Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
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 improve outcomes for (a) restless legs syndrome and (b) other rare conditions.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is committed to providing high-quality care and support to people with all types of health conditions, including restless legs syndrome (RLS) and rare health conditions, to ensure that they live independent and healthier lives for longer. This means having access to the latest services and treatments, as well as supporting their families and unpaid carers.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence publishes clinical knowledge summaries (CKS) as a source of supporting information mainly for National Health Service staff working in primary care. The CKS on the diagnosis and clinical management of RLS was updated in February 2025 and is available at the following link:
https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/restless-legs-syndrome/
General practitioners are supported on RLS by neurology referral or specialist Advice and Guidance. This includes 27 specialised neurological treatment centres across the NHS in England, which provide access to neurological multidisciplinary teams to ensure that patients with RLS can receive specialised treatment and support, according to their needs.
The UK Rare Diseases Framework sets out four priorities collaboratively developed with the rare disease community, and these include: helping patients get a final diagnosis faster; increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals; better coordination of care; and improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We remain committed to delivering under the framework, and published the annual England Action Plan in February 2025. The framework, published in January 2021, is available from the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-rare-diseases-framework
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) Norwegian authorities and (b) other international partners on the UK’s access to the Northern Lights carbon capture and storage project; and what recent discussions his Department has had with the London Protocol on the non-pipeline transport of carbon dioxide for offshore storage.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government regularly engages with European nations, including Norway, and with international partners on developments in the carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) industry, but has not specifically discussed access to the Northern Lights project.
The UK has one of the largest potential CO2 storage capacities in Europe. We have an opportunity to offer CO2 storage services to neighbouring countries, providing new growth opportunities and supporting regional decarbonisation.
The UK has applied a 2009 Amendment to the London Protocol allowing us to enter into bilateral agreements or arrangements with third countries for cross-border transport of CO2 for permanent geological storage.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her polices of the Office of Rail and Road's statistics entitled Passenger Rail Usage, published on 20 March 2025, in the context of open access competition on the East Coast Mainline.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department recognises the wider benefits that can be provided by open access operators in the right circumstances, including increased competition which we have seen on the East Coast Main Line.
We welcome the publication of Passenger Rail Usage statistics published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on 20 March 2025. We continually monitor statistics published by the ORR and take account of them in our decision making where appropriate.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of open access operators on (a) rail passenger growth, (b) passenger choice and (c) fare levels on the East Coast Main Line.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Whilst we have not carried out such assessments, the Department considers the likely impacts of all open access applications on a case by case basis in line with the standard industry process. This includes assessing the financial, operational and performance impacts of individual applications.
Open access can provide benefits such as improved connectivity and choice for passengers but can also increase costs to taxpayers by abstracting revenue from government-contracted services. It can also create additional pressures on an already constrained network and negatively impact overall performance. That is why the Department makes assessments on a case-by-case basis and only provides support where benefits outweigh costs to taxpayers and impacts to the efficient operation of the network. Access to the rail network, however, is ultimately a decision for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in its role as independent regulator for the rail industry.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of open access rail operators on levels of (a) inward investment, (b) economic growth and (c) regeneration.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Whilst the Department recognises the wider benefits that can be provided by open access operators in the right circumstances, the Department has not carried out such assessments. Access to the rail network is currently a matter for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in its role as independent regulator for the rail industry, who use the industry standard model to assess the impact of open access.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when Network Rail last carried out an (a) audit and (b) inventory of its railway property estate to identify (i) sites and (ii) spaces suitable for residential development.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail regularly assesses its portfolio for opportunities and has active pipelines of existing sites that could be identified for residential development. Network Rail’s Regional and Group Property teams work closely together to identify sites to develop; this will be a key priority of Network Rail’s property company which was announced as part of the International Investment Summit.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the amount of vacant property space on the Network Rail land estate which could be let for (a) retail and (b) commercial purposes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail’s present commercial vacancy rate is 3.2%, across the 20 stations managed by Network Rail.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information her Department holds on the level of retail income received by Network Rail from commercial premises on its estate in 2018-19 and 2022-23.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail’s retail income in 2018/19 was £135.7m and in 2022/23 it was £107.3m.
Network Rail's retail income is for the 20 stations that Network Rail manage, the other retail income from the remaining stations goes to the Train Operating Company responsible for managing each one.
In 22/23 passenger numbers were gradually recovering but revenue continued to be impacted by changing passenger numbers post-pandemic.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when Network Rail last carried out an (a) audit and (b) inventory of its railway property estate to identify (i) sites and (ii) spaces suitable for commercial use.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As part of Network Rail’s strategic objective, to connect goods and people, Network Rail is continually assessing its portfolio by understanding passenger/customer needs in and around its stations and commercial estate. Network Rail produces an annual business plan to bring forward spaces suitable for commercial use to drive income but also to support wider economic prosperity.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing targeted business rates relief for food and drink wholesalers.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government published the ‘Transforming Business Rates’ Discussion Paper at Budget setting out priority areas for reform. This paper invites industry to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. Further information regarding the Discussion Paper can be found at: Transforming business rates - GOV.UK.