Written questions by Wilson.

What estimate he has made of the cost of ensuring every stroke survivor receives a 6-month post-stroke review.

NHS England’s national Stroke Programme has undertaken work to understand the value and impact of six‑month post‑stroke reviews, particularly through the development of the Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS) model and the Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation (SQuIRe) programme. Overall, the emerging evidence demonstrates that six‑month reviews are likely to provide a positive mechanism for identifying unmet need, enabling personalised care, and supporting longer‑term recovery and self‑management. The learning from SQuIRe continues to inform the national ICSS model and future commissioning guidance. The ICSS model includes tailored, patient-centred reablement care. As part of this, through the SQuIRe programme, NHS England has funded several projects testing models of delivery of six month reviews, working closely with third sector partners, such as the Stroke Association. Analysis of these projects is pending.

What assessment he has made of the economic cost of working-age stroke survivors not receiving suitable stroke rehabilitation.

The Government is committed to ensuring that stroke survivors receive high quality rehabilitation, recognising the economic, personal and wider impacts of strokes.The National Stroke Service Model provides best practice for stroke care, including post-discharge, which should include comprehensive rehabilitation and personalised care and support. The model sets that that local stroke systems need to ensure that all stroke survivors are appropriately offered a comprehensive holistic and person-centred six-month post-stroke review.The National Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation programme is helping to transform community-based care by increasing access to specialist stroke rehabilitation at home.

If the consultation on the draft ANPS will include community engagement events across a) London and b) the wider regions.

Engagement during the consultation on any revised Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) draft will be proportionate to the amendments that are made. This will be considered as part of the ANPS review process. In line with the Planning Act 2008, any consultation on a revised ANPS will be appropriately publicised ensuring that affected communities and authorities are properly notified and able to engage in the consultation.

What steps she is taking to help prevent bicycle theft in Twickenham constituency.

The central aim of our police reforms is to protect and revitalise neighbourhood policing. We are lifting national responsibilities from local forces so they can focus on tackling issues of key concern to communities, such as dealing with bike theft. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will ensure that every community in England and Wales will have named and contactable officers dealing with local issues, and that neighbourhood teams spend the majority of their time in their communities providing visible patrols and engaging with local communities and businesses.In addition, we are also providing the police with new powers to support their response. The Crime and Policing Bill, now at Committee Stage in the House of Lords, will ensure that Officers can enter and search premises where stolen items – such as GPS-tracked bicycles – are reasonably believed to have been stolen and located, and where it is not reasonably practicable to obtain a court warrant. This will significantly enhance the ability of the police to act swiftly and effectively in recovering stolen property.

What assessment he has made of the level of support needed for those suffering with Long Covid.

The Government is aware that post-acute infection conditions, such as Long Covid, can have a devastating effect on those who suffer from them. We are committed to taking a comprehensive and compassionate approach to supporting individuals with post-acute infection conditions such as Long Covid, recognising the unique challenges these conditions present.NHS England has invested significantly in supporting people with Long Covid. This includes setting up specialist post-COVID, or Long Covid, services nationwide for adults, and children and young people, and investing in ensuring general practice teams are equipped to support people affected by the condition.Since April 2024, in line with the National Health Service operating framework and the establishment of integrated care systems, commissioning of post-COVID services has been the responsibility of local integrated care boards to meet the needs of their population, subject to local prioritisation and funding.Where referral into a Long Covid service is not possible, for example because a service has closed or is due to close, general practitioners can refer patients into other appropriate existing NHS pathways, depending on their clinical needs.To support clinical leadership in this area, NHS England worked in partnership with the British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine to establish the International Post Covid and Post Infection Conditions Society to facilitate the ongoing sharing of best practice to support people affected by Long Covid.Officials routinely engage with other government departments on Long Covid-related issues which span departmental boundaries.

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on supporting people with Long Covid.

