Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
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 support the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory in expanding the development of americium so it could be used by the space industry.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is supporting the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL)’s work to extract americium from the UK’s civil separated plutonium inventory at Sellafield for the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) ENDURE Programme. This includes supporting UKNNL and the UK Space Agency in the development of a new facility which aims to upscale americium extraction to meet future ESA demand.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
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 ensure the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory is able to conduct commercially beneficial research.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government published its Strategic Review of the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) establishing a bold vision for its future (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6762a4b1ff2c870561bde75b/strategic-review-of-the-national-nuclear-laboratory.pdf). This is a vision of UKNNL as a platform for the private sector to accelerate technology to market. Much of the strategic review focuses on how the Government supports UKNNL in this, and considers issues ranging from UKNNL objectives through to the requirement for core government funding. The Government is now working with UKNNL, and industry, on implementing the findings. Industry were extensively consulted on the strategic review, and we are continuing to engage with them.
Whilst UKNNL will remain a public corporation, it will operate a commercially driven model which supports customer-focused research. The optimal long-term model of the laboratory remains under consideration to ensure UKNNL can deliver nuclear outcomes for government, and support sector growth.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of issuing a Regulation 12 determination under the Justification of Practices Involving Ionising Radiation Regulations 2004 confirming that the use of ionising radiation for the generation of electricity from nuclear energy using oxide fuel of low enrichment in fissile content in light water cooled, water moderated thermal reactors is considered an Existing Practice for projects such as those proposed by Great British Nuclear.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In his role as Justifying Authority for nuclear energy, the Secretary of State can consider a broad class or type of practice under Regulation 12 of the Justification of Practices Involving Ionising Radiation Regulations 2004. A determination to justify a broad class or type of practice would assume that all potential nuclear reactor designs in scope of that class or type of practice would result in a similar balance of benefits and detriments. Where there is sufficient evidence to make such an assessment, the Justifying Authority remains open to the possibility of accommodating a broader range of designs in a class or type of practice when assessing justification applications.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the small modular reactor competition run by Great British Nuclear, whether his Department is taking other steps to support the development of privately (a) funded and (b) operated nuclear power projects.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Great British Nuclear (GBN), the Government’s nuclear delivery body, is pushing forward with the small modular reactor competition – at the Autumn Budget it was confirmed GBN had entered negotiations with the four remaining bidders, with final decisions expected in the spring. In parallel, the government is continuing to consider responses to the Alternative Routes to Market consultation for Advanced Nuclear Technologies and will publish a factual response in due course. The Government is the majority shareholder in Sizewell C, and the Budget provided £2.7bn of funding to continue supporting the project's development in 2025/26.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an estimate of the total costs awarded by the Planning Inspector to the appellant due to unreasonable behaviour of the planning authority in the determination of clean energy projects since 2020.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Planning Inspectorate does not hold information on whether a local planning authority has acted unreasonably in refusing a planning application for a clean energy project without justification. As such, we are unable to provide an estimate on the number of such cases.
In addition, when determining a planning appeal the Planning Inspector or Secretary of State can only address the principle of whether costs should be awarded in full or in part. The precise costs are settled subsequently between the parties, who are under no obligation to inform the Planning Inspectorate or the Secretary of State as to the outcome. As such, we are unable to provide an estimate of the total costs awarded in relation to such cases.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of in how many cases the Planning Inspectorate has found that a local planning authority has acted unreasonably in refusing a planning application for a clean energy project without justification since 2020.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Planning Inspectorate does not hold information on whether a local planning authority has acted unreasonably in refusing a planning application for a clean energy project without justification. As such, we are unable to provide an estimate on the number of such cases.
In addition, when determining a planning appeal the Planning Inspector or Secretary of State can only address the principle of whether costs should be awarded in full or in part. The precise costs are settled subsequently between the parties, who are under no obligation to inform the Planning Inspectorate or the Secretary of State as to the outcome. As such, we are unable to provide an estimate of the total costs awarded in relation to such cases.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the NHS England and College of Operating Department Practitioners working group has made on prescribing rights.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
In late 2020, NHS England launched a series of public consultations seeking views on proposals to amend the responsibilities for the prescribing, supply, and administration of medicines for the following professionals:
This work was undertaken as part of the Chief Professions Officers’ Medicines Mechanisms (CPOMM) programme. The Department is working with NHS England to consider the CPOMM’s consultations and progress the extension of responsibilities to supply, administer, or prescribe medicines under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (HMRs 2012) to regulated healthcare professionals, where a clear need and benefits have been identified.
For example, the Department recently completed work to amend the HMRs 2012 to allow dental hygienists and dental therapists to supply and administer specified medicines via exemptions, and pharmacy technicians to use Patient Group Directions. This legislation came into force in late June 2024. The Department will review priorities for progressing work in the CPOMM programme.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
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 sufficient supply of (a) creon and (b) other ADHD medications.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has been working with suppliers to address current supply issues with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) used by patients with conditions such as cystic fibrosis and certain cancers, including pancreatic cancer. The supply issues are impacting countries throughout Europe and have been caused by limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints to produce volumes needed to meet demand. The Department is continuing to work with all suppliers of PERT to help resolve the supply issues in the short and longer term. This includes asking that they expedite deliveries, source stock from other markets, and increase production.
We have issued comprehensive guidance to healthcare professionals about these supply issues, which provides advice on how to manage patients whilst there is disruption to supply. This guidance is being kept under review and updates will be made as necessary. Serious Shortage Protocols are in place for Creon 10,000 and 25,000 capsules to limit prescriptions to one months’ supply whilst stocks are limited.
The Department has also been working hard with industry to help resolve supply issues with some attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicines, which are also impacting countries throughout Europe. As a result of intensive work, some issues have been resolved. All strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules, and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets are now available. We are working to resolve the remaining issues impacting some strengths of methylphenidate. This includes asking suppliers to secure additional stocks, expedite deliveries where possible, and review plans to further build capacity to support continued growth in demand for the short and long-term.
The Department has worked with specialist clinicians to develop management advice for clinicians which includes consideration to prescribe available alternative brands of methylphenidate prolonged release tablets. We have widely disseminated our communications and continually update a list of currently available and unavailable ADHD products on the Specialist Pharmacy Service website, helping to ensure that those involved in the prescribing and dispensing of ADHD medications can make informed decisions with patients.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost was of the insurance provided by her Department for members of HM Coastguard in 2023; and how many people that insurance covered.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Insurance Type | Jan-Dec 2023 |
Travel | £25,511.75 |
Building | £30,261.73 |
Vehicle | £121,806.69 |
| £177,580.17 |
Average number of employees: 1,229.
Average number of Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs): 3,080.
Insurance premiums within the MCA cover all employees and CROs as applicable. Insurance premiums are not split by business activity.
Asked by: Josh MacAlister (Labour - Whitehaven and Workington)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of (a) Government and (b) industry data on household (i) income and (ii) energy needs to develop a targeted support mechanism for energy bills (A) for low-income households and (B) generally.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government’s Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme provides targeted support to eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate off their winter energy bill, the vast majority of which are provided automatically. The WHD scheme provides rebates to pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit (Core Group 1) and those in receipt of one of the qualifying means-tested benefits and are living in properties which have an energy cost score, calculated from certain property characteristics, exceeding a high-energy-cost threshold (core Group 2).
In 2023/24 the WHD scheme delivered rebates to 3.14 million households in Great Britain. This represents an increase of around 646 thousand households receiving rebates and an increase of around £97 million of support, compared to 2022/23. Since the WHD scheme began in 2011, over £4 billion in support has been provided to households.