Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department will take to encourage (a) awareness and (b) take-up of UK Export Finance products by SMEs planning to trade with Taiwan.

Answered by Gareth Thomas - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

In addition to its suite of products to help SMEs export, UK Export Finance (UKEF) has a network of Export Finance Managers (EFMs) around the whole of the UK who can provide information to exporters of all sizes on a range of subjects, including trading across a range of markets. The EFMs’ contact details can be found at: Find an Export Finance Manager - GOV.UK

The Department for Business and Trade maintains a strong relationship with Taiwan and in particular, a shared ambition to grow trade. The full range of UKEF products and services is available to support potential exporters to Taiwan, and for longer-term contracts, local currency financing is available. UKEF works with DBT officials based in the British Office in Taipei, and has supported many transactions in Taiwan in recent years, and on specifically on 10 July announced it is providing a guarantee for a major offshore wind farm. This will allow four exporters across the UK to secure contracts, and will support jobs across the UK’s renewable energy supply chain.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people from groups that have previously been less likely to have had cervical screening who will be offered self-sampling kits under the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in its first year in (a) Milton Keynes and (b) Buckinghamshire.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

This information is not held at the requested geographical level.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of self-sampling on levels of uptake for cervical screening among (a) socioeconomic and (b) ethnic groups.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department undertook an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) into the introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling in under-screened populations, which will be published shortly. The findings of this EQIA, which considered national and international evidence, suggest that there is potential for HPV self-sampling for under-screened groups to improve participation in cervical screening by reducing some of the barriers to participation experienced by people with different protected characteristics, leading to improved participation and ultimately preventing more cervical cancers and associated deaths.

The self-testing kits which detect HPV, which is a group of viruses that can lead to cervical cancer, allow women to carry out this testing in the privacy and convenience of their own homes.

The programme specifically targets those groups consistently missing vital appointments, with younger women, ethnic minority communities facing cultural hurdles, people with a disability, and LGBT+ people all set to benefit.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Flood and coastal erosion risk management: an investment plan for 2021 to 2027, published on 29 July 2021, what estimate his Department has made of the number of flood defence schemes funded under the plan that affect communities in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In the Buckingham and Bletchley Constituency, four projects have received, or have had funding allocated, within the current FCRM investment-plan period which is now due to end in March 2026. Projects include delivery of Natural Flood Management (NFM) in Leckhampstead, an NFM catchment opportunity study, investigation into Sustainable-Urban-Drainage measures in Tingewick and works to Thornborough Sluice.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the water regulation budget on Ofwat’s regulatory capacity.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat is the independent economic regulator for the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. Ofwat is directly accountable to Parliament, and its duties are set out in the Water Industry Act 1991.

Ofwat is primarily a levy funded regulator raising our income from water companies through licence fees. As a result of Ofwat's increase in funding as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, it will be able to respond to the pace of change required now and in the future. Ofwat has, and will continue to, recruit additional capacity and capability to support the government’s longer-term plans for reforming the sector and to continue to improve the way it regulates to improve outcomes for customers, society and the environment.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of potential impact of the private sector investment announced at the UK–Japan business summit on businesses in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Japan is an important economic partner, with more than 1,200 Japanese owned companies in the UK, supporting over 150,000 jobs across the UK

On 7 March, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds visited Tokyo for the inaugural UK-Japan Economic 2+2 Dialogue. The two Secretaries of State were accompanied by a UK business delegation and met representatives of Japanese business and industry

On 9 July, Minister for Investment Poppy Gustafsson travelled to Tokyo and met with Japanese businesses to support further Japanese investment into the UK. During the visit, Sumitomo Corporation announced its aim to facilitate £7.5 billion of investment into key UK infrastructure and clean energy projects by 2035. Department for Business and Trade officials are monitoring the implementation of these projects closely.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department is taking steps to monitor the timeline of the implementation of private sector investment projects arising from the UK–Japan business summit.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Japan is an important economic partner, with more than 1,200 Japanese owned companies in the UK, supporting over 150,000 jobs across the UK

On 7 March, Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds visited Tokyo for the inaugural UK-Japan Economic 2+2 Dialogue. The two Secretaries of State were accompanied by a UK business delegation and met representatives of Japanese business and industry

On 9 July, Minister for Investment Poppy Gustafsson travelled to Tokyo and met with Japanese businesses to support further Japanese investment into the UK. During the visit, Sumitomo Corporation announced its aim to facilitate £7.5 billion of investment into key UK infrastructure and clean energy projects by 2035. Department for Business and Trade officials are monitoring the implementation of these projects closely.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including (a) semiconductors, (b) offshore wind and (c) digital infrastructure in further bilateral investment co-operation under the investment pillar of the UK–Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership.