The Government is aware that post-acute infection conditions, such as Long Covid, can have a devastating effect on those who suffer from them. We are committed to taking a comprehensive and compassionate approach to supporting individuals with post-acute infection conditions such as Long Covid, recognising the unique challenges these conditions present.NHS England has invested significantly in supporting people with Long Covid. This includes setting up specialist post-COVID, or Long Covid, services nationwide for adults, and children and young people, and investing in ensuring general practice teams are equipped to support people affected by the condition.Since April 2024, in line with the National Health Service operating framework and the establishment of integrated care systems, commissioning of post-COVID services has been the responsibility of local integrated care boards to meet the needs of their population, subject to local prioritisation and funding.Where referral into a Long Covid service is not possible, for example because a service has closed or is due to close, general practitioners can refer patients into other appropriate existing NHS pathways, depending on their clinical needs.To support clinical leadership in this area, NHS England worked in partnership with the British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine to establish the International Post Covid and Post Infection Conditions Society to facilitate the ongoing sharing of best practice to support people affected by Long Covid.Officials routinely engage with other government departments on Long Covid-related issues which span departmental boundaries.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2026 to Question 117420, a) which areas have received funding to deliver 24/7 thrombectomy and b) the date by which they are expected to have 24/7 access in place.

All thrombectomy centres have received funding aligned with individual provider readiness and implementation plans to deliver extended hours and 24/7 provision. Total recurrent national investment in mechanical thrombectomy in 2025/26 is in excess of £100 million.A targeted approach to additional national investment 2026/27 was taken in recognition of disparities in historical investment due to provider readiness to achieve 24/7 provision.This funding was targeted to the North East and Yorkshire, Midlands, and the South East regions to secure 24/7 access to service provision.The approved funding was confirmed to regions in February 2026, to enable 24/7 service delivery from 1 April 2026.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help ensure the safety of young people online.

Protecting children online is a top priority. The Online Safety Act brought in some of the strongest protections for children globally.We have already taken steps to build on these by introducing new priority offences and tackling intimate image abuse and we have launched a landmark consultation on further measures to protect children online, including whether there should be a minimum age for social media, and restrictions to AI chatbots and gaming.Finally, we are legislating to ensure we can act quickly on the findings of the consultation because no child should have to wait to experience a safe, fulfilling life online.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed SEND reforms on care-experienced children whose needs arise from early trauma and attachment disruption, particularly where those needs span education, health and social care and may not meet the highest threshold within any single category.

Care-experienced children will benefit from our special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms and vision to create a more inclusive education system. A strengthened universal offer, grounded in high‑quality adaptive teaching and earlier support, will enable additional needs to be identified and met more quickly. For children with SEND, our £1.8 billion ‘Experts at Hand’ service will give settings access to specialist input earlier, even where needs may be masked by trauma, and individual support plans will help ensure those working with children understand their needs and how best to support them. For those with the most complex needs, education, health and care plans will remain in place, underpinned by strengthened specialist provision packages that make expectations clear and consistent across the system.Every local authority must appoint a Virtual School Head (VSH), who has a statutory duty to promote the educational attainment of the children in their care. Looked-after children also have highest priority for school admissions and attract Pupil Premium Plus of £2,690 per child, up to age 16.And for the first time under their new framework, Ofsted now assesses all settings for inclusion. Collectively, these reforms seek to ensure all children who can achieve and thrive in mainstream education will be supported to do so, and children and young people who need specialist support will receive it promptly and with dignity, clarity and care. The consultation for these reforms is underway and we encourage anyone with views, including on how reforms will affect care-experienced children, to participate.

What statutory time limits will apply when SEND Tribunals quash local authority decisions under the proposed Specialist Provision Package framework; and what safeguards will be put in place to prevent cycles of reconsideration impacting on provision.

The government set out its proposals for reforming the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Tribunal in its ‘SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First’ consultation document.The department proposes that the SEND Tribunal will make binding judgments on local authority decisions to not undertake an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment, whether a child or young person meets the threshold for a specialist provision package or whether the package(s) offered is suitable. The Tribunal will also consider whether a local authority’s decision about the placement named in an EHC plan is reasonable and, if they find against the local authority, it will have the power to require the decision to be retaken.The SEND reform proposals are subject to consultation and further details will be set out in the government’s response to the consultation.

