Written questions by Owen.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025 to Question 65380 on Leagrave Station: Lifts, whether the completed 2023 Network Rail feasibility study for lifts at Leagrave station will expedite the progress of upgrades at the station.

This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of our Access for All programme. This included Leagrave railway station. We expect to provide an update to stakeholders during the summer.

Media and Sport, what steps she plans to take to support local and combined authorities in producing up to date Playing Pitch Strategies.

This Government is committed to expanding access to community and grassroots sport. Sport has the power to bring people together, to boost physical and mental health and act as social hubs in our communities.We believe that in order to deliver fundamental change on inactivity levels, sport and physical activity needs to be fully embedded into local systems, including health plans, so communities feel empowered to own outcomes. We are therefore committed to moving to a place-based approach to physical activity across Government Departments.The Government is acting to support more people in getting onto the pitch wherever they live. In March, we announced that we would invest £98 million into grassroots sport facilities across the UK through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme this year. We will build on this with at least £400 million invested into community sport facilities in the four years from 2026/27.In England, our delivery partner the Football Foundation plans their investment pipeline based on Local Football Facility Plans (LFFPs), which have been developed in partnership with local authorities, community Football Associations and other sport stakeholders. They are currently being refreshed to reflect the current landscape, with updated plans due to be completed in this year.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Sport England’s Planning Statutory Consultee status on the provision of sporting facilities in new housing developments.

The Government is reviewing the statutory consultee system, including Sport England, to promote growth and unblock building.The statutory consultee system must work in support of development and economic growth—reflecting the central place of these objectives in the Government’s plan for change. A process is in place to consult on the impacts of removing a limited number of statutory consultees, including Sport England.Access to open green spaces and playing fields is important, and we will work closely with MHCLG as part of their proposed reforms, and we remain committed to ensuring our playing field capacity is protected.

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the protection of sporting facilities in the planning process.

The Government is reviewing the statutory consultee system, including Sport England, to promote growth and unblock building.The statutory consultee system must work in support of development and economic growth—reflecting the central place of these objectives in the Government’s plan for change. A process is in place to consult on the impacts of removing a limited number of statutory consultees, including Sport England.Access to open green spaces and playing fields is important, and we will work closely with MHCLG as part of their proposed reforms, and we remain committed to ensuring our playing field capacity is protected.

What recent progress he has made with (a) Network Rail and (b) Govia Thameslink on the provision of lifts at Leagrave Station.

This government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. In May 2024, the previous government selected 50 stations for initial feasibility work for potential upgrades as part of our Access for All programme. This included Leagrave railway station. We expect to provide an update to stakeholders during the summer.

How much funding her Department has (a) allocated to and (b) spent on prevention of female genital mutilation in each financial year since 2014-15.

The Government is tackling female genital mutilation (FGM) through its landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.We will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong physical and psychological suffering to women and girls. The Government’s approach is focused on preventing these crimes from happening, supporting and protecting survivors and those at risk, and bringing perpetrators to justice.The below outlines the annual spending allocated by the Home Office to prevent and tackle FGM in England and Wales in each financial year since 2015. The Home Office does not hold funding information for earlier than 2015/2016. This funding was used for a range of activity to tackle FGM, including victim support helplines, training courses on FGM for frontline personnel, academic research and communication campaigns:FY 2015-2016: £2,718,000FY 2016-2017: £1,664,000FY 2017-2018: £2,358,768FY 2018-2019: £2,403,768FY 2019-2020: £1,023,768FY 2020-2021: £334,234FY 2021-2022: £211,020FY 2022-2023: £259,568FY 2023-2024: £1,170,209FY 2024-2025: £1,108,599

How much funding his Department has (a) allocated to and (b) spent on the treatment and care of individuals subject to female genital mutilation in each financial year since 2014-15.

Clinical services for women affected by female genital mutilation (FGM) are locally commissioned and include standard National Health Service delivery, for example in obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as maternity FGM clinics for pregnant women and FGM support clinics. The Department does not directly commission FGM support services and does not hold information on local spend on FGM services.

What recent progress he has made on consulting with (a) campaign groups and (b) industry on reviewing fireworks legislation.

The Government has continued to engage with various stakeholders in regard to fireworks regulation and the impact of fireworks. This includes charities such as Combat Stress and the RSPCA, other MPs and the British Fireworks Association. I continue to engage with stakeholders in regard to fireworks regulation to listen and understand views.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to encourage international scientists to carry out research in British (a) universities and (b) laboratories.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 March to Question 36277.

What steps her Department is taking to lower (a) visa and (b) administrative costs for research organisations.

The Government keeps the immigration system and fees for immigration and nationality applications under regular review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and other stakeholders.The Government will also continue to set fees for immigration and nationality applications at a level to ensure the migration and borders system is sustainably funded. It is right that a greater share of the cost of operating the system is borne by those applicants who directly use it, rather than the taxpayer.

