Written questions by Wrigley.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 45218 on Competition and Markets Authority: Public Appointments what steps is he is taking to help ensure adequate (a) scrutiny and (b) accountability of the new chair of the Competition and Markets authority to prevent conflicts of interest.

As set out in the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) Framework Agreement, the performance of the CMA Chair is reviewed annually by the responsible Director General within the Department for Business and Trade in accordance with the Chair’s duties and in consultation with the CMA Board. As noted in my previous answer, a new Framework Agreement will be published later this year. The CMA has published its own Conflicts of Interest Policy and also publishes a register of interests of all of its Board members.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of (a) lithium, (b) nickel, (c) cobalt, (d) manganese and (e) graphite imports come from mining operations that commit human rights violations.

The UK is committed to promoting responsible business practice to reduce and prevent human rights violations. We work through a number of international mechanisms to deliver on this, including supporting the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains which enables business to continue to operate responsibly from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The UK's new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition, promoting responsible and transparent supply chains.

What steps he is taking to ensure that planned reforms to social care help tackle barriers for (a) deafblind people and (b) other disabled people with complex needs.

The Government recognises the challenges facing the adult social care system, and that people are suffering without the care they need or fighting a complicated system just to receive poor quality care.The independent commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, will work with people who draw on care and their families, as well as sector partners, to make clear recommendations for how to rebuild the adult social care system to meet the current and future needs of the population, including for deafblind people and other disabled people with complex needs.At the same time, we are committed to making immediate improvements. We will give disabled people more independence in their own homes through continued investment in the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), which funds practical changes that suit individual people’s needs. We have provided an uplift of £172 million across this and the last financial year, bringing the total funding for the DFG to £711 million in 2024/25 and 2025/26.The Government understands the vital importance of coproduction, working directly with people who draw on care and support, including deafblind people and others with complex needs, to design policies that work for them to make their lives better.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the (a) amount and (b) proportion of (i) lithium, (ii) nickel, (iii) cobalt, (iv) manganese and (v) graphite entering the UK from international mining operations that are potentially involved in human rights violations.

The UK is committed to promoting responsible business practice to reduce and prevent human rights violations. We work through a number of international mechanisms to deliver on this, including supporting the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains which enables business to continue to operate responsibly from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The UK's new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition, promoting responsible and transparent supply chains.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will ensure that imports of (a) lithium, (b) nickel, (c) cobalt, (d) manganese and (e) graphite do not come from mining operations that commit human rights violations.

The UK is committed to promoting responsible business practice to reduce and prevent human rights violations. We work through a number of international mechanisms to deliver on this, including supporting the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains which enables business to continue to operate responsibly from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The UK's new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition, promoting responsible and transparent supply chains.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce regional differences in access to pharmacies.

For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework has been increased to £3.073 billion. This represents the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.The Pharmacy Access Scheme provides additional funding to support pharmacies in areas where there are fewer. Community pharmacies are private businesses that provide NHS funded services. There are 10,407 community pharmacies as of 31 March 2025.Most pharmacies are not directly commissioned or contracted by the NHS, instead contractors apply to gain entry to the NHS pharmaceutical list, and if an application is approved, a pharmacy can open and start providing services.Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies, and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards (ICBs) give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA. If there is a need for a new local pharmacy to open and no contractors apply to open a pharmacy and fill the gap, ICBs can commission a new pharmacy to open outside of the market entry processes, and fund the contract from ICBs’ budgets.The Pharmacy Access Scheme helps protect access to pharmacies in areas where there are fewer pharmacies and higher health needs, so that no area is left without access to local, physical NHS pharmaceutical services.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of pharmacies above 10,000.

For 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework has been increased to £3.073 billion. This represents the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.The Pharmacy Access Scheme provides additional funding to support pharmacies in areas where there are fewer. Community pharmacies are private businesses that provide NHS funded services. There are 10,407 community pharmacies as of 31 March 2025.Most pharmacies are not directly commissioned or contracted by the NHS, instead contractors apply to gain entry to the NHS pharmaceutical list, and if an application is approved, a pharmacy can open and start providing services.Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies, and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards (ICBs) give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA. If there is a need for a new local pharmacy to open and no contractors apply to open a pharmacy and fill the gap, ICBs can commission a new pharmacy to open outside of the market entry processes, and fund the contract from ICBs’ budgets.The Pharmacy Access Scheme helps protect access to pharmacies in areas where there are fewer pharmacies and higher health needs, so that no area is left without access to local, physical NHS pharmaceutical services.

