Written questions by Wrigley.

What steps she plans to take to promote and support the active participation of older people in society.

The Government knows that work can help older people play active and fulfilling roles in society, improve physical and mental wellbeing and build towards a financially comfortable retirement. The Department already offers employment support through Jobcentres and tailored one-to-one engagement for eligible over 50s on Universal Credit. Midlife MOT reviews, delivered in Jobcentres across the UK and online also support older people to review their health, finances and skills. Getting more older people who are economically inactive but want to work into employment is crucial to meeting our long-term ambition of an 80 per cent employment rate. Our Get Britain Working White Paper sets out our approach to the employment support system to target and tackle the root causes of unemployment and inactivity and better join up health skills and employment support based on the needs for all, including older people. The Government has also launched an independent review into the role of UK employers in promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces which will run until Summer 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle the decline of wild bird populations.

This Government remains committed to taking action to recover our threatened native species including wild birds. That is why, on the 30 July 2024 the Government announced a review of EIP 23 and the intention to develop a revised EIP to protect and restore the natural environment with delivery information to meet the Environment Act targets. This includes reversing the decline in species and reducing the risk of extinction. Government actions to restore and create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042 will support a wide range of native bird species. In addition, under ELM we have a number of offers to support the management, restoration and creation of grassland habitats that support a range of bird species.

What steps she is taking to tackle (a) age discrimination and (b) ageism in the workplace.

The Government recognises the need to recruit on merit, irrespective of a persons' age. The 2010 Equality Act provides strong protection against direct and indirect age discrimination in employment, rendering it unlawful for employers to discriminate against employees or job applicants based on age.The Government acknowledges the key role employers play in helping older individuals to remain in or re-enter the workforce, and the importance of embracing policies conducive to this support. Age diversity within the workforce brings numerous benefits to businesses, in addition to broader advantages such as fresh perspectives and knowledge-sharing.The Department for Work and Pensions, (DWP) is therefore working across government, and through regular engagement with employers, to encourage positive attitudes towards older people.

What steps she plans to take to support (a) the right to work and (b) financial security for older people.

On 26 November 2024, the Government published the Get Britain Working White Paper which sets out fundamental reforms to employment support to help people into good work and create an inclusive labour market in which everyone can get into and on at work. Increasing the proportion of older people returning to work and staying in work reduces the risk of later life poverty as it increases pensions saving and improves physical and mental wellbeing. On an individual scale it ensures people can fulfil their potential into later life and save towards a financially resilient retirement. The Equality Act 2010 is very clear on the need for employers to recruit the best talent based on merit, irrespective of a person’s age. The Department for Work and Pensions therefore works across government, and through regular engagement with employers to encourage positive attitudes towards older workers. The Department already offers employment support through Jobcentres and tailored one-to-one engagement for eligible over 50s on Universal Credit. Midlife MOT reviews, delivered in Jobcentres across the UK and online also support older people to review their health, finances and skills.

What steps he is taking to monitor companies responsibilities and duties to their employees.

The Director of Labour Market Enforcement oversees and assesses the work of three enforcement bodies: HMRC’s National Minimum Wage Enforcement Team, DBT’s Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS), and Home Office’s Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA). The DLME is required to report annually to both the Business Secretary and the Home Secretary on the scale and nature of labour market (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/673236dc0d90eee304badb89/uk-labour-market-enforcement-strategy_2024-25-accessible.pdf) to address it.

If he will take steps to protect older people from (a) violence, (b) abuse and (c) neglect.

Any form of violence, abuse, or neglect is unacceptable. The Government makes it clear, in the statutory guidance of the Care Act 2014, that local authorities must ensure the adult social care services they commission are safe, effective, and of high quality.Since April 2023, the Care Quality Commission has had a duty to assess local authorities’ delivery of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. The Home Office has provided funding to Hourglass to provide enhanced helpline support for older victims of abuse and a focus on reaching older victims across England and Wales by providing more training to staff in their organisation and external agencies.The Government is also launching an independent commission into adult social care as partof our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission willstart a national conversation about what working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care.

If she will take steps to tackle (a) violence, (b) abuse and (c) neglect against young people.

