Written questions by Foy.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, what the Commission's policy is on objecting to applications received by Westminster City Council for loudspeaker consent in Parliament Square when the House is sitting.

Decisions over loudspeaker consent in Parliament Square are handled by the Serjeant at Arms. Each application is considered on a case-by-case basis and takes into consideration the sitting of the House and Committees, other business planned for the day, the location of the loudspeaker equipment, noise level from equipment and other considerations pertinent to the particular case. The House authorities recognise the importance of legitimate protest to our democracy; they also have a responsibility to ensure that the House is able to transact its business effectively.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, whether House officials made representations to Westminster City Council on the application for loudspeaker consent in Parliament Square on 30 October 2024.

The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 created a ‘controlled area’ surrounding Parliament where the unauthorised use of loudspeakers, the erecting of tents and the use of ‘sleeping equipment’ is prohibited.The Serjeant at Arms responded to a request from Westminster City Council for views on the use of a loudspeaker in Parliament Square for 30 October 2024. The Serjeant at Arms expressed objection because of the proximity to the Chamber and the significant noise this would cause whilst the Chamber is sitting.

What discussions he has had with third sector organisations on the inclusion of policies on prevention in the proposed ten-year plan for health and social care.

As part of the Government’s five long-term missions, we will launch a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed: moving healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention.A core part of the development of the 10-Year Health Plan, including its approach to prevention, will be an extensive engagement exercise with the public, staff, and stakeholders, including the third sector. Further details on how to get involved will be set out in the coming weeks.

What steps his Department is taking to include policies on prevention in the proposed ten-year plan for health and social care.

As part of the Government’s five long-term missions, we will launch a 10-Year Health Plan to reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future. The plan will set out a bold agenda to deliver on the three big shifts needed: moving healthcare from hospital to the community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention.A core part of the development of the 10-Year Health Plan, including its approach to prevention, will be an extensive engagement exercise with the public, staff, and stakeholders, including the third sector. Further details on how to get involved will be set out in the coming weeks.

With reference to the consultation response entitled creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping, published on 12 February 2024, whether he plans to implement the policies set out in that response.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will be the biggest public health intervention in a generation, improving healthy life expectancy and reducing the number of lives lost to the biggest killers.Alongside introducing a progressive smoking ban to ensure the next generation can never legally be sold tobacco, the Bill will also stop vapes and other consumer nicotine products from being deliberately branded and advertised to appeal to children. We are additionally considering a range of new measures to put us on track to a smoke-free United Kingdom and will set out more details soon.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing of a polluter pays levy on tobacco company to fund smoking cessation services; and if he will make it his policy to increase funding for (a) the swap-to-stop scheme, (b) tobacco control enforcement and (c) the national smoke-free pregnancy incentive scheme.

The Government is funding a broad package of measures to tackle the harm caused by smoking, including additional funding for local authority Stop Smoking Services, more enforcement activity around illegal tobacco and vape products, as well as recently launching a national smoke-free pregnancy incentive programme.On the issue of a polluter pays levy on the tobacco industry, the Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of public finances. The Government keeps all taxes under review during its yearly Budget process.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations at the United Nations on the potential merits of a UN convention on the rights of older persons.

The UK is fully committed to promoting and protecting the rights of all people, including older people. Building stronger legal frameworks at the domestic and international level is key. We were an active participant in the work of the UN's Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, and we welcomed the consensus adoption by the General Assembly in September of its recommendations. The UK seeks to play a constructive role on these issues, and we are open to considering further standard-setting, including the possibility of a multilateral instrument, to help further address the issues faced by older people.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to provide assistance to (a) Ecuador, (b) Paraguay, (c) Peru and (d) Brazil following forest fires in those countries.

