Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517, on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) unlawful parking and (b) unlicensed pedicabs on Westminster Bridge; and if she will initiate discussions with the relevant responsible authority.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Westminster Bridge is owned and managed by Transport for London (TfL). Ministers and officials have regular conversations with TfL on a variety of issues but decisions about unlawful parking and unlicenced pedicabs on Westminster Bridge are solely for them to make.

However, the Department for Transport has recognised the need to regulate the Pedicabs industry in London through the passing of the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024. This legislation will be applied through regulations that TfL are currently consulting on until 7 March 2025.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the press release entitled Government reaffirms commitment to Free Speech in universities, published by her Department on 15 January 2025, what the terms of reference are for the (a) review of the overseas transparency provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 and (b) assessment of the existing approaches to managing foreign interference.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government is committed to ensuring our world leading universities remain free from foreign interference. Providers should expect the Office for Students (OfS) to take regulatory action if they allow foreign governments to interfere in free speech or academic freedom. To support this, the OfS can already request information from providers about overseas arrangements, including financial transactions, if they are relevant to a potential breach. The new complaints scheme being implemented as part of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act will also offer a new focused route for concerns to be raised.

There are a range of wider measures and guidance for the sector to support secure international collaboration. This includes the Academic Technology Approval Scheme, advice provided by the Research Collaboration Advisory Team based within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and powers in the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to scrutinise and intervene in business transactions. Further guidance includes that published by the National Protective Security Authority and Universities UK on managing the security-related risks of internationalisation.

The government is now working at pace on the implementation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which will apply to universities across the UK and will require registration of foreign-directed activity involving specific governments and entities where it is necessary to protect the safety or interests of the UK. The scheme is expected to commence in summer 2025.

Any additional regulatory ask on providers needs to add value to these existing and upcoming protections and not duplicate reporting requirements. This is why the government is conducting an internal review, informed by engagement with the regulator, sector, academics impacted by foreign interference and international partners, to assess existing approaches to managing the risk of foreign interference and what more support they might need. The department will keep open options around the commencement of the overseas funding measures as we work carefully on this.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost of recycling (a) cement, (b) concrete and (c) asphalt for road maintenance and construction was in each year between 2014 and 2024.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The costs involved in recycling materials used in road maintenance and construction are a commercial matter for highway authorities, and the Department does not hold data on this. The Department encourages local highway authorities to consider the use of recycled road materials where feasible.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) its arms-length bodies has made of the potential impact of grid-scale battery energy storage solution systems on the safety of nearby residential units.

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

I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to UIN 24989.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to decolonise the (a) artwork, (b) heritage assets in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm’s length bodies and (iii) Armed Forces premises of the Armed Forces (A) in and (B) outside the United Kingdom.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

There are no such plans currently under consideration. As a Department, the Ministry of Defence borrows art from the Government Art Collection. There has been no change in the Cabinet Office’s management of artwork or heritage assets since the previous administration. The Ministry of Defence does not have a separate additional policy on artwork and heritage assets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Minister is responsible for the (a) implementation and (b) assessment of pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (i) city mayors and (ii) local authorities.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many social houses are being used by each pilot for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish (a) terms and (b) guidance for pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (i) city mayors and (ii) local authorities.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department provides funding for each pilot for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors, and (b) local authorities.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost is of each pilot for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers are covered by the pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities by (i) number of family units and (ii) average number of children.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which areas are covered by the pilots for asylum accommodation administered by (a) city mayors and (b) local authorities.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Any announcements on this and other related issues concerning asylum accommodation will be announced in the normal way in due course but the Government is determined to restore order to the asylum systems and cut the overall costs of the asylum system.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the staff time taken in ambulance trusts to meet the target for the NHS to reach net zero by 2040, broken down by (a) FTE positions and (b) salary.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The information requested is not held centrally. No estimate has been made.

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 potential threat of hostile interference with offshore energy infrastructure since July 2024.

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

The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero is working both across Whitehall and with energy owners, operators and regulators to ensure that offshore energy infrastructure is protected against hazards and malicious threats. This includes working with the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) since the Nord Stream incidents of 2022. The JMSC provide Government with real-time monitoring capabilities around offshore infrastructure in UK waters. By increasing our maritime domain awareness, we have a more comprehensive understanding of threats to this type of infrastructure and can take the necessary measures to enhance its security.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the safety of interconnectors from (a) disruption and (b) sabotage.

