Written questions by Foy.

If she will make an assessment of the potential (a) impact of (i) banks, (ii) finance and (iii) debt collection companies' practices on consumers and (b) merits of bringing forward regulation to prevent overcharging when debts are reclaimed.

The Government expects fair treatment of individuals in debt and recognises the important role of responsible practices for debt recovery. We likewise recognise the negative impact that aggressive pursuit of debt can have on individuals.For financial services debts, such as a bank loan, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requires firms to treat their customers fairly and offer a range of appropriate forbearance options. Debt collection firms must also follow FCA rules when collecting financial services debts, and the FCA has a broad enforcement toolkit to penalise firms which breach them.More broadly, the FCA requires that consumer credit firms provide credit in responsible manner. Under FCA rules, firms must assess a potential borrower’s creditworthiness before extending credit to them. Firms must also only offer credit that is suitable for a potential borrower’s needs and circumstances and ensure that the credit does not lead to over-indebtedness.The Government remains committed to improving debt collection practices across sectors. In March 2024, the FCA published a joint letter alongside Ofgem, Ofwat, and Ofcom setting out their shared expectations for how firms should support customers in financial difficulty and rules governing this in their respective sectors.

What assessment his Department has made with Ofgem of the potential merits of allocating more funding to local power grids to help ensure the reliability of levels of power supplied to rural communities.

The Government is engaging with Ofgem to ensure that the distribution price control enable the required local infrastructure to power local communities. The current electricity distribution price control (RIIO-ED2 2023-2028) has allowed £22.2bn for upfront investment in low voltage networks, including £3.1bn for network upgrades. For the next price control ED3 (2028 to 2033), Ofgem will rely on Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) to inform distribution network investment plans and will accommodate forecasted electricity demand to ensure reliable local power grid fit for the net zero transition.

What steps he has taken to tackle compensation delays for people impacted by the Horizon Post Office scandal; what steps he is taking to (a) close the loophole that allows the Post Office to reset the compensation timeline by requesting information and (b) improve (i) transparency and (ii) accountability in the process.

The Government is doing all it can to increase the pace of redress across all four Horizon compensation schemes. We are making upfront fixed offers and making interim and partial payments where possible. We continue to seek options to speed up redress in discussion with the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board.Requests for information are intended to enable the Post Office and Department to increase its offers to claimants, including where there is a reasonable concern about the basis of calculation. We continue to work to ensure that requests are only issued where necessary, with communication of these requests handled sensitively and in the interests of claimants.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential across the Durham Coalfield for producing sustainable geothermal energy from disused mines.

To achieve net zero at lowest cost, we must look at how to accelerate all low carbon technologies including geothermal. The mine water from coal mines shows good potential as a renewable source for heat networks. The government is therefore supporting mine water schemes at Gateshead and Seaham Garden Village through the Heat Network Investment Project and the Green Heat Network Fund. Whilst no specific assessment has been made of the Durham Coalfield potential the Northeast Local Enterprise Partnership published a report in 2021, assessing options to increase deployment and the Mining Remediation Authority has released opportunity maps.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of data centres on regional energy usage, in the context of increases in the use of AI.

The Government supports AI development in the UK and the economic growth it could bring. The Department is working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in setting up the AI Energy Council that will have senior representatives from both the energy industry and the AI industry to look at where best to locate AI data centres and to ensure the growth of AI and data centres in the UK is done in a way that supports our clean power mission and longer-term decarbonisation goals. For example, looking to seize opportunities that support grid balancing, reduce network costs, and utilise excess renewable energy.

Whether he plans to distribute the second tranche of hospice funding based on (a) levels of need and (b) areas of deprivation.

We are pleased to confirm that the Government has released the first £25 million tranche of the £100 million of capital funding, with Hospice UK kindly allocating and distributing the money to hospices throughout England. For this first tranche, individual hospice allocations were calculated based on the care expenditure of each hospice.The second tranche of £75 million of funding will be available from April. We will carefully consider whether the allocation model needs to be amended for this second tranche of funding, and will set out further details as soon as possible.

