month and (c) patients seeking NHS dentistry in Newton Abbot constituency.

Data is not held on the number of National Health Service dental appointments offered each month.As of 3 November 2025, there were nine NHS dentist practices in the Newton Abbot constituency, with two showing as ‘accepting new child patients when availability allows’ and two showing as ‘accepting new adult patients when availability allows’.This data is sourced from the Find a Dentist website and is matched to constituencies based on the postcode data shown on the website, which is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentistThe data for the Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB), which includes the Newton Abbot constituency, shows that 29% of adults were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 24 months up to June 2025, compared to 40% in England.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the ICBs across England.

If the Prime Minster will have discussions with his international colleagues at the next G20 on raising the international corporate tax rate to 21%.

The global minimum tax project is the result of an agreement reached by members of the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting to reduce profit shifting by large multinationals. Under the global minimum tax, large MNE groups will be subject to top-up tax if their effective tax rate is lower than 15%. The 15% rate was agreed in 2021, and was the outcome of negotiation and agreement by more than 130 countries. Many of these countries including the UK have now implemented the global minimum tax into their domestic legislation. The internationally agreed 15% rate is not open for negotiation, but the government believes that it strikes the right balance between curbing harmful tax practices without preventing jurisdictions like the UK from enacting our 25% rate.

With reference to the NHS England Medium Term Planning Framework – delivering change together 2026/27 to 2028/29, published on 24 October 2025, what plans he has to consult the Royal College of General Practitioners on the same day appointments for all clinically urgent patients (face to face, phone or online) success measure.

As part of our recently published Medium-Term Planning Framework, we have introduced a new and ambitious target to ensure all urgent appointments are provided on the same day, so that patients requiring urgent care are prioritised, irrespective of how they are delivered, whether it be face-to-face, via telephone, or online. At present, 44.4% of appointments are already delivered on the same day they are booked We have always valued input from a range of stakeholders on the future of general practice and continue to engage with general practitioners broadly to ensure the targets are achievable, reflect the needs of the populations they serve, and to understand any barriers to delivery.

With reference to the NHS England Medium Term Planning Framework – delivering change together 2026/27 to 2028/29, published 24 October 2025, what steps his Department is taking to measure the same day appointments for all clinically urgent patients (face to face, phone or online) success measure.

As part of our recently published Medium-Term Planning Framework, we have introduced a new and ambitious target to ensure all urgent appointments are provided on the same day, so that patients requiring urgent care are prioritised, irrespective of how they are delivered, whether it be face-to-face, via telephone, or online. At present, 44.4% of appointments are already delivered on the same day they are booked We have always valued input from a range of stakeholders on the future of general practice and continue to engage with general practitioners broadly to ensure the targets are achievable, reflect the needs of the populations they serve, and to understand any barriers to delivery.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress she has made towards the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme in 2027.

The Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers will launch in October 2027 across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Earlier this year, the UK Deposit Management Organisation Ltd were appointed to operate the schemes in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and they are continuing to progress at pace with delivery of the scheme.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of asking the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to review their scheduling of Psilocybin.

Psilocybin is controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (‘the 1971 Act’) and placed in Schedule 1 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (‘the 2001 Regulations’). Drugs are typically placed in Schedule 1 when there is no established medical use in the UK.Ministers are under a duty to consider advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) prior to making regulations under the 1971 Act. The Government has no current plans to commission the ACMD to review the scheduling of psilocybin.Medicines based on psilocybin have to date not been assessed on the basis of their safety, quality and efficacy and granted a marketing authorisation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA). Reconsideration of scheduling under the 1971 Act would ordinarily follow such an assessment by the MHRA.

Whether she plans to increase the (a) Plastic Packaging Tax rate and (b) recycled content requirement to promote domestic recycling.

The Plastic Packaging Tax was introduced in April 2022 under the previous government and provides a price incentive for businesses to use recycled plastic in the manufacture of plastic packaging – thereby stimulating the collection and recycling of plastic waste. The Government keeps all taxes under review, and the Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's joint press release entitled Creative and AI sectors kick-off next steps in finding solutions to AI and copyright, published 16 July 2025, whether the expert working groups on AI and copyright will have a specific remit to assess the transparency requirements for data used to (a) train and (b) ground generative AI models.

We are establishing technical working groups to inform our approach to copyright and AI. They will be designed to bring together both British and global companies, alongside voices beyond the AI and creative sectors. A range of issues will be discussed, including transparency in the development and deployment of AI in the UK. The terms of reference will be published in due course.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's joint press release entitled Creative and AI sectors kick-off next steps in finding solutions to AI and copyright, published 16 July 2025, whether the terms of reference for the government’s expert working groups on AI and copyright will include reviewing the transparency of inputs used by generative AI firms to (a) train and (b) improve the performance of their models.

We are establishing technical working groups to inform our approach to copyright and AI. They will be designed to bring together both British and global companies, alongside voices beyond the AI and creative sectors. A range of issues will be discussed, including transparency in the development and deployment of AI in the UK. The terms of reference will be published in due course.