Written questions by Anderson.

What steps he is taking to help restrict the sale of illegal prescription drugs online.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for the regulation of medicines for human use, medical devices, and blood products for transfusion in the United Kingdom. This includes applying the legal controls on the retail sale, supply, and advertising of medicines which are set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.Sourcing medicines from unregulated suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not authorised for use. Products purchased in this way will not meet the MHRA’s strict quality and safety standards and could expose patients to incorrect dosages or dangerous ingredients. The MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit works hard to prevent, detect, and investigate illegal activity involving medicines and medical devices. It works closely with other health regulators, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies, and private sector partners, including e-commerce and the internet industry to identify, remove, and block online content promoting the illegal sale of medicines and medical devices.The MHRA seeks to identify and, where appropriate, prosecute online sellers responsible for putting public health at risk. In 2025, the MHRA and its partners seized almost 20 million doses of illegally traded medicines with a street value of nearly £45 million.During the same period, it disrupted over 1,500 websites and posts on social media accounts selling medicinal products illegally. Additionally, collaboration with one well-known online marketplace led to the successful identification and blocking of more than two million unregulated prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, and medical devices before they could be offered for sale to the public.The MHRA is continually developing new and innovative ways to combat the illegal trade in medicines and to raise public awareness. These measures include:- publication of a #Fakemeds campaign which explains how to access medicines through safe and legitimate online sources, with further information available at the following link: https://fakemeds.campaign.gov.uk/;- public guidance on how to safely access and use GLP-1 medications, available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know.- implementation of a web-based reporting scheme allowing users to report suspicious online sellers to the MHRA;- rollout of an online service which will allow users to check if a website has been deemed ‘Not Recommended’ by the MHRA; and- extensive work with media outlets to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal medicines.

What percentage of consumable equipment in the defence supply chain is procured from China.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is always open to working with international companies, as long as our procurement guidelines are followed and our national security is kept safe. Defence does use Chinese manufactured goods within its supply chain, though the percentage of consumable equipment is not centrally held. MOD Commercial Officers do, where necessary, work with their security advisers to conduct due diligence checks on suppliers of specific goods, particularly surveillance equipment, to ensure that they are not subject to Chinese National Intelligence Law.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of protections for a safety-critical worker where the prescribed regulator is itself a shareholder in the organisation alleged to be improperly certifying maintenance.

We understand following further detail provided that this question refers to compliance related to Monarch Airlines Engineering Ltd and the role of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). As a regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has oversight and audit functions in respect to the organisations that it regulates. The CAA is not a shareholder in any organisation that is regulates. The CAA has established a range of reporting channels including mandatory and voluntary incident reporting and dedicated whistleblowing routes. These mechanisms are specifically designed to ensure that individuals are enabled to raise and report any safety related concerns appropriately.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the confidentiality agreements relating to RBS Global Restructuring Group.

The Government currently has no plans to review the confidentiality agreements relating to RBS Global Restructuring Group. The Government has been clear that the inappropriate treatment of companies by RBS GRG was unacceptable. RBS rightly apologised for these mistakes and set up a scheme to compensate victims. The complaints process for customers in scope, as undertaken by Sir William Blackburne, is concluded, and the FCA published its final report in relation to RBS GRG in 2019.

Whether he has received representations on the potential impact of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 on military operational capability.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 is being repealed and replaced by new legislation. The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill will deliver new safeguards specifically designed for veterans who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The Ministry of Defence continues to consult with veterans and the wider Armed Forces community.

What his policy is on the use of agricultural land for solar energy.

Our policy remains unchanged. Solar farms should be built on brownfield sites or previously developed land, wherever possible. Where the development of agricultural land is shown to be necessary, lower-quality land should be preferred to higher-quality land.

When she plans to reply to the email from the hon. Member for South Shropshire dated 11 September 2025 with case reference number SA36696.

The email from the hon. Member for South Shropshire dated 11 September 2025 with case reference number SA36696 has been transferred to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). DBT will respond in due course.

What steps have been taken to improve the accessibility of the high street for wheelchair users.

