Written questions by Wilkinson.

With reference to his speech to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists World Congress, published on 23 June 2025, what his planned timetable is for the NHS Chief Executive and Chief Nursing Office to meet (i) Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and (ii) Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust; and if he will publish the outcomes of those meetings.

An initial meeting between the Chief Executive of the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the NHS Chief Executive, and the Chief Nursing Officer for England to discuss maternity and neonatal services took place on 25 June 2025. Further in-depth meetings will take place in due course, and following these meetings the trust board should report on their progress to their public board.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of regional investment groups introduced under the SME Finance Charter.

The SME Finance Charter was an awareness-raising initiative introduced in 2019 and updated in 2022 following the Covid-19 pandemic.The British Business Bank's Nations and Regions Investment Funds provide debt and equity finance to businesses outside London. They are designed to support business growth in local communities by crowding in additional private investment for areas that have historically been underserved. The success of these funds to date was recognised at Spending Review with funding confirmed to allow for expansion.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the Great Western Railway franchise fleet maintenance regime.

My officials receive regular updates from Great Western Railway (GWR) with regard to its train fleet. Detailed maintenance arrangements are a matter for GWR, its maintenance providers and the rolling stock owning companies. GWR works closely with its maintainers and the supply chain to source parts to maintain the trains as required. In recent months GWR working with Hitachi has seen more consistent availability of its intercity fleet. The procurement of 26 Class 175 trains will also provide additional rolling stock resilience across the network.

What assessment her Department has made of the mechanical adequacy of Great Western Railway's fleet of trains.

My officials receive regular updates from Great Western Railway (GWR) with regard to its train fleet. Detailed maintenance arrangements are a matter for GWR, its maintenance providers and the rolling stock owning companies. GWR works closely with its maintainers and the supply chain to source parts to maintain the trains as required. In recent months GWR working with Hitachi has seen more consistent availability of its intercity fleet. The procurement of 26 Class 175 trains will also provide additional rolling stock resilience across the network.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce youth obesity rates.

We face a childhood obesity crisis, and the Government will take action to tackle the root causes of obesity head on, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.We are delivering an ambitious programme of work to create a healthier food environment. We are taking action to restrict advertisements of less healthy food and drink to children on television and online, we are limiting school children’s access to fast food, we are taking steps to ensure the Soft Drinks Industry Levy remains effective and fit-for-purpose, and we are committed to banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16 year olds.The Government has announced the extension of free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026, and that work is in progress with experts from across the sector to revise the School Food Standards, so that every school is supported with the latest nutrition guidance.We are also working collaboratively across the Government on the Food Strategy and the Child Poverty Strategy to provide healthier, more easily accessible food to tackle obesity and give every child the best start in life.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the risk of children and young people developing cancer.

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster, so that more patients survive this horrible set of diseases, including children and young people. The Government has now exceeded its pledge to deliver two million extra operations, scans, and appointments, having delivered 3.6 million additional appointments as a first step to delivering on the commitment that 92% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment, in line with the NHS constitutional standard, by March 2029. On 4 February 2025, the Department relaunched the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for children and young people with cancer. The taskforce is exploring opportunities for improvement across genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, patient experience, and early detection and diagnosis. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on improving outcomes for cancer patients, including for children and young people with cancer, and will highlight how the Department will support the NHS to reduce the risk of children and young people developing cancer in all parts of England.

What steps his Department is taking to increase accessibility to healthier foods.

Under the Health Mission, the Government is committed to prevention and to tackling obesity, creating a fairer, healthier food environment. We are taking action to restrict the advertisements of less healthy food and drink products to children on television and online, we are limiting school children’s access to fast food, and are taking steps to ensure the Soft Drinks Industry Levy remains effective and fit-for-purpose. We are also committed to banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16 year olds.Through the Healthy Start scheme we encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households, supporting the Government’s aim to create the healthiest generation of children in our history.We are also working closely with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs to develop their cross-Government Food Strategy which will set the food system up for long-term success and will provide wide ranging improvements. The Food Strategy will work to provide healthier, more easily accessible food to help people live longer, healthier lives.

