Written questions by Maskell.

What assessment is made of level of need for unmet trauma interventions for offenders (a) in prison and (b) on probation; and how these needs are being met.

No assessment has been made of the level of need for unmet trauma interventions for offenders in prison and on probation, or how these needs are being met.NHS England commissions healthcare services in every prison in England to a level equivalent to community provision. The National Integrated Prison Mental Health Service Specification requires trauma‑informed care as a core part of mental health support, with teams equipped to recognise and respond to the effects of trauma through assessment, screening, care planning, risk management, and evidence‑based interventions.NHS England is reviewing the National Integrated Prison Mental Health Service Specification to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the prison population.

What discussions has he had with the Home Secretary on the reclassification of ketamine as a Class A substance.

The Department of Health and Social Care takes seriously addressing harms from ketamine. We are working with partners across Government, including Home Office, to respond to existing and new drug threats and to reduce and prevent the health harms they cause. This includes launching a recent media campaign alerting young people to the dangers of ketamine through providing £3.4 billion for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services over the next three years.

Communities and Local Government, whether she is ensuring that Fire and Rescue services have a statutory duty to support flood events.

Protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government. Fire and Rescue Authorities already have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to prepare for emergencies, including major flooding. However, we recognise the interest in creating a statutory duty for flood response and officials are working with DEFRA, as lead government department for flooding, to consider the wider implications of this. MHCLG supports Fire and Rescue Authorities in responding to flood incidents by providing national resilience High Volume Pump (HVP) capabilities. These are available to be used by Fire & Rescue Services across the country during major flood incidents. Additionally, DEFRA hold the Flood Rescue National Asset Register, a list of teams or assets that voluntarily join the register and maintain availability for national deployment in England.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislation to ban grouse moor shooting practices on the moors to help protect against flooding and fire.

The Government has no plans to bring forward legislation to ban grouse shooting but it is vital that wildlife and habitats are protected and that the law is respected by those involved in the activity. In September 2025, the Government amended the Heather and Grass etc Burning Regulations 2021 to enhance protection of upland peatlands by expanding restrictions on unnecessary burning practices and improving the resilience of our moorlands.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions has she had with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of reforming the operations of the UN Security Council when activities and operations concern a member of the Security Council.

The UK keeps all such matters under regular review alongside our international partners.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the establishment of the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.

I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 4 March 2025 to Question 33140.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has she made of the effectiveness of the operation of the UN Security Council at being able to hold jurisdictions to account when they are involved in actions which fail to meet the standards set out in the UN Charter.

The UK keeps all such matters under regular review alongside our international partners.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions were held with the US Government on Venezuela ahead of their military operation.

It has been the long-standing policy under successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters. But as the Foreign Secretary made clear in her statement to the House on 5 January, the UK Government had no advance knowledge of the operations to which she refers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what intelligence did she receive from UK sources as to the build up of operations by the US ahead of their operation in Venezuela.

It has been the long-standing policy under successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters. But as the Foreign Secretary made clear in her statement to the House on 5 January, the UK Government had no advance knowledge of the operations to which she refers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has held with her Israeli counterpart on the need for foreign nationals to provide health care services in Gaza from deregistered organisations.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made to the House on 5 January.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she is holding with international counterparts on processes to hold countries which are in breach of international humanitarian law to account.

The UK keeps all such matters under regular review alongside our international partners.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost of flood protection measures to businesses which regularly flood in (a) the King's Staith area in York and (b) all other areas.

The properties along the historic Kings Staith waterfront are the lowest lying properties in the city and have no permanent flood wall defences due to heritage, buildability and economic reasons. Many of these properties now benefit from individual property flood resilience measures, which are an important intervention to reduce the likelihood and implications of flooding, and aid recovery in line with National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy. In the York Flood Alleviation Programme, the average installation cost of property level protection measures is £15,000. The Government does not hold national data on the cost of flood protection measures specifically to businesses across all areas, as costs are determined on a property-by-property basis, through approved project business cases. Where Government funding is provided, costs and any business contributions are agreed locally as part of those schemes rather than through a single published estimate.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made with Ofwat on helping to ensure that Yorkshire Water provides value to its customers through how it prioritises resources.

Ofwat, the economic regulator, sets specific performance targets for companies including Yorkshire Water in the five-yearly price review. Where companies fail to meet these targets, they must reimburse customers through lower water bills. As a result, Ofwat's Water Company Performance Report 2024-25 shows that Yorkshire Water's Outcome Delivery Incentive (ODI) underperformance payment was £46.302m. This is available on the Ofwat website: Water Company Performance Report 2024-25 - Ofwat. The Government expects companies to provide high levels of service for customers and believes customers should be at heart of challenging companies on performance. We ensured companies updated their Articles of Association, the rules governing each company, to make the interests of customers a primary objective and took powers in the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 to allow the Consumer Council for Water introduce new customer panels to hold companies to account.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will (a) provide funding for and (b) accelerate upland management schemes to prevent flooding in lower catchment areas in York and North Yorkshire.

