Written questions by Wrigley.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of specialist therapeutic providers.

The department knows that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) frequently require access to additional support from a broad specialist workforce across education, health and care, including speech and language therapists and other therapy services. Across England, community health services, including therapies, are locally commissioned to enable systems to best meet the needs of their communities. The department is working closely with NHS England to improve access to community health services. As part of the government’s mission to build an NHS that is fit for the future, the department will also provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school through expanding Mental Health Support Teams, so every young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate.

Whether he plans to place further restrictions on trade with Russia.

The Government does not speculate on specific future sanctions measures as to do so could reduce their impact. Most recently, plans for new trade sanctions were set out by the Foreign Secretary on 24 February. Together with our international partners, we have put in place the largest and most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. Over the past three years, the UK has sanctioned over £20 billion (97%) worth of goods trade with Russia, and £375 million worth of services.

If he will hold discussions with PTSD Resolution on tackling (a) harassment and (b) sexual assault in the armed forces.

There is no place for harassment or any form of abuse within the Armed Forces – or anywhere within Defence. I am deeply concerned that Service women in particular have been – and continue to be- subject to sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other unacceptable behaviours as they carry out the vital role of protecting the nation. Our Ministerial team and Service Chiefs are committed to making changes that hold people to account for their actions and to also create a more inclusive environment. We have a range of robust policies in place with powerful sanctions to tackle harassment and unacceptable sexual behaviour and these are kept under continuous review. Where behaviour involves sexual offending, the Defence Serious Crime Unit and the Victim and Witness Care Unit carry out an independent investigation and provide confidential and professional support and guidance to those affected. This Government is also establishing an Armed Forces Commissioner as a new independent champion with the power to investigate issues raised by Service personnel and their families.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of social supermarkets on (a) alleviating food poverty and (b) supporting community activities.

Social supermarkets are independent organisations and Department for Work and Pensions does not hold data on their operation. We are committed to tackling food poverty and ending mass dependence of emergency food parcels. To inform this work DWP officials have engaged with a range of organisations including social supermarkets to better understand the complex food poverty landscape. Voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations like social supermarkets play a unique role in driving community cohesion and giving voice to communities' agency and opportunity to serve. This is why this government has announced a new Civil Society Covenant, to reset the relationship with civil society and build a new partnership that can harness the sector's full potential to rebuild our country and deliver against the government’s 5 missions.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to UK businesses of having agents in individual EU member states.

The European Commission is responsible for interpreting EU legislation and has published business guidance and an impact assessment of the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). We recommend businesses refer to this guidance for advice on the requirement for an EU based ‘agent’, referred to as a Responsible Economic Operator or responsible person, by the European Commission.DBT have published guidance on the application of GPSR in Northern Ireland, which we will keep under review. We continue to engage businesses directly to assess the regulation’s impact and ensure they are supported to trade across the UK and with the EU.

If she will make an estimate of the value of goods traded from the UK to third countries with a final destination in Russia.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC only holds information on the initial country of destination for exports, that is the country which the goods first move to. Information on whether goods then move on to a further country, such as Russia, is not collected and no estimate can be produced. The information we have on UK trade is released monthly, as an accredited Official Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to report on the (a) adequacy of and (b) potential impact of new free trade agreements on (i) fishing stocks, (ii) fishing fleets, (iii) nature conservation and (iv) natural capital at the outset of each new trade negotiation.

It is always the UK’s intention to enter into FTA negotiations seeking ambitious outcomes with regard to the sustainability and conservation of fish stocks and wider marine environment. The Department for Business and Trade’s impact assessments set out the potential long-run impacts of FTAs; including the associated environmental impacts on natural capital and fisheries.

What information his Department holds on the amount of trade insured by UK-based companies with a final destination in Russia.

The Department does not hold information concerning the amount of trade insured by UK-based companies with a final destination in Russia. The government has sanctioned the provision of insurance in certain circumstances and it is a criminal offence to breach these sanctions unless a licence has been granted for the activity.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the level of US government control of Starlink in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence has assessed the implications of a disruption to Starlink services to Ukraine. The large number of Starlink terminals (reported at over 40,000) means Starlink makes a significant contribution to Ukraine civil and military sectors. As per Starlink terms and conditions, off-the-shelf purchases of Starlink terminals are not subject to US Government export regulations.

If she will make it her policy to introduce measures to limit the brightness of LED car headlights.

All headlamps are designed and tested to international standards to ensure they are bright enough to light the road ahead but not so bright as to dazzle other road users. The standards define the beam pattern and maximum and minimum light intensities. However, noting increased public concern, Government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes of headlamp glare and develop potential countermeasures. The work is underway and is due to deliver in summer 2025. Government will consider carefully the outcome of that research to determine what action might be appropriate.

