Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43313 on Energy: Land Use, what definition he uses for the most appropriate areas, in that context.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

On 15^th May 2025 NESO published their methodology for the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), which includes details of how they will identify optimal locations, types and quantities of energy generation and storage infrastructure.

This can be found on the NESO website https://www.neso.energy/news/milestone-reached-first-blueprint-great-britains-future-energy-infrastructure .

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with her (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) international counterparts on the establishment of return hubs for illegal migrants to the UK.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, in consultation with a wide range stakeholders, including other government departments.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 44144 on Armed Forces: Training, what steps he has taken to help improve the OFSTED rating of the Defence Medical Academy.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Following an OFSTED inspection in December 2023, Defence Medical Academy (DMA) have addressed all areas requiring improvement and continue to do so. The steps taken have included establishing a structured process to develop the curriculum, increased coordination, oversight, and assurance of training placements, a higher level of scrutiny on resource management, a focus on welfare and significant cultural changes to improve both the morale of trainees and training personnel.

The Defence Medical Services (Whittington) Site now meets the Defence Minimum Standards for accommodation and is used as an example of best practice owing to the excellent relationships fostered between the site and contractors.

The Defence Medical Academy is also required to undertake an annual assessment of its performance, this was last completed in October 2024. Given the improvements made across all four Ofsted Key Judgement Areas, the Defence Medical Academy is currently assessed as ‘good’.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 50261 on Armed Forces: Housing, what is his timetable for making the 3,049 void properties suitable for habitation.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

This Government is committed to reviewing the contract between the nation and those who serve. Improving the housing offer is a key part of this work.

The timetable for making these void properties suitable for habitation is being developed as part of the Defence Housing Strategy, which is due to be published later this year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with Heckler & Koch to procure (a) MG5s and( b) HK421s.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Secretary of State for Defence has not engaged Heckler and Koch on the potential procurement of their MG5 or HK421 machine guns.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 50961 on Trade Agreements: USA, whether he requested that the United States reduce the applied tariff of 41% for the Falkland Islands.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

We have concluded a landmark economic deal with the US on 8 May, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump. We are continuing talks on a wider UK-US Economic Deal.

The US has confirmed, as part of the deal, that it will consider UK requests to reduce the applied tariff for a UK territory such as the Falkland Islands on a preferential basis. Talks between the UK and the US are ongoing.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Royal Navy’s Maritime Aviation Transformation Strategy has made a decision on the future of the F-35B Lightning fighter aircraft.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The F-35B Lightning will be at the forefront of the Nation's conventional deterrent for decades to come.

The Royal Navy's Maritime Aviation Transformation Strategy is investigating how to further expand the deployment of uncrewed air systems in Royal Navy ships, including the aircraft carriers.

Decisions on future capabilities are subject to the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) which is looking at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to meet the challenges, threats and opportunity of the 21st century.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50625 on Armed Forces: Housing, how many service personnel have used the Forces Help to Buy scheme in each of the last five financial years.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The following table shows the number of First Stage applications for the Forces Help to Buy Scheme where the applicant has passed the initial eligibility checks.

Further statistics on the Forces Help to Buy Scheme Service are published by the Ministry of Defence on gov.uk at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/forces-help-to-buy-scheme-quarterly-statistics-202425

The Defence Housing Strategy, planned for publication later this year, will set out a roadmap to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation, where the main objective is to raise the minimum standard of Armed Forces housing. It will also turbocharge the development of surplus military land creating opportunities for Armed Forces home ownership and supporting the delivery of affordable homes for families across Britain as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the trade agreement with the EU of 19 May 2025, what (a) tariffs and (b) rules will apply to steel exports to the EU.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The EU applies a safeguard measure on imports of 26 categories of steel in the form of tariff-rate quotas that allow certain volumes of imports per category to enter duty-free. A 25% duty is charged on volumes that exceed quotas.

Following a recent amendment by the EU, the UK’s duty-free access to category 17 (steel sections) was restricted to below traditional volumes.

As part of the new agreement, the EU committed to correcting this in line with traditional trade flows, which will allow UK industry to double the amount of tariff-free steel sections they can export to the EU.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 46190 on Warships: Decommissioning, what the disposal plan is for (a) Wave and (b) Sandown class ships.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Wave Class ships have been declared for regulatory and legislative-compliant disposal. All value for money options will be considered.

With regards to the Sandown Class, the transfer of HMS Pembroke via Government to Government sale to Romania will complete in the summer of this year. Disposal options are being scoped for two additional Sandown Class ships and HMS Bangor remains in service.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 46190 on Warships: Decommissioning, what ships will take on the role of mine clearance following the decommissioning of the Sandown Class vessels.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the response I provided to Question 47760 to the hon. Member for Suffolk South (James Cartlidge), on 29 April 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51569 on Aircraft Carriers, what factors his Department would consider on balancing funding decisions on aircraft launch and recovery equipment.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence considers numerous factors to ensure a balanced result when making procurement decisions. These include: operational capability enhancement and technical innovation offered by new equipment; alignment with national security and defence strategies; interoperability with allies; industrial benefits; lifecycle costs and affordability; procurement risk; environmental sustainability; and regulatory compliance.

Decisions on future capabilities are subject to the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review which is considering how the UK will meet the challenges, threats and opportunity of the 21^st century.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many homes will be built on Wyton Airfield in Cambridgeshire.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It is not yet possible to indicate the exact number of new homes that will be delivered at Wyton Airfield.