The Government is seeking to protect young people against a range of specific harms. We have committed to the creation of a new Young Futures Programme (YFP), which will establish a network of Young Futures Hubs and Young Futures Prevention Partnerships, to intervene earlier to ensure at-risk young people are identified and offered support in a more systematic way, as well as creating more opportunities for young people in their communities, through the provision of mental health and careers support.New Young Futures Prevention Partnerships will bring local partners together to identify vulnerable children at-risk of being drawn into crime, map local youth service provision, and ensure that evidence-based support is provided to those in need.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the parole board report on IPP prison sentences.

The Parole Board published interim guidance on 12 November 2024 to provide Parole Board panels with points to consider when undertaking parole reviews for prisoners sentenced to an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) or Detention for Public Protection (DPP) sentence. It assists panels with identifying ways of working to effectively manage such cases fairly and justly, whilst maintaining a focus on risk and the test for release and taking public protection as the over-riding priority. On 15 November 2024, the Government published the updated IPP Action Plan, which puts a stronger emphasis on effective frontline delivery in our prisons. It will ensure that prisoners serving IPP sentences have robust and effective sentence plans, which they are actively engaging with, and that they are in the correct prison to access the right interventions and rehabilitative services.

Media and Sport, what steps she plans to take to tackle loneliness in rural communities.

This Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas, so that we can realise the full potential of rural communities. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s current work to tackle loneliness includes supporting a range of organisations through the Tackling Loneliness Hub, an online platform for professionals working to reduce loneliness (including those based in rural areas); working to improve the evidence base around loneliness; and providing advice through the Better Health: Every Mind Matters campaign’s advice pages.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to tackle youth homelessness in Devon.

Homelessness levels are far too high and this can have a devastating impact on those affected, including young people. We will look at these issues carefully and will consider youth homelessness as we develop our long-term, cross-government strategy working with Mayors and councils across the country, to get us back on track to ending homelessness.As announced at the Budget on 30 October, funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (2024/25). This brings total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025/26. The Homelessness Prevention Grant is allocated to councils across England based on local homelessness pressures and is used to meet local needs. Councils across Devon will receive £5,731,182 for 2025/26 through the Homelessness Prevention Grant.

What discussions she has had with local authorities on a standardised parking app.

The Government continues to support the concept of a National Parking Platform (NPP), a digital system designed to connect parking apps across the UK to provide a simpler service for users, by enabling them to use the app of their choice wherever they park. The Government recognises the many benefits of an NPP and the depth of support for it across the parking sector with over 200 local authorities having expressed an interest in joining. However, we are of the view that it could and should be delivered without the need to rely on public funding, particularly given the dire financial position the Government inherited. The Department is working with the parking industry to explore options for taking forward delivery of a national platform. The industry has responded positively to this and the pilot version of the NPP will continue to be funded to 31 March 2025 while these discussions continue.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help the UK meet its commitments on climate change adaptation.

Defra is the lead department for domestic adaptation to climate change, responsible for coordinating requirements set out in the UK Climate Change Act 2008. This includes preparing a UK Climate Change Risk Assessment every five years, followed by a National Adaptation Programme. Defra works closely with the Cabinet Office in delivering this function. Our new pilot, the “Local Authority Climate Service” tool provides Met Office climate data to local authorities based on their specific geographic areas, empowering them to take more effective decisions based on their local risk landscape.Our new £15 million Defra-UKRI research programme ‘Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change’ (MACC) will fund world leading strategic research projects to help improve the UK’s resilience to climate change impacts.The Cabinet Office and Defra jointly chair the director-level Climate Resilience Steering Board with HM Treasury and key risk owning departments.Alongside delivering NAP3 we are committed to strengthening the nation’s resilience and are considering a range of options to better embed climate adaptation across the whole of government. Defra has responsibility for around half of the 61 risks and opportunities identified in the third Climate Change Risk Assessment, with a further eleven government departments having responsibility for the remainder.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to help protect the rights of residents in Gaza.