What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) Operation Scorpion and (b) other initiatives in reducing drug trafficking and county lines activity in Devon and Cornwall.

Through the County Lines Programme, we will continue to target exploitative drug dealing gangs and break the organised crime groups behind the trade. To deliver our pledge to halve knife crime in the next decade it is crucial that we tackle the drug gangs that run county lines through violence and exploitation.Between July and September 2024, policing activity delivered through the County Lines Programme has resulted in over 400 deal lines being closed, the arrest and charge of over 200 deal line holders, 500 arrests and 800 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people. Through the Programme, we also fund specialist support for children and young people caught up in county lines and child criminal exploitation. More than 280 children and young people have received dedicated specialist support through our county lines support service since July 2024.While the majority of lines originate from the areas covered by the Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands Police, Merseyside Police, and Greater Manchester Police, county lines is a national issue. This is why, through the Home Office-funded County Lines Programme, we fund the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to monitor the intelligence picture, identify and share effective practice, and co-ordinate the national law enforcement response. In addition, we have a dedicated surge fund which provides local forces with additional funding to tackle county lines. This funding has previously been used to support Op Scorpion, the joint South West regional operation to tackle drug supply, which has yielded significant results.As part of the Programme, the NCLCC regularly coordinates weeks of intensive action against county lines gangs, which all police forces take part in. During the most recent which took place 25 November to 1 December 2024, activity from Op Scorpion resulted in 95 individuals being arrested, and 107 individuals being safeguarded. Devon & Cornwall Police made 26 arrests, safeguarded 49 vulnerable individuals, visited 28 cuckooed addresses, and seized Class A drugs with an estimated value of £175k.As committed to in the Government’s manifesto, we are introducing a new offence of child criminal exploitation in the Crime and Policing Bill to go after the gangs who are luring children into violence and crime. Alongside an offence, we are introducing new civil preventative orders to prevent CCE conduct from occurring or re-occurring. We are also introducing an offence of cuckooing to target individuals who take over the homes of vulnerable people for criminal purposes and punish them for the harm caused.

If she will bring forward legislative proposals to include decapod crustaceans in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

The Home Office will be guided by decisions made under the Animal Welfare Act regarding any consideration as to whether decapod crustaceans are regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procures) Act 1986.

What steps she is taking to (a) disrupt county lines operations and (b) reduce exploitation of vulnerable people in Devon and Cornwall.

Through the County Lines Programme, we will continue to target exploitative drug dealing gangs and break the organised crime groups behind the trade. To deliver our pledge to halve knife crime in the next decade it is crucial that we tackle the drug gangs that run county lines through violence and exploitation.Between July and September 2024, policing activity delivered through the County Lines Programme has resulted in over 400 deal lines being closed, the arrest and charge of over 200 deal line holders, 500 arrests and 800 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people. Through the Programme, we also fund specialist support for children and young people caught up in county lines and child criminal exploitation. More than 280 children and young people have received dedicated specialist support through our county lines support service since July 2024.While the majority of lines originate from the areas covered by the Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands Police, Merseyside Police, and Greater Manchester Police, county lines is a national issue. This is why, through the Home Office-funded County Lines Programme, we fund the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre to monitor the intelligence picture, identify and share effective practice, and co-ordinate the national law enforcement response. In addition, we have a dedicated surge fund which provides local forces with additional funding to tackle county lines. This funding has previously been used to support Op Scorpion, the joint South West regional operation to tackle drug supply, which has yielded significant results.As part of the Programme, the NCLCC regularly coordinates weeks of intensive action against county lines gangs, which all police forces take part in. During the most recent which took place 25 November to 1 December 2024, activity from Op Scorpion resulted in 95 individuals being arrested, and 107 individuals being safeguarded. Devon & Cornwall Police made 26 arrests, safeguarded 49 vulnerable individuals, visited 28 cuckooed addresses, and seized Class A drugs with an estimated value of £175k.As committed to in the Government’s manifesto, we are introducing a new offence of child criminal exploitation in the Crime and Policing Bill to go after the gangs who are luring children into violence and crime. Alongside an offence, we are introducing new civil preventative orders to prevent CCE conduct from occurring or re-occurring. We are also introducing an offence of cuckooing to target individuals who take over the homes of vulnerable people for criminal purposes and punish them for the harm caused.

How many Rapid Deployment Cells are in use at Channings Wood.

Whilst there are not any Rapid Deployment Cells (RDCs) currently in use at HMP Channings Wood, there are 30 RDCs in construction at the site. We expect these to be operational by the end of 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing EU citizens with settled status in the UK the right to vote in local and parliamentary elections.

