Written questions by Wrigley.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41244 on Special Educational Needs: Schools, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of local authorities not complying with that advice.

The ‘Special educational needs and disabilities code of practice’ is statutory guidance issued by the department. Where a local authority does not comply with a statutory duty, such as reviewing a child or young person’s education, health and care (EHC) plan at least every 12 months, parents can complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) after following the local authority’s formal complaints procedure. The LGSCO is able to look at how the local authority has carried out its statutory duties in relation to EHC plans. The department holds local authorities to account for delivery of their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services through joint inspections by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission. These inspections place a greater emphasis on the outcomes being achieved for children and young people. They are the primary tool to maintain a focus on high standards in the SEND system across all partners.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41541 on Youth Services: Finance, if she will issue new guidance to local authorities on the provision of youth services in the context of proposed changes to funding for those services.

In 2023, DCMS published updated statutory guidance to support local authorities’ understanding of the existing statutory duty on the provision of youth services and how to deliver it. That duty, and therefore local authorities’ responsibilities, have not changed. As such, we have no plans to issue new guidance to local authorities at this time.However, since 2023 we have been funding peer reviews to help Local Authorities learn from each other on the best approaches to youth service provision. The Local Youth Transformation pilot will also test a new way of working and supporting local authorities, providing a package of support to assess, improve and develop impactful local youth offers. We will launch the pilot in 2025/26 and further details will be shared in due course.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of US tariffs on the economy of Devon.

I am disappointed by the announcement of an increase in tariffs by the United States, which are not in anyone’s interest, and we understand businesses across the country are concerned. The government has been fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the US. And we will continue to engage with them, to understand some of the details of how tariffs will be implemented. We are resolute in our support for industry across the whole of the UK, and we will continue to engage with businesses to assess and understand the impact of these tariffs. In addition, on 3 April the government launched a Request for Input from businesses to help inform the UK’s response to US tariffs.

Whether her Department has reviewed statistical evidence on the use of legally held firearms in criminal activities.

The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for issuing firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police. Since November 2021, however, Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State requires police forces to make robust checks on the suitability of applicants to hold a license and ensure their subsequent continuous assessment. The application process is supported by the police Authorised Professional Practice (APP) and a national training programme.We keep firearms licensing controls under constant review to safeguard the public against the misuse of licensed firearms. Firearms licensing fees were increased on 5 February 2025, giving effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto. The extra income from fees will help police forces to better resource and train their firearms licensing teams.There were four firearms-related homicides by licence holders in England and Wales in the year ending March 2024. While other statistics are published which indicate the types of firearms involved in criminal offences, they do not always show whether the firearm used was legally held.

What information his Department holds on whether any UK firms with Russian holdings are not in the process of divesting from operations based in Russia.

The Department for Business and Trade does not hold any specific data on UK firms that are not in the process of divesting from operations based in Russia. UK businesses must comply with our sanctions, which form an extensive regime to constrain the Kremlin’s ability to continue the war. It is a decision for individual UK businesses on whether and how to divest from Russia in compliance with UK sanctions.

Whether she is taking steps to ensure police forces conduct due diligence in preventing crimes involving legally held firearms.

The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for issuing firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police. Since November 2021, however, Statutory Guidance issued by the Secretary of State requires police forces to make robust checks on the suitability of applicants to hold a license and ensure their subsequent continuous assessment. The application process is supported by the police Authorised Professional Practice (APP) and a national training programme.We keep firearms licensing controls under constant review to safeguard the public against the misuse of licensed firearms. Firearms licensing fees were increased on 5 February 2025, giving effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto. The extra income from fees will help police forces to better resource and train their firearms licensing teams.There were four firearms-related homicides by licence holders in England and Wales in the year ending March 2024. While other statistics are published which indicate the types of firearms involved in criminal offences, they do not always show whether the firearm used was legally held.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 36240 on Zoos: Animal Breeding, how many civil servants are working on negotiating a UK-EU Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary agreement.

