Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to replace the funding of the Stimulating Physics Network.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
This government has inherited significant pressures on public finances and difficult decisions must be made on how money is spent right across the public sector to ensure we deliver on our priorities. Despite these challenges, the department continues to promote physics and support participation in the subject.
As part of this support, the department is continuing to fund the Subject Knowledge for Physics Teaching programme. This is a series of blended learning courses covering the key stage 3 and key stage 4 physics curriculum to support non-specialist teachers of physics to enhance their subject knowledge.
The government is additionally continuing to fund the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Ambassadors programme, a nationwide network of more than 28,000 volunteers registered from over 7,500 employers, reaching over 3 million young people every year. These volunteers engage with young people to spark interest in STEM subjects and showcase the wide variety of STEM careers by sharing their personal experiences.
Further, the Oak National Academy aims to support teachers to improve curriculum delivery, reduce workload and support improved pupil outcomes up to key stage 4. This will ensure that all pupils have access to high-quality physics content giving them the best opportunity to progress to study physics or other STEM subjects at higher levels.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the draft Sport or Pleasure Vessel Code on small businesses.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The public consultation for the Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure Code of Practice and underpinning Statutory Instrument ran from the 4th December 2024 to the 25th February 2025.
A De-Minimis Assessment for the Code of Practice and Statutory Instrument was undertaken to fully consider the potential impacts of the proposed updates on the Sport or Pleasure Vessel sector. The De-Minimis Assessment included specific consideration of the likely impacts on small and micro businesses. The De-Minimis Assessment was published on gov.uk as part of the consultation package and remains publicly available.
As part of the consultation a number of specific questions were posed. This included a question asking whether respondents were aware of small or micro businesses who may be disproportionally affected by the draft measures set out in the Code of Practice or Statutory Instrument. The consultation provided an opportunity for any evidence on potential impacts to be submitted. All consultation responses are currently being reviewed.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers who are not registered to the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a two-year period.
Following the announcement that Defra has closed SFI for the submission of new applications, outstanding eligible applications that have been submitted will be processed.
SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package. We remain committed to investing in agri-environment schemes. We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; and we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome.
Funding from the farming budget also supports the provision of advice within the sector. The Farming Advice Service can assist farmers to review what advice and guidance is available to meet their business needs.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of engaging the pharmacy sector to help deliver digital NHS health checks.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Health Check Online will be ready for piloting in three local authorities from spring 2025 for six months. Throughout the development of the pilot, Community Pharmacy England has been engaged.
Individuals taking part in the pilot will be able to use the ‘NHS Find a Pharmacy’ service, which directs patients to their nearest participating pharmacy for a blood pressure check, without the need to see a general practitioner.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to provide funding for the Pharmacy First scheme after March 2025.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises that pharmacies are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals. We are working at pace with Community Pharmacy England to ensure that the funding we have available for community pharmacy is used in the best way possible, including for Pharmacy First.
We will announce the outcome of the consultation in the usual manner, by letter to contractors, when the consultation has concluded.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress he has made on the national rollout of digital NHS health checks across England; and when he expects that rollout to be completed.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Health Check Online service will be piloted in three local authorities from spring 2025 for six months. Subject to the outcomes of the pilot, an independent evaluation and Government Digital Service processes, the aim is to roll out nationally from spring 2026, delivering around one million checks in the first four years.
The NHS Health Check Online service will be delivered alongside the face-to-face programme, offering people the choice to carry out their health check at a time and place convenient to them, to understand and act on their risk of cardiovascular disease.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has considered (a) phasing in changes and (b) enabling the completion of projects that were (i) already on-site, (ii) due to commence shortly and (ii) part of phased works that had begun prior to the changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Claims received in this financial year are unaffected, assuming that they are eligible claims with the required detail and documentation.
We expect the cap will be applied to all claims received on or after 1 April 2025. We will be publishing guidance on scheme applications and eligibility in due course.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, announced on 22 January 2025, on the ability of religious buildings in (a) areas of (i) deprivation and (ii) low economic activity and (b) investment zones to serve their communities.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS Ministers received advice on changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, including consideration of the potential impacts of various options to scale the scheme.
We believe that the changes announced will continue the widest distribution of the scheme’s benefits for communities within the available means, including in areas of deprivation and low economic activity. Based on previous scheme data, we expect 94% of claims to be unaffected by this change.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential impact of airport expansion on meeting targets under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My Department seeks to minimise the impact of aviation on people’s health and wellbeing, in the context of other government priorities. My officials are in regular contact on this issue with other government departments and their agencies, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The assessment of planning applications for airport expansion will take account of all relevant law, policy and other material considerations. This includes environmental and air quality assessments undertaken as part of the planning application process.
The Government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding commitments on carbon and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.
Asked by: Rebecca Smith (Conservative - South West Devon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of airport expansion on meeting targets under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My Department seeks to minimise the impact of aviation on people’s health and wellbeing, in the context of other government priorities. My officials are in regular contact on this issue with other government departments and their agencies, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The assessment of planning applications for airport expansion will take account of all relevant law, policy and other material considerations. This includes environmental and air quality assessments undertaken as part of the planning application process.
The Government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding commitments on carbon and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution.