Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to develop a national policy framework for hospital helipads to support safe and reliable access for air ambulance operations.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 16 July 2026 in response to Question 16317.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2026 to Question 18392, how many of the 92 Lossiemouth defence properties have been upgraded in line with the August 2026 target.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

31 of the 92 Service Family Accommodation properties in Lossiemouth, have been upgraded. Work is ongoing to upgrade the remaining 61 properties and is on track for completion in Autumn 2026.

The refurbishment programme at Lossiemouth has taken longer than originally anticipated due to a combination of resource constraints and delays in approvals for work.

Delivery is already underway, with upgrades recently completed on 1,250 of the poorest-quality homes. Further improvement programmes are progressing across the estate this financial year, including bringing 1,000 previously unavailable homes back online, while targeted works continue to modernise occupied properties.

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) confirms the commitment made in the Defence Housing Strategy to provide £9.2 billion over the next decade to deliver the Defence Housing Strategy and a generational renewal of military family housing. This work has started with 1,250 of the worst homes already upgraded, with more underway this year.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of UK nuclear power is (a) owned and (b) financed by Chinese firms.

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

No UK nuclear power currently being generated is owned or financed by Chinese firms. The UK's operating nuclear power stations are owned and operated by EDF.

China General Nuclear (CGN) retains a minority shareholding in Hinkley Point C, which is under construction and not yet generating electricity. As of the end of July 2026 CGN's shareholding was 22.6%.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of Heathrow Airport is owned by Chinese firms.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Information on the ownership of Heathrow Airport is available at: https://www.heathrow.com/company/about-heathrow.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Chinese investment in Heathrow Airport on national infrastructure resilience.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government welcomes foreign trade and investment as part of our mission to boost growth, but only where it meets our regulatory requirements and does not compromise national security.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what level of capital funding has been (a) allocated and (b) awarded by GB Energy for solar energy firms in England.

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

Great British Energy (GBE) does not allocate or publish capital funding by technology or by nation; it is operationally independent and takes investment decisions based on individual opportunities and value for money. GBE has awarded solar funding in England through its £7.5 million investment in Naked Energy, a UK firm whose solar-thermal technology is deployed at sites including the British Library and Wimbledon, and which will fund a new UK manufacturing facility. Government and GBE have also separately invested up to £300m to date for solar installations across hundreds of schools and hospitals in England, as well as multiple military sites. GBE also funded schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Devolved Governments could choose between funding public sector renewables schemes and community energy projects.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the infrastructure funding required to extend availability of Digital Audio Broadcasting signal; and whether she has timelines for this to be delivered.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the vital role of radio in local communities and wants to support areas that are struggling to gain access to local services on digital.

Commercial radio and the BBC are responsible for the operation of their respective radio networks, including the DAB radio networks. This includes delivering coverage to areas and the provision of radio services to listeners as more listening migrates to digital radio and to online services.

Questions relating to the coverage and distribution of radio networks are currently being considered as part of the 2026 Radio Review, which is due to conclude by the end of the year. The Government will continue to work with the BBC and commercial radio on developing future plans for DAB coverage on the basis of the Review’s findings.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of Digital Audio Broadcasting for residents in (a) rural areas in Scotland and (b) Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the vital role of radio in local communities and wants to support areas that are struggling to gain access to local services on digital.

Commercial radio and the BBC are responsible for the operation of their respective radio networks, including the DAB radio networks. This includes delivering coverage to areas and the provision of radio services to listeners as more listening migrates to digital radio and to online services.

Questions relating to the coverage and distribution of radio networks are currently being considered as part of the 2026 Radio Review, which is due to conclude by the end of the year. The Government will continue to work with the BBC and commercial radio on developing future plans for DAB coverage on the basis of the Review’s findings.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the provision of Ministry of Defence accommodation for service personnel in long-term relationships in Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Defence Housing Strategy sets out a deliverable, sustainable approach to widening access to subsidised Service Family Accommodation for those in established long-term relationships, or with shared parental responsibilities. This prioritises a funded programme to build, buy and bring homes back into use and over time to ensure that all qualifying Service personnel can have their family housing needs met, better reflecting modern families and relationships.

