Asked by: Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative - Thirsk and Malton)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Information Commissioner has produced guidance on the inclusion of local Electoral Returning Officers within the definition of local authorities for the Re-use of Public Sector Information.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Re-Use of Public Sector Information (RPSI) Regulations 2015 apply to public sector bodies in the UK, including local authorities. The ICO has produced guidance on the RPSI, which can be accessed on its website and includes details about the scope of the legislation. The National Archives also has detailed guidance available on its website.
The ICO does not have specific plans to update this guidance.
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of PAS1899 guidance for electric vehicle charge points.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
PAS 1899 was developed jointly by OZEV and Motability Foundation and launched in October 2022. My Department has recently undertaken a review of this standard alongside the British Standards Institution, charging industry, disabled users, accessibility experts, consumer groups and the devolved administrations. The Department will consider the outcome of this review and potential next steps.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 April 2025 on Creation of the King’s Gurkha Artillery, HCWS 605, whether any financial incentives been offered to encourage serving Gurkhas to transfer to the new unit.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The King’s Gurkha Artillery (KGA) will be employed in the Close Support discipline within the Royal Regiment of Artillery.
The KGA will initially be trained on the Light Gun, then ARCHER. They will be trained on the remote-controlled Howitzer 155 artillery system when it comes into service.
No financial incentives have been offered. However, the new unit will offer career and development opportunities for Gurkha soldiers who join the KGA in recognition of their service to the UK.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 April 2025 on Creation of the King’s Gurkha Artillery, HCWS 605, what equipment will the unit be primarily issued with.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The King’s Gurkha Artillery (KGA) will be employed in the Close Support discipline within the Royal Regiment of Artillery.
The KGA will initially be trained on the Light Gun, then ARCHER. They will be trained on the remote-controlled Howitzer 155 artillery system when it comes into service.
No financial incentives have been offered. However, the new unit will offer career and development opportunities for Gurkha soldiers who join the KGA in recognition of their service to the UK.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 28 April 2025 on Creation of the King’s Gurkha Artillery, HCWS 605, what role the King’s Gurkha Artillery will fulfil within the Royal Artillery.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The King’s Gurkha Artillery (KGA) will be employed in the Close Support discipline within the Royal Regiment of Artillery.
The KGA will initially be trained on the Light Gun, then ARCHER. They will be trained on the remote-controlled Howitzer 155 artillery system when it comes into service.
No financial incentives have been offered. However, the new unit will offer career and development opportunities for Gurkha soldiers who join the KGA in recognition of their service to the UK.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made with the Office of Rail and Road and Network Rail on (a) identifying unused track access rights and (b) making underused rail capacity available to open access operators.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Identification and address of unused track access rights is through the robust industry process for maintenance of rights in accordance with the Network Code, applied by the Operators and Network Rail as overseen by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). Open access operators may apply to utilise available capacity alongside operators contracted by Government. It will then be a matter for Network Rail and the ORR to decide through the established systems and processes how capacity should ultimately be allocated.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with Network Rail on the proposed redevelopment of (a) London Euston and (b) London Liverpool Street stations.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has regular discussions with Network Rail, as part of our engagement with key partners to develop affordable, integrated plans for the Euston Station campus. This will comprise the new HS2 station, an upgraded Network Rail station and enhancements to the London Underground station and local transport facilities, along with a significant level of development. As part of this process, Network Rail is developing a scheme for the redevelopment of the existing Euston Station that will accommodate current and future passenger demand on the West Coast Main Line, while replacing life expired station assets in a cost-effective manner.
Officials in my Department are engaged with Network Rail Property and Planning teams around the redevelopment proposals for Liverpool Street station. These plans are at an early stage and will be subject to planning consents. Both my Department and Network Rail will continue to review these plans as they develop.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason (a) The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and (b) RAF Cranwell are not rated by Ofsted.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Both the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Royal Air Force Officer Training Academy (at Cranwell) were inspected by Ofsted using the Ministry of Defence Inspection Framework (care and welfare) during the 2022-23 academic year. Both training establishments were graded as Good (Level 2) for Overall Effectiveness and the full reports can be found in the Ofsted Annual Report for 2022-23 which can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welfare-and-duty-of-care-in-armed-forces-initial-training/welfare-and-duty-of-care-in-armed-forces-initial-training-2022-to-2023#establishments-inspection-history
Ofsted conduct approximately a dozen inspections of Ministry of Defence training establishments per year. It is expected that both Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Royal Air Force Officer Training Academy (Cranwell) will be inspected in the next academic year 2025-26.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to support British (a) brands and (b) manufacturers in the context of proposed US tariffs.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK Government is acutely aware of the potential impact that these proposed tariffs could have on British businesses. We are committed to ensuring that our brands and manufacturers are supported during this challenging period.
On 13 April 2025, the Chancellor announced the Growth Guarantee Scheme will provide approximately £500m of additional lending capacity to help more smaller businesses across the UK. The extra funding is aimed at smaller businesses that may need support with cashflow issues due to changes in global tariff rates.
Advanced manufacturing is critical to UK prosperity. This Government will continue to support the sector through our forthcoming Industrial Strategy, where advanced manufacturing has been selected as one of eight growth-driving sectors.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland and Fakenham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse was for the development of the planning application by Network Rail for the redevelopment of London Liverpool Street station; and what estimate she has made of the potential cost of the (a) planning and (b) redevelopment of London Liverpool Streest station in each of the next five financial years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The planning application, for a fully intermodal transport solution for Liverpool Street Station, was prepared through a Network Rail and Transport for London partnership at a cost of £8.7m. These costs will be re-imbursed as part of securing a development and investment partner, which will also provide private investment in the order of hundreds of millions of pounds. This is a detailed application and subject to timely consents, the planning process will incur no further costs.