What assessment has his Department has made of the potential impact of childhood obesity on risk of cancer.

A specific assessment of a direct link between childhood obesity and the risk of cancer has not been made. However, there is evidence that children and adolescents living with obesity are more likely to remain living with obesity as adults. There is also evidence that adults living with obesity have a higher risk of developing several types of cancer, with further information available at the following link:https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/obesity-weight-and-cancer/how-does-obesity-cause-cancerData suggests that 6% of cancer cases in the United Kingdom are attributable to obesity and overweight, including:- 34% of uterine cancer cases, or 3,000 out of 9,000;- 24% of kidney cancer cases, or 2,900 out of 12,400;- 17% of upper gastrointestinal cancer cases, or 5,600 out of 32,400;- 11% of colorectal cancer cases​, or 4,800 out of 41,800; and- 8% of breast cancer cases, or 4,600 out of 55,100.Further information on this data is available at the following link:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-018-0029-6The National Child Measurement Programme collects data on children aged four to five years old, who would be in reception, and 10 to 11 years old, who would be in year 6. In the 2023/24 school year, data on childhood obesity in England indicates that 22.1% of children in reception and 35.8% in year 6 were overweight or living with obesity. Further information on childhood obesity in England is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/national-child-measurement-programme/2022-23-school-yearThe Department has commissioned research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research to quantify the health and social impacts of obesity during childhood and is awaiting results, with further information available at the following link:https://www.ucl.ac.uk/health/case-studies/2024/jul/quantifying-health-and-social-impacts-obesity-during-childhood

Communities and Local Government, what postcodes in Cheltenham her Department has identified as falling in the eligible Income Deciles 1-2 of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published the most recent iteration of the English Indices of Deprivation in September 2019. All data tables and resources are available on gov.uk here. Our Open Data Communities platform provides postcode level and decile data for each Local Authority across all Indices domains as at time of release.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to require overseas landlords who own empty retail units to engage with local authorities.

This government has introduced High Street Rental Auctions, powers available to local authorities in England to require landlords, regardless of their country of residence, to rent out vacant commercial premises. As a deterrent it is a criminal offence for a landlord not to engage in the auction process and where they do not comply local authorities are empowered to progress with the measures in their absence. We want to ensure that councils across the country, such as Cheltenham Borough Council, have the support they need to implement the powers. To that end, a fund of £1 million is available to support delivery this financial year and a new burdens payment can be drawn down to meet the administrative costs. Furthermore our local authority early adopters are also available to offer practical support to help facilitate implementation.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help support Cheltenham Borough Council to run high street rental auctions.

This government has introduced High Street Rental Auctions, powers available to local authorities in England to require landlords, regardless of their country of residence, to rent out vacant commercial premises. As a deterrent it is a criminal offence for a landlord not to engage in the auction process and where they do not comply local authorities are empowered to progress with the measures in their absence. We want to ensure that councils across the country, such as Cheltenham Borough Council, have the support they need to implement the powers. To that end, a fund of £1 million is available to support delivery this financial year and a new burdens payment can be drawn down to meet the administrative costs. Furthermore our local authority early adopters are also available to offer practical support to help facilitate implementation.

With reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, whether he plans to allow cyber security entrepreneurs to have access to a proportion of the additional funding provided to the Single Intelligence Account for research and development.

As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of moving civil servants to Cheltenham on his Departments staffing costs.

The 2025 Spending Review confirmed £244 million investment supporting the relocation of roles out of Whitehall to complete the development of new hubs in the regions. Cheltenham will continue to be a vibrant Civil Service location and home to one of GCHQs strategic hubs. The Government Property Agency continues to work closely with departments based in Cheltenham.

How much funding he plans to allocate to midwife (a) training and (b) recruitment in the next 12 months.