Whether independent oversight mechanisms will apply to Individual Support Plans under the proposed SEND reforms; and whether families will be able to challenge the adequacy of provision where detailed support is no longer contained within an Education, Health and Care Plan.

There will be a legal duty on settings to produce an Individual Support Plan (ISP) for every child or young person receiving targeted or specialist support, ensuring help keeps pace with their development, prevents challenges from escalating, and reduces the risk of them disengaging from learning.Where there are concerns about provision, parents and young people will be able to resolve this directly with the setting using schools’ improved complaints systems. The school complaints system will be strengthened by having clearer processes, reduced duplication, and the inclusion of an appropriate, independent special educational needs and disabilities specialist in the final stage panel.The use and quality of ISPs will also be considered in Ofsted inspections, and the department will also work with parent groups and experts to explore how a second opinion could give families extra confidence that their child’s plan is right and being delivered well. We also expect governors will sample ISPs.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of playing fields that will be developed as a result of proposals to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) includes strong protections for existing open space, sports and recreational buildings, and land, including playing fields, setting out that they should not be built on unless they are no longer needed, equivalent or better provision is made, or the development is for alternative sports or recreational provision which offers benefits that clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use. The government recently consulted on a new NPPF that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation included updated policy on development affecting existing recreation facilities, including playing fields. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course. The government is committed to maintaining and improving our stock of playing fields. We recognise that Sport England can play a valuable strategic role in supporting local planning authorities in the development of local planning policy. However, we do not believe that statutory consultation on individual cases to a national body is proportionate. In our recent consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system, we proposed a series of mitigations which could minimise the potential impacts of removing Sport England’s statutory consultee status, while delivering the benefits of reducing regulatory requirements. These include the introduction of a new notification requirement in relation to housing and commercial development on playing fields. Under this approach, local planning authorities would be required to notify Sport England when such applications would result in the wholesale or substantial loss of playing fields. The consultation closed on 13 January 2026, and we are currently analysing the feedback received.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce plastic pollution across the UK.

The Government recognises the scale and impact of plastic pollution on the environment and is focused on preventing and reducing plastic and other litter entering the environment. We have a number of restrictions on unnecessary single use plastic products, and we will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/or materials to take a systematic approach, in line with circular economy principles, to reduce the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products and encourage reuse solutions. In November 2025, the Government legislated to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic in England, marking a major step forward in tackling the plastic and microplastic pollution which harms our waterways.

What steps he is taking to improve early diagnosis of lobular breast cancer.

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients, including those with lobular breast cancer, survive this horrible set of diseases. There are multiple NHS initiatives and funding streams across the NHS in England that support the early detection of lobular breast cancer, and many organisations across the health service are involved.The Government recognises the crucial need for research into all forms of cancer to support earlier diagnosis, including for lobular breast cancer. In November 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) issued a highlight notice encouraging applications for new research into lobular breast cancer, to improve the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including lobular breast cancer.The Breast Screening Risk Adaptive Imaging for Density trial is looking into the use of supplementary imaging techniques for women within the standard breast screening programme who are found to have radiographically dense breast tissue. The different tests include magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound. The UK National Screening Committee is in contact with the researchers and is reviewing this evidence as it becomes available. It will make recommendations to ministers in light of this.To raise awareness about early diagnosis of lobular breast cancer, the NHS in England encourages everyone to check their breast regularly for changes or thickened areas of tissue, and to consult their general practitioner straight away if they have any concerns. To increase knowledge of cancer symptoms, including lobular breast cancer, and address barriers to acting on them, the NHS runs Help Us Help You campaigns. These campaigns focus on recognising a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging body awareness, to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, at an earlier stage.

What steps he is taking to raise awareness about early diagnosis of lobular breast cancer.