The UK has closely monitored recent forest fires in Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Brazil. The UK's support for sustainable development and climate change adaptation should reduce drought impacts and wildfires long-term. In Ecuador and Peru, we are contributing up to £12.3 million through the Andes-Amazon Biodiverse Landscape Fund and in Brazil, through the Amazon Fund (£80 million contributed, with a further £35 million committed). In Paraguay, we support capacity building on forest fire mitigation and response amongst indigenous and local communities. Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy MP visited the Amazon Rainforest last week, meeting firefighters on the front-line using equipment purchased through the Amazon Fund.

Whether she is taking steps through education settings to help reduce child hygiene poverty.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of breaking down barriers to opportunity and improving the life chances for every child. For too many children, living in poverty robs them of the opportunity to learn and to prosper.On 17 July 2024, my Right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced the appointment of the Secretary of State for Work and Pension and the Secretary of State for Education to be the joint leads of a new ministerial taskforce to begin work on a child poverty strategy.This urgent work has started and the ministerial taskforce will harness all available levers to drive forward short-term and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty, with a child poverty strategy published in spring next year.The department is working with the Department of Health and Social Care to deliver supervised toothbrushing for 3 to 5 year olds in the most deprived communities. These programmes prevent tooth decay and encourage toothbrushing routines at home.In addition, the period product scheme continues to provide schools and colleges with access to a wide range of period products for their learners. Since its launch in 2020, 99% of secondary schools and 94% of colleges in England have used the scheme.Furthermore, the government has announced an extension of the Household Support Fund for a further six months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. In England, an additional £421 million will be provided to enable the extension of the Fund to support the cost of essentials, plus funding for the devolved governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of agreeing a UN global tax convention.

The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective international tax cooperation, and has been actively engaging in negotiations at the UN over a future Framework Convention. The UK believes that a UN Tax Framework Convention has the potential to further advance international tax cooperation, but to be successful, it needs to be clear in its aims, avoid duplicating initiatives, and seek to secure the broad support and participation of members. The UK was disappointed that these principles were not fully reflected in the Terms of Reference agreed by the UN Ad Hoc Committee in August, but will continue to engage constructively in support of key principles for strengthening international tax cooperation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the standard of welfare of farmed fish in the UK.

The Animal Welfare Committee’s updated opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing was published last year. A GB-wide farmed trout joint Government and industry working group is now examining the issues raised in the report to explore the potential options for more detailed welfare at killing requirements. The Scottish Government are also working closely with the salmon industry.

If his Department will bring forward legislative proposals to transpose the European Accessibility Act into UK law.

Following the UK's Exit from the European Union, the process of transposition of EU Directives has ceased. The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (REUL Act) ended the supremacy of EU law over domestic UK law, as of January 1, 2024. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) will not directly apply to the UK and, as such, there are no immediate plans within His Majesty's Government (HMG) to transpose this EU legislation. However, UK companies offering in-scope products or services in the EU will need to comply with its provisions, demonstrating that their products/services are compliant with the provisions.

Whether he plans to make difluoromethylornithine available on the NHS for children with high-risk neuroblastoma.

We understand how important it is that cancer patients are able to benefit from rapid access to effective new treatments. We are aware that the manufacturer difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) has applied for a United Kingdom marketing authorisation through Project Orbis, which is an international partnership that allows the more rapid review and approval of promising new cancer treatments.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has already begun evaluating this treatment with the aim of publishing guidance for the National Health Service on its use as soon as possible, if it receives a UK licence.We understand that the manufacturer of DFMO, Norgine, is setting up a ‘compassionate use’ programme, meaning it will be made available free of charge in the UK for individual patients upon a request from a UK prescribing clinician, before a decision is made on the UK marketing authorisation.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Right to Buy for housing association tenants.

The Government is currently reviewing the increased Right to Buy discounts that were introduced in 2012, with a view to better protecting existing social housing stock. The Government will also review the Right to Buy more widely, including looking at eligibility criteria and protections for newly-built social housing and will launch a public consultation in the autumn. More information about the consultation and the position on extending the Right to Buy for housing association tenants will be made available in due course.

