The UK will remain party to the ECHR after it has left the EU. The UK has strong human rights protections within a comprehensive and well-established constitutional and legal system and the decision to leave the EU does not change this.

Section 26 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 provides a power for Ministers to make regulations to determine which Courts may depart from judgments handed down by the Court of Justice of the European Union before the end of the implementation period and in what circumstances.…

The United Kingdom has a long tradition of ensuring rights and liberties are protected domestically and of fulfilling its international human rights obligations. The decision to leave the European Union does not change this. We fully intend to maintain our leading role in the promotion and…

I cannot comment on Cabinet discussions, or on whether or not I have given legal advice. What I can say is that the Government remains fully committed to the principle of family reunion and supporting the most vulnerable children. Clause 37 of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill does not represent a…

I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues of common interest, including of course on matters relating to the UK’s exit from the EU. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the detail of those discussions. The question of the deadline for the EU Settlement…

The government is committed to investing in tools and training that can help to mitigate the challenges posed by large volumes of electronic evidence. The CPS provides extensive disclosure training for all prosecutors to ensure they are properly equipped to handle these challenges. The College of…

There has been unprecedented joint commitment and focus from the police and the CPS to finding solutions to the problem of getting the provision of material evidence and disclosure right. Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Inspectorate (HMCPSI) recently published a report on disclosure in the…

he Government is committed to ensuring that the honours system is fully representative of UK society. The proportion of women and people from ethnic minorities receiving recognition on each honours list is available on GOV.UK as is a breakdown of ethnicities of recipients is published on the…

This case is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office which investigates and prosecutes allegations of the most serious or complex fraud, bribery and corruption. These allegations are challenging to investigate. Their investigation is handled with great care and this necessarily takes time.…

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

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

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

The ULS scheme remains an important avenue for victims, family members and the public to ensure justice is delivered in the most serious cases. Since its inception in 1989, the ULS scheme has been extended to include additional offences, including some sexual offences, and offences involving child…

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

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

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

The CPS has a strong record of bringing successful prosecutions in terrorism cases, and works closely with Counter Terrorism policing and partners to help build strong cases. Where individuals provide support to terrorism abroad, for example by funding terrorism, they should expect to be…

I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues of common interest, including on matters relating to the rule of law. As my predecessor set out in his speech at Chatham House in May 2018, the UK has been clear that we consider cyber space to be an integral part of the rules…

As a consequence of the long-standing Law Officers’ Convention, the Attorney General does not confirm whether advice has been provided to Ministerial colleagues on any particular issue, or the content of any advice that has been given. Policy responsibility for this matter lies with the…

The Attorney General’s role in respect of the Official Secrets Act is confined to granting consent to prosecute as defined in that Act.

The policy responsibility for the operation of the Official Secrets Acts is a matter for the Cabinet Office. The Attorney General’s role in respect of the Official Secrets Act is confined to granting consent to prosecute as defined in that Act.

I regularly meet ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues of common interest, including on matters relating to the UK’s exit from the EU. I am unable to disclose the legal content of those discussions because whether or not the Law Officers have given advice and the content of any…

I am not able to provide any specific information about an on-going investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. I can confirm that I am aware of this case and I receive regular case updates in relation to it.

The Government understands the legitimate desire of Parliament to understand the legal implications of the Withdrawal Agreement and will look at what assistance it can provide the House. The Government has already published a collection of material to support public and parliamentary assessment of…

The Attorney General’s Office received a number of referrals under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) Scheme for the case of R v Broadhurst. The Law Officers can only refer a sentence as unduly lenient if there has been a “gross error” resulting in the sentence being significantly…

The United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed the outline terms of a comprehensive future security relationship including law enforcement, criminal justice, and judicial cooperation.I have regular meetings and briefings with the Director of Public Prosecutions and senior officials of the…

The Government understands the legitimate desire of Parliament to understand the legal implications of the Withdrawal Agreement. I have today written to the Prime Minister about an exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission.…

The Attorney General will consider requests to review decisions where new evidence becomes available.However, the requested information would require the examining of AGO case files and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The Law Officers have received 705 applications for consent since 1 January 2013. Consent has been declined in 33 applications. Consent was declined on 14 occasions as there was insufficient evidence and on 19 occasions because a prosecution was not in the public interest.

The Law Officers consider each consent case on its merits and take in to account international treaties, conventions and associated guidance on their interpretation and implementation where necessary.Data on what information was considered in each case can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The Attorney General does not advise the Electoral Commission who are an independent body and will take their own legal advice. The Attorney General is therefore not representing the Electoral Commission in any proceedings and has not held a discussion with First Treasury Counsel on this basis.