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

The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero works closely with owners and operators of energy interconnectors to ensure their infrastructure is proportionately protected against a range of threats, including accidental damage or intentional sabotage. This includes working with industry to enhance the design of newbuild infrastructure and maintain the resilience of old infrastructure. We are also working to enhance the UK’s monitoring and detection capabilities, including by working with the Joint Maritime Security Centre to monitor activity around interconnectors, and strengthening information-sharing with our international partners.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20338 on Nuclear Power Stations: Migrant Workers, what his Department's definition is of critical systems for nuclear power plants.

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

DESNZ defines critical systems as any function (an aggregation of operational technology, information and specific areas within a civil nuclear installation) that is critical to preventing the theft or sabotage of nuclear material.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to decolonise the (a) artwork and (b) heritage assets in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm’s length bodies.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The department borrows art from the Government Art Collection and does not own artwork.

As separate legal entities, the responsibility for creating policy and guidance for artwork sits with each individual arm’s length body, rather than with the department.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to introduce new fisheries management measures in England’s Marine Protected Areas on (a) bottom trawling and (b) dredging.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

It is essential to manage all forms of damaging fishing activity, including bottom trawling and dredging, in our Marine Protected Areas appropriately due to the significant damage it can have on protected seabed habitats. The department is considering next steps in the context of our domestic and international nature conservation obligations and how we support the fishing sector.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish internal analysis produced by her Department on the impact of asylum accommodation in hotels on violent disorder in summer 2024.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to understanding the factors which influenced the violent disorder in the summer, and its harmful impact on many communities. This is a priority, which is why the Deputy Prime Minister stood up a cross-government Communities and Recovery Steering Group to oversee this work.

Officials from my department have carried out extensive engagement with the places affected by the violence. The insights from this ongoing work are informing the Government’s long-term, strategic approach to building social cohesion, and ensuring communities across the country are safe, resilient and united.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many electric vehicle charging points were available at ambulance stations in (a) England, (b) the East of England and (c) Suffolk in each year between 2014 and 2024.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has collected this data since 2017 through the Estates Return Information Collection (ERIC) at a national and regional level, for the East of England National Health Service region, although it does not separate the data for Suffolk. The most recent data for 2023/24 shows that there are 572 national electric vehicle (EV) chargers on all ambulance sites, 22 of which are in the East of England. The following table shows the number of EV chargers at a national level and for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, broken down by year, from 2017/18 to 2023/24:

Source: data is from the Estates Returns Information Collection, published by NHS England, and available at the following link:
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection

Notes:

1. EV charging points have been provided for all ambulance sites, and these will include ambulance stations, make ready hubs, and other sites;
2. the data for England includes the total number of EV charging points available on site, including those for use by the trust's own internal fleet and available for patients, visitors, and staff, irrespective of any fees charged;
3. it is not possible to provide accurate data for Suffolk as several ambulance stations under 1,000 meters squared Gross Internal Area will be aggregated and reported as one line, under Other Reportable Sites, so will not have a location; and
4. since the pilot year of reporting in 2017, the definitions and reporting consistency has varied due to feedback received, and some of the national data reported in ERIC has been adjusted by NHS England to account for reporting errors and missing returns between 2017/18 and 2021/22.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) electric ambulances and (b) other electric vehicles were there in the ambulance service fleet for (i) England, (ii) the East and (iii) Suffolk in each year between 2014 and 2024.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The following two tables show the number of electric double-crewed ambulances and other emergency vehicles for England and the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, respectively, from 2019/20 to 2023/24:

Notes: there will be some variation in numbers when comparing between years due to different levels of data quality and completeness in the data collections.