On 19 May the UK and EU announced the terms of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement that we will now negotiate, in addition to the Government announcing recent deals with India and the USA, and further deals in the pipeline. These deals will make agrifood trade with key markets cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers, and boosting exports. Defra’s trade staff work flexibly across trade deals according to demand.

Whether he plans to make an assessment of the (a) adequacy of the requirement for UK-produced phages to be manufactured under good manufacturing practice and (b) potential impact of this requirement on patient access to treatment.

In the March 2024 response to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report on bacteriophages, the Government acknowledged the challenges of requiring United Kingdom-produced phages to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, which is essential for clinical use.To address this, the Government committed to exploring the case for a dedicated GMP facility to support phage innovators, working with key stakeholders, including funders and research organisations, to strengthen the UK’s phage manufacturing capabilities and thereby improve patient access to these therapies.

If he will make a comparative assessment of the effectiveness of phage therapy regulatory frameworks in (a) Belgium, (b) Canada, (c) France, (d) the US and (e) Australia; whether he plans to adopt similar measures in the UK; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on patient access.

The United Kingdom’s regulatory framework supports patient access to phage therapy and is in line with many other national regulatory authorities. We continue to keep the regulatory framework for phage therapies under review, aligning where necessary with regulatory frameworks internationally, in order to support continued patient access via phage sharing between countries.The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is planning to publish draft guidance on phage product licensing, developed with researchers and industry, to clarify regulatory and manufacturing requirements.

If he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a magistral phage model to allow UK phages to be produced without requiring GMP licensing.

In its March 2024 response to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report on bacteriophages, the Government acknowledged the challenges in manufacturing phage materials in the United Kingdom, including the requirement to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. The principles of GMP are considered necessary to ensure the medicines are of the appropriate quality, safety, and efficacy. The Government committed to considering the case for the development of a UK-based GMP facility to support phage innovators.In parallel, the Government is engaging with professional regulators and the specialist pharmacy service to clarify how existing regulations address liability for the use of non-GMP produced phages. Unlicensed phages can currently be used in the UK for compassionate cases with appropriate controls. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will be publishing regulatory considerations for therapeutic use of bacteriophages in the UK in the second quarter of 2025, which will offer guidance on these matters.

Whether his Department is taking steps to simplify the process for clinicians seeking approval to use phage therapy.

In March 2024, the Government’s response to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report on bacteriophages highlighted the potential role of phage therapy as one of a range of tools to tackle antimicrobial resistance.To support clinical use, the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency plans to publish non-mandatory guidance on the quality, safety, and efficacy data required to license phage products for both proactive and reactive National Health Service use to treat common infections, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will assess new phage-based treatments alongside other medicines.

Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to provide funding to develop small-batch GMP phage manufacturing in the UK.

The Government supports the vibrant life sciences sector, which contributes £108 billion to the economy and 300,000 jobs nationwide. A new Life Sciences Sector Plan, part of the upcoming Industrial Strategy, is due to be published in late Spring. This will set out a comprehensive plan of how the Government intends to drive growth in the sector. Domestic manufacturing is of critical importance and to support this part of the sector, the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund will allocate up to £520 million to deliver economic growth and build health resilience. Funding is available UK-wide, with GMP batch phage manufacturing projects being eligible.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the level of imports of phage products on national security; and whether he is taking steps to help develop UK-based manufacturing capabilities.