As part of this commitment, we are making 1,000 additional homes available across the estate this financial year alone, enabled by the £9.2bn of funding allocated to Defence family housing in the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provision of Ministry of Defence accommodation for service personnel in long-term relationships, compared to those in civil partnerships or marriages.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Defence Housing Strategy sets out a deliverable, sustainable approach to widening access to subsidised Service Family Accommodation for those in established long-term relationships, or with shared parental responsibilities. This prioritises a funded programme to build, buy and bring homes back into use and over time to ensure that all qualifying Service personnel can have their family housing needs met, better reflecting modern families and relationships.

As part of this commitment, we are making 1,000 additional homes available across the estate this financial year alone, enabled by the £9.2bn of funding allocated to Defence family housing in the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to increase provision of Ministry of Defence accommodation for service personnel in long-term relationships.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

The Defence Housing Strategy sets out a deliverable, sustainable approach to widening access to subsidised Service Family Accommodation for those in established long-term relationships, or with shared parental responsibilities. This prioritises a funded programme to build, buy and bring homes back into use and over time to ensure that all qualifying Service personnel can have their family housing needs met, better reflecting modern families and relationships.

As part of this commitment, we are making 1,000 additional homes available across the estate this financial year alone, enabled by the £9.2bn of funding allocated to Defence family housing in the Defence Investment Plan.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Chinese investment in and ownership of offshore wind on national infrastructure resilience.

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

Ownership and investment in the UK energy sector including offshore wind is subject to the highest level of national security scrutiny.

We work very closely with industry and across government to maintain a detailed picture of foreign involvement in energy infrastructure.

We continue to take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, and challenge where we must.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of firms operating battery cell capacity across British battery energy storage systems are Chinese- (a) owned and (b) financed.

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

The Department works very closely with industry and across government to manage foreign involvement in energy infrastructure. The largest grid-scale battery owners in GB are all UK-based companies - and battery operators include UK, European, Singaporean and US companies - though there has not been a detailed assessment of the ownership and finances of this sector. We continue to take a long-term, strategic and proportionate approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, and challenge where we must.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many direct roles have been created within GB Energy since its establishment.

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

Great British Energy (GBE) is currently building its permanent workforce following its establishment. GBE has 132 people working for the organisation, which includes permanent GBE staff, individuals seconded to the organisation and contingent workers. Since GBE’s pay case was finalised in April, it has launched significant recruitment and is aiming to reach 200 FTE by April 2027 and 300 FTE by April 2028; with the majority of staff based in their Aberdeen HQ. Through its activities and investments, GBE will also support thousands of jobs across the UK.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of transmission charging structures on the commercial viability of renewable energy developments in Scotland.

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

Transmission charges are designed to be cost-reflective. As a result, generators located further from centres of demand, and which drive higher levels of network investment, face higher charges. The Government is working with Ofgem to ensure that charging arrangements continue to provide efficient investment signals. The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the government’s main mechanism for supporting new low-carbon electricity generation projects in Great Britain. The Government keeps CfD auction parameters under review ahead of each allocation round and continues to consider how differences in transmission charges across Great Britain may affect participation and competition in future CfD auctions.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the staffing numbers are for Great British Energy; how many staff are (a) directly employed, (b) contractors and (c) secondees; from which (i) department, (ii) agency, (iii) public body and (iv) other organisation they have been seconded; what role they undertake within Great British Energy; where they are based; and what the duration is of their secondment.

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

Great British Energy (GBE) has a total headcount of 132: (a) 55 directly employed (permanent) staff, (b) 31 contractors, and (c) 46 secondees. Secondees are based 2 in Aberdeen, 10 elsewhere in Scotland, and 34 in the rest of the UK. The majority of secondees have joined from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (the majority) and others are drawn from the Scottish Government, Ofgem, the Government Legal Service, the Department for Education, ORE Catapult, Baringa, CO2 Sense and Xodus Group. A full list of secondee roles and durations is attached.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of UK offshore wind generation capacity is (a) owned and (b) financed by Chinese firms.

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

The vast majority of UK wind farms have no direct ownership from China.