Data is only held for the years included in the tables, and information is not available for the Suffolk geographical area.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a list of the (a) name and (b) postcode of all ambulance depots in (i) England, (ii) East of England and (iii) Suffolk; and how many (A) ambulances and (B) other vehicles are based at each depot.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

A table showing the names, postcodes, and operating foundation trusts of all ambulance depots in England, including the East of England and Suffolk, is attached. Information on the number of vehicles at each depot is not held centrally.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many ambulances were (a) petrol, (b), diesel, (c) hydrogen, (d) hybrid, (e) plug-in hybrid and (f) fully electric in (i) England, (ii) East of England and (iii) Suffolk in each of the last 10 years.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The attached tables show the number of double-crewed ambulances and other emergency vehicles for England and the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust by fuel type, from 2019/20 to 2023/24. Data is only held for the years included in the tables attached, and information is not available for the Suffolk geographical area.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many vehicles other than ambulances used by the NHS were (a) petrol, (b), diesel, (c) hydrogen, (d) hybrid, (e) plug-in hybrid and (f) fully electric in (i) England, (ii) East of England and (iii) Suffolk in each of the last 10 years.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The information requested is not held centrally.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the (a) start and (b) end dates are of all lease agreements held by NHS ambulance trusts for (i) ambulances and (ii) other vehicles.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The information requested is not held centrally.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will outline the recruitment process for foreign nationals applying for positions in the prison service; and if she will publish all related documents.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) publishes vacancies across formal UK advertising boards, including Justice Jobs and Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK.

The recruitment process applied across HMPPS is the same for both UK and non-UK nationals, where selection for appointment is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as per the legal requirement set out in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

In accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles, each candidate is assessed and selected fairly against the criteria published in the job advert. As the Ministry of Justice operates a devolved recruitment model, most recruitment is managed locally.

The Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) govern eligibility for employment in the Civil Service on the grounds of nationality. All applicants applying to work in the Department must meet the CSNRs and must have valid right to work in the UK for successful completion of pre-employment checks.

The Department welcomes job applications from everyone, irrespective of background, identity, experience, or circumstance, and particularly those underrepresented in our workforce.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what (a) interviews and (b) security checks there are for foreign nationals applying for positions in the prison service; and whether their country of origin is a factor.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

HM Prison & Probation Service welcomes applications from people wishing to work in prisons in England and Wales. The interview process is the same for both UK and non-UK nationals. Selection is on the basis of fair and open competition, in accordance with the legal requirement set out in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Each candidate is assessed against the criteria published in the job advertisement. Most recruitment is managed locally. In relation to nationality, eligibility is governed by the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

All candidates, regardless of nationality, are subject to robust screening to assess their suitability against the relevant legislative requirements and security-related factors. These checks include confirmation of identity; confirmation of right to work in the UK; a criminal record check, declaration of any connections with offenders; employment reference enquiries; and a financial vulnerability assessment.

All directly-employed prison staff must achieve, as a minimum, security clearance at Enhanced Level 2. HM Prison & Probation Service also undertakes a range of digital vetting and social media checks for new prison officer starters and chaplains.

Non-directly employed staff working in our prisons must achieve, as a minimum, clearance at Enhanced Level 1. In some cases, depending on risk and role, these staff may additionally require either a Standard or an Enhanced Check by the Disclosure and Barring Service. For staff working in prisons in the Long-Term High Security Estate, an additional National Security Vetting Check, at Counter-Terrorist level, is required as a minimum for all staff.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how are jobs in the prison service advertised (a) domestically, and (b) overseas.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service publishes vacancies across formal UK advertising boards, including Civil Service Jobs. Selection for appointment to the prison service must be on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as per the legal requirement set out in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

The Department does not advertise job roles overseas.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions his Department is having with Distribution Network Operators to accelerate upgrades to substations near ambulance stations.

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

The Government regularly engages with the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), who are responsible for maintaining and upgrading electrical infrastructure, including substations. Ofgem, the regulator, ensures that DNOs build and operate this infrastructure efficiently. The current electricity distribution price control has allowed £22.2bn for upfront investment in low voltage networks, including £3.1bn for network upgrades to support low-carbon technologies, such as electric vehicle charging. Furthermore, the Government will consult this year on land rights and consenting measures to accelerate the development and maintenance of electricity network infrastructure.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what role the Government has (a) in policing and (b) tackling crime within Whitehall’s Government Secure Zone; and whether Westminster Bridge is in the Government Secure Zone.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Departmental responsibility for tackling crime, whether on Westminster Bridge, or in the Hon Member’s own constituency of West Suffolk is a matter for the relevant local police force.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will list all training that has been provided to traffic officers on managing electric vehicles in incident recovery situations in each year between 2014 and 2024.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways has evolved its training programme for Traffic Officers on Electric Vehicles (EVs) as their use on the network has emerged and grown. Our training provision is aligned to the traffic officer work instructions in operation at that time, which have evolved as the number of EVs on our roads has increased.

