Written questions by Mishra.

Media and Sport, if her Department will discuss with Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council the future of the 50m Grand Central Swimming Pool in Stockport.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to swimming facilities, which are great spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and play an important role within communities. The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, with funding levels set as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve. In June last year, we committed £400 million to transform sports facilities, including public leisure, over the next four years. We are working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need, before setting out further plans on how future funding will be allocated.

If he will introduce requirements to ensure that patients’ religious and philosophical dietary preferences, including vegetarian and vegan diets, are recorded in health and care records to ensure accessibility to care providers.

Regulation 14 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 requires care providers to ensure the nutritional and hydration needs of service users are met, which includes meeting any reasonable requirements arising from the service user’s preferences or their religious or cultural background.The Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidance states that people's religious and cultural needs must be identified in their nutrition and hydration assessment. When a person has specific dietary requirements relating to moral or ethical beliefs, such as vegetarianism, these requirements must be fully considered and met.Providers must be able to demonstrate to the CQC that they meet this regulation.

How many post office branches have (a) opened and (b) closed in Stockport constituency since 2016.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 13th April is attached.

What steps she is taking to ensure that primary and secondary school pupils in Greater Manchester are provided with nutritious, healthy and minimally processed food in schools.

We are consulting on proposed updates to the school food standards in England to ensure that all food served at school, including at breakfast and lunch, better reflects current nutritional guidance and supports children’s health, wellbeing and learning. The consultation will run for nine weeks, closing on 12 June 2026. More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-food-standards-updating-the-legislative-framework.We have worked with the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities at the Department of Health and Social Care and consulted health and academic experts on the issue of ultra-processed foods, to ensure all changes are evidence-based. We know that many products classified as ultra-processed foods are often high in free sugars, saturated fats and/or salt, and it is levels of these which we are trying to reduce, including processed meats, confectionery and savoury snacks.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for UK foreign policy of the United Nations General Assembly resolution of 25 March 2026 recognising the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity and calling for reparatory justice; and for what reasons the United Kingdom abstained in that vote.

No such assessment is required, but the Hon Member can find the UK's Explanation of Vote at the following link on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/uk-explanation-of-vote-on-the-declaration-of-the-trafficking-of-enslaved-africans-and-racialised-chattel-enslavement-of-africans-as-the-gravest-crime.

What steps his Department is taking to encourage foreign direct investment in the North West region.

The Department actively promotes foreign direct investment into the North West through the Office for Investment, which works closely with regional stakeholders to identify, shape and market regional opportunities. The Government has placed the North West at the centre of its Northern Growth Strategy and Industrial Strategy, using large public investments to attract private capital. This includes a multi‑billion‑pound investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail (including a new Liverpool – Manchester line via Manchester Airport and Warrington), as well as targeted investments such as the new Digital Campus in Manchester and the National Cryogenics Facility in Cheshire (Liverpool City Region), positioning the North West as a global quantum technologies hub.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to late payment policy on (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) larger businesses; and whether he plans to differentiate between transactions involving SMEs and those conducted solely between larger counterparties when introducing these changes.

On 24 March we published our response to the Late Payments Consultation, outlining legislative measures we will introduce to tackle the scourge of late payments which costs the UK economy £11 billion each year and leads to the closure of 38 businesses every day. In line with the Better Regulation Framework, we published an Impact Assessment that considers how our measures could impact businesses of all different sizes. We have carefully designed measures to tackle late payments whilst supporting UK competitiveness, including allowing an exemption from maximum payment terms for contracts where both parties are large companies.

Media and Sport, how she will assess the success of the National Youth Strategy.

The National Youth Strategy will put young people from all backgrounds in the driving seat when it comes to decisions that affect their lives.We are committed to being accountable to young people, their parents/carers, sector partners, and the wider public to deliver this strategy. To assess the impact, we will hold an annual youth-led national hearing to discuss progress and priorities. We will also publish an interim delivery progress report in 2027.We will also be evaluating the National Youth Strategy's delivery and impact with England-wide metrics, and DCMS reporting across programmes. This will help us identify successful approaches and areas for improvement and explore opportunities to enhance our work.

Communities and Local Government, what funding is available to leaseholders for cladding remediation works on buildings under 11 metres in height.

Funding is not currently available for buildings under 11 metres in height. However, the Department announced targeted funding for multi-occupied residential buildings under 11 metres in the Remediation Acceleration Plan update. This funding will be available in exceptional cases, where there are life-critical fire safety risks from cladding and no alternative route to funding. Additional details about funding for exceptional cladding remediation in buildings below 11 metres in England will be shared by the Department in due course.

Media and Sport, what steps her department is taking to encourage more people to train as youth workers.

The National Youth Strategy announced our commitment to developing and growing a skilled and sustainable paid and volunteer youth sector workforce. To achieve this, we are investing £15 million over the next three years.The Youth Worker Bursary Fund removes financial barriers for individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to gain accredited qualifications. The DCMS is continuing to fund this programme during the next financial year.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of passenger services to Reddish South railway station.

The Department, through the Rail North Partnership (RNP), has regular discussions with Northern Trains and stakeholders on the adequacy of services. We expect operators, in this case Northern, to develop timetables that best match capacity and frequency to passenger demand, taking into account operational sustainability and value for taxpayers. RNP would be happy to look at any proposal around services based on local or regional priorities put forward by the Mayoral Authority as part of their Local Transport Plans. RNP will also contact the Hon Member for a meeting to discuss services to Reddish South.