Communities and Local Government, what meetings she has had with the private parking industry since 5 July 2024.

The Government is committed to delivering a single Code of Practice for private parking companies to follow, as part of this process we will undergo a public consultation to assess the impact of the Code. We are currently reviewing all options and will announce our plans regarding the code in due course. My officials meet regularly with the two private parking trade associations and consumer groups and I am due to meet with them soon.

What estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the level of NHS prescription charges on (a) patients' health outcomes and (b) numbers of (i) hospital admissions and (ii) GP visits.

The Department has made no assessment of the impact of prescription charges on patients’ health outcomes, or the number of hospital admissions or general practice visits. The Department does not hold data on the number of individuals not taking prescribed medications due to cost.Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place to help those with the greatest need. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.People with certain long-term medical conditions may qualify for a medical exemption, which entitles them to claim free prescriptions. Medical exemption is a long-standing exemption from prescription charges, which covers all the patient’s prescriptions, not just those for the qualifying condition. A list of the qualifying medical conditions and information on how to apply for a medical exemption certificate is available at the following link:www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/medexPeople on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. People who need multiple prescription items and who do not qualify for an exemption, or the NHS Low Income Scheme, could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available, and the 12-month PPC can be paid for in direct debit instalments.

If he will make an assessment of his Department's adherence to Access to Work scheme guidelines, published in May 2024, when working with outside organisations providing one-to-one job coaches in Devon.

Access to Work adheres to the scheme guidelines when working with outside organisations providing one to one job coaches., A job coach is a person who gives specialised on-site support to someone disabled who has a job to start and will assist the employee to learn the job and keep the job. The scheme guidelines are applicable to all areas in England, Wales and Scotland.

Communities and Local Government, if she will publish an impact assessment for the private parking code of practice.

The Government is committed to delivering a single Code of Practice for private parking companies to follow, as part of this process we will undergo a public consultation to assess the impact of the Code. We are currently reviewing all options and will announce our plans regarding the code in due course. My officials meet regularly with the two private parking trade associations and consumer groups and I am due to meet with them soon.

Whether he plans to ensure patients can (a) get better access to and (b) find out about (i) research and (ii) clinical trials for rare cancers.

The Department is committed to maximising our potential to lead the world in clinical trials and ensuring that clinical trials are more accessible.The Department funded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds research and research infrastructure, which supports patients and the public to participate in high-quality research, including clinical research on rare cancers. NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority. These investments are pivotal to informing efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes, including for rare cancers.The NIHR provides an online service called Be Part of Research, which promotes participation in health and social care research, including research into rare cancers, by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest. This makes it easier for people to find and take part in health and care research that is relevant to them.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to establish a single code of practice for private parking.

The Government is committed to delivering a single Code of Practice for private parking companies to follow, as part of this process we will undergo a public consultation to assess the impact of the Code. We are currently reviewing all options and will announce our plans regarding the code in due course. My officials meet regularly with the two private parking trade associations and consumer groups and I am due to meet with them soon.

If he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to require regulators to help support businesses to meet their fiduciary responsibilities to (a) employees and (b) the environment.

Under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, directors have a fiduciary duty to have regard in their decision-making to the interests of their employees and the impact of the company’s operations on the environment. Large companies must report annually on how they have fulfilled this duty and the audit and reporting regulator, the Financial Reporting Council, provides best practice guidance on Section 172 reporting.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Egyptian Government on consular access for Alaa Abd el-Fattah.

The UK Government continues to raise Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah's case at the highest levels with the Egyptian government. We have been consistently clear in calling for his release and continue to press for consular access. The Prime Minister raised the case in a phone call with President Sisi on 28 February 2025 and previously wrote to President Sisi on 26 December 2024 and 8 January 2025. The Foreign Secretary raised this case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister on 23 January 2025; I raised the case with the Egyptian Ambassador to London on 18 February 2025. National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell raised this with the Egyptian Foreign Minister on 2 January 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 28323 on Post Boxes, if he will hold discussions with Ofcom on the potential merits of implementing an enforcement mechanism to require Royal Mail to (a) replace post boxes quickly and (b) install post boxes on new estates.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector, and it sets and monitors the network access requirements that Royal Mail must provide to meet the reasonable needs of customers. The government meets with Ofcom regularly but has no role in Ofcom's regulatory decisions.

Whether his Department has make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the prescription charge exemption list to increase the support for patients with chronic illness.

There are no current plans to review the list of prescription charge exemptions or the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there is a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place, for which those with rheumatoid arthritis may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three-month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in instalments.