Written questions by Adam.

If she will set targets for companies to provide accessible human customer service channels.

This Government is committed to improving accessibility, customer support, and helping to remove barriers to travel for all users of public transport. The Department recognises the important role staff play in providing face-to-face services on public transport and the reassurance this gives many customers, especially those who may feel vulnerable or may need more support. Innovation across the sector offers significant opportunities to change and improve customer service. Digitalisation and technological improvements will form part of this, across different modes of transport. These should be inclusive of the needs of all passengers, including disabled people. Where adjustments such as in-person assistance may be required, these should be accounted for in planning and development.

What steps he is taking to ensure that people with secondary breast cancer can access (a) new and (b) effective treatments; and if he will review National Institute for Health and Care Excellence assessment processes for such treatments.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been monitoring the impact of the severity modifier since it was implemented in 2022. Data up to March 2025 shows that the proportion of positive cancer recommendations is higher (85%) than with the end-of-life modifier it replaced (75%) and the proportion of positive recommendations for advanced cancer treatments is also higher (81% compared to 69%).Since January 2022, NICE has recommended all but one of the treatments for breast cancer that it has assessed, including treatments for advanced breast cancer (such as Truqap and Korserdu), which are now available to eligible National Health Service patients.The severity modifier is therefore working as intended and there are currently no plans to adjust or change it in the near future. However, NICE has commissioned research on people’s attitudes to how the severity modifier should be applied that will inform future reviews of NICE’s methods.

Whether declarations of interest were made by (a) Ruth Miskin, (b) Read Write Inc and (c) other (i) individuals and (ii) organisations involved in (A) drafting and (B) advising on the new Writing Framework.

The writing framework is the department’s initial step in a broader, long-term strategy aimed at enhancing the teaching of writing and raising attainment in schools. It was developed with input from an expert panel, all of whom had to declare any potential conflicts of interest, and with support from a wider group of other experts and organisations, including a range of commercial programme providers, academics and leading practitioners, to ensure a diverse and valuable range of perspectives. The writing framework does not support or promote any specific individual or organisation. The framework also makes it clear that there is no requirement for schools to adopt commercially produced programmes. However, the framework offers guidance to help schools evaluate their options and ensure any programme they choose is underpinned by a strong, evidence-based rationale.

What steps she has taken to prevent conflicts of interest during the development of the new Writing Framework for primary schools.

The writing framework is the department’s initial step in a broader, long-term strategy aimed at enhancing the teaching of writing and raising attainment in schools. It was developed with input from an expert panel, all of whom had to declare any potential conflicts of interest, and with support from a wider group of other experts and organisations, including a range of commercial programme providers, academics and leading practitioners, to ensure a diverse and valuable range of perspectives. The writing framework does not support or promote any specific individual or organisation. The framework also makes it clear that there is no requirement for schools to adopt commercially produced programmes. However, the framework offers guidance to help schools evaluate their options and ensure any programme they choose is underpinned by a strong, evidence-based rationale.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a national free travel pass for NHS workers.

There are no current plans to introduce national rail discounts to NHS worker. Once established, Great British Railways will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the eligibility and restrictions of concession schemes. Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy requires balancing against the potential impacts on passengers and taxpayers. The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as expanding the eligibility criteria to include NHS workers, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. However, as part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for passengers, including NHS workers.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential cost to the public purse of introducing a national free travel pass for NHS workers.

There are no current plans to introduce national rail discounts to NHS worker. Once established, Great British Railways will have the opportunity to take a fresh look at the eligibility and restrictions of concession schemes. Any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy requires balancing against the potential impacts on passengers and taxpayers. The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as expanding the eligibility criteria to include NHS workers, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability. However, as part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the government allocated £955 million to support and improve bus services in 25/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, this can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for passengers, including NHS workers.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of levels of funding for policing Leicester on trends in levels of bicycle theft in that area.

As set out at the final police funding settlement, overall funding for policing will total up to £19.6 billion in 2025-26, an increase of up to £1.2 billion when compared to the 2024-25 settlement.Of this, Leicestershire Police will receive up to £272.9 million in funding in 2025-26, an increase of up to £16.9 million when compared to the 2024-25 police settlement, equating to a 6.6% cash increase.Bike theft has a significant impact on individuals and for too long many of the victims have felt that not enough was being done to prevent their bikes being stolen or track down the thieves responsible.As policing has operational independence, it is for local decision-makers to determine operational priorities, including how to allocate resources based on their knowledge and experience.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his oral statement of 21 July 2025 on Middle East, Official Report, column 595, whether UK made arms components were used in the incident at the Project HOPE health clinic in Deir al Balah.

As the Foreign Secretary has said, we utterly condemn the killing of civilians seeking to meet their basic needs. Our assessment of this strike, drawing on the available evidence, including eyewitness reports in the media, is that it was a drone strike. The Government suspended all export licences for IDF drones on 2 September 2024, and we categorically do not export any bombs or ammunition for use in military operations in Gaza.

If she will make it her policy to introduce mandatory neurodiversity training for all (a) teachers and (b) education staff.

