David Chadwick

The House of Commons is committed to engaging and informing the public about its work. We currently use a range of social media platforms and channels to reach a diverse range of audiences. We continuously review all social media platforms used by the House, and emerging channels.

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

A holding response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27 January is attached. A copy of the final response will be deposited in the House of Commons Library as soon as it is complete.

Although the Department of Business and Trade does not directly regulate these sectors, Companies House and the Insolvency Service supply data on UK registered companies to assist law enforcement targeting online fraud and other economic crimes. Furthermore, through the Consumer Protection Partnership, we raise awareness about how to spot, avoid and report scams.

Across Government, the Home Office works with Ofcom to prevent phone number ‘spoofing’, which is the practice of scammers impersonating UK phone numbers to trick people into thinking they are speaking to legitimate businesses.

The maintenance of our electricity network is critical to deliver clean, secure power to homes and businesses across the country. Electricity network operators are private companies which build, own, operate, and maintain electricity network infrastructure. As regional monopolies, they are regulated by the independent energy regulator, Ofgem. Transmission owners and Distribution Network Operators are required by Ofgem’s license conditions to ensure the maintenance of an efficient, economic, and coordinated system of electricity transmission and distribution respectively.

As a private transmission owner National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) develops project proposals in England and Wales where a transmission need is identified by the National Energy System Operator (NESO). In all proposals evidence demonstrating due consideration of alternative options is required. In this case proposals remain in early development.

NESO submitted proposals to Ofgem to reorder the connection queue, which would impact on generator connection agreements. Ofgem is expected to announce its decision in March.

The Department publishes estimates of the number of domestic properties not connected to the gas network in Great Britain by constituency. In 2023, an estimated 19,000 domestic properties (41%) in Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe constituency were not connected to the gas network. Equivalent figures for the electricity network are not published.

ETSU-R-97 is the primary guidance used for the assessment of noise from onshore wind turbines across the UK. Government has contracted an external consultancy to update ETSU-R-97 following a 2023 scoping review which recommended targeted updates to ensure the guidance is in line with contemporary evidence and policy, and suitable for modern turbines. Government aims to publish the updated guidance in Spring 2025.

The Government is committed to ensuring that decision makers have access to the best guidance, enabling onshore wind to be built whilst also balancing potential impacts.

The Government has concluded that the ETSU-R-97 guidance should be updated to bring it into line with the most up to date evidence and policy. We aim to publish the updated ETSU-R-97 guidance in Spring 2025. In the meantime, the current ETSU guidance should continue to be applied when assessing wind turbine noise.

Project Gigabit funding is not allocated at a constituency or regional level. Instead, it is targeted at premises across the UK that need it most, specifically those outside of suppliers' commercial plans.

The latest Project Gigabit contracts announced on 7 January 2025 do not cover Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe as eligible premises in the constituency have already been included in an earlier Project Gigabit contract with Openreach. This contract is currently expected to deliver gigabit-capable connections to approximately 3,600 premises in the constituency.

To date, over £1 million in public subsidy has been spent in the Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe constituency through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and its previous iterations, passing nearly 800 premises with gigabit-capable broadband. This includes top-up funding from Welsh Government. Additionally, almost 6,700 premises across the constituency have received a gigabit-capable connection through the government’s Superfast and GigaHubs programmes. We do not hold constituency-level data of spend for these schemes.

The Government Digital Service (GDS) monitors the accessibility of public sector websites and mobile applications under The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. Between January 2022 and September 2024, GDS monitored 1,203 websites and 21 mobile applications.

Accessibility monitoring of public sector websites and mobile applications is ongoing.

The monitoring process for each website consists of both automated and manual accessibility checks, including keyboard testing.

More information on the monitoring methodology can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/accessibility-monitoring-how-we-test .

I have already held a series of productive meetings with the Wales Office, Welsh Government, Arts Council England, and Welsh National Opera to understand the issue in more detail and to see how, within the parameters of the arm’s length principle, DCMS can best help ensure a strong and secure future for the WNO.

