Written questions by Yemm.

Whether the transformation of liver services programme led by the NHS England Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Clinical Reference Group will include a specific workstream to help address the unmet clinical need in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Awaiting answer.

Further to the meeting Ministers in his Department had with the Trustees of the Mineworkers Pension Scheme on Thursday 30th April 2026, if he will provide an update on progress to resolve the outstanding issues within the scheme.

The Government is keen to reach agreement with the MPS Trustees on changes to the arrangements to benefit scheme members. The meeting on 30 April involved a constructive discussion of the proposals and how they might be taken forward. The government is mindful of the need to resolve this issue as swiftly as possible, and will make an announcement once agreement has been reached.

If he will take steps to include air ambulance charities within national fuel resilience and prioritisation planning, including consideration alongside Category 1 responders.

The UK benefits from a diverse and resilient fuel supply chain and remains well supplied across all fuel types. The Government regularly reviews which organisations provide essential services within the context of the National Emergency Plan for Fuel. This includes consideration of air ambulance charities, recognising the vital role they play in emergency response and patient care. A summary of the National Emergency Plan for Fuel is published on gov.uk and sets out measures to respond to fuel supply and distribution disruption. In the unlikely event of a sustained disruption, these arrangements enable fuel to be prioritised for essential services and critical supply chains. The Government does not assess that the current situation warrants, or is approaching, the threshold for the use of emergency powers.

Whether the liver transformation programme led by the Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Clinical Reference Group will include a specific work stream to help address the unmet clinical need in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps he is taking to ensure that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receive community-based care with specialist input; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of that approach.

NHS England is investing £3.61 million of funding to expand an approach that allows more people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at rising risk of admission to be proactively identified and supported during winter 2025/26. A nationally coordinated evaluation is planned to take place, providing a consistent evidence base, sharing learning, and informing future investment in interventions to reduce COPD emergency admissions.As part of the implementation of the 10-Year Health Plan, we are expanding neighbourhood teams and exploring how new roles such as the community health worker model can be tailored to support Core20PLUS5 populations including those with COPD.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on proposed capital funding for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to support SME industrial development.

I refer the Hon.Member to Question UIN ⁠114606 answered on 9 March.

What steps her Department has taken to provide resources to help ensure (a) reports of fraud are investigated and (b) victims of fraud receive support.

In December 2025 Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud, introducing improved reporting tools, stronger analytical capability, and enhanced victim support to ensure reports are acted on and victims receive clearer guidance and follow‑up. Performance oversight has also been strengthened through better management information and a new performance dashboard, enabling the City of London Police and the Home Office to monitor outcomes and identify emerging fraud threats.To support the investigation of fraud, around 400 specialist investigators have been recruited to the new National Fraud Squad, which takes a proactive, intelligence‑led approach to identifying and disrupting serious fraudsters. Report Fraud also provides improved intelligence to police forces to assist with case investigations.Report Fraud Victim Services (RFVS) provides a focused and targeted service to victims of fraud and cyber‑crime, delivering a consistent, high‑quality national standard of care across England and Wales. RFVS now supports all 43 police forces at Level 1 (non‑vulnerable victim care) and at the enhanced Level 2 service for vulnerable victims. Since 2018, RFVS has supported over 1,018,000 victims of fraud (as of October 2025), prevented nearly £14 million from being lost to fraud, and helped victims recover over £6.1 million since January 2021.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reform to wastewater management, including on the potential merits of a polluter pays principle to fund additional treatment to remove chemical pollution from wastewater containing PFAS.

The Government is committed to improving our water environment through tackling harmful pollutants in wastewater. Following the publication of the White Paper, ‘A new vision for water’ , the Government is currently exploring a range of reforms, including to the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations 1994. The aim is to deliver a more systematic approach to drainage and wastewater management, including enabling pre-pipe solutions, to drive the best outcomes for customers and the environment. Additionally, over the next five years, over £10 billion is being spent on storm overflows investment in England, improving over 2,500 storm overflows to reduce spills. In addition, nearly £5 billion is being invested in upgrades at wastewater treatment works to remove phosphorus – a key cause of nutrient pollution in the environment. The Government has also changed the law so regulators can recover costs of enforcement, meaning polluters pay, not the public. As a result, Environment Agency funding will rise by 64%, enabling more enforcement officers, better equipment, and the latest technology.

When he expects treatments for fatty liver disease to be approved for use on the NHS; what assessment he has made of the readiness of the NHS to make such treatments available; and what steps he is taking to ensure eligible patients will receive these treatments once approved.

