Written questions by Baker.

Media and Sport, what guidance will be issued to local licensing authorities on the application of gambling impact assessments across the United Kingdom.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to develop and implement service accessibility standards to ensure that transport services, associated technologies and infrastructure are inclusive and accessible for disabled people.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the Defence Growth Deal on Scotland.

The UK Government’s £50 million Scottish Defence Growth Deal is a step-change for Scotland’s industrial base. It will support skills, high-skilled jobs, innovation and regional growth. It will include £10 million for innovation facilities both on the Clyde and in Rosyth, and £10 million for two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges. Located to support Scotland’s defence clusters in the East and West, these will strengthen talent pipelines and support long-term sector growth. I urge the Scottish Government to match our investment in Scotland’s defence skills sector.

Whether she has considered asking the Financial Conduct Authority to issue specific standards on payment terminal accessibility for blind and partially sighted people.

The government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector, including accessibility for blind and partially sighted customers. The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection from discrimination for disabled people in a range of circumstances, including in the provision of goods, facilities and services and requires retailers to make reasonable adjustments. The Financial Conduct Authority also requires authorised financial services firms to comply with their ‘Consumer Duty’, which requires them to deliver good outcomes for retail customers, including those with disabilities. Ensuring individuals have access to the financial products and services they need is a key priority for the government. This is why I published the Financial Inclusion Strategy last year which sets out a range of ambitious measures for government and industry to improve financial inclusion for underserved groups across the UK. This includes the launch of an industry-led inclusive design working group to consider how to make products more accessible. As part of the focus on inclusive design, the strategy specifically acknowledges that the phasing out of tactile features from payment processes has made it more difficult for people who are blind or partially sighted to make payments independently. The Royal National Institute of Blind People is working with providers and UK Finance, the leading trade association for the banking sector, to introduce accessible features for cards. UK Finance is developing a Code of Practice for Accessible Cards, providing a set of guidelines for accessibility features on card products for participating firms. The government welcomes this positive example of industry and consumer representatives working together on tangible solutions. UK Finance also maintains voluntary standards to help ensure point-of-sale technology remains accessible for those who are visually impaired. It will be working with the British Retail Consortium to identify opportunities to go further in embedding accessibility features where they can make the most difference in practice.The government continues to closely monitor progress in this important area.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance on the treatment of vulnerable customers leads to changes in how payment terminals are (a) designed and (b) deployed; and whether she will take steps with the FCA to introduce binding requirements in this area.

The government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector, including accessibility for blind and partially sighted customers. The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection from discrimination for disabled people in a range of circumstances, including in the provision of goods, facilities and services and requires retailers to make reasonable adjustments. The Financial Conduct Authority also requires authorised financial services firms to comply with their ‘Consumer Duty’, which requires them to deliver good outcomes for retail customers, including those with disabilities. Ensuring individuals have access to the financial products and services they need is a key priority for the government. This is why I published the Financial Inclusion Strategy last year which sets out a range of ambitious measures for government and industry to improve financial inclusion for underserved groups across the UK. This includes the launch of an industry-led inclusive design working group to consider how to make products more accessible. As part of the focus on inclusive design, the strategy specifically acknowledges that the phasing out of tactile features from payment processes has made it more difficult for people who are blind or partially sighted to make payments independently. The Royal National Institute of Blind People is working with providers and UK Finance, the leading trade association for the banking sector, to introduce accessible features for cards. UK Finance is developing a Code of Practice for Accessible Cards, providing a set of guidelines for accessibility features on card products for participating firms. The government welcomes this positive example of industry and consumer representatives working together on tangible solutions. UK Finance also maintains voluntary standards to help ensure point-of-sale technology remains accessible for those who are visually impaired. It will be working with the British Retail Consortium to identify opportunities to go further in embedding accessibility features where they can make the most difference in practice.The government continues to closely monitor progress in this important area.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of accessibility across all aspects of banking and financial services for blind and partially sighted customers, including (a) payment terminals, (b) online banking, (c) card design, (d) verification processes, and (e) compatibility with assistive technology.

