Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the procurement and contract‑management processes used for the Fuel Finder project; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that public money allocated to this project has been spent effectively and provides value for money.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

A competitive and open tender process was run for Fuel Finder in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and government procurement policies and guidance. Evaluation criteria included quality, technical criteria and total cost.

The Fuel Finder contract is managed in line with the Government Digital Service Standard and is overseen by Departmental project boards, following established governance arrangements and spend assurance processes that apply to all major digital and commercial projects.

All of the above are steps taken to ensure an effective implementation and the project will continue to be reviewed to ensure value for money, minimising and managing costs carefully.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether recruitment agencies are permitted to sponsor Highly Skilled Worker Visas under current immigration rules.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The basis on which UK employers holding a Skilled Worker sponsor licence can sponsor skilled workers to come to the UK is set out in the relevant Sponsor Guidance. This can be found on Gov.uk at: Sponsorship: guidance for employers and educators - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what mechanisms is InterMarine able to sponsor Highly Skilled Worker Visas .

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The basis on which UK employers holding a Skilled Worker sponsor licence can sponsor skilled workers to come to the UK is set out in the relevant Sponsor Guidance. This can be found on Gov.uk at: Sponsorship: guidance for employers and educators - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of State Pension age changes on 1950s-born women living in Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West constituency.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

All women born since 6 April 1950 have been affected by changes to State Pension age.

Estimates can be made using ONS 2021 Census Data on how many women born in the 1950s resided in each constituency in that year.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Statement UIN HCWS1044 on 11 November 2025, what procedures and circumstances led to the 2007 research report not being provided to his predecessor.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Secretary of State announced in his oral statement of 11 November 2025 that we will retake the decision made in December 2024 as it relates to the communications on State Pension age.

This was because findings from a 2007 report had not been drawn to the attention of the previous Secretary of State as its potential relevance to the making of her decision was not evident at the time.

The process to retake the decision is underway and it is important that we give this full and proper consideration. Retaking the decision should not be taken as an indication that Government will necessarily decide that it should award financial redress. We will update Parliament on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached and on 2 December 2025 we committed to re-take the decision within three months.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Cabinet committee on Science and Technology has been replaced with a committee on Digital and Technology; and how matters related to science will be considered.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The membership and terms of reference of Cabinet committees is decided by the Prime Minister, as set out on gov.uk and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology is a member of the Digital and Technology Committee. Matters related to science may be considered by a range of committees as relevant to their terms of reference.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of potential impact of the new US vehicle connectivity rules on UK automotive exports to the US; and if he will make a statement.

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

Given that the software rules apply from Model Year 2027 and the hardware rules from 2029, many manufacturers are still assessing their supply chains and how to remain compliant. This information is commercially sensitive, so I cannot comment on individual plans, but we continue to engage closely with UK industry to understand emerging impacts. The Government worked extensively with manufacturers during the US rule’s development and submitted a private response to the consultation. We remain committed to ongoing industry engagement and to working with the US and likeminded partners to ensure that any new measures do not create barriers between allies.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for UK energy grid procurement policies of the Strider report on US grid dependency on Chinese components.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The protection and security of the energy sector is an absolute priority of this Government. My department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. Investment in the energy sector is subject to the highest levels of national security scrutiny – we take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

As an open economy, we welcome foreign trade and investment where it supports growth and jobs in the UK, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many projected jobs for each AI Growth Zone are (a) tied to building and construction of data centres, (b) permanent on-site operational jobs in data centres, (c) data-centre roles that can be done remotely either (i) within the UK or (ii) overseas and (d) other jobs that are expected to be created indirectly in the area.

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

Through AI Growth Zones (AIGZs), we aim to crowd-in tens of billions of pounds in private investment and drive growth, with AIGZs announced so far expected to create over 15,000 jobs.

AIGZs are designed to accelerate data‑centre build‑out and attract substantial private investment, creating construction roles, permanent operational jobs, and wider indirect employment through supply‑chain growth and skills pathways. Each AI Growth Zone will also receive £5 million to support local AI adoption and upskilling, helping ensure communities benefit directly from new opportunities.

