Written questions by Antoniazzi.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the alcohol-free threshold from 0.05% ABV to 0.5% ABV.

Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives.The Department will continue to work across Government to better understand how we can best reduce alcohol-related harms, including exploring the potential opportunities presented by No and Low alcohol alternative drinks. While the department has not made a specific assessment of the economic impact of the United Kingdom’s 0.05% alcohol by volume (ABV) threshold on British brewers we will continue to consider how alcohol labelling can be improved to support consumers make informed decisions about the products they are purchasing, whilst also promoting responsible consumption.

Innovation and Technology, when he plans to publish the Bertin Review.

The Independent Pornography Review is an important area of interest for this government. The Review has now concluded, the government is assessing its findings and the report will be published in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to medical cannabis on the NHS.

Licensed cannabis-based medicines are routinely funded by the NHS where there is clear evidence of their quality, safety and effectiveness. Two licensed cannabis-based medicines are available for prescribing on the NHS, but more research is required on unlicensed cannabis-based medicines to inform use on the NHS. We are supporting this by investing over £8.5m in randomised clinical trials.

What assessment she has made of the potential role of youth services in (a) preventing and (b) tackling violence against women and girls.

The Government has set an ambitious target to halve VAWG in a decade. To achieve this, we must reduce the current levels of offending and reoffending but also prevent abuse from happening all together.The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy will set out our strategic direction and concrete actions to deliver this ambition. We are considering a range of policy options across Government to prevent these crimes including education for young people around healthy relationships and consent, community interventions and tackling online VAWG.That includes looking at how we can work most effectively with youth services and through the Young Futures programme to deliver this ambition.

Innovation and Technology, if he will publish the Sullivan Review.

In line with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, the government recognises the importance of transparency with publicly-funded research. As such, we expect the report to be published shortly.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing small distilleries' relief to help support independent distilleries from 1 February 2025.

Alcohol duty is a reserved matter. The reformed alcohol duty system was introduced in August 2023 and taxes alcohol in a progressive manner, ensuring higher strength products pay proportionately more duty. This approach is supported by public health exports including clinical advisors to the Department of Health & Social Care and the Chief Medical Officer. Small Producer Relief (SPR) was introduced alongside the reforms and allows small producers to pay a reduced duty rate on products below 8.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV). Retaining a strength limit for SPR is important as it aligns the relief with the Government's public health objectives and the new simplified band structure. Small spirits producers are able to claim the relief on any goods they make below this level, such as pre-mixed spirits. At the recent Budget, the Chancellor announced that she would uprate alcohol duty in line with RPI inflation on 1 February 2025, except on qualifying draught products. This decision weighed the impacts on businesses, cost-of-living pressures on people who drink moderately and responsibly, and the public health case for higher duties to tackle increasing alcohol-related deaths, as well as economic inactivity. However, to support UK spirits producers, the government will invest up to £5 million to support the delivery of the Spirits Drinks Verification Scheme administered by HMRC. This scheme helps spirits producers, such as UK whisky distilleries, verify their products against protected geographical indicators. Further, alcohol duty stamps scheme will end from 1 May 2025, reducing the administrative burden on spirit producers and importers.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of levels of excise duty on spirits on distilleries from 1 February 2025.

Alcohol duty is a reserved matter. The reformed alcohol duty system was introduced in August 2023 and taxes alcohol in a progressive manner, ensuring higher strength products pay proportionately more duty. This approach is supported by public health exports including clinical advisors to the Department of Health & Social Care and the Chief Medical Officer. Small Producer Relief (SPR) was introduced alongside the reforms and allows small producers to pay a reduced duty rate on products below 8.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV). Retaining a strength limit for SPR is important as it aligns the relief with the Government's public health objectives and the new simplified band structure. Small spirits producers are able to claim the relief on any goods they make below this level, such as pre-mixed spirits. At the recent Budget, the Chancellor announced that she would uprate alcohol duty in line with RPI inflation on 1 February 2025, except on qualifying draught products. This decision weighed the impacts on businesses, cost-of-living pressures on people who drink moderately and responsibly, and the public health case for higher duties to tackle increasing alcohol-related deaths, as well as economic inactivity. However, to support UK spirits producers, the government will invest up to £5 million to support the delivery of the Spirits Drinks Verification Scheme administered by HMRC. This scheme helps spirits producers, such as UK whisky distilleries, verify their products against protected geographical indicators. Further, alcohol duty stamps scheme will end from 1 May 2025, reducing the administrative burden on spirit producers and importers.

