Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2026 to Question 29345 on RAF Northolt, how much his Department (a) has spent in each financial year since 2022-23 and (b) plans to spend on Sustainable Aviation Fuel and associated infrastructure at RAF Northolt; and whether he has undertaken a value for money assessment comparing that expenditure with the cost of using an equivalent volume of conventional aviation fuel.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Department has not incurred any additional costs from the use of higher-blend SAF at RAF Northolt in any financial year since 2022-23. The Department also has no plans to spend on higher-blend SAF or associated infrastructure at RAF Northolt.
No value for money assessment has been undertaken, as the use of higher-blend SAF at RAF Northolt has not resulted in any additional cost to Defence when compared with conventional aviation fuel.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department supports the proposed designation of Heathrow expansion as Critical National Growth Infrastructure; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Heathrow expansion on economic growth outside London.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS) proposes designating Heathrow expansion as Critical National Growth Infrastructure, recognising its potential importance to national growth. We have consulted on this approach, and the Government will carefully consider the views received through the consultation, alongside the Transport Select Committee's recommendations, before setting out its response and any next steps in relation to the HENPS.
As part of the consultation on the draft HENPS the Department conducted analysis to look at the potential impact of Heathrow expansion on the economy, including outside London. This analysis can be found in the Heathrow Expansion Appraisal Report (HEAR) located here: Draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement appraisal report - GOV.UK. The HEAR is supported by further economic impact modelling located here: Heathrow expansion economic impact modelling - GOV.UK. This analysis found that the scheme could add up to 0.05% to UK GDP in 2056, with up to 40% of these benefits accruing to regions outside of London and the South East.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Prime Minister has approved the Government's proposed designation of Heathrow expansion as Critical National Growth Infrastructure.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS) proposes designating Heathrow expansion as Critical National Growth Infrastructure, recognising its potential importance to national growth. We have consulted on this approach, and the Government will carefully consider the views received through the consultation, alongside the Transport Select Committee's recommendations, before setting out its response and any next steps in relation to the HENPS.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England holds data on the number of integrated care boards that commission a defined pathway for the assessment and support of children and young people with selective mutism; and what steps she is taking to address variation in provision, including within NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Applicants in this situation are welcome to reapply on the extended scheme. Before doing so they should check the grant guidance as new evidencing requirements have been introduced.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many automotive manufacturers and suppliers are expected to receive support under the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme; and when that support will become available.
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)
The Government recognises the impact that high energy costs are having on the automotive sector. Through the launch of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) the Government is committed to helping eligible businesses, including many from the automotive sector, to reduce their electricity costs to bring them more into line with other European economies.
Applications for BICS are now open until the 30th November 2026. If approved, a business will begin to receive exemptions from April 2027. They will also receive an additional payment in 2027 to cover costs approximately equivalent to an extra year’s benefit.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2026 to Question 29628 on Cars: Manufacturing Industries, what criteria her Department uses to assess whether compliance costs under the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate are affordable for vehicle manufacturers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government continues to engage with vehicle manufacturers on a regular basis regarding the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, including as part of the long-committed ZEV Mandate Review, which is currently subject to consultation. The consultation closes on 23 October, and we will publish the outcome of the review in our consultation response.
Data from the ZEV Mandate shows the average cost of trading ZEV allowances to meet compliance in the UK in 2024 was approximately £4,000 per traded ZEV allowance for cars. DfT analysis estimates the average additional cost of discounting for ZEVs was around £2,800 per vehicle in 2025. Both are substantially lower than the Mandate’s compliance payment levels. Vehicle discounting is common and recent industry data suggests discounts on ZEVs are increasingly at levels comparable to petrol vehicles.
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with NATS on (a) air traffic controller vacancies, (b) recruitment and training capacity and (c) disruption attributable to staffing levels.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review into the NATS outage of 8 September 2026 will be carried out by a dedicated team working independently of NATS, government and the aviation industry in order to deliver a robust and impartial review. To further ensure the independence of the review, an Independent Challenge Panel, whose membership will be approved by the Secretary of State, will provide independent challenge and advice throughout.