Newly licensed medicines are appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. NICE aims wherever possible to issue draft guidance on new medicines close to the time of licensing. The NHS in England is legally required to fund drugs recommended by NICE, usually within three months of final guidance.NICE is currently evaluating potential new treatments for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in anticipation of the medicines being granted a marketing authorisation by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with guidance expected later this year. NHS England is actively preparing to support the potential introduction of new treatments for MASH, including fatty liver disease with fibrosis, alongside the ongoing NICE appraisal process.The Department and NHS England will continue to work to ensure that, once approved, effective new treatments for fatty liver disease are introduced in a way that is fair, affordable and protects the wider NHS, while ensuring that patients with the greatest clinical need are able to benefit as quickly as possible.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the number of patients with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis on the NHS in (a) Nottinghamshire and (b) Mansfield constituency; and what steps he is taking to tackle metabolic dysfunction.

Data on hospital admission rates for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), of which metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis is a stage in some cases, is available at the Department’s Fingertips website, and can be used by regional commissioners to monitor the incidence of the disease. This data is available at county, but not constituency level. Further information is available at the following link:https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/liver-disease/data#page/1/gid/8000063/pat/15/par/E92000001/ati/502/are/E10000024/iid/90931/age/1/sex/4/cat/-1/ctp/-1/yrr/3/cid/4/tbm/1/page-options/car-do-0Recognising the increasing burden that liver disease has on the population, NHS England has initiated a liver transformation programme. This focusses on awareness, prevention, diagnosis, detection and treatment of all forms of liver disease. The liver transformation programme has developed a data pack for regional commissioners using the Fingertips data mentioned above, to raise awareness of incidence of liver disease. It is for commissioners in integrated care boards to determine how best to use this information as part of local commissioning decisions.The Government is taking decisive action to tackle ill health and shift the focus on diseases such as MASLD from treatment to prevention. As part of our 10-Year Health Plan, we are improving diets, reducing physical inactivity, and creating healthier environments so that fewer people reach the point of needing treatment. This includes updating the standards behind the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink and requiring all large food businesses to report against standardised metrics on the healthiness of food sales. We will also get millions moving more through our national movement campaign and We are committed to taking crucial steps to help people make healthier choices about alcohol, including making it a legal requirement for alcohol labels to display health warnings and consistent nutritional information.

If he will meet with young people with cancer supported by Teenage Cancer Trust ahead of the publication of the National Cancer Plan.

The Department is committed to ensuring the unique needs of young people with cancer are carefully considered as part of the National Cancer Plan, due for publication in the coming weeks. Since its launch on 4 February 2025, the Children and Young People (CYP) Cancer Taskforce has been working to identify tangible ways to improve outcomes and experiences for children and young people with cancer. The taskforce will explore opportunities for improvement across detection and diagnosis, genomic testing and treatment, research and innovation, and patient experience.The Government is committed to including the voices of young cancer patients in the work of the taskforce and the National Cancer Plan. That’s why the Government assembled a Patient Experience Panel, made up of young people with lived experience of cancer and their families, which will feed directly into the work of the taskforce.The Government is also aware of the unique challenges that teenagers with cancer face, often falling in between paediatric and adult care. The CYP Cancer Taskforce has a dedicated charity sub-group which has engaged with the Teenage Cancer Trust, alongside other charitable groups, to ensure these challenges are addressed in the National Cancer Plan. I would like to thank the Teenage Cancer Trust, other charities, and the CYP Cancer Taskforce for their valuable input into the plan.

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of using the investment reserve to increase the pensions of members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

The Government is considering the proposals put forward by the trustees regarding the investment reserve transfer to British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme members. The Government will reach a decision as soon as possible this year.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of online storefronts or game servers being shut down on (a) consumer rights and (b) digital ownership.

The Government is aware of concerns relating to the continued access to video games, including licensed, online-only video games, and we appreciate the frustrations of players of some games that have been discontinued. The Government has spoken with the video games industry and has responded to a recent petition on this issue. As the petition has since reached 100,000 signatures, it will be debated by Parliament on 3 November 2025.Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), giving clear advice to consumers. Video game sellers must not omit or hide material information, or provide it in an unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely manner. If consumers believe that there has been a breach of these regulations, they should report it to the Citizens Advice helpline on 0808 223 1133 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk)

What estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) electric and (b) hybrid vehicles that (i) do not have an Audible Vehicle Alert System installed and (ii) have an Audible Vehicle Alert System installed with a pause function.

All new vehicles are subject to type approval. Vehicle approval requirements were introduced on 1 July 2021 mandating Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) on new types of quiet electric and hybrid vehicles. The use of pause switched to temporarily disable the AVAS have been prohibited for new vehicles being placed on the market from September 2023. Vehicles sold prior to these dates are only required to meet the approval requirements mandated at the time they were placed on the market.The department does not have any figures for the number of vehicles with AVAS, or that have a pause switch.As part of compliance and enforcement, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s Market Surveillance Unit (MSU) inspects and tests vehicles and components on the market to ensure they comply with environmental and safety standards. The MSU conducts an annual programme of surveillance, including physical tests and inspections, as well as responding to intelligence provided by industry or the general public.

What (a) monitoring and (b) enforcement mechanisms are in place to ensure manufacturers comply with the prohibition on pause functions in Audible Vehicle Alert Systems for new (i) electric and (ii) hybrid vehicles registered from 1 September 2023.