The NHS Education and Training tariff funds clinical midwife placements at approximately £5,000 per full time equivalent post. The rate is adjusted by the Market Forces Factor and varies by region. In addition, eligible midwifery students can apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF). The LSF provides a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 per student per academic year. We review the funding arrangements for both schemes annually.Funding for midwife training is demand led and is not capped by the Government. The total amount of funding depends on the number of students in the system.National Health Service trusts manage their recruitment at a local level. This includes allocating funding to ensure they have the right number of staff in place with the right skills mix, to deliver safe and effective care.To reform the NHS and make it fit for the future, we will publish a 10-Year Health Plan as part of the Government’s five long-term missions. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills will be central to this vision. We will publish a new workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade and treat patients on time again.

How Retrofit Information Support and Expertise is supporting contractors to implement the Warm Homes Local Grant in Gloucestershire.

Retrofit, Information, Support, and Expertise (RISE) is a free support service funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which provides training, guidance and support to help housing providers and their supply chains across England, to plan and deliver successful domestic retrofit programmes. For specific queries relating to support received or available to supply chain organisations, including in specific regions. organisations are encouraged to engage with the RISE team directly at info@riseretrofit.org.uk . If organisations would like to speak to the department about the RISE service, you are welcome to contact DESNZ at: TAF mailbox. tafteam@energysecurity.gov.uk

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Spending Review 2025 on the National Youth Strategy.

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential. The funding commitments within the National Youth Strategy will depend on departmental business planning processes, now underway following the recent spending review. The detail and scale of the funding commitments included in the strategy will also be shaped by engagement with young people and the youth sector.The Government will publish the strategy this autumn.

When the next batch of funding from the Warm Homes Local Grant will be available for Cheltenham Borough Council.

Cheltenham Borough Council participates in the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG) as part of a consortium led by Stroud District Council. Stroud District Council is expected to receive the initial payment of WH:LG funding shortly, subject to the Council completing any administrative actions requested. As the consortium lead, Stroud District Council will be responsible for managing any distribution of funding to consortium members, including Cheltenham Borough Council.

What support his Department is providing for local authorities to implement the Warm Homes Local Grant.

To support local authorities to implement the Warm Homes: Local Grant, the Government is funding a free Technical Assistance Facility called the Retrofit Information, Support and Expertise: ‘RISE’. RISE provides technical support for local authorities from when they request funding to beginning to upgrade homes, as well as access to experts, training and guidance to enhance their capability to deliver the scheme. All local authorities in England can access support through this facility. In addition, Government has procured a delivery partner to provide ongoing support to local authorities throughout the delivery period, with each project assigned a Delivery Support Manager to provide project delivery expertise.

What assessment his Department has made of the capacity of skilled workers in Gloucestershire to implement the Warm Homes Local Grant before winter 2025.

The Government has not made a specific assessment of the capacity of skilled workers in Gloucestershire to implement the Warm Homes: Local Grant.Prior to beginning to upgrade homes, and drawing down the funding allocated for this, all local authorities participating in the scheme are required to demonstrate they have procured sufficient capacity to deliver the funding. Local authorities concerned that there is insufficient capacity in their area to deliver their project are encouraged to contact their assigned Delivery Support Manager for the scheme.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of mobile phone signal on westbound rail routes from London.

Having travelled westbound from London to Wales and back again on a weekly basis for twenty four years I know how poor the signal is. That is why I am delighted that DfT have secured funding to introduce low-earth-orbit satellite connectivity on all mainline trains, significantly improving both the availability and internet data connection speeds for Wi-Fi connected passengers.Ofcom, the independent telecoms regulator, is responsible for reporting on the coverage of mobile networks in the UK. In 2019, Ofcom published data on mobile signal strength along UK railways based on measurement equipment installed on ‘yellow trains’. The Department for Transport and Network Rail are currently repeating this coverage measurement exercise. Ofcom continue to explore the feasibility of reporting on coverage on trains in the most relevant way.