Written questions by Niblett.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of VAT rules on the accessibility and affordability of services provided by CBT psychotherapists, counsellors and other health professionals on PSA Accredited Registers.

Many services provided directly or supervised by registered health professionals are exempt from VAT, meaning no VAT is charged to the final consumer. This does not apply to professionals who do not have statutory registers, such as counsellors and psychotherapists. The UK’s approach of linking VAT exemption to statutory registration provides a clear and objective criterion for defining ‘health professionals’ for VAT purposes, ensuring that VAT reliefs are tightly targeted. While the Government keeps all taxes under review, there are no current plans to introduce VAT exemptions for counsellors and psychotherapists without statutory registration.

Whether his Department has plans to introduce statutory regulation for psychotherapy professions, including counsellors and CBT psychotherapists.

The Government is clear that the professions protected in law must be the right ones and that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks to the public.The Department keeps the professions subject to regulation under review but has no current plans to extend statutory regulation to psychotherapy professions, including counsellors and cognitive behavioural therapy psychotherapists.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her department is taking to address the potential risk of social housing residents being excluded from full fibre broadband due to access rights.

The Government is committed to ensuring at least 99% of premises receive gigabit broadband coverage by 2032. This will primarily be achieved through the commercial deployment of full‑fibre connections. Through Project Gigabit the Government is supporting the rollout of gigabit‑capable broadband to UK premises that are not expected to be reached commercially, helping to ensure that residents, including those in social housing, can benefit from fast and reliable connectivity. The Department recognises the challenges of connection in social housing, and we continue to engage with Local Authorities and Housing Associations on digital infrastructure deployment. In November 2024, the then Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms wrote to Local Authorities to encourage access agreements to be reached for the installation of gigabit-capable broadband on local authority land and assets which include some social housing. We are currently analysing responses to our consultation on legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats (which closed on 16 February 2026), and will update on the outcomes in due course.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of regulation of psychotherapy professions.

The Government is clear that the professions protected in law must be the right ones and that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks to the public.The Department keeps the professions subject to regulation under review but has no current plans to extend statutory regulation to psychotherapy professions, including counsellors and cognitive behavioural therapy psychotherapists.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending VAT exemption to counsellors, psychotherapists and CBT therapists who are on Professional Standards Authority-accredited registers.

Many services provided directly or supervised by registered health professionals are exempt from VAT, meaning no VAT is charged to the final consumer. This does not apply to professionals who do not have statutory registers, such as counsellors and psychotherapists. The UK’s approach of linking VAT exemption to statutory registration provides a clear and objective criterion for defining ‘health professionals’ for VAT purposes, ensuring that VAT reliefs are tightly targeted. While the Government keeps all taxes under review, there are no current plans to introduce VAT exemptions for counsellors and psychotherapists without statutory registration.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to written question 120134 answered on 16 March 2026, for what reason GS4 mix is no longer available to farmers.

GS4 was previously an option called ‘Legume and herb-rich swards’ available to farmers under legacy Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier agreements. This option was replaced with a broadly equivalent action called ‘Herbal leys’ under both the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) offers. The original mix used for GS4 was a tightly specified herbal ley mix with high species requirements (containing at least 5 species of grass, 4 species of legume and 4 species of herb or wildflowers). It has been replaced in SFI by the CSAM3: Herbal leys action (with lower minimum requirements) and in CSHT by the CGS4: Herbal leys action (using a mix which can be tailored to meet specific local conditions and to support delivery of specific habitats or species).

What guidance his Department has issued on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and the challenges to patients in accessing diagnosis and treatment.

The Department recognises the complex needs of people living with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Our approach focuses on improving care coordination and access to appropriate services.The National Health Service has published an overview of mastocytosis, a similar, distinct, mast cell disorder. This includes information regarding symptoms as well as treatment options. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mastocytosis/Specialised commissioning has published the Service Specification for Specialist Allergy Services which covers the responsibilities of specialised commissioned providers in regard to patients with mastocytosis and related disorders. This is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/specialist-allergy-services-adults-service-specification-v2.9.pdfThe management of people with mastocytosis is provided by specialised allergy/immunology, dermatology and haematology services. The lead clinician will vary at different centres, but specialist allergy input should be readily available.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) secure national food supply chains and (b) protect food security through mitigation of disruption caused by extreme weather in the context of her Department's publication entitled Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security, updated on 2 February 2026.

UK self-sufficiency has remained broadly stable for several decades. In 2024, the UK was 65% self-sufficient for all food; 77% for food that can be produced here. In most scenarios, strong domestic production and imports through stable trade routes ensure food supply is maintained and can withstand disruptive events such as extreme weather. Nature underpins our security, prosperity, and resilience and understanding the threats we face from biodiversity loss is crucial to meeting them head on. Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to question 80057, what recent progress has been made in the OFGEM investigation into A Shade Greener; and when affected constituents can expect redress.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, is responsible for investigating whether companies have complied with the rules of the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme and related consumer regulations. Ofgem’s investigation into the company A Shade Greener remains open. While the Department cannot intervene in the details of that investigation, we continue to support Ofgem in exercising its consumer powers appropriately. Any decisions regarding enforcement action or consumer redress will be taken by Ofgem once its investigation has concluded in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to help support people with pelvic health conditions through the Pelvic Partnership; and what support and service provision is available in South Derbyshire constituency.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 March 2026 to Question 117110.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason her Department stopped availability of SFI GS4 (Legume and herb-rich swards); and what factors were taken into consideration when making this decision.