Gaza lies in ruins, and it is crucial we move through the phases of the current ceasefire agreement to the reconstruction of Gaza. That is the guarantee that there is a future for Palestinians in their home. We've always been clear in our belief that we must see two states. We must see Palestinians able to live and prosper in their homelands. We oppose moving Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will. There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza strip. Palestinian civilians should be able to return to and rebuild their homes and their lives.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to monitor companies responsibilities and duties to the environment.

The Government makes full use of the comprehensive and wide ranging environmental regulatory framework in England. There are many regulators involved in delivering Government environmental objectives, and the Environment Agency (EA) is the largest environmental regulator for England. The EA regulates a wide range of industries and activities, in diverse fields such as nuclear power, waste and resources, the water industry, climate change, flood protection. Its regulation brings about significant improvements in protection of the environment, adapts to emerging challenges and supports sustainable growth. The Government also supports voluntary environmental due diligence approaches adopted by UK businesses across their operations and supply chain relationships, in line with the OECD’s Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct. DBT also oversees the UK’s National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct, an independent unit tasked with promoting the OECD Guidelines and managing a non-judicial grievance mechanism to resolve complaints through mediation.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for harm by small websites not included in the Online Harm Bill.

All user-to-user services, no matter their size and regardless of whether they are categorised, will be captured by the Online Safety Act. The illegal content duties will require all user-to-user services – including small but risky services - to risk assess for illegal content, reduce the risk that users encounter illegal content, and mitigate against their service being used to facilitate or commit certain offences. The child safety duties will apply to all services likely to be accessed by children. These services must use highly effective age assurance to protect children from the most harmful content.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of national purchasing of NHS England equipment.

NHS Supply Chain is responsible for procuring products, warehousing and delivering consumables and medical equipment on behalf of the National Health Service. It became fully operational in April 2019, under the ownership of my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care; since 2021, NHS Supply Chain has been owned by NHS England.The merits of NHS Supply Chain are that it leverages the collective buying power of the NHS to drive savings and provide a standardised range of clinically assured quality products at the best value. NHS Supply Chain manages more than eight million orders per year across more than 129,000 order points and over 16,000 locations, delivering over 35 million lines of ordered goods to the NHS annually.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to address funding shortfalls faced by local government in Devon, in the context of the local government reorganisation.

We are providing a significant boost to local authorities in England. The final Local Government Finance Settlement 2025-26, alongside funding announced at the Budget, will deliver over £5 billion of new funding for local services over and above council tax. This includes an additional £2 billion of grant through the Settlement.The final Settlement for 2025-26 therefore makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024-25. For Devon County Council, this makes available a total of up to £837.2 million in 2025-26. Spending decisions beyond 2025-26 are a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support nature-friendly farming.

The Government is supporting farmers to implement nature-friendly farming practices through a range of measures. These include habitat restoration and creation; activities to reduce the impact of invasive non-native species on sites or to address pressures on sensitive areas; improvements in water storage and management; and changes to limit emissions while maintaining agricultural profitability and increasing productivity. These measures will be delivered through the Government’s environmental land management schemes. This Government’s vision is a sector that recognises restoring nature is not in competition with sustainable food production but is essential to it. In the Budget announced in October 2024, the Government committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including £1.8 billion for environmental land management schemes in 2025/26. This is the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history and enables us to keep momentum on the path to a more resilient and sustainable farming sector.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help the UK meet its 2030 nature recovery target commitments.

The Government is working to achieve our Environment Act targets, including to halt the decline in nature by 2030. Delivering the UK’s 30by30 target on land in England will require a strategic approach, to address the scale of action needed, and ensure a diverse and well-connected network of 30by30 areas. Over the coming months, we will be developing a delivery strategy for 30by30, to ensure we make good on this important commitment. This will confirm the key levers that will help us to achieve this target and set out a plan to 2030. We hope to finalise and publish this strategy later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect blue carbon habitats.

In England, we have established a comprehensive network of 181 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which cover the majority of our saltmarsh and seagrass habitats. While blue carbon habitats may not always be an explicitly designated feature, MPA protection may still yield benefits. Our focus is now on ensuring that these MPAs are effectively protected to allow the designated features to achieve favourable condition. Three Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMAs) designations in English waters came into force in summer 2023. Two of the three designated sites, Allonby Bay and North East of Farnes Deep, contain blue carbon habitats.