Written questions by Dhesi.

What steps he is taking to reduce repeat offending.

We are tackling the root causes of reoffending by investing in a range of interventions which address offenders’ underlying criminogenic needs and support their rehabilitation journey. This includes education, employment, accommodation and access to substance misuse treatment.We know that education, employment, and accommodation can reduce the chance of reoffending. That is why we are delivering vocational courses, a future skills programme, and expanding the prisoner apprenticeship scheme. All 93 resettlement prisons have key roles in place to prepare prisoners for employment on release, and we have launched regional Employment Councils, which for the first time bring businesses together with prisons, probation, and the Department for Work and Pensions to support prison leavers. We are also expanding our community accommodation service - to support prison leavers at risk of homelessness by providing up to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation for those under probation supervision.We also know that drug treatment is effective in reducing the risk of reoffending. We work closely with health partners to identify prisoners with a drug need, refer them into treatment, and support recovery. We have funded Incentivised Substance-Free Living units (ISFLs) in 85 prisons, where prisoners sign a behaviour compact, agree to be regularly drug tested and can access enhanced opportunities compared to a standard wing.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of increasing sentences for serial offenders on (a) public safety and (b) crime rates.

This Government takes prolific offending extremely seriously, which is why we commissioned the Independent Sentencing Review (ISR) to specifically consider the sentencing approach in cases involving prolific offenders alongside, more broadly, how the sentencing framework could be reformed to reduce reoffending, cut crime, and make our streets safer. We know prolific offenders are one of the most challenging cohorts with high levels of criminogenic needs, that typically commit a multitude of low-harm but high-nuisance offences, such as shoplifting, which attract maximum sentences of up to 12 months. The ISR referenced robust Ministry of Justice evidence which shows that offenders released from short prison sentences of less than 12 months reoffend at a higher rate than similar offenders given a community or suspended sentence. The ISR therefore recommended that the Government legislate to ensure that short custodial sentences are only used in exceptional circumstances. For prolific offenders specifically, the ISR recommended that the Government expand the availability of Intensive Supervision Courts (ISCs) to address prolific offending. The ISCs provide a robust alternative to custody, using enhanced community-based sentences to divert those at risk of facing custodial sentences of two years in the Crown Court, and twelve months in the Magistrates’ Court. International studies show that similar courts reduce arrests by 33% compared to standard sentences. We ran an Expression of Interest process to identify new sites which closed on 17 October 2025. We will announce successful new sites in the coming months. The Sentencing Bill 2025 delivers many of the reforms recommended by the ISR. For instance, Clause 1 introduces a presumption for the courts to suspend short sentences of immediate custody of 12 months or less. We are not abolishing short sentences. They will continue to be available where an offender has committed an offence involving, or closely connected to, breach of a court order – including breaching the requirements of a previous suspended sentence order or committing a further offence. Short prison sentences will also be available where an individual is at significant risk of harm, and in exceptional circumstances. Limiting the use of short sentences will not only help offenders to leave the merry-go-round of re-offending but reduce crime, leading to fewer victims and safer communities.

What steps he is taking to improve the rehabilitation of prisoners.

We are tackling the root causes of reoffending by investing in a range of interventions which address offenders’ underlying criminogenic needs and support their rehabilitation journey. This includes education, employment, accommodation and access to substance misuse treatment.We know that education, employment, and accommodation can reduce the chance of reoffending. That is why we are delivering vocational courses, a future skills programme, and expanding the prisoner apprenticeship scheme. All 93 resettlement prisons have key roles in place to prepare prisoners for employment on release, and we have launched regional Employment Councils, which for the first time bring businesses together with prisons, probation, and the Department for Work and Pensions to support prison leavers. We are also expanding our community accommodation service - to support prison leavers at risk of homelessness by providing up to 12 weeks of temporary accommodation for those under probation supervision.We also know that drug treatment is effective in reducing the risk of reoffending. We work closely with health partners to identify prisoners with a drug need, refer them into treatment, and support recovery. We have funded Incentivised Substance-Free Living units (ISFLs) in 85 prisons, where prisoners sign a behaviour compact, agree to be regularly drug tested and can access enhanced opportunities compared to a standard wing.

What recent assessment he has made of the availability of lactose free Olanzapine in (a) Slough and (b) Berkshire.

I have made no assessment of the availability of lactose free olanzapine in Slough and Berkshire. Information is not held at that level. However, I am informed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) that records show that lactose free olanzapine should be readily available throughout the United Kingdom. At present there are 11 companies that do not list lactose as an ingredient in their olanzapine. All ingredients are listed on the relevant summary of product characteristics and should be confirmed by the healthcare professional prescribing the medicine and the pharmacist performing the dispensing.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the availability of treatment for those with Friedreich’s Ataxia.

