Written questions by Al-Hassan.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of producing toxic herbicides that are banned for use in the UK on the export of such products.

The UK works internationally to manage the export and safe use of pesticides. The UK is party to the Rotterdam Convention, a multilateral treaty that promotes shared responsibilities and information sharing in relation to the international trade of hazardous chemicals. We strongly support science-based listings of hazardous pesticides under the convention. The Prior Informed Consent (PIC) regime in Great Britain (GB) regulates the export and import of certain hazardous chemicals, including pesticides banned for use in GB. Companies intending to export any of these substances from GB must notify the importing country via the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the explicit consent of the importing country is required before export can take place. The exchange of information that PIC provides allows importing countries to make informed decisions on import, handling and safe use.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support mechanisms are available to farmers whose livestock are condemned following tapeworm infection transmitted from dogs on agricultural land or public rights of way.

Tapeworm infections are not notifiable diseases. No compensation is provided for farmers whose livestock are condemned following tapeworm infection transmitted from dogs on agricultural land or public rights of way. Only a very small number of livestock carcases each year are condemned following tapeworm infection. Most are slaughtered before infection develops. The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs was presented to Parliament in December 2017. It makes clear that there is a legal obligation for a handler to clean up after their dog (Welfare of Dogs). Similarly, the statutory guidance within the Countryside Code: Advice for Countryside Visitors, updated 01 April 2021 (Countryside Code) highlights the risk of illness to people and livestock, and sets out that dog handlers must clean up after the dog. It is of paramount importance to break the cycle of transmission by deworming dogs.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of making UK AISI / Thorn's guidance, Recommended Practice for AI-G CSEA Prevention, published in December 2025, mandatory for all AI developers to prevent the creation of AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

The Government recognises the importance of tackling AI-generated CSAM. Creating, possessing, or distributing CSAM, including AI Generated CSAM, is illegal. The Online Safety Act requires services to proactively identify and remove this content. We are taking further action in the Crime and Policing Bill to criminalise CSAM image generators, and to ensure AI developers can directly test for and address vulnerabilities in their models which enable the production of CSAM.The AISI / Thorn joint publication guidance (Recommended Practice for AI-G CSEA Prevention) sets out practical steps that AI developers, model hosting services and others in the AI ecosystem can take to reduce the risk that their systems are misused to generate CSAM. This guidance is informed by input from industry and child protection organisations, and many of the world’s leading AI developers (including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Meta) have signed up to the principles of earlier forms of this guidance.The Government is clear: no option is off the table when it comes to protecting the online safety of users in the UK, and we will not hesitate to act where evidence suggests that further action is necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care what estimate he has made of adult COVID-19 and influenza vaccination uptake in 2024–25; and what steps his Department is taking to strengthen communication of vaccine value to the public in response to hesitancy.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) publishes annual reports on seasonal flu vaccine uptake for England. COVID-19 vaccination uptake figures are published regularly during the spring and winter campaigns, as part of the national flu and COVID-19 surveillance report, and are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/weekly-national-flu-reportsThe adult groups which the vaccine is offered to includes those over 65 years of age, clinical risk groups, pregnant women, and frontline healthcare workers. Compared to the previous 2023 to 2024 season, uptake was higher in pregnant women. Comparisons cannot be made to the previous season for other adult groups, due to changes in the timing of programme implementation.The Department works with the UKHSA and NHS England to deliver national communications supporting vaccine uptake. The UKHSA undertakes research, assessing public confidence, barriers, and motivators to vaccination uptake, and develops strategies and messaging tailored to different audiences.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help prevent the online sale of vapes containing illegal drugs.

The Government is committed to tackling the supply of illegal drugs, including online, and the harms associated with their misuse.We are taking a coordinated approach across Government that includes law enforcement activity, stronger engagement with technology companies, better education for users so they understand the risks and harms; as well as requiring internet companies to take responsibility for content on their platforms.We have strengthened the regulatory framework to address online harms, and the unlawful sale of controlled drugs online is a priority offence under the illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act 2023. In-scope providers are legally required to implement measures to protect their users and to remove illegal content from their platforms, including that related to the sale of vapes containing illegal drugs. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the Act, is monitoring compliance with the regime.The National Crime Agency also works with partners in the UK and internationally to identify offenders operating online, and to take down UK-based sites committing offences.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department’s policies of the study undertaken by the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath, published on 5 September 2025.