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

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, flexible trading arrangements and partnerships, such as the UK-Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP), are a valuable part of our toolkit.

The Investment Pillar of the ETP, along with the Digital Trade and Energy & Net Zero Pillars, sets out commitments on our respective trade and investment environments and frameworks. Our cooperation through the ETP will support trade and investment across all sectors, especially in the growth driving sectors outlined in the Modern Industrial Strategy. In particular, we will be focusing our implementation activities on complementary strengths between the UK and Taiwan, including in Advanced Manufacturing, Offshore Wind and Digital Infrastructure.

My department will keep businesses informed as we work with Taiwan to deliver our commitments under the ETP.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to publish a roadmap for the implementation of the commitments made under the investment pillar of the UK–Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership.

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

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, flexible trading arrangements and partnerships, such as the UK-Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP), are a valuable part of our toolkit.

The Investment Pillar of the ETP, along with the Digital Trade and Energy & Net Zero Pillars, sets out commitments on our respective trade and investment environments and frameworks. Our cooperation through the ETP will support trade and investment across all sectors, especially in the growth driving sectors outlined in the Modern Industrial Strategy. In particular, we will be focusing our implementation activities on complementary strengths between the UK and Taiwan, including in Advanced Manufacturing, Offshore Wind and Digital Infrastructure.

My department will keep businesses informed as we work with Taiwan to deliver our commitments under the ETP.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what criteria the Cabinet Office uses to prioritise national risks within the Government Resilience Framework.

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

The UK Government Resilience Action Plan takes an ‘all hazards’ approach, focusing on improving the general resilience of the nation to all risks, and investing in common systems and tools to respond. The wide range of specific risks the government plans for are continually assessed in the National Security Risk Assessment, which now operates on a dynamic model and incorporates challenge through a refreshed Expert Advisory Programme.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the role of local resilience forums are in delivering the objectives of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan.

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

The UK government recognises the foundational importance of Local Resilience Forums to our national resilience. The Resilience Action Plan sets out our plans to strengthen the public sector resilience system through the roll-out of further data to support local partners to plan for and respond to risks more effectively.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that resilience (a) standards and (b) benchmarks are applied consistently across government departments.

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

The UK Government Resilience Action Plan is underpinned by well-established Cabinet Office governance structures, including the National Security Council (Resilience), which oversee the implementation and delivery of resilience matters across UK government.

The action plan announced new assurance measures to raise resilience standards across government, refreshed expectations for Lead Government Departments will clarify roles and responsibilities, and the UK Resilience Academy will convene expert panels to scrutinise government plans and preparedness for whole-system civil emergencies.

The Cabinet Office will continue to report on resilience progress with an annual statement to Parliament on resilience.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he will report departmental progress against the commitments in the UK Government Resilience Action Plan.

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

The UK Government Resilience Action Plan is underpinned by well-established Cabinet Office governance structures, including the National Security Council (Resilience), which oversee the implementation and delivery of resilience matters across UK government.

The action plan announced new assurance measures to raise resilience standards across government, refreshed expectations for Lead Government Departments will clarify roles and responsibilities, and the UK Resilience Academy will convene expert panels to scrutinise government plans and preparedness for whole-system civil emergencies.

The Cabinet Office will continue to report on resilience progress with an annual statement to Parliament on resilience.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what governance structures he has put in place to oversee the cross-government implementation of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan.

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

The UK Government Resilience Action Plan is underpinned by well-established Cabinet Office governance structures, including the National Security Council (Resilience), which oversee the implementation and delivery of resilience matters across UK government.

