Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2024 to Question 12181 on Typhoon Aircraft: Procurement, what steps he is taking to ensure that skilled workers in the defence sector are retained.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This Government is committed to bringing forward a Defence Industrial Strategy which ensures the imperatives of national security and a high-growth economy are aligned. The defence sector, including the combat air sector, provides highly skilled jobs across the UK and the Defence Industrial Strategy will consider how we grow and retain the skills needed, working closely with partners across Government, industry and skills bodies to ensure we retain and attract a skilled workforce across the sector.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of (a) Sea King (b) Westland Wessex (c) Puma and (d) CH-47 Chinook helicopters on air quality in areas with high helicopter air traffic.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Neither the Sea King nor Westland Wessex remain in service with the Ministry of Defence. They were retired in 2018 and 2003 respectively.
We do not believe that there is an increased risk to air quality from Puma and Chinook helicopters. However, we fully recognise the importance of acting on safety concerns. As such, the department has begun work to initiate a programme of engine exhaust emissions substance monitoring for in service helicopters in accordance with Health and Safety Executive approved methods.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
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 regulate professional dog walkers.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Professional dog walkers must comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and other relevant legislation, such as welfare in transport regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act, and any public liability or other insurance policy requirements.
The Government has no current plans to regulate professional dog walkers. The Canine and Feline Sector Group has published best practice guidance to assist dog walkers which can be found here: https://www.cfsg.org.uk/.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential of the Autumn Budget 2024 on the defence supply chain.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Autumn Budget settlement means the defence budget will grow in line with the economy.
The Department is committed to bringing forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy which will ensure national security and a high-growth economy. The strategy will deliver a better, more innovative and more resilient defence sector to boost capabilities in critical defence technologies.
Asked by: Jodie Gosling (Labour - Nuneaton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of vision zero approaches to road safety in other countries.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The safety of our roads is a priority and we are currently developing a road safety strategy – the first in over a decade.
The DfT Chief Scientific Adviser is meeting with international experts to understand the effectiveness of a range of interventions and their implications for road safety in this country.
Asked by: Will Forster (Liberal Democrat - Woking)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 to permit 44 tonne operations.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Permitted weights are governed by the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weights) Regulation 1998, as amended. Under these regulations, many goods vehicles are already permitted to operate at up to 44 tonnes.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of the collapse of Reaction Engines Ltd on the UK Hypersonic Air Vehicle programme.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is in discussion with the Administrators appointed by Reaction Engines Ltd. However, these discussions are commercial-in-confidence and I cannot disclose further details.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has had discussions with representatives from the energy sector on extending the skills passport to people (a) working in the nuclear sector and (b) entering the nuclear sector from the offshore oil and gas sector.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The skills passport is an industry-led project that seeks to support Oil and Gas workers to transition into roles in the Offshore wind sectors. Currently there are no plans to transition such workers into the nuclear sector through this passport. However, the passport will provide a solid foundation for either expansion into other sectors such as nuclear in the coming years, to make such a transition possible.
The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK has the necessary skills needed to deliver our nuclear ambitions including through supporting the industry led National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills. The Plan is delivering fifteen projects supporting various aspects of the nuclear sector skills demand including two projects to attract and retain people from other industries, including Oil and Gas. The Destination Nuclear national communications campaign promotes the opportunities available in the sector and acts a centralised job board for the industry; and the Career Switchers project will provide nuclear upskilling support for those entering the sector with relevant engineering, trades support and business skills.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the research and development of femtech solutions; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of femtech solutions on women's health outcomes.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
While no explicit discussions have been held or assessments made, supporting patients’ equitable access to innovative technologies, and empowering their decision-making in care are key priorities for the Department and NHS England. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the research delivery arm of the Department, has funded and continues to fund research relevant to FemTech. For example, a recent study used new technology to analyse magnetic resonance images using artificial intelligence software to aid the diagnosis of endometriosis. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including FemTech solutions.
Asked by: Tracy Gilbert (Labour - Edinburgh North and Leith)
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 impact of Transmission Network Use of System charges on the viability of potential renewable energy projects in Scotland.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem is legally responsible for network charging arrangements. Government and Ofgem recognise the importance of transmission charges to the development of renewable generation in Scotland. This is why Ofgem established an industry Taskforce to consider near-term improvements to transmission charges and has proposed a temporary cap and floor to alleviate the projected rise, and increasing volatility, in Transmission Network Use of System charges. This is expected to provide generators with greater certainty in time for future Contracts for Difference allocation rounds, including the next - Allocation Round 7.