Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress her Department has made on the rollout of gigabit broadband in Derbyshire Dales constituency.

Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

In May 2025, BDUK and Full Fibre mutually agreed to end the Project Gigabit contract for the Peak District, affecting some Derbyshire Dales premises

Since then, BDUK has worked with suppliers on alternatives and is now close to agreeing a replacement contract with Openreach. We know this has taken time, but we are working hard to have the contract in place within the next month

Separately, over 3,200 premises across the constituency are already being reached through two Project Gigabit contracts with Connect Fibre.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of current mechanisms supporting small-scale solar generation following the closure of the Feed-in Tariff scheme.

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

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a market-led mechanism that ensures small-scale solar generators receive payment for any electricity exported to the grid.

The Government keeps current market offerings under review to assess whether the market is continuing to deliver effective options. Ofgem also reports annually on the range and uptake
of SEG tariffs offered by suppliers.


The market offers a wide range of SEG tariffs, with registration numbers increasing to over 270,000 installations at the end of March 2025, compared with around 166,000 for the previous year. The latest Ofgem report can be found at Smart Export Guarantee Annual Report - April 2024 to March 2025 | Ofgem

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has plans for new incentives to help encourage businesses to install rooftop solar panels on large industrial and commercial buildings.

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

The Government is aware of the significant potential that commercial rooftops have in our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower. The Solar Council is monitoring delivery of Roadmap actions to support rooftop solar deployment on commercial and industrial buildings, including through resolving complex stakeholder interactions and improving grid access.

Businesses already benefit from incentives such as the Smart Export Guarantee, capital allowances, and business rates exemptions for qualifying plant and machinery. We continue to work closely with industry to identify further opportunities to enable cost‑effective uptake.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to coordinate planning, energy policy and building regulations to maximise solar deployment across the built environment.

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

We work closely across Whitehall to ensure alignment between planning policy, energy policy and building regulations. The Government will publish the Future Homes Standard in the coming months, ensuring solar panels are installed on the majority of new build homes once it comes into force. Similarly, the Future Buildings Standard will ensure that solar will, where appropriate, play an important role on new non-domestic buildings.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help support ex-footballers with neurodegenerative diseases.

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

My department is taking important steps to ensure that former football players with neurodegenerative diseases, and their families, receive the support they need.

The Secretary of State and I have met with affected family members and ex-footballers, including individuals associated with the Football Families for Justice organisation, to discuss player safety and welfare for those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.

Our immediate priority is to push the football authorities for greater clarity on the funding available through the Brain Health Fund, and ensure that there is a clear and publicly available articulation of the scope of this funding and process for accessing it. Further to this, we are actively discussing with relevant stakeholders to explore whether funding can be expanded to involve other footballing organisations.

Councillor Stephen Lismore

Found: Barry Gardiner; Chris Hinchliff; Sojan Joseph; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; John Whitby

Found: Barry Gardiner; Chris Hinchliff; Sojan Joseph; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; John Whitby

Found: ; Sarah Gibson; Chris Hinchliff; Sojan Joseph; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; Blake Stephenson; John Whitby

Found: Hinchliff; Sojan Joseph; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; Blake Stephenson; John Whitby

Found: Hinchliff; Sojan Joseph; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; Blake Stephenson; John Whitby

Submit Evidence (by 6 Apr 2026)

Data centres are regarded by ministers as being central to UK economic growth and were designated critical national infrastructure (CNI) in September 2024, offering them more legal protections. But their electricity consumption is expected to quadruple by 2030, according to the National Energy System Operator, raising concerns about their sustainability