Written questions by Smith.

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of airport expansion on meeting targets under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions.

My Department seeks to minimise the impact of aviation on people’s health and wellbeing, in the context of other government priorities. My officials are in regular contact on this issue with other government departments and their agencies, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The assessment of planning applications for airport expansion will take account of all relevant law, policy and other material considerations. This includes environmental and air quality assessments undertaken as part of the planning application process. The Government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding commitments on carbon and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers who are not registered to the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme.

This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a two-year period. Following the announcement that Defra has closed SFI for the submission of new applications, outstanding eligible applications that have been submitted will be processed. SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package. We remain committed to investing in agri-environment schemes. We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; and we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome. Funding from the farming budget also supports the provision of advice within the sector. The Farming Advice Service can assist farmers to review what advice and guidance is available to meet their business needs.

What plans she has to replace the funding of the Stimulating Physics Network.

This government has inherited significant pressures on public finances and difficult decisions must be made on how money is spent right across the public sector to ensure we deliver on our priorities. Despite these challenges, the department continues to promote physics and support participation in the subject. As part of this support, the department is continuing to fund the Subject Knowledge for Physics Teaching programme. This is a series of blended learning courses covering the key stage 3 and key stage 4 physics curriculum to support non-specialist teachers of physics to enhance their subject knowledge.The government is additionally continuing to fund the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Ambassadors programme, a nationwide network of more than 28,000 volunteers registered from over 7,500 employers, reaching over 3 million young people every year. These volunteers engage with young people to spark interest in STEM subjects and showcase the wide variety of STEM careers by sharing their personal experiences. Further, the Oak National Academy aims to support teachers to improve curriculum delivery, reduce workload and support improved pupil outcomes up to key stage 4. This will ensure that all pupils have access to high-quality physics content giving them the best opportunity to progress to study physics or other STEM subjects at higher levels.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the level of energy costs on businesses.

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. In the short-term, the Government wants to provide businesses with better protection from being locked into unfair and expensive energy contracts, and more redress when they have a complaint. Many businesses secure their energy contracts through Third-Party Intermediaries, such as energy brokers. Last year, the Government launched a consultation on introducing regulation of TPIs. This is aimed at enhancing consumer protections including to prevent opaque contracting practices or mis-selling, particularly for non-domestic consumers. a Government response will follow in due course once all feedback has been reviewed. From 19 December 2024 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 50 employees can now access free support to resolve issues with their energy supplier through the Energy Ombudsman. This means that 99% of British businesses can now access this service with outcomes ranging up to £20,000 in financial awards.

Innovation and Technology, what plans he has to strengthen the regulation of online pornography platforms hosting violent and extreme content.

From 17 March 2025 services in scope of the Online Safety Act must take action to tackle illegal pornographic content. Publishers of pornography online also have a duty to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing pornographic content. By summer, all user-to-user services that allow sharing of pornographic content should also use highly effective age assurance if necessary to prevent children from accessing such content.The Government published the final report of the Independent Pornography Review on 27 February 2025 and issued an initial statement in response addressing the important issues it raised. A further update will be provided in due course.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of naming supported lodgings as specified accommodation under housing benefit regulations.

No such assessment is planned.

With reference to her Department's White Paper, English Devolution, published on 16 December 2024, when she will publish guidance on the (a) powers and (b) implementation accountability of Metro Mayors on transport; and how Metro Mayors' powers will align with Great British Railways' (a) role and (b) responsibility to deliver a national rail strategy.

The English Devolution Accountability Framework and Scrutiny Protocol set out the accountability requirements for all Combined Authorities. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s English Devolution White Paper set out the government’s commitment to work with the sector to explore a number of measures to enhance local scrutiny and accountability.Where a Mayoral Combined Authority is in receipt of an integrated funding settlement, this will be underpinned by the Memorandum of Understanding, available at Integrated Settlements for Mayoral Combined Authorities - GOV.UK, and an individual outcomes framework for delivery, to be agreed with government. For the transport measures that require implementation guidance, this is being developed and will be published in due course. Devolved leaders in Mayoral Combined Authorities will have a statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing the Great British Railways (GBR) network. GBR will be organised to work collaboratively with mayors and local stakeholders, ensuring rail better meets local needs. Supporting this, GBR will agree partnerships with mayors, demonstrating a change in how the railway engages locally. Local influence and control will need to be balanced with Great British Railways (GBR) taking decisions in the interest of the wider regional and national network in line with the Long-Term Rail Strategy that will be put in place. Further detail is outlined in an 8-week public consultation into the Government’s proposals for the Railways Bill, published on 18th February. This consultation seeks views on the key legislative proposals that will form part of the upcoming Railways Bill and make that vision a reality.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on expediting and expanding the Online Safety Act 2023 to tackle violence against women and girls.