The action plan announced new assurance measures to raise resilience standards across government, refreshed expectations for Lead Government Departments will clarify roles and responsibilities, and the UK Resilience Academy will convene expert panels to scrutinise government plans and preparedness for whole-system civil emergencies.

The Cabinet Office will continue to report on resilience progress with an annual statement to Parliament on resilience.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Environment Agency on the prioritisation of flood resilience measures under the national investment programme in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We are investing a record £2.65 billion in 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. The full list of over 700 schemes to benefit from fresh funding this year was announced on 31 March 2024 and can be found here.

Property Flood Resilience measures can be effective in managing the risk of flooding. This option will always be considered and assessed alongside a range of other Flood Risk Management solutions to determine which is the most suitable for the community at risk. In 2011, 96 properties in Buckingham were provided with Property Flood Resilience, with an expected benefits period of 20 years.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the press release by EDF entitled EDF announces the principle of investment in Sizewell C project with a view to the final investment decision, published on 8 July 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) additional investment from EDF in the UK nuclear sector and (b) the agreements on civil nuclear co-operation on (i) industrial policy relating to the nuclear sector, (ii) domestic supply chains and (iii) export opportunities.

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

EDF has announced it will in principle invest into Sizewell C such that its stake in the project would be 12.5% following a final investment decision (FID).

Details of the commercial structure of Sizewell C are commercially sensitive as we conclude the capital raise process – further details will be published at the point of FID.

Sizewell C is expected to support around 10,000 jobs at peak construction and thousands more in the wider supply chain, as well as creating 1,500 apprenticeships. Sizewell C has 3500 UK suppliers and plans to award 70% of construction value to UK businesses.

This Government is committed to attracting the investment required to deliver future nuclear projects. The UK has long established relationships with international partners considering civil nuclear deployment.

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 EDF increasing its equity stake in Sizewell C to on the adequacy of the project's (a) commercial financing model and (b) risk allocation among public and private stakeholders.

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

EDF has announced it will in principle invest into Sizewell C such that its stake in the project would be 12.5% following a final investment decision (FID).

Details of the commercial structure of Sizewell C are commercially sensitive as we conclude the capital raise process – further details will be published at the point of FID.

Sizewell C is expected to support around 10,000 jobs at peak construction and thousands more in the wider supply chain, as well as creating 1,500 apprenticeships. Sizewell C has 3500 UK suppliers and plans to award 70% of construction value to UK businesses.

This Government is committed to attracting the investment required to deliver future nuclear projects. The UK has long established relationships with international partners considering civil nuclear deployment.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with Ofwat on the use of its increased budget to help improve enforcement activity.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat delivers enforcement activities to secure companies’ compliance with their legal obligations and improve company behaviours in order to protect the interests of customers and the environment. Where companies are in breach of obligations that it enforces, Ofwat will step in and hold companies to account through enforcement action.

At this year's multi-year Comprehensive Spending Review, HM Treasury approved Ofwat's plans to increase its budget to recruit more resources. This includes increases to its capacity and capability for enforcement Ofwat will be able to ensure its enforcement activities continue to hold water companies to account. With these additional resources, Ofwat will be better equipped to ensure that its enforcement activities continue to hold water companies accountable.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to review the impact of the increased water regulation budget on water company compliance by the end of the regulatory period.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government has been clear there is no excuse for poor performance, and we will not look the other way while companies routinely fail to meet agreed standards. Water companies must take seriously their role in meeting the public and regulators expectations.

Ofwat is financed by licence fees that are recovered from the water companies and are accountable to Parliament for the money they spend.

The Environment Agency, who are in charge of water company inspections and prosecutions for environmental damage, will receive a cash injection of over £189 million this financial year. This will fund more enforcement officers, improved equipment and the latest technology for the regulator. This year alone it will carry out more than 10,000 inspections of water company assets and has already launched a record 81 criminal investigations into water company pollution incidents since July 2024.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to help support tenant farmers to access the capital grants scheme.

