Calum Miller

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.

Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.

Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.

Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.

Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.

Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

We will publish updated community benefits guidance for onshore wind in England in spring 2025, to clearly set out our expectations on what effective community benefits for communities that host new onshore wind projects should look like.

Solar Energy UK plans to publish its community benefits guidance for solar PV later this year. It will apply on a voluntary basis and provide a benchmark for the solar energy sector.

We have announced bill discounts for new transmission infrastructure projects because many communities will live close to this infrastructure without enjoying the direct, tangible benefits coming from other technologies, such as local jobs and investment.

However, in the Clean Power Action Plan, we made clear that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, we will ensure they benefit from it. There are many options in this area including community funds and shared ownership, which we are exploring.

In the interim, we intend to publish guidance for onshore wind in England and Solar Energy UK has also committed to publishing guidance.

BEIS has, and DESNZ continues to, assess the implications of international policy on the UK. The Department works on the basis of its legislative commitment to combating climate change and meeting the UK's Carbon Budgets

This Government believes that we can only ensure climate security for further generations in the UK if we lead globally. Secretary of State has had a range of engagements with European counterparts on international climate commitments, including at COP29.

There is currently no legal obligation for developers in the UK to provide community benefits However, in the Clean Power Action Plan, we have made clear that in the future where communities host clean energy infrastructure, we will ensure they benefit from it. There are many options in this area including community funds and direct support for households, and we are exploring all options to ensure communities can benefit from our clean power mission. We hope to have more to say on this in due course.

The answers to Written Parliamentary Questions 36322, 36323 and 36324 were published on 20 March 2025.

The department is committed to improving support for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with neurodiverse conditions.

We have established a neurodivergence task and finish group, which includes a range of experts including clinicians, scientists and academics, education experts and third sector organisations. This group is chaired by Professor Karen Guldberg from Birmingham University and is working closely with the department to help improve inclusivity and expertise in mainstream settings in a way that works for neurodivergent children and young people. This includes considering the use of needs-assessment and screening tools by educational professionals.

High-quality teaching is the most important in-school factor for improving outcomes for all children, particularly those with SEND. All initial teacher training (ITT) providers must ensure that their courses enable trainee teachers to meet the Teachers’ Standards, which set clear expectations that teachers must understand the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND, such as neurodiversity, to be recommended for the award of qualified teacher status.

The ITT Core Content Framework and Early Career Framework (ECF), for trainee and Early Career Teachers (ECTs) respectively, cover the first three years or more at the start of a teacher’s career. They set out the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching, and from September 2025, these will be superseded by the combined Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), which sets out a minimum entitlement to training and must be used by providers of ITT and those delivering provider-led early career training to create their curricula. From September 2025, all ECTs will be entitled to a two-year induction that is underpinned by the ITTECF, known as the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE).

The department’s review of content for the ITTECF paid particular attention to the needs of trainees and ECTs when supporting pupils with SEND. There is now significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND, including those with neurodiversity. We have edited existing statements to improve inclusivity for SEND throughout the framework including, for example, developing an understanding of different pupil needs, and learning how to provide opportunities for success for all pupils. From September 2025, the department has also enhanced the requirement on providers of ECT training to develop SEND training materials. The department tested this approach with SEND educational experts with consensus that the approach of ‘quality-first teaching’ would be the best way to improve outcomes for all children, particularly those with SEND.

We recognise that continuous improvement is essential and have recently committed to a full review of the ECTE in 2027 to ensure it continues to provide the best possible support for ECTs. This review will focus on the support we provide new teachers in teaching pupils with SEND.

The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on the allocation of the department’s budget for the next financial year. All decisions regarding the future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF), including issues linked to inflation, are being considered as part of these discussions. An announcement will be made as soon as possible. We will always consider the impact of decisions on vulnerable children.

To ensure there are no gaps in therapy, including for children with additional needs, ASGSF applications are generally permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on the allocation of the department’s budget for the next financial year. All decisions regarding the future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF), including issues linked to inflation, are being considered as part of these discussions. An announcement will be made as soon as possible. We will always consider the impact of decisions on vulnerable children.