It is the responsibility of local authorities to manage their streets and to ensure this is done in a way which allows them to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty.The Department provides good practice guidance on designing accessible streets in Inclusive Mobility: A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure.This is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-mobility-making-transport-accessible-for-passengers-and-pedestrians.

What assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the domestic tourism sector on his net zero targets.

The Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, published in October, sets out how the UK will continue to reduce emissions across all sectors of the economy on the pathway to net zero. The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero engages regularly on net zero with his colleagues in other departments. Policy on domestic tourism is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. In 2023, tourism contributed £58.2bn GVA (2.5% of the UK economy) and directly employed 1.2 million people. DCMS works with VisitEngland, destinations, local visitor economy partnerships (LVEPs) and industry to support sustainable tourism practices. The government is committed to supporting the sector through the forthcoming Visitor Economy Growth Plan.

Communities and Local Government, what steps are being taken to support community-backed housing schemes.

The government recognises that the community-led housing sector delivers a wide range of benefits including strengthening community participation in local decision-making, engendering community cohesion, achieving high quality design and strengthening the co-operative economy. In March, we announced a £20m 10-year social finance investment to provide capital finance for community-led housing, which is expected to directly support the construction of more than 2,500 new homes over the next decade. These housebuilding projects will be led by communities to specifically address local needs in their area. The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December strengthened support for community-led housing, including through changes to the size limit on community-led exception sites and a broadening of the definition of organisations able to deliver community-led housing. The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme seeks to support an increase in the delivery of community-led and rural housing. The flexibility in grant rates provided for under the new programme will help community-led schemes achieve viability and help the sector grow towards its full potential. The government is also considering opportunities to legislate to establish a legal framework for a co-operative housing tenure, which would help formalise the rights and responsibilities of both co-operatives and their tenants, and make co-operative housing a more attractive option.

What funding is available to increase options for active travel involving schools in South Shropshire constituency.

On 10 December, the Department announced over £626 million of funding to support active travel across England, including walking and cycling to schools. Of this funding, Shropshire Unitary Authority, of which South Shropshire is a part, has been allocated £2,004,847 over 2026/27 to 2029/30. In addition, Active Travel England provided £191,121 to support Bikeability cycle training in Shropshire over 2024/25, with a similar level expected for 2025/26. The Bikeability programme delivers a range of cycle training activities aimed at giving school children the skills and confidence to cycle on the road. Future funding for Bikeability will be announced in early 2026.

Media and Sport, what steps are being taken to increase volunteering opportunities in South Shropshire constituency.

Volunteering plays a vital role in communities throughout the country, contributing to the very fabric of British life. The Government wants to encourage and enable as many people as possible to be involved in delivering positive change. That is why we are investing in developing an open data infrastructure for volunteering, which will make it easier for people to find opportunities online and volunteer in their communities. DCMS is also supporting the launch of The Big Help Out 2026, which aims to encourage organisations to provide meaningful volunteering opportunities and inspire people to make a difference in communities across the country. The campaign will signpost local opportunities, including in South Shropshire, to encourage new volunteers to get involved in a range of activities.

Media and Sport, what funding is available to increase access to grassroots sport in South Shropshire constituency.

The Government is investing £98 million to deliver new and upgraded grassroots sports facilities across the UK in 2025/26 through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme. Our delivery partner for the programme in England, the Football Foundation, plans its investment pipeline using Local Football Facility Plans (LFFPs), which are developed in partnership with local authorities to better understand the needs of each community. The LFFP for Shropshire can be found here: https://localplans.footballfoundation.org.uk/local-authorities-index/shropshire/shropshire-executive-summary/. The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. The Government’s announcement of £400 million to be invested in grassroots sports facilities across the UK over the next four years will ensure we can continue to deliver high-quality multi-sport facilities in the areas that require them, in order to increase participation and allow people to be active.

Innovation and Technology, what steps are being taken to increase mobile connectivity in South Shropshire constituency.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. Government continues to work closely with the mobile network operators (MNOs), ensuring that we have the right policy and regulatory framework in place to support investment, as well as identifying and addressing barriers to deployment where they exist and it is practical to do so.In Ofcom’s Connected Nations Annual Report, published on 19 November 2025, it is reported that 4G is available across 88% of landmass in the South Shropshire constituency from all four MNOs, while 5G (combined standalone and non-standalone) is available outside 80% of premises in the constituency from at least one MNO.Whilst the rollout of 5G infrastructure is primarily commercially driven, government’s Shared Rural Network programme continues to deliver 4G coverage improvements. The programme has upgraded and activated two government funded Home Office masts which are providing new coverage to the more rural parts of South Shropshire.

