NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) currently has one women’s health hub operating, at Frome Medical Practice, in Frome. It offers long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), ring pessaries and menopause support.

In addition, there is a specialist menopause service for women in Somerset, which takes place in Glastonbury. The service is available via a general practice referral.

The primary care networks of Castle Cary and North Sedgemoor have LARC and ring pessary clinics for all practices. NHS Somerset ICB is working with primary care networks to develop a neighbourhood model to enhance the way women access a range of health services.

Public sector digital services are expected to be secure, resilient and effective. This is supported by a framework of safeguards, including data protection legislation, UK security standards, the Cloud First policy, commercial rules and the Data and AI Ethics Framework.

Under UK data protection law, data controllers (including Government Departments) must ensure personal data is protected, including internationally. Where cloud providers may be subject to overseas obligations, such as the US CLOUD Act, Departments as controllers are responsible for assessing and, if necessary, mitigating the risks.

The UK has an adequacy decision for certain US transfers under the UK Extension to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which assessed US access laws, including the CLOUD Act. Where adequacy is not relied upon, organisations must use Article 46 safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses.

Given the ICO's role as the UK’s independent regulator, the Government has not had individual engagement on this matter specifically but note that Departments (as data controllers) ensure compliance and engage with it as appropriate.

Under UK data protection laws, organisations must ensure personal data is appropriately protected when transferred internationally.

The UK has an adequacy decision for the US, which included an assessment of US national security safeguards. Where adequacy is not relied upon, organisations must rely on alternative safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses.

The UK has been designated a ‘qualifying state’ by the US under Executive Order 14086 allowing individuals whose personal data has been transferred to the US access to redress mechanisms if they believe their personal data has been accessed or handled unlawfully by US authorities for national security purposes.

Where cloud service providers may be subject to overseas legal obligations, including the United States CLOUD Act, departments are responsible as data controllers to assess and mitigate the associated risks.

The UK has an adequacy decision for certain transfers to the US under the UK Extension to the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. This decision assessed US laws and practices relating to government access to data, including the US CLOUD Act. This analysis is published and available on GOV.UK. Where adequacy is not relied upon, organisations must use alternative safeguards in line with Article 46 of the UK GDPR, such as standard contractual clauses.

Departments’ assessments enable them to identify and implement proportionate mitigations. These may include technical controls, such as encryption and strict access restrictions, contractual safeguards with service providers, and organisational measures governing data handling and oversight. Where relevant, departments must also assess the application of UK international data transfer provisions and ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport recognises the vital contribution that freelancers provide to the cultural ecosystem of this country. We are taking a number of steps to support this part of the creative workforce, as set out in our Creative Industries Sector Plan, and that is why we will shortly announce the appointment of a Freelance Champion, who will advocate for the creative sector’s freelancers within government.

The government has made no assessment of the financial impact on freelance workers in the UK television and creative industries of Covid-era Government-backed loans issued to limited company contractors.

The Government has set out its ambition to move towards digital right to work checks. The detail of how alternative methods will operate in that future regime has not yet been finalised. Digital ID itself is under development following consultation on the proposals.

Until further policy and legislative detail is published, employers should continue to rely on the existing prescribed checking methods set out in Home Office guidance.

At present, individuals can demonstrate their right to work using the following prescribed methods:

• Manual document checks, by reviewing original acceptable documents (e.g. passports, or combinations such as a birth certificate and National Insurance evidence).
• Home Office online checks, using a share code where an individual holds digital immigration status (e.g. eVisa).
• Employer Checking Service (ECS) checks, where an individual cannot demonstrate their status through documents or the online service.
• A right to work check using a digital verification service provider.

Where carried out in accordance with Home Office guidance and statutory codes of practice, these checks provide employers with a statutory excuse and remain the lawful basis for verifying a right to work in the UK.

We remain committed to legislating on these important matters when Parliamentary time allows.

This Government committed in the 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan to bringing forward an Access to Nature Green Paper. This will provide an opportunity to explore options for improving and expanding access, test potential approaches, and gather robust evidence before any decisions are taken.

A timetable for publication has not yet been confirmed, but further updates will be provided in due course.

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system.

Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper.

Targeted engagement is already taking place with stakeholders across the water sector to support policy development.

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system.

Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper.

Targeted engagement is already taking place with stakeholders across the water sector to support policy development.

The Government has been following the development of the EU’s Union Customs Code reforms closely, including the removal of the €150 customs duty relief for small parcels from 1 July 2026. These are EU domestic measures, and we are engaging with the European Commission and UK businesses to understand the implications. My department has published guidance on gov.uk to support exporters to continue to access EU markets.

We recognise the importance of the UNESCO Florence Agreement in promoting the exchange of educational, scientific and cultural materials by reducing customs barriers that could impede knowledge exchange.

DCMS officials have had discussions with DHSC on the value of arts and culture to public health and wellbeing. DCMS also routinely meets with its arms-length body, Arts Council England (ACE), on their work to support people’s health, happiness and wellbeing via access to high-quality cultural and creative activities.

Research commissioned by DCMS' Culture and Heritage Capital Programme found that general engagement with culture and heritage positively impacts physical health, mental health, and productivity, which for adults, is valued at £18.6bn per year. For adults aged 65 years and over who attend a choir weekly, there is an estimated benefit on a society-wide level of £170m.

Adults over 50 years old who engage with cultural venues have delayed dementia onset, resulting in social care and NHS savings of £0.38bn.

The government supports the arts sector, including choirs and singing through ACE. For the 2024/25 financial year, ACE allocated £1.83 million in National Lottery Project Grants to projects classified under 'Choral’.

