Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if her Department will publish data on how many and what proportion of young people in prison in Norfolk had special educational needs and disabilities in (a) 2022-23, (b) 2021-22, (c) the last five years and (d) the last ten years.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Data relating to special educational needs and disabilities are not collected in a format that would enable the specified information to be provided.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the potential impact of data processing by data centres on water usage.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is implementing a Water Demand Target to reduce the use of public water supply by 20% by 2037/38. As part of this, Defra is working with the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Environment Agency (EA) to determine how we can improve water efficiency and demand in data centres.
Defra also works closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Department for Business and Trade and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on plans to support the economic opportunities data centres bring, whilst making sure these developments are sustainable for local water supplies. The department will also continue to work with Ofwat to identify ways in which we can reduce overall water demand and achieve a secure supply of water for customers and the environment.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with Ofwat on increased demand on water supply by data centres.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is implementing a Water Demand Target to reduce the use of public water supply by 20% by 2037/38. As part of this, Defra is working with the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Environment Agency (EA) to determine how we can improve water efficiency and demand in data centres.
Defra also works closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Department for Business and Trade and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on plans to support the economic opportunities data centres bring, whilst making sure these developments are sustainable for local water supplies. The department will also continue to work with Ofwat to identify ways in which we can reduce overall water demand and achieve a secure supply of water for customers and the environment.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential merits of requiring companies building data centres to invest in (a) building and (b) maintaining water supply infrastructure.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is implementing a Water Demand Target to reduce the use of public water supply by 20% by 2037/38. As part of this, Defra is working with the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Environment Agency (EA) to determine how we can improve water efficiency and demand in data centres.
Defra also works closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Department for Business and Trade and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on plans to support the economic opportunities data centres bring, whilst making sure these developments are sustainable for local water supplies. The department will also continue to work with Ofwat to identify ways in which we can reduce overall water demand and achieve a secure supply of water for customers and the environment.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to monitor the water usage of data centres.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is implementing a Water Demand Target to reduce the use of public water supply by 20% by 2037/38. As part of this, Defra is working with the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Environment Agency (EA) to determine how we can improve water efficiency and demand in data centres.
Defra also works closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Department for Business and Trade and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on plans to support the economic opportunities data centres bring, whilst making sure these developments are sustainable for local water supplies. The department will also continue to work with Ofwat to identify ways in which we can reduce overall water demand and achieve a secure supply of water for customers and the environment.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2024 to Question 6326 on Probation Service, what new funding has been allocated to (a) the Probation Service, (b) the Electronic Monitoring Service and (c) support other services provided to offenders in the community, in the context of the early prisoner release scheme.
Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Recognising the Probation Service’s crucial role in protecting the public and rehabilitation, the Department has committed to funding at least 1,000 additional trainee probation officers by the end of March 2025.
Given the multitude of factors involved, each with its own budget, it is not feasible to isolate a single expense figure for SDS40 borne by the Probation Service. Commercial discussions are ongoing to confirm the level of additional expenditure the electronic monitoring service provider may charge.
Throughout the SDS40 implementation process, HMPPS and partnered agencies have ensured robust support is in place for offenders leaving custody, including continuity of health and substance misuse provision and access to employment, benefits, and accommodation. For example, the Lord Chancellor has authorised probation directors to use alternative arrangements for accommodation which can include budget hotels and B&Bs. This has been funded through reprioritisation of existing budgets. This is a temporary measure and we will ensure all appropriate safeguards are in place.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether private equity firms will be eligible to receive funds via the National Wealth Fund.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
As the UK's new impact investor, the National Wealth Fund will mobilise private investment – including from institutional investors such as private equity firms – and catalyse investment that would not have otherwise taken place.
The National Wealth Fund may also outsource management of its capital to third party managers, such as private equity firms, where doing so provides the best route to deploy capital into the UK’s world-leading clean energy and growth industries and to support the delivery of our new Industrial Strategy.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether organisations in receipt of funding via the National Wealth Fund will be required to (a) have a UK headquarters and (b) be UK taxpayers.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The National Wealth Fund (NWF) will mobilise billions of pounds of investment in the UK's world leading clean energy and growth industries. In order to be eligible for consideration for NWF finance, the project must meet the NWF’s investment principles, with proceeds going to UK-based projects. These are:
Individual investments will be considered on a case-by-case basis in line with the NWF’s mandate and strategic priorities, which can be found on www.uknwf.org.uk.
Asked by: Clive Lewis (Labour - Norwich South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Government's planned timetable is for introducing legislation to establish the National Wealth Fund.
Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The National Wealth Fund (NWF) has been established and can operate under the UK Infrastructure Bank Act 2023. The government will bring forward new legislation when parliamentary time allows to broaden its mandate beyond infrastructure and cement its position as a permanent institution at the heart of the country’s long-term growth and prosperity.