What support is available for claimants unable to complete her Department's forms.

The Department is committed to pursuing a just, equal and inclusive society, ensuring independence and control for all customers, including all disabled people and those with complex needs. This means we need to ensure that our customers have access to reasonable adjustments or additional support, to enable them to access benefits and our services.If a customer is unable to manage their own affairs, an appointee may be appropriate. For customers without an appointee, and unable to complete forms through other channels, the DWP Visiting service can conduct home visits to provide support. Some benefits also offer a telephony option.Universal Credit customers can access the UC Helpline or the Help to Claim Universal Credit service, offered by the Citizens Advice Bureau. Support is also offered within our Jobcentres.We aim to provide a tailored service, producing forms in alternative formats such as Braille, large print, coloured paper, as well as screen-readable formats such as word and web-accessible PDF. The Department’s forms are designed to be accessible for people who use assistive technology. Our online PDFs are compliant with Work Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 accessible standards and claim form design and standards are regularly tested to ensure they continue to meet user needs.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help tackle landbanking.

The consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system that began on Tuesday 30 July includes proposals designed to support increased build out rates and promote mixed-tenure schemes that meet the housing needs of local people. In conjunction with the start of that consultation, the housebuilding industry made a public commitment to increase the pace at which homes are delivered and to get on and build where sites are viable and have implementable consent. The Government has also taken swift action to unblock stalled sites through the creation of New Homes Accelerator Task Force.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support countries affected by Typhoon Yagi.

Typhoon Yagi has had a major impact in many countries in South-East Asia. The UK Government has provided £1m to support the humanitarian response in northern Vietnam and £1.3m to help address the impact of severe flooding in Myanmar. The UK is also a major contributor to two global funds that have allocated funding. These are the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund that has released funds for the Myanmar response; and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Disaster Relief Emergency Fund that is assisting those most affected in Vietnam and Myanmar.

If he will meet with Ofgem to discuss the potential merits of reducing the energy price cap for winter 2024-25.

The Energy Price Cap is set by Ofgem and there are different costs included in the price cap, such as the wholesale cost of energy. Any changes to these costs will affect how much the price cap will be each time it is reviewed, and the main driver of the price cap increase for the period 1 October to 31 December 2024 was an increase in wholesale energy prices. As such, the Government believes the only way to protect consumers permanently is to speed up the transition towards homegrown clean energy and reduce our reliance on volatile international fossil fuel markets. Whilst we make this transition to clean power by 2030, the Government is committed to ensuring vulnerable households are supported with their energy bills. We are looking at all options on how to make energy bills more affordable for these households. In the short-term, we are continuing to deliver the Warm Home Discount which provides a £150 annual rebate on energy bills for eligible low-income households. We are also working with energy suppliers to ensure they are providing additional support to vulnerable customers that are struggling with bills

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of replacing the standing charge on household energy bills with a measure based on usage.

Although standing charges are a commercial matter for suppliers, and are regulated by Ofgem, we know that too much of the burden of the bill is placed on them. The Government has worked constructively with the regulator on the issue of standing charges, and we are committed to lowering the cost of them. Ofgem’s proposal to move some operational costs from standing charges to unit rates would see low-income households’ overall bills reduced on average, but we are mindful of the distributional effects of changes to standing charges, particularly on vulnerable consumers. Ofgem’s recently published discussion paper sets out the options for how standing charges could be reduced, including by moving some supplier operational costs off standing charges onto the unit rate, increasing the variety of tariffs available for consumer in the market, and in the longer term, reviewing how system costs are allocated. Ofgem's publication can be found here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/call-for-input/standing-charges-domestic-retail-options.

What steps he plans to take to support community pharmacies in City of Durham constituency.

Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. Previous plans did not go far enough. We are committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.The consultation with Community Pharmacy England on the national funding and contractual framework arrangements for 2024/25 has not yet been concluded, and we are looking into this as a matter of urgency.