Lord Mackinlay of Richborough

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is a nationally recognised quality assurance scheme for renewable technologies, setting high standards for products and installations, including under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).

As of April 2025, there are 1,580 MCS registered companies with an active BUS account, with these companies ranging from sole traders to larger corporations with large number of installers.

The Government’s Heat Training Grant continues to support existing heating engineers in England to take the relevant training to install heat pumps. Since its launch in July 2023, over 6,500 individuals have gone through heat pump installation training funded through the scheme.

As stated in the previous answer, decisions on whether to abandon wells are ultimately a matter for the company.

A property must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to be eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) as they support property owners to understand how energy efficient their building is, enabling them to make an informed choice on whether to proceed with an installation.

While completing an EPC is generally not a requirement for listed buildings, they can still be obtained from an accredited EPC assessor, to meet BUS eligibility requirements. The Government will continue to review scheme eligibility criteria, and consider changes to drive further demand, making low carbon heating accessible to a wider range of households.

The Government is consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation will include proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030. The consultation will be accompanied with the Department’s assessment of the potential cost and benefits.

Historic England are working across government and with sector partners to develop the infrastructure needed for heritage building skills.

For example, Historic England is engaging with the Department for Education via the Construction Skills Delivery Board, as well as on changes to vocational education, such as the introduction of Skills England. Historic England is also involved in regional pilot programmes aiming to tackle traditional building skills needs locally, and collaborating with Cadw and Historic Environment Scotland to improve the standard of retrofit training, to care for our historic buildings, while also making them more energy efficient.

The Government is committed to supporting all homeowners in installing energy efficiency measures to drive down bills and reduce our overall energy consumption. Many of these measures will support listed buildings. In November 2024, the Government announced the Warm Homes Plan which has committed £3.2 billion of investment for energy efficiency across 2025 to 2026, including an increased budget for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Historic England is Government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment. It has resources available online to support owners of listed buildings in installing appropriate energy efficiency measures. Last summer, Historic England updated their advice note on Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency to provide clarity and support consistent decision-making to reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings.

EU students are required to repay their UK government student loans on the same terms as UK citizens, whether resident in the UK or overseas.

In respect of EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and European Free Trade Association students with pre-Brexit qualifying loans that have been permanently written off, the total count of students is 21,914. The vast majority of the 21,914 total count of write-offs can be attributed to automated trivial balance write-offs. Trivial balance write-offs occur if there is a positive or negative balance on an account of £25 or less and no contact can be established with the borrower. The total amount written off is £3,929,619.45. As repayments are income contingent, neither the department nor the Office of National Statistics have a recognised definition for a 'non-performing’ student loan.

This data has been supplied by the Student Loans Company. The data is for EU and EEA domiciled borrowers eligible for tuition fee support only. The data includes student loan accounts for the 2020/21 academic year and earlier. EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals stopped being eligible for UK student loans for courses starting in the 2021/22 academic year.

The table below provides details of Level 2 Stonemason apprenticeship vacancies that were advertised on the Find an Apprenticeship (FAA) service on GOV.UK since the 2020/21 academic year. There have been no vacancies for the Level 2 Thatcher standard, which will be available for starts once a suitable end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) has obtained Ofqual recognition, or the Level 4 Stained Glass Craftsperson standard advertised on the FAA service.

The department encourages employers to advertise on FAA to maximise engagement with their vacancies and to ensure that they are accessible to all potential apprentices, but not all choose to use the service. Employers may choose to recruit apprentices through their own channels, for example via their own websites, which the department does not monitor. The figures below therefore may not represent the total number of vacancies advertised.

Level 2 Stonemason apprenticeship vacancies on FAA by year*

* Numbers rounded to nearest 10.

The table below provides apprenticeship starts on the Level 2 Stonemason apprenticeship and the Level 4 Stained Glass Craftsperson apprenticeship as published in the ‘Apprenticeships statistics’ publication. The Level 2 Stonemason standard was approved for delivery in June 2021 and the Level 4 Stained Glass Craftsperson standard was approved for delivery in February 2023.