We work very closely with industry and across government to maintain a detailed picture of foreign involvement in energy infrastructure.

We continue to take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, and challenge where we must.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the average transmission charging rate is for an offshore wind project in a) Scotland and b) England.

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

The Government does not hold this information. Transmission charges are designed to reflect the costs imposed on the transmission network by generators and demand users connecting in different locations. As a result, generators located further from centres of demand, and which drive higher levels of network investment, face higher charges. The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for calculating and administering transmission charges. NESO publishes datasets containing a breakdown of the Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) tariff elements, including local offshore generator tariffs. NESO would be best placed to advise further on any analysis of transmission charging rates.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what level of capital funding has been (a) allocated and (b) awarded by GB Energy for nuclear power projects.

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

Great British Energy and Great British Energy Nuclear (GBE-N) operate as two separate and allied publicly owned companies with a shared mission to accelerate the deployment of clean energy assets.

The GBE-N small modular reactor programme was allocated £2.6 billion at the 2025 Spending Review.

This funding is being used by GBE-N to progress the Gwyndod project on Anglesey in North Wales, including design activities under the Technology Partner contract signed with Rolls-Royce SMR. The total value of contracts awarded by GBE-N has now reached nearly £900m.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many Chinese firms operate battery cell capacity installed across operational British battery energy storage systems.

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

The Department works very closely with industry and across government to manage foreign involvement in energy infrastructure. The largest grid-scale battery owners in GB are all UK-based companies - and battery operators include UK, European, Singaporean and US companies - though there has not been a detailed assessment of the ownership and finances of this sector. We continue to take a long-term, strategic and proportionate approach to managing relations with China and will co-operate where we can, and challenge where we must.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of UK battery storage manufacturing and technology infrastructure that originates from companies based in China.

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

China is the dominant supplier of lithium-ion battery components worldwide, including in the UK.

The energy analysts Modo Energy estimated in 2025 that 80% of cells in grid-scale storage systems are Chinese-made. As of August 2026, there is 8.1GW of grid-scale battery storage capacity in GB. However, the Department does not hold data on the supply chains of individual projects.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many jobs have been created as a direct result of investment decisions taken by GB Energy.

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

Since its establishment, GB Energy’s investments have supported approximately 1,500 jobs nationwide. As GBE increases its activity in the renewable energy market, we can expect this to rise in line with its targets to support over 10,000 jobs by 2030.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, on how many occasions (a) enhanced monitoring and (b) emergency response arrangements were implemented at civil nuclear sites as a result of external hazards, including wildfires, flooding and extreme weather since 1 January 2020.

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

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) independently regulates safety and security across the nuclear sector. Since 1 January 2020 ONR were notified of 12 occasions of enhanced monitoring and 3 occasions where a level of emergency response arrangements were activated by a site in response to external hazards.

Enhanced monitoring and response arrangements such as a site Operational Alert are precautionary measures and do not indicate a risk to nuclear safety or a need for emergency response action beyond the site.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many (a) minor, (b) moderate and (c) major incident notification forms have been submitted to the Office for Nuclear Regulation in each year since 2010.

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

ONR’s incident notification process requires dutyholders to state their judgement on an incident’s significance as minor, moderate or major in the initial notification form. A “major incident notification form” therefore does not necessarily correspond to a “major incident” or represent ONR’s final assessment.

The same incident may be reported more than once where it involves multiple dutyholders or ONR regulatory purposes.

Figures cover dutyholder notifications submitted between 1 January 2017 and 1 September 2026. ONR introduced its WIReD information-management system in 2016; earlier data is not retrievable within the timeframe.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what level of (a) financial support and (b) capital funding has been provided to carbon capture, utilisation and storage projects in England.

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

At Spending Review 2025, £9.4bn was allocated in capital budgets to cover the costs over the spending review period for filling out the storage capacity in HyNet and East Coast clusters, as well as smaller amounts development funding for Acorn and Viking.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax revenue has been generated by Scotland’s geographical share of renewable energy since 1995.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

The renewable energy sector in Scotland benefits from UK-wide tax and investment support, including capital allowances such as full expensing and the Annual Investment Allowance, R&D tax reliefs, and Patent Box relief where qualifying conditions are met.