In 2010, Jon Venables was arrested and charged, under his new identity, with offences relating to the viewing of child pornography. On 21 June 2010, in the context of those criminal proceedings, Mr Justice Bean amended the Injunction so as to prohibit the publication of information revealed in…

YearNumber of referrals for alleged breaches of the order2018252017122016120151201422013322012020111201012009-200302002120011 Allegations about breaches of the injunction protecting the identities of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson can be received from anybody, including members of the public,…

This question refers to costs incurred over a considerable period of time. The Government Legal Department (‘GLD’) has carried out a reasonable and proportionate interrogation of its digital records and has ascertained that the following costs have been incurred (all figures given…

The Attorney General’s Office and the Government Legal Department are bound by statutory obligations and act in accordance with publicly available policies on the gov.uk website, as well as the Subject Access Code of Practice published by the Information Commissioner’s Office, which is…

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is an independent organisation and is a key player in the response to economic crime, investigating and prosecuting some of the most serious and complex cases and recovering proceeds of crime, with a case conviction rate of over 83% during the past five years. The SFO…

The latest annual report and accounts are now available on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Website. The table below shows that, during each of the last four most recently available years, conviction rates have remained stable in both magistrates’ courts and at the Crown…

The National Fund was created in 1928 with the purpose of paying off the entire national debt. At present the fund cannot be used unless it completely clears the national debt, due to the terms of the fund’s charitable trust.On 22 May 2018 my predecessor made an application to the High Court…

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to launch a second phase of the local sustainability fund.

To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what grants the Church Commissioners have given to churches in (a) Devon and (b) Cornwall from the Roof Repair Fund in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that rural hospitality businesses are adequately supported in the context of (a) rising wholesale food prices, (b) energy costs, (c) increased (i) wage and (ii) NIC pressures and (d) insurance premiums.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has considered providing access to post boxes in new housing developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions the Minister of State for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business has had with Post Office Ltd on the decision to reduce the remuneration period for subpostmasters with Hard to Place post offices; and what steps he is taking to…

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to make further funding available to households who do not qualify for the Energy Bill Support Scheme, including off grid households.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had recent discussions with Xlinks on the price of electricity it might supply to the national grid from solar power generated in Morocco.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what factors he will take into account in negotiations to agree with Xlinks a price for the electricity it will supply to the National Grid; and how he will ensure value for money in public spending on the interconnector…

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the average time taken is for registrations of land by the land registry in each of the last three years; and what recent assessment he has made of adequacy of the efficiency of the land registry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to his Department's announcement of 27 November 2013 on Post Office branch modernisation, how many Post Offices have benefited to date from the dedicated fund to support smaller community branches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 to allow for the installation of additional floors in converting agricultural buildings for…

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 to enable a Class Q application to be made in two parts for (a) change of use and…

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the (a) social and (b) other effects on rural areas of paragraph 49 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many small applications for house-building have been made in Torridge and West Devon constituency since 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the number of small housing applications that are declined on the basis that they are unsustainable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that small villages and towns have sufficient housing to meet demand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the Government's housing policy on the ability of smaller housing applications in rural villages to succeed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made in his review of the effects of the one per cent rent reduction on small almshouse charities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to help people in receipt of housing benefit secure private rented accommodation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Supported People programme funding to local authorities reaches vulnerable people in Devon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to announce a decision on the planning appeal submitted by the Route 39 free school in Torridge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the post-construction obligations on large volume housing developers in enforcing compliance with building regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to address poor mobile network coverage in rural communities in Torridge and West Devon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with Sport England on the (a) promotion and (b) development of (i) padel and (ii) pickleball as national sports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to promote battlefield tourism in (a) England and (b) Northam in Torridge and West Devon constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to increase battlefield tourism in South West England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to promote battlefield tourism in England in the next 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) protection and (b) funding is available for historic battlefields in (i) England and (ii) Northam in Torridge and West Devon constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to promote tourism in the south west of England in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department plans to provide funding to Tavistock College under the school rebuilding programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent estimate she has made of the number of households affected by fuel poverty in (a) Torridge and West Devon constituency and (b) the South West of England in each of the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent steps she has taken to review the performance of (a) the cavity wall insulation industry and (b) the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions he has had with Ofgem on its change of interpretation of the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme Regulations 2011, as amended by the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2014, in respect of the definition…