The department is committed to improving support for all children and young people. Statutory Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Teacher induction training must cover adaptive teaching and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and this includes training which would support effective teaching of neurodiverse pupils.The department has reviewed the content for the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework, adding significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting and improving inclusivity for pupils with SEND.From September 2025, the department has also enhanced the requirement on providers of Early Career Teacher training to develop, in conjunction with educational experts, SEND specific training materials.The government is expanding the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme, providing neurodiversity training to teachers and staff in a further 1200 mainstream primary schools.The department recognises that continuous improvement is essential and have committed to a full review of the Early Career Teacher Entitlement in 2027.

What steps his Department is taking to support households (a) with children and (b) on a low income to (i) reduce their consumption of ultra-processed foods and (ii) use more minimally processed and nutritious foods.

The Government’s Eatwell Guide already advises that people should eat more fruit, vegetables, and wholegrain or higher-fibre foods, as well as less processed meat, and less food and drink that is high in sugar, calories, saturated fat, and salt.The Eatwell Guide principles are communicated through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and Government social marketing campaigns. For example, the Better Health Healthier Families website and the Healthy Steps email programme, which aims to help families with primary aged children in England to eat well and move more.The range of actions that have already been taken to create a healthier environment to help children reduce their consumption of processed foods that are high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, and to improve access to affordable, minimally processed foods, include:- the Healthy Start scheme, which supported over 361,000 people in April 2025;- the Nursery Milk Scheme, which provides a reimbursement to childcare providers in England and Wales for a daily 1/3 pint portion of milk to children and babies; and- the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, which provides approximately 2.2 million children in Key Stage 1 with a portion of fresh fruit or vegetables per day at school.In relation to foods and drinks high in calories, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, work on our commitments is progressing through:- implementing the television and online advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink;- consulting on plans to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 years old; and- giving local authorities stronger, clearer powers to block new fast-food outlets near schools and where young people congregate.

What baseline figure his Department will use to measure progress on reducing the number of (a) people with a learning disability and (b) autistic people in mental health hospitals by 10 per cent within 2025-26.

National Health Service planning guidance for 2025/26 includes a focus on improving care for people with a learning disability and autistic people and contains the objective to deliver a minimum 10% reduction in the use of mental health inpatient care for people with a learning disability and autistic people in 2025/26. The baselines being used to measure progress against operational planning guidance are: adults with a learning disability, including those who may also be autistic, in mental health inpatient care as of 31 March 2024, based on Assuring Transformation data extracted from 31 March 2024; and adults who are autistic, with no learning disability, in mental health inpatient care as of 31 March 2024, based on Assuring Transformation data extracted from 31 March 2024.The expectation is that integrated care boards will have been working towards achieving a 10% reduction from the 31 March 2024 baseline by 31 March 2025, and will build on this during 2025/26. They are therefore expected to achieve a 20% reduction from the 31 March 2024 baseline by 31 March 2026.

Whether each Integrated Care System is required to reduce the number of (a) people with a learning disability and (b) autistic people from their area in mental health hospitals by 10 per cent within 2025-26.

National Health Service planning guidance for 2025/26 includes a focus on improving care for people with a learning disability and autistic people and contains the objective to deliver a minimum 10% reduction in the use of mental health inpatient care for people with a learning disability and autistic people in 2025/26. As part of operational planning, each integrated care board (ICB) is expected to: reduce the number of adults with a learning disability, including those who may also be autistic, in mental health inpatient care by 20% from a 31 March 2024 baseline by 31 March 2026; and reduce the number of autistic adults, with no learning disability, in mental health inpatient care by 20% from a 31 March 2024 baseline by 31 March 2026.The baseline is from Assuring Transformation data and was extracted from 31 March 2024. The expectation is that ICBs will have been working towards achieving a 10% reduction from the 31 March 2024 baseline by 31 March 2025 and will build on this during 2025/26. They are therefore expected to achieve a 20% reduction from the 31 March 2024 baseline by 31 March 2026.

What steps his department is taking to help prevent irreversible blindness due to glaucoma progression.

Regular sight tests play a crucial role in the early detection of glaucoma, which is often symptomless in the early stages. Free National Health Service sight tests are available for many, including individuals diagnosed with glaucoma or those aged 40 years old and over with a close family history of glaucoma. Patients with suspected glaucoma will be referred for further investigation, any clinically necessary treatment, and ongoing monitoring, which can delay its progression. NHS England has been testing how IT connectivity between primary and secondary eye care services and the development of a single point of access could improve the referral and triage of patients, reducing the time from referral to treatment. It could also allow for more patients to be managed closer to home, within community optometry. This could benefit all patients with eye care needs, including those with suspected or diagnosed glaucoma.

What steps his Department is taking to improve the use of innovative technologies to treat glaucoma through the 10-Year Health Plan.