There have been no starts on the Level 2 Thatcher apprenticeship standard, which was approved for delivery in February 2024.

Starts by academic year*

* 0 indicates a true zero value and '-' indicates data not applicable.

* Source is the Individualised Learner Record.

* Apprenticeships, Academic year 2023/24 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK

More broadly, employers are encouraged to take working on heritage buildings into account when designing or revising construction occupational standards. Apprenticeship standards which may also support the heritage sector include the Level 2 Bricklayer standard and the Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeship standard.

The table below provides details of Level 2 Stonemason apprenticeship vacancies that were advertised on the Find an Apprenticeship (FAA) service on GOV.UK since the 2020/21 academic year. There have been no vacancies for the Level 2 Thatcher standard, which will be available for starts once a suitable end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) has obtained Ofqual recognition, or the Level 4 Stained Glass Craftsperson standard advertised on the FAA service.

The department encourages employers to advertise on FAA to maximise engagement with their vacancies and to ensure that they are accessible to all potential apprentices, but not all choose to use the service. Employers may choose to recruit apprentices through their own channels, for example via their own websites, which the department does not monitor. The figures below therefore may not represent the total number of vacancies advertised.

Level 2 Stonemason apprenticeship vacancies on FAA by year*

* Numbers rounded to nearest 10.

The table below provides apprenticeship starts on the Level 2 Stonemason apprenticeship and the Level 4 Stained Glass Craftsperson apprenticeship as published in the ‘Apprenticeships statistics’ publication. The Level 2 Stonemason standard was approved for delivery in June 2021 and the Level 4 Stained Glass Craftsperson standard was approved for delivery in February 2023.

There have been no starts on the Level 2 Thatcher apprenticeship standard, which was approved for delivery in February 2024.

Starts by academic year*

* 0 indicates a true zero value and '-' indicates data not applicable.

* Source is the Individualised Learner Record.

* Apprenticeships, Academic year 2023/24 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK

More broadly, employers are encouraged to take working on heritage buildings into account when designing or revising construction occupational standards. Apprenticeship standards which may also support the heritage sector include the Level 2 Bricklayer standard and the Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery apprenticeship standard.

High-quality apprenticeships, including the level 2 Stonemason apprenticeship standard, are available to support employers and learners in the heritage sector to develop the skills they need.

To support more high-quality apprenticeship opportunities, the department pays full training costs for young apprentices aged 16 to 21 at small employers and it pays £1,000 to employers when they take on apprentices aged 16 to 18, or aged 19 to 24 who are care leavers or have an education, health and care plan.

The department also continue to promote apprenticeships through its ‘Skills for Life’ campaign.

We are unable to provide this information as this is not available.

We can provide the overall budgets for Contracted Employment provision (including Access to Work) that support people to find employment above that provided by job centres over the last 5 years

Sepsis has no specific diagnostic test, and the signs and symptoms can vary hugely. As a result, sepsis can be challenging to diagnose. It is therefore critical that all acutely unwell patients are treated promptly and appropriately regardless of cause. The National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) is a clinical screening tool for the recognition of acutely unwell adults, including those with sepsis. NEWS2 supports clinicians to determine the need for immediate care and is used in 99% of acute trusts and 100% of ambulance trusts in England.

To further support clinical staff and ensure unwell patients are identified promptly and are immediately started on life-saving treatment, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence published updated national guidance in March 2024 on sepsis recognition, diagnosis, and early management, which staff can access alongside NHS England’s online sepsis training programmes. Furthermore, the Department continues to fund research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to improve our understanding of sepsis diagnosis and immediate management.

Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition, taken very seriously by the Government. The Government therefore welcomes the three patient safety investigation reports on sepsis, published on 26 June by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB).

Together, the Department and NHS England are closely considering the HSSIB’s recently recommended Areas of Improvement. This will include working with stakeholders to assess implications for current policies and guidance, including reinforcing the updated Royal College of Physicians National Early Warning Score guidance, as well as implications for future policy and development.

