Ben Spencer

Ministers have had no such discussions and ARIA does not currently have a programme focused on space weather.

As set out in ARIA’s Framework Agreement, ARIA has maximum autonomy over its research and project choice. Decisions on the programme portfolio are set by ARIA, and allocation of funding to research projects is decided by those with relevant technical expertise.

Ministers have had no such discussions.

However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.

Ministers have had no such discussions.

However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.

Ministers have had no such discussions.

However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.

Ministers have had no such discussions.

However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.

Ministers have had no such discussions.

However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.

Ministers have had no such discussions.

However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.

Ministers have had no such discussions.

However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.

Ministers have had no such discussions.

However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.

Ministers have had no such discussions.

However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.

Ministers have had no such discussions.

However, as a part of their portfolio UKRI work with the Met Office to deliver the Space weather instrumentation, measurement, modelling and risk (SWIMMR), a £20 million, four-year programme that will improve the UK’s capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.

Space research in Horizon Europe is covered under Pillar 2, in the cluster ‘Digital, Industry and Space’. DSIT encourages UK researchers to take part in the available funding opportunities to support international cooperation.

The EU has restricted the participation of associated countries in a small part of the programme, which includes some calls focused on space technology. DSIT is working constructively with the EU to address these restrictions. We do not pay for areas in which we do not participate.

Making Horizon Europe association a success is DSIT’s priority and DSIT is working to boost UK participation and remove barriers to international R&D collaborations.

Space research in Horizon Europe is covered under Pillar 2, in the cluster ‘Digital, Industry and Space’. DSIT encourages UK researchers to take part in the available funding opportunities to support international cooperation.

The EU has restricted the participation of associated countries in a small part of the programme, which includes some calls focused on space technology. DSIT is working constructively with the EU to address these restrictions. We do not pay for areas in which we do not participate.

Making Horizon Europe association a success is DSIT’s priority and DSIT is working to boost UK participation and remove barriers to international R&D collaborations.

Through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) the government committed £8.9 million for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in 2023 and 2024 is £8.9m. £5.8 million of this is through UKRI’s Medical Research Council funding, which includes research into CKD after pregnancy complications, rare genetic diseases and cardiovascular disease as well as discovering new therapies to treat CKD.

The Department of Health and Social Care funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR spent £13.4m on Chronic Kidney Diseases in 2023-24.

Through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the government committed £17.2 million funding for Type 1 Diabetes research in 2023 and 2024 (and includes funding from the Horizon Europe Guarantee). £8.3 million of this is through UKRI’s Medical Research Council funding, which includes research into novel diagnostic technology, cell replacement and pancreatic biology as well as research into foot ulcers and diabetic neuropathy.

The Department of Health and Social Care funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR spent £5.2 million on Type 1 Diabetes in 2023-24.

I refer the Hon Member to the reply I gave in UIN 16568

The Department has regular discussions with businesses and universities on a range of issues.

The Department has regular discussions with businesses and universities on a range of issues.

The Government recognises the importance of food biosecurity. It is critical in helping prevent the spread of disease-causing agents and protecting the safety of food, animals, and humans.

The Department engages regularly with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and its constituent Councils, on research and innovation priorities. UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) also works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Food Standards Agency and other stakeholders to coordinate and fund a range of cross-sectoral research activities in this area.

The BBSRC and Food Standards Agency fund the UK Food Safety Research Network, which connects the food industry, food and health policymakers and academia to collaboratively pursue shared research priorities that will protect the UK from foodborne hazards.

The Government recognises the importance of food biosecurity. It is critical in helping prevent the spread of disease-causing agents and protecting the safety of food, animals, and humans.

The Department engages regularly with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and its constituent Councils, on research and innovation priorities. UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) also works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Food Standards Agency and other stakeholders to coordinate and fund a range of cross-sectoral research activities in this area.

The BBSRC and Food Standards Agency fund the UK Food Safety Research Network, which connects the food industry, food and health policymakers and academia to collaboratively pursue shared research priorities that will protect the UK from foodborne hazards.

The Government recognises the importance of food biosecurity. It is critical in helping prevent the spread of disease-causing agents and protecting the safety of food, animals, and humans.

The Department engages regularly with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and its constituent Councils, on research and innovation priorities. UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) also works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Food Standards Agency and other stakeholders to coordinate and fund a range of cross-sectoral research activities in this area.

