Written questions by Vickers.

What discussions he has had with (a) Coeliac UK and (b) other patient representative groups on access to gluten-free staple products in England.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not held any meetings with integrated care boards (ICBs) or patient groups on the provision of gluten free (GF) bread and flour mixes for patients diagnosed with coeliac disease.Following consultation, the legislation restricting the prescribing of GF foods to bread and mixes came into force in December 2018, and NHS England’s guidance on prescribing GF foods in primary care was subsequently issued to clinical commissioning groups, now ICBs. Following a review in 2019, the position in England remains that GF bread and mixes can be provided to all eligible coeliac patients on a National Health Service prescription, and a wide range of these items continue to be listed in Part XV of the Drug Tariff. NHS England currently has no plans to update the guidance.

What steps she is taking to reduce the number of young people classed as NEET in Teesside.

​​I refer the hon. Member for Stockton West to the answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 69622.​

What steps he is taking to increase the defence sector’s contribution to net zero targets.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) remains fully committed to contributing to the UK achieving its legal commitment to be Net Zero by 2050. Between Financial Year 2019-20 and Financial Year 2023-24, the MOD as a Department has reduced its overall emissions from 3,650,000 tCO2e to 3,012,000 tCO2e. A more detailed breakdown of Defence energy use and associated carbon emissions can be found in Annex D of the MOD Annual Report and Accounts. The wider Defence sector must comply with Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 006 Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts, requiring Carbon Reduction Plans, to be published online at supplier selection stage for procurements valued at £5 million (ex VAT) or more per year, where relevant and proportionate. MOD are encouraging the application of PPN 016: Carbon Reduction Contract Schedule which provides standard terms to support decarbonisation objectives, including Greenhouse gas emissions reporting, reduction targets, and monitoring through supplier Carbon Reduction Plans. Additionally, when procuring infrastructure, the MOD must adhere to Joint Services Policy 850 to ensure energy efficiency and carbon emissions reduction.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to NHS Continuing Healthcare for people with (a) young onset dementia and (b) other forms of dementia.

Our national statutory guidance, the National framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care, outlines that access to NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) assessment, care provision, and support should be fair, consistent, and free from discrimination. This national statutory guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-framework-for-nhs-continuing-healthcare-and-nhs-funded-nursing-careEligibility for CHC is not determined by diagnosis or condition. Individuals can be identified and referred for CHC assessments by a variety of health or social care practitioners who have been trained and are known to the individual. Individuals and families can also request a CHC assessment from a health and care practitioner.Integrated care boards should make the CHC Public Information Leaflet available to members of the public, for example through local National Health Service websites, hard copies on hospital wards, through primary care outlets, local care homes, and local voluntary sector organisations. This Public Information Leaflet containing further information on CHC is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-continuing-healthcare-and-nhs-funded-nursing-care-public-information-leaflet/public-information-leaflet-nhs-continuing-healthcare-and-nhs-funded-nursing-care--2NHS England has also commissioned an information and advice service for CHC, supplied by Beacon, which individuals and their families might find helpful, and which is available at the following link:https://beaconchc.co.uk/how-we-can-help/free-information-and-advice-on-nhs-continuing-healthcare/

What recent assessment she has made of fraud-related crime rates in the North East.

The Home Office holds data on incidents of fraud reported to Action Fraud by Police Force Area (PFA), which is published each quarter by the ONS and is available at the following link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/policeforceareadatatables.

How much funding his Department has allocated to community mental health transformation programmes in the North East since 2022.

The following table shows the funding allocated to community mental health transformation programmes in the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board area:YearAllocated Funding2022/23£17.4 million2023/24£21.7 million2024/25£22.1 millionSource: NHS EnglandNote: These figures represent service development funding directed at transformation and do not represent the total amount allocated to community mental health services in the area.

What funding has been allocated to support mental health crisis response services in the Tees Valley since 2021.

The following table shows the nationally allocated funding to support mental health crisis response services in the Tees Valley area:YearAllocated Funding (,000)2023/24£8442024/25£8542025/26 (planned spend)£1,079Source: NHS England Notes:Information for 2021/22 and 2022/23 is not available.These figures represent service development funding directed at transformation and do not represent the total amount allocated to community mental health services in the area.

What steps he is taking to reduce elective care backlogs at hospitals in the North East.