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will take steps to ensure that both (a) Combined Heat and Power facilities where biogas production and combustion take place on the same site and (b) facilities that also produce biogas on the same site, but which generate their…

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will (a) hold discussions with stakeholders on Dartmoor and (b) attend the forthcoming annual Dartmoor Forum this spring.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 July 2024 to Question 1488 on Agriculture: Food Supply, if he will have discussions with the Prime Minister on holding a farm to fork summit at 10 Downing Street in 2025.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support business advisory services such as (a) Business Information Point West Devon and (b) the Future Farming Resilience Program.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will meet with hon. Members representing constituencies in Devon to have discussions on the (a) conservation of Dartmoor moorland and (b) protection of Dartmoor ponies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the report of the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor led by David Fursdon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to coordinate efforts with local groups to protect Dartmoor ponies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department held discussions at the recent North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation on protecting salmon stocks as they migrate to feeding grounds in the North Atlantic; and if she will press for international…

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she (a) received and (b) plans to publish the report of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, commissioned by Natural England pursuant to the Agri-Environment Schemes Species Monitoring Project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with Natural England on its policy on grazing on sites of special scientific interest; and whether she is taking steps to help ensure the continuation of traditional farming of hefted flocks…

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Natural England on supporting the value of traditional farming and the social and cultural capital of its communities supported by upland farming in a manner that encourages the promotion of…

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) prevalence of Brucella Canis and (b) risk it presents to humans in the UK; and what steps including import controls she is taking to prevent the spread of that disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to extend the rebate for South West Water customers for a further year, in the context of pricing structures for 2022-23 being determined by water companies early in 2022.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of widespread vaccination of the UK’s badger population for the purpose of reducing the spread of bovine tuberculosis; what evidence his Department has…

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made in tackling the backlog of pigs awaiting slaughter on farms; and what recent discussions he has had with the (a) National Pig Association and (b) National Farmers’ Union on issues affecting the…

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement of 24 June 2021, HCWS119 on Government response to the Landscapes Review, what recent progress has been made in developing proposals for the reform of National Parks and AONBs; what…

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to ensure that the implementation of the principle of local governance of national parks remains effective; and what assessment he has made of the compatibility of that principle and the introduction of a…

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help alleviate the environmental impact of (a) polystyrene bodyboards and (b) other disposable beach products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the 2019 Landscapes Review; and when he plans to publish the Government’s response to that review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that UK fishing businesses are able to gain access to EU markets with minimal delays arising from customs procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the challenges facing the British pig industry; and what steps the Government is taking to support pig farmers in the Torridge and West Devon constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of culled badgers are tested for bovine tuberculosis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the conclusions of her Department's investigations into the use of contraceptives for Dartmoor ponies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of the complexity of the rules and requirements for applications under LEADER 5 on the take-up of that scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for grants under LEADER 5 North Devon Plus have been (a) received and (b) granted in Torridge and North Devon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the rules and requirements for LEADER 5 do not deter individuals and businesses from pursuing applications under that scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when it is planned Dartmoor Farmers who farm on common land will receive payments under the Basic Payment Scheme; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of expanding the Marine Conservation Zone from Bideford to Foreland Point to include the Greencliff site.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of trends in the overall size of the under-10 metres fishing fleet in (a) England, (b) the South West of England and (c) Devon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the blanket ban on bass on the North Devon fishing industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to tackle bovine TB in Torridge and West Devon constituency; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effects of the ban on fishing for bass on the North Devon fishing industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase quota levels for the under-10 metres fishing fleet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what is the current backlog of appeals awaiting adjudication by the Planning Inspectorate (a) in each region and (b) nationally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the reasons for delays to decisions on planning appeals by the Planning Inspectorate; and what steps he is taking to ensure prompt and timely adjudication on those decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to protect people who have signed up to the Help to Buy Scheme from property developers altering completion dates of their building programmes to a date beyond the closure of that scheme; and what…

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) capping total costs relating to the remediation of fire safety defects that can be passed on to leaseholders at a percentage of the value of their equity in the…

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent estimate he has made of the costs being passed on to leaseholders for (a) remediation works for fire-safety defects and (b) waking-watch and fire alarm installation in buildings under 18 metres in height that have…

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has been made of the potential impact on housing need in rural areas as a result of covid-19 related adjustments to working patterns; what discussions his Department has had with local authorities on the…