The BBSRC and Food Standards Agency fund the UK Food Safety Research Network, which connects the food industry, food and health policymakers and academia to collaboratively pursue shared research priorities that will protect the UK from foodborne hazards.

The Government recognises the importance of food biosecurity. It is critical in helping prevent the spread of disease-causing agents and protecting the safety of food, animals, and humans.

The Department engages regularly with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and its constituent Councils, on research and innovation priorities. UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) also works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Food Standards Agency and other stakeholders to coordinate and fund a range of cross-sectoral research activities in this area.

The BBSRC and Food Standards Agency fund the UK Food Safety Research Network, which connects the food industry, food and health policymakers and academia to collaboratively pursue shared research priorities that will protect the UK from foodborne hazards.

The Government recognises the importance of food biosecurity. It is critical in helping prevent the spread of disease-causing agents and protecting the safety of food, animals, and humans.

The Advanced Research & Invention Agency’s (ARIA) Synthetic Plants programme, backed by £62.4 million, will investigate research challenges related to sustainable food supply.

Magna Carta was announced as part of the school rebuilding programme in February 2024. The department remains committed to rebuild or refurbish all schools within the programme and we can confirm that early planning work for Magna Carta has started.

The department is aware that the most prevalent type of primary need identified among pupils with special educational needs (SEN) is ‘speech, language and communication needs’ (SLCN). Our vision for children and young people with SLCN is the same as it is for all children and young people. We want them to receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

The statutory Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) two-year old progress check and the Healthy Child Programme (HCP) development review offer two valuable opportunities to identify additional needs, including speech and language needs, for children aged 2 to 3 and put the right support in place for the children who need it.

The department is funding support for 11,100 schools registered for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention programme. The majority of these are schools with the highest levels of disadvantage, as defined by the percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals. As of January 2024, we estimate over 211,000 reception age children so far have received this extra support.

In partnership with NHS England, we are funding the Early Language and Support for Every Child (ELSEC) pathfinder programme, to trial new ways of working to earlier identify and support children with SLCN in early years and primary schools, utilising Therapy Support Assistants and a variation of identification tools across the pathfinders.

The department will consider how best to use learnings and insights from these programmes to improve support for children with SLCNs, including consistency of support provided across different geographies.

The department does not hold data on the total number of children whose parents or guardians have applied for them to move from independent to state sector schools.

The Get Information about Schools website shows that five private schools across four constituencies have closed since 29 July 2024. These are shown in the table below and are also available at the following link: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.

The department does not routinely gather information on potential private school closures.

Since 29 July 2024, 15 private schools have opened.

It is important for companies to maintain assets to ensure compliance with legal obligations and continuity of service for customers now and into the future. There are two common performance commitments that Ofwat uses, alongside other information, to monitor the health of wastewater assets. These are treatment works compliance and number of sewer collapses.

(a) The safety of river users navigating the non-tidal Thames is a priority for the Environment Agency (EA), although it remains the responsibility of the master of their vessel to ensure the safety of it and everyone on board. The EA have measures in place to ensure the safety of river users which include regular inspections and maintenance of assets, marking obstructions and hazards in the channel. The hydraulic locks on the Thames also have a ‘public power’ setting which reduces the speed that the locks fills or empties, to ensure that they can be safely operated by the public when there is no Lock & Weir Keeper on duty.

(b) The EA engages regularly with businesses operating on the River Thames. The EA is developing a strategic management plan for assets on its navigable waterways. This plan looks to set out the performance of its assets and identify the investment required to maintain these assets to deliver that performance at an acceptable level of risk. Although some assets are currently classed as below required condition this does not necessarily mean they are inoperable.

Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities. That’s why this Government launched a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedness ahead of and after winter flood season.

The Government is investing over £1.25 billion in 2024/25 to build and maintain flood defences to scale up national resilience. We continue to target investment where it’s most needed to ensure that communities are protected from the devastating impacts of flooding and coastal erosion.

There are currently no flood risk assets on the River Thames within the Runnymede and Weybridge constituency. However, the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation scheme (MWEFAS) reduces impacts of Thames flooding. Assessments carried out post-flooding showed that it performed as designed.

Approximately 7% of primary purpose navigation assets below required condition are within Runnymede and Weybridge constituency. Where assets are not at required condition, this identifies that work is needed. It doesn’t present a risk of failure, or compromise performance in a flood, because mitigation measures are put in place such as more frequent inspections by the Environment Agency (EA).

Defra ministers regularly meet with EA leadership to discuss its performance and delivery of departmental priorities.