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

Defra reopened the Capital Grants offer from 3rd July, with £150 million available for this new round, allowing farmers to buy equipment or services that help them make environmental improvements. We have made the offer as accessible as possible to tenant farmers. Tenants can apply if they either have 5 years remaining on their tenancy or have the countersignature of their landlord, who is agreeing to take on the responsibilities of the agreement if the tenancy ends during the 5 year period. This is because they need to be able to install and maintain any items funded through the offer for 5 years from the start of their agreement.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that schemes funded through the flood investment programme are resilient to climate change risk scenarios.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency’s (EA) flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) Appraisal Guidance factors climate change allowances into the design of all FCERM schemes. This ensures that projects in the EA’s investment programme provide good value for money, are fit for the future, or can be adapted over time to mitigate future increases in flood risk.

The recently published new national flood risk assessment and national coastal erosion risk map account for climate change and underpin all flood risk planning and investment activities.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the G7 side‑by‑side approach on the (a) effective tax rate and (b) competitiveness of UK‑headed multinationals.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor, alongside her G7 counterparts, has reached an understanding on a proposed path forward for the global minimum tax, Pillar 2 of the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework project on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).

The G7 published a statement on 28 June that set out our commitment to the core objectives of Pillar 2: tackling multinational tax avoidance and promoting a stable global tax environment that supports fair competition.

This understanding also included the removal of the retaliatory tax provision (Section 899) in the US’s legislative proposals, which would have imposed a significant additional tax burden on British firms, and which was causing significant concern and uncertainty.

Recent discussions informing this understanding have taken into account concerns raised by the US Treasury regarding the interaction of the Pillar 2 rules with the US minimum tax system, and have focused on developing a potential approach for the US and Pillar 2 system to sit ‘side-by-side’

The more than 140 members of the Inclusive Framework will now take forward the discussions on this potential side-by-side system, which will include ensuring that multinationals in scope of Pillar 2 and the US minimum tax systems are operating on a level playing field.

The UK has already implemented the Pillar 2 rules, including a domestic minimum tax that will ensure all in-scope groups are subject to a minimum 15% effective tax rate in the UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the UK's implementation of Pillar Two (a) remains compatible with the future side‑by‑side system agreed by G7 partners and (b) avoids creating additional compliance burdens for UK businesses.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor, alongside her G7 counterparts, has reached an understanding on a proposed path forward for the global minimum tax, Pillar 2 of the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework project on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).

The G7 published a statement on 28 June that set out our commitment to the core objectives of Pillar 2: tackling multinational tax avoidance and promoting a stable global tax environment that supports fair competition

This understanding also included the removal of the retaliatory tax provision (Section 899) in the US’s legislative proposals, which would have imposed a significant additional tax burden on British firms and which was causing significant concern and uncertainty.

Recent discussions informing this understanding have taken into account concerns raised by the US Treasury regarding the interaction of the Pillar 2 rules with the US minimum tax system, and have focused on developing a potential approach for the US and Pillar 2 system to sit ‘side-by-side’

The more than 140 members of the Inclusive Framework will now take forward the discussions on this potential side-by-side system, which will include ensuring that multinationals in scope of Pillar 2 and the US minimum tax systems are operating on a level playing field.

Work to develop a side-by-side system will be undertaken alongside material simplifications being delivered to the overall Pillar 2 administration and compliance framework. The government is committed to driving forward progress, for example on a permanent safe harbour to help deliver this simplification.

Where agreements are reached in the Inclusive Framework, the government will incorporate any updates into UK legislation. This is in line with the government’s commitment in the October 2024 Corporate Tax Roadmap to ensure that the UK reflects internationally agreed rules.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for ensuring that all NHS Trusts are digitally interoperable with MedTech Compass, in the context of the operation of the Innovator Passport scheme.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are committed to ensuring that patients benefit from safe and effective innovations more quickly, that National Health Service organisations are supported to make informed, value-based decisions on medical technology, and that we put in place a low-friction procurement environment to support the medical technology (MedTech) industry, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises in the United Kingdom.

To support this, we’re developing a digital product comparison platform called MedTech Compass. It will align with the new NHS Innovator Passport, making key information visible in one place, in order to avoid suppliers having to submit the same data to every NHS trust.

The current regulatory regime ensures that all medical devices placed in the market are safe, and MedTech Compass will only display products with Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approval.

