Greg Knight

The total cost of Operation Marquee for the House of Commons is still being determined. We will proactively publish this figure alongside details of the costs incurred.

The House of Commons finance and information compliance teams are working alongside the respective teams in the House of Lords to ensure aligned and complete publications of costs.

The cost of Operation Marquee has been funded from the House of Commons 2022–23 Estimate. The House has not required additional funding from HM Treasury to cover the cost of Operation Marquee.

Team budgets, including programme budgets, were not reduced in order to fund Operation Marquee. Costs incurred by Teams in relation to Operation Marquee were funded by requests from central contingency and managed by the finance team.

The feedback from Members and the public was that Operation Marquee was successfully delivered and the Commission recognises the crucial part played by the House service in that process.

Between August and December there have been four major incidents relating to the desk telephones provided in Members’ offices.

Work-arounds were deployed where possible; two incidents remain outstanding and are expected to be resolved in December 2022.

The response and resolution of these incidents was protracted due to the complexity of the underlying software and existing telephony infrastructure.

Earlier this year a Voice Programme was established to address the need for improvements to voice services for Members and Peers. This will be targeted to improve the user experience and reduce the risk of disruption to parliamentary services.

The UK Government is fully committed to tackling global deforestation, working in partnership with international governments.

Under our COP26 Presidency we have established the Forests, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue. This aims to agree collaborative actions to reduce the impact of agriculture on tropical forests and other carbon-rich ecosystems, whilst investing in sustainable production and promoting trade.

More broadly, the Prime Minister recently pledged to spend £3bn on international climate change solutions that protect and restore nature and biodiversity over the next five years.

The UK Government is bringing forward world-leading due diligence legislation, making it illegal for large UK businesses to use key commodities if they have not been produced in line with local laws protecting forests and other natural ecosystems.

The Parliamentary Maintenance Services Team (PMST) has developed a high-level management plan to identify and control risks relating to air conditioning systems.

Specific industry guidance on how to operate and use air conditioning systems to minimise the spread of covid-19 has been issued by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). PMST has applied this guidance and also follow the UK Planned Preventive Maintenance Standard SFG20, which has a specific revision dealing with covid-19. This, in combination with PMST’s management arrangements constitutes a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk.

Regarding the operation of the systems, wherever buildings have mechanical ventilation PMST has switched air conditioning units to fresh air only, so there is no recirculation of air from the indoor environment – it is all discharged into the atmosphere outside. PMST is also modifying controls strategies to run plant at 100% 24/7 to ensure greater air exchanges.

There is no current evidence of ventilation systems transmitting covid-19 at present. The supply air ductwork brings filtered fresh air from outside the buildings into the environment and the extract ductwork discharges air to outside; therefore, there will be no risk to building occupants as no extracted air is recirculated.

Details of central government contracts where the contract value is above £12,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

As with all contracts, we continue to keep Fujitsu's conduct and commercial performance under review.

As set out in the COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021, published on 22 February, the Government will review whether COVID-status certification could play a role in reopening our economy, reducing restrictions on social contact and improving safety. The Government will set out its conclusions ahead of Step 4 of the roadmap, which will happen no earlier than 21 June.

The Government has published the Terms of Reference for the review:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/969427/TORs_-_Certification_Review.pdf

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers given to PQ 33512 on 21 April 2020, PQ 40655 on 11 May 2020, PQ 45460 on 18 May 2020, and PQ 46692 on 29 May 2020.

OmniGOV is the appointed agency responsible for media buying across all Government campaigns. In performing this role, they are responsible for ensuring campaigns are delivered both effectively and cost-efficiently. Titles for this campaign are selected by OmniGOV based on their ability to communicate in a measurable and effective way with audiences at a national, regional and local level.

The press partnership is designed to support the printed media and to reach older audiences and audiences which consume less online media. The partnership has also been structured deliberately to favour smaller regional and local titles. We have not selected digital-only titles because we are already investing heavily in digital advertising. Every title is assessed by OmniGOV and by our media auditors.

