Written questions by Logan.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of a free trade agreement with the US on the NHS.

The Department is considering the impact of a potential trade deal between the United Kingdom and the United States. As my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said last week, “we’re clear the NHS is not on the table. It’s not up for sale. But when it comes to life sciences and medical technology… we’ve got a lot to offer the United States, and we’ve got a lot to get from the United States in return”.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on the potential inclusion of US (a) beef and (b) chicken products being included in a trade deal with the US.

The UK and US have a strong economic relationship which is fair, balanced and reciprocal. We have $1.5 trillion invested in each other’s economies and over 2.5 million jobs across both countries. The Prime Minister and President Trump agreed to deepen this relationship and that we should work together to agree a trade deal focused on technology.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has (a) made an assessment and (b) commissioned analysis of the potential impact of a trade deal with the US on agriculture.

The UK and US have a strong economic relationship which is fair, balanced and reciprocal. We have $1.5 trillion invested in each other’s economies and over 2.5 million jobs across both countries. The Prime Minister and President Trump agreed that we should work together to deepen this relationship and to agree a trade deal focused on technology.

With reference to his Oral Statement of 19 December 2024 on Hospice Funding, Official Report, column 451, what the level of the Barnet consequentials will be for each of the devolved Administrations.

The Barnett formula applies to all increases or decreases to the Government’s departmental expenditure limits. As this £100 million in capital funding for adult and children’s hospices is being re-allocated from within existing budgets, there will be no additional Barnett consequentials. The Barnett formula has already been applied to funding previously allocated at Autumn Budget 2024. Given the devolved nature of healthcare funding and administration across the four nations, this capital funding is for adult and children’s hospices in England only.

Whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of increasing funding for (a) carbon capture, usage and storage projects and (b) track two processes.

This Government is committed to the delivery of CCUS, as demonstrated by our record investment of £21.7 billion in October and the signing of contracts to launch the first CCUS projects in the UK in December. CCUS requires significant resources, and it is right that it is considered within the Spending Review. My officials continue to engage with Track-2 clusters, and further decisions for future CCUS deployment will be taken in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to support the landfill gas to energy sector.

Government recognises the benefits that Landfill Gas to Energy can offer, both as a form of baseload generation, and to capture and make use of methane in order to support our net zero goals. Government is aware that support under the Renewables Obligation Scheme, including for landfill gas generators, concludes from 2027 onwards. Both DESNZ and DEFRA officials are speaking with key stakeholders to understand the impact that the conclusion of support will have on their future operations. This will inform any future decisions about whether further support for the sector is appropriate.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes made to employer's National Insurance contributions at the Autumn Budget 2024 on costs to the private adult social care sector in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK.

We work collaboratively with the devolved governments to drive forward our objective of supporting people to lead more independent, healthier lives for longer. While health and social care are predominantly devolved, working together across the United Kingdom is ingrained in the values of our National Health Service and social care sector.The devolved governments’ Phase 1 Spending Review settlements for 2025/26 are the largest in real terms of any settlements since devolution. The allocation of this settlement for Scotland is, of course, the responsibility of the Scottish Government. Devolved governments are receiving over £86 billion in 2025/26, including an additional £6.6 billion through the operation of the Barnett formula.The Government considered the cost pressures facing adult social care as part of the wider consideration of local government spending in England within the Spending Review process. In response to the range of pressures facing local authorities, the Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in England for 2025/26. Funding for the devolved governments is determined through the Barnett formula.Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, local authorities in England are tasked with the duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all local people. In performing that duty, a local authority must have regard to current and likely future demand for such services and consider how providers might meet that demand.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes made to employer's National Insurance contributions at the Autumn Budget 2024 on bed provision in the private adult social care sector in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK.

We work collaboratively with the devolved governments to drive forward our objective of supporting people to lead more independent, healthier lives for longer. While health and social care are predominantly devolved, working together across the United Kingdom is ingrained in the values of our National Health Service and social care sector.The devolved governments’ Phase 1 Spending Review settlements for 2025/26 are the largest in real terms of any settlements since devolution. The allocation of this settlement for Scotland is, of course, the responsibility of the Scottish Government. Devolved governments are receiving over £86 billion in 2025/26, including an additional £6.6 billion through the operation of the Barnett formula.The Government considered the cost pressures facing adult social care as part of the wider consideration of local government spending in England within the Spending Review process. In response to the range of pressures facing local authorities, the Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in England for 2025/26. Funding for the devolved governments is determined through the Barnett formula.Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, local authorities in England are tasked with the duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all local people. In performing that duty, a local authority must have regard to current and likely future demand for such services and consider how providers might meet that demand.