Whether his Department plans to work with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to expedite market access to the personalised immunotherapy developed to treat the malignant brain tumour glioblastoma DCVax-L via the NHS.

DCVax-L has not yet been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for use in the United Kingdom. The manufacturer has confirmed that it has submitted an application, and it is fully engaged with the Marketing Authorisation process. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service on whether all new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness. NICE aims, wherever possible, to issue recommendations on new medicines close to the time of licensing by the MHRA. The NHS is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance. NICE is in discussions with the manufacturer of DCVax-L about a potential appraisal, subject to licensing.

Whether his Department is taking steps to increase routine heart screening for young people participating in (a) school and (b) university sports.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) last reviewed screening for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in people under the age of 39 in 2019 and concluded that population screening should not be offered. More information on the recommendation is available at the following link:https://view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk/sudden-cardiac-death/The UK NSC received a submission via its 2024 annual call process to consider SCD screening in young people aged between 14 and 35 years old engaging in sport. The Committee decided to explore this proposal further and the next step will be an evidence-mapping process. Young people engaging in organised sport was one of the population groups included in the 2019 review, so the evidence map in this area will form part of the work to update the last review.

When he expects the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will make public their decision on licensing the personalised immunotherapy developed to treat the malignant brain tumour glioblastoma, DCVax-L.

Northwest Biotherapeutics has submitted a Marketing Authorization Application to the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for DCVax-L, an immunotherapy for glioblastoma. The MHRA is working with the applicant to reach a decision on this application, to ensure a thorough review that ensures quality, safety, and efficacy.

What steps she is taking to reduce the number of young people recalled to prison due to landlord refusal to install home monitoring equipment.

Recall is a vital tool to protect the public.Recalling a child to custody is a last resort. Local Youth Offending Teams will explore other options before deciding to recall a child. This could include a curfew that is not electronically monitored but managed by Youth Offending Teams instead.Adult offenders released on home detention curfew are still serving the custodial element of their sentence and it is a statutory requirement that the curfew is electronically monitored for at least 9 hours a day. In cases where it is no longer possible to electronically monitor offenders in the community, through no fault of their own, they will be recalled until it is possible for them to monitored in the community.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to topical medication for prisoners.

People in prison are entitled to the same range and quality of health services as they would receive in the community.NHS England commissions healthcare services across the prison estate, ensuring that healthcare providers can prescribe all medications available to patients in community settings. As a result, topical medications that are prescribable on an NHS prescription are also available for individuals within the prison estate.

Whether applications received before March 2025 for therapeutic services under the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund will be considered for therapies beginning in the (a) current and (b) 2025-26 financial year.

To reduce gaps in therapy, adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) applications which were received before 31 March 2025 were permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications were approved, therapy which started up to and including March 2025 could continue into the next financial year, under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.Following an announcement on 1 April, the department is delighted to confirm that £50 million has been allocated to the ASGSF for the current financial year. More details on applications for funding for the 2025/26 financial year will be published shortly.

Communities and Local Government, whether it remains her policy for Homes England to acquire Ministry of Defence land through the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to meet the government's housebuilding commitments.

Homes England works closely with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the Ministry of Defence and other landowning Departments, providing targeted and expert support to help prepare land for sale, tackling issues that have previously delayed or prevented land release.Homes England can acquire public sector sites where this offers the best option – and value for money – to accelerate the remediation and release of a site and its build out for housing.

Whether it remains his policy to release land to Homes England through the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to meet the government's housebuilding commitments.

On average the Ministry of Defence releases enough surplus land for over 3,500 new homes a year. There is no policy mandating this land is released to Homes England, however, along with other Government Departments the Ministry of Defence works with Homes England where appropriate.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to (a) protect and (b) increase employment in AI growth zones.

AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) will be closely aligned with wider government initiatives, including Local Growth Plans. This is to ensure AIGZs deliver substantial regional and national benefits, such as upskilling and employment opportunities.The investment in AI-enabled data centres will have a spillover effect in local communities, providing construction jobs, enhancing local skills, rejuvenating areas, and therefore driving the UK’s ambition to become a global hub for AI talent and investment.UK government and local authorities will actively seek to secure the best deal possible for local communities where data centres are built, ensuring they benefit from ongoing direct employment.

Innovation and Technology, what criteria his Department is using to select sites as AI Growth Zones.

Central government will lay out a selection process, and local / regional authorities will be able to nominate themselves to host an AI Growth Zone. Important criteria will include power infrastructure or line of sight to power, along with supportive local planning authorities.The selection process will open in spring 2025, and we welcome interest from areas with strong power infrastructure and economic potential.