Feryal Clark

The Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan sets out a clear plan to support the growth of the UK’s manufacturing base for hydrogen technologies including deployment certainty and timelines for future Hydrogen Allocation Rounds; the launch of the first transport and storage allocation round and hydrogen to power business model; establishing the UK’s first regional hydrogen network from 2031; working with projects to deliver events connecting developers and suppliers; and a comprehensive public financial institution offer including the £1bn Great British Energy supply chain fund.

UK companies are at the forefront of hydrogen technology advancement and are already exporting their innovative technologies across the globe. We are working hard to ensure UK hydrogen and fuel cell companies continue to capitalise on the opportunities of the clean energy transition and access high value opportunities in international markets. This includes working to remove trade barriers and championing our world-leading hydrogen companies overseas.

At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor set out that each Department should appoint a Procurement of Innovation Champion at Director General level to act as driving forces for behavioural change and to support the identification and adoption of innovation opportunities across the organisation.

His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) are co-ordinating the appointment of Procurement Innovation Champions and will publish an update on this shortly.

The government is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever and we have recently consulted on proposed updates to the School Food Standards in England to ensure that all food served at school better reflects current nutritional guidance and support children’s health, wellbeing and learning.

As part of our proposals, we have consulted on changes to increase fibre, reduce sugar and further restrict foods higher in fat, sugar and salt, in line with the latest nutritional advice set by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

The consultation sought views on the practical impact of the proposed standards, including on bread products that meet the proposed fibre threshold but contain small amounts of oil for functional manufacturing purposes. We will now consider these consultation responses.

The Government recommends that adults consume 30 grams of fibre every day and that this should come from a variety of food sources. This is reflected in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, which is a visual representation of Government advice on a healthy, balanced diet, and applies to most people from the age of two years old. The Eatwell Guide shows that we should base our diets on foods which are sources of fibre, for instance vegetables, fruit, and wholegrain or higher fibre starchy carbohydrate foods, as well as beans and pulses. The Eatwell Guide is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guide

The Eatwell Guide principles are communicated through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and the Department’s social marketing campaigns Better Health, Better Health Families, and Best Start in Life. For example, the NHS.UK website features a page with advice on the health benefits of dietary fibre and how to get more fibre into your diet, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/digestive-health/how-to-get-more-fibre-into-your-diet/

The Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, is funding research into the health effects of diet on children and adults, including the effects of fibre. This includes a study which seeks to understand how the diet of children in the UK influences their health in childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 July 2025 in response to Question HL9318.

The responsibility for paying business rates falls on the occupier of the property. Property owners could be eligible for Improvement Relief if they meet the eligibility criteria, such as completing qualifying works, and occupying the property during and after the improvement works have taken place.

The Call for Evidence published at Budget sought further evidence on the role business rates and reliefs play in investment, including Improvement Relief and Empty Property Relief. Transforming the business rates system is a multi-year process, and any reforms taken forward will be phased over the course of the Parliament.

The Government is continuing to review the wider business rates system to ensure it better supports high streets, local economies and small businesses.

Further decisions on wider business rates reforms will be set out in the normal way at the Budget.

Billing Authorities provide information to HMRC Valuation Office to support the maintenance of the non-domestic rating list. Some Billing Authorities may indicate whether a property was vacant at the time the information was provided. However, HMRC Valuation Office does not routinely collect data on when properties become vacant or how long they remain vacant.

We have introduced powers for high street rental auctions to help fill long-term vacant properties. Through regular engagement with local authorities, we are aware of more than 40 councils that have either implemented or are actively preparing to use HSRAs.

The Government recognises that there are costs associated with implementing the powers and is currently gathering evidence from local authorities to review the HSRA new burdens payments. Through this engagement, councils have highlighted additional costs associated with identifying suitable vacant premises and refurbishment of long-term vacant premises. To that end, the Government has announced a £10 million funding package to support HSRA implementation. Further details will be made available in due course.

Once introduced, gambling impact assessments will enable licensing authorities to adopt a presumption to reject applications in areas covered by the policy. This will mean that the presumption in favour of granting a licence resulting from the “aim to permit” principle will no longer apply in areas covered by a gambling impact assessment. However, licensing authorities will still be required to consider all premises applications even where a gambling impact assessment is in force.

On the 11^th August, the Prime Minister announced that DCMS will consult on repealing the “aim to permit” from the Gambling Act 2005. The consultation will be published in due course.

The Ministry of Justice is only able to collect data on the timeliness of appeals; it does not record or hold information related to an appellant’s previous convictions or offending, or how long the overall deportation process takes.

We have taken steps to speed up appeals brought by Foreign National Offenders (FNOs). The latest figures show that, in 2025/26, the average time taken from receipt to disposal was 36 weeks for Detained HM Prison appeals and 16 weeks for Detained Immigration Removal Centre appeals, compared with 43 weeks and 20 weeks respectively in 2023/24 (Source: DIA_dataset_2025-26_Q4.ods). Further, we will shortly commence the 24-week statutory timeframe for appeals from those in supported accommodation and non-detained FNOs liable to deportation, as legislated in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025.

Since the July 2024 election, there have been 9,805 removals of FNOs, to end of March 2026. This is 36% up on the 7,185 returns from the previous 21 months from October 2022 to June 2024.

The Ministry of Justice is only able to collect data on the timeliness of appeals; it does not record or hold information related to an appellant’s previous convictions or offending, or how long the overall deportation process takes.

We have taken steps to speed up appeals brought by Foreign National Offenders (FNOs). The latest figures show that, in 2025/26, the average time taken from receipt to disposal was 36 weeks for Detained HM Prison appeals and 16 weeks for Detained Immigration Removal Centre appeals, compared with 43 weeks and 20 weeks respectively in 2023/24 (Source: DIA_dataset_2025-26_Q4.ods). Further, we will shortly commence the 24-week statutory timeframe for appeals from those in supported accommodation and non-detained FNOs liable to deportation, as legislated in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025.

Since the July 2024 election, there have been 9,805 removals of FNOs, to end of March 2026. This is 36% up on the 7,185 returns from the previous 21 months from October 2022 to June 2024.