Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the number of face-to-face GP appointments in 2025/26.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

This Government has committed to guarantee a face-to-face appointment for all those who want one. The National Health Service is clear that general practices must provide face-to-face appointments, alongside remote consultations, and patients’ input into consultation type should be sought and their preferences for face-to-face care respected unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary. Since appointment types, whether face-to-face or remote, in any given year, including 2025/26, are determined based on patient preferences and clinical need, it is not possible to produce a reliable estimate for the number of face-to-face appointments for 2025/26.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish the sectoral analysis his Department undertook before selecting the IS-8 sectors in the Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June 2025.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The methodology for selecting the IS-8 sectors has already been published.

The Invest 2035 Green Paper (published on GOV.UK in October 2024) identified 8 high-level ‘growth driving’ sectors (the IS-8): Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital & Technologies, Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Professional & Business Services. Pages 18-20 of Invest 2035 outline the methodology for identifying the IS-8 sectors.

Subsequently, the Technical Annex of the Modern Industrial Strategy 2025 (published on GOV.UK in June 2025) outlined the methodology for identifying the frontier industries within the IS-8 sectors.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 29 of the document by the OBR entitled Fiscal risks and sustainability, published on 8 July 2025, whether her Department has made its own assessment of the long-term sustainability of the state pension.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.

State Pension payments are paid from the National Insurance Fund (NIF). The Government reviews forecasts of the NIF balance every five years to inform future decisions. The Government Actuary’s Department is currently undertaking its quinquennial review.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to ensure that low paid workers have adequate income in retirement.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

This government is committed to enabling tomorrow’s pensioners to have security in retirement. The Pensions Commission has been revived to consider what is required in the long term to deliver a pensions framework that is stronger, fairer and more sustainable. Amongst other things, the Commission will look at how to improve retirement outcomes, especially for those on the lowest incomes and at the greatest risk of poverty or under-saving.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer to Question 50646 on Trade Agreements: USA, what progress his Department has made on trade talks with the United States.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK continues to engage across the range of issues outlined in the General Terms for the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal.

During President Trump’s State Visit in September, the UK and US announced the Technology Prosperity Deal focused on developing fast-growing technologies like AI, quantum, and nuclear.

The US also confirmed in September that the UK will not face an increase in steel and aluminium tariffs to 50% and will remain the only country in the world to benefit from a preferential 25% rate, thanks to the EPD. The UK received a preferential 10% rate for tariffs imposed in October on lumber products.

Discussions continue on digital and services, tariff and non-tariff barriers, and Section 232 tariffs.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of levels of wage growth in the (a) public sector and (b) private sector since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 4th November is attached.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled £1 billion backed renewal of broken bridges, ruined roads and tired tunnels and new Thames Crossing cash, published on 16 June 2025, whether it is her Department’s policy that all weight-restricted bridges should be able to take HGVs.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Structures Fund will inject cash into repairing run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels. It offers an opportunity to support places to repair local bridges that currently have weight restrictions placed on them so that these restrictions can be lifted and bridges re-opened to HGV traffic.

However, it is not Department for Transport policy for absolutely all weight restricted bridges to be able to take HGVs. Whether to introduce a weight limit on a structure is a decision for the relevant local highway authority and will depend on local circumstances. For example, it may not be appropriate or possible for some historic bridges or those with protected status to carry these kinds of vehicles.

We will publish more information about the Structures Fund and how local areas can get involved in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she has made an estimate of the number of food delivery drivers who operate on a provisional motorcycle driving license.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Around 180,000 compulsory basic training (CBT) certificates are issued by the motorcycle instructor training industry per year. Neither the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency nor the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency hold data on the professions of those holding a provisional motorcycle driving license.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will make an estimate of the redundancy costs for the decision to close the UK Space Agency.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

UK Space Agency employees will move Department under the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSOP), either into DSIT or our service providers. The integration brings together teams already working closely, creating a single unit with a clear line from strategy through policy to delivery. This approach, completing by April 2026, will strengthen our space sector support whilst building on the firm foundations both organisations have established, including developing cutting-edge missions and attracting significant investment.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take to encourage self-employed workers to pay into private pension funds.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The proportion of the self-employed who are saving into a pension has fallen significantly from almost 50% in the late 1990s to less than 20% at present. While self-employed workers are not eligible for Automatic Enrolment, the National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) must accept individuals who are self-employed, meeting certain conditions, who wish to join a pension scheme.

The Department is currently working with Nest Insight and partners to test potential solutions. The Pensions Commission will also explore steps to improve pension outcomes, especially for those at the greatest risk of undersaving, such as self-employed workers.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Boosting British jobs and skills key for firms to win major infrastructure projects, published on 16 June 2025, if he will publish an impact assessment for that policy.

Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

This Government is committed to supporting British jobs and industry. As part of this, we have consulted on further reforms to public procurement. If appropriate, impact assessments will be undertaken following our response to the consultation, in accordance with the Better Regulations Framework.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the press release by the Mineral Products Association entitled Landfill Tax reforms could trigger shortages and damage growth ambitions, published on 28 July 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recently consulted on proposals to reform Landfill Tax to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the Government’s circular economy objectives. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders on the impact of the proposals, including from representatives of the mineral products sector. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the Government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 36 of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, how the cost of operating Neighbourhood Health Centres will be shared amongst (a) local government, (b) the voluntary sector and (c) the NHS.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out on page 36 of the 10-Year Health Plan, neighbourhood health centres will provide easier, more convenient access to a full range of health and care services on people’s doorsteps, joining up National Health Service, local authority, and voluntary services as a one-stop shop.

Rollout of the neighbourhood health centres will be progressive over this Parliament, with early sites focused on areas of greatest need.

We are developing a National Framework for Neighbourhood Health Plans and Model Neighbourhood to provide greater clarity and consistency for systems in developing and scaling neighbourhood health.

This will provide a shared reference point to help shape and inform locally led approaches to neighbourhood health, which may include cost sharing amongst the systems and organisations involved in operating neighbourhood health centres.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to make train journeys more affordable since July 2024.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We are overhauling the fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare, and the move to Great British Railways will also help ensure passengers get a more consistent offer across the network.

We are already making positive changes, including through expanding ticketing innovations such as Pay as You Go across the South East, working with Transport for West Midlands and Transport for Greater Manchester on contactless Pay as You Go pilots in Manchester and the West Midlands, and delivering Digital Pay as You Go trials in the North and East Midlands. For most passengers this brings with it a best price promise on the day of travel. We have also supported London North Eastern Railway to trial easier to understand fares on some long-distance routes, allowing passengers to benefit from increased flexibility at lower prices than before.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how Great British Railways will work with (a) Mayoral transport agencies and (b) Transport for London.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Great British Railways (GBR) will work in partnership with Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) and their transport agencies to ensure local priorities are reflected in rail planning and delivery. These partnerships will enable closer integration with local transport networks while balancing local influence with GBR’s responsibility for the wider regional and national network.

GBR will also maintain and strengthen collaborative arrangements with Transport for London (TfL), recognising its role in operating London Overground and Elizabeth Line services on the national network and supporting seamless journeys across modes.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer to Question 8701, what action her Department has taken since 21 October 2024 to encourage (a) inbound and (b) domestic tourism in Bedfordshire.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The government is committed to expanding the tourism sector and enabling more inbound and domestic visitors to fully experience the UK's diverse offerings in areas including Bedfordshire, home to stately homes such at Bridgerton’s West Park and family attractions including Whipsnade Zoo.

To drive more inbound visits across Britain, VisitBritain launched a global screen tourism campaign ‘’Starring Great Britain’’ in January 2025. The campaign uses the country's rich film and television history as a hook to inspire visitors to explore diverse and often rural destinations. The launch was supported by a wider advertising campaign across the UK’s largest and most valuable inbound visitor markets including Australia, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, France, Germany and the USA.

The Government has secured a multi-billion-pound investment in a major new Universal theme park and resort in Bedford. This project will create thousands of jobs and drive millions of visitors, both inbound and domestic to Bedfordshire, reinforcing the UK as a world leader in the creative industries.

The Government has also announced the expansion of Luton airport which will significantly increase its passenger capacity enabling it to play a significant role in accommodating international visitors to the Universal theme park. The East West Rail corridor will also include Bedford from 2030, improving connectivity and driving economic growth.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 55487 on Tourism: National Landscapes, if she will make an estimate of the economic contribution of tourism to areas with a protected landscape in each of the next five years.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

National Parks are vital assets for tourism, attracting millions of domestic and international visitors each year and supporting local economies through recreation, hospitality, and cultural heritage. While there are no plans to make an estimate of the economic contribution of tourism to areas with a protected landscape, DCMS recognises the importance of protected landscapes to the UK’s tourism offering.

DCMS continues to work with VisitBritain to champion visits to the British countryside to a worldwide audience. VisitBritain’s new GREAT-funded international marketing campaign, ‘Starring GREAT Britain’, uses the hook of Britain’s rich film and television history to encourage more international visitors to explore across Britain, including many rural destinations, landmarks and National Parks.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the press release entitled Cricket domes to bring year-round sport to communities, published on 25 August 2025, what the location will be of the dome in Luton.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

On 25 August, the Government announced £1.5 million investment into two indoor cricket domes in Luton and Farington, to be delivered through the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Luton’s new state-of-the-art indoor cricket dome will be in Lewsey Park and is expected to open in summer 2026, providing world-class indoor practice facilities for cricket, so local players, schools and grassroots clubs can access the sport all year round.

