Written questions by Wrigley.

Whether he has had recent discussions with representatives from the pharmacy sector on the supply of Quetiapine modified-release tablets.

The Department is aware of the supply issues affecting several brands and tablet strengths of quetiapine modified release tablets. Following the Department working with suppliers, there have been improvements in the supply through February and early March, with improvements in supply expected to continue through to May, and full resolution expected in October 2025. The Department continues to work with the suppliers of quetiapine modified release tablets to bring forward these future deliveries. Working with National Health Service specialists, we have provided comprehensive management advice for this supply issue, advising healthcare professionals on how to manage patients during this time, and are providing up to date information on the availability of the impacted medicines. The Department continues to engage with representatives from the pharmacy sector on the supply of quetiapine modified-release tablets. Any patient who is worried about their condition, or access to these medications, should speak to their clinician in the first instance.

If he will take steps to ensure Quetiapine modified-release tablets are not in shortage for long.

The Department is aware of the supply issues affecting several brands and tablet strengths of quetiapine modified release tablets. Following the Department working with suppliers, there have been improvements in the supply through February and early March, with improvements in supply expected to continue through to May, and full resolution expected in October 2025. The Department continues to work with the suppliers of quetiapine modified release tablets to bring forward these future deliveries. Working with National Health Service specialists, we have provided comprehensive management advice for this supply issue, advising healthcare professionals on how to manage patients during this time, and are providing up to date information on the availability of the impacted medicines. The Department continues to engage with representatives from the pharmacy sector on the supply of quetiapine modified-release tablets. Any patient who is worried about their condition, or access to these medications, should speak to their clinician in the first instance.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the supply shortage of Quetiapine modified-release tablets on patients.

The Department is aware of the supply issues affecting several brands and tablet strengths of quetiapine modified release tablets. Following the Department working with suppliers, there have been improvements in the supply through February and early March, with improvements in supply expected to continue through to May, and full resolution expected in October 2025. The Department continues to work with the suppliers of quetiapine modified release tablets to bring forward these future deliveries. Working with National Health Service specialists, we have provided comprehensive management advice for this supply issue, advising healthcare professionals on how to manage patients during this time, and are providing up to date information on the availability of the impacted medicines. The Department continues to engage with representatives from the pharmacy sector on the supply of quetiapine modified-release tablets. Any patient who is worried about their condition, or access to these medications, should speak to their clinician in the first instance.

If he will take steps to notify patients in need of Quetiapine modified-release tablets when the current shortage is expected to end.

The Department is aware of the supply issues affecting several brands and tablet strengths of quetiapine modified release tablets. Following the Department working with suppliers, there have been improvements in the supply through February and early March, with improvements in supply expected to continue through to May, and full resolution expected in October 2025. The Department continues to work with the suppliers of quetiapine modified release tablets to bring forward these future deliveries. Working with National Health Service specialists, we have provided comprehensive management advice for this supply issue, advising healthcare professionals on how to manage patients during this time, and are providing up to date information on the availability of the impacted medicines. The Department continues to engage with representatives from the pharmacy sector on the supply of quetiapine modified-release tablets. Any patient who is worried about their condition, or access to these medications, should speak to their clinician in the first instance.

If she will bring forward legislative proposals to enable the repurposing of assets seized from sanctions violations to fund reparations for victims of serious (a) human rights and humanitarian law violations and (b) corruption.

UK sanctions legislation does not provide powers to seize frozen assets. Assets owned or controlled by a designated person are frozen immediately by the person in possession or control of them. An asset freeze does not involve a change in ownership of the frozen funds or economic resources, nor are they transferred to HM Treasury.

What steps he is taking to help patients with a (a) history and (b) risk of addiction; and if he will take steps to identify that risk before addictive medication is prescribed.