The Government is committed to tackling the supply of illegal drugs. We are taking a coordinated approach to tackle harmful online content, including material associated with vapes containing illegal drugs. This combines law enforcement activity, education, and also measures compelling online platforms to act.To this end, the illegal sale of drugs is a priority offence under the illegal content duties in the Online Safety Act 2023.Ofcom is closely monitoring compliance with the regime. The National Crime Agency also works with partners in the UK and internationally to identify offenders operating online, and to take down UK-based sites committing offences.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support the provision of new Integrated Retirement Communities.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the application of consumer law to charitable membership subscriptions under the Digital Markets, Consumer and Competition Act 2024 on the finances of those organisations.

Charities are not excluded from existing core consumer law on the basis of their charitable status. The government is engaging closely with the sector in relation to the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024.The impact assessment for the subscriptions chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act can be found here: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment. Together the subscription measures are anticipated to provide £400m of consumer benefits per year and the estimated net direct cost to businesses is £171m per year. Sector-specific analysis has not been conducted.

What plans he has to monitor the provision of emergency hormonal contraception under Patient Group Directive as part of the Pharmacy Contraception and Pharmacy First Services.

The Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS), under which community pharmacists can initiate and manage the supply of oral contraception, was due to expand to allow the supply of emergency hormonal contraception on 29 October 2025.The number of pharmacies registered to provide PCS and actively delivering the service has increased since service launch in April 2023. The latest available data for registrations and activity shows that in September, 9,932 pharmacies were registered to provide the PCS, and in June 7,160 pharmacies delivered at least one contraception consultation. 15 pharmacies have deregistered from the PCS since March 2025.NHS England will keep the clinical scope of this service under review, and the NHS Business Services Authority will publish activity data in line with the approach for other clinical services in community pharmacy.

How many pharmacies in each Integrated Care Board area in England have registered to provide free Emergency Hormonal Contraception; what proportion of those pharmacies are providing that service; and how many pharmacies have deregistered from providing that service since 30 March 2025.

The Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS), under which community pharmacists can initiate and manage the supply of oral contraception, was due to expand to allow the supply of emergency hormonal contraception on 29 October 2025.The number of pharmacies registered to provide PCS and actively delivering the service has increased since service launch in April 2023. The latest available data for registrations and activity shows that in September, 9,932 pharmacies were registered to provide the PCS, and in June 7,160 pharmacies delivered at least one contraception consultation. 15 pharmacies have deregistered from the PCS since March 2025.NHS England will keep the clinical scope of this service under review, and the NHS Business Services Authority will publish activity data in line with the approach for other clinical services in community pharmacy.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to implement an animal welfare labelling scheme to support British farmers.

On 12 June 2025, we published the summary of responses and the Government response to the fairer food labelling consultation, which was undertaken last year by the previous government. The response is available here on GOV.UK. We will consider the potential role of method of production labelling reform as part of the ongoing development of the Government’s wider animal welfare strategy.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to renew the Young Farmers Grant; and when a decision on that funding will be confirmed.

Defra works closely with the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC). Defra provides funding of up to £30,000 per year for specific project-based activity which supports skills development and training. My officials continue to work very closely with the NFYFC to deliver the 2025-26 grant to ensure value for money. An assessment of future years funding remains part of future spending decisions.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 54542 on Drug Prices, how many of the commercial arrangements involving indications-specific pricing were for indications for (a) rare and (b) ultra-rare cancers.

Between January 2020 and March 2025, NHS England entered into 62 commercial agreements involving indication-specific pricing for cancer indications. Of these:60 were for indications classified as rare; andof those 60, two were for indications classified as ultra-rare. NHS England determines whether a cancer indication is considered rare or ultra-rare based on the incidence of the eligible patient population for a given National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Technology Appraisal, rather than the overall incidence of the broader cancer type. The following definitions have been applied:rare, with fewer than six cases per 100,000 population per year; andultra-rare, with one case per 1,000,000 population per year or fewer.

With reference to Action 28 (i) of the Life Sciences Sector Plan, published on 16 July 2025, what criteria his Department plans to use to identify which medicines have a large number of indications, in the context of identifying eligibility for the proportionate approach to indication-specific pricing agreements.

