Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
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 conducted an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements of the Clean Energy Industries Industrial Strategy Sector Plan.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy published in June 2025, the government committed to delivering an assessment of the telecommunications needs of the energy, water and transport sectors by the end of 2026. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is delivering the cross-sector analysis, with the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority coordinating the overall programme. The Department is contributing evidence on energy sector telecommunications requirements to support this work, which includes requirements for energy-related government plans.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
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 undertaken an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements of the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy published in June 2025, the government committed to delivering an assessment of the telecommunications needs of the energy, water and transport sectors by the end of 2026. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is delivering the cross-sector analysis, with the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority coordinating the overall programme. The Department is contributing evidence on energy sector telecommunications requirements to support this work, which includes requirements for energy-related government plans.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has undertaken an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements of the eight sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy.
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’s approach to 5G and mobile connectivity is set out in the ‘UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Plan’ on GOV.UK. The government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have standalone 5G by 2030, delivered through commercial investment. The Digital & Technologies Sector Plan (GOV.UK) outlines the Industrial Strategy’s approach to 5G and Advanced Connectivity Technologies. We have already begun to invest in ACT, with over £300 million spent since 2022 to promote R&D through the Open Networks Programme and Technology Missions Fund.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has undertaken an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements for each project in the Government Major Projects Portfolio.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
HM Treasury has not undertaken specific analysis of the digital and telecoms requirements of each Government Major Projects Portfolio project. However, the UK 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy takes a digital-first approach to infrastructure, meaning these needs should be considered a priority as projects are developed.
The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) is working with other government departments to analyse telecoms requirements at a sector level across transport, energy and water and is leading the development of ALIGN - the government’s national infrastructure spatial tool. This is a single digital platform bringing together strategies, data and tools - including AI - to identify local infrastructure needs and constraints. The objective of this work is to provide granular modelling outputs and insights to strengthen the local evidence base for place-based infrastructure investment decisions.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has undertaken an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements of the NHS Productivity Plan.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government is committed to delivering reliable, high-speed connectivity to care settings across the National Health Service as part of its 10-Year Health Plan.
In line with the NHS Productivity Plan, NHS England’s Frontline Productivity Programme has assessed mobile coverage across England and is working with providers to address variations in 5G services. This includes a national trial to identify innovative solutions that maximise connectivity resilience across care settings, and the trial will include an assessment of potential productivity benefits for frontline NHS services.
Depending on findings, the national trial is expected to conclude in early 2027 with the programme providing the NHS with advice and guidance on deployment of said innovative solutions, thereafter.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of civil service personnel work on farming matters and on environmental matters.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Staff across Defra and its arm's-length bodies work directly or indirectly to support a range of policy areas, including farming, food production, environmental protection, nature recovery, water, air quality and rural communities. As a result, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of personnel into exclusively farming or environmental categories.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to meet the deadline set by the Patient Safety Commissioner for the Government to set out its position on a compensation scheme for people harmed by pelvic mesh implants and sodium valproate.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Patient Safety Commissioner wrote to the Prime Minister on 16 June, requesting information regarding internal and cross-Government discussions in relation to the Hughes Report, actions that have been taken beyond the Department, and the future plans regarding the implementation of its recommendations and a timetable for a full response.
The Department will provide any information required to support a timely response.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the response to the consultation on the reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 will be published.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra’s consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 ran from 28 January to 25 March 2026 and received over 6,000 responses. Additionally, on 24 March 2026, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its final report on its market investigation into veterinary services for household pets.
Given the volume of consultation responses and the need to consider these alongside the CMA’s recommendations, this Government will publish its response later this summer: Reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on which dates ministers have met the National Pig Association for a bilateral meeting since September 2025.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
While Ministers have not met the National Pig Association directly for a bilateral meeting since September 2025, Ministers have met the National Pig Association as part of wider engagement with the farming industry.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on fertiliser costs for farmers from 1 January 2027 and what plans she has to delay or repeal its implementation as it applies to fertilisers.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government remains committed to implementing the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from 1 January 2027. CBAM will apply to imported goods from the fertiliser sector, and the rate charged will reflect the final carbon price paid by domestic industries after support mechanisms (such as free allowances within the UK ETS) have been taken into account.
Therefore, it is expected that initial liabilities arising from the CBAM will be modest, and the Government does not expect CBAM to put UK farmers at a significant competitive disadvantage.
CBAM, like all taxes, will be kept under review by the Chancellor.