Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Invite to Offer stage of negotiations will open before the end of 2026 for businesses shortlisted under the second Hydrogen Allocation Round.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We are working hard across government to start the Invite to Offer stage of the second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) as soon as possible and will be in touch with projects when this commences. Contract awards for successful projects will follow shortly afterwards.

We understand that many projects are at critical stages, and that certainty is important to support business planning, resource management and engagement with third parties.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will guarantee that planned reductions in civil service headcount in his Department will not result in a reduction in the number of Defence Driving Examiners available to conduct military driving tests.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

There are currently no plans to reduce the number of Civil Service Defence Driving Examiners. Since April 2026, all Defence Driving Examiner posts have been established as full-time Civil Service roles, enabling Service personnel to remain focused on their primary operational duties.

The Department will continue to ensure that Defence driving test capacity is maintained to meet operational requirements.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will publish the full list of energy projects whose funding has been delayed, reduced or cancelled to meet the capital reductions required to finance the Defence Investment Plan, together with the value of the reduction in each case.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The savings are a small part of DESNZ’s overall budget, which saw a significant uplift at Spending Review.

Our aim is for a large proportion of the savings to be found through efficiencies. We will set out more details in due course.

The UK clean energy economy is booming, with over £100bn of private sector investment announced since July 2024 thanks to the government’s clean energy mission.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on releasing funding for East Riding of Yorkshire Council from the Local Transport Fund.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department of Transport pays local transport funding to Local Transport Authorities (LTAs). East Riding of Yorkshire council is a constituent authority of Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, which acts as the LTA.

Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority will receive a total local transport settlement of £288,222,764 from the Department for Transport over the Spending Review period (2026/27 to 2028/29 for RDEL and 2029/30 for CDEL). This is paid as a single Mayoral Transport Fund, giving Hull and East Yorkshire the freedom and flexibility to support the strategic priorities of the local transport network.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he will take in response to Capita's performance of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Cabinet Office awarded Capita the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme in November 2023 under the previous government. The current delays facing scheme members are entirely unacceptable, and this Government has taken firm action to resolve them through a clear recovery plan with strict delivery milestones. We have deployed additional resources to expedite priority cases, ensuring that serving and former staff receive the high standard of service they deserve. Regular progress updates remain available to members via the pension portal and GOV.UK.

While Capita committed to a complete return to standard contractual service levels by the end of June 2026, they have failed to meet this critical milestone. The Government is taking robust action to hold Capita to account. This includes withholding £9.9 million in contract payments for undelivered milestones, alongside confirmation that the Government surge team costs will be recovered directly from Capita.

To enforce strict compliance, independent auditors are being deployed to conduct a technical systems review, and an on-the-ground Remedial Adviser is being appointed at Capita’s expense. Further commercial, legal, and operational options remain on the table during the consideration of long-term structural delivery options.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to replace the Points of Light Award.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government wants to recognise the outstanding contribution of volunteers and encourage all to be involved in delivering positive change. The Points of Light programme closed in 2024. While
individual volunteers are recognised through the Honours system, and groups can be recognised through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, there is consideration to replace the Points of Light
programme with a similar scheme.

Found: Ireland Graham Leadbitter MP Elgin IV30 1NJ Public sector Committed Central, East and North Scotland Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: Chesterfield Derbyshire BV21400218/1 Christopher Ellis 22/03/2013 York Yorkshire BV21415353/1 Graham Stuart

Found: www.administrativeappeals.tribunals.gov.uk Section 2.1 – New Applications Granted OC2091463 SN GRAHAM STUART