Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what is her Department's planned timetable for publishing the findings of the Mobile Market Review.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess how it can go further in supporting the sector to invest in high-quality connectivity across the UK. A Call for Evidence supporting the Review closed on 5 May 2026. We are now carefully assessing the detailed responses received and will provide an update on our findings and next steps later this year.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the North West maternity trial of the Single Patient Record, referred to in the Health Bill Committee on 16 June 2026, is being delivered through the Federated Data Platform; and what role (a) Palantir technologies and (b) the NHS AI Platform play in that programme.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Single Patient Record (SPR) and the NHS Federated Data Platform are separate programmes. The North West maternity work is at an early stage, and no final decisions have been made on the technical approach or delivery partners. NHS England will continue to consider how SPR aligns with existing National Health Service digital and data infrastructure, subject to appropriate safeguards, governance, and data protection requirements.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what demonstrations of (a) the maternity Single Patient Record system and (b) any tools used to (i) summarise patient data and (ii) construct clinical timelines have been provided to witnesses giving evidence to the Health Bill Committee; and whether those demonstrations were conducted using (A) the Federated Data Platform and (B) associated AI systems.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has demonstrated an early prototype relating to the maternity element of the Single Patient Record (SPR). This was used to support user research and discussion about how maternity information could be presented to clinicians in future. The prototype was not a demonstration of a live maternity SPR system and was not connected to live National Health Service systems or live patient data.
The prototype showed an illustrative clinician-facing view using illustrative data. It was intended to demonstrate potential user experience concepts, including how relevant information might be grouped in a clinical summary or presented in a timeline-style view. It did not process live patient information, generate clinical summaries from patient records, or construct clinical timelines from operational systems.
The prototype did not use the NHS Federated Data Platform or associated artificial intelligence systems to summarise patient data or construct clinical timelines.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that entries in the Ministry of Defence Hospitality Register are made in a timely manner; whether his Department provides guidance on the maximum period within which hospitality received must be recorded; and if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing requirements for each entry to include (a) the date of entry and (b) the identity of the individual making it.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
The Ministry of Defence’s policy has been that offers of hospitality should be recorded on the electronic hospitality register as soon as reasonably practicable. On 1 July 2026 a more robust policy and an improved electronic register were introduced. Offers of hospitality will in future have to be recorded within two weeks. The register includes the date of registration, and the name of the person registering the offer.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help attract private sector investment into the hydrogen market.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We understand the importance of providing clarity to businesses across the hydrogen sector, including investors. Hydrogen is backed in the Industrial Strategy Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan as a frontier technology, with a public finance offer designed to crowd private investment into UK supply chains.
We plan to publish the Hydrogen Strategy, alongside a package of other hydrogen policy documents, as soon as possible this year. The renewed strategy will set out Government’s vision and objectives for hydrogen, and how we intend to work with industry to continue to transform ambition into action.
In the meantime, we remain focused on delivery, with projects that were successful in HAR1 now moving to the final investment decision and our recent investment in UK electrolyser manufacturing with ITM Power in South Yorkshire.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of launching a government backed screening of the 'National Emergency Briefing' to the nation.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In July 2025, the Government made the first-of-a-kind statement on the State of Climate and Nature, supported by parliamentary debate. We have since set out our priorities within the revised Environmental Improvement Plan, alongside the ‘Energising Britain’ public participation plan. This sets out how we will ensure people have the facts and understand the scale, pace of change and benefits of climate and nature action, on which we will continue to speak clearly.
Broadcasters in the UK operate independently of Government and decisions about national screenings are a matter for their editorial judgement.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the merger of Vodafone and Three on the rollout of 5G services in (a) Devon and (b) Newton Abbot constituency.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. As a result of the merger, VodafoneThree has committed to investing £11 billion in its joint network. They state this will lead to 99% UK population coverage by 2030.
The aim of the merger commitments, imposed by the Competition and Markets Authority with input from Ofcom, is to stimulate competition and investment across the sector. Compliance with the merger commitments will be monitored by Ofcom, through regular reporting.
The Government regularly engages with the MNOs, including VodafoneThree, to understand their investment plans and all three have publicly committed significant investment that aligns with our standalone 5G ambition. However, specific rollout plans are commercial decisions, and the Government does not hold details on where network operators plan to rollout their infrastructure geographically.
The Government is also undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess what further action we can take to support the sector to invest in comprehensive, high-quality connectivity over the long-term. We expect to set out next steps later this year.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what support her Department is offering to Local Authorities to support the connectivity of 5G in their areas.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has published, via the Digital Connectivity Portal, extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband and mobile connectivity deployment. This includes technical information, as well as examples of best practice, such as supporting the appointment of Digital Champions in local authorities, to help deployment in an area go as smoothly as possible. The Department continues to work closely with both local authorities and operators to support the rollout of digital connectivity across the UK.
Since 2023 we have provided over £46 million of funding to local and combined authorities across the UK through the 5G Innovation Regions Programme, which aims to increase investment in 5G networks and encourage the adoption of advanced connectivity services in key sectors.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to create a South West regional police force as part of the boundary review.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Police Reform White Paper, published on 26 January 2026, set out the Government’s commitment to introduce a new model for policing, so that it is fit for the modern world and we have the right policing in the right places. We will ensure local police forces are equipped to make their local communities safer and implement a new national approach to policing that protects us all.
The Independent Review of Police Force Structures was launched on 17 March 2026 and will make recommendations on the optimal configuration of police forces. The Chair will report their recommendations to the Home Secretary in the summer.
The Government will publish the Independent Review’s findings and its response in due course.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact of the size of Policing Boards within the new merged Police Authority on (a) effective scrutiny and (b) decision making.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is working with policing and local government to design and implement future governance arrangements to replace Police and Crime Commissioners from May 2028. We remain committed to developing a system of police governance that maintains consistently high standards of oversight, which is joined up with other local services and that the public can trust.
Whilst the size of Policing and Crime Boards will be determined by the number of upper tier local authorities and Strategic Authorities in each police force area, they will be significantly smaller and more agile than previous police authorities, to facilitate effective decision making. They will be required to appoint a Policing and Crime Lead, who will provide visible day to day oversight of policing, akin to a Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.
Boards will also include independent co-optees, who will bring expertise and knowledge in specialist subjects as needed, to improve oversight and scrutiny.