The misuse of technology to abuse or harm others (including online) has a disproportionate impact on women and children and we know this is a significant and growing issue in the UK and worldwide.Tackling VAWG in all of its forms, including when it takes place online, is a top priority for this Government, and that's why we have set out an unprecedented mission to halve these crimes in a decade.We will go further than before to deliver a cross-Government transformative approach, underpinned by a new VAWG strategy to be published this year. On 22 January 2025, the Government introduced new legislation which will make creating sexually explicit 'deepfake' images a criminal offence.The Online Safety Act 2023 designates material relating to child sexual exploitation and abuse as a priority offence. Platforms must put in place systems and processes to minimise and remove this content. The Illegal Harms Codes, laid before Parliament in December and coming into force from 17 March this year, sets out the steps companies must take to meet their duties under the Act to tackle this content.On 31 January 2024, the Act's new offences of cyberflashing and the sharing and threatening to share intimate images including 'deepfake' pornography without consent came into effect. These are also priority illegal offences.In addition, the Act requires Ofcom to produce guidance which summarises in one clear place measures that can be taken to tackle the abuse that women and girls disproportionately face online. Ofcom has begun developing this guidance and will consult on it this month.I regularly meet with the Minster for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety to discuss these matters, and my officials also engage regularly with DSIT on technology-facilitated VAWG.

With reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what guidance she plans to issue to combined authority mayors on ensuring (a) clear accountability for the implementation of new devolved transport powers and (b) that regional transport planning (i) aligns with the work of Great British Rail and (ii) helps to deliver a cohesive national rail strategy.

The English Devolution Accountability Framework and Scrutiny Protocol set out the accountability requirements for all Combined Authorities. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s English Devolution White Paper set out the government’s commitment to work with the sector to explore a number of measures to enhance local scrutiny and accountability.Where a Mayoral Combined Authority is in receipt of an integrated funding settlement, this will be underpinned by the Memorandum of Understanding, available at Integrated Settlements for Mayoral Combined Authorities - GOV.UK, and an individual outcomes framework for delivery, to be agreed with government. For the transport measures that require implementation guidance, this is being developed and will be published in due course. Devolved leaders in Mayoral Combined Authorities will have a statutory role in governing, managing, planning and developing the Great British Railways (GBR) network. GBR will be organised to work collaboratively with mayors and local stakeholders, ensuring rail better meets local needs. Supporting this, GBR will agree partnerships with mayors, demonstrating a change in how the railway engages locally. Local influence and control will need to be balanced with Great British Railways (GBR) taking decisions in the interest of the wider regional and national network in line with the Long-Term Rail Strategy that will be put in place. On 18th February we launched the 8-week public consultation into the Government’s proposals for the Railways Bill. This consultation seeks views on the key legislative proposals that will form part of the upcoming Railways Bill and make that vision a reality.

Whether he is taking steps with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to enable banking hubs to offer postal services.

The Department for Business and Trade continues to engage with His Majesty's Treasury on the Government’s commitment to roll out 350 banking hubs. Banking hubs are a voluntary service which were developed by the financial services sector to protect access to cash under the Financial Services Act 2023. Their rollout is overseen by Cash Access UK and funded by the banks for the purpose of coordinating banking hub delivery.The Government-set Access Criteria ensures that however the network changes, Post Office delivers essential services, including banking and cash services, within local reach of all citizens.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to reduce the time taken for planning applications to commence for developments for which biodiversity net gain credits are required.

Biodiversity net gain is a post-permission matter, meaning a Biodiversity gain plan needs to be submitted and approved once planning permission has been granted and before the commencement of development.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of available sites for biodiversity net gain credits in south west Devon.

Biodiversity net gain is a post-permission matter, meaning a Biodiversity gain plan needs to be submitted and approved once planning permission has been granted and before the commencement of development.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of youth services on (a) preventing and (b) tackling violence against women and girls.

The Government has set an ambitious target to halve VAWG in a decade. To achieve this, we must reduce the current levels of offending and reoffending but also prevent abuse from happening all together.The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy will set out our strategic direction and concrete actions to deliver this ambition. We are considering a range of policy options across government to prevent these crimes including education for young people around healthy relationships and consent, community interventions and tackling online VAWG.That includes looking at how we can work most effectively with youth services and through the Young Futures programme to deliver this ambition.

What assessment she has has made of the potential impact of (a) Young Futures Hubs and (b) Young Futures Prevention Partnerships on tackling violence against women and girls.

The Government has set an ambitious target to halve VAWG in a decade. To achieve this, we must reduce the current levels of offending and reoffending but also prevent abuse from happening altogether.This focus on prevention also sits at the heart of the Young Futures Programme, which will establish a network of Young Futures Hubs and Young Futures Prevention Partnerships.Young Futures Prevention Partnerships will bring local partners together to intervene earlier to ensure that vulnerable children at-risk of being drawn into a variety of crime types (including anti-social behaviour, knife crime and violence against women and girls) are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.Young Futures Hubs will bring together services to improve access to opportunities and support for young people at community level, promoting positive outcomes and enabling them to thrive.Officials from across a range of departments are working together, using evidence of what works, to start to shape how the Young Futures Hubs will work in practice.