The criteria will be developed alongside the new proportionate approach to indication-specific pricing arrangements.

With reference to Action 28 (i) of the Life Sciences Sector Plan, published on 16 July 2025, what criteria his Department plans to use to identify (a) low affordability risk and (b) strong long-term outcome data, in the context of identifying eligibility for the proportionate approach to indication-specific pricing agreements.

The criteria will be developed alongside the new proportionate approach to indication-specific pricing arrangements.

Whether she plans to include (a) financial and (b) other citizenship education in the school syllabus.

The national curriculum for citizenship equips pupils to manage their money effectively and provides a framework to explore a range of important concepts to prepare pupils for adulthood, such as democracy, human rights, justice, media literacy, the law, and the need for mutual respect.The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. During their public consultation, the Review Group heard consistently from parents and children that they want more focus on the applied knowledge and skills that will equip them for later life and work, such as financial education. The Review is considering whether there is sufficient coverage of these skills within subjects, and how content can remain relevant and support young people to thrive in a fast-changing world.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to introduce a national animal welfare labelling scheme.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rotheram, Sarah Champion, on 3 July 2025, PQ 62951.

What steps he is taking to ensure a sufficient number of Designated Prescribing Practitioners to mentor all new non-medical prescribers.

NHS England is investing in training for independent prescribers, as well as initiatives to support the development and safe practice of designated prescribing practitioners (DPPs) and educational supervisors. A DPP is a healthcare professional with legal independent prescribing rights who will mentor and supervise the pharmacist during the period of learning in practice. This will ensure the National Health Service is ready to support and mentor foundation trainee pharmacists from the 2025/26 academic year, alongside training existing pharmacists that are learning to be independent prescribers.Reforms to pharmacist education and training will allow for the development of prescriber pharmacists from the point of registration from 2026. This will enable a career-long focus on prescriber services and an associated expansion of the DPP workforce, to support multi-professional teams and the expansion of cross-sector prescribing services.NHS England has funded 3,000 training places for existing pharmacists to become independent prescribers, and is training 1,000 DPP and educational supervisors to support the training of pharmacist independent prescribers.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) hospitalisations and (b) deaths that have been prevented by RSV vaccines administered through the early adopter community pharmacy sites.

People are eligible for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination if they are pregnant, from 28 weeks onwards, or if they are aged 75 to 79 years old.Some people aged 75 to 79 years old have been able to receive the RSV vaccine from a small number of community pharmacy pilot sites in the East of England. Approximately 8,000 individuals received their RSV vaccine in these community pharmacies between October and November 2024. The majority of the programme was delivered in general practice.Overall, the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) findings indicate that there were 30% fewer hospital admissions in 75 to 79 year olds, who are eligible for the vaccine under the new programme, than there would have been without vaccination. This was seen after approximately 40% of eligible older people took up the vaccine this winter, and the impact is expected to increase with further vaccine uptake.A UKHSA-led evaluation of the expansion of the community pharmacy RSV vaccination pilot is underway, covering a further 200 sites.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of care for bladder cancer in each region; and if he will hold discussions with NICE guidelines on the time taken to update its guidelines on bladder cancer care.

The Department is committed to improving cancer care in all regions of England, including for bladder cancer patients. The National Health Service has exceeded their pledge to deliver an extra two million appointments, having now delivered over three million more appointments as the first step to ensuring earlier and faster access to diagnosis and treatment. The National Cancer Plan, due for publication later this year, will include further details on how the NHS will improve care for bladder cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and access to treatment. Furthermore, it will ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology. These actions will help bring this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world. Reducing inequalities and variation in cancer diagnosis and treatment is a priority for the Government and will be included as a key area of focus in the plan. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is in the process of updating its guideline on the diagnosis and management of bladder cancer, following the NICE prioritisation board’s decision that this work should proceed. The NICE’s current guideline on the diagnosis and management of bladder cancer is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng2 This work will be a partial update of the guideline, to include the recommendations on treating non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and on managing locally advanced or metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer. NICE also plans to update the section of the guideline on diagnosing and staging. NICE will set a provisional timeline for the update in due course and will share updates on its website as the update progresses.