The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts our National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to preventing and managing conditions such as glaucoma in all parts of the country. More tests and scans delivered in the community and better joint working between services will support the management of conditions, including glaucoma, closer to home. The plan will draw directly from the extensive engagement we have undertaken with the public, patients, and staff, including in the eye care sector. We are in the final stages of working on the plan and will publish it shortly. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will continue to play a crucial role in evaluating new medicines, medical devices, and other technologies, to determine their clinical and cost-effectiveness, before recommending them for NHS use.

What steps his Department is taking through the NHS 10-Year Health Plan to improve glaucoma care.

The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts our National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. All of these are relevant to preventing and managing conditions such as glaucoma in all parts of the country. More tests and scans delivered in the community and better joint working between services will support the management of conditions, including glaucoma, closer to home. The plan will draw directly from the extensive engagement we have undertaken with the public, patients, and staff, including in the eye care sector. We are in the final stages of working on the plan and will publish it shortly. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will continue to play a crucial role in evaluating new medicines, medical devices, and other technologies, to determine their clinical and cost-effectiveness, before recommending them for NHS use.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of combined cataract and trabecular bypasses on glaucoma progression.

The best treatment options for any individual patient will be decided by the treating clinician in discussion with the patient, taking into account relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance. NICE guidance on trabecular stent bypass microsurgery for open-angle glaucoma sets out that trabecular bypass surgery can be combined with a cataract operation and has shown its ability to reduce intraocular pressure.

Which countries the armed forces provided training to in (a) 2023-24 and (b) 2024-25; and which armed service provided that training.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his Question 60404 on 24 June, where I answered:The UK Armed Forces provided various forms of military training to around 120 countries in 2023- 24 and 140 countries in 2024-25. Our training provision is tailored to the specific needs of Allies and partners, spanning several branches across the Services to provide the relevant expertise needed. In the interests of national security and upholding trust and confidentiality with our international partnerships, it is not appropriate to provide a detailed breakdown of these countries, or the nature of that training. All training is carried out in adherence to International Humanitarian Law.

Media and Sport, with reference to the guidance entitled Libraries as a statutory service, published on 21 February 2025, whether her Department was informed by Leicester City Council of its plans for a consultation on the future of its library service before that consultation was launched.

Department officials have met with City Council officers on several occasions to understand their public library proposals, as well as their consultation plans and to remind the Council of its statutory duty. This included a meeting on 24th March 2025. The City Council’s consultation on ‘Proposals for Leicester city libraries and community centres’ opened on 2nd April 2025.The guidance set out in Libraries as a Statutory Service encourages, but does not mandate, councils to inform the department when it is considering changing its library service, before public engagement or consultation.

What estimate her Department has made of the average shortfall between Government funding and the actual cost to nurseries of delivering a funded nursery place.

It is our ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life. This is key to the government’s Plan for Change, which starts with reaching the milestone of a record number of children being ready for school. That also means ensuring the sector is financially sustainable and confident as it continues to deliver entitlements and high-quality early years provision going forward.In 2025/26 alone, this government plans to spend over £8 billion on early years entitlements and we have increased the early years pupil premium by over 45%. On top of this, we are providing further supplementary funding of £75 million for the Early Years Expansion Grant.To set early years funding rates, we uplift the national average rate from the previous year taking into account cost pressures facing the sector, including forecasts of average earnings and inflation, and the National Living Wage. We use the early years national funding formulae (EYNFF) to distribute the early years entitlements budget to local authorities. The EYNFF includes a base rate for each child, which is the same minimum funding for every child no matter where they live or whether they have additional needs. This rate is based on the core costs of childcare provision and has been informed by the cost of childcare review.To make sure we can account for the differences in costs across the country, such as on staffing and premises costs, we also apply an area cost adjustment for each area. This approach only increases funding, it never reduces the base rate or additional needs funding.The average hourly funding rate provided for 3 and 4-year-olds since 2018 is as follows: Year3 and 4-year-old combined rate2017/18£4.762018/19£4.752019/20£4.752020/21£4.832021/22£4.882022/23£5.042023/24 (April – August)£5.282023/24 (September – March)£5.622024/25£5.882025/26£6.12

How many new nursery settings have opened in England in each year since 2018.

The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity.Ofsted publishes data on the numbers of all types of providers joining and leaving the sector each year. Some caution is required in using the numbers because, for example, a nursery may resign one registration and immediately register new provision. Please also note that this data was released under the previous government: 2017/182018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/24Childcare providers leaving the sector-10,900-10,600-8,270-11,300-11,100-9,650-7,520Childcare providers joining the sector9,1407,8707,4006,9905,6906,3306,490Net change-1,760-2,730-870-4,310-5,410-3,320-1,030Note that from 2019/20, the numbers of annual joiners and leavers are calculated by comparing the beginning of the year to the end. Therefore, the numbers of providers joining and leaving from 2019/20 are not comparable with the figures up to 2018/19.Ofsted’s most recent publication shows the number of places available increased by 12,100 (1%) between August 2023 and August 2024. The department’s projections on demand for places are not published by region but show that around half of local areas need to increase their capacity by between 10% and 20% to meet demand for September 2025, with the highest uplift being in some of the most disadvantaged areas.