Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support routes into vocational education pathways for people over the age of 22.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government supports learners through technical education, including apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps. We are transforming the apprenticeships offer into a new growth and skills offer, which will provide greater flexibility to employers and learners and support the industrial strategy.
From August, the department is reducing the apprenticeship minimum duration to eight months. This will enable learners to achieve occupational competence more quickly.
We have confirmed £136 million for Skills Bootcamps across a range of priority sectors in 2025/26 to fund training for over 40,000 learners.
In the 2025/26 academic year, the government will invest around £1.4 billion in the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), including the Free Courses for Jobs Offer. This provides eligible adults with access to high value level 3 qualifications to improve job prospects and earnings.
Currently 62% of the ASF is devolved to nine Mayoral Strategic Authorities and the Greater London Authority who can decide how to make best use of the ASF to meet their local needs.
From September 2026, learners can apply for funding from the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), a new student finance system for courses and modules starting from January 2027. The LLE will help adults upskill or retrain, at a time that is right for them, such as those returning from career breaks.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
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 implement a mandatory Digital Equine ID system.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 31 March 2025 to the hon. Member for Windsor, UIN 41275.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department plans to take to reduce the backlog in Access to Work claims.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are committed to reducing waiting times for new applications for Access to Work and are considering the best way to deliver that for customers. We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work claims and applications from customers who are about to start a job or who are renewing are prioritised.
In March 2025, DWP published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, to consult on the future of Access to Work. Alongside this, we are considering further changes within the existing policy framework to reduce the backlog of applications.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to verify the ethical integrity of supply chains in solar energy developments.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is clear that no company should have forced labour in its supply chain and we are committed to ensuring that solar developers engage in ethical procurement. Legislation and guidance are in place to help developers take action, and we are exploring how we might go further, for example through strengthening Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, including possible penalties for non-compliance.
The Procurement Act 2023 will enable public sector contracting authorities to reject bids and terminate contracts with suppliers known to use forced labour anywhere in their supply chain. Further details on the Government’s approach will be set out in the Solar Roadmap, due to be published shortly.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the merits of applying the same ethical sourcing requirements that apply to Great British Energy to private sector solar developers operating in the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This Government is clear that no company in the UK, whether public or private, should have forced labour in its supply chain.
Legislation and guidance are already in place to help businesses take action against modern slavery, and DESNZ is working across Whitehall on this important issue to see where we can go further. The Government is also considering how to strengthen Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, including possible penalties for non-compliance. The actions needed to secure supply chains that are sustainable, resilient and diverse will be set out in the Solar Roadmap, due for publication shortly.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) the Sunnica scheme and (b) other solar energy projects do not use components linked to (i) forced and (ii) slave labour in their supply chains.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government does not comment on the details of specific projects. We are, however, clear that no UK company, whether public or private, should have forced labour in its supply chain. Legislation and guidance are in place to help developers take action, and we are exploring how we might go further, for example through strengthening Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, including possible penalties for non-compliance.
Further details on the Government’s approach to securing solar supply chains that are free from forced labour will be set out in the Solar Roadmap, due to be published shortly.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on recruiting a Permanent Prevent Commissioner.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Secretary announced the creation of a new Independent Prevent Commissioner role in a statement to the House on 17 December 2024.
Lord David Anderson KC was announced as the interim Commissioner on 21 January, to allow work to begin swiftly.
An open competition to recruit the permanent Independent Prevent Commissioner is underway, and an update will be provided once an appointment has been made.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure sustainable energy use in AI growth zones.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the importance of continued innovation and efficiency of AI infrastructure as we deliver AI Growth Zones (AIGZs).
AIGZs will seek to shift energy demand to areas with greater capacity, reducing pressure on congested parts of the grid. DSIT is working closely with DESNZ and the NESO to align AI energy demand with future energy planning and long-term sustainability.
The AI Energy Council, co-chaired by the Secretaries of State for DSIT and DESNZ, will explore clean energy solutions for AI infrastructure, including small modular reactors and next-gen renewables, to ensure our AI ambitions align with the UK’s net zero goals.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing spending on research and development.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Research and development (R&D) is key to our agenda to boost growth and improve lives by maximising the potential of science and technology. Investment in R&D underpins the innovations that help the UK boost productivity and create high-paid jobs. UK public R&D has been estimated to have an average rate of return of 40% 6 years after the investment is made. Each pound invested also leverages on average £2 of private investment in the long run.
DSIT's R&D budget has risen to £13.9bn in 2025/26, an increase of 8.5% in real terms compared to its 2024/25 budget. R&D funding beyond 2025/26 is subject to the next phase of the Spending Review, which will conclude in June.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase access to rail links in rural communities.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government knows that public transport needs to be better integrated in order to improve the experience for passengers, providing access to services and keeping communities connected. We also know that in rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline for many and can be the only means of accessing services, including other modes of transportation such as rail links. The government is taking action to help improve local bus services and encourage greater integration between transport modes.
We introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas. In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has been allocated £10.5 million of this funding, helping to improve bus services and connectivity across the area.
The government will also be publishing an Integrated National Transport Strategy this year to set the vision for transport in England. It will focus on how transport should be designed, built and operated to better serve the people who use it, including those in rural areas.