Cabinet Office is continuously tracking and reviewing spending on cross-government campaigns, including Covid-19, to ensure our communications are efficient. Our Covid-19 messages have reached 95% of adults on average 17 times per week.

Voter ID is part of a body of work this Government is delivering to strengthen the integrity of our electoral system and give the public confidence that our elections are modern, fair and secure.

We will bring forward legislation enabling the implementation of voter ID and wider electoral integrity measures when Parliamentary time allows.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 37724 and 37725 on 27 April 2020.

The Easter Act 1928 would set the date for Easter to fall between the 9^th and 15^th April each year. The Easter Act 1928 remains on the Statute Book but has not been brought into force. To do so would require an Order in Council, with the approval of both Houses of Parliament. The Act also requires that, before the Order is made, ‘regard shall be had to any opinion officially expressed by any Church or other Christian Body.’ There is no indication that the churches support a move to a fixed date for Easter.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is a part of the Department for Business and Trade. OPSS engages with trading standards on many issues related to protecting consumers, including the enforcement of weights and measure legislation.

Local Weights and Measures Authorities in Great Britain have a statutory duty to report on the level of local weights and measures enforcement work they undertake which includes liquid fuel measuring instruments such as petrol pumps. The latest Section 70 Weights and Measures report covering data for the year up to 31st March 2023 was published in September.

As stated in the report, 19 inspections of LFMIs resulted in prosecution or caution in 2022-23.

The Global Britain Investment Fund (GBIF) was launched in April 2022 which brought together several pre-existing funds under one banner. Following the machinery of government change in February 2023, GBIF is now shared between the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

To date 110 businesses have received funding, 4 of which are based in Yorkshire, with a total of £630m grant allocated representing 72% of the total £880m of funding for GBIF across all businesses.

The Easter Act 1928, which remains on the Statute Book, would set the date for Easter to fall on the Sunday that follows the second Saturday in April. The Act has not been brought into force. To do so would require an Order in Council, with the approval of both Houses of Parliament. If the Christian churches agreed on moving to a fixed date for Easter then the Government would consider whether to bring into force the Easter Act 1928 or to make such other legislative provision as may be needed.

An assessment of the health implications of long-term use of talcum powder in infants and adults has not been undertaken by the department. Talc as an ingredient can currently be used in various cosmetic products (including talcum powder). Any substance used in cosmetics must adhere to the Cosmetic Regulations.

According to the independent website Thinkbroadband.com, over 96% of premises in the East Yorkshire constituency can access a superfast connection. Over 77% of premises are able to access a gigabit-capable connection, up from just 4% in December 2019.

We recently announced a £60 million Project Gigabit contract to further extend gigabit broadband coverage in West and parts of North Yorkshire, including in the East Yorkshire constituency. Parts of the constituency are also included in the Project Gigabit procurement for South Yorkshire. We plan to announce the details of that contract shortly.

This Government is taking steps to improve both 4G and 5G coverage across the country.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber our £1bn agreement with the industry to deliver the Shared Rural Network (SRN) will see 4G coverage from all four Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) rise to 90%, up from 81% when the programme began in 2020. 4G coverage from at least one MNO will increase to 99%, up from 95%.

In East Yorkshire, 4G coverage already stands at 93% from all four MNOs and almost 100% from at least one MNO. While the SRN is focused on areas with poorer coverage, it is not the only focus for infrastructure investment for mobile connectivity. In addition, the MNOs independently invest around £2 billion annually across the UK in enhancing and improving their networks.

The Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published in April 2023, set out the Government’s vision for wireless connectivity and shared a new ambition for nationwide coverage of higher quality standalone 5G in all populated areas by 2030. This provides a long-term ambition to help the private sector invest in 5G networks by supporting competition, driving down deployment costs and driving the take-up of innovative, 5G-enabled tech by the business and the public sector.

The Department provides extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband and mobile deployment through the Digital Connectivity Portal. We have also taken steps to make it easier and cheaper for operators to deploy 4G and 5G. This includes reforming the planning system in England. Alongside this, measures within the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, will support the deployment of wireless infrastructure, including 4G and 5G.