In the March 2024 response to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report on bacteriophages, the government acknowledged the challenges in developing phage therapy in the United Kingdom, including the requirement to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. GMP is the minimum standard that a medicines manufacturer must meet in their production processes. To meet GMP, products must:- be of consistent high quality;- be appropriate to their intended use; and- meet the requirements of the marketing authorisation or product specification.In the response, the Government committed to considering the case for a UK-based GMP facility to support phage innovators and reduce reliance on imports. The UK Health Security Agency is also exploring phage production options in accordance with GMP, working with partners nationally and internationally.The new Life Sciences Sector Plan, part of the upcoming Industrial Strategy, to be published in late spring 2025, will outline the Government’s growth strategy for the sector. Within this, domestic manufacturing, including for bacteriophage production, is a priority and projects can be supported via applications to the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund.In parallel, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will be publishing draft guidance on phage product licensing, developed with researchers and industry, to clarify regulatory and manufacturing requirements.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to support the development of phage therapy solutions for low-to-middle-income countries.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not directly supporting the development of phage therapy solutions currently. The FCDO is monitoring research developments, which may prove phage therapy solutions useful for tackling antimicrobial resistance, other anti-infective uses, vaccines and cancer therapies, however this work is at an early stage.The Prime Minister has set out a clear path to spending 2.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product on defence spending. Doing so demands the difficult but necessary decision to reduce our Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income by 2027. Decisions on how the ODA budget will be used in future will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review and resource allocation processes. We will be taking a rigorous approach to ensure all ODA delivers value for money.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a phage impact bond that is similar to previous social impact bonds.

Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) are a mechanism to raise investment for a service provider. SIBs are commissioned on a payment-by-results basis, with the payment being proportional to the delivery of a positive social outcome.As detailed in the Government’s response to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s report on bacteriophages, published 1 March 2024, the Government is focusing on projects that aim to be most beneficial to supporting phage development in the United Kingdom, based on an assessment of context and barriers.This includes exploring the case for a dedicated Good Manufacturing Practice facility to support phage innovators, working with key stakeholders, including funders and research organisations, to strengthen the UK’s phage manufacturing capabilities and thereby improve patient access to these therapies.Currently, SIBs have not been identified as a mechanism that would progress development beyond the impact of current projects, but will be considered alongside other options.

If his Department will work with Versus Arthritis to improve work-related support for people with arthritis.

The Department will continue to work with Versus Arthritis as we consider how best to address ill-health related economic inactivity, including improving work-related support for people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as arthritis.The Get Britain Working White Paper set out that the Government is investing £240 million to tackle the root causes behind why people are not working and join up help and support, based on the needs of local people and places.In terms of the wider provision of work-related support for people with MSK, and as part of the localism agenda, the WorkWell service is piloting low-intensity work and health support. This support is led by local partnerships of health systems, local authorities, and job centres in 15 areas of England. By spring 2026, WorkWell pilots aim to support 56,000 disabled people and people with health conditions, including MSK conditions, to get into work and to get on at work.The Government is also mobilising eight inactivity trailblazers in England and Wales that will lead the way in delivering a joined-up local work, health and skills offer. Three of these areas will receive a share of £45 million to become Health and Growth Accelerators. The Accelerators will focus on prevention and early intervention to improve population health outcomes and reduce health-related economic inactivity. MSK is one of the key drivers of health-related inactivity and integrated care boards will consider targeted interventions as part of their plans.

If his Department will work with Versus Arthritis to (a) bring down waiting times for people with arthritis and (b) support them while waiting for treatment.