The core point of agreement across all these meetings and across all partners was a recognition of the value of the Welsh National Opera and its work - both for the people of Wales, but also for people elsewhere in the UK. It was clear that all partners are keen to achieve a positive long-term future for the organisation, and are working towards that goal.

I am pleased to see additional funding of £755,000 has been allocated by the Arts Council to WNO.

I was also pleased that this series of meetings was able to reassure everyone that all partners wanted to see a positive future for Welsh National Opera, that the funding bodies across the border will work more collaboratively in future and that the new leadership at the WNO have a clear idea of how to progress. Everyone wants to sustain the WNO so that as many people as possible in Wales and England have a chance to enjoy world class opera close to home. Funding decisions are for the Welsh Arts Council and Arts Council England, but I am confident that the WNO is in a strong place to succeed.

This Government is actively progressing the next steps for the River Wye. This includes building stronger ties and working collaboratively with the Welsh Government, Environment Agency and Natural England, as well as local MPs, farmers, local community groups and eNGOs who have already been doing great work to tackle pollution.

This includes the Wye Nutrient Management Board and the Wye Catchment Partnership, which is made up of cross-border stakeholders in farming and environment. Along with regulators in the area, they are coordinating comprehensive research and are well placed to drive local action in the Wye.

This Government will not be implementing all of the previous Governments ‘River Wye Action Plan’, including a pilot scheme to incinerate poultry manure in the catchment.

We understand poultry incineration already takes place in the catchment, so funding a trial does not represent value for money. We will also not be reappointing a rivers champion. We believe there are excellent local experts who can continue to lead efforts on tackling river pollution and we will be supporting them to drive action forward.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) rather than Defra has responsibility for regulating rodenticides/rat poisons. Given the potential risks posed to the environment by rodenticides, they are subject to strict regulation.

Where wild birds of prey or any non-target species of wildlife are killed illegally by rat poison the full force of the law should apply to proven perpetrators of the crime. Defra is a principal funder of the National Wildlife Crime Unit which helps prevent and detect illegal poisoning by obtaining and disseminating intelligence and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations. Defra also provides funding for England’s Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme which determines the underlying cause of death of wildlife where illegal use of pesticides or rodenticides/rat poison is suspected.

To help ensure that non-target species are not harmed by rat poison, Defra would further advise anyone seeking to lawfully manage rodents to consider the most humane method of control and apply the least severe solution. There are a range of effective, alternative methods for successful rodent management including elimination of harbourage, food and water. The use of spring traps and live capture traps are also inexpensive, reusable and widely available.

Defra regularly meets animal welfare stakeholders to understand issues and trends affecting the sector.

Defra welcomes the support that the animal sector has provided through pet food banks and financial support with veterinary treatment; and the financial support that the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) provided to its members experiencing financial difficulties due to cost-of-living pressures.

The animal sector offers helpful advice to potential pet owners on the responsibilities that come with pet ownership including free guides on the estimated lifetime costs of owning a pet.

In the UK, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) authorises veterinary medicinal products under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (as amended), with the aim of protecting public health, animal health, the environment, and to promote animal welfare. The VMD carefully balances the benefits of these medicines, including protection of companion animals and humans from parasitic and zoonotic diseases, against potential risks, including environmental impacts, and only authorises products if the benefits outweigh the risks.

We are aware of concerns about flea and tick treatments, particularly fipronil and imidacloprid, contributing to pollution in UK surface waters. Addressing this is a priority, and we have established the cross-government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Group to develop strategies to reduce the environmental impact, focusing on reducing the exposure of these substances to watercourses.

The Department of Transport continues to engage closely with the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in developing its proposal for world-class research, testing and certification site in South Wales. Department for Transport officials contribute through the cross-government GCRE steering group, which also includes representatives from the Department for Business and Trade and Welsh Government, to discuss options for Government support for the proposal and to ensure alignment with Government Industrial Strategy and other priorities.