The review will examine the causes of the incidents, broader questions relating to NATS' resilience, capital investment and modernisation plans, helping to identify any lessons needed to strengthen the resilience of the UK air traffic management system.
Whilst the CAA review will consider the adequacy of the resilience requirements, governance and assurance arrangements applied to NATS critical operational systems and supporting infrastructure, it is the responsibility of air navigation service providers to ensure that an adequate and trained workforce is in place to operate safely and effectively.
However, my department recently introduced secondary legislation giving the CAA powers to recognise the previous training of third country and military ATCOs towards meeting the requirements needed to achieve a UK civil ATCO licence. This will reduce the time it takes these individuals to become a civil ATCO in the UK and increase resilience across the sector.
Dividends received by the Department from NATS are shown in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, available on Gov.uk .
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what arrangements are in place to ensure the independence of the Civil Aviation Authority’s review into the NATS technical incident on 8 September 2026.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review into the NATS outage of 8 September 2026 will be carried out by a dedicated team working independently of NATS, government and the aviation industry in order to deliver a robust and impartial review. To further ensure the independence of the review, an Independent Challenge Panel, whose membership will be approved by the Secretary of State, will provide independent challenge and advice throughout.
The review will examine the causes of the incidents, broader questions relating to NATS' resilience, capital investment and modernisation plans, helping to identify any lessons needed to strengthen the resilience of the UK air traffic management system.
Whilst the CAA review will consider the adequacy of the resilience requirements, governance and assurance arrangements applied to NATS critical operational systems and supporting infrastructure, it is the responsibility of air navigation service providers to ensure that an adequate and trained workforce is in place to operate safely and effectively.
However, my department recently introduced secondary legislation giving the CAA powers to recognise the previous training of third country and military ATCOs towards meeting the requirements needed to achieve a UK civil ATCO licence. This will reduce the time it takes these individuals to become a civil ATCO in the UK and increase resilience across the sector.
Dividends received by the Department from NATS are shown in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, available on Gov.uk .
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much her Department received in dividends from NATS in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) review into the NATS outage of 8 September 2026 will be carried out by a dedicated team working independently of NATS, government and the aviation industry in order to deliver a robust and impartial review. To further ensure the independence of the review, an Independent Challenge Panel, whose membership will be approved by the Secretary of State, will provide independent challenge and advice throughout.
The review will examine the causes of the incidents, broader questions relating to NATS' resilience, capital investment and modernisation plans, helping to identify any lessons needed to strengthen the resilience of the UK air traffic management system.
Whilst the CAA review will consider the adequacy of the resilience requirements, governance and assurance arrangements applied to NATS critical operational systems and supporting infrastructure, it is the responsibility of air navigation service providers to ensure that an adequate and trained workforce is in place to operate safely and effectively.
However, my department recently introduced secondary legislation giving the CAA powers to recognise the previous training of third country and military ATCOs towards meeting the requirements needed to achieve a UK civil ATCO licence. This will reduce the time it takes these individuals to become a civil ATCO in the UK and increase resilience across the sector.
Dividends received by the Department from NATS are shown in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, available on Gov.uk .
Asked by: Alison Griffiths (Conservative - Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will bring forward amendments to the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill to require the Civil Aviation Authority to assess and publish the costs and effects on participation of significant rule changes affecting gliding and other general aviation activities; and what safeguards she plans to provide against disproportionate air navigation charges on those activities.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Bill already provides a framework for proportionate and accountable rulemaking. The Civil Aviation Authority will be required to consult those it considers likely to be affected before making rules, including general aviation stakeholders where relevant. The framework also ensures appropriate ministerial oversight, with Ministers setting the CAA's strategic priorities and objectives, retaining powers of direction, and being able to reserve specified matters to the Secretary of State.
Charges for air navigation services are set by the CAA through an established process which includes safeguards such as targeted consultation and rights of appeal. Charges follow the internationally recognised ‘user pays’ principle and general aviation is largely exempt.