Written questions by Collins.

Media and Sport, what funding her Department has provided for tennis facilities Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency in each of the past three years; and whether she plans to provide further funding.

The Government provides the majority of our funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year.In 2022/23, £5,950.00 was invested in Harpenden and Berkhamsted with 3 tennis courts at Rothamsted Park renovated directly as a result of investment from the Park Tennis Court Programme.Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme funding is delivered through the Football Foundation in England and further detail on funded projects will be published on gov.uk in due course. Tennis/padel projects are not currently funded through the programme but at least 40% of funded projects will support non-football sports where similar pitch types/playing surfaces can be shared (such as rugby, cricket and basketball), ensuring more people can participate and get active across a variety of sports.Future funding for grassroots facilities beyond 2025/26 is subject to the ongoing Spending Review.

What steps her Department is taking to improve the affordability of rail fares in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.

We are overhauling the fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare, with the move to Great British Railways (GBR) passengers will be able to receive a more consistent offer across the network. We need to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers as we reform fares and deliver GBR, ensuring everyone gets a fair deal. Passengers traveling in the South East and London, which includes a) the Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and b) Hertfordshire, can also benefit from one third off the price of fares after 10:00 with the Network Railcard.

What steps his Department is taking with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to help support SMEs in adopting digital technology in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

Hertfordshire Growth Hub provides SMEs in Harpenden and Berkhamsted with support and advice with adopting digital technology. The Government is working closely with the SME Digital Adoption Taskforce. The Taskforce brings industry stakeholders together to explore how the UK can supercharge digital adoption amongst SMEs to drive productivity. Its final report will be published this summer.In addition, the Department for Business and Trade is working with DSIT on the Technology Adoption Review led by the Government Chief Scientific Advisor and the Government National Technology Advisor.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking with universities to develop research and development policies in the (a) East and (b) rest of England.

The Government is clear that universities are a key partner in research and development, which is fundamental to kickstarting economic growth and delivering the Government’s missions. DSIT values the views of universities and engages closely with them through a programme of one to one meetings, roundtables, visits, and sector group meetings, as appropriate, to develop research policies for England and the rest of the UK.

What estimate her Department has made of the potential economic impact of (a) extreme weather events, (b) food inflation, (c) flood recovery and (d) other climate-related impacts on (i) public services and (ii) households.

The Government recognises that preparing for the future means adapting to the effects of climate change. Without action, flooding, coastal erosion and other climate hazards will pose greater risks to lives, livelihoods and people’s wellbeingThe Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest Fiscal Risks and Sustainability report estimates the potential fiscal costs to the UK from climate damage across a range of warming scenarios. Their analysis includes both direct costs in response to physical damages and indirect costs arising from additional demands on public services. The UK’s Third Climate Change Risk Assessment also provides an evaluation of the climate risks facing the UK, with impacts across infrastructure, health and the economy.As set out at the Autumn Budget, the Government is investing in climate adaptation to protect the economy from climate change, confirming investment of £2.4 billion over two years to support flood resilience and over £400 million for tree planting and peatland restoration, which will further support resilience. The development of the Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment will also support the Government in continuing to improve its assessment of the risks and opportunities from climate change.

What steps her Department is taking to increase access to rail links in rural communities in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.

The Government knows that public transport needs to be better integrated in order to improve the experience for passengers, providing access to services and keeping communities connected. We also know that in rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline for many and can be the only means of accessing services, including other modes of transportation such as rail links. The Government is taking action to help improve local bus services and encourage greater integration between transport modes. We introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas. In addition, the Government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Hertfordshire County Council has been allocated £12.2 million of this funding, helping to improve bus services and connectivity across the area. The Government will also be publishing an Integrated National Transport Strategy this year to set the vision for transport in England. It will focus on how transport should be designed, built and operated to better serve the people who use it, including those in rural areas.

Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to provide funding for (a) indoor and (b) covered tennis facilities in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

The Government provides the majority of our funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year.In 2022/23, £5,950.00 was invested in Harpenden and Berkhamsted with 3 tennis courts at Rothamsted Park renovated directly as a result of investment from the Park Tennis Court Programme.Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme funding is delivered through the Football Foundation in England and further detail on funded projects will be published on gov.uk in due course. Tennis/padel projects are not currently funded through the programme but at least 40% of funded projects will support non-football sports where similar pitch types/playing surfaces can be shared (such as rugby, cricket and basketball), ensuring more people can participate and get active across a variety of sports.Future funding for grassroots facilities beyond 2025/26 is subject to the ongoing Spending Review.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of passenger rail performance in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.