To ensure there are no gaps in therapy, including for children with additional needs, ASGSF applications are generally permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on the allocation of the department’s budget for the next financial year. All decisions regarding the future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF), including issues linked to inflation, are being considered as part of these discussions. An announcement will be made as soon as possible. We will always consider the impact of decisions on vulnerable children.

To ensure there are no gaps in therapy, including for children with additional needs, ASGSF applications are generally permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 January 2025 to the hon Member for West Dorset, PQ 25127.

The Government plans to publish a 12-week consultation on land use shortly. The consultation will inform the publication of a Land Use Framework, planned for later in the year.

The regions currently experiencing the longest driving test waiting times are London and the South East of England.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work to attract and recruit more driving examiners (DE) in the London and South East areas.

For recruitment campaigns, DVSA continues to use additional measures when advertising in these areas, such as local managers attending and running recruitment events, and working in local communities, building and fostering relationships to showcase the DE roles.

DVSA has seen success in its recent campaigns for these regions. From these campaigns, 36 candidates have completed DE training successfully and have been placed to their test centre, and a further 19 candidates are currently undertaking training.

From the most recent campaigns, DVSA has a further 26 potential candidates booked for upcoming training courses, with a further 48 currently undergoing pre-employment checks.

There are no backlogs in driving licence renewal applications, which are being processed within published turnaround times.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence, with customers receiving their licence within a few days of a successful online application.

Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer depending on the medical condition(s) involved and whether further information is required from third parties, for example doctors, other healthcare professionals or the applicant themselves.

As the Secretary of State announced on Tuesday 18th March 2025, the equality and poverty impact analysis will be published alongside the spring statement.

The information is intended for publication at a future date.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will support the Casey Commission into adult social care – and work closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) – as we take forward the proposals in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper.

In the short term, up to £3.7 billion of additional funding will be made available for social care authorities in 2025/2026, including an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

For those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, we are consulting on how best to support this group, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 34908 on 10^th March 2025.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI stated in its advice for the autumn 2024 COVID-19 vaccination programme that there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the impact of additional vaccine doses, beyond the primary vaccination, on the risk, progression, and outcome of post-COVID syndromes. The JCVI advised that better data is needed on the impact of additional vaccine doses on the occurrence and severity of post-COVID syndromes in the current era of Omicron sub-variants of the COVID-19 virus, and high population immunity. This advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-autumn-2024-vaccination-programme-jcvi-advice-8-april-2024/jcvi-statement-on-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme-for-autumn-2024-8-april-2024

On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in spring 2025, autumn 2025 and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026#:~:text=the%20JCVI%20webpage.-,Advice%20on%20vaccination%20in%20spring%202025,care%20home%20for%20older%20adults

The Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice on eligibility for the spring 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme. The Government is considering the advice for autumn 2025 and spring 2026 carefully, and will respond in due course.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has now approved an adapted version of the Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine that targets the Omicron JN.1 COVID-19 subvariant. The press release is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-approves-adapted-nuvaxovid-jn1-covid-19-vaccines-for-adults-and-children-aged-12-plus

The UK Health Security Agency is unable to comment on any ongoing procurement activity for future campaigns due to commercial sensitivities.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is the United Kingdom’s expert committee that advises the Government on immunisations programmes. In line with JCVI’s advice, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme for adults turning 75 years old began on 1 September 2024 in England, alongside a one-off catch-up programme to rapidly vaccinate all those already aged 75 to 79 years old. The JCVI considered that there was less certainty about how well the vaccine works in people aged 80 years old and older, as there were not enough people of this age in the clinical trials to be able to see if the vaccines are protective in this age band. The Department will consider any further JCVI advice on who should be offered an RSV immunisation as the committee continues to keep the evidence under review.