In March, we published the AI Regulation White Paper, which set out a regulatory framework to drive responsible, safe AI innovation. The White Paper set out five core principles to govern AI, and committed to establishing mechanisms to monitor AI risk, and coordinate, evaluate and adapt the regulatory framework as the technology evolves.

Since publishing the White Paper, we have taken rapid steps to implement our approach. We have established a central AI risk function in DSIT which will ensure that we can identify, measure and monitor existing and emerging AI risks. We are also engaging closely with regulators across the UK and their sponsoring government departments to understand their readiness to regulate AI effectively, across technical, regulatory, and market-specific expertise. Many regulators have already taken proactive steps to account for the impact of AI within their sectors – for example, the CMA has published its initial review of AI Foundation Models.

In the White Paper, we said that we do not intend to introduce new legislation at this stage. However, this is a fast-moving technology, and we will take action to mitigate risks and support safe and responsible AI innovation as required. We committed to an agile regulatory framework, and are monitoring current and emerging risks as AI evolves. As we have done throughout, we will develop our approach through engagement with industry and civil society, maintaining a pro-innovation approach that means AI improves the lives of the British people.

The consultation on the White Paper closed in June. During the consultation period, we heard from over 400 individuals and organisations across regulators, industry, academia, and civil society. We committed to an iterative approach that will evolve as new risks or regulatory gaps emerge. We will be setting out our next steps in our response to the White Paper consultation shortly.

We are making excellent progress with Project Gigabit, the Government’s £5 billion mission to deliver fast, reliable broadband across the UK. Over 74% of UK premises can now access a gigabit-capable broadband connection, up from just 6% in January 2019.

More than £1 billion of public subsidy has been made available to broadband suppliers to extend their gigabit-capable networks to rural and hard to reach parts of the country. To date, we have awarded six contracts in locations from Cornwall to Cumbria, and we have launched a further 15 procurements, which combined will deliver fast, reliable broadband to up to 748,000 premises that would have otherwise missed out.

Support is also available for homes and businesses in rural areas through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. The scheme provides a subsidy of up to £4,500 for residents and businesses towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband. To date, almost 84,000 vouchers have been used to connect premises to gigabit-capable broadband.

Businesses in East Yorkshire will have benefitted from the Government’s reversal of the National Insurance rise, which will save SMEs approximately £4,200 on average, cut fuel duty for 12 months and brought in the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, to protect small businesses from high energy costs over the winter. In addition, the Recovery Loan Scheme is available to SMEs across the UK. The government is also providing financial support for business through the Start Up loan scheme - 179 SMEs in East Yorkshire have received loans to the value of £1,629,934 as of October 2022.

Wave energy technologies remain at the pre-commercial stage of development. The Government continues to support research and innovation in wave and tidal energy, having allotted more than £80m to this field since 2010. The Government monitors very closely the progress of the sector and when wave energy technologies can demonstrate cost-efficiency and proof of scalability the Government will consider how best to further support the technology’s development and deployment.

The Electricity System Operator is responsible for keeping the overall frequency and voltage of the GB electricity network within the statutory limits and publishes annual data on system excursions. Conditions on the electricity distribution network, or internal wiring at a premises, can alter the voltage at a specific Electric Vehicle (EV) charging point. EV charging points are designed to operate over wide voltage and frequency ranges. They are also fitted with internal protective devices to limit damage should excursions exceed safe limits. Should any customers have concerns about voltage management at their premises, they can raise them with their Distribution Network Operator for investigation.

The UK is the leading contributor to the European Space Agency’s Space Safety programme, who estimate there may be more than 36,000 pieces of space debris in orbit larger than 10cm. This is just the number we can reliably track, there are likely to be many millions of smaller objects:

https://www.esa.int/Safety_Security/Space_Debris/Space_debris_by_the_numbers.