Five AI Growth Zones have been designated to date, all expected to contribute to regional regeneration and the UK’s long‑term compute capacity. We do not make specific assumptions about the nature or geographical nature of jobs indirectly related to AI Growth Zones.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of her Department's (a) capital investment exposure to, (b) potential capital spending requirements resulting from and (c) overall investment portfolio resilience from an equity price correction in US stock markets.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) does not hold any direct capital investments in companies listed on US equity markets.

DSIT’s capital portfolio consists of investments approved on a case‑by‑case basis against agreed criteria, and is primarily focused on UK‑based research, innovation and infrastructure programmes, as well as government‑sponsored bodies. DSIT's investments are monitored on a portfolio basis, including assessing market and valuation risks and considering any indirect effects global market movements on the Department’s assets.

Found: Technology 22-26 Whitehall London, SW1A 2EG www.gov.uk/dsit 2 February 2026 Dame Chi Onwurah

Found: Science, Innovation & Technology 22-26 Whitehall London SW1A 2EG www.gov.uk/dsit Dame Chi Onwurah

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Kit Malthouse; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Adam

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Kit Malthouse; Dr Lauren Sullivan; Adam

Found: Home Secretary 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF www.gov.uk/home-office Dame Chi Onwurah

Found: With best wishes, Dame Chi Onwurah MP Chair - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Found: OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE OFFICIAL - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE Dame Chi Onwurah MP Science

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); George Freeman; Samantha Niblett; Dr Lauren

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); George Freeman; Samantha Niblett; Dr Lauren

Found: Science, Innovation and Technology 22-26 Whitehall London SW1A 2 EG www.gov.uk/dsit Dame Chi Onwurah

Found: Science, Innovation and Technology 22-26 Whitehall London SW1A 2EG www.gov.uk/dsit Dame Chi Onwurah

Found: Technology 22-26 Whitehall London SW1A 2EG www.gov.uk/dsit 20 January 2026 Dear Dame Chi Onwurah

Found: Q70 Dame Chi Onwurah: Does that business need to have digital infrastructure?

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; George Freeman; Kit Malthouse

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; George Freeman; Kit Malthouse

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; George Freeman; Kit Malthouse

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; George Freeman; Kit Malthouse

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; George Freeman; Kit Malthouse

Found: Also present: Dame Chi Onwurah.

Found: Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA Switchboard: 0300 123 3000 or 020 7981 3000 www.ofcom.org.uk Dame Chi Onwurah

Found: With best wishes, Dame Chi Onwurah MP Chair – Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Found: With best wishes, Dame Chi Onwurah MP Chair – Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Found: Technology 100 Parliament Street London SW1A 2BQ www.gov.uk/dsit 18 December 2025 Dame Chi Onwurah

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); George Freeman; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); George Freeman; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); George Freeman; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; Dr Allison Gardner; Kit

Found: Chi Onwurah AS, Ymchwil: Cyllid – Cwestiwn i'r Trysorlys (Senedd y DU, Hydref 2024). 244.

Found: Observatory, August 2024). 242 State of Digital Government Review (DSIT and GDS, January 2025). 243 Chi Onwurah

Found: Letters dated 11/02/2026 from Baroness Lloyd of Effra to Chi Onwurah MP and Baroness Keeley, regarding

Found: Letters dated 11/02/2026 from Baroness Lloyd of Effra to Chi Onwurah MP and Baroness Keeley, regarding

Found: Letters dated 11/02/2026 from Baroness Lloyd of Effra to Chi Onwurah MP and Baroness Keeley, regarding

Found: Letters dated 13/02/2026 from Ian Murray MP to Chi Onwurah MP and Lord Mair regarding the new shareholder

Found: Letters dated 13/02/2026 from Ian Murray MP to Chi Onwurah MP and Lord Mair regarding the new shareholder

Found: Letters dated 13/02/2026 from Ian Murray MP to Chi Onwurah MP and Lord Mair regarding the new shareholder

Found: Observatory, August 2024). 242 State of Digital Government Review (DSIT and GDS, January 2025). 243 Chi Onwurah