On 6 January 2025, NHS England published the new Elective Reform Plan, which sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their populations, including for those with arthritis. To support this, the Department of Health and Social Care is delivering the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Musculoskeletal (MSK) Community Delivery Programme jointly with NHS England and the Department for Work and Pensions. With a £3.5 million funding boost, GIRFT will work with the ICBs to reduce MSK community waiting times.The Department funds research into MSK conditions, including arthritis, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Through that route, the Department spent approximately £26.3 million on MSK research in 2023/24, and £79.2 million since 2019/20. In particular, the Leeds Biomedical Research Centre aims to improve treatment for osteoarthritis. The NIHR, in collaboration with Versus Arthritis, also funds a dedicated UK MSK Translational Research Collaboration, aligning investment in MSK translational research and creating a United Kingdom-wide ambition and focus to drive cutting edge research and improve outcomes for patients.The GIRFT programme in NHS England has had a paediatric rheumatology workstream since April 2024. The team has assembled the largest ever set of data and information about paediatric rheumatology in England and is visiting every department in England to discuss its findings. It will produce its national report with recommendations later this financial year. This will include a focus on supporting young people and their parents as they transition to adult services.The GIRFT team will be working with the British Society for Rheumatology and rheumatology departments in England to implement the findings and recommendations of the GIRFT paediatric rheumatology national report.NHS England Specialised Commissioning has a Clinical Reference Group for specialised paediatric rheumatology, which has produced a service specification naming juvenile idiopathic arthritis as one of the conditions that should be managed by a specialist paediatric rheumatology team. The service specification also sets out that specialised paediatric rheumatology teams will provide transitional care to facilitate transfer to, and ongoing care in, adult rheumatology. Specialised paediatric rheumatology services are expected to be commissioned in line with this service specification.The Department will continue to work with Versus Arthritis as we consider how best to provide National Health Services for people with MSK conditions such as arthritis.

If his Department will work with Versus Arthritis to improve (a) care and (b) support for young people with arthritis.

On 6 January 2025, NHS England published the new Elective Reform Plan, which sets out a whole system approach to hitting the 18-week referral to treatment target by the end of this Parliament.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services that meet the needs of their populations, including for those with arthritis. To support this, the Department of Health and Social Care is delivering the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Musculoskeletal (MSK) Community Delivery Programme jointly with NHS England and the Department for Work and Pensions. With a £3.5 million funding boost, GIRFT will work with the ICBs to reduce MSK community waiting times.The Department funds research into MSK conditions, including arthritis, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Through that route, the Department spent approximately £26.3 million on MSK research in 2023/24, and £79.2 million since 2019/20. In particular, the Leeds Biomedical Research Centre aims to improve treatment for osteoarthritis. The NIHR, in collaboration with Versus Arthritis, also funds a dedicated UK MSK Translational Research Collaboration, aligning investment in MSK translational research and creating a United Kingdom-wide ambition and focus to drive cutting edge research and improve outcomes for patients.The GIRFT programme in NHS England has had a paediatric rheumatology workstream since April 2024. The team has assembled the largest ever set of data and information about paediatric rheumatology in England and is visiting every department in England to discuss its findings. It will produce its national report with recommendations later this financial year. This will include a focus on supporting young people and their parents as they transition to adult services.The GIRFT team will be working with the British Society for Rheumatology and rheumatology departments in England to implement the findings and recommendations of the GIRFT paediatric rheumatology national report.NHS England Specialised Commissioning has a Clinical Reference Group for specialised paediatric rheumatology, which has produced a service specification naming juvenile idiopathic arthritis as one of the conditions that should be managed by a specialist paediatric rheumatology team. The service specification also sets out that specialised paediatric rheumatology teams will provide transitional care to facilitate transfer to, and ongoing care in, adult rheumatology. Specialised paediatric rheumatology services are expected to be commissioned in line with this service specification.The Department will continue to work with Versus Arthritis as we consider how best to provide National Health Services for people with MSK conditions such as arthritis.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April to 2025 to Question 41338 on Nature Restoration Fund, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a long term plan to help protect irreplaceable (a) peatlands and (b) ancient woodlands.

This Government is committed to protecting our irreplaceable peatlands. That's why we are investing £400 million to protect and restore nature, including our peatlands and trees including ancient woodlands. We have large ambitions to restore hundreds of thousands of hectares of peatlands across the country, and we are working to ensure that we have the most effective mechanisms in place to go further than we have before. Defra recently conducted and published a review into how ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees are protected by the National Planning Policy Framework. This revealed that the policy is not being consistently implemented and we are looking at how this can be improved. Defra is also currently revising the Environmental Improvement Plan, which includes actions to protect ancient woodlands.

When he plans to answer Question 39709, tabled on 19 March 2025.

A response was provided to question 39709 on 3rd April: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.