Booster Pack and Skids training was provided for all Traffic Officers from December 2020 to April 2021. This was consolidated into new starter training from May 2021. Booster Pack training is the familiarisation of the booster pack that Traffic Officer vehicles carry. This training covers component parts of the booster pack and how to apply to release electronic handbrakes in line with manufacturer guidelines. Skids training is delivered to enable Traffic Officers to put skids underneath tyres that are unable to turn when electronic handbrakes cannot be released, enabling clearance of the carriageway. Whilst neither are exclusively EV training, they are methods that can be used with EVs.

Both training packages were subsequently consolidated into New Starter training for Traffic Officers as part of the continuous improvement of foundation training. EV eLearning was also rolled out to all Traffic Officers from January 2021 until November 2023, across a range of subjects, including:

• Overview of EV and Hybrids

• Evaluate the Positives and Negatives of EV and Hybrids

• Identify Types of EV/Hybrids at scene of incident or breakdowns

• Potential hazards involved when dealing with EV/Hybrids

• EV and Hybrid component parts

• H&S (HSE Guidance)

The EV and Hybrid Awareness eLearning package covers identification of component parts of EVs, such as High Voltage batteries and their location. The EV training delivered at New Starter Course offers a higher level of awareness, including when EVs are involved in Road Traffic Collisions and sustain a higher degree of damage.

Carriageway clearance, which includes EV training, is delivered to all new National Highways Traffic Officers as part of their Foundation training, this has been in place since 2018.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many dental practices in (a) England, (b) the East of England and (c) Suffolk have stopped accepting NHS patients since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS dentists are required to keep their NHS.UK website profiles up to date so that patients can find a dentist more easily. This includes information on whether they are accepting new patients. This information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people of what (a) nationality and (b) ethnicity were found guilty of (i) murder and (ii) manslaughter in each year since 2010.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Data on those convicted of murder or manslaughter, up to 30 June 2024, can be found in the principle offence proceedings and ‘Outcomes by Offence’ data tool, available at: Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2024. In the 'Outcomes by Offences' document, select the `Overall volumes’ page, then select the offence filter. Select '1 Murder' and then separately, '4.1 Manslaughter'. The number of convictions for murder or manslaughter for each year can be found in the `Convicted’ row. Data on ethnicity can also be viewed using the 'ethnicity' filter. Data on nationality is not collated by the Ministry of Justice. To do so could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to provide additional support to the (a) Planning Inspectorate, (b) statutory consultees, (c) local planning authorities, and (d) government consenting teams on taking forward grid infrastructure for new data centres.

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

Reforming the planning system is key to unlocking our country’s economic growth, to deliver the critical infrastructure that we need. The Government has announced a £46 million package of investment into the planning system to support capacity and capability. The Government will deliver workforce reform, enhanced training, and reformed career development packages. Resourcing in key organisations, including the Planning Inspectorate and Government consenting teams are currently being reviewed to determine the required support.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his policies on the construction of off-grid infrastructure for new data centres, including on (a) gas-fired power plants, (b) nuclear power plants, (c) small modular reactors, and (d) renewables.

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

Data centres are normally connected to the transmission and distribution grid rather than off-grid connection as this gives them resilience to planned and forced outages of an individual power source. Consequently, my Department has not made any assessment of off-grid infrastructure requirements.

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 made an assessment of the potential merits of building new data centres on (a) sites of decommissioned power stations and (b) other brownfield sites.

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

The suitability of any site for a data centre depends on a number of factors including grid capacity, state of grid infrastructure and availability of data connectivity. Future AI Growth Zones will be selected taking into account these factors.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to allow the National Policy Statements for Energy and Planning Policy Guidance to approve grid infrastructure for new data centres.

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

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure needed to deliver on the Government’s ambitions. The Government published a working paper [1] on the proposals on the 26^th January 2025 and more detail will be available in due course.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will take steps to bring grid infrastructure for new data centres under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime.