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster so that more patients, including those with lobular breast cancer, survive this horrible set of diseases. There are multiple NHS initiatives and funding streams across the NHS in England that support the early detection of lobular breast cancer, and many organisations across the health service are involved.The Government recognises the crucial need for research into all forms of cancer to support earlier diagnosis, including for lobular breast cancer. In November 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) issued a highlight notice encouraging applications for new research into lobular breast cancer, to improve the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients. The NIHR continues to welcome high quality funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including lobular breast cancer.The Breast Screening Risk Adaptive Imaging for Density trial is looking into the use of supplementary imaging techniques for women within the standard breast screening programme who are found to have radiographically dense breast tissue. The different tests include magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound. The UK National Screening Committee is in contact with the researchers and is reviewing this evidence as it becomes available. It will make recommendations to ministers in light of this.To raise awareness about early diagnosis of lobular breast cancer, the NHS in England encourages everyone to check their breast regularly for changes or thickened areas of tissue, and to consult their general practitioner straight away if they have any concerns. To increase knowledge of cancer symptoms, including lobular breast cancer, and address barriers to acting on them, the NHS runs Help Us Help You campaigns. These campaigns focus on recognising a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging body awareness, to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, at an earlier stage.

How much her Department has spent on legal advice for Heathrow Airport expansion.

The Department receives legal advice from the Government Legal Department under an agreed annual fee for legal services provided across the Department, rather than on a matter-by-matter basis. Where external legal advice has been required in relation to Heathrow Airport expansion, the Department has met these costs in line with standard procurement and legal spending processes.

Which countries the UK has prisoner transfer agreements with.

Enhancing our bilateral prisoner transfer capability is a government priority. We remain fully committed to transferring eligible foreign national offenders from the UK so they can serve the remainder of their sentences in their home country, and to repatriating British nationals imprisoned overseas.Compulsory bilateral agreements The UK has compulsory bilateral prisoner transfer agreements (PTAs) with Albania, Ghana, Libya, Nigeria and Rwanda. These agreements state that the consent of the prisoner is not required for transfer, although both States must agree to the transfer. The UK has also recently signed a compulsory bilateral PTA with Italy, which is currently undergoing parliamentary scrutiny and has not yet been ratified.Voluntary bilateral agreements The UK also has voluntary bilateral PTAs, where the consent of the prisoner to transfer is required in addition to the agreement of both States, with the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, India, Iraq, Laos, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand and Vietnam.Multilateral arrangements The UK has multilateral prisoner transfer arrangements with all States that are party to the 1983 Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This includes:All 27 European Union Member States.NonEU Council of Europe members: Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye and Ukraine.Non‑Council of Europe States (as the Convention is also open to non‑Council of Europe members): Australia, the Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Israel, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Panama, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America and Venezuela.The UK also participates in the Scheme for the Transfer of Convicted Offenders within the Commonwealth, which provides prisoner transfer arrangements with: Kenya, Malawi, Maldives, Botswana, Tonga and Uganda.

Whether his Department plans to deliver universal thrombectomy services by April 2026.

NHS England has approved an additional £14.2 million of funding, targeted to areas where 24/7 access to thrombectomy is currently not available, in order to enable delivery from 1 April 2026.

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the level of requirement for improvements in the provision of stroke rehabilitation.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions with a range of Cabinet Office colleagues on improvements to National Health Services. There has not been a recent specific meeting on stroke rehabilitation.As set out in the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, we are committed to improving services for patients locally by increasing the provision of services outside of a hospital setting that are delivered closer to home in the community.The National Stroke Service Model provides best practice for stroke care, including post-discharge, which should include comprehensive rehabilitation and personalised care and support.The National Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation programme is helping to transform community-based care by increasing access to specialist stroke rehabilitation at home.

If he will ensure that the Modern Service Framework on cardiovascular disease will include stroke rehabilitation as well as prevention.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, to accelerate progress on the ambition to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25% within a decade, we will publish a new Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework later this year.The Department and NHS England are engaging widely throughout its development to ensure that we prioritise ambitious, evidence-led, consistent, high quality and clinically informed approaches to prevention, treatment and care. Stroke rehabilitation is being considered as part of this process.