The Department of Transport continues to engage closely with the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in developing its proposal for world-class research, testing and certification site in South Wales. Department for Transport officials contribute through the cross-government GCRE steering group, which also includes representatives from the Department for Business and Trade and Welsh Government, to discuss options for Government support for the proposal and to ensure alignment with Government Industrial Strategy and other priorities.

The Department of Transport continues to engage closely with the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in developing its proposal for world-class research, testing and certification site in South Wales. Department for Transport officials contribute through the cross-government GCRE steering group, which also includes representatives from the Department for Business and Trade and Welsh Government, to discuss options for Government support for the proposal and to ensure alignment with Government Industrial Strategy and other priorities.

The Department of Transport continues to engage closely with the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in developing its proposal for world-class research, testing and certification site in South Wales. Department for Transport officials contribute through the cross-government GCRE steering group, which also includes representatives from the Department for Business and Trade and Welsh Government, to discuss options for Government support for the proposal and to ensure alignment with Government Industrial Strategy and other priorities.

Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) play a critical role in helping the rail industry reduce its emissions and costs, optimise operations, improve resilience and safety and enhance passenger experience. The Department of Transport continues to engage closely with Horizon Europe, through the European Rail Joint Undertaking (ERJU), to collaborate. DfT officials represent the UK on the ERJU States Representative Group (SRG) to promote the UK rail sector and, working alongside Network Rail, access available funding for projects that are aligned to UK Government priorities. The Department of Transport also supports UK rail industry RD&I though funding the Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), First of a Kind (FOAK) programme, amongst other RD&I programmes. The FOAK programme aims to accelerate and increase the adoption of innovation within rail and received approximately £7.7m between FY2022-23 and FY2024-25.

In October 2024, there were 107,697 claimants with a respiratory diseased who received Personal Independence Payment (PIP). These figures are for England and Wales only and exclude claimants with Special Rules for End of Life. This figure can be found in Stat Xplore in the “PIP cases with Entitlement from 2019” table found here: Stat-Xplore - Home.

Entitlement to PIP is assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the health condition or disability itself. Individuals can be affected in different ways by the same condition and so the outcome of a PIP claim depends very much on individual circumstances.

PIP legislation requires decision makers to consider whether individuals can complete each assessment activity “safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period”. These four components are known as the reliability criteria.

When determining whether an activity can be reliably carried out, symptoms such as breathlessness should be considered, as they may indicate that the activity cannot be done to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, or within a reasonable time period. The impact of completing one activity on the ability to complete others must also be considered.

The requested information is not held. We do not systematically collect data on the employment sector background of Universal Credit (UC) claimants because this does not affect entitlement to UC.

I refer the hon. Member to the previous reply PQ 15550.

Information about the paying parent's gross income is taken directly from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for the latest tax year available. This allows calculations to be made quickly and accurately. Any income subject to income tax, including bonuses and overtime received by an employed paying parent, is included within their gross weekly income when calculating a child maintenance liability.

The Child Maintenance Service is designed to deliver stability by reviewing the liability annually, unless a substantial change in income has occurred. The 25% tolerance for in-year changes ensures liabilities remain consistent, and both parents can factor this into their financial planning, providing ongoing stability for the child.

In light of societal changes since it was last evaluated, a review of the calculation is currently ongoing to ensure it is fit for purpose and fair for both parents.

The Midlife MOT is designed to help individuals in their 40s and 50s to stay in and return to work. Midlife MOT sessions are delivered through Jobcentre Plus for Universal Credit claimants aged 50+. The research on these sessions is currently ongoing and will be published upon completion.

The Private Sector Midlife MOT pilots were delivered through providers, direct to employees, in three pilot areas (the North East of England; Cornwall and Devon; and East Anglia). These pilots have now ended. Evaluation of the pilots was the responsibility of the programme providers individually. DWP also conducted in-house research as part of a wider evaluation strategy.

The Digital Midlife MOT website, providing access to financial, health and career guidance, is open to all and website analytics are continuously monitored. Further research into the Digital MOT website is ongoing and will be published upon completion.