Written questions by Wrigley.

Innovation and Technology, what definition of digital inclusion her Department uses for monitoring progress against the Digital Inclusion Action Plan.

We know that digital exclusion is a complex issue and the evidence base is significant but fragmented. Ofcom data from 2025 reports that 5% of households in the UK do not have access to the internet and that, in the South West of England, 7% of the population do not use the internet. That is why we launched the Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February of this year, which sets out the first five actions we are taking to boost digital inclusion in every corner of the UK, including the South West of England.One of these actions was to develop robust headline indicators to monitor progress and inform future digital inclusion interventions. We will evaluate the outcomes of these actions as our understanding of best practice evolves.

Innovation and Technology, what potential providers in the private sector her Department has had discussions with on the GOV.UK Wallet policy.

Since the announcement of the GOV.UK Wallet in January, DSIT has met with providers of digital identity services on multiple occasions. This included events on 14th May and 29th July, the first of which was attended by over 60 representatives from the sector and follow up meetings with individual companies who requested it to discuss technical elements of the GOV.UK Wallet development.The GOV.UK Wallet is being designed, built and run in-house whilst ​​maintaining​​ a key role for the private sector​, which will provide the data flow between the information in the GOV.UK Wallet, and the organisation (such as a retailer) who needs to check information about the user. Any additional specialist external services may be needed to support delivery and will be subject to the usual competitive processes.

Innovation and Technology, what estimate she has made of the number of people who are considered digitally excluded in (a) the South West and (b) the UK.

We know that digital exclusion is a complex issue and the evidence base is significant but fragmented. Ofcom data from 2025 reports that 5% of households in the UK do not have access to the internet and that, in the South West of England, 7% of the population do not use the internet. That is why we launched the Digital Inclusion Action Plan in February of this year, which sets out the first five actions we are taking to boost digital inclusion in every corner of the UK, including the South West of England.One of these actions was to develop robust headline indicators to monitor progress and inform future digital inclusion interventions. We will evaluate the outcomes of these actions as our understanding of best practice evolves.

Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the prevalence of gambling advertising that is not obviously identifiable as advertising.

The Government is clear that wherever gambling advertising appears, it must be socially responsible. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to further raise standards to ensure that gambling advertising is appropriate, responsible, and does not exacerbate harm. There are a number of robust measures in place to regulate advertising, designed to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm. All gambling operators who advertise in the UK must comply with advertising codes, which are enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) independently of the Government. These codes apply to all advertising, including content marketing, but does not apply to editorial content, which is not deemed to be selling a product or service. The Government monitors the best available evidence from a wide range of sources to aid our assessment of the impact of gambling advertising at a national level. Additionally, advertising code changes implemented from 1 September 2025 have increased the ASA’s scope, enabling the ASA to also regulate advertising by overseas gambling operators using online ads to target UK consumers.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of trends in the number of sanitary and phytosanitary transfers between the UK and EU since 2020 on the economy.

The Government is required to conduct an impact assessment when new or changing policies, strategies, services or projects are proposed that could have a significant impact on the economy, business, voluntary organisations, or the environment. Defra implemented changes to cross-border sanitary and phytosanitary processes in 2024 when it implemented its Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). The impact assessment was published https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2024/115/pdfs/ukia_20240115_en.pdf) and contains an estimated cost to business. As a major programme the BTOM will also be subject to formal evaluation, which assesses the value and impact of the work post delivery through a structured process of analysis. The evaluation process is expected to run over the next few years. It should also be noted that the UK trade team of ONS also publish a variety of different statistics that quantify trade between the UK and EU over time (Published data - Office for National Statistics).

Media and Sport, when she plans to provide funding for all state primary schools to have a library.

As funding for this initiative will come from the Dormant Assets Scheme over which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has responsibility, your question has been transferred to my Department. This government fully recognises the transformational power of reading and believes that every child should have access to a library space, along with high-quality reading materials and supportive environments that nurture their learning and development. It is for individual schools to decide how best to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils, including whether to employ a qualified librarian. Through the Dormant Assets Scheme, we have committed to every child having access to a library space in every primary school in England by the end of this Parliament to help foster a culture of reading for pleasure amongst disadvantaged children and young people in the spaces and places that matter to them. The government will work with The National Lottery Community Fund to co-design the programme and will announce further details in due course. Funding for this programme will come from the £132.5 million that was allocated to increasing disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities in the arts, culture, sports and wider youth services, aimed at improving wellbeing and employability.