The government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector, including accessibility for blind and partially sighted customers. The Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection from discrimination for disabled people in a range of circumstances, including in the provision of goods, facilities and services and requires retailers to make reasonable adjustments. The Financial Conduct Authority also requires authorised financial services firms to comply with their ‘Consumer Duty’, which requires them to deliver good outcomes for retail customers, including those with disabilities. Ensuring individuals have access to the financial products and services they need is a key priority for the government. This is why I published the Financial Inclusion Strategy last year which sets out a range of ambitious measures for government and industry to improve financial inclusion for underserved groups across the UK. This includes the launch of an industry-led inclusive design working group to consider how to make products more accessible. As part of the focus on inclusive design, the strategy specifically acknowledges that the phasing out of tactile features from payment processes has made it more difficult for people who are blind or partially sighted to make payments independently. The Royal National Institute of Blind People is working with providers and UK Finance, the leading trade association for the banking sector, to introduce accessible features for cards. UK Finance is developing a Code of Practice for Accessible Cards, providing a set of guidelines for accessibility features on card products for participating firms. The government welcomes this positive example of industry and consumer representatives working together on tangible solutions. UK Finance also maintains voluntary standards to help ensure point-of-sale technology remains accessible for those who are visually impaired. It will be working with the British Retail Consortium to identify opportunities to go further in embedding accessibility features where they can make the most difference in practice.The government continues to closely monitor progress in this important area.

What progress his Department has made in implementing the Industrial Strategy.

The whole of government is focused on delivering the Industrial Strategy to make the UK the best country to invest and grow. We are making progress, including:· Opening our consultation for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to reduce electricity costs for IS-8 and foundational sectors.· Agreeing a landmark UK-US pharmaceuticals deal, safeguarding medicines access and driving vital investment for UK patients and businesses.· Supporting Industrial Strategy Zones, including the Forth Green Freeport, where advanced manufacturing and clean energy industries will thrive.

What steps his Department is taking to address the 25.9% of working age people who are dying in poverty in Fife every year.

A Scottish person at end of life can make a fast-tracked claim to the following reserved benefits (if they are eligible): Universal Credit (UC) and New Style Employment Support Allowance (NS ESA).Disability Benefits are devolved in Scotland and policy responsibility sits with the Scottish Government. The UK Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age For those nearing the end of their life, the UK Government’s priority is to provide people with financial support quickly and compassionately. The main way this is applied is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enable Scottish people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to UC and NS ESA. The Universal Credit Act 2025, also ensures that all SREL claimants will receive the higher LCWRA rate, no matter when they make their claim.

What steps his Department is taking to address the 15% of people who are dying in poverty in Mid Fife and Glenrothes every year.

A Scottish person at end of life can make a fast-tracked claim to the following reserved benefits (if they are eligible): Universal Credit (UC) and New Style Employment Support Allowance (NS ESA).Disability Benefits are devolved in Scotland and policy responsibility sits with the Scottish Government. The UK Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age For those nearing the end of their life, the UK Government’s priority is to provide people with financial support quickly and compassionately. The main way this is applied is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enable Scottish people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to UC and NS ESA. The Universal Credit Act 2025, also ensures that all SREL claimants will receive the higher LCWRA rate, no matter when they make their claim.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of financial insecurity of people at the end of life.

The UK Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age. For those nearing the end of their life, the UK Government’s priority is to provide financial support quickly and compassionately. The main way this is applied is through the Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) which enables people who are nearing the end of their lives to get faster, easier access to Universal Credit (UC) and New Style Employment and Support Allowance. The Universal Credit Act 2025, also ensures that all SREL claimants will receive the higher UC Health rate, no matter when they make their claim. Disability Benefits are devolved in Scotland and policy responsibility sits with the Scottish Government.

What criteria his Department uses to determine site eligibility for participation in the TRANSFORM prostate cancer screening trial; and whether the availability of focal therapy is a requirement.

The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).In November 2023, the Government and Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) announced the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer to find it before it becomes advanced and harder to treat. PCUK is managing the award on behalf of the funders with the Government contributing £16 million through the NIHR.Once received, the protocol will be published on the NIHR website on the funding and awards page. This is expected to contain details of the site selection criteria.

Whether the design of the TRANSFORM trial includes sites that do not currently offer focal therapy; and how treatment diversity is being considered in trial recruitment.

The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).In November 2023, the Government and Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK) announced the £42 million TRANSFORM screening trial to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer to find it before it becomes advanced and harder to treat. PCUK is managing the award on behalf of the funders with the Government contributing £16 million through the NIHR.Once received, the protocol will be published on the NIHR website on the funding and awards page. This is expected to contain details of the site selection criteria.

Representing the Church Commissioners, what support the Church of England is providing to Christians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Church continues to support the Archbishops’ Appeal for the Diocese of Jerusalem, which helps more than thirty institutions, including hospitals, schools, clinics, rehabilitation centres, guesthouses, and retirement homes across the Diocese. Through charitable bodies like Friends of the Holy Land, the Church provides practical help directly to the most needy and vulnerable Christians, striking a balance between funding immediate relief of emergency needs and small, practical projects that help create a sustainable future in the Holy Land.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to raise extended producer responsibility base fees for plastic.