Under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is working to improve access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs across all rare conditions. In February, we published the fourth England action plan reporting on progress.Following extensive consultation, NHS England has revised the national service specification for specialised neurology, which now includes an annex providing greater clarity for neurology sub-specialties. This includes the categories of both movement disorders and neurogenetics into which Friedreich’s Ataxia falls. Every specialised National Health Service neurology centre could and should see patients with Friedreich’s Ataxia.Although Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) is now licensed for those aged 16 years old and over, following an update from the company, Biogen, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has had to terminate its appraisal of this medicine as the company has withdrawn its evidence submission. NICE will review its decision if the company decides to make a new submission. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/TA1061To avoid the possibility of creating a way to circumvent the appraisal process, NHS England is unable to fund medicines where companies have not engaged with NICE.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 35028 on LGBT Veterans Independent Review, what progress he has made on recommendations (a) 31, (b) 35, (c) 36, (d) 38 and (e) 42.

For recommendation 31, NHS England, in partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners (GPs), continues to encourage participation in the Veteran Friendly GP accreditation scheme. To date, over 99% of primary care networks have at least one accredited GP in their area. For recommendation 35, since June 2025, 100% of National Health Service trusts have been accredited as ‘veteran aware’. This achievement, led by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance, reflects a national commitment to providing compassionate, personalised care to the Armed Forces Community.As for recommendations 36 and 38, I refer the Hon. Member to the answers I gave on 31 October 2025 to Questions 84296 and 84297.Finally, for recommendation 42, we recognise the importance of training for NHS staff on the needs of the Armed Forces Community. The NHS National Armed Forces Training and Education Programme will see NHS staff across England receiving dedicated training to help them identify and support patients with military backgrounds. This will be provided through a variety of channels: face to face; webinars; train the trainer; and e-learning. This launched in October 2025 and is supported by £1.8 million of investment over three years.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken with international partners to help ensure that (a) pregnant women and (b) breastfeeding women and (c) young children can access (i) healthcare and (ii) humanitarian aid in Gaza.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 4 November to Question 85841.

What recent steps she has taken to tackle (a) violence and (b) verbal abuse towards public transport workers while at work in (i) Slough and (ii) the South East.

The Department for Transport is working with the transport industry to ensure that public transport is a safe environment for staff and passengers. Ensuring that staff feel safe at work is a priority. Following the horrific attack on the 18:25 LNER Doncaster to London service at Huntingdon on the 1st November, my Department are working with British Transport Police (BTP) and the rail industry to understand if any immediate interventions are required. The heroic efforts of rail staff meant that further harm was avoided and undoubtedly saved lives. Prior to the incident, this government brought in the Bus Services Act 2025 which mandates training for staff working in the bus industry, including drivers and those who deal directly with the travelling public, on how to recognise and respond to incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport. This training will require a person to take steps to prevent crime or anti-social behaviour only where it is safe to do so. This will apply to all bus operators including those in Slough and the South East. BTP are responsible for policing the railway, and they deploy their officers across the network, including in Slough and the South East, based on intelligence led briefings with daily taskings to provide reassurance to the public. They work closely with rail operators that serve those areas to conduct joint operations and have regular engagement with staff and safeguarding and security managers.

What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of legal protections for public transport workers who have been assaulted in the workplace.

Following the horrific attack on the 18:25 LNER Doncaster to London service on the 1st November, my Department are working with British Transport Police (BTP) and the rail industry to understand if any immediate interventions are required. The heroic efforts of rail staff meant that further harm was avoided and undoubtedly saved lives. There is no place for abuse or assault of any worker. Public transport workers and the wider public should be assured that where offenders commit acts of violence they will be arrested and brought before the courts quickly and that the British Transport Police have a specific remit to protect all rail staff and passengers. Public transport workers do of course already have extensive protection in existing legislation such as the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 which also covers more serious violence such as actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH), and courts must already consider offences against public facing workers as an aggravating factor under the Police Crime and Sentencing Act 2022.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of lactose-free medication in the South East.

The patient’s doctor is best placed to understand their requirements and might consider it necessary to prescribe lactose free products, possibly by brand. Alternatively, the doctor might be able to stipulate “lactose free” on the prescription and liaise with local pharmacists to find a suitable product.The British National Formulary is an evidence-based independent drug formulary used by health professionals as a source of key information on the selection, prescribing, dispensing, and administration of medicines. It advises that the lactose content in most medicines is too small to cause problems in most lactose-intolerant patients. However, in patients with severe lactose intolerance, lactose content should be determined before prescribing, especially if they are taking several products containing lactose.It is a requirement to state the presence of lactose on the label of a medicine. All ingredients present in a medicine must be declared in the patient information leaflet (PIL). The PIL is provided in the packaging of all medicines. In addition, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the electronic medicines compendium can be used to see the composition of medicines licensed in the United Kingdom, with further information available at the following link:https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc

What estimate he has made of the number of patients admitted to hospital with (a) covid, (b) flu and (c) respiratory syncytial virus in (i) 2025, (ii) 2024 and (iii) 2023.