The flexible space will also have the potential to host other sports, such as hockey, tennis and badminton, ensuring as many local people as possible can get active. The new facility will also have a particular focus on encouraging more women and girls into the game ahead of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.

Work with the England and Wales Cricket Board is ongoing to monitor the impact and effectiveness of these sites and we’re keen that they benefit as wide a local area as possible.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has carried out a value for money analysis of the Electric Car Grant.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Yes, the Department has completed an internal value for money assessment for the Electric Car Grant. Officials will continue to monitor the grant, and assess its value for money, to ensure taxpayers’ money is spent in a cost-effective manner.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by his Department since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an estimate of the level of (a) water and (b) sewage infrastructure investment required to maintain existing levels of capacity, in the context of the Government’s plan to build 1.5 million homes in this Parliament.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat’s Price Review 2024 (PR24) final determinations set a total expenditure allowance of £104 billion over the 2025-2030 period. This provides:

• £60 billion of base expenditure to maintain the long-term capability of assets.
• £1.8 billion to increase capacity at sewage treatment works to accommodate population growth over the 2025-26 to 2029-30 period.
• £8 billion for actions associated with the Water Resource Management Plans, including the Strategic Resource Options (SROs).

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by their Department since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The information requested is not centrally held in an easily accessible form as there are no expenditure categories that just cover consultations or reviews.

Due to this any response could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled First-time buyers to benefit from 40,000 new homes on brownfield railway land, published on 30 June 2025, whether these properties will be earmarked for first-time buyers.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

First time buyers will be amongst those to benefit from the 40,000 homes unlocked over the next decade on a mix of surplus Department for Transport land and third-party land. Platform4 is committed to providing a mix of housing, including affordable and build to rent. Planning policy on first time buyers will be locally led.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to provide more resources to Bedfordshire Police for increased enforcement against illegal usage of e-scooters.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation, including those relating to offences involving e-scooters.

The police are operationally independent and decide how resources are deployed across a range of road policing priorities.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Reed: Government to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, published on 19 July 2025, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the interaction between the planning system and pressures on (a) water and (b) sewerage infrastructure.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to requiring sustainable drainage systems in new developments and we are working together with MHCLG to ensure that new developments do not overwhelm the existing sewerage network. Defra has established the Ministerial Water Delivery Taskforce to ensure that water companies deliver on their planned investments to provide water and wastewater capacity. It will look at projects that are essential for growth.   It will ensure the additional water, wastewater and drainage capacity needed to meet the ambitious growth targets in the Government's Plan for Change are understood, and that suitable plans are in place for delivery within and beyond the PR24 programme.   It is currently working closely with MHCLG colleagues to identify and resolve blockers to wastewater projects that require cross-government action and resolve challenges before they are able to obstruct growth ambitions.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of rural roads on self-driving vehicles.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (AV Act) sets out a comprehensive legal framework with safety at its core.

The Act introduces a new authorisation process that will test self-driving capability and identify a corporation to be held accountable for vehicles behaviour. Companies applying to authorise their vehicle under the AV Act will have to set out the area in which the vehicle intends to operate, known as the operational design domain (ODD). This could include the area or road type the vehicle intends to operate in, such as motorways or rural roads.

During the authorisation process, it must be demonstrated that the vehicle is capable of operating to the safety standard required in all areas of the planned deployment.

We recognise the opportunities automated vehicles can bring in providing new freedoms to those who may be unable to drive. For example, through improving transport links in rural and isolated areas.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer to Question 50271 on Holiday Accommodation: Bedfordshire, when he expects to publish that impact assessment.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The consultation- Package travel – updating the framework 2025 - GOV.UK closed 30 June 2025. The government is now analysing responses.

The government response will be published by the end of the year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by her Department since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The information is not readily available or held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the annual cost to the public purse of the Office for Value for Money.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Office for Value for Money's (OVfM) has successfully delivered on its remit, including working with departments to identify credible plans to deliver almost £14 billion of efficiencies per year by 2028-29 as well as wider reforms to improve value for money across government. Its functions will be embedded within the Treasury, leaving a legacy of value for money improvements across the public sector.

The OVfM's budget and total spend for 2024-25 is set out in HM Treasury’s 2024-25 Annual Report and Accounts (ARA). The OVfM's outturn cost for 2025-26 will be published in HM Treasury's 2025-26 ARA.

Found: Hertfordshire) Martin Rhodes (Labour; Glasgow North) Dr Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat; South Cotswolds) Blake Stephenson

Found: Labour; Chatham and Aylesford) Michael Payne (Labour; Gedling) Oliver Ryan (Labour; Burnley) Blake Stephenson

Found: Labour; Chatham and Aylesford) Michael Payne (Labour; Gedling) Oliver Ryan (Labour; Burnley) Blake Stephenson