Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support SMEs in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) other rural areas with changes in (i) employment and (ii) energy costs.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The government is supporting small businesses, including those in Lincolnshire and rural areas, to start, scale and grow as part of the Plan for Small Businesses.
We are delivering our Plan to Make Work Pay by extending the protections already offered by many British employers to millions more workers across the country. We provide practical guidance and support for businesses and workers, alongside wider engagement and educational activity.
Government monitors the impact of international energy markets on businesses and stands ready to respond. The Chancellor recently announced that from 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will cut energy bills by up to 25% for over 10,000 manufacturers.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the Army Training Centre Pirbright to accommodate (a) the Army Reserve basic training programme currently delivered at Army Training Regiment Grantham and (b) the recommended 20% increase in the Army Reserve.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The co-location of the Army Reserve training capability with regular Army Training at Pirbright enables more efficient and flexible delivery of training. Resourcing and capacity to meet future requirements, including the recommended 20% increase in the Army Reserve, are routinely being reviewed to ensure they remain adequate.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in global energy prices on rural households that are not connected to the gas grid in Lincolnshire.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that recent global events have increased volatility in international energy markets, which has placed upward pressure on the price of off-grid fuels. The Government announced £53 million of support for vulnerable off-grid customers, distributed by local authorities through the Crisis and Resilience Fund. The Government continues to keep the price and market conditions of off-grid fuels under review as part of its wider consideration of energy affordability and fuel poverty.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the response by the British Chambers of Commerce to the Milburn Review.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I welcome Milburn’s clear diagnosis and the British Chambers of Commerce’s endorsement. This is not a temporary problem and partnerships between employers and education providers are critical. We will consider Alan Milburn’s full recommendations in the autumn as we shape the next phase of reform.
The Employment Rights Act will improve job security, quality and fair pay, with young workers among the largest beneficiaries. The Industrial Strategy, commits £1.2bn each year for skills by 2028-29 to deliver more opportunities in high-growth sectors.
We are working with DWP to ensure every young person can access work, training and apprenticeship opportunities through the Youth Guarantee.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the contribution of Prince William of Gloucester Barracks to domestic resilience, including its role in the assembly of mobile testing centres during the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Prince William of Gloucester (PWoG) Barracks is included in Joint Military Command (JMC) Centre contingency plans for potential resilience operations, along with all other available Defence locations in their Area of Operations. JMC Centre are aware of the pending closure of PWoG Barracks and will adjust contingency plans accordingly when the site is no longer available.
The Barracks currently host HQ 102 Operational Support Brigade, 167 Catering Support Regiment RLC, 294 Supply Squadron of 159 Regiment RLC, Army Training Regiment Grantham (ATR(G)), and various lodger units. Following the planned closure of the site, the planned moves for these units are as follows: ATR(G) is scheduled to relocate to Alexander Barracks, Pirbright; 102 Operational Support Brigade to Munster Barracks, Catterick; and the Royal Logistic Corps and lodger units to Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore.
The closure of PWoG Barracks is being managed under the Defence Estate Optimisation programme, an intent announced by the previous Government in Parliament in 2016 which remains unchanged. As the site is becoming surplus to military requirements, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is required to release it to ensure best value for the taxpayer; therefore, no separate business case for disposal exists.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is part of the MOD. It works closely with Army stakeholders, and is delivering the development of the new training centre at Pirbright, which will meet current and future defence needs and render the Barracks surplus.
Extensive consultation has been undertaken with the Army Reserve, local authorities, stakeholders, local residents, and service families regarding the closure of ATR(G). The MoD remains committed to closing PWoG Barracks only when alternative Army Reserve basic training capacity is fully established and operational.
A comprehensive Value for Money assessment has been conducted as part of the project management for the new bespoke non-infantry basic training centre, which will provide sufficient capacity to meet training and Reserve requirements while delivering efficiencies. Regarding the costs of relocating units and training functions from PWoG Barracks, these vary depending on size, complexity, commercial movement rates, and distance; such forecast costs are commercially sensitive and therefore not disclosed.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what units are currently headquartered or based at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks; and where each will be relocated following the site’s planned closure.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Prince William of Gloucester (PWoG) Barracks is included in Joint Military Command (JMC) Centre contingency plans for potential resilience operations, along with all other available Defence locations in their Area of Operations. JMC Centre are aware of the pending closure of PWoG Barracks and will adjust contingency plans accordingly when the site is no longer available.
The Barracks currently host HQ 102 Operational Support Brigade, 167 Catering Support Regiment RLC, 294 Supply Squadron of 159 Regiment RLC, Army Training Regiment Grantham (ATR(G)), and various lodger units. Following the planned closure of the site, the planned moves for these units are as follows: ATR(G) is scheduled to relocate to Alexander Barracks, Pirbright; 102 Operational Support Brigade to Munster Barracks, Catterick; and the Royal Logistic Corps and lodger units to Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore.
The closure of PWoG Barracks is being managed under the Defence Estate Optimisation programme, an intent announced by the previous Government in Parliament in 2016 which remains unchanged. As the site is becoming surplus to military requirements, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is required to release it to ensure best value for the taxpayer; therefore, no separate business case for disposal exists.
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is part of the MOD. It works closely with Army stakeholders, and is delivering the development of the new training centre at Pirbright, which will meet current and future defence needs and render the Barracks surplus.
