Written questions by Braverman.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of low consumer confidence in the quality of tap water on public behaviour, including increased bottled water use.

The quality of public drinking water in England is exceptionally high and among the best in the world with compliance rates of 99.97% over the last few years. According to the 2025 British Soft Drinks Association annual report, market data shows only a 3% year-on-year growth in volume of bottled waters sold for 2023-2024, as the most recent available data. This Government has also acted decisively on behalf of consumers, introducing a power in The Water (Special Measures) Act to enable the Consumer Council for Water, as the independent statutory consumer advocate for the water sector in England and Wales, to stand up Consumer Panels in every water company. These panels will help to rebuild trust in the water sector and support increased consumer confidence by creating a forum for further embedding customer views in the decision-making process.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that survivors of historic abuse are supported in a trauma‑informed manner when approaching local authorities for (a) information and (b) redress.

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

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to review the regulatory framework governing effluent recycling to ensure independent scrutiny and auditing of any future plant, in line with international practice.

The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) brings together the three water regulators Ofwat, Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate. RAPID is enabling the right regulatory frameworks and provides a robust process to scrutinise strategic water resource options to ensure they are appropriate and deliverable. For any water recycling proposal to proceed, water companies will need to show how they will meet planning and permitting requirements. This includes protection for the environment and public health.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the processes used by Richmond upon Thames Council when responding to individuals who come forward with disclosures relating to historic abuse that occurred while in the Council’s care.

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

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of Southern Water’s progress against RAPID requirements at Gates 2 and 3, and what steps she is taking in response to repeated findings of outstanding actions and insufficient evidence.

The Hampshire Water Transfer Water Recycling project has successfully passed RAPID gate two and gate three. Through the RAPID assessment process, RAPID and its partner regulators can set priority actions and recommendations in areas where they determine more work is needed. All priority actions and recommendations set at both gates have been completed. Any outstanding actions will be addressed through the Gate 4 assessment process.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Planning Inspectorate has full access to environmental, technical and financial risk assessments before considering the Development Consent Order for the Havant Thicket scheme.

The Development Consent Order application for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Scheme, linked to Havant Thicket Reservoir scheme in construction, will provide interested parties a further opportunity to make representations to a Planning Inspector on this scheme.

Whether he will commission NHS England to produce updated national guidance on the provision of single‑sex spaces for both patients and staff, in line with recent case law.

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

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for its designation as a best‑value solution of the increasing cost estimates for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project.

The Government is committed to delivering best value for customers through the water infrastructure programme, while supporting growth and ensuring a resilient water supply.

Whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities on engaging directly with survivors of historic abuse rather than referring them to external insurance solicitors.

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 NHS trusts consult staff and conduct equality impact assessments before making changes to workplace facilities that affect privacy, dignity or safety.

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

Whether his Department will consider adopting or developing national guidance for NHS trusts on the management of single‑sex spaces, similar to proposals submitted to him by representatives of the Darlington nurses.

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 NHS staff who raise concerns about workplace privacy, dignity or safety are protected from victimisation or disciplinary action.

No doctor, healthcare professional, or any other National Health Service employee should suffer detriment for raising concerns about workplace privacy, dignity, or safety.Legal protections include the Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, which gives employees protection against unfair dismissal and detriment in employment on the basis that they have made a protected disclosure, and a right to seek remedy through an employment tribunal where this occurs. Separate regulations also protect NHS job applicants from discrimination on the grounds they have made a protected disclosure in the past.In addition, there is a range of support in place for NHS workers who wish to report concerns, including local Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, a National Freedom to Speak Up policy, and support from independent organisations such as Speak Up Direct.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the risk of pollution to the Havant Thicket Reservoir arising from treatment failures, and what steps he is taking to ensure that such risks are fully mitigated.

The Environment Agency (EA) is currently in pre‑application permit discussions with Southern Water and has advised on the evidence and data needed to support a full permit application to discharge recycled water from the advanced water treatment plant to Havant Thicket Reservoir. As part of the permitting process, the EA will assess risks to water quality from the proposed discharge and will regulate Southern Water to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Southern Water’s appraisal of alternative water resource options in its draft Water Resources Management Plan 2024, following the plan’s rejection by regulators in 2023.

Defra is currently reviewing advice provided by regulators in respect to Southern Water’s Water Resources Management Plan and the strategic water resource options included within it. Defra will make a decision on the next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the environmental risks associated with constructing the proposed effluent recycling plant on a contaminated landfill site adjacent to Langstone Harbour SSSI.

The Environment Agency has, through its role in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure planning process, assessed potential risks of constructing the proposed water recycling plant on a former landfill. The Environment Agency considers these risks to be manageable with appropriate design and mitigation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the trial plant results indicating inconsistent removal of bacteria and total dissolved solids, and what implications this has for water quality and public confidence in the proposed scheme.

Southern Water’s water recycling pilot plant was developed to provide evidence in support of, and to inform, Southern Water’s final permit application. The Environment Agency (EA) will determine what permitting standards are required for environmental protection in line with existing legislation. The EA will expect Southern Water to comply with any permit that is agreed to allow them to discharge recycled water into Havant Thicket reservoir.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of disputes concerning access to single‑sex changing rooms in NHS hospitals on staff wellbeing.

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

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the deliverability of the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project within the proposed timescale.

The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) brings together the three water regulators Ofwat, Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate. RAPID provides a robust process to scrutinise strategic water resource options and ensure they are appropriate and deliverable. This includes the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Scheme, which passed RAPID’s Gate 3 assessment in February 2025.

What assessment he has made of trends in the level of demand for clearer national safeguarding standards for staff‑only spaces in NHS hospitals.

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

What discussions he has had with NHS England on the communication of the pause of Right to Choose pathways to families, including the timing and level of notice.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for planning and commissioning services to meet the needs of their local populations, including making decisions about how best to manage demand and capacity within available resources. Where an ICB has taken a decision to pause or manage activity within a Right to Choose pathway, it is for that ICB to determine and apply any local prioritisation criteria, taking account of clinical need and patient safety. It is the responsibility of the local system to decide whether to publish criteria, and to ensure that patients, families, and the public are communicated with clearly and provided with appropriate information.NHS England provides guidance and oversight to ICBs to support them in meeting their statutory duties, including in relation to patient choice. The Government is committed to patients having the right to choose their provider when referred to consultant-led treatment, or to a mental health professional, for their first appointment as an outpatient. Patients’ right to choose is set out in legislation and no changes are being made to this legal right. Further information on the choices available for patients can be found on the NHS Choice framework, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-choice-framework