Debris and the risk it poses to UK satellites is monitored 365 days of the year by the UK Space Agency and Ministry of Defence. The UK is taking action on space debris by enhancing our national capabilities to warn of dangerous collisions in orbit and agree new international rules on sustainable operations in space.

The Easter Act 1928 would set the date for Easter to fall between 9 and 15 April each year. The Easter Act 1928 remains on the Statute Book, but has not been brought into force. Doing so would require an Order in Council with the approval of both Houses of Parliament. The Act also requires that, before the Order is made, "regard shall be had to any opinion officially expressed by any Church or other Christian Body." There is no indication that the Churches are keen to move to a fixed Easter.

The UK Government wants to see a growing, dynamic, and sustainable tourism sector reach its full potential and drive growth in every nation and region of the UK, including our seaside towns. Coastal tourism is an important part of the British tourism sector. 10% of all visits to the UK include going to the coast or beaches.

VisitBritain has led a number of multi-million pound marketing campaigns that promote the British coastline and seaside towns, and the Government is taking forward recommendations from the Nick de Bois Review of Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) with the aim of supporting regional areas, including seaside towns, to better attract and manage tourists. This includes accrediting the highest-performing DMOs throughout 2023 as Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs), and the multi-year government funded tourism pilot in the North East of England.

The government promotes Britain as a holiday destination to tourists from the EU through VisitBritain, the national tourist board. VisitBritain is active in a number of EU countries with in-market teams based in offices in Berlin, Amsterdam, Madrid, Milan, Paris, and Stockholm.

In February, VisitBritain is launching GREAT’s ‘See Things Differently’ tourism campaign in France, Germany, and Spain with the aim of demonstrating a welcoming, dynamic and diverse story of Britain.

Later this month, VisitBritain is hosting educational trips for international trade buyers across Britain. The delegations include trade buyers from France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, and Spain.

VisitBritian also leads ongoing engagement with the travel trade in Europe, including tour operators and agents, to increase bookable Britain products and promote their sales. This is done via destination training activities such as webinars, and the organisation of sales events in European markets to connect UK tourism businesses with European buyers.

VisitBritain also undertakes year-round engagement with targeted media outlets in EU markets to pitch stories, as well as a year-round programme of blogger/influencers trips to all parts of Britain, aligned to priority messages and themes.

The Government is investing £5 billion through Project Gigabit to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband in areas across the UK. We have already launched procurements with a value of over £700 million to bring gigabit connections to rural and hard-to-reach homes and businesses, and we recently signed our first contracts in North Dorset, Teesdale and North Northumberland.

As part of Project Gigabit the government is investing up to £210 million in the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to support rural businesses and homes with the cost of installing new gigabit-capable connections. To date, we have issued over 106,000 vouchers to homes and businesses through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and previous iterations. Further information is available on the gigabit voucher website including eligibility criteria and how to apply for the scheme.

We also understand the impact of poor mobile coverage on rural areas which is why we agreed a £1 billion deal with the mobile operators to deliver the Shared Rural Network. The programme will deliver 4G coverage to 95% of the UK, enabling rural businesses and communities to thrive.

Our Tourism Recovery Plan (TRP) sets out an ambition to recover domestic tourism to pre pandemic levels of 99 million overnight trips and spend of £19 billion by the end of 2022. We have been committed to supporting the sector to remain resilient and have already provided £37 billion to the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the form of grants, loans and tax breaks.

The TRP also announced plans for a new rail pass, which we hope to launch this year, to help make it easier and more sustainable for domestic tourists to get around Scotland, England, and Wales.

The Government has delivered a £10 million ‘Days Out’ campaign, in partnership with the British Tourist Authority and National Lottery, which has stimulated demand for more off-season day trips to tourist sites across the UK. The next phase of the campaign (launching 31 January) offers the opportunity to redeem £25 vouchers against February half term visits in the UK, supporting hundreds of attractions across all four nations.

VisitEngland is launching the next phase of its domestic marketing campaign, Escape the Everyday, in February. The campaign will focus on cities as they are impacted by lower numbers of international visitors and it will target a ‘pre-nester’ audience (18-34 year olds), encouraging them to book a short city-break.