GS4 is not an action under SFI. It is a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier action, and is unaffected by the Government’s announced reforms to SFI.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help promote the use of British wool.

The UK has a proud tradition of wool production going back many centuries. British Wool is an independent public body who work on behalf of the wool industry to promote the use of British wool. As a natural, versatile, and durable textile, which is renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally sustainable, wool from across Britain is already being used in flooring, furnishing, apparel, insultation and bedding. British Wool’s 2025 Annual Report highlights its work in expanding overseas markets through promotional activity, product development, digital outreach and trade campaigns, boosting global visibility and international demand for British wool products. British Wool also operate a licensee scheme to help consumers identify products with certifiable British wool content, identified by the recognisable ‘crook mark’. The Government continues to work with British Wool to raise awareness of the role wool can play in a supporting a resilient rural economy.

What plans his department has to ensure equitable access and service provision for patients with functional neurological disorder (FND) across South Derbyshire.

NHS England’s updated Specialised Neurology Service Specification, published in August 2025, includes specific reference to functional neurological disorder (FND). It states that all specialised neurology centres must include access to treatment services for FND. The service specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-neurology-services-adults/There are a number of other national-level initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including FND, such as the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the Neurology Transformation Programme, which aim to improve care for people by reducing variation and delivering care more equitably across England, including for people in South Derbyshire.Additionally, we have set up a UK Neuro Forum facilitating formal, twice-yearly meetings across the Department, NHS England, the devolved administrations and health services, and the Neurological Alliances of all four nations. The new forum brings key stakeholders together, to share learning across the system and to discuss challenges, best practice examples, and potential solutions for improving the care of people with neurological conditions, including FND.

How many outstanding cases involving individuals subject to the Loan Charge she expects to be resolved as a result of the recommendations of the McCann Review.

At Budget 2024 the Government announced a new independent review of the loan charge. The purpose of the review was to bring the matter to a close for people who have not settled and paid their loan charge liabilities. The review identified affordability as a key barrier preventing those individuals from settling and made recommendations to remove this barrier. The Government has gone further in supporting people on the lowest incomes by providing an additional £5,000 deduction for those in scope of the review. This entirely removes approximately 10,000 individuals from the charge. Most others will see their liabilities reduced by at least half. Under the review recommendations, an individual earning £30,000 who used a disguised remuneration scheme for three years would have their liability reduced by 66 percent. Under the Government’s plans, they will instead see 89 percent written off. It represents the Government’s attempt to provide a fair route to resolution for those who have not settled with HMRC. In turn, those people need to come forward and engage with HMRC in good faith.

If he will bring forward proposals to require a single mandatory standard and enforcement regime to apply equally to highway authorities, their contractors, and statutory undertakers for all road and street works on the UK road network, including workmanship, reinstatement quality, inspections, and penalties.

A strong framework already applies to utilities, contractors and highway authorities, including national reinstatement standards, permit schemes, and performance‑based inspections introduced in 2023, which ensure poor performers face more frequent inspections and associated charges. Recent regulations, in force from January 2026, further strengthen enforcement by increasing penalties for overruns and improving compliance. We will continue to keep the regime under review.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the decision not to require solar photovoltaic panels on all new residential and commercial buildings from 2026 under the updated building regulations, and what are the reasons for not mandating this measure.

Buildings constructed to the Future Homes and Buildings Standards will be future proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. The consultation for the Future Homes and Buildings Standards had two proposals for the energy performance requirements of new non-domestic buildings, both of which included the use of solar panels. The government has also confirmed that solar panels are expected to be installed in the majority of new homes.

What steps his Department is taking to help support individuals with pelvic health conditions through the Pelvic Partnership; and what specific support and service provision is currently available in Derbyshire.

We are rolling out perinatal pelvic health services to improve the prevention, identification, and referral to treatment for pelvic health problems during pregnancy and at least one year following birth. As of January 2026, 36 of the 42 local systems have perinatal pelvic health services in place, and NHS England are working closely with the remaining areas which do not yet have fully established services in place. The Department and NHS England do not support individuals through the charity the Pelvic Partnership.In North Derbyshire, there is a fully operational Perinatal Pelvic Health Service delivered by a dedicated multidisciplinary team.Within Derby City and South Derbyshire, an established women’s health physiotherapy service is in place and is currently being expanded. The service delivers pelvic floor clinics and pelvic girdle pain clinics.The Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust also provide assessment and treatment for women and men experiencing bladder, bowel, and pelvic floor conditions.

How much his Department has spent on Microsoft software licenses in the last 12 months.

DHSC spent £4.3m on Microsoft licensing for internal use for the period 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026.All purchases are based upon a valid business requirement and utilise national pricing agreements negotiated by the Crown Commercial Service to ensure value for the taxpayer.

When she plans to answer Question 107246 tabled on 20th January 2026, regarding safeguarding issues and Academies.

I can confirm that a response has been submitted to my hon. Friend, the Member for South Derbyshire to Question 107246.

With reference to the January 2026 Road Traffic Strategy, when she plans to publish the manual for streets.

The Department intends to publish an updated version of the Manual for Streets before the end of 2026.