Extensive consultation has been undertaken with the Army Reserve, local authorities, stakeholders, local residents, and service families regarding the closure of ATR(G). The MoD remains committed to closing PWoG Barracks only when alternative Army Reserve basic training capacity is fully established and operational.
A comprehensive Value for Money assessment has been conducted as part of the project management for the new bespoke non-infantry basic training centre, which will provide sufficient capacity to meet training and Reserve requirements while delivering efficiencies. Regarding the costs of relocating units and training functions from PWoG Barracks, these vary depending on size, complexity, commercial movement rates, and distance; such forecast costs are commercially sensitive and therefore not disclosed.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of business energy costs on private sector activity.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises that electricity prices are an important factor in private sector activity of UK-based businesses and is dedicated to bringing electricity costs for recipients closer in line with those charged in competitor countries. We engage regularly with industry and monitor evidence on the impact of energy costs.
Through our Industrial Strategy we are taking action to address these challenges, including through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, which reduce electricity costs by up to £40/MWh for eligible businesses.
The Network Charging Compensation scheme was uplifted from 60% to 90% relief from 1s April 2026. This raised total support from the Supercharger to approximately £65-87/MWh.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Community Diagnostic Centres are adequately staffed without removing hospital employees from areas such as acute patient care.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In April 2026, the Government announced our plan to open four new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) during 2026/27. We also announced a further 32 centres, which will be expanded and improved with new scanning equipment, outpatient clinic space and additional testing facilities. The 36 centres, backed by a £237 million Government investment, will significantly boost National Health Service diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities.
All CDCs have been funded to purchase and install the equipment that is specific to each CDC’s individual requirements, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. Business cases for equipment are approved nationally, and each case is reviewed to ensure that it meets the expected standards to deliver clinical pathways and meet the needs of the local population. Local equipment procurement is coordinated through the NHS Supply Chain to ensure value for money.
Staffing models are determined locally by each host organisation for the CDC. Many trusts operate on a rotational model between the acute site and the CDC to ensure that acute care remains adequately staffed whilst supporting the opportunity for staff to train in a controlled elective environment. To further support staff recruitment and retention, NHS England funds practice educator posts across the clinical services delivered in CDCs. These posts support the preceptorship of newly qualified staff and provide undergraduate and postgraduate clinical support to clinical trainees.
Funding is currently available to install digital infrastructure to ensure that patient information, images, and reports flow seamlessly from CDCs to the rest of the healthcare system. NHS England is rolling out a National Imaging Registry, which will allow clinicians across England, including in CDCs, to access current and historic patient scans and reports, reducing the need to repeat scans if the patient presents in a different location.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help Community Diagnostic Centres to integrate digital infrastructure and data sharing into their operation.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In April 2026, the Government announced our plan to open four new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) during 2026/27. We also announced a further 32 centres, which will be expanded and improved with new scanning equipment, outpatient clinic space and additional testing facilities. The 36 centres, backed by a £237 million Government investment, will significantly boost National Health Service diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities.
All CDCs have been funded to purchase and install the equipment that is specific to each CDC’s individual requirements, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. Business cases for equipment are approved nationally, and each case is reviewed to ensure that it meets the expected standards to deliver clinical pathways and meet the needs of the local population. Local equipment procurement is coordinated through the NHS Supply Chain to ensure value for money.
Staffing models are determined locally by each host organisation for the CDC. Many trusts operate on a rotational model between the acute site and the CDC to ensure that acute care remains adequately staffed whilst supporting the opportunity for staff to train in a controlled elective environment. To further support staff recruitment and retention, NHS England funds practice educator posts across the clinical services delivered in CDCs. These posts support the preceptorship of newly qualified staff and provide undergraduate and postgraduate clinical support to clinical trainees.
Funding is currently available to install digital infrastructure to ensure that patient information, images, and reports flow seamlessly from CDCs to the rest of the healthcare system. NHS England is rolling out a National Imaging Registry, which will allow clinicians across England, including in CDCs, to access current and historic patient scans and reports, reducing the need to repeat scans if the patient presents in a different location.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to secure procurement pathways to ensure that Community Diagnostics Centres are equipped with up to date equipment, such as CT and MRI scanners.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In April 2026, the Government announced our plan to open four new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) during 2026/27. We also announced a further 32 centres, which will be expanded and improved with new scanning equipment, outpatient clinic space and additional testing facilities. The 36 centres, backed by a £237 million Government investment, will significantly boost National Health Service diagnostic capacity and deliver more care in local communities.
All CDCs have been funded to purchase and install the equipment that is specific to each CDC’s individual requirements, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. Business cases for equipment are approved nationally, and each case is reviewed to ensure that it meets the expected standards to deliver clinical pathways and meet the needs of the local population. Local equipment procurement is coordinated through the NHS Supply Chain to ensure value for money.
Staffing models are determined locally by each host organisation for the CDC. Many trusts operate on a rotational model between the acute site and the CDC to ensure that acute care remains adequately staffed whilst supporting the opportunity for staff to train in a controlled elective environment. To further support staff recruitment and retention, NHS England funds practice educator posts across the clinical services delivered in CDCs. These posts support the preceptorship of newly qualified staff and provide undergraduate and postgraduate clinical support to clinical trainees.
Funding is currently available to install digital infrastructure to ensure that patient information, images, and reports flow seamlessly from CDCs to the rest of the healthcare system. NHS England is rolling out a National Imaging Registry, which will allow clinicians across England, including in CDCs, to access current and historic patient scans and reports, reducing the need to repeat scans if the patient presents in a different location.