2022 also promises a host of unmissable events, including Her Majesty’s Jubilee, with a programme of events over the extended Jubilee Bank holiday; Unboxed, which aims to engage millions of people through in person and digital events; as well as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will drive visitors to the region.

Our Tourism Recovery Plan (TRP) sets out an ambition to recover domestic tourism to pre pandemic levels of 99 million overnight trips and spend of £19 billion by the end of 2022. We have been committed to supporting the sector to remain resilient and have already provided £37 billion to the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the form of grants, loans and tax breaks.

The TRP also announced plans for a new rail pass which, which we hope to launch this year, to help make it easier and more sustainable for domestic tourists to get around Scotland, England, and Wales.

The Government has delivered a £10 million ‘Days Out’ campaign, in partnership with the British Tourist Authority and National Lottery, which has stimulated demand for more off-season day trips to tourist sites across the UK. The next phase of the campaign (launching 31 January) offers the opportunity to redeem £25 vouchers against February half term visits in the UK, supporting hundreds of attractions across all four nations.

VisitEngland is launching the next phase of its domestic marketing campaign, Escape the Everyday, in February. The campaign will focus on cities as they are impacted by lower numbers of international visitors and it will target a ‘pre-nester’ audience (18-34 year olds), encouraging them to book a short city-break.

2022 also promises a host of unmissable events, including Her Majesty’s Jubilee, with a programme of events over the extended Jubilee Bank holiday; Unboxed, which aims to engage millions of people through in person and digital events; as well as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will drive visitors to the region.

The schools national funding formula accounts for the challenges faced by small schools in rural areas through the ‘sparsity’ factor. This recognises that some schools are necessarily small because they are remote and do not have the same opportunities to grow or make efficiency savings as other schools, and that such schools often play a significant role in the rural communities they serve.

Given the importance of local schools to rural communities, the government has made changes to the sparsity factor, including reforms which mean that more schools are now eligible for this funding. Following these reforms, the total funding allocated through the sparsity factor has increased from £42 million in the 2021/22 financial year to £98 million in the 2024/25 financial year.

Topics related to climate, the environment and sustainability, including wildlife conservation issues, are covered in the science and geography National Curriculum and in GCSEs. In Key Stages 1 and 2, pupils are taught about seasons and habitats, as well as climate zones and how environments can change. Secondary school pupils are taught in geography how human and physical processes interact to influence and change landscapes, environments and the climate.

As the National Curriculum is a framework setting out the content of what the Department expects schools to cover in each subject, we expect teachers to use the flexibility and freedom they have to determine how they deliver the content in the way that best meets the needs of their pupils. If teachers wish, they can choose to cover particular topics, such as wildlife conservation, in greater depth.

We are investing £300 million of capital funding in the 2021-22 financial year to support local authorities to deliver new places and improve existing provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or who require alternative provision. This funding is on top of the £365 million we have invested through the Special Provision Capital Fund from the financial years 2018-19 to 2020-21, and our continued investment in the free schools programme. We are also providing an increase in revenue funding for those children and young people with more complex needs, of nearly a quarter (24%) over 2 years, bringing the total high needs budget to more than £8 billion in the 2021-22 financial year.

The department will continue to work with local authorities to better understand future demand for SEND provision, including for children with autism, as it considers how it can best support the sector going forwards. Funding for places required in future years will be subject to the outcomes of the next government Spending Review, where we will have a chance to consider how we can best support the sector in the round.

The SEND review is looking at ways to make sure the SEND system is consistent, high quality, and integrated across education, health and care. It is also considering measures to make sure that money is being spent fairly, efficiently and effectively, and that the support available to children and young people is sustainable in the future.

It is essential that young people have information on a wide range of jobs and careers so that they can make informed choices. The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) connects schools and colleges with employers from a variety of sectors, including medicine and the NHS, to provide meaningful encounters with the world of work for young people. They do this through their Enterprise Adviser Network and Careers Hubs, in collaboration with Local Enterprise Partnerships who tailor support according to local labour market information.