All new vehicles are subject to type approval. Vehicle approval requirements were introduced on 1 July 2021 mandating Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) on new types of quiet electric and hybrid vehicles. The use of pause switched to temporarily disable the AVAS have been prohibited for new vehicles being placed on the market from September 2023. Vehicles sold prior to these dates are only required to meet the approval requirements mandated at the time they were placed on the market.The department does not have any figures for the number of vehicles with AVAS, or that have a pause switch.As part of compliance and enforcement, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s Market Surveillance Unit (MSU) inspects and tests vehicles and components on the market to ensure they comply with environmental and safety standards. The MSU conducts an annual programme of surveillance, including physical tests and inspections, as well as responding to intelligence provided by industry or the general public.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to prevent car insurance premiums from being increased for drivers involved in no-fault accidents.

The Department has not assessed the potential merits of legislation to prevent premiums rising for drivers involved in no fault accidents.The setting and the adjustment of premiums following a claim are commercial decisions for individual insurers based on their underwriting experience and the Government does not generally intervene or seek to control the market.Drivers need to declare incidents that they are involved in, regardless of who or what was at fault. As a result, their premiums may increase, as insurance works on the basis of whether a claim is paid out under the policy, regardless of fault. Where an insurer is able to recover its outlay from the other party, the increase might be readjusted in the future.

What policies his Department plans to include in the National Cancer Plan on the earlier diagnosis of (a) teenagers and (b) young adults with cancer.

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster, so that more people survive, and we will improve the experience of cancer patients across the system, including teenagers and young adults.Since the launch of the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce on 4 February 2025, the taskforce has been exploring opportunities for clinical and non-clinical improvement across a range of areas. These include data, early detection and diagnosis, patient experience, genomic testing and treatment, and research and innovation, which includes access to clinical trials. The Government is aware of the unique challenges that teenagers and young adults with cancer face, often falling in between paediatric and adult care, and the work of the taskforce has included a specific focus on this issue.As part of its work, the taskforce will ensure that the needs of teenagers and young adults are carefully considered as part of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan. The plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as research and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for people with cancer. Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years, for all patient groups. This will include teenagers and young adults with cancer.

What policies his Department plans to include in the National Cancer Plan on increasing access to clinical trials for (a) teenagers and (b) young adults with cancer.

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster, so that more people survive, and we will improve the experience of cancer patients across the system, including teenagers and young adults.Since the launch of the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce on 4 February 2025, the taskforce has been exploring opportunities for clinical and non-clinical improvement across a range of areas. These include data, early detection and diagnosis, patient experience, genomic testing and treatment, and research and innovation, which includes access to clinical trials. The Government is aware of the unique challenges that teenagers and young adults with cancer face, often falling in between paediatric and adult care, and the work of the taskforce has included a specific focus on this issue.As part of its work, the taskforce will ensure that the needs of teenagers and young adults are carefully considered as part of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan. The plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as research and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for people with cancer. Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years, for all patient groups. This will include teenagers and young adults with cancer.

If he will take steps to help improve data collection on (a) teenagers and (b) young adults with cancer in relation to (i) staging at diagnosis, (ii) routes to diagnosis, (iii) emergency presentation, (iv) waiting times and (v) access to clinical trials.

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster, so that more people survive, and we will improve the experience of cancer patients across the system, including teenagers and young adults.Since the launch of the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce on 4 February 2025, the taskforce has been exploring opportunities for clinical and non-clinical improvement across a range of areas. These include data, early detection and diagnosis, patient experience, genomic testing and treatment, and research and innovation, which includes access to clinical trials. The Government is aware of the unique challenges that teenagers and young adults with cancer face, often falling in between paediatric and adult care, and the work of the taskforce has included a specific focus on this issue.As part of its work, the taskforce will ensure that the needs of teenagers and young adults are carefully considered as part of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan. The plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as research and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for people with cancer. Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years, for all patient groups. This will include teenagers and young adults with cancer.

What steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the National Cancer Plan for England provides age-appropriate information on the symptoms of cancer for young people.

The Department is committed to getting the National Health Service diagnosing cancer earlier and treating it faster, so that more people survive, and we will improve the experience of cancer patients across the system, including teenagers and young adults.Since the launch of the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce on 4 February 2025, the taskforce has been exploring opportunities for clinical and non-clinical improvement across a range of areas. These include data, early detection and diagnosis, patient experience, genomic testing and treatment, and research and innovation, which includes access to clinical trials. The Government is aware of the unique challenges that teenagers and young adults with cancer face, often falling in between paediatric and adult care, and the work of the taskforce has included a specific focus on this issue.As part of its work, the taskforce will ensure that the needs of teenagers and young adults are carefully considered as part of the forthcoming National Cancer Plan. The plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as research and innovation. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to better the experience and outcomes for people with cancer. Our goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years, for all patient groups. This will include teenagers and young adults with cancer.