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

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure needed to deliver on the Government’s ambitions. The Government published a working paper [1] on the proposals on the 26^th January 2025 and more detail will be available in due course.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the reimbursement system for (a) pharmacies and (b) GP practices dispensing medicines.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Consultation with Community Pharmacy England for the 2025/26 Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework has started and will include reviewing the allowance for medicine margin as part of funding, and any further changes to the reimbursement arrangements.

The Department has previously reviewed the reimbursement arrangements for community pharmacies which lead to a consultation on several improvements in 2019. The consultation response was published in November 2021, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/community-pharmacy-drug-reimbursement-reform/outcome/community-pharmacy-drug-reimbursement-reform-consultation-response

There are currently no plans to review the reimbursement system for general practices (GPs) dispensing medicines. Dispensing practices receive a dispensing fee, approximately £2.00 to £2.30 per item, which is intended to cover dispensing costs. This fee is calculated based on forecasted volumes of prescriptions to be dispensed and the size of the funding envelope, according to a methodology agreed by the Department, the General Practitioners Committee (GPC), NHS Employers, and the Welsh Government.

An updated methodology was agreed between the British Medical Association and NHS England to address the issue of continuing fluctuation between over and underspend year on year, the alternating pattern of over and under spends, and implemented in October 2023.

The Department and NHS England started consulting with the GPC England, of the British Medical Association, on the 2025/26 GP Contract on 19 December and will consider all proposed policy changes, including dispensing practices. An announcement will be made before April 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, which public bodies are responsible for law enforcement in relation to (a) unlawful gambling, (b) unlawful street vendors, (c) red line parking and (d) unlicensed pedicabs on Westminster Bridge.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Localised incidents of illegal gambling are the responsibility of the relevant licensing authority and relevant police force. In the case of Westminster Bridge, this is Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police. The police are able to ask street vendors to show their licence. Westminster Bridge is on the Transport for London Road Network and enforcement action against illegally parked vehicles there is a matter for Transport for London (TfL). The Pedicabs (London) Act 2024 conferred powers onto TfL to regulate London’s pedicab industry for the first time, and TfL has now begun the process of consulting on the proposed regulations.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions (a) ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials within his Department have had with technology companies on the energy infrastructure needed for new data centres.

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

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of building (a) charging infrastructure and (b) on-road services for electric vehicles in each year between 2014 and 2024.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). We will work closely with stakeholders to accelerate the rollout of chargepoints, and to ensure the benefits of the transition are felt across all of society.

The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) has awarded £83 million in grant funding to 219 LAs since 2017 and will see more than 21,300 chargepoints installed.

Between 2017 and 2024, over £14m was spent by National Highways to advance the rollout of chargepoint infrastructure on the Strategic Road Network, including £4.5 million through a project to install chargepoints and £9.5m through the Energy Storage Systems project to support ultra rapid chargepoints at motorway service areas. In addition, Ofgem has run a £300m Green Recovery Scheme to accelerate network investment, including to support charging at motorway service areas.

The £381m Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry and transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking. The funding backed by substantial private investment, will support the installation of at least 100,000 on-street chargepoints, ensuring the rollout continues at pace to support drivers in every part of the country.

In addition, the Government confirmed in the October 2024 Budget that it wants to support the uptake of EVs by investing over £200 million in 2025/26 to accelerate EV chargepoint rollout.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many trees have been planted by Highways England in each year between 2014 and 2024; and what the cost to the public purse was of this work.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways (NH) does not keep a central record of the number of trees they have planted across England in any given year. However, as outlined in their ‘Net zero highways: our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan’, NH aims to plant at least 3 million trees by 2030 (in addition to the trees planted as ‘essential mitigation’ for projects).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the number and proportion of Highways England vehicles that were (a) petrol, (b) diesel, (c) hydrogen, (d) hybrid, (e) plug-in hybrid and (f) fully electric in each year between 2014 and 2024.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways keeps records of the vehicles that make up its fleet; the breakdown of vehicle fuel type between 2014 and 2024 can be found in the table below.