What steps her Department is taking with the devolved Administrations to support independent distilleries across the UK.

Alcohol duty is a reserved matter. The reformed alcohol duty system was introduced in August 2023 and taxes alcohol in a progressive manner, ensuring higher strength products pay proportionately more duty. This approach is supported by public health exports including clinical advisors to the Department of Health & Social Care and the Chief Medical Officer. Small Producer Relief (SPR) was introduced alongside the reforms and allows small producers to pay a reduced duty rate on products below 8.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV). Retaining a strength limit for SPR is important as it aligns the relief with the Government's public health objectives and the new simplified band structure. Small spirits producers are able to claim the relief on any goods they make below this level, such as pre-mixed spirits. At the recent Budget, the Chancellor announced that she would uprate alcohol duty in line with RPI inflation on 1 February 2025, except on qualifying draught products. This decision weighed the impacts on businesses, cost-of-living pressures on people who drink moderately and responsibly, and the public health case for higher duties to tackle increasing alcohol-related deaths, as well as economic inactivity. However, to support UK spirits producers, the government will invest up to £5 million to support the delivery of the Spirits Drinks Verification Scheme administered by HMRC. This scheme helps spirits producers, such as UK whisky distilleries, verify their products against protected geographical indicators. Further, alcohol duty stamps scheme will end from 1 May 2025, reducing the administrative burden on spirit producers and importers.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of new measures to help ensure that independent distilleries in rural areas receive adequate support to help foster economic growth.

Alcohol duty is a reserved matter. The reformed alcohol duty system was introduced in August 2023 and taxes alcohol in a progressive manner, ensuring higher strength products pay proportionately more duty. This approach is supported by public health exports including clinical advisors to the Department of Health & Social Care and the Chief Medical Officer. Small Producer Relief (SPR) was introduced alongside the reforms and allows small producers to pay a reduced duty rate on products below 8.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV). Retaining a strength limit for SPR is important as it aligns the relief with the Government's public health objectives and the new simplified band structure. Small spirits producers are able to claim the relief on any goods they make below this level, such as pre-mixed spirits. At the recent Budget, the Chancellor announced that she would uprate alcohol duty in line with RPI inflation on 1 February 2025, except on qualifying draught products. This decision weighed the impacts on businesses, cost-of-living pressures on people who drink moderately and responsibly, and the public health case for higher duties to tackle increasing alcohol-related deaths, as well as economic inactivity. However, to support UK spirits producers, the government will invest up to £5 million to support the delivery of the Spirits Drinks Verification Scheme administered by HMRC. This scheme helps spirits producers, such as UK whisky distilleries, verify their products against protected geographical indicators. Further, alcohol duty stamps scheme will end from 1 May 2025, reducing the administrative burden on spirit producers and importers.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Regulation (EU) 2023/956 on Northern Ireland in the context of the terms of the Windsor Framework.

The Government plans to apply the UK CBAM across the whole UK, including Northern Ireland, from 2027. The UK will continue to work with international partners, including the EU, to ensure our approach is implemented in a way that works for businesses.The EU's CBAM could only apply in Northern Ireland with the agreement of the UK and in line with the democratic safeguards of the Windsor Framework.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the (a) reliability, (b) accuracy and (c) consistency of personal identity data on sex held by (i) HM Passport Office, (ii) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and (iii) the NHS in the context of the digital verification services framework.

The digital verification services (DVS) framework seeks to create rules for how those services operate. The DVS framework doesn’t create new ways to determine a person’s sex or gender. Nor does it intervene with how government departments record and store this and other identity data. Under data protection law, personal data which is processed must be accurate.Government believes processing accurate data is essential to deliver services meeting citizens’ needs. Public sector data about sex and gender is collected based on user and departmental needs and in compliance with any applicable legislation.The Government Statistical Service published a work plan for updated, harmonised standards and guidance on sex and gender in December 2024. This will align with the Office for Statistics Regulation guidance on collecting and reporting data about sex and gender identity, which was published in February 2024.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the full introduction of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Regulation on Northern Ireland under the terms of the Windsor Framework.

The Government plans to apply the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) across the whole UK, including Northern Ireland, from 2027. The UK will continue to work with international partners, including the EU, to ensure our approach is implemented in a way that works for businesses. The EU's CBAM could only apply in Northern Ireland with the agreement of the UK and in line with the democratic safeguards of the Windsor Framework.