EU citizens who were legally resident in the UK prior to withdrawal from the EU, or whose countries have a bilateral reciprocal voting rights agreement with the UK, can vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland. Citizens of EU Member States have never been able to vote in UK general election based on that citizenship. The Government has no plans to change this. The franchise for local and devolved government elections in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru respectively.

If she will provide additional funding for pothole repair in Newton Abbot constituency.

This Government takes the condition of our country’s roads very seriously and is committed to supporting local highway authorities in maintaining and renewing the local highway network and tackling the maintenance backlog.Devon County Council is the highway authority for Devon including the Newton Abbot constituency. The Government is providing Devon County Council with over £83 million for highway maintenance for the 2025/26 financial year, an increase of £22.5 million compared to 2024/25.25% of the additional £22.5 million funding is contingent on Devon County Council demonstrating to HM Government that they are complying with certain criteria, aimed at driving best practice and continual improvement in highway maintenance best practice.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of private parking companies on motorists in Devon.

The Government recognises that the matter of private parking enforcement of local authority land is a complex issue that affects local authorities, private operators and motorists. I can confirm that the Government is looking into this matter, and will be able to provide a definitive response in due course. The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. We are progressing with plans to protect and support all motorists and to help us further understand the potential impacts of the Code, we will be launching a consultation in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number and proportion of local authorities that have transitioned to using private parking companies for local parking enforcement.

The Government recognises that the matter of private parking enforcement of local authority land is a complex issue that affects local authorities, private operators and motorists. I can confirm that the Government is looking into this matter, and will be able to provide a definitive response in due course. The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. We are progressing with plans to protect and support all motorists and to help us further understand the potential impacts of the Code, we will be launching a consultation in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 45216 on Visas: Ukraine, if she will take steps to ensure financial reasons are not used as a factor when deciding to give Ukrainians indefinite leave to remain.

The UK continues to provide Ukrainian nationals and their family members, where they qualify, a specific route so that they are able to seek sanctuary in the UK. Permission to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme provides entitlements to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education. Furthermore, those eligible to apply are not required to pay an application fee or the immigration health surcharge.The Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme is not a route to settlement. These measures are consistent with our respectful wishes of the Government of Ukraine that its citizens will eventually return to Ukraine to help rebuild the country.It is open to anyone on the Ukraine schemes to switch to any route to settlement within the Immigration Rules for which they qualify. It is fair that rules on other routes such as family or work routes that lead to settlement apply to all nationalities. This includes the financial requirements of the family rules and the salary requirements of work routes which must still be met at the point of settlement.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce sewage discharges at Shaldon.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector. The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. A public Call for Evidence closed on 23 April, with all interested parties invited to share their views. The review's final recommendations will be published and shared with the UK and Welsh Governments this summer. As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record levels of investment. This includes South West Water delivering £764 million of investment to reduce storm overflow spills, including improvements at 10 storm overflows in Dawlish Town and Dawlish Coryton Cove and 5 storm overflows in Shaldon which are being improved to the maximum 2 spills per season standard. We encourage the public to report pollution via our incident hotline, by calling 0800 80 70 60 at any time.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce sewage discharges at Dawlish Coryton Cove.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector. The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. A public Call for Evidence closed on 23 April, with all interested parties invited to share their views. The review's final recommendations will be published and shared with the UK and Welsh Governments this summer. As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record levels of investment. This includes South West Water delivering £764 million of investment to reduce storm overflow spills, including improvements at 10 storm overflows in Dawlish Town and Dawlish Coryton Cove and 5 storm overflows in Shaldon which are being improved to the maximum 2 spills per season standard. We encourage the public to report pollution via our incident hotline, by calling 0800 80 70 60 at any time.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce sewage discharges at Teignmouth Holcombe.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector. The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. A public Call for Evidence closed on 23 April, with all interested parties invited to share their views. The review's final recommendations will be published and shared with the UK and Welsh Governments this summer. As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record levels of investment. This includes South West Water delivering £764 million of investment to reduce storm overflow spills, including improvements at 10 storm overflows in Dawlish Town and Dawlish Coryton Cove and 5 storm overflows in Shaldon which are being improved to the maximum 2 spills per season standard. We encourage the public to report pollution via our incident hotline, by calling 0800 80 70 60 at any time.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to reduce animal testing on decapod crustaceans in scientific research.

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal.The Government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.The use of animals in research is regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which covers all living vertebrates and cephalopods but does not currently include decapods. Government strategy will cover species protected under ASPA, but this does not limit additional species from being protected as understanding of sentience evolves.