When she plans to respond to the correspondence of 17 October 2024 from the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, reference number MC2024/14787.

A response has been sent to the Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East regarding his correspondence of 18 October 2024 about VAT on private school fees.

What (a) the scope and (b) her planned timeline is for the upcoming review into Universal Credit; whether this review will make an assessment of whether Universal Credit enables claimants to afford essential goods and services; and what steps she is taking to reduce dependence on emergency food aid.

The Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit to make sure it is doing the job we want it to, to make work pay and tackle poverty. We have already begun this work with the announcement of the Fair Repayment Rate in the Budget, giving 1.2 million of the poorest households an average of £420 per year.  I will lead the review work, engaging with people over the coming year and inviting views on how to improve UC. We will regularly update Parliament on findings and progress. We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty. This will be the foundation of our approach to tackling poverty, including reducing dependence on emergency food parcels. The Get Britain Working White Paper has set out how the Government will seek to grow the economy, using work as a route out of poverty and to improve living standards.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) introducing a protected minimum floor for Universal Credit and (b) limiting the benefit cap so it cannot reduce the Standard Allowance by more than 15%.

No such assessment has been made. As part of the Universal Credit (UC) review, at the Autumn Budget the Chancellor announced the Fair Repayment Rate will be introduced from April 2025, reducing the UC deductions overall cap from 25% to 15%. This measure will help approximately 1.2 million of the poorest households benefit by an average of £420 a year.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an independent process to set benefit levels according to the cost of essential goods and services.

No such assessment has been made. The Social Security Administration Act 1992 requires the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to review benefit and State Pension rates each year to see if they have retained their value in relation to the general level of prices or earnings. Where the relevant benefit or State Pension rates have not retained their value, legislation provides that the Secretary of State is required to, or in some instances may, up-rate their value. Following this review, benefit and State Pension rates are increased in line with statutory minimum amounts and others are increased subject to Secretary of State’s discretion. Following the Secretary of States’ up-rating decisions for 2025/26, DWP expenditure on state pensions and benefits will increase by £6.9 billion.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to alcohol duties on Scotch whisky at the Autumn Budget 2024 on the Government’s plans for Brand Scotland.

I am proud to champion Scotland’s products and services, including whisky, globally through Brand Scotland. I have just returned from a visit to South East Asia where I was pleased to support the Scotch Whisky industry at a range of meetings with industry and Government in this key market. 90% of Scotch Whisky is already exported and therefore pays no duty. Increases on duty are in line with inflation and under the previous Government, duty was increased by 10.1% following the duty review. This does not detract from my support of the industry and I will continue to work closely with it to maximise opportunities and growth through Brand Scotland.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) respond to the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry and (b) involve people affected by infected blood.

The Government is working closely with DHSC and other relevant departments and organisations to give the recommendations full consideration. We will provide an update to Parliament on the progress we are making to respond to the Inquiry’s recommendations by the end of the year, as the Inquiry recommends. The Government will pay compensation to infected and affected victims of infected blood. The Government asked Sir Robert Francis KC to hold an engagement exercise with the infected blood community to give recommendations on the composition of the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority is committed to engaging with the infected and affected community in an open and transparent way so that it can deliver the compensation scheme as quickly as possible, and in a way that meets the needs of the community.

If he will make it his policy to take steps to reduce the discrepancies in the UK’s health spending relative to other countries in North West Europe.

The Government is committed to properly funding the National Health Service. However, money alone will not be enough, and it must come with reform. As Lord Darzi’s report sets out, health system models in other countries where user charges, like social or private insurance, play a bigger role can be more expensive. That means it is important to look beyond simple international comparisons of funding. The budget later this month will finalise the funding position for the NHS in 2024/25 and 2025/26, with the 10-year plan and phase two of the Spending Review next year setting out the details of the reform needed in response to Lord Darzi’s report findings, as well as providing funding certainty.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the European Union Entry/Exit System on seafood exports.

The Government recognises the importance of seafood exports to the economies of many coastal communities around the United Kingdom. We will tackle trade barriers through seeking to negotiate a veterinary/SPS agreement. We will continue to work closely with seafood exporters to ensure that they can continue to sell their world-class produce to markets around the world.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has requested special arrangements for seafood consignments leaving the UK as part of the European Union Entry/Exit System.

The Government recognises the importance of seafood exports to the economies of many coastal communities around the United Kingdom. We will tackle trade barriers through seeking to negotiate a veterinary/SPS agreement. We will continue to work closely with seafood exporters to ensure that they can continue to sell their world-class produce to markets around the world.