The initial development phase of MedTech Compass, to test design concepts, will complete early next year and the findings of this phase will inform the specifics around how the system will operate.

An evaluation plan and metrics will be considered as part of the MedTech Compass development process, which may include measuring the time taken to adoption and other metrics informed by the initial development phase learnings.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor for the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the discussions on transition credits at the 10th UK-Singapore Financial Dialogue with Strengthened Collaboration in Digital Finance & Innovation and Sustainable Finance, which took place on 2 July 2025, on the UK’s regulatory approach to voluntary carbon markets.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK-Singapore Financial Dialogue took place on 2 July 2025. Both the UK and Singapore recognised the importance of collaborating to promote high-integrity carbon markets. The use of transition credits to support emissions reductions in hard-to-abate sectors was discussed between both countries.

As co-chair of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, the UK supports the work of the France-Indonesia co-led Coal Transition Commission that recognises the potential of transition credits to accelerate coal plant closures as part of a possible solution set. If designed and executed properly, transition credit methodologies could help bridge the financial gap that often hinders early retirement of coal plants in emerging markets and developing economies, while supporting a just transition for affected communities.

A consultation on steps Government could take to raise integrity and scale in voluntary carbon markets closed on July 10. It sought views on how the UK’s Principles for Carbon and Nature Market Integrity, announced by the Chancellor last year, could be put into practice.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has established (a) regulatory oversight and (b) quality assurance processes to ensure that innovations distributed under the Innovator Passport meet (i) safety and (ii) effectiveness standards in all adopting NHS trusts.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are committed to ensuring that patients benefit from safe and effective innovations more quickly, that National Health Service organisations are supported to make informed, value-based decisions on medical technology, and that we put in place a low-friction procurement environment to support the medical technology (MedTech) industry, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises in the United Kingdom.

To support this, we’re developing a digital product comparison platform called MedTech Compass. It will align with the new NHS Innovator Passport, making key information visible in one place, in order to avoid suppliers having to submit the same data to every NHS trust.

The current regulatory regime ensures that all medical devices placed in the market are safe, and MedTech Compass will only display products with Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approval.

The initial development phase of MedTech Compass, to test design concepts, will complete early next year and the findings of this phase will inform the specifics around how the system will operate.

An evaluation plan and metrics will be considered as part of the MedTech Compass development process, which may include measuring the time taken to adoption and other metrics informed by the initial development phase learnings.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to evaluate the potential impact of the Innovator Passport scheme on the average time taken for new health technologies to reach routine NHS use.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are committed to ensuring that patients benefit from safe and effective innovations more quickly, that National Health Service organisations are supported to make informed, value-based decisions on medical technology, and that we put in place a low-friction procurement environment to support the medical technology (MedTech) industry, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises in the United Kingdom.

To support this, we’re developing a digital product comparison platform called MedTech Compass. It will align with the new NHS Innovator Passport, making key information visible in one place, in order to avoid suppliers having to submit the same data to every NHS trust.

The current regulatory regime ensures that all medical devices placed in the market are safe, and MedTech Compass will only display products with Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approval.

The initial development phase of MedTech Compass, to test design concepts, will complete early next year and the findings of this phase will inform the specifics around how the system will operate.

An evaluation plan and metrics will be considered as part of the MedTech Compass development process, which may include measuring the time taken to adoption and other metrics informed by the initial development phase learnings.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to work with community groups on the knife crime amnesty initiative in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

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

The Government is operating extended surrender arrangements throughout July focused on Greater London, West Midlands and Greater Manchester, as the three highest areas of knife crime in England and Wales. These arrangements involve a mobile surrender van which is being operated by the charity Faz Amnesty to allow people to anonymously surrender knives and weapons along with the provision of surrender bins in partnership with the charity Word 4 Weapons. Faz Amnesty will be looking to work across wider locations in the future.

We are also running a separate surrender and compensation scheme to allow the public to surrender ninja swords and claim compensation at designated police stations across England and Wales. The list of designated police stations, including those within Thames Valley Police is available on Gov.UK at: Ninja sword surrender and compensation scheme - GOV.UK