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Science and Technology on publication of the independent Pornography Review.

I met with Baroness Bertin, Chair of the Independent Pornography Review, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Minister Davies-Jones, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice to discuss the Pornography Review on 8 October 2024.In the meeting, Baroness Bertin, shared her initial findings and direction of travel for the Review's recommendations. The Review's final report will be published in due course.

Innovation and Technology, what his Department's timetable is for publishing the independent Pornography Review led by Baroness Bertin.

The Independent Pornography Review assesses the effectiveness of current pornography legislation, regulation, and enforcement. It is an important area of interest for this government.The Review has now just concluded. The government is assessing its findings and the final report will be published in due course.

What recent steps he has taken to support the expansion of university provision in Derry/Londonderry under the terms of the New Decade, New Approach agreement.

As part of our mission-led approach, this Government is committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive to address regional economic imbalances, including through good university provision in the North West. The Derry & Strabane City and Region Deal was signed on 18 September 2024. This deal will help support university expansion in Derry/Londonderry through a £39 million investment into Ulster University’s Cognitive Analytics & Digital Robotics Innovation Centre. This is in addition to investment towards Phase 2 of the School of Medicine project, including a Medical Education Facility on the Altnagelvin Hospital site. This Government will continue to work with the Executive to deliver high-quality university education in Derry/Londonderry, and deliver the City Deal programme to provide capital investment that supports expanded provision at Ulster University’s Magee Campus as set out in NDNA.

Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board on the England Cricket team's participation in the championship trophy match with Afghanistan.

The UK Government condemns the appalling erosion of women and girls’ rights in Afghanistan. Sport operates independently of government, and participation in the ICC Champion’s Trophy match is a matter for the England and Wales Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council.My officials are in contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board on the wider issue of the Afghanistan women’s cricket team. We welcome the fact that the ECB are making strong representations to the ICC on this issue and what support can be given.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the ongoing closure of Holyhead Port on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Ferry travel between Dublin and Holyhead continues to be severely affected by closure due to damage inflicted by Storm Darragh on Holyhead until it reopens early next year. The direct effect is on crossings between the UK and the Republic of Ireland though alternative routes from Liverpool and Cairnryan to Belfast and Larne are available and capacity is being reinforced. There are onward effects on UK services, but these are manageable. Government is concerned about the impact on local businesses and communities and are in close contact with the Welsh Government, who lead, together with port and ferry operators.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Taliban's decision to (a) ban women from medical training and (b) prohibit male medics from treating female patients.

The UK is deeply concerned at reports of a ban on women accessing medical training in Afghanistan. We strongly condemn this and urge the Taliban to reverse this decision. Female health workers are critical to treating women-focused health issues such as reproductive health. These decisions are yet another affront to girls' right to education and will threaten the lives of countless women and girls who will be denied critical medical care, as well as their future children. Our ongoing support to those Afghans most in need is more essential than ever, and we remain committed that at least 50% of those reached by UK aid are women and girls.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Afghan counterpart on the treatment of women and girls in that country.

We have repeatedly condemned Taliban restrictions on women and girls' rights, both bilaterally and internationally. As the Foreign Secretary has said, exclusion of women from all aspects of public life is a tragic setback for Afghanistan.Officials from the Doha-based UK Mission to Afghanistan continue to press Taliban acting ministers and Afghan officials on human rights abuses in Afghanistan. Officials visit Kabul regularly, raising issues directly with senior members of the Taliban, including the unacceptable violations of the rights of women and girls. Since 4 December officials have been raising the issue of the Taliban ban on women accessing medical education and training in Afghanistan.

Whether her Department holds data on the number of Welsh people in the prison system.

HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) cannot identify Welsh prisoners because English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish nationalities are not captured separately on the central data system. UK nationals are all recorded as British.HMPPS can provide data on prisoners with an address in Wales, broken down by sex, ethnicity, offence type, sentence type and local authority. We do not hold data on offenders’ socio-economic background.Around 97% of prisoners have addresses that are recorded on the central data system. If no address is given, an offender’s committal court address is used as a proxy for residence. Prisoners with no recorded origin are typically foreign nationals, or those recently received into custody where no address has yet been assigned.It is important to note that someone with an address, for example in London, may consider themselves to be Welsh, while someone with an address in Wales may not. It is not possible to infer from an address in Wales that an individual considers themselves to be Welsh.