Performance in the area has been challenging in recent months, affected by a range of issues including points failures, train faults and external trespass and fatality incidents affecting Thameslink services operated by Govia Thameslink Railway. However, there is an improving trend in service delay and cancellations with continued monitoring and challenge of the train operator and Network Rail by my Department.Ongoing upgrade works on the Midline Main Line overhead power lines will help improve reliability. Department officials continue to monitor performance against contractual targets and will ensure appropriate action is taken to address any emerging issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the EU on access to the Security Action for Europe fund.

This is a critical moment for the security of Europe. We welcome European efforts to increase defence spending, through the ReArm initiative and proposed Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism. This must be a whole-of-Europe effort, in alignment with NATO, which remains the cornerstone of European security.The UK and the EU have agreed an ambitious new Security and Defence Partnership as part of a wider package that delivers for the British people. The Security and Defence Partnership sets the framework for closer defence industrial collaboration, including potential participation in the EU's proposed €150 billion Security Action for Europe instrument.

Media and Sport, how much Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme funding will go to (a) tennis and (b) padel facilities.

The Government provides the majority of our funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year.In 2022/23, £5,950.00 was invested in Harpenden and Berkhamsted with 3 tennis courts at Rothamsted Park renovated directly as a result of investment from the Park Tennis Court Programme.Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme funding is delivered through the Football Foundation in England and further detail on funded projects will be published on gov.uk in due course. Tennis/padel projects are not currently funded through the programme but at least 40% of funded projects will support non-football sports where similar pitch types/playing surfaces can be shared (such as rugby, cricket and basketball), ensuring more people can participate and get active across a variety of sports.Future funding for grassroots facilities beyond 2025/26 is subject to the ongoing Spending Review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support humanitarian programmes in central Africa.

The UK supports a range of humanitarian activities across central Africa, including emergency food assistance, treatment for malnourished children and life-saving sexual and reproductive health services. We are concerned by the escalation of humanitarian needs in central Africa, spurred on by the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The UK allocated over £80 million for humanitarian programmes in DRC last financial year (2024-25), including cash and food aid, access to clean water and support to halt the spread of mpox through our health emergencies programme. We are working in partnership with UNHCR to provide vital assistance to refugees in the region, and we aim to assist 3.5 million people with our humanitarian support in DRC this year. The UK remains in regular contact with DRC, Rwanda and other partners to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern DRC.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 46378 on Nigeria: Religious Freedom, tabled by the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted on 17 April 2025.

I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member's question. I issued a response to the hon. Member on 8 May.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing mandatory nutritional targets for large supermarket retailers.

The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever and tackling the three biggest killers, which will require effort from across society, not just for obesity but also for alcohol and smoking.We have made a start with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and will continue to speak to partners across industry and civic society to best understand what actions help to change behaviours in a way that puts power in the hands of consumers.As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, we are committed to achieving our Health Mission to build a National Health Service fit for the future, and under the 10-Year Health Plan, to shift from sickness to prevention. Making the healthier choice the easier choice is a major part of creating a food environment that is fairer, with the fewest lives lost to the biggest killers, and where everyone lives well for longer.As part of considerations around mandatory healthiness targets, the previous administration brought together the Food Data Transparency Partnership (FDTP), a shared programme of work across the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, and the Food Standards Agency. Separate from the eco strand of FDTP headed by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, the FDTP health strand was paused at the election and is being reviewed alongside other obesity policies.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Climate and Nature Bill.

This Government is absolutely committed to tackling the climate and nature crises and has agreed steps to take forward the spirit and substance of the Climate and Nature Bill with the Bill’s Sponsors. There is already a well-developed legislative framework that supports our actions in the areas of climate and nature including the Climate Change Act and the Environment Act. In accordance with parliamentary convention, the Government will set out its formal position on this Bill when its Second Reading debate is scheduled to resume.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce differences in healthy life expectancy between regions in England.

Tackling health inequalities is central to our Health Mission, which is why the Government has committed to halving the healthy life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest regions, by addressing the social determinants of health. Work is currently underway across the Department and with NHS England and the regional Directors of Public Health to develop approaches to address regional health inequalities.In line with the Health Mission, we will also be launching a 10-Year Health Plan with the core focus of addressing healthcare inequity, ensuring the National Health Service is there for anyone who needs it, whenever they need it.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of introducing regulations on the advertising of products high in fat, sugar or salt (a) in outdoor spaces and (b) on audio-only media on public health.

The Government is taking bold action to tackle the childhood obesity crisis, and will create the healthiest generation of children ever. We are progressing with the implementation of the advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink products on television and online. This includes a 9:00pm watershed on television and a 24-hour restriction on paid-for advertising of these products online. These restrictions are expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories from children’s diets per year and reduce the number of children living with obesity by 20,000.An assessment has not been made on the potential impact of introducing regulations on the advertising of products high in fat, sugar, or salt in outdoor spaces or on audio-only media on public health. Audio-only media, for instance podcasts or online radio, are exempt from the advertising restrictions due to limited evidence about the child audience for these services and the effect they have on children’s food consumption.We continue to review evidence of the impacts on children of advertising for less healthy food and drink products and will consider where further action is needed.

