Written questions by Dhesi.

Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the (a) music, (b) film and (c) book publishing industry on the impact of generative AI.

DCMS Ministers have met on numerous occasions with stakeholders from across the creative industries, including the music, film and book publishing industries, to discuss the impact of generative AI and the government’s consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence.AI is increasingly being used as a tool in the creative process, from music and film production to publishing, architecture and design. As of September 2024 more than 38% of Creative Industries businesses said they have used AI technologies, with nearly 50% using AI to improve business operations. It may foster innovation and efficiency but may also disrupt the sector. We are working with the creative sector and committed to ensuring our brilliant artists benefit in working with the AI sector to harness the opportunities this technology provides. In addition, we are aware that several publishing houses have licensed their content with AI companies.

What recent steps he has taken to increase awareness of bowel cancer symptoms in (a) Slough and (b) the South East.

NHS England runs Help Us Help You campaigns to increase knowledge of cancer symptoms and address barriers to acting on them, to encourage people to come forward as soon as possible to see their general practitioner. The campaigns run across England and is accessible publicly, including for those living in Slough and the South East. The campaigns focus on a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging ‘body awareness’ to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers at an earlier point. Previous phases of the campaign have focused on abdominal symptoms which, among other abdominal cancers, can be indicative of bowel cancer. It is the responsibility of local National Health Service organisations to consider whether they wish to run additional campaigns tailored to the needs of their local population and aligned to their service provisions.NHS England and other NHS organisations, nationally and locally, also publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including bowel cancer. This information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/symptoms/The National Cancer 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. The government’s goal is to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer over the next ten years, including bowel cancer.

Whether he is taking steps to increase the uptake of bowel screenings.

Coverage of bowel cancer screening has been increasing in recent years, with a marked increase from 2019 of 11.3 percentage points since the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) test was rolled out as the primary test in the screening programme with coverage amongst people aged between 60 and 74 years old currently standing at 71.8%.The bowel cancer screening standards have recently been reviewed, with changes taking effect from 1 April 2025. This will update the achievable and acceptable thresholds for both uptake and coverage. The new coverage thresholds for people aged between 60 and 74 years old will be acceptable level of more than or equal to 62.0%, and achievable level of more than or equal to 76.0%.To further increase coverage, NHS England: is delivering new approaches to communicating with people about screening through the NHS App; is supporting frontline screening staff and enabling the delivery of new technology, including artificial intelligence; is improving the way eligible people are identified and invited for screening through the transformation of screening programme digital services; is incorporating the reasonable adjustment flag into screening to ensure people get information in the way they want; has recently updated the bowel cancer screening leaflets to improve accessibility; and has made the bowel cancer screening FIT kit more accessible for people who are blind or partially sighted.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure there will be no disruption to telecare users' service with the end of the Public Switched Telephone Network.

The Government is determined to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated for all customers across the UK.Communication providers and network operators signed voluntary charters in December 2023 and March 2024, ensuring their commitment to protect vulnerable consumers during the PSTN migration. On 18 November 2024, the major communication providers agreed to adhere to further safeguards in the Non-Voluntary Migrations Checklist. Safeguards include signing data sharing agreements with local authorities to identify telecare users and a commitment to ensuring no disruption to telecare users' service when their landlines are migrated. As of April 2025, over 90% of local authorities have signed a data sharing agreement with at least one communication provider.

Whether he made a recent assessment of the adequacy of neurodiversity training for people working in the criminal justice system.

There is a range of training available to support those working with neurodiverse people in the criminal justice system. In the courts, the Judicial College of England and Wales has developed training on mental disabilities specifically for magistrates and legal advisers, and the Sentencing Council has published guidance for judges and magistrates that provides clarity in sentencing offenders with neurodiverse needs. In prison, Neurodiversity Support Managers train staff to support neurodivergent individuals and assist them in accessing education, skills and work opportunities. In probation, HMPPS offer neurodiversity learning packages for all staff as part of the Probation Learning and Development curriculum, and new Probation Service Officers and those undertaking the Professional Qualification in Probation are required to undertake learning that includes neurodiversity.