As of May 2025, the latest available data, the total waiting list in the North East and Yorkshire region stood at 990,884, with 67.1% waiting within 18 weeks, which is better than the national average of 60.9%.Since May 2024, the waiting list in North East and Yorkshire region has decreased by 19,141, and 18-week performance has improved by 1.7%. The North East and Yorkshire region includes:Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB);North East and North Cumbria​ ICB;South Yorkshire ICB; andWest Yorkshire ICB.We have committed to return to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029. There are a range of efforts underway, nationally and in the North East, to reduce the time patients are waiting for elective care.The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the productivity and reform efforts we will undertake to return to the 18-week standard, and to ensure patients have the best possible experience while they wait. This includes addressing the challenges in diagnostic waiting times, providing the number of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and other tests that are needed to reduce elective and cancer waits.We have supported this with additional investment in the autumn and spring Spending Reviews, which has allowed us to exceed our pledge to deliver an extra two million operations, scans, and appointments, having now delivered 4.6 million additional appointments up to the end of April 2025.Furthermore, in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Department has set out a transformed vision for elective care by 2035, where the majority of interactions no longer take place in a hospital building, instead happening virtually or via neighbourhood services. Planned care will be more efficient, timely, and effective.

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training.

The government is determined to break down barriers to opportunity for all our young people and transform their life chances. A key pillar of the government’s opportunity mission is to ensure there are clear pathways through further and higher education and into employment, including technical training.In the ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper, the government set out its commitment to establish a Youth Guarantee of support to access training, an apprenticeship, or to find work for all 18 to 21 year-olds. £45 million has been allocated to Youth Guarantee trailblazers to develop the Youth Guarantee. The department and the Department for Work and Pensions are working at pace with strategic authorities in initially eight areas, including in the hon. Member for Stockton West’s constituency in the Tees Valley.The Youth Guarantee builds on entitlements that young people have to participate in education and training up to age 18. Local authorities have statutory duties to support young people into education and training, including identifying and helping those who are currently not in education, employment or training.

What steps she is taking to strengthen border and import-level screening to prevent the delivery of knives purchased from overseas retailers without age verification.

Border Force utilise a suite of data analysis and detection capabilities to screen for illicit goods crossing the UK border.We are currently upgrading our x-ray detection capabilities and introducing a new scanning system that improves how our officers analyse images at the border to better detect threats such as offensive weapons.Border Force also utilise advance data and intelligence to risk assess movements crossing the UK Border, this includes targeting the illegal importation of offensive weapons to prevent their delivery to a UK recipient.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure school buildings in the North East are resilient to extreme weather.

I refer the hon. Member for Stockton West to the answer of 12 August 2025 to Question 68739.

What steps she is taking to ensure consistent access to mental health support in secondary schools in the North East.

The government will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school by expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). By April 2026, we estimate that 60% of pupils in schools and learners in further education in England will be covered by an MHST, up from 52% at the end of March 2025. In the Northeast, 57% of pupils in schools and learners in further education were covered by an MHST in March 2025.Expansion to all schools and colleges by 2029/30 will prioritise rollout based on local need and reaching the most vulnerable children first. The operating principles and core functions of MHSTs ensure consistency in their support offer, whilst also allowing for flexibility in the model to best meet local needs.To support education staff, the department provides a range of guidance and quality assured resources on promoting and supporting pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.

How many new SEND places have been created in (a) Stockton-on-Tees and (b) the North East since 2019.

The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places, including for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (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, including through the £740 million confirmed for 2025/26. Of this funding, Stockton-on-Tees has received £2.2 million for 2025/26.As of 1 May 2024, Stockton-on-Tees had 667 specialist places and the North East had 9,873.

How much her Department has spent on pupil premium allocations in (a) Stockton West and (b) Stockton North constituency since 2020.

Pupil premium allocations at constituency level by year since 2020/21 can be accessed using the links below:2020/21: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2020-to-2021.2021/22: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2021-to-2022.2022/23: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2022-to-2023.2023/24: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2023-to-2024.2024/25: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2024-to-2025.2025/26: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2025-to-2026.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS dentistry provision in (a) Stockton and (b) the Tees Valley.

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-202324The data for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), which includes Stockton and the Tees Valley, shows that 45% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist in the previous 24 months up to June 2024, compared to 40% in England, and that 58% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the previous 12 months up to June 2024, compared to 56% in England.We will deliver 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments per year, and ICBs have been making extra appointments available from 1 April 2025. The North East and North Cumbria ICB is expected to deliver 57,559 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.We are committed to reforming the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Opportunity North East funding.