NHS England publishes data on hospital admissions, including due to influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The data is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-accident--emergency-activityNHS England publishes data on hospital admissions including those that relate to the number of patients admitted with COVID-19. The data is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/covid-19-hospital-activity/The following table shows the number of hospital admissions for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV in 2023/24 and 2024/25:Hospital Admissions2023/242024/25Influenza28,00359,320RSV19,57219,457COVID-1935,50723,507Source: NHS England Digital

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Bangladeshi counterpart on ending religious-based violence in that country.

The UK remains deeply concerned about religious-based violence in Bangladesh. The previous Minister for the Indo-Pacific visited Bangladesh in November 2024 and discussed the importance of protection of religious minorities with the Chief Adviser. In February 2025, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders, visited Bangladesh and held meetings with the Interim Government to discuss issues of justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental freedoms.The UK welcomed public condemnations of violence from Bangladeshi leaders and civil society and supports the interim Government's actions to safeguard vulnerable communities.Our commitment to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is reflected in our £27 million Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme (2023-2028), which aims to protect civic space, foster inclusive dialogue, and address tensions that can lead to violence.

What recent steps she has taken to (a) prevent and (b) tackle transnational oppression.

As I set out in my statement to the House on 14 May, the Defending Democracy Taskforce conducted a review into the UK’s response to transnational repression (TNR).In line with the Review recommendations, this Government has introduced new training and guidance for all 45 territorial police forces. This includes upskilling 999 call handlers to improve frontline identification and escalation of state-directed crimes. Additionally, the Government published practical safety guidance on GOV.UK for individuals who believe they may be at risk.The Government continues to work closely with international partners, victims of transnational repression, and civil society organisations to tackle this threat. For example, in November I met with UK-based pro-democracy activists targeted by Hong Kong arrest warrants and bounties to listen to their experiences of TNR and provide reassurance on the measures Government is taking to tackle the evolving threat.Beyond that review, the National Security Act 2023 modernises the UK’s ability to detect, deter and disrupt hostile activity - including transnational repression - via a suite of new offences such as the Foreign Interference Offence. This ensures that the UK’s legal framework reflects the seriousness of TNR and raises the cost to foreign states of engaging in such activity.The Government has also provided comprehensive written and oral evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) as part of its inquiry into TNR, and submitted a detailed response to its report in October.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 53618, if she will make an estimate of potential cost savings from introducing a rolling programme of electrification.

The department has not made an estimate of the potential savings of a rolling programme of electrification; however, we recognise the potential benefits such a programme could have for reducing the cost of delivering electrification infrastructure in this country. Officials are working closely with Network Rail to deliver updated plans for where and when electrification is required to deliver a fully decarbonised railway over the next 25 years that considers both track and train and the significant recent progress in battery technology and will consider potential cost savings as part of this process.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 53618, when she expects updated plans for where and when electrification is required to deliver a fully decarbonised railway over the next 25 years to be a) concluded and b) published.

Officials from the Department for Transport are working closely with Network Rail to produce their new 'Long-term Planning for Rail Decarbonisation' strategy, any plan which arises from this strategy will cover 25 years and set out a realistic, affordable, and deliverable approach to a net zero railway, with consideration for the bespoke electrification needs of freight operators. We expect Network Rail to engage with industry as part of the development of this strategy and we expect to see a draft of this strategy before the end of this year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has taken steps to help support residents of the Cayman Islands in response to Hurricane Melissa.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 4 November on the UK's response to Hurricane Melissa.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support British citizens in the Caribbean impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

I refer the Hon. Member to my statement to the House on 4 November 2025, Official Report, vol. 774, col. 33WS to 35WS.

What recent steps he has taken with local councils to tackle the illegal use of fireworks in (a) Slough constituency and (b) Berkshire.

Enforcement powers exist for local authorities to take action when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally or misused. Local authorities and the police also have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of fireworks. It is for local areas to decide how best to deploy these powers.

What steps he is taking to help increase trade between the UK and India.

The UK has signed a landmark trade deal with India which it is estimated will boost the UK’s GDP by £4.8bn and increase bilateral trade by £25.5bn each year, supporting the Government’s Plan for Change. We are working to bring the deal into force as quickly as possible. We are helping businesses to prepare to seize the opportunities from the agreement, including through bespoke guidance and trade promotion sessions. The Prime Minister recently led a major trade delegation to India to drive trade, investment, and growth across the UK.

Whether he has had recent discussions with Babcock on increasing the number of welding apprenticeships on UK based defence contracts.

This Government recognises the vital role Defence, and its skilled workforce, play not only in our national security but also to the economic prosperity and growth of the United Kingdom. We must work with the UK defence sector to boost skills, build rewarding careers and bring prosperity to all nations and regions. As part of the Department's assessment of supply chain risks, the Ministry of Defence regularly monitors the availability of suitably qualified and experienced personnel needed in the delivery of our Defence programmes. The Department also has regular engagement with its suppliers to ensure the availability of the critical skills required, and the demand for craft skills, including welders, is recognised across the defence sector. This has been reflected by the launch of a new apprenticeship welding school in Bristol by Babcock earlier this year, providing a skills boost to the region and UK defence.