The government is committed to supporting those most vulnerable to experiencing harms from drugs and alcohol, and ensure they are supported to live healthier lives for longer. We are committed to ensuring that anyone with an illicit drug or alcohol dependency can access the help and support they need through evidence-based and high-quality treatment and recovery services. The Department funds local authorities to deliver drug and alcohol treatment services through the Public Health Grant (PHG). In addition to the PHG, the Department allocated local authorities £267 million in 2024/25 to improve the quality and capacity of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery. When prescribing medication, clinicians are expected to work with patients to make decisions about their care and treatment as part of shared decision-making, including discussing risks, benefits, and possible consequences of different options through information-sharing.

Media and Sport, if her Department will promote engagement with Ukrainian youth organisations.

Under the ambitious 100 Year Partnership with Ukraine, signed by the Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy on 16 January 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) and Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) will assist in the engagement of UK and Ukrainian young people.DfE has launched the UK-Ukraine Schools Partnership Programme which aims to foster cross-cultural understanding, enhance English language skills, and promote collaboration and interaction between students and educators from both countries. Using digital platforms, it will create meaningful connections and facilitate knowledge exchange at a critical time in the relationship between our countries.DCMS will be working with the Ukrainian Government and partners over the coming months, and will increase opportunities for young Ukrainians residing in the UK through encouraging participation in youth-focused programmes.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has plans to support endangered species breeding programmes in (a) zoos and (b) aquariums.

Defra recognises the work modern zoos and aquariums do in promoting conservation and biodiversity, including participating in breeding programmes for endangered species. Under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, all licensed zoos in Great Britain must undertake conservation measures. These measures could include the breeding of wild animals in captivity, or the repopulation of an area with, or the reintroduction into the wild of, wild animals. Defra works with other countries and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) to enable movements of endangered species where there are breeding concerns.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the upcoming negotiation with the European Union on Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary arrangements will include zoo breeding programmes.

The Government is committed to resetting our EU relationship, including by seeking to negotiate a SPS agreement. We have been clear that an SPS agreement could boost trade and deliver significant benefits on both sides. It’s too early to discuss any specific areas in detail and we will not be providing a running commentary on discussions with the EU.

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed increase in secondary Class 1 National Insurance contributions to 15% on (a) care provider employees, (b) the contribution of the care sector to the economy and (c) the future long-term funding settlement for adult social care.

The Government considered the cost pressures facing adult social care as part of the wider consideration of local government spending within the Spending Review process in 2024. To enable local authorities to deliver key services such as adult social care, the Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26 which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.The Casey Commission will make longer-term recommendations for the transformation of adult social care, and how to best create a fair and affordable adult social care system.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions with international counterparts on changes to the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement) to support (a) zoo animal transfers and (b) commercial farmers; and if he will have discussions with representatives from Shaldon Zoo to discuss the application of the SPS Agreement to the Zoo's work.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures sets the overarching international rules on food safety, animal and plant health. It does not contain specifics on the movement of live animals. For zoo animal transfers and commercial farm animal movements, Defra works with the officials in the importing country to ensure requirements are practical and achievable. Queries on animal movements can be sent to can be sent to imports@apha.gov.uk or exports@apha.gov.uk, as relevant.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with the zoo sector on the potential impact of the UK's decision to leave the European Union on international breeding programmes.

Defra acknowledges the challenges faced by zoos and aquariums in Great Britain in transferring animals between GB and the European Union (EU) following the UK's exit from the European Union. The Department is in regular dialogue with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), addressing trade concerns and works closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to prioritise and support these movements, particularly where there are welfare concerns or implications for breeding programmes. Defra remains committed to supporting zoos and aquariums in their conservation efforts by minimising trade barriers and addressing stakeholder concerns, thereby facilitating the smooth movement of animals between GB and the EU. An example of successful collaboration is the Department's recent work with BIAZA to develop a new system for ensuring the export of microchipped captive birds, including endangered species, to the EU. This initiative has played a key role in reinstating bird conservation programs previously impacted by EU regulations.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the shortage of quetiapine modified-release tablets on Bipolar patients.