National Highways have an ambitious plan for their non-traffic officer vehicles to be 100% electric by 2027, with traffic officer vehicles to be 100% electric by 2030 (as laid out in their Net zero highways: our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what low carbon (a) materials and (b) methods are used by Highways England in road (i) maintenance and (ii) construction.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways use a wide range of low carbon materials and methods such as using bio-binders and recycled materials in asphalt, stipulating lower carbon concrete mixes in construction contracts, and investing in research and development into low-carbon materials. National Highways also follow lean construction practices and the principles of the circular economy to embed approaches that minimise emissions, including updating their standards - the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) - to include use of recycled materials. Additional information on National Highways, ambitious programme for putting roads at the heart of Britain’s net zero future can be found online (see: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/netzerohighways/) and within their ‘Net zero highways Our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan’.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse for Highways England to decarbonise (a) internal operations by 2030, (b) road maintenance and construction by 2040, and (c) travel on roads by 2050.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The draft third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), which will cover five years from April 2026 to March 2031, will be published in due course. This will set out the Government’s objectives for the Strategic Road Network and the funding available. This includes in relation to National Highways’ climate obligations and commitments.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with (a) Highways England and (b) Distribution Network Operators on steps to accelerate the upgrades to substations near charging points on (i) motorways and (ii) A roads.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Government is committed to accelerating the rollout of EV charging infrastructure to support long journeys in line with ambitions for a zero emission car, van and HGV fleet. Access to a comprehensive ultra-rapid chargepoint network will enable more consumers to confidently purchase electric vehicles.

There has been good progress on chargepoints on our Strategic Road Network (SRN), covering motorways and major A Roads in England. There are now over 4,500 rapid and ultra rapid chargers within one mile of the strategic road network, a major increase since January 2022 (Zapmap). Within this, there are over 1,100 open-access rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoints (industry data) at motorway service areas in England, which is an over 40% increase in the last year.

Government is taking a range of actions to support improvements in charging infrastructure on the SRN, including to address gaps in the network, and has been engaging closely with industry, including distribution network operators (DNOs).

This includes working with Ofgem and distribution network operators to develop a new, more affordable, approach so power capacity use at charging sites can be increased over time in line with demand, and on the Green Recovery Scheme, a £300m scheme to accelerate network investment. Government has worked with National Highways to deliver a joint Energy Storage Systems (ESS) project (£11m) to fund batteries, and on a £70m pilot scheme to part-fund grid upgrades, both to support charging at motorway sites.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of lighting on (a) motorways and (b) A roads has been replaced with LEDs in each year between 2014 and 2024; and what the cost to the public purse was of this work.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The answer could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the AI Opportunities Action Plan on future (a) instances of judicial review, (b) environmental impact assessments and (c) local planning decisions on grid infrastructure for new data centres.

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

The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out measures to support AI infrastructure development, including tackling challenges like planning and energy access. As part of this, the Government is considering how best to ensure an efficient regulatory and planning framework while maintaining high environmental and legal standards. This includes engagement with local authorities and relevant regulators to explore ways to manage planning processes effectively, including for grid infrastructure linked to new data centres.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will list all (a) start and (b) end dates for lease agreements held by Highways England for their vehicle fleet.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways does not currently have any lease agreements for vehicles in place for its vehicle fleet.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what steps her Department is taking to tackle unlawful gambling on Westminster Bridge; and if she will initiate discussions with the relevant responsible authority.

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

Localised incidents of unlawful gambling such as those on Westminster Bridge are the responsibility of the relevant licensing authority and police force. In the case of Westminster Bridge, this is Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police. The Gambling Commission also provides guidance for licensing authorities about illegal gambling on its website.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many electric vehicle pilots were administered by Highways England in each year between 2014 and 2024; and what the cost to the public purse was per pilot.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways has an electric vehicle pilot working group. It has undertaken 3 electric vehicle trials as follows:

• 2023 – present: £337,382.83

• 2024 – present: £453,487.40

• 2024 – present: £16,206.05

The first two pilot projects listed were supported via the National Highways designated funds programme to support its commitment to progress towards a zero-emission fleet.

The third pilot was provided as a business demonstrator, provided on a loan basis by the vehicle manufacturer.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the carbon emissions were for Highways England in each year between 2014 and 2024.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The corporate carbon emissions for National Highways (NH), or predecessor organisations (Highways Agency and Highways England), within the period requested were as follows:

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to designate thoroughbred horses as high health animals, in the context of the Border Target Operating Model.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

A commitment to designating thoroughbred horses as high-health animals was made as part of the Border Target Operating model, and we have continued to develop that as part of our preparation to implement that border model.