Thirteen NHS Trusts, including Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, which are all large healthcare employers, are part of CEC’s Cornerstone employers’ group. Cornerstone employers are major employers who target support for young people in disadvantaged areas. Four in five schools and colleges in England have adopted the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of good careers guidance. These include learning from career and labour market information, encounters with employers and employees, and experiences of workplaces. 3.3 million secondary aged school and college students now benefit from regular and meaningful employer encounters – an increase of 70% in two years.

From September this year, T Levels in Health and Healthcare Science are being introduced. During these two-year programmes, students will develop the core knowledge and skills that are needed for entry to a range of healthcare occupations. Both T Levels include a minimum of nine weeks working with an employer on an industry placement.

The National Careers Service provides independent, professional advice on skills and the labour market. Secondary school pupils can find information on a variety of careers, including those in medicine and the NHS, on the National Careers Service website. Young people aged 13 to 18 can also access ongoing in-depth guidance via local telephone-based advisers and web chat.

The Government takes crimes against wildlife and against pets seriously, including those involving the use of catapults. Under provisions in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, The Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and Animal Welfare Act 2006, there are a range of offences around deliberate attempts to kill, injure or inflict harm on wildlife and in the event that a member of the public believes such an offence has taken place, they are encouraged to report the matter to the police so they can investigate. In particular where pets are concerned, it is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause an animal any unnecessary suffering. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 realises the Government’s manifesto commitment to increase the sentences available to our courts for the most serious cases of animal cruelty by increasing the maximum penalty for this offence to 5 years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

There has been £2.8m of capital investment in the East Yorkshire parliamentary constituency between 2019/20 and 2023/24. This has provided the Environment Agency led project to refurbish Barmston Sea End Outfall and projects to reduce surface water flooding delivered by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council in Pocklington and Langtoft.

Hempholme and Wilfholme pumping stations have both been refurbished, with most funding secured from the Local Enterprise Partnership and Internal Drainage Board. Both pumping stations have played a significant part this winter in helping to remove flood water from farmland in the River Hull catchment.

The Environment Agency is also conducting a project to assess and evaluate investment need in the Upper and Middle Hull, focussing on existing flood risk management assets. In addition, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has developed a business case for a scheme to reduce flood risk in the Kelleythorpe area of Driffield and is conducting feasibility studies for two other villages in the constituency.

Defra published its Plan for Water which set out the importance of ensuring a clean and plentiful water supply in England. The Plan sets out our commitment to a twin track approach to improving water supply resilience, with action to reduce water company leaks alongside investing in new supply infrastructure.

Last year, regional water resources groups and water companies, consulted on their draft water resources plans. These statutory plans set out how each company will secure water supplies sustainably for at least the next 25 years. The draft water resources management plans contain proposals for multiple new water resources schemes by 2050, including nine new reservoirs.

Water companies are also using the £469 million made available by Ofwat in the current Price Review period (2020-2025) to investigate strategic water resources options, that are required to improve the resilience of England’s water supplies.  In addition, Ofwat recently announced that water companies are bringing forward £2.2 billion for new water infrastructure delivery, over the next two years, with £350 million worth of investment in water resilience schemes.

The Government also supports the Agricultural sector with its Water Management Grant, under the Farming Transformation Fund, for the construction of new on-farm reservoirs, helping to ensure farmers have access to water when they need it most.

Our inland waterways are an important national heritage asset delivering a wide range of public benefits. These include environmental ‘green corridors’ along which biodiversity can flourish, physical and mental health improvement, water stewardship, and recreational activities. I agree that they are valuable resources for tourism, providing pleasant active and sustainable travel routes for boating holidays and day trips.

Ministers do not have a role in operational maters on inland waterways. However, navigation authorities and local canal societies are able to work with their Local Visitor Economy Partnership or local Destination Management Organisation to develop their tourism offer, including by accessing relevant funding.