Scottish renewable businesses also benefit from UK-wide clean energy support programmes, including Contracts for Difference, Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan and supply-chain funding, as well as the National Wealth Fund’s clean energy mandate.

HMRC does not require companies to calculate and report what proportion of their taxable profits arises in each nation within the UK, so it is not possible to identify the tax revenue attributable specifically to Scotland’s renewable energy sector.

The Office for National Statistics publishes regional tax revenue statistics, but the aggregation of Corporation Tax data mean these are estimates rather than company-level or sector-specific figures. They can be accessed at https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/publicsectorfinance/datasets/countryandregionalpublicsectorfinancesrevenuetables.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of provision of toilet facilities on trains.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport has made no direct assessment of the adequacy of provision of toilet facilities on trains. Decisions on whether toilets are provided are generally based on the characteristics of the service, including journey length, passenger numbers, stopping patterns and the availability of facilities at stations.

However, the rail industry's Key Train Requirements (published by RSSB) recognise the importance of toilet provision and state that passenger numbers, journey times and the availability of alternative facilities should be considered when determining whether on-train toilets are required. The guidance notes that while toilet provision is now "very much the accepted norm", there may be circumstances where toilets are not provided on some high-frequency metro-style services where trains make frequent stops and maximising passenger capacity is a key consideration.

The same guidance describes toilets as being of "critical importance to passenger comfort", particularly on longer journeys, and contains extensive recommendations covering toilet provision, accessibility, reliability and capacity. It also recommends that, where toilets are not initially specified, consideration should be given to designing trains so that toilet facilities could potentially be installed later if operational requirements change.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the annual cost to businesses of completing customs declarations on trade across the EU-UK border in each year since the UK left the EU.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Estimates of the administrative burden of import and export declarations for trade between Great Britain and the European Union are published at the following link: Estimating the customs administrative burden of 2022 declarations - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many gigawatts of operational UK battery energy storage capacity are supplied by Chinese manufacturers.

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

China is the dominant supplier of lithium-ion battery components worldwide, including in the UK. The energy analysts Modo Energy estimated in 2025 that 80% of cells in grid-scale storage systems are Chinese-made. As of August 2026, there is 8.1GW of grid-scale battery storage capacity in GB. However, the Department does not hold data on the supply chains of individual projects.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many nuclear site events there were at (a) Coulport and (b) Faslane since 22 April 2025.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of this letter in the Library of The House.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to driving test waiting times in Scotland, a) what the current average waiting time is for car driving tests in Scotland; b) how many driving test centres in Scotland have an average waiting time of (i) over 12 weeks, (ii) over 18 weeks, and (iii) over 24 weeks.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to try and book a practical driving test. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) only holds data on the number of tests booked. DVSA’s booking service is live, and as well as releasing tests on a rolling 24-week basis, additional appointments are released when they become available.

DVSA has now published more detailed data-sets for all driving test centres in Great Britain so learners can get better understanding of the booking system. This includes:

• the average waiting time between booking and taking a driving test (median)
• the total number of appointments made available over the next 24 weeks of the booking window (as measured at the end of the month)
• the total number of tests that have already been booked in that booking window
• the total number of tests that are still available to book in the booking window

More information and a link to the data can be found on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (i) how many people in Scotland are waiting for a driving test and (ii) how many people in the UK are waiting for a driving test.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to try and book a practical driving test. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) only holds data on the number of tests booked. DVSA’s booking service is live, and as well as releasing tests on a rolling 24-week basis, additional appointments are released when they become available.

DVSA has now published more detailed data-sets for all driving test centres in Great Britain so learners can get better understanding of the booking system. This includes:

• the average waiting time between booking and taking a driving test (median)
• the total number of appointments made available over the next 24 weeks of the booking window (as measured at the end of the month)
• the total number of tests that have already been booked in that booking window
• the total number of tests that are still available to book in the booking window

More information and a link to the data can be found on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the average waiting time for a driving test in (a) Scotland and (b) England.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

It is not possible to confirm how many people are waiting to try and book a practical driving test. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) only holds data on the number of tests booked. DVSA’s booking service is live, and as well as releasing tests on a rolling 24-week basis, additional appointments are released when they become available.