What steps her Department is taking to help increase the level of uptake of Pension Credit in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) the rest of England.

The Government wants all pensioners to get the support to which they are rightly entitled. That is why we ran the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign across the whole of Great Britian. This included adverts on television; radio; social media; on YouTube; on advertising screens in Pharmacies, Post Offices and leisure centres (including in Harpenden and Berkhamsted). The campaign also featured on train advertising panels (including on Chiltern, Greater Anglia, and Thameslink services) as well as in the press.As part of the campaign, the Department engaged with all councils in Great Britain, including Hertfordshire council, through the regular Local Authority Welfare Direct bulletins. We also directly targeted 120,000 pensioners in receipt of Housing Benefit inviting them to claim Pension Credit. More recently, around 11 million pensioners will have received a leaflet promoting Pension Credit along with their State Pension uprating letter.Building on the success of our campaign, we are now writing to all pensioners who make a new claim for Housing Benefit, and who appear to be entitled to Pension Credit, encouraging them to make a claim.The latest Pension Credit applications and awards statistics were published on 27 February and are available at: Pension Credit applications and awards: February 2025 - GOV.UK. The statistics show that the Department made almost 50,000 extra awards on the comparable period in 2023/24. The next set of statistics will be published on 29 May.

What steps her Department is taking to support vulnerable people into work in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

The Get Britain Working White Paper set out the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation to support our ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate. The Department for Work and Pensions will shift from being a department for employment support and welfare to being a department for work. This means a new, locally led system of work and health support being available for those who are unemployed, bringing together existing locally delivered employment support as a single coherent offer that is part of areas’ local growth plans. Our Jobcentre teams work closely with the Local Authority as well as employers, local colleges and providers in Harpenden and Berkhamsted to promote employment opportunities for our customers, including those who are vulnerable. Jobcentres also have a range of specialist roles to work with vulnerable customers. These roles include Disability Employment Advisers, Prison Work Coaches, Supporting Families Employment Advisers, Visiting Officers and more. There is a range of employability support options such as face to face or group sessions, job fairs and career events to help engage with vulnerable customers in a setting to suit their needs. There is also Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP) and Mentoring Circles where our Jobcentre teams work closely with employers and providers to give customers the skills they need to enter employment. An example is that we are currently running a Care Sector SWAP for full and part time roles which can be completed at home to support lone parents and those with health conditions to participate. The Jobcentre teams also have a range of contracted support which is available to our vulnerable customers to help them move closer and in to work. This includes Restart, Work and Health Programme, CV help from NCS, Disability Forums and Jobclubs.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the Winter Fuel Payment on living standards for pensioners in Harpenden and Berkhamsted.

The Government is, protecting pensioners on the lowest incomes. Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or other qualifying means-tested benefits or tax credits. They will continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged 80 or over. The last Labour Government lifted over one million pensioners out of poverty, and this Government – despite having to make the tough decisions to deal with our dire inheritance - remains absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. Our commitment to the Triple Lock means that spending on State Pensions is forecast to rise by around £31 billion over this Parliament. While the State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people, other help is also available for low-income pensioners. This includes Cold Weather Payments in England & Wales and help with energy bills via the Warm Home Discount scheme, as well as the Household Support Fund in England, which we extended for a further year with funding of £742 million, with corresponding funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that deafblind people can access appropriate social care in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) the rest of England.

Under the Care Act 2014 and Care and Support (Assessment) Regulations 2014, local authorities are responsible for ensuring people with complex disabilities, including deafblind people, access the right care and support. Under the Equality Act (2010), local authorities must also make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged.The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how well local authorities in England are performing against their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, including their duties relating to the access and provision of care and support for people with complex disabilities. Support for people with complex disabilities will form part of the CQC’s overall assessment of local authorities’ delivery of adult social care. In that context, the CQC will, for example, report on how the local authorities work with deafblind people when there is something important to highlight, such as something being done well, innovative practice, or an area for improvement. The CQC is assessing all 153 local authorities in England. So far, the CQC has published over twenty assessments, including an assessment for Hertfordshire County Council, which is available at the following link:https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports/Hertfordshire1By identifying local authorities’ strengths and areas for improvement, CQC assessments facilitate the sharing of good practice and help us to target support where it is most needed. These steps will help to ensure that people with complex disabilities, including deafblind people, do not face barriers to accessing appropriate care.