If his Department will publish an impact assessment for the NHS Devon Integrated Care Board’s proposed 2025–26 financial plan that includes information on the services that may be (a) restructured and (b) reduced to meet targets.

NHS Devon’s 2025/26 financial plan is being developed in line with national planning guidance and forms part of the wider five-year Medium Term Financial Plan. The plan is focused on achieving financial sustainability while improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities. All proposals for service change will be supported by equality and quality impact assessments and appropriate engagement with local stakeholders. NHS Devon is committed to maintaining safe and sustainable services by shifting care closer to home and reducing reliance on acute settings. Efficiency improvements across the Devon system total approximately £255 million in 2025/26. These measures are designed to improve productivity and value for money, not to reduce essential services. A summary of the Health and Care Strategy and financial plan will be shared with Members of Parliament and stakeholders, and a briefing for Members of Parliament for Devon will be arranged following publication.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of recent trends in running costs for NHS Devon on (a) the provision of public health services and (b) health outcomes in the region.

Public health responsibilities sit primarily with local authorities and national public health programmes, such as screening, are commissioned by NHS England rather than the integrated care boards (ICBs). Therefore, the running costs within the NHS Devon ICB do not directly affect the provision of public health services. There are ongoing discussions nationally about the potential future delegation of some public health and screening functions to ICBs, but no decisions have yet been made. NHS Devon’s new Health and Care Strategy set out a system-wide approach to improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities through prevention, early intervention, and community-based care. This will support better long-term population health across Devon, regardless of ICB running cost trends. The ICB’s meeting papers and minutes discussing the strategy is available at the following link: https://swpboard.nhs.uk/board-meetings/board-meeting-papers-and-minutes/

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing carers to retain their national insurance contribution credits during temporary absences of the person they are a carer for.

Carers in receipt of Carers Allowance (CA) are awarded class 1 National Insurance credits. If there is a break in care that lasts up to 12 weeks, carers in receipt of CA are awarded class 3 National Insurance credits. These credits protect their State Pension and help with access to certain working age benefits. Carers in receipt of the Universal Credit Carer Element or Carer’s Credit receive class 3 National Insurance credits, including during a break in care, which protects their State Pension in later life.

If he will take steps to help protect (a) safeguarding, (b) continuing healthcare and (c) support for people with special educational needs and disabilities during the transition to the new integrated care board cluster in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

To support integrated care boards (ICBs) as they reduce their running costs, which includes moving to new clusters in some areas, NHS England has been working with stakeholders on further detail. NHS England has shared best practice documents in relation to NHS Continuing Healthcare, support for people with special educational needs and disabilities, and safeguarding. These documents are clear on ICBs’ statutory requirements and set out that the focus in the near term will be on spreading best practice in the delivery of these functions, ensuring the function is delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible by all ICBs.

If he will take steps to ensure that carers continue to receive national insurance contribution credits during temporary leaves of absence for the person they are a carer for.

Carers in receipt of Carers Allowance (CA) are awarded class 1 National Insurance credits. If there is a break in care that lasts up to 12 weeks, carers in receipt of CA are awarded class 3 National Insurance credits. These credits protect their State Pension and help with access to certain working age benefits. Carers in receipt of the Universal Credit Carer Element or Carer’s Credit receive class 3 National Insurance credits, including during a break in care, which protects their State Pension in later life.

Innovation and Technology, which organisations her Department has met with as part of the development of digital identity proposals.

The Government will start a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year and has naturally begun engaging with key stakeholders, including charities, trade unions, trade bodies and associations, businesses and local government leaders already. We will continue to engage through the consultation period and beyond to support product delivery. We expect it to be designed, built and run by in-house Government teams, not outsourced to external suppliers. In the event any specialist external services or expertise are procured to support the delivery of new digital ID, this will be subject to all the usual competitive processes to ensure transparency, and value for the taxpayer. The Government is also keen to learn from other countries that implemented successful digital ID programmes. The Rt Hon Pat McFadden travelled to Estonia in August to understand more about the Estonian digital ID system.

Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has had discussions with (a) Apple, (b) Google and (c) other technology companies on delivering digital identity schemes.