Innovation and Technology, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that people who rely on the Public Switched Telephone Network can migrate to broadband before January 2027.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the technology underpinning analogue landline connections. The PSTN is failing – with a 45% increase in major incidents between 2023-2024. Industry is migrating the network to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which requires a minimum speed of just 0.5mbps. For current landline-only customers it will be possible to switch to a VoIP landline without purchasing a general internet connection.The Government is prioritising broadband rollout, aiming for nationwide gigabit coverage by 2030. Through Project-Gigabit, government is providing subsidy to ensure premises left out of commercial rollout plans can access a gigabit capable broadband connection.

What recent steps he has taken to raise awareness of the symptoms of lobular breast cancer.

The National Health Service in England encourages everyone to check their breast regularly for firm lumps, changes or thickened areas of tissue, and to consult their general practitioner straight away if they have any concerns.To increase knowledge of cancer symptoms, including lobular breast cancer, and address barriers to acting on them, the NHS runs Help Us Help You campaigns. These campaigns focus on recognising a range of symptoms, as well as encouraging body awareness, to help people spot symptoms across a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, at an earlier stage.NHS England and other National Health Service organisations, nationally and locally, publish information on the signs and symptoms of many different types of cancer, including breast cancer. Further information can be found on the NHS.UK website, which is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken with international partners to ensure humanitarian aid is received by people in need in Myanmar.

We are working closely with a range of international partners to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches all those affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. The UK has announced up to £25 million in life-saving support for people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. This includes up to £5 million to match the British public's generous donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.The UK supports the people of Myanmar by funding local actors on the ground who can directly access affected populations. Immediately after the earthquake our partners assessed needs and mobilised an initial humanitarian response. UK-funded food, water, healthcare and shelter supplies are already reaching affected areas, helping over 86,000 people so far.

What recent discussions she has had with construction companies on potential changes to volumetric concrete mixers.

My Department has engaged with hon. Members and the Volumetric Concrete Mixer (VCM) industry through correspondence. The call for evidence on this topic conducted from October to December 2023 was an opportunity for interested parties to present evidence, but it did not reveal significant new evidence supporting a change in policy.The decision announced reflects the continuation of the existing policy, as set out in 2018, that the temporary weight exemption for VCMs will come to an end in 2028.

What recent steps he has taken to increase the uptake of breast screenings in Slough.

All breast screening services in England are commissioned by regional commissioning teams.In Slough, there are several steps that the East Berkshire Breast Screening Service has taken to increase the uptake and coverage of breast screening, in conjunction with key partners. These include: working with the NHS England Thames Valley Screening and Immunisation Team to complete a formal Health Equity Audit and identify actions to improve uptake in Slough; working with local general practices in Slough to ensure relevant information about their patients is shared with the breast screening services, in order to provide an accessible service that meets the needs of the local Slough population and to maximise the uptake of breast screening; engaging local voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations to promote breast screening, provide materials in languages used by the local community, and to actively seek to work in areas where uptake is lower with the aim of understanding reasons for non-attendance; working with NHS England to produce a video promoting their screening programme, with voice overs presented in various different languages that are spoken locally; conducting patient surveys to ensure feedback from women is being captured, and where appropriate, making necessary changes; sending leaflets in an individual’s spoken language to accompany the invitation, where the service holds this information; allowing women to rebook for a day/time that is more suited if necessary; andsending text reminders to women before their appointment is due to take place.

Whether she has made an estimate of the number of additional lorry drivers required when volumetric concrete mixers operate at the standard weight limit for HGVs.

The call for evidence on Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs) conducted by the Department for Transport from October to December 2023 was an opportunity for respondents to present evidence, but it did not reveal significant new evidence supporting a change in policy.The outcome of this review was published on 18 March. This can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/volumetric-concrete-mixers-reviewCurrent exemptions to weight limits for VCMs will expire in 2028. This policy is being maintained.

Whether he is taking steps to ensure that all remaining integrated care boards set up a Women’s Health Hub.