If she will take steps to ensure the proposed offence of (a) encouraging or (b) assisting self-harm will not criminalise (i) people or (ii) charities providing support to affected people; whether she plans to issue guidance and training on the proposed offence to (A) police and (B) prosecutors; and if she will consult people with lived experience before drafting legislation.

Section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023 gave partial effect to a Law Commission recommendation to create an offence of encouraging or assisting self-harm. The proposed new offence of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm intends to replace (in so far as it extends to England and Wales and Northern Ireland) that offence with a broader offence that can be committed by any means of communication, and in any other way (including, for example, direct assistance through the provision of bladed articles with which to self-harm). The person must have intent to encourage or assist the other person to seriously self-harm.As with the current offence in the Online Safety Act, sharing experiences of self-harm or simply discussing the issue (including glorifying or glamourising self-harm), without an intention that another should seriously self-harm, will not be a criminal offence. We recognise the concerns of those offering support services that capturing such behaviour would potentially risk criminalising vulnerable people who merely seek to share their experiences of self-harm with no intention of encouraging others to self-harm.The offence in the Online Safety Act comes from a Law Commission recommendation following a wide-ranging consultation and we will work with criminal justice agencies and others with an interest to update existing guidance and training to reflect the proposed expansion of the offence to include direct assistance to self-harm.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to NHS dental services in City of Durham constituency.

The Dental Statistics - England 2023/24, published by the NHS Business Services Authority on 22 August 2024, is available at the following link:https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324In the NHS Northeast and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, which includes the City of Durham constituency, 45% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist in the previous 24 months to June 2024, compared to 40% in England. In addition, 58% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 12 months to June 2024, compared to 56% in England.The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most.

Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on progress by the Small but Risky taskforce on tackling the risk posed by dangerous online platforms.

The Online Safety Act’s illegal content and, where relevant, child safety duties, will apply to services of all sizes. In September 2024, a public exchange of letters between the Secretary of State and Ofcom CEO outlined information about the taskforce: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/public-correspondence/2024/letter-from-dame-melanie-dawes-to-the-secretary-of-state-11-september-2024.pdf?v=380026. The taskforce is developing and delivering a workplan focusing on high priority themes such as terror, hate and offences against women and girls. Should small but risky services choose not to engage and there is evidence of non-compliance, Ofcom will undertake enforcement action.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has plans to consult people with lived experience of self-harm and suicide on the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.

The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to tackle the risk posed by small high-risk online platforms.

The Online Safety Act’s illegal content and, where relevant, child safety duties, will apply to services of all sizes. In September 2024, a public exchange of letters between the Secretary of State and Ofcom CEO outlined information about the taskforce: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/public-correspondence/2024/letter-from-dame-melanie-dawes-to-the-secretary-of-state-11-september-2024.pdf?v=380026. The taskforce is developing and delivering a workplan focusing on high priority themes such as terror, hate and offences against women and girls. Should small but risky services choose not to engage and there is evidence of non-compliance, Ofcom will undertake enforcement action.

Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to encourage social media and search platforms to exceed the requirements of the Online Safety Act 2023 in reducing access to harmful suicide and self-harm content.

The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.

What steps his Department is taking to support hospices in City of Durham constituency.

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. We are working at great pace to get this year’s funding to hospices as soon as possible. We are currently finalising the delivery mechanisms, and are pleased that Hospice UK is standing ready to distribute the money to hospices throughout England, including to hospices in the City of Durham constituency. We are also providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices in 2025/26. NHS England is currently making decisions on the allocation and administration mechanisms for that funding and hopes to communicate plans to the sector later this month. Earlier this month, I met with key palliative and end of life care, including hospice, stakeholders on 3 February to discuss the long-term sustainability of palliative and end of life care, within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to mental health services in City of Durham constituency.

Waiting times for those referred to mental health services are too high all across England, including in the City of Durham constituency.Too many people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we will fix the broken system to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health, so that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.Nationally, we plan to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services in England to reduce delays and provide faster treatment. We will also introduce access to a specialist mental health professional in every school and roll out Young Futures hubs in every community.

What steps he is taking to support veterans in City of Durham constituency.

