Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they last made an assessment of the success or otherwise of the role and cost to the Exchequer of the Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

As the directly elected representative for policing in their area, Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) have an important local role acting as the voice of the public and victims in policing, holding Chief Constables to account and leading local partnerships to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour.

In her Written Ministerial Statement of 19 November 2024 (HCWS232), the Home Secretary announced her intention to present a White Paper to Parliament this year on reforms to deliver more effective and efficient policing, to rebuild public confidence and to deliver the Government's Safer Streets mission.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to charge foreign patients the cost of non-urgent treatments provided by the NHS.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In England, the charging of overseas visitors for National Health Service healthcare already exists. Overseas visitors who use the NHS in England are charged upfront 150% of the cost of treatment. Only people who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, or otherwise exempt from charges under the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015, are eligible for NHS healthcare without charge in England.

Individuals coming to the UK for six months or more are expected to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of their visa application. Once their application is granted, they are entitled to receive treatment on broadly the same basis as someone who is ordinarily resident in the UK.

People coming to the UK for six months or less are expected to have adequate funds or insurance to cover any healthcare needs whilst in England.

The UK is also party to several reciprocal healthcare agreements. Patients who are from countries covered by a reciprocal healthcare agreement may be entitled to some NHS services without charge.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government why they plan to dispose of the plutonium stockpile at Sellafield.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Government took the decision to immobilise the UK’s civil separated plutonium inventory based on strategic, economic, technical and safety and security considerations. Immobilisation will put the material into a form which both reduces the long-term safety and security burden during storage and ensures it is suitable for disposal in a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF). Implementing a long-term solution for plutonium is essential to dealing with the UK’s nuclear legacy and leaving the environment safer for future generations. Furthermore, all current and planned UK reactors use uranium-based fuels.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with advanced modular reactor developer Newcleo, who previously stated their intention to use UK plutonium in their technology.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

DESNZ has engaged with several nuclear companies seeking to invest in the UK, including having discussions with Newcleo on their ambitions to deploy their nuclear reactor technology in the UK. The department is currently reviewing Newcleo’s application to enter the Generic Design Assessment regulatory process.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government how a decision about the plutonium stockpile at Sellafield was made; and what work has been done to establish the potential of technology that could produce mixed oxide fuel from plutonium.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Government decided to immobilise the UK’s civil separated plutonium inventory based on analysis of strategic, economic, technical and safety and security considerations. This included both immobilisation and re-use in mixed oxide (MOX) fuel options. No UK reactor projects use plutonium-based fuel and the UK’s MOX fuel plant closed in 2011.

Immobilisation will deliver the Government’s objective to put this material into a safer and more stable form for long-term storage and ensure it is suitable for disposal in a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether any assessment has been made of the impact of the plutonium stockpile at Sellafield on the long-term national interest by anyone other than the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; and if so, who.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The decision to immobilise the UK’s civil separated plutonium inventory was taken by the Government, based on consideration of strategic, technical, economic and safety and security factors. A substantial component of this analysis was delivered by NDA, and the Government also engaged with international partners and relevant experts in a range of organisations.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to pursue nuclear power if they permanently immobilise and entomb underground the stockpile of plutonium at Sellafield.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

All current and planned UK reactors use uranium fuels. Through the Nuclear Fuel Fund the Government has invested over £35m to develop new domestic uranium fuel production capabilities to ensure security of supply for the UK and our international partners. The Government is further investing up to £300m to establish a high assay low enriched uranium supply chain in the UK to support advanced nuclear technologies in the UK and overseas.