A phased expansion of the eligible cohort for the routine shingles vaccination programme began in September 2023. The programme currently includes those aged 50 years old and over who are at increased risk of serious complications, and those turning 65 years old on or after 1 September 2023, as well as those turning 70 years old, as was previously the case. In November 2024, the JCVI provided advice to the Department on eligibility for the shingles vaccination programme. This included advice that the Government should consider expanding the shingles vaccination offer to include older adult cohorts aged 80 years old and over. The Department will consider this advice when setting the policy on who should be offered shingles vaccinations.

The independent Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises the Department on the approach to vaccination and immunisation. In line with advice from the JCVI, individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination in the autumn 2024 programme.

On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in 2025 and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026

On 12 December the Government accepted the JCVI’s advice on spring 2025, including that individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed should be eligible for vaccination in spring 2025.

The Government is carefully considering the advice from the JCVI on COVID-19 vaccination for autumn 2025 and spring 2026, and will respond in due course.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme covering vaccination in 2025 and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026#:~:text=the%20JCVI%20webpage.-,Advice%20on%20vaccination%20in%20spring%202025,care%20home%20for%20older%20adults

The Government is considering this advice carefully and will respond in due course.

In a statement announcing the sale of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich stated the proceeds would be used to establish a foundation for the benefit of all the victims of the war in Ukraine. The Government is determined to see the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine as quickly as possible, and we are exploring all options to bring that about.

The UK is working with international partners, has engaged with Abramovich's team, and is exploring all options to ensure the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine. While it would not be appropriate to provide a running commentary on discussions, we are doing everything we can to make progress on this matter as quickly as possible.

The UK is working with international partners, has engaged with Abramovich's team, and is exploring all options to ensure the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine. While it would not be appropriate to provide a running commentary on discussions, we are doing everything we can to make progress on this matter as quickly as possible.

We need to work together to bolster the European defence industrial base, making sure that it can compete globally and deliver for our security and defence needs as well as contribute to growth and jobs. Officials and Ministers will continue to engage EU counterparts as we reset relations and explore opportunities for UK-EU defence and security cooperation.

We strongly welcome the ambitions of the ReArm programme and believe it is in the interest of European defence to create a structure that allows member states to partner with the UK. Officials and Ministers frequently engage EU counterparts, including High Representative Kaja Kallas, who met with the Defence and Foreign Secretaries in London last month, the first visit by an EU High Representative since the UK left the EU. During which they discussed the need for EU defence financing and wider defence industrial initiatives to be inclusive of third countries like the UK and we will continue to do so.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced Lord Patrick Vallance as a Ministerial champion for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.

Lord Vallance brings extensive experience across life sciences, business, academia and government. Whilst responsibility for specific levers will remain within respective departments, Lord Vallance will work closely with local experts and across government to unblock and identify growth-focused interventions across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, so world-class talent can live and work in a local area that is closely connected to world-class companies delivering innovative growth.

The Oxford-Cambridge region is home to world leading universities and globally renowned science and technology firms. But the region's true potential is being held back by constraints, including unaffordable housing and transport constraints. The Government is taking action to drive sustainable growth across this key region which, according to experts, could boost the UK economy by £78 billion by 2035.

The Government believes additional action can maximise the economic performance of the wider Oxford-Cambridge region. This is why Lord Vallance has been appointed as Oxford-Cambridge Growth Champion, to identify, coordinate and promote further interventions linked to the EWR route and drive growth across the region.

The Government is already investing in East West Rail (EWR), which will deliver much needed transport connections between Oxford and Cambridge, and other communities along the route. In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor also committed £10m of funding to enable the Cambridge Growth Company to develop an ambitious plan for the housing, transport, water, and wider infrastructure Cambridge needs to realise its full potential. In her speech of 29 January, the Chancellor confirmed that a new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital is being prioritised for investment as part of wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme. In the wider corridor, we will target investment in R&D clusters, including the AI Growth Zone in Culham.

The Government will deliver Phase 2 of the Spending Review and the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy later this year, to support delivery of the Government’s plans for a decade of national renewal. Any further Government support for infrastructure in the region will be assessed and agreed through the formal Spending Review process.