Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many projects to improve mobile signal in North Norfolk constituency have been funded and part-funded by her Department in a) 2022, b) 2023, c) 2024, d) 2025 and e) 2026.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
No projects to improve mobile signal in the North Norfolk constituency have been funded or part-funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology between 2022 and 2026.
The constituency has not been identified for intervention from the Government funded elements of the Shared Rural Network programme (SRN) over this period because of the high level of 4G geographic coverage across the constituency, although it has received industry investment through the programme.
According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring update, published on 13 May 2026, it is reported that, as of January 2026, 91% of the North Norfolk constituency landmass has 4G geographic coverage from all four MNOs.
No further coverage uplift is currently forecast for the constituency from the Government-funded element of the SRN programme, with the construction phase of the programme expected to conclude in January 2027.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many companies registered in England and Wales have declared a trustee of a (a) trust and (b) legal arrangement as a person with significant control.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
There are currently 107,382 companies registered in England and Wales who have at least one person of significant control (PSC) currently appointed with a nature of control designating them a trustee of a trust.
Companies House does not have a separate classification to distinguish those PSCs who are trustees of a legal arrangement. Companies House are required to collect information prescribed by law and no stipulation exists in the relevant legislation which creates a separate category which is distinct from trustees of trusts.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many medical driving licence applications have been awaiting a decision for more than six months.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In 2025/26, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency issued 12.3 million driving licences and made more than 750,000 medical licensing decisions. The current number of medical driving licence applications that have been awaiting a licensing decision for six months or more is 55,142.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has seen sustained growth in the volume and complexity of driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued. The length of time taken to deal with an application often depends on the condition(s) involved and whether further information is required from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a licence can be issued.
To keep up with growing demand and to offer a better service, the DVLA has launched a new casework system and a new digital medical services portal. This new online service allows the majority of people to apply online via the DVLA’s driver and vehicles account.
These changes will help the DVLA to process applications more quickly. Further enhancements for people applying for a provisional licence and those renewing at the age of 70 or over will be made later this summer.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2026 to Question 12919, what support her Department is providing to tier two local authorities in Norfolk to help resume small waste electrical and electronic equipment and battery recycling services halted as a result of a recycling centre fire.
Answered by Mary Creagh
I refer the hon. Member to the response given to him on 29 June 2026 to PQ UIN 12919.
Defra officials and the Environment Agency (EA) are engaging with Norfolk County Council regarding the challenges it is facing dealing with backlogs of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) at Norfolk's recycling centres to help Norfolk councils to resume WEEE and batteries recycling services.
The EA's focus has been on Norfolk's Household Waste Recycling Centre contractors to help resolve issues on their sites.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Third progress report on the implementation and operation of Parts 1 to 3 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, what was the total value of the 401 penalty notices which were not reversed, waived or written off; what was the total value of the 144 penalty notices reversed, waived or written off; and what is the total value of penalty notices which have been paid to date.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Since the commencement of the Register of Overseas Entities regime, up to 31 March 2026, financial penalties have been issued to 445 overseas entities. Of these, 245 penalties with a total value of £13.19 million have been reversed, waived or written off, while penalties with a total value of £9.87 million remain valid. The total value of financial penalties paid to date is £1.18 million as at 31 March 2026.
The 144 cases stated as reversed, waived or written off in the third progress report, included only those recorded during the 2025–26 financial year.