Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the review of AI deployment in electricity networks will include an assessment of the net effect on electricity demand of (a) AI-enabled grid efficiencies and (b) data-centre consumption.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Review’s Terms of Reference state that consideration of data centre energy usage is out of scope for the purposes of the review.
The Terms of Reference also state that the review will "assess the potential system benefits of AI including for affordability, energy security, flexibility, and decarbonisation, and the potential risks and challenges that could undermine delivery of these benefits".
Any recommendations to emerge from the review would be subject to their own assessments by Government, including the consideration of net impacts to electricity demand.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of pavement delivery robots on pedestrian safety, accessibility, and the overall use of public footways, particularly for people with disabilities, older residents, and those using pushchairs or mobility aids.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Advances in technology have the potential to boost our economy and undertake dangerous jobs such as highways maintenance, but it is important the safety of pedestrians and vulnerable road users is put first.
We have announced that we intend to trial pavement robots using powers the Government is seeking through the Regulating for Growth Bill. A key part of the trial will be understanding the impact on pedestrians, particularly the most vulnerable groups.
No permanent regulations will come into force without detailed public consultation and a full assessment of the impacts.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Animal Health Certificate requirements for pet travel between the UK and EU on pet owners; and whether she has considered the potential merits of introducing a multi-trip pet travel document or seeking arrangements comparable to the previous pet passport scheme.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Securing less burdensome arrangements for non-commercial pet travel remains a UK Government priority.
As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area, which will mean taking pets on holiday into the EU will be easier and cheaper. Instead of getting an Animal Health Certificate each time they travel, pet owners will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU.
Discussions on the SPS agreement are progressing and the department has committed, with the EU, to conclude negotiations before the next UK-EU Summit. Whilst these negotiations are ongoing, Defra is unable to provide detailed updates on the talks.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to launch the consultation on the licensing and regulation of animal rescues and sanctuaries in England; and what steps the Department is taking to progress legislation establishing a regulatory framework for such organisations.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government committed in the Animal Welfare Strategy to consult on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations and is working to bring this forward. The consultation will be published in due course and will seek views from all those with an interest in this important sector.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he intends to consult NHS staff, professional bodies and trade unions on proposed guidance relating to political symbols and expression in NHS workplaces; and whether he will publish an impact assessment before such guidance comes into force.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England has welcomed the Mann Review, published alongside a written ministerial statement by the former Secretary of State on 4 June (HCWS91). Having already accepted its recommendations in full, it has no plans to consult, or publish an impact assessment, on their incorporation into its guidance to National Health Service trusts.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has produced a Data Protection Impact Assessment for the Children Not in School register provisions in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is conducting a Data Protection Impact Assessment for the Children Not in School registers provisions in the Act. However, the assessment cannot be completed until the statutory guidance, which we intend to publicly consult on, and secondary legislation is settled.
The department is continuing to engage with the Information Commissioner’s Office on the assessment to ensure that all data protection risks have been identified and mitigated before any processing of data begins.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the computational and energy requirements of (a) the machine learning and optimisation techniques used for electricity network management and (b) large language models.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Machine learning is not currently used for electricity grid management. Any future energy required will depend on how machine learning will be used.
The UK Government contracted Europe Economics to research whether future electricity demand from AI data centres will add to overall UK energy demand, or whether it will replace electricity currently used elsewhere in the economy (Europe Economics study). We have also recently procured a follow-up study in order to extend the methodology from the Europe Economics work to further 10 use cases.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the data-centre capacity required to deliver the grid applications identified in the Interim AI Adoption Plan: Clean Energy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has not produced an estimate of the data-centre capacity required specifically for the grid applications identified in the Interim AI Adoption Plan: Clean Energy.
The Government is, however, undertaking broader analysis of the potential growth in demand from AI and data centres as part of ongoing work on energy demand projections, electricity network planning and AI infrastructure policy.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of potential impact of (a) developments in technology, (b) information sharing and (c) risk assessment on the effectiveness of the the Disclosure and Barring Service framework; and whether she plans to undertake a review of opportunities to strengthen and modernise safeguarding arrangements.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) regularly reviews its operations and procedures to ensure they remain effective.
Current priorities are outlined in the DBS’s Business Plan 2026-27 and the DBS’s 2025-28 Strategy, including specific references to the use of innovative technology, improving information sharing and risk management.
With many individual workstreams underway, there are currently no plans to undertake a separate review of opportunities to strengthen and modernise safeguarding arrangements.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of the procurement of 12 F‑35A aircraft on (a) public spending priorities, (b) nuclear proliferation risks, and (c) the UK's obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
As part of our NATO First approach to deterrence and defence, we are committed to strengthening NATO’s nuclear mission and ensuring the Alliance’s posture remains fit for purpose across the entire spectrum of conflict.
The nuclear weapons allocated to the NATO dual capable aircraft nuclear mission are US nuclear weapons. The US retains control and custody over them, in full compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Cost differences associated with the swap from F-35B to F-35A in logistics, infrastructure and training are understood and have been considered in cost estimates.