This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country, no matter which community they are based in. I am working across government and with civil society to ensure veterans, including those in the City of Durham, and throughout the North East of England, get access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need. The 2021 census recorded 3623 veterans in the City of Durham constituency, representing 4.2% of the population aged 16 and over. A range of support is in place for veterans. In England Op RESTORE provides specialist care to veterans who have physical health problems, and Op COURAGE, a mental health specialist service helps veterans and their families. Over 100,000 veterans have used Op RESTORE to date. The Government is investing more than £800,000 each to run this service. Op COURAGE has received over 35,000 referrals. The Government is investing more than £21 million each year to run this service. Housing support is available across the United Kingdom via Op FORTITUDE, a single referral pathway to connect veterans with help and support. This system provides housing guidance and assistance to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. As of 9 February 2025, over 3100 referrals have been made and over 880 veterans have been supported into housing. Veterans can also access a range of tailored employment support, including the Career Transition Partnership, which is the initial point of provision for those leaving military service in search of new job opportunities. Armed Forces Champions are also based across the UK’s JobCentre Plus network to help support members of the armed forces community into work.

What steps her Department is taking to support women born in the 1950s affected by State Pension age changes in City of Durham constituency.

We are committed to supporting pensioners – with millions set to see their yearly basic State Pension rise by around £1,500, or their new State Pension rise by around £1,900, over this parliament, through our commitment to the Triple Lock. Pension Credit provides vital financial support for pensioners, including women. It tops up state and private pensions to a guaranteed weekly minimum - the Standard Minimum Guarantee, which, for single pensioners, is set to increase from £218.15 to £227.10 in April 2025. In order to maximise take-up, we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit campaign because we want all eligible pensioners to claim what they are entitled to. The Government offers further direct financial help to low-income pensioners through the Warm Home Discount – and the Department for Work and Pensions provides Cold Weather Payments (in England & Wales), and discretionary support through the Household Support Fund in England to support those most in need. For those people who are unable to work but who are not yet eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age, financial support is available through the welfare system.

If he will make it his policy to establish additional public holidays to mark (a) St Andrew's Day, (b) St David's Day, (c) St George's Day and (d) St Patrick's Day.

The current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established and accepted. The Government has no plans to change it. Northern Ireland and Scotland have additional bank holidays for St Patrick’s Day and St Andrew’s Day respectively. While an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday remains considerable. The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2bn.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support public libraries in City of Durham constituency.

Public libraries are funded by local authorities and each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources.The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 requires the Secretary of State to “superintend and promote the improvement of the public library service provided by local authorities in England”. To assist this function the department regularly monitors and reviews changes to local authority library service provision, and engages with local authorities to discuss issues related to their respective library service.I understand that as of 31 December 2023 the statutory library provision delivered by Durham County Council was 39 local authority-run static libraries and a mobile library service. Seven of these static libraries are located in the City of Durham constituency.The government is committed to getting local government back on its feet. The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024-25.

If she will make it her policy to update Overseas Scale Rates in the upcoming Spring Forecast.

As with all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps flat rates expenses, including Overseas Scale Rates, under review. Any decisions on future changes in this area will be taken in the context of the wider public finances.

What steps his Department is taking to support people with leukaemia in (a) City of Durham constituency and (b) the North East.

The National Health Service is taking crucial steps to improve cancer outcomes for patients across England, including for leukaemia. We will improve cancer survival rates and hit all NHS cancer waiting time targets, so no patient waits longer than they should.The Department is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Lord O'Shaughnessy review into commercial clinical trials, making sure that the United Kingdom leads the world in clinical trials, and to ensure that innovative, lifesaving treatments are accessible to NHS patients, including those with leukaemia.NHS England is also committed to ensuring that cancer patients in all parts of England are offered Holistic Needs Assessment and Personalised Care and Support Planning, ensuring care is focused on what matters most to each person. This commitment is being delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support.Health and wellbeing information and support is provided by healthcare professionals from diagnosis onwards and includes access to NHS Talking Therapy services for anxiety and depression, where considered clinically appropriate. These services are provided alongside wider work to improve psychosocial support for people affected by cancer where possible, such as through local partnerships with cancer support charities.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we support cancer patients, including those with blood cancer. We are now in discussions about what form that plan should take, and what its relationship to the 10-Year Health Plan and the Government’s wider Health Mission should be and will provide updates in due course.