The funding for Opportunity North East (ONE) ended in 2022. The programme aimed to improve 28 secondary schools in the region through the ONE Vision school improvement programme. ONE also delivered projects that aimed to improve transition from primary to secondary, teacher recruitment, and post-16 outcomes.18 of the 28 schools that were in the ONE Vision programme now have Ofsted judgements with single headline grades of good or better or, where schools have been inspected since September 2024, sub-judgements that are all good or better. However, it is hard to establish the cause and effect of this programme in isolation from other changes and government interventions that have happened over time. Of the remaining ten ONE Vision schools, four schools have not been inspected in their current structure, and six schools that have not yet improved their Ofsted performance are all part of the targeted regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) programme.

What support her Department is providing to schools impacted by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the North East.

All schools and colleges with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) have suitable mitigations in place.The department has supported schools and college to put in place mitigations.The government has committed to resolving this problem as quickly as possible, permanently removing RAAC either through grant funding or the School Rebuilding Programme.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of using existing legislation to restrict the online sale and import of knives from overseas.

We are currently strengthening the legislation around the online sale of knives with measures in the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament. This includes:introducing a two-stage age verification system at the point of online purchase.age and identity checks upon delivery of knives.increasing the penalties for the sale of knives to minors.increasing the penalties for possessing offensive weapons in private.introducing a duty on online sellers to report bulk sales of knives.providing the police with the power to require technology companies responsible for social media sites, marketplaces, and search services to take down illegal knife and offensive weapon content.Introducing a new offence in respect of possession of a knife likely to be used in unlawful violence.giving the police a new power to seize knives they believe will likely be used for unlawful violence.We have also taken action to ban zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes from 24 September 2024; and to ban ninja swords from 1 August 2025.The Home Secretary also commissionedCommander Stephen Clayman, the National Police Lead on knife crime, to undertake t a review into the online sale and delivery of knives. The review was completed and its report published on 19 February 2025. The Government acted on the review’s recommendations immediately concerning better age verification checks at point of sale and delivery and requiring online sellers to report bulk purchases of knives. We will also be consulting later this year on a registration scheme for sellers of knives, as recommended by Commander Clayman in his review, and we are exploring the review’s other recommendations including changes in respect of importation of knives.

What discussions she has had with (a) payment processors and (b) courier services on disrupting the purchase and delivery of knives sold online by overseas retailers without age checks.

We are currently strengthening the legislation around the online sale of knives with measures in the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament. This includes:introducing a two-stage age verification system at the point of online purchase.age and identity checks upon delivery of knives.increasing the penalties for the sale of knives to minors.increasing the penalties for possessing offensive weapons in private.introducing a duty on online sellers to report bulk sales of knives.providing the police with the power to require technology companies responsible for social media sites, marketplaces, and search services to take down illegal knife and offensive weapon content.Introducing a new offence in respect of possession of a knife likely to be used in unlawful violence.giving the police a new power to seize knives they believe will likely be used for unlawful violence.We have also taken action to ban zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes from 24 September 2024; and to ban ninja swords from 1 August 2025.The Home Secretary also commissionedCommander Stephen Clayman, the National Police Lead on knife crime, to undertake t a review into the online sale and delivery of knives. The review was completed and its report published on 19 February 2025. The Government acted on the review’s recommendations immediately concerning better age verification checks at point of sale and delivery and requiring online sellers to report bulk purchases of knives. We will also be consulting later this year on a registration scheme for sellers of knives, as recommended by Commander Clayman in his review, and we are exploring the review’s other recommendations including changes in respect of importation of knives.

What steps her Department is taking to support skills development aligned with advanced manufacturing industries in Teesside.

The government is evolving apprenticeships into a new growth and skills offer to provide greater flexibility for employers and learners, aligned with the Industrial Strategy. In response to business needs, the offer will boost skills in the manufacturing sector through key initiatives such as:The engineering skills package: Over £100 million will be invested to grow skills through further and higher education, apprenticeships and the launch of technical excellence colleges focused on critical sectors such as advanced manufacturing.Foundation apprenticeships: Launching August 2025, employment-based programmes will help young people gain vital skills and paid experience in key sectors like engineering.Shorter apprenticeships: Launching August 2025, early adopters will include green energy.Short Courses: Starting April 2026, new digital, artificial intelligence, and engineering courses funded via the growth and skills levy will support priority sectors like advanced manufacturing.The Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, published in June, is addressing skills gaps through a range of targeted programmes, such as the Upskilling and Reskilling Programme, which is being co-developed with industry to ensure training provision aligns with sector needs. The Department of Business and Trade is working closely with Skills England on the development of these programmes to ensure alignment with national skills priorities.