David Mundell

There are over 11,500 post office branches in the UK. The Government-set Access Criteria ensures that however the network changes, services remain within local reach of all citizens.

​Due to lack of premises or retailers within particular areas, permanent solutions are however not always possible. In these communities, outreach branches ensure customers are not left behind and can continue to access Post Office services. Post Office's 2023 Annual Network Report shows that 16.5% (1,924) of the total 11,684 branches are outreach branches.

The Government does not have a role in Royal Mail’s commercial decisions, including the prices of stamps and other services.

In setting its prices, Royal Mail must observe the regulatory framework set by Ofcom which imposes price controls, ‘safeguard caps’, on certain second-class products to ensure a basic universal service is available to all at affordable prices.

Information on Ofcom’s decisions regarding retail price caps on Royal Mail’s universal postal services to apply from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027 is available on its website: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/deliveries-and-charges/consultation-review-of-second-class-safeguard-caps-2024.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, is responsible for ensuring the provision of a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service that meets users’ needs.

Ofcom’s statement of 5 September set out potential reforms to the universal service obligation and its plans to carry out further in-depth research among postal users. Ofcom expects to publish any proposals for public consultation in early 2025, which will provide an opportunity for interested parties (including magazine publishers) to contribute their views. More information is available on Ofcom’s website: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/royal-mail/securing-the-future-of-the-universal-postal-service.

Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, is responsible for ensuring the provision of a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service that meets users’ needs.

Ofcom’s statement of 5 September set out potential reforms to the universal service obligation and its plans to carry out further in-depth research among postal users. Ofcom expects to publish any proposals for public consultation in early 2025, which will provide an opportunity for interested parties (including magazine publishers) to contribute their views. More information is available on Ofcom’s website: www.ofcom.org.uk/post/royal-mail/securing-the-future-of-the-universal-postal-service.

Through the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA), the government is continuing to assess options for strengthening locational and operational signals in the electricity market. This includes measures which could be implemented under national pricing, as well as a zonal pricing option.

Zonal pricing has the potential to deliver large consumer benefits by creating a more efficient energy system. It would result in a smaller, more efficient power system reducing the need for new power stations and lower the amount of new network that needs to be built.

However, we recognise that implementing zonal could also create uncertainty for investors.  We are considering the balance between potential consumer and system benefits from enabling greater demand-side flexibility, potential distributional impacts, and the future trajectory of network charging which already introduces regional variations in consumer bills.

The Department does not hold constituency level data on remaining RTS meters, but we are regularly engaging with energy suppliers, Ofgem and the industry body Energy UK to review local plans for the switch-off.

Energy suppliers have contacted all premises with RTS meters and Ofgem is encouraging customers to book an appointment to ensure they are provided with a replacement meter ahead of the switch-off.

Ministers and official meet regularly with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on a range of issues. UKRI funds a broad range of high-quality research relating to nutrition, spanning different research councils.

During the last 5 years UKRI has spent £251 million on nutrition research, with £65 million spent during the most recent financial year for which full data is available (2023-24).

In addition to this, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funds research, including on nutrition, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

NIHR spent £11.8 million on nutrition research in the last year and £23.3 million in the last 5 years across a broad spectrum of areas related to nutrition to inform Government policy to improve patient care and help people stay well for longer.

Ministers and official meet regularly with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on a range of issues. UKRI funds a broad range of high-quality research relating to nutrition, spanning different research councils.

During the last 5 years UKRI has spent £251 million on nutrition research, with £65 million spent during the most recent financial year for which full data is available (2023-24).

In addition to this, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funds research, including on nutrition, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

NIHR spent £11.8 million on nutrition research in the last year and £23.3 million in the last 5 years across a broad spectrum of areas related to nutrition to inform Government policy to improve patient care and help people stay well for longer.

Science and innovation have a key role in developing a healthy, resilient and sustainable food system. Defra is contributing to a £47.5 million UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-led research programme on food systems for both planetary and human health; and a £15 million UKRI-led ‘Diet and Health Open Innovation Research Club’ food sector innovation programme.

In 2024, Defra launched a £15 million 5-year investment in breeding for crop improvement, the Genetic Improvement Networks, which includes enhancing the nutritional quality of UK staple crops.

Innovative technologies such as precision breeding also have a key role to play in enhancing crop nutritional quality. Upcoming competitions within the Farming Innovation Programme include a competition to unlock the opportunities provided by the Precision Breeding Act.

Our ambitious food strategy will set and deliver clear long-term outcomes that create a healthier, fairer, and more resilient food system, and in doing so will consider elements of the food system that can contribute towards those outcomes

As a newly formed Government we will need time to review and consider the Ombudsman’s report along with the evidence provided during the investigation.

This Government respects the work of the Ombudsman. Now the election has concluded we need to consider the views that have been expressed on all sides.

The issues outlined in the report are significant and complex, as such they require serious deliberation. Once this work has been undertaken, the Government/we will be in a position to outline its approach.

The UK notes the US decision to pause foreign aid funding for 3 months, pending a review. This is a matter for the US. Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals requires collective action, and the UK will continue to work with all international partnerships toward that vision. The UK's commitment to supporting both humanitarian aid and development across the world and promoting universal comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) remains steadfast.

The UK notes the US decision to pause foreign aid funding for 3 months, pending a review. This is a matter for the US. Progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals requires collective action, and the UK will continue to work with all international partnerships toward that vision. The UK's commitment to supporting both humanitarian aid and development across the world and promoting universal comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) remains steadfast.

Our investments in the Global Fund play a critical role delivering the Government's international development priorities: to create a world free from poverty, on a liveable planet, putting equality at the heart of all we do. This includes strengthening health security, improving preparedness and response and protecting citizens and economies from health and climate threats.

The UK has disbursed over £5.5 billion to the Global Fund to date; previous UK pledges are as follows:

The Global Fund is a high performing organisation that has saved 65 million lives, with combined deaths attributed to HIV, TB and malaria estimated as having been reduced by 61 per cent, because of Global Fund activities

Through our Board and Committee representation and bilateral levers, the FCDO engages consistently with the Global Fund to monitor and drive progress against its goals and UK priorities. This includes making regular assessments of the risks to its operations and strategy.

For decades, Diego Garcia has played a critical role in global security. It is a critical enabler of our ability to respond to crises and counter complex, challenging security threats. This agreement will safeguard the strategic security interests of the United Kingdom, Mauritius, and the United States, as well as our other regional partners, well into the next century.

As a new Government, we are commissioning a review into the circumstances where those who are living with HIV are not permitted to fulfil some roles within the Armed Forces.

After recent changes there are only a very small number of roles where those living with HIV are currently excluded from serving, including aircrew and pilots. We note changes made to rules around civil aviation in respect of people living with HIV and I have asked the Department to consider whether the current policy measures, especially given advances in PREP, are consistent with the values and standards of our Armed Forces.

I have asked for this review to be delivered swiftly. I would be happy to meet the righ hon. Member and cross-party colleagues to discuss this matter further with a view to a decision being taken by the Ministers in the coming weeks.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 1308 on 26 July 2024.

The Electoral Commission will publish a report on the administration of the General Election held on 4 July later this year, and the Government will give careful consideration to any findings or recommendations made in the report in relation to the current arrangements for postal voting.

The park homes sector is an important part of the housing market. We recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home. We will set out the Government’s position on this matter in due course.