The Department has made no such assessment. We are aware of supply issues affecting several brands and tablet strengths of quetiapine modified release tablets. Following the Department working with suppliers, there have been improvements in supply through February and early March 2025, with improvements in supply expected to continue through to May 2025, and full resolution expected in October 2025. The Department continues to work with the suppliers of quetiapine modified -release tablets to bring forward these future deliveries. Working with National Health Service specialists we have provided comprehensive management advice for this supply issue, advising healthcare professionals on how to manage patients during this time. Any patient who is worried about their condition, or access to these medications, should speak to their clinician in the first instance.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring large pharmacies to hold several months of reserve stock of medication.

Pharmacies are independent businesses and are expected to maintain a reasonable stock holding to meet their legal obligations to dispense all prescriptions with reasonable promptness, recognising that it is not feasible for a pharmacy to maintain stock of every medicine.Most pharmacies do not have space to hold several months of stock and such stock holding would come with a financial risk to the pharmacy as stock may expire. There are therefore no plans to require pharmacies to hold reserve stock of medication.

If she will make a comparative assessment of the rate of Beer Duty (a) in the UK and (b) in Europe.

There is significant variation in alcohol taxation policy amongst European countries, with some countries having lower alcohol duty rates and some having higher rates.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to Connecting Devon and Cornwall's news story Airband’s full fibre broadband delivery for CDS scaled back, published on 31 October 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the amendment to Airband’s contract to reduce the number of properties in Somerset and Devon that will receive full fibre broadband.

Last year, Airband and Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) took the decision to descope premises from their Superfast contracts in the region. Approximately 6,000 premises will remain under contract to gain access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection from Airband. Other premises have since been included in suppliers’ commercial rollout, and we are working swiftly to identify alternative solutions for the remaining, approximately 13,000, descoped premises.Eligible descoped premises have been made available for connection via the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. Several projects are currently under review. Any premises that are not included in voucher projects will be considered for inclusion in our Project Gigabit contracts in Devon and Somerset being delivered by the supplier Openreach.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of SEND places in schools in Devon.

Following the Autumn Budget 2024, the department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Devon County Council is being allocated over £125 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £8.9 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula (NFF). This NFF allocation is a 7.7% increase per head of their 2 to 18-year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.Additionally, we have announced £740 million of capital for high needs funding in 2025/26. This can be used to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings. It can also be used to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings. We will confirm allocations for the £740 million funding later in the spring.Regarding special school places, in 2023 the department for the first time collected data from local authorities on capacity in special schools, SEND units and resourced provision in mainstream schools. This data is published at local authority level in the annual school capacity publication, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity. The latest available data shows that, as at 1 May 2023, there were approximately 1,830 special school places and 86 SEN Unit and resourced provision places in mainstream schools in Devon.The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places, including for pupils SEND, sits with local authorities. The department supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with SEND through annual high needs capital funding.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the NHS to offer pocket-sized trauma cards for patients to show during appointments.

There are currently no plans to assess the potential merits of introducing trauma cards in the National Health Service.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the level of (a) training, (b) standards and (c) pay required for (i) staff and (ii) clerks following local government restructuring.

There has been no assessment made of the level of: (a) training, (b) standards and (c) pay required for (i) staff and (ii) clerks following local government restructuring. Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces, including training, management and pay, and all reorganisation proposals must be led and implemented by individual councils concerned.

Innovation and Technology, if he will have discussions with (a) the hon. Member for Newton Abbott, (b) Devon County Council, (c) Project Gigabit and (d) Airband on improving broadband speeds in (i) Ideford, (ii) Newton Abbot, (iii) Ashburton, (iv) Teignmouth, (v) Ipplepen, (vi) Holcombe and (vii) Dawlish.

The hon. Member has recently met with Openreach and my officials in Building Digital UK (BDUK) and my officials are in the process of organising a further meeting with the hon. Member to discuss broadband connectivity across his constituency in greater detail.