The Government will start a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year and has naturally begun engaging with key stakeholders, including charities, trade unions, trade bodies and associations, businesses and local government leaders already. We will continue to engage through the consultation period and beyond to support product delivery. We expect it to be designed, built and run by in-house Government teams, not outsourced to external suppliers. In the event any specialist external services or expertise are procured to support the delivery of new digital ID, this will be subject to all the usual competitive processes to ensure transparency, and value for the taxpayer. The Government is also keen to learn from other countries that implemented successful digital ID programmes. The Rt Hon Pat McFadden travelled to Estonia in August to understand more about the Estonian digital ID system.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 63915 on Digital Technology: Proof of Identity, what discussions the government has had with private sector bodies regarding digital ID venders.

The Government will start a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year and has naturally begun engaging with key stakeholders, including charities, trade unions, trade bodies and associations, businesses and local government leaders already. We will continue to engage through the consultation period and beyond to support product delivery. We expect it to be designed, built and run by in-house Government teams, not outsourced to external suppliers. In the event any specialist external services or expertise are procured to support the delivery of new digital ID, this will be subject to all the usual competitive processes to ensure transparency, and value for the taxpayer. The Government is also keen to learn from other countries that implemented successful digital ID programmes. The Rt Hon Pat McFadden travelled to Estonia in August to understand more about the Estonian digital ID system.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to integrated care boards on protecting frontline public health services.

NHS England has issued guidance to integrated care boards (ICBs) on their public health functions, for instance the guidance Delivering a quality public health function in integrated care boards, which is available at the following link:Delivering-a-quality-public-health-function-in-integrated-care-boards-October-2022.pdf.More recently, NHS England issued a Model Integrated Care Board Blueprint in May 2025, suggesting the functions needed for ICBs to fulfil their roles as strategic commissioners. This included ICBs providing system leadership for population health.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with supermarkets on the potential impact of online-only discounts on older people without smartphones.

Ministers and officials in the department regularly engage with retailers on a wide range of issues affecting consumers, including affordability and access to food. The Government expects retailers to consider the needs of all customers, including older people and those who may find it difficult to access online services. Supermarkets are responsible for their own pricing and promotional strategies, but we know that many offer a range of in-store and online discounts to ensure fair access.

Whether NHS England has included requirements for sovereign AI capability in contracts awarded under the Federated Data Platform.

A mandatory requirement across all awarded contracts under the NHS Federated Data Platform is that any processing of data, whether involving artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities or not, must adhere to strict UK data governance regulations. This explicitly includes a data residency requirement, stipulating that all data must be stored and processed within the United Kingdom. This ensures all data remains subject to UK law and regulatory oversight.The use of any foundational models is restricted exclusively to models that are hosted within the UK and all with UK endpoints. This policy ensures that the core AI processing, in addition to the data itself, remains within the nation's jurisdiction, thereby ensuring a sovereign AI capability by design.

With reference to page 91 of his Department's policy paper entitled Fit for the future: 10 year health plan for England, published 1 July 2025, what criteria was used to determine which conditions should receive a modern service framework; and whether respiratory health meets these criteria.

Everyone in the National Health Service is responsible for delivering high-quality care. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, as well as an overall quality strategy, the National Quality Board will oversee the development of a new series of service frameworks to accelerate progress in conditions where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.Early priorities will include cardiovascular disease, severe mental illness, and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia. The Government will consider other long-term conditions with significant health and economic impacts for future waves of modern service frameworks.

What assessment his Department has made of the merits of producing a modern service framework for respiratory care.

Everyone in the National Health Service is responsible for delivering high-quality care. As announced in the 10-Year Health Plan, as well as an overall quality strategy, the National Quality Board will oversee the development of a new series of service frameworks to accelerate progress in conditions where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.Early priorities will include cardiovascular disease, severe mental illness, and the first ever service framework for frailty and dementia. The Government will consider other long-term conditions with significant health and economic impacts for future waves of modern service frameworks.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of planned changes to funding for NHS services in Devon on (a) health inequalities and (b) funding for public health programmes.

NHS Devon’s financial planning aligns with the NHS England planning round. The integrated care board is developing detailed commissioning intentions to allocate resources in line with its five-year Health and Care Strategy. This strategy prioritises tackling health inequalities through targeted prevention, integrated neighbourhood care, and population health management. Funding for local authority public health programmes is not affected by changes to NHS Devon’s internal budget allocations.