Sepsis and stroke are time sensitive and potentially life-threatening conditions, both taken very seriously by the Government. However, they are distinct conditions and present different diagnostic and treatment challenges.

The National Optimal Stroke Imaging pathway provides a pathway to rapid intervention based on a clear diagnosis through imaging, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans. Thrombolysis and thrombectomy rates have risen, indicating effective immediate stroke care. In comparison, sepsis has no specific diagnostic test, and the signs and symptoms can vary hugely. As a result, sepsis can be challenging to diagnose.

The Government is focused on improving the recognition and early diagnosis of sepsis by healthcare professionals, including through NHS England’s online sepsis training programmes, so that unwell patients are identified promptly and started on immediate life-saving treatment. The National Early Warning Score (NEWS2), is a clinical screening tool for the recognition of acutely unwell adults, including those with sepsis. NEWS2 supports clinicians to determine the need for immediate care and is used in 99% of acute trusts and 100% of ambulance trusts in England.

Furthermore, the Department continues to fund research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, to improve our understanding of sepsis diagnosis and immediate management.

Appointments for prosthetics services are offered over a range of media, including via video and telephone. All patients, including individuals with limb loss, can access environmental controls if they meet the criteria as set out within the service specifications Environmental Control Equipment for Patients with Complex Disability (All Ages) and Complex Disability Equipment – Prosthetic Specialised Services For People Of All Ages With Limb Loss, copies of which are attached.

NHS England’s Clinical Priorities Advisory Group has approved a new service specification titled Prosthetic Specialised Services For People Of All Ages With Limb Loss, due for publication in May 2025. This will be implemented by all 35 specialist centres providing prosthetics care. It will improve outcomes for those with limb loss by offering personalised care and enabling patient choice. It also includes metrics which can be used to monitor access times and the quality of care.

NHS England is also reviewing the Clinical Commissioning Policy relating to multi-grip hand and upper limb prosthesis. To inform this review, an audit exploring data relating to the uptake and the latest clinical outcomes is underway, with results expected in Summer 2025. Alongside this, NHS England is commissioning a horizon scan of the latest prosthesis innovations.

The Department will continue to encourage greater innovation in the health sector to help support the three big shifts in healthcare, from hospitals to communities, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention, which are set out as part of the Government’s Health Mission.

The upcoming Life Sciences Sector Plan, as part of the United Kingdom’s industrial strategy, and the 10-Year Health Plan present significant opportunities to enable patients to benefit from the strengthening of the UK’s life sciences sector, ensuring that innovation is embedded across the healthcare system. This will build on the Department’s Medical Technology Strategy, published in February 2023, and the subsequent One Year On Report in April 2024, outlining our priorities for improving the adoption and spread of safe, effective, and innovative medical technologies across the National Health Service.

There is a lack of reliable estimates of the incidence and prevalence of sepsis cases due to inconsistency in the definitions used to describe sepsis, and differences in the coding between professionals and organisations in the United Kingdom. The Department continues to work with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency to improve our understanding of sepsis data and to monitor trends in infection incidence and deaths from sepsis, which are complex and multifactorial.

Although it is not the main purpose of NHS England’s dataset, the data NHS England currently collects provides information on the number of admissions and discharges for sepsis, as well as the number of deaths. At this time, there are no plans to require trusts to report on the number of sepsis cases and outcomes.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on the number of death registrations where sepsis was the underlying cause of death, and where sepsis was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, in England and Wales between 2001 and 2023. The copy of the published ONS data for deaths involving sepsis in England and Wales between 2001 and 2023 is attached.

China's retaliatory sanctions, including against Parliamentarians and UK citizens, are unwarranted and unacceptable. The Prime Minister raised this issue during his meeting with President Xi at the G20 summit in Brazil on 18 November. The Foreign Secretary has similarly raised sanctions at every meeting he has had with his counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax will be rolled out from 2026 to simplify the process by which self-employed individuals and landlords make their annual tax returns. It will also reduce error and help to ensure self-employed individuals and landlords pay the right amount of tax. This in turn will help tackle the tax gap and generate an expected £1.95 billion of additional tax revenue by 2029-30 to fund vital public services.