With reference to the report by Sustrans entitled The Cycling Opportunity, published on 11 September 2024, what steps she is taking to improve access to cycles for disabled people.

The Government agrees that everyone, including disabled people, should be able to make the most of the health and wellbeing benefits which cycling can bring. The Government has announced an additional £100 million of capital investment in cycling and walking infrastructure for the financial year 2025/26, and will say more on this shortly. As the Department develops its future plans for active travel, it will consider, alongside Active Travel England, options for enabling more disabled people to access adapted cycles, which are often much more expensive than other cycles. In the meantime, the Cycle to Work scheme already enables many disabled people to access adapted cycles at a reduced cost.

What the dementia diagnosis rate was for people aged under 65 who had developed symptoms on 13 January 2025; and if he will publish a monthly estimate of this rate within national primary care dementia data.

The dementia diagnosis rate is not calculated for patients aged under 65 years old. This is because the numbers of patients known to have dementia in the sample population age groups comprising the zero- to 64-year-old age range is not large enough for reliable estimates to be made.The Primary Care Dementia Data publication includes a monthly count of the number of patients aged 65 years old and under who do have a dementia diagnosis on their patient record, which is expressed as a raw count, and as a percentage of registered patients aged zero to 64 years old.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of disregarding payments from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme when calculating eligibility for Pension Credit.

I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 18 November 2024 to question UIN 14156.

What steps his Department is taking to improve liver cancer surveillance among higher risk patients with chronic hepatitis B (a) nationally and (b) within Devon Integrated Care System.

The National Health Service Cancer Programme is working to detect more hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) at an early stage when the chances of survival are higher. Six-monthly liver ultrasound surveillance for patients with cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis is key to identifying liver cancers earlier. The programme has been providing funding to Cancer Alliances in 2023/24 and 2024/25, to invest in local liver surveillance programmes. This includes Peninsula Cancer Alliance, which covers Devon.The cancer programme is also funding two pilot initiatives, the Community Liver Health Checks and liver primary care case finding pilots, to identify people with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis requiring HCC surveillance. Both pilot initiatives are being delivered across in the peninsula, with one primary care case finding pilot taking place within Devon Primary Care Network.

What steps his Department is taking to improve earlier diagnosis of hepatitis B (a) nationally and (b) within Devon Integrated Care System.

Hepatitis B is usually asymptomatic in the early years, and therefore, many people remain unaware of their infection. The UK Health Security Agency estimates that 268,767 people were living with chronic hepatitis B in England in 2022, 38.1% of whom we estimate are diagnosed. As a result, raising both professional and public awareness remains critical to reducing the undiagnosed burden of hepatitis B.In April 2022, the NHS England introduced the bloodborne virus opt out testing in emergency departments programme, which was implemented across 34 sites. In its first 24 months 1,185,678 hepatitis B tests had been conducted in the programme, which has led to 1,957 new diagnoses of hepatitis B. Following the success of this programme, it is now being expanded to a further 47 sites nationwide. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bloodborne-viruses-opt-out-testing-in-emergency-departments/emergency-department-bloodborne-virus-opt-out-testing-12-month-interim-report-2023In addition, the list of sites and go live dates is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bloodborne-viruses-opt-out-testing-in-emergency-departments/appendix-for-emergency-department-bloodborne-virus-opt-out-testing-12-month-interim-report-2023The United Kingdom has continued to see the success of well-established antenatal screening. Antenatal screening coverage has remained high at 99.8%, which ensures pregnant women living with hepatitis B are diagnosed and interventions are implemented, to prevent transmission of hepatitis B to their children.As set out in the published Hepatitis B in England 2024 report, effective interventions have also been developed to raise awareness of hepatitis B among healthcare professionals and communities at risk of acquiring viral hepatitis, support primary care in identifying and managing cases, and offer testing and immunisations to close contacts. These interventions need to be more widely implemented to continue to improve diagnosis and access to care. The Hepatitis B in England 2024 report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hepatitis-b-in-england/hepatitis-b-in-england-2024#raising-awareness-supporting-the-diagnosis-of-people-living-with-undiagnosed-hepatitisand-reducing-barriers-to-treatment

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the recommendations in the report entitled Homes for All published by the Church of England and the Nationwide Foundation in April 2024.

As part of the process of developing and implementing housing and planning policy, the government engages with a wide range experts and organisations. Our plans to tackle the housing crisis, including by building 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament and delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, will address several important points raised in the report in question. The government also intends to publish a long-term housing strategy and we will consider reports such as this one, in developing it.