Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether measures to enable homes and smaller businesses to buy electricity directly from local community-run energy enterprises will be in the forthcoming Energy Independence Bill.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The scope and content of the Energy Independence Bill will be set out in due course when it is introduced to Parliament.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he has taken to support the motor vehicle industry.
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)
This Government has taken significant steps to support the Automotive Sector. Through DRIVE35, we are investing up to £4bn to support the transformation of the sector to zero emission vehicle manufacturing. We are also improving the sector’s competitiveness through lower energy costs under the forthcoming British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. In addition, we have provided up to £2bn through the Electric Car Grant to reduce the upfront costs of buying electric vehicles, which has already helped over 160,000 consumers.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to speed up the a) development and b) deployment of new mine hunting capabilities for the Royal Navy.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 March 2026 to Question 120373 to the hon. Member for Slough (Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi):
The Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme continues to deliver an advanced suite of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) and SWEEP (the first Sovereign minesweeping capability since 2006) into service within the Royal Navy, enabling frontline mine warfare specialists to enhance operational effectiveness. These cutting-edge autonomous mine-hunting systems are deployed by the Mine and Threat Exploitation Group for evaluation, training, and operational deployment.
The comprehensive scope of the MHC programme encompasses multiple USVs, UUVs, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for identification and neutralisation, and a state-of-the-art, sovereign mine-sweeping capability. Additionally, the programme has delivered HMS STIRLING CASTLE, a dedicated support vessel designed to enhance the deployment and sustainment of autonomous systems.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to adapt laser directed-energy weapons for use on autonomous vehicles.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Recent conflicts in the Middle East have highlighted the growing threat posed by low-cost, massed drone attacks. Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) have the potential to provide a highly effective and cost-effective response to these threats, which is why the Ministry of Defence is investing £490 million over the next four years to bring these capabilities into service. DEW technologies have the potential to operate across a range of operational environments and roles. The Department continues to assess the most effective ways to deploy and integrate directed energy weapons across different environments and platforms to address threats and meet evolving military requirements.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, If he will take steps to increase the speed of upgrades to the Devonport nuclear submarine dock.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Obese-Jecty) to question 19170 (questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-07-15/19170)
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to increase the speed of the a) development and b) deployment of new autonomous vessels for the Royal Navy.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Yes, we are already doing work on the Type 91-94 and Common Combat Vessel. Further detail will be released as appropriate as these programmes develop.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a non-animal method that is scientifically satisfactory for a particular purpose but has not undergone formal (a) validation and (b) qualification must be used in place of a regulated procedure under section 2A(2)(a) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
Under section 2A of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (“ASPA”), a regulated procedure must not be used where a scientifically satisfactory alternative method or testing strategy that does not entail the use of a protected animal is available for the intended purpose. Formal validation or qualification are not specified in section 2A as separate legal preconditions or thresholds.
Whether a method is scientifically satisfactory and applicable in the particular circumstances is assessed on the available scientific evidence. Validation or qualification may provide relevant evidence in making that assessment, including where results must meet wider regulatory requirements, but the absence of either does not, by itself, permit animal use where the non-animal method is otherwise scientifically satisfactory for the intended purpose.