From year 2 of pEPR (2026/2027), base fees will be modulated to drive a shift to more environmentally sustainable packaging design, with recyclability as the indicator. Materials that are less recyclable, such as some plastics, will incur higher fees, with the additional funds raised being redistributed to lower the fees of more recyclable materials. PackUK intends to publish a modulation policy statement by the end of June, outlining this in more detail.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) extended producer responsibility and (b) other waste reforms on the improvement of recycling services by local authorities.

In October 2024, the Government published an updated impact assessment for the introduction of Extended Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR), which includes an assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on Local Authorities at an aggregate level. The Simpler Recycling reforms will reduce the negative environmental impacts of waste by increasing both (i) the quantity of materials collected for recycling, and (ii) the quality of recyclate produced due to improved material segregation. The latest impact assessment for Simpler Recycling was published in December 2024.

If she will estimate the number of workers exposed (a) directly and (b) indirectly to welding fume since it was categorised as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not collect data on the numbers of people directly or indirectly exposed to welding fume.

What steps she has taken to ensure employers provide the correct PPE for workers who work (a) directly and (b) indirectly with welding fume since the categorisation of welding fume as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not collect data on the numbers of people directly or indirectly exposed to welding fume.

If she will make it his policy to collect data on the number of workers who work (a) directly and (b) indirectly with welding fume who have received diagnosis of (i) nasal, (ii) septum, (iii) throat, (iv) stomach, (v) bowel, (vi) kidney, (vii) liver, (viii) lung and (ix) bladder cancer.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for collection of data of workplace injury and illness. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) provides the national reporting framework for responsible persons (usually employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises) to report certain cases of injury, diseases and specified dangerous occurrences to the relevant Enforcing Authority (HSE or Local Authority). Regulation 9 of RIDDOR requires the responsible person to report a diagnosis of any cancer attributed to an occupational exposure to a known human carcinogen in their current job. When reporting, the responsible person must provide details on the affected person's occupation or job title and a description of the work that led to the disease. This would capture whether the person is a welder and/or carries out welding as part of their job. There is also the option to report the specific type of cancer being diagnosed. HSE also collects data on occupational cancers through the Health and Occupational Reporting (THOR) network. This includes:Lung cancer and mesothelioma data from chest physicians (THOR-SWORD) andSkin cancer data from dermatologists (THOR-EPIDERM) Where available, occupational information such as job title may be recorded, potentially identifying welders. However, welders may also be exposed to other carcinogens, such as asbestos, during their work so it is difficult to directly link a diagnosis of cancer specifically to exposure to welding fumes.

What steps she has taken to help ensure standardisation across all industrial sectors for protective equipment for workers who work (a) directly and (b) indirectly with welding fume since the categorisation of welding fume as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance on Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) which specifies RPE types, filters and standards to be used at work, Respiratory protective equipment at work: A practical guide HSG53 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require that businesses risk assess exposure to hazardous substances like welding fume and ensure that appropriate RPE is selected, where required. Industry sectors and businesses may have different RPE requirements, depending on the type of welding and the work environment. To assist them in their selection the COSHH Essentials Welding Sheet WL3 gives welders guidance on the appropriate types of mask and grade of filters, suitable for welding, Welding fume control (hse.gov.uk). HSE conducts regular inspection campaigns targeting the industries where welding is prevalent. Part of the inspection is to check that welders have the appropriate RPE where required. HSE works with industry stakeholders to promote the guidance and improve safety in welding.

What (a) training and (b) support has been introduced to help (i) GPs and (ii) other clinicians to (A) identify and (B) diagnose cancers associated with welding fume at an earlier stage since the categorisation of welding fume as carcinogenic by the Health and Safety Executive in 2019.

The training curriculum for postgraduate trainee general practitioners (GPs) is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners and has to meet the standards set by the General Medical Council. Additionally, GPs are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge, including on cancer, remains up-to-date, and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development.NHS England funds delivery of GatewayC, the leading online early cancer diagnosis e-training resource for GPs and primary care staff. Where relevant, e-learning courses contain a risk factors section, and in the current update of the existing Lung Cancer course, GatewayC has added welding fumes to the risk factor card on 'chemicals and workplace risk'. From the Health and Safety Executive’s guidance, the increased risk is primarily for lung cancer, but there is also some evidence of an increased risk of kidney cancer. The upcoming Urological Cancers course doesn't directly refer to this but has a cover-all statement on workplace risk, stating: 'exposure to certain chemicals at work may increase the risk of bladder and kidney cancer'.NHS England has also significantly expanded the Lung Cancer Screening Programme, formerly known as the Targeted Lung Health Check. The programme currently operates across more than a quarter of England, prioritising areas with the highest lung cancer mortality and levels of deprivation. Mobile scanning units in community settings, such as supermarket car parks, have helped to improve access and uptake. The programme is on track to offer screening nationally by 2029, with a target to invite at least 50% of the eligible population by March 2026.