Women’s health hubs have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists.As of March 2025, 41 out of 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) reported to NHS England that they had a women’s health hub. The Dorset ICB reported to NHS England that they do not have a women’s health hub.The Government is committed to encouraging ICBs to further expand coverage of women’s health hubs and to use the learning from existing women’s health hubs to improve local delivery of services to women. ICBs are responsible for commissioning services that meet the health care needs of their local population, including women’s health hubs. NHS England has asked ICBs to set out their plans for their women’s health hubs in 2025/26.

Which integrated care boards have not set up a Women’s Health Hub.

Women’s health hubs have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists.As of March 2025, 41 out of 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) reported to NHS England that they had a women’s health hub. The Dorset ICB reported to NHS England that they do not have a women’s health hub.The Government is committed to encouraging ICBs to further expand coverage of women’s health hubs and to use the learning from existing women’s health hubs to improve local delivery of services to women. ICBs are responsible for commissioning services that meet the health care needs of their local population, including women’s health hubs. NHS England has asked ICBs to set out their plans for their women’s health hubs in 2025/26.

What discussions she has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on their role in delivering economic growth.

I meet with the Chair and the Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regularly to discuss a range of topics, including the role of the CAA in delivering economic growth. The government’s new Action Plan for regulators contains six regulatory pledges from the CAA, alongside the commitments the CAA made in their letter to the Prime Minister in January 2025. The CAA will also play an important role in the planned expansion of Heathrow Airport.

Whether the Civil Aviation Authority has undertaken any recent work with (a) her Department, (b) Heathrow Airport, (c) Network Rail and (d) others to make progress on the construction of a Western Rail Link to Heathrow.

Since plans for expansion were paused in 2020, the CAA has not conducted any work in relation to a Western Rail link to Heathrow. Should any such plans emerge as part of fresh proposals for Heathrow expansion, the CAA would review the elements of those plans relevant to its role as economic regulator of Heathrow in accordance with its statutory duties.

Whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of constructing a western rail link to Heathrow Airport on (a) railway capacity on the Great Western Mainline between Paddington and Iver, (b) passenger numbers at Paddington station and (c) car use.

Any assessment of the impacts described would need to be carried out by the promoters of the Western Rail Link to Heathrow if it were to be required to support the expansion of the airport.

What assessment they have made of the potential impact of the use of AI in their Department on security.

Use of AI in the Department for Transport falls into a number of categories, each with different security assessment requirements.Where AI tools and services have been procured from third parties, the department’s supply chain assurance process ensures that security risks are considered and appropriately addressed.For AI tools and services developed internally, these are deployed in a secure environment following review by data protection, information assurance and performance evaluation specialists.In line with the Artificial Intelligence Playbook for the UK Government, staff in DfT are encouraged to make use of AI technology but DfT does not rely on AI for decision making. The 10 core principles outlined in this playbook ensure the appropriate use of AI within the OFFICIAL tier of government information.

What assessment they have made of the potential impact of the use of AI in their Department on security.

The Ministry of Defence takes all aspects of security very seriously, and our AI and Security teams are working closely to ensure that the impact of AI on our work is positive and does not adversely affect security. We do not comment on details of security.

Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the potential impact of constructing a western rail link to Heathrow airport on the Government's net zero targets.

I am advised that no discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero relating to the construction of a western rail link to Heathrow.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the use of AI in their Department on security.

The UK government is dedicated to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance public services safely and securely. The AI Playbook for the UK Government security section (p. 74) includes an assessment of the risks coming from the use of AI. The Playbook includes worked scenarios for AI use which detail potential impacts for the different types of risk. All AI services must adhere to Secure by Design principles and conduct risk assessments, including Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs). The FCDO is working to ensure that it has appropriate security controls, policies, culture and capabilities to protect our information and our ability to operate and to develop these as the technology and the threat landscape evolves.Artificial Intelligence (AI) will transform diplomatic practice and FCDO's delivery, enhancing our diplomatic impact and increasing individual productivity and corporate efficiency. However, it will also create new and enhance existing cyber security threats. The FCDO is working to ensure that it has appropriate security controls, policies, culture and capabilities to protect our information and our ability to operate and to develop these as the technology and the threat landscape evolves. The FCDO has a dedicated and continuously evolving Risk Management capability within its Information and Cyber Security function.