Media and Sport, what steps are being taken to support heritage assets in South Shropshire constituency.

This government takes our responsibility to the built historic environment seriously. For this year alone, my Department has committed nearly £60 million of funding for heritage, including £15m for Heritage at Risk. Funding is administered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Arms-Length-Bodies. Since 1994, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £20,766,738 to 241 projects in South Shropshire constituency, such as the 2024/25 grant of £592,109 to the Parochial Church Council of Nash and Boraston for St John the Baptist Church, Nash, to enable the repair of the tower spire and roof of St John the Baptist Church, and to celebrate the history of the church, creating a timeline for the building’s history. Over the last 10 years, Historic England has administered £1,283,643 of funding in South Shropshire. Historic England is also actively engaged in discussion with the owners and managers of assets on the Heritage at Risk Register in South Shropshire as well as other assets within the constituency.

What action her Department is taking to tackle anti-social behaviour in rural towns and villages in South Shropshire constituency.

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour is a top priority for this Government.Under the Government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, we are putting neighbourhood officers back into communities and restoring public confidence by bringing back community-led, visible policing. West Mercia Police will receive £3,108,283 as part of the funding settlement for 2025-26.In addition, the Home Office is providing £66.3 million funding in 2025-26 to all 43 forces in England and Wales to deliver high visibility patrols in the areas worst affected by knife crime, serious violence and anti-social behaviour. As part of the Hotspot Action Fund, West Mercia Police will be in receipt of £1,000,000.The Winter of Action which commenced on the 1 December 2025 and will run to 31 January 2026, is currently underway, focusing on making town centres safer across England and Wales. This initiative builds on the Safer Streets Summer Initiative, continuing efforts to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, while also addressing retail crime and night-time economy offences, particularly during darker evenings when risks to public safety increase. West Mercia have listed 14 areas, and Shropshire have listed 3 areas as part of the Winter of Action.Through our Crime and Policing Bill, we are making our streets and neighbourhoods safer by strengthening the powers available to the police and other agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour. This includes introducing new Respect Orders to give local agencies stronger enforcement capability to tackle the most persistent adult anti-social behaviour offenders, and powers for the police to seize nuisance off-road bikes, and other vehicles which are being used in an anti-social manner, without having to first give a warning to the offender.

What funding is available from her Department for local crime prevention measures in rural areas.

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. We are improving the protections for rural communities, with tougher measures to clamp down on equipment theft, anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping. This financial year the Home Office has provided the first Government funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (£365,000) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (£450,000). The National Rural Crime Unit work with police forces and rural communities to promote the use of crime prevention measures such as Rural Watch. We have also worked closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to deliver their updated Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025-2028. The strategy highlights how policing can assist in the prevention of crime in rural areas. It is the responsibility of Chief Constables and locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), including Mayors who exercise PCC or equivalent functions, to take decisions around the allocation of their funding and resources.

If she will review the adequacy of assessment criteria for establishing banking hubs.

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to championing sufficient access for customers. In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 190 are already open. Government is working closely with industry on this commitment. The locations of banking hubs are independently determined by LINK, the industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments. LINK will carry out an assessment wherever a branch closure is announced or if they receive a community request. Any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK and the financial services sector.

Communities and Local Government, if he will reinstate financial support for the development of neighbourhood plans.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 59114 on 19 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the cost of extending Energy Performance Certificate regulations to short-term holiday lets on the finances of owners of those properties.

We expect that the impact of extending Energy Performance of Buildings regulations to short-term holiday lets on the finances of owners of those properties will be minimal. We published an impact assessment alongside our consultation on reforms, accessible here: Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime: impact assessment, in which we modelled the cost of obtaining a domestic EPC at £70, which are valid for 10 years. We are keeping the impacts of the proposals under review, and will publish a government response shortly.