The Government is providing funding for upland and catchment-based management measures that help reduce flood risk in downstream communities, including in York and North Yorkshire. A new 3-year £4.2 billion Flood and Coastal Risk Management Investment Programme will start in April 2026, where new projects will align with the strategic objectives set out within the Government’s new funding rules announced in October 2025. This will mean investment goes where it is most needed. Upstream management of water is necessary to enable downstream defences to continue to operate effectively. The Ousewem project, funded with £6 million from the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme, will enhance upstream land management in the Swale, Ure, Nidd and Ouse catchments. The project, together with other work, such as the Environment Agency’s York Flood Alleviation Scheme long term plan, will help identify and shape future upstream investment, and support adaptation to climate change, in collaboration with partners and landowners.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is she taking to reduce drought in York and North Yorkshire over the summer season.

Yorkshire's water resources have fully recovered after a notably wet autumn and early winter. The likelihood of a return to drought conditions in 2026 are now the same as they are in the late winter of any recent year. The Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, and other organisations are reviewing their drought response plans. This will include exploring all options for balancing the need for security of drinking water, for water needed by industry and agriculture, and to maintain the significant leisure industry in a region with two national parks. These needs for water resources must always balance with protecting the valuable habitats and environment of Yorkshire.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that flood protection infrastructure, including the Foss Barrier in York, is regularly inspected and maintained.

The Environment Agency regularly inspects and reports on the condition of flood risk management assets across England. Environment Agency assets are prioritised for funding as part of the annual allocation process. Where appropriate, third-party asset owners are advised on necessary remedial action. Whilst responsibility for third party assets remains with the asset owner, the Environment Agency may by exception use Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCRM) funding to carry out maintenance or repairs where it regards this is urgent to safeguard the public. For 2025–26, £72 million has been reprioritised from the national flood risk investment programme to maintain flood assets, benefiting around an extra 14,500 properties. The Foss Barrier is a complex asset with an extensive inspection and maintenance regime. Around 100 days of maintenance activity are carried out each year at the Foss Barrier to inspect its condition, optimise performance, prevent failure and inform maintenance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of an international treaty on the provision of humanitarian aid in conflict zones.

The Government works closely with international partners in support of efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid in conflict zones.This includes discussing with states and organisations active in mediation how best to coordinate efforts to ensure their effectiveness, and using the existing international treaties that govern the provision of humanitarian assistance during conflict, principally the Geneva Conventions, to demand that warring parties facilitate safe access and prevent interference with humanitarian activities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is she taking to encourage planting to manage water in the upper catchments.

Defra promotes tree planting in upper catchments to enhance the water environment, supported by a suite of targeted grants including the England Woodland Creation Offer, the Environment Agency’s (EA) Natural Flood Management Programme, and wider Environmental Land Management schemes such as Landscape Recovery and Countryside Stewardship. Defra is also supporting delivery of the Water Environment Improvement Fund, Water Restoration Fund and Local Nature Recovery Strategies to ensure action is directed where it delivers the greatest water quality, flood resilience, and biodiversity benefits. Looking ahead, the EA will be scaling up investment in natural flood management interventions, including tree planting, through the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management investment programme that starts in April. This has been enabled by the Government’s updated flood funding rules with a commitment to direct at least 3% of the FCERM programme spend to standalone NFM in the first four years and 4% over a ten-year period. Together, these initiatives contribute directly to the Environmental Improvement Plan’s commitments on increasing tree cover, improving water quality, and strengthening flood mitigation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is taking steps to review mechanisms to (a) de-escalate conflict and (b) provide for international mediation.

The Government works closely with international partners in support of efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid in conflict zones.This includes discussing with states and organisations active in mediation how best to coordinate efforts to ensure their effectiveness, and using the existing international treaties that govern the provision of humanitarian assistance during conflict, principally the Geneva Conventions, to demand that warring parties facilitate safe access and prevent interference with humanitarian activities.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will develop a strategy (a) to help tackle surface water flooding and (b) ensure water industry regulatory compliance.

The Environment Agency (EA) has a strategic overview role for all sources of flooding, which includes surface water. This is set out in the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England (FCERM Strategy). The EA has a legal duty to review the current FCERM Strategy in 2026. Responsibility for surface water flooding is shared across risk management authorities, including lead local flood authorities, water companies and the EA. The Government is supporting this through policy reform, investment and improved coordination. This includes enabling better rainwater management, including sustainable drainage systems, improving data sharing and supporting local strategies where surface water flood risk is greatest. A new three-year £4.2 billion Floods and Coastal Risk Management Investment Programme will also start in April 2026. The Government is strengthening water industry regulation by increasing scrutiny, identifying failures and providing the intelligence for enforcement and remedial action. The EA is increasing compliance and enforcement activity, supported by additional funding and tougher powers, to ensure water companies meet their environmental obligations.