Businesses that currently use MTD for VAT have reported several benefits including time savings, increased tax confidence, greater accuracy, and improved business operations in comparison to manual processes. Extending MTD for Income Tax will extend these benefits to a further 2.75 million self-employed individuals and landlords

MTD for Income Tax will require users to keep electronic tax records, submit quarterly updates of income and expenditure and submit a Tax Return. Users will need to complete these steps using commercial software. The government is not building functionality to allow MTD users to complete these steps on their online Personal or Business Tax Accounts. However, MTD users will be able to see details of information submitted within software through their Personal or Business Tax Accounts. This includes information about their quarterly updates and estimated tax liability.

The government has worked with the software industry to ensure there are free and low-cost software options available, alongside a wider range of software choices to suit varying needs and budgets. The use of software offers more flexible and tailored ways for users to manage their tax affairs compared to HMRC’s online services.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax will be rolled out from 2026 to simplify the process by which self-employed individuals and landlords make their annual tax returns. It will also reduce error and help to ensure self-employed individuals and landlords pay the right amount of tax. This in turn will help tackle the tax gap and generate an expected £1.95 billion of additional tax revenue by 2029-30 to fund vital public services.

Businesses that currently use MTD for VAT have reported several benefits including time savings, increased tax confidence, greater accuracy, and improved business operations in comparison to manual processes. Extending MTD for Income Tax will extend these benefits to a further 2.75 million self-employed individuals and landlords

MTD for Income Tax will require users to keep electronic tax records, submit quarterly updates of income and expenditure and submit a Tax Return. Users will need to complete these steps using commercial software. The government is not building functionality to allow MTD users to complete these steps on their online Personal or Business Tax Accounts. However, MTD users will be able to see details of information submitted within software through their Personal or Business Tax Accounts. This includes information about their quarterly updates and estimated tax liability.

The government has worked with the software industry to ensure there are free and low-cost software options available, alongside a wider range of software choices to suit varying needs and budgets. The use of software offers more flexible and tailored ways for users to manage their tax affairs compared to HMRC’s online services.

To support the construction of new homes, the Government maintains a zero rate of VAT on new-build residential buildings and a reduced rate of VAT of five per cent for residential renovations that meet certain conditions.

To preserve heritage, restorative work carried out on listed buildings previously benefited from a zero rate of VAT. However, this relief was abolished in 2012, as it was primarily used to carry out extension work unnecessary for heritage purposes. The Government has no current plans to reduce the VAT charged on work to maintain and repair listed properties, but keeps all taxes under review.

Forecasts for oil and gas tax revenues are published by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which take into account many factors including the sector’s expectations and the Government’s policy at the time. The most recent forecast was published at Autumn Budget 2024 in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook October 2024 [1] . This also includes other economic projections, including in relation to future investment in the oil and gas sector and the UK’s balance of payments.

Future OBR forecasts will consider any changes to policy that may have an impact on investment in the oil and gas sector, oil and gas production or tax revenues from the sector.

1. https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-october-2024/

As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, from 6 April 2027 most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included within the value of a person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes.

The nature of the assets held by a pension scheme is not taken into account for inheritance tax purposes. This is the existing policy on the treatment of assets held by a pension scheme.

Comprehensive guidance will be published on these changes ahead of coming into effect.

The UK has introduced Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream, and improve the customer experience. The introduction of the ETA scheme is in line with the approach many of the UK’s international partners have already taken to border security, including the European Union’s forthcoming ETIAS and EES. The UK’s scheme was extended to eligible European nationals on 5 March 2025, and will be a requirement for this cohort for travel from 2 April 2025.

We have no such plans at present. However, we will keep the matter under review as we develop our planning policy on heritage matters.

The Government does not monitor unauthorised alterations to listed buildings. This is a matter for individual local planning authorities.

We have no such plans at present. However, we will keep the matter under review as we develop our planning policy on heritage matters.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to Question UIN 7852 on 14 October 2024.