DVSA has now published more detailed data-sets for all driving test centres in Great Britain so learners can get better understanding of the booking system. This includes:

• the average waiting time between booking and taking a driving test (median)
• the total number of appointments made available over the next 24 weeks of the booking window (as measured at the end of the month)
• the total number of tests that have already been booked in that booking window
• the total number of tests that are still available to book in the booking window

More information and a link to the data can be found on GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to procure (a) helicopters capable of water bombing and (b) water bombing equipment for use on the military helicopter fleet.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Responsibility for responding to wildfires in the UK rests with the relevant civil authorities and emergency services, with military support potentially available where requested through established Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) arrangements on a case-by-case basis. This includes consideration of a clear need for military assistance, whether the requirement is beyond the capability or capacity of the civil authority, and whether support can be provided without unacceptably prejudicing Defence's primary tasks, operational commitments, and readiness.

The Ministry of Defence does not currently hold a requirement to provide a dedicated domestic aerial firefighting capability (including a fixed-wing aerial firefighting capability). However, Defence retains limited aerial firefighting capabilities to support standing tasks overseas. As part of this, Defence maintains a helicopter-based aerial firefighting capability in Cyprus for the specific purpose of meeting our obligations to the Sovereign Base Areas and wider communities during periods of heightened wildfire risk.

The Ministry of Defence has not conducted a specific impact assessment on the absence of a dedicated military aerial firefighting capability, nor a specific assessment of the economic impact arising from that absence.

The Department is aware of the Airbus A400M aerial firefighting system currently under development and testing by the manufacturer. Consequently, the Department has no plans to adapt the RAF A400M Atlas fleet for aerial firefighting purposes, or to procure dedicated water-bombing helicopters or water-bombing equipment for the military helicopter fleet.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether an impact assessment has been conducted for the military not having helicopters capable of water bombing on wildfires.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Responsibility for responding to wildfires in the UK rests with the relevant civil authorities and emergency services, with military support potentially available where requested through established Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) arrangements on a case-by-case basis. This includes consideration of a clear need for military assistance, whether the requirement is beyond the capability or capacity of the civil authority, and whether support can be provided without unacceptably prejudicing Defence's primary tasks, operational commitments, and readiness.

The Ministry of Defence does not currently hold a requirement to provide a dedicated domestic aerial firefighting capability (including a fixed-wing aerial firefighting capability). However, Defence retains limited aerial firefighting capabilities to support standing tasks overseas. As part of this, Defence maintains a helicopter-based aerial firefighting capability in Cyprus for the specific purpose of meeting our obligations to the Sovereign Base Areas and wider communities during periods of heightened wildfire risk.

The Ministry of Defence has not conducted a specific impact assessment on the absence of a dedicated military aerial firefighting capability, nor a specific assessment of the economic impact arising from that absence.

The Department is aware of the Airbus A400M aerial firefighting system currently under development and testing by the manufacturer. Consequently, the Department has no plans to adapt the RAF A400M Atlas fleet for aerial firefighting purposes, or to procure dedicated water-bombing helicopters or water-bombing equipment for the military helicopter fleet.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long the military has been without helicopters capable of water bombing in the UK.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Responsibility for responding to wildfires in the UK rests with the relevant civil authorities and emergency services, with military support potentially available where requested through established Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) arrangements on a case-by-case basis. This includes consideration of a clear need for military assistance, whether the requirement is beyond the capability or capacity of the civil authority, and whether support can be provided without unacceptably prejudicing Defence's primary tasks, operational commitments, and readiness.

The Ministry of Defence does not currently hold a requirement to provide a dedicated domestic aerial firefighting capability (including a fixed-wing aerial firefighting capability). However, Defence retains limited aerial firefighting capabilities to support standing tasks overseas. As part of this, Defence maintains a helicopter-based aerial firefighting capability in Cyprus for the specific purpose of meeting our obligations to the Sovereign Base Areas and wider communities during periods of heightened wildfire risk.

The Ministry of Defence has not conducted a specific impact assessment on the absence of a dedicated military aerial firefighting capability, nor a specific assessment of the economic impact arising from that absence.