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support innovation in epilepsy research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether it is his Department's policy that properties in hard-to-reach hamlets in rural areas (a) must receive gigabit-capable broadband or (b) can receive slower-speed broadband to ensure connectivity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will provide interim funding for hamlets in remote areas to improve broadband coverage before his target date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her timetable is for notifying local authorities of their multi‑year allocations for the Local Authority Bus Grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings (a) she has and (b) Ministers in her Department have had with hon. Members from (i) her party and (ii) other parties on rail infrastructure projects in their constituencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what she has recently consulted with relevant stakeholders on the future of the Tavistock to Plymouth line.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department plans to conclude the review of the Tavistock to Plymouth railway project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to provide one per cent of the funding required for the Tavistock to Plymouth railway project to help ensure the completion of the (a) business case and (b) Governance for Railway Investment Projects report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that the DVLA (a) clears the backlog of driving licence applications and (b) expedites the time taken for applicants to receive their renewed licences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has been made of the adequacy of bus services in (a) rural and (b) coastal communities; what assessment he has made of the role bus services have in enabling access to (i) NHS appointments, (ii) social care provision and (iii)…

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to increase the speed with which HGV licence applications are processed; how many additional staff have been hired by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in the last six months; what assessment he has made of the…

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the transport infrastructure needs of rural and coastal communities in the South West region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the safety of smart motorways; how many fatal accidents have occurred on smart motorways since their introduction; and what guidance has been issued to motorists who break down on smart motorways and who are unable…

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of access to rail services for residents of Torridge and West Devon constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many casualties were recorded in road traffic accidents in (a) Torridge and West Devon constituency and (b) Devon in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the standard and level of maintenance of roads in Torridge and West Devon constituency; and what steps his Department has taken to improve the maintenance of those roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to extend railway network services between London and Okehampton.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is providing for the maintenance of rural roads in Torridge and West Devon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to assist local authorities with the maintenance of rural roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the implications for her policies of housing providers inflating rents, and therefore amounts received from local authorities for providing housing, by means of intra-company sales at inflated values.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government has taken to prevent cliff edge effects in its policy on the equalisation of the state pension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending compensation to children who have been exposed to asbestos as a result of contact with parents who have mesothelioma.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to reduce health spending inequalities between (a) the UK and other European countries and (b) UK health authority districts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what scientific evidence led to the promotion of the care closer to home model adopted by the north, east and west Devon Success Regime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that public consultations on local NHS changes involve patients and the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to improve public and patient involvement in the NHS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to ensure local authorities can adequately fund learning disability services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps other than the social care precept the Government is taking to ensure that local authorities are able adequately to fund services for people with learning disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the future effect of the introduction of the national living wage on sleep-in payments used by the learning disability sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has for the next National Clinical Audit of avoidable deaths in relation to epilepsy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the NICE quality standards on rheumatoid arthritis, what steps he has taken to ensure patients with early inflammatory arthritis are referred from their GP to rheumatology services within three days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what account the Government took of arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions in its Childhood Obesity Strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of the Government's proposals for community pharmacies on rural communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives from the health sector on the development of services to treat arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to publish a funded arthritis action plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received on regional variations on the availability of treatment for arthritis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to increase awareness of (a) arthritis and (b) other musculoskeletal conditions; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to promote independent mental health advocacy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals in (a) Devon and (b) Cornwall have round the clock mental health support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that vulnerable and terminally ill residents in rural communities in Devon can rely on the provision of daily phlebotomy services within a reasonable travelling distance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Devon Integrated Care Board on access to non-emergency NHS dental appointments for (a) children and (b) elderly people in Torridge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) he and (b) his Ministers have had recent discussions with dental schools in the South West on encouraging newly qualified dentists to work in NHS‑providing dental practices in rural communities, such as Torridge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral statement of 20 January 2025 on New Hospital Programme Review, Official Report, columns 748-750, whether he considered (a) the remoteness of and (b) recent trends of deprivation in Torridge and Tavistock…

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the new timetable for the redevelopment of North Devon District Hospital on (a) patient outcomes and (b) service capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure the provision of (a) safe and (b) effective care for patients in Torridge and North Devon, in the context of the new timetable for the redevelopment of North Devon District Hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his oral statement of 20 January 2025 on New Hospital Programme Review, Official Report, column 750, if his Department will make short-term capital funding available to help ensure the safety of North Devon District…