Within ACE’s National Portfolio Investment Programme, 334 organisations provide “creative health” programming. To support this work, the Arts Council provides an annual investment of £145 million to National Portfolio Organisations whose activities incorporate creative health.

ACE has also co-funded the National Academy of Social Proscribing (NASP) to deliver the Power of Music programme, which aims to transform how music supports dementia care within NHS systems.

Regarding the potential role of an extended Orchestra Tax Relief, fiscal policy and the design of tax reliefs are the remit of His Majesty’s Treasury.

Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) provides tax relief on production costs and provided around £50 million of support in 2023-24. There is currently no other country in the world which offers similar relief to orchestras, and the aim is to recognise the artistic importance and cultural value of the sector.

To qualify for OTR, a concert must be performed by a group of at least 12 instrumentalists. The voice is not considered to be an instrument for the purposes of the relief. However, orchestra concerts with a vocal element are not excluded. Concerts featuring a choir may be eligible provided that the instrumentalists remain the primary focus. These rules help ensure OTR fulfils its objective of supporting and incentivising orchestra concerts specifically. The Government is not currently considering extending the relief to choirs.

Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) provides tax relief on production costs and provided around £50 million of support in 2023-24. There is currently no other country in the world which offers similar relief to orchestras, and the aim is to recognise the artistic importance and cultural value of the sector.

To qualify for OTR, a concert must be performed by a group of at least 12 instrumentalists. The voice is not considered to be an instrument for the purposes of the relief. However, orchestra concerts with a vocal element are not excluded. Concerts featuring a choir may be eligible provided that the instrumentalists remain the primary focus. These rules help ensure OTR fulfils its objective of supporting and incentivising orchestra concerts specifically. The Government is not currently considering extending the relief to choirs.

Supplies of care services are exempt from VAT if they are supplied by eligible bodies, such as public bodies or charities. No VAT is charged to the consumer of the service, nor can the supplier recover VAT incurred in the course of providing the service.

Community interest companies (CICs) are not charities in law and must meet the criteria of being state-regulated in order to provide VAT-exempt care services. If CICs do not qualify for the VAT exemption, they charge VAT on the services they provide at the 20% standard rate.

Under Section 33 of the VAT Act 1994, certain bodies, including local authorities are able to recover VAT incurred in the course of their non-business activities. Non-business activities are broadly activities which are not undertaken to generate income, such as the provision of statutory health and social care services. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-and-customs-brief-10-2022-vat-business-and-non-business-activities/vat-business-and-non-business-activities

The objective of the Section 33 refund scheme for local authorities is to prevent these bodies from needing to use local taxation to fund their VAT costs. Extending the scheme to include charities and community interest companies would not meet this objective.

Supplies of care services are exempt from VAT if they are supplied by eligible bodies, such as public bodies or charities. No VAT is charged to the consumer of the service, nor can the supplier recover VAT incurred in the course of providing the service.

Community interest companies (CICs) are not charities in law and must meet the criteria of being state-regulated in order to provide VAT-exempt care services. If CICs do not qualify for the VAT exemption, they charge VAT on the services they provide at the 20% standard rate.

Under Section 33 of the VAT Act 1994, certain bodies, including local authorities are able to recover VAT incurred in the course of their non-business activities. Non-business activities are broadly activities which are not undertaken to generate income, such as the provision of statutory health and social care services. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-and-customs-brief-10-2022-vat-business-and-non-business-activities/vat-business-and-non-business-activities

The objective of the Section 33 refund scheme for local authorities is to prevent these bodies from needing to use local taxation to fund their VAT costs. Extending the scheme to include charities and community interest companies would not meet this objective.

Supplies of care services are exempt from VAT if they are supplied by eligible bodies, such as public bodies or charities. No VAT is charged to the consumer of the service, nor can the supplier recover VAT incurred in the course of providing the service.

Community interest companies (CICs) are not charities in law and must meet the criteria of being state-regulated in order to provide VAT-exempt care services. If CICs do not qualify for the VAT exemption, they charge VAT on the services they provide at the 20% standard rate.

Under Section 33 of the VAT Act 1994, certain bodies, including local authorities are able to recover VAT incurred in the course of their non-business activities. Non-business activities are broadly activities which are not undertaken to generate income, such as the provision of statutory health and social care services. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-and-customs-brief-10-2022-vat-business-and-non-business-activities/vat-business-and-non-business-activities

The objective of the Section 33 refund scheme for local authorities is to prevent these bodies from needing to use local taxation to fund their VAT costs. Extending the scheme to include charities and community interest companies would not meet this objective.

Supplies of care services are exempt from VAT if they are supplied by eligible bodies, such as public bodies or charities. No VAT is charged to the consumer of the service, nor can the supplier recover VAT incurred in the course of providing the service.

Community interest companies (CICs) are not charities in law and must meet the criteria of being state-regulated in order to provide VAT-exempt care services. If CICs do not qualify for the VAT exemption, they charge VAT on the services they provide at the 20% standard rate.

Under Section 33 of the VAT Act 1994, certain bodies, including local authorities are able to recover VAT incurred in the course of their non-business activities. Non-business activities are broadly activities which are not undertaken to generate income, such as the provision of statutory health and social care services. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-and-customs-brief-10-2022-vat-business-and-non-business-activities/vat-business-and-non-business-activities

The objective of the Section 33 refund scheme for local authorities is to prevent these bodies from needing to use local taxation to fund their VAT costs. Extending the scheme to include charities and community interest companies would not meet this objective.