The Department is aware of the Airbus A400M aerial firefighting system currently under development and testing by the manufacturer. Consequently, the Department has no plans to adapt the RAF A400M Atlas fleet for aerial firefighting purposes, or to procure dedicated water-bombing helicopters or water-bombing equipment for the military helicopter fleet.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the military not having helicopters capable of water bombing in the UK on the economy.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)

Responsibility for responding to wildfires in the UK rests with the relevant civil authorities and emergency services, with military support potentially available where requested through established Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) arrangements on a case-by-case basis. This includes consideration of a clear need for military assistance, whether the requirement is beyond the capability or capacity of the civil authority, and whether support can be provided without unacceptably prejudicing Defence's primary tasks, operational commitments, and readiness.

The Ministry of Defence does not currently hold a requirement to provide a dedicated domestic aerial firefighting capability (including a fixed-wing aerial firefighting capability). However, Defence retains limited aerial firefighting capabilities to support standing tasks overseas. As part of this, Defence maintains a helicopter-based aerial firefighting capability in Cyprus for the specific purpose of meeting our obligations to the Sovereign Base Areas and wider communities during periods of heightened wildfire risk.

The Ministry of Defence has not conducted a specific impact assessment on the absence of a dedicated military aerial firefighting capability, nor a specific assessment of the economic impact arising from that absence.

The Department is aware of the Airbus A400M aerial firefighting system currently under development and testing by the manufacturer. Consequently, the Department has no plans to adapt the RAF A400M Atlas fleet for aerial firefighting purposes, or to procure dedicated water-bombing helicopters or water-bombing equipment for the military helicopter fleet.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the rollout of the Local Power Plan on local trading from community energy schemes to homes and businesses.

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

The Government recognises the important role that community energy can play in supporting local participation in the clean energy transition. Through the Local Power Plan, Government is working with Great British Energy and Ofgem to explore measures that could make it easier for community energy groups to participate in local energy markets.

The Government is monitoring Ofgem’s developments relating to code modification P441, which is intended help community energy groups and other local renewable energy projects identify and understand different routes to selling energy in their local markets.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when clean community energy companies will be able to sell directly to households and businesses through the Local Power Plan.

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

The Government recognises the important role that community energy can play in supporting local participation in the clean energy transition. Through the Local Power Plan, Government is working with Great British Energy and Ofgem to explore measures that could make it easier for community energy groups to participate in local energy markets.

The Government is monitoring Ofgem’s developments relating to code modification P441, which is intended help community energy groups and other local renewable energy projects identify and understand different routes to selling energy in their local markets.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increased geological hydrogen production in the UK.

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

DESNZ commissioned research from the British Geological Survey to understand the potential for natural hydrogen reserves in the UK. This research was published in 2025 and provides a high level, national scale geological map-based assessment of the UK, identifying areas more and less likely to contain natural hydrogen resources. We are considering further research to build our understanding.

The department is also actively monitoring developments in other countries via our membership of the IEA’s Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programme. Our teams liaise regularly with academics and experts to make sure the government is well-sighted on emerging technologies, evidence and activities in the UK and internationally.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the impact of standing charges on household bills in Scotland.

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

The Government knows that, for many consumers, too much of the burden of the bill is placed on standing charges. We are committed to lowering the cost of standing charges and have worked constructively with the regulator, Ofgem, on this issue.

Government recognises that this creates particularly high costs in the North of Scotland, which is why targeted support through the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme (HBRS) exists to reduce distribution charges. The scheme is funded by consumers across GB.

Ofgem have launched the Cost Allocation and Recovery Review (CARR) where they are looking at how to take a more holistic and fair approach to structuring energy bills. This includes looking at how costs are split between standing charges and unit rates, how different tariff structures could work, and how costs are shared across different types of consumers, including geographical differences.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Chinese super embassies established in other countries on those countries.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The planning decision on the proposed Chinese Embassy at Royal Mint Court was taken independently by the then Secretary of State for Housing, Steve Reed. Intelligence agencies were involved throughout the process and an extensive range of measures were developed to manage any risks.

Multilateral funding for education

Civil Service Pension Scheme

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