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support businesses that provide services to the NHS in rural areas, in the context of changes to the level of employer National Insurance contributions at the Autumn Budget 2024.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support (a) GP surgeries, (b) dentists, (c) pharmacies and (d) care homes in rural areas to tackle workforce pressures, in the context of changes to the level of employer National Insurance…

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle (a) sexism, (b) racism and (c) bullying behaviour within the ambulance service; and if she will establish an independent body to review complaints made by ambulance workers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to (a) promote better awareness within the NHS of the symptoms of Lyme disease and (b) speed up (i) testing and (ii) analysis of test results for Lyme disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the review of the contractual arrangements under which NHS dental treatment is carried out will be completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will take urgent steps to improve the availability and quality of NHS dental treatment in Torridge and West Devon constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of funding the construction of defibrillator networks from the NHS central budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost of building the Government's planned national network of defibrillators; and what proportion of that cost his Department will cover.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what financial support his Department has provided for the purchase of defibrillators for installation in public places in the last five years; what recent assessment he has made of the need to install community defibrillators in public…

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has a maximum distance it considers appropriate for patients to travel for dental care; what data he holds on waiting times for patients in Devon for NHS dental care; and what assessment he has made of the potential…

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to administer covid-19 vaccinations to inmates in prisons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the number of consultant neurologists in the NHS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to assist Mr and Mrs Dennis Ryalls to ascertain the cause of the death of their son, Benjamin Ryalls, in Mombasa, Kenya on 24 July 2012.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that British citizens in Russia and Ukraine are able to make contact with UK authorities; and what assistance is being provided to British citizens in Russia and…

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a reduction in VAT for small businesses in the tourism sector.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent representations his Department has received on the level of VAT applicable to small tourist businesses.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he has taken to support tourism in the South West.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Afghan citizens have been granted resettlement under Pathway 2 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme to date; what discussions she has held with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on its processes for…

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the difficulties victims of domestic abuse experience in (a) severing contracts for services to which their abusers are a party and (b) in continuing to have access to those services; and if she will take steps…

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to simplify the online visa application process; what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the format of that process; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of…

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy is on ensuring that those who assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan are referred to the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of expanding the Afghan Relocations…

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure (a) that EU Settled Status applications are efficiently processed and (b) that applicants are able to contact UKVI in an effective and timely manner.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken to provide refuge for Afghan women judges who are eligible for the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme; and when that scheme will open.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to enable additional unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in France who have family members in this country to be admitted to the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children she plans to resettle in the UK under the Dubs amendment in the next six months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to assist unaccompanied refugee children in (a) France and (b) other European countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many local authorites have offered to receive and house Syrian child refugees.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to review the rule preventing those who have acquired British nationality by descent under Section 2(1)(a) of the British Nationality Act 1981 from passing on citizenship to their children by descent in…

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what integrated processes between services in the UK have been organised to receive Syrian child refugees from Calais.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress has been made on reaching an agreement on receiving children to the UK from the Calais camps.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what integrated processes between the UK and other countries have been organised to receive Syrian child refugees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to ensure that (a) Harland and Wolff is able to carry out the construction of Fleet Solid Support vessels and (b) Appledore Shipyard remains open.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to (a) assist and (b) ensure the safety of interpreters who were previously employed by UK armed forces in Afghanistan who have escaped to a third country and whose (i) application under the ARAP scheme and (ii) appeal against an…

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will exclude (a) Dartmoor, (b) the Tamar Valley and (c) other environmentally protected and low-density settlement areas in West Devon from her Department’s methodology for determining the required number of…

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the funding for the Levelling Up Partnership in Torridge will be released.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure the levelling up partnership in Torridge will move forward according to its current timetable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of the increased costs that local authorities will incur as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress the Government has made on discussions with the Duchy of Cornwall on the future of HMP Dartmoor; and what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of retaining that site within the prison estate beyond 2023.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will investigate the failure of the prisoner transport constructor GeoAmey to deliver three defendants to Plymouth Crown Court on 28 October 2016; and what the cost to the public purse was of that failure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish guidance on the tax regime for furnished holiday lets after April 2025.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the report entitled Property income review: simplifying income tax for residential landlords, published by the Office for Tax Simplification on 25 October 2022, if he will take steps to introduce legislative proposals for a brightline test…

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that deprived rural and coastal communities receive a fair allocation of per capita spending on public infrastructure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending further support to the hospitality, leisure, and tourism industries if the current suspension of commercial activity continues beyond June 2020.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to support small business owners that receive their income primarily through dividend payments rather than salary.