Communities and Local Government, (a) what steps his Department is taking to reduce the backlog in Gateway 2 applications at the Building Safety Regulator and (b) how many Gateway 2 applications are outstanding for buildings in Stockport constituency.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) publishes monthly data on Building Control Approval applications, including progress on the batching pilot launched in September 2025. Latest data, published in February 2026, showed average approval times for new cases of 18 weeks, representing an almost threefold improvement in processing times when compared to May-July 2025. More complex cases managed through Account Managers are taking around 25 weeks on average for approval. The BSR has also addressed the backlog of legacy Gateway 2 applications through a substantial expansion of operational capacity and the integration of specialist expertise. These measures have strengthened decision-making, sped up the processing of both new‑build and remediation cases, and supported more efficient partnership working with industry. In parallel, enhanced guidance, developed jointly with the Construction Leadership Council, is supporting applicants to submit clearer, higher‑quality applications that demonstrate compliance, helping to further reduce determination times. There are currently four live Gateway 2 applications within the Stockport constituency (SK1–SK5): two remediation cases and two Category A applications.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has had discussions with Stockport Council regarding the condition of Reddish Library.

My Department has held no specific discussions with Stockport Council regarding the condition of Reddish Library. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for public library policy and the Libraries Improvement Fund. DCMS intends to publish a new English public library strategy later this year to emphasise and support their position at the heart of communities and their pivotal role in improving the lives of working people.

Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will provide funding for flood schemes in Stockport constituency.

The South Manchester Strategy sets out the EA’s long‑term approach to managing flood risk along the River Mersey, with a focus on maintaining and upgrading key defences. While the project area extends into Stockport, most assets being reviewed are located further downstream. Recent community drop‑in sessions have helped Stockport residents register for flood warnings, ensuring they are prepared to respond quickly and effectively during flood events. The EA has also supported joint door‑knocking with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and Stockport Council to increase flood warning uptake in areas with historically low registration. These proactive efforts demonstrate the EA’s continued commitment to protecting people, homes and businesses.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking through its international development programmes to reduce maternal sepsis linked to poor hygiene conditions during childbirth.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 26 March in response to Question 122018.At the heart of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's future health programming is a clear commitment to strengthening health systems, and raising the overall level of primary healthcare provision - including hygiene standards - that influence outcomes for women in childbirth.

With reference to the Government’s response to the Future of the Post Office green paper consultation, (a) when the proposed cross‑government working group on the delivery of in‑person government services will be established, (b) how frequently it is expected to meet, (c) which Departments will participate in its work, and (d) whether the Government plans to provide opportunities for external organisations to contribute to the group’s considerations.

I can confirm that the cross-government working group on the delivery of in-person government services has been established with an introductory meeting held late last year. Departments invited included those involved in the delivery of key in-person services, as well as those with a policy interest in how services are provided. The regularity of future meetings and potential involvement of external organisations are yet to be decided.

What steps his Department has taken to work towards implementing a standardised Attendance Policy for all NHS organisations in England; and if he will set out a timeline for when this will be finalised.

The Department does not mandate a single national attendance policy for the National Health Service. Responsibility for workforce attendance management sits with individual NHS organisations who are responsible for setting and applying local attendance policies in line with employment law and good human resources practice.Instead, NHS England has been engaging with representatives from NHS organisations and staff side partners to develop guidance on Supporting Health and Improving Attendance which will be published later this year. This guidance is intended to strengthen and align local approaches while allowing flexibility to reflect local operational circumstances and the diverse needs of our workforce. Once finalised, guidance will support NHS organisations to improve clarity, fairness, and consistency in attendance management across the service without removing local employer accountability.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce food poverty in (a) Stockport constituency and (b) Greater Manchester.

Our plan to Make Work Pay is part of the mission to grow the economy, raise living standards across the country and create opportunities for all. This is why we committed in our manifesto to ending mass dependence on emergency food parcels. The Government recognises that the level of household food insecurity in the UK is unacceptable. We have announced action to expand free school meals, support parents with the cost of healthy food in the school holidays with the Holidays and Activities and Food Programme and transform our food system to ensure it delivers access to affordable, healthy food. From 1 April 2026, we are introducing a new Crisis and Resilience Fund. This longer-term funding approach aims to enable local authorities to provide preventative support to communities – working with the voluntary and community sector – as well as assisting people when faced with a financial crisis, to support our ambition to end mass dependence on emergency food parcels.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out how her Department’s animal welfare strategy will address the welfare of fast-growing broiler chickens used in the foodservice sector.

The Government is considering how we can support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds. The Government welcomes the fact that those supermarkets who made Better Chicken Commitment pledges have fulfilled them, but it is disappointing to hear of the decision of various restaurant groups to withdraw their commitments to improve animal welfare in this way.

What assessment the Department has made of the potential merits of installing solar photovoltaic generation directly on railway infrastructure to provide lower cost electricity for the rail network and to reduce reliance on new national grid connections.

The government has established Great British Energy and is committed to significantly increasing the amount of renewable energy generation in the UK by 2030.Network Rail purchases electricity for the railway and is committed to transitioning to renewable energy for both the electricity it uses for its own operations, and the electricity to power trains. Network Rail already generates some of this electricity on the rail estate and is continuing the roll out of new renewable generation assets (primarily solar) on the estate.