Huntingdonshire District Council are in the process of updating its Local Plan and the Wyton Airfield site has been submitted through the ‘call for sites’ with an indicative capacity of 4,500 homes.

Any proposals for new housing will be the subject of planning applications in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund announced on 19 May 2025 will be used to provide training to upskill the workforce.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We have launched the £360 million “Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund” to support the next generation of fishermen and breathe new life into our coastal communities.

We will engage with the industry to target investment where it matters most. For example, considering investment in new technology and equipment to modernise our fishing fleet, delivering new training and skills to back the next generation of fishers, and promoting the seafood sector to export our high-quality produce across the world.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34056 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, when will the population data be updated to include a population projection from the 2021 census data.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In reference to when any updates or changes may be made to the Fire Funding Formula, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36212 on 11 March 2025.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund announced on 19 May 2025 will be used to provide new (a) technology and (b) equipment to modernise the fleet.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We have launched the £360 million “Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund” to support the next generation of fishermen and breathe new life into our coastal communities.

We will engage with the industry to target investment where it matters most. For example, considering investment in new technology and equipment to modernise our fishing fleet, delivering new training and skills to back the next generation of fishers, and promoting the seafood sector to export our high-quality produce across the world.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she make it her policy to introduce a new business rates system before the 2026-27 financial year.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Transforming the business rates system is a multi-year process, and reforms taken forward will be phased over the course of the Parliament to provide certainty for businesses and local government finance.

Through these reforms, we will create a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has visited any private schools since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Huntingdon to the answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 46839.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 52026 on Hinchingbrooke Hospital, what discussions her Department has had with (a) Cambridgeshire Constabulary and (b) Hinchingbrooke Hospital on resolving the land ownership dispute.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has had no role in these discussions between the interested parties in relation to an ongoing land ownership dispute for a new access road to Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the upgrading of rented homes to Energy Performance Certificate C on housing supply.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recently consulted on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation included proposals for rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030 and was accompanied by the Department’s impact assessment. The assessment makes clear that we are unable to quantify the extent to which this will impact the supply of properties, as landlords may take different approaches and the policy is not yet finalised. The consultation closed on the 2^nd May and we are currently reviewing responses and supporting evidence. Following this, a government response and further impact assessment will be published.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what level of access do Border Force staff have to the Police National Database.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Border Force does not routinely disclose operationally sensitive information, as to do so has the potential to prejudice law enforcement and the operation of immigration controls.

However, Border Force continue to work closely with law enforcement partners as necessary to share intelligence and protect UK security.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people that arrived illegally by small boat since 5 July 2024 have since been removed.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of AI on the graduate job market.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We are already witnessing AI’s impact on the labour market: transforming the workplace, demanding new skills and changing the landscape. We remain mindful of this impact and its effect on the UK workforce, whilst working to harness the benefits that AI can bring.

As part of our response to the Action Plan, DSIT will be working closely with Skills England to develop a clear assessment of the country’s skills needs for AI, and map pathways by which they can be filled. We expect to publish our first assessment before the autumn and periodic publications thereafter.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets for Quarter 1 2025 will be published.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes data on asylum and resettlement in the 'Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release'. Data for the year ending March 2025 was published on Thursday 22 May 2025.

Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Cabinet Ministers have visited Huntingdon constituency and (a) informed and (b) not informed the hon. Member for Huntingdon of that visit in advance.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my previous answer [46065] given on 19 May.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51561 on Electric Bicycles, how many people riding a e-cycle classed as a motor vehicle have been (a) arrested and (b) prosecuted for not having (i) legal approval, (ii) registration, (iii) compulsory insurance, (iv) an annual roadworthiness test pass, (v) an appropriate driving licence and (vi) not meeting mandatory helmet requirements.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office routinely collects and publishes data on arrests for notifiable offences, as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical series. However, data is collected at offence group level only, therefore data for specific offences is not collected.

Additionally, the Home Office routinely collects and published data on motoring offences that resulted in court action in England and Wales on an annual basis, as part of the ‘Police powers and procedures: Roads policing’ statistical bulletin. The most recent data, up to 2023, is available here: Police powers and procedures: Roads policing, to December 2023 - GOV.UK

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release entitled PM secures new agreement with EU to benefit British people, published on 19 May 2025, at what level the youth experience scheme will be (a) capped at and (b) time-limited to.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. We have agreed that any scheme will be time-limited and capped. We have also been clear that it should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes with countries like Australia and New Zealand. The exact parameters will be subject to negotiation, but any scheme will need to be in the UK’s national interests.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Warm homes and cheaper bills as government accelerates Plan for Change, published on 7 February 2025, how the figure of the average cost to landlords of complying with the proposals to upgrade their properties was calculated.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Estimates were provided in the consultation stage Options Assessment (DESNZ001(OA)-25-NZBI).

The average cost to landlords of complying with the proposals to upgrade their properties was calculated by dividing the total undiscounted capital expenditure required to meet the standards by the number of properties upgraded. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to have discussions with her EU counterparts on UK access to EU facial images data.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is in regular discussions with European counterparts on a range of issues relating to law enforcement, including the exchange of data.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The following table includes the number of lost department-issued devices by the department since 5 July 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ukrainian military personnel from the Ukrainian Armed Forces Shkval Battalions have been trained in the UK.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

With regard to Op INTERFLEX, our major training operation for Ukrainian forces, the data held by INTERFLEX Headquarters is limited due to the closed nature of the questions which are asked when Ukrainian troops arrive, and we do not specifically track or ask which units individuals come from.

Over 54,000 Ukrainian personnel have been trained under Operation INTERFLEX since June 2022.

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