Written questions by Mayer.

What estimate his Department has made of the costs to his Department of extreme weather events related to climate change on the level of economic growth since 1 January 2020; and what steps he is taking to help reduce those costs through (a) adaptation and (b) resilience measures.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has not made an assessment of the financial cost to the Department (either in terms of physical damage, disruption to operations or employee productivity) of extreme weather events during the period in question. Officials are working with GIAA and their ongoing cross government review of compliance with Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and we will consider their recommendations when these are published. The Government Property Agency manages the department's estate and has responsibility for relevant climate change risk assessments and adaptation plans. Since October 2023, the Department has supported eligible SME businesses to deal with the impacts of extreme weather events on their premises via the Business Recovery Grants scheme. This formed part of the Government’s wider support package to communities under the Flooding Recovery Framework. Prior to the creation of DBT in April 2023, the scheme was operated by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). DBT does not hold data on the schemes managed by BEIS prior to October 2023. More broadly, DBT is working to deliver on its commitments under the Third National Adaptation Plan - supporting businesses to adapt to the risks of climate change and take advantage of future opportunities for economic growth. This has informed our priorities under the Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy and Plan for Small Business. DBT will also be working closely with Defra as they develop the Government's approach to the Fourth National Adaptation Programme, which will apply from 2028, following recent advice from the CCC that the government should prepare for 2°C of warming by 2050).

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's Pride in Place Programme phase 2 methodology note, published on 25 September 2025, if he will publish the scores of the ranked list of neighbourhoods in England.

On 25 September the Government announced its flagship Pride in Place Programme, supporting up to 244 of Great Britain’s most in need neighbourhoods with up to £20 million each over the next decade. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities, incorporating the existing 25 trailblazer areas announced at Spending Review and the 75 Plan for Neighbourhoods programme areas that were announced in March.New areas across England were selected using a robust, metrics-based methodology based on deprivation (the Index of Multiple Deprivation) and community need (the Community Needs Index) to identify areas with the poorest social and economic outcomes. We’re working closely with devolved governments to make sure funding supports local priorities everywhere. Further details on our approach in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will follow.In the place selection methodology note, we list areas by the number of neighbourhoods they have that will receive funding as part of this programme – as per column 2. This gives an indication of the neighbourhoods/areas that have gained the most as part of this programme.The full list of areas and place selection methodology is in the methodology note: Pride in Place Programme Phase 2: Methodology note.

What estimate she has made of the costs to her Department of climate-related extreme weather since 1 January 2020.

The department does not hold data on the historical costs of climate-related extreme weather. Education settings are not required to report such incidents, and responsible bodies are responsible for the repair and maintenance of their estates through the normal funding channels provided by the department, such as the Schools Condition Allocation and Condition Improvement Fund.

Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of climate -related extreme weather since 1 January 2020.

The government’s third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3), published in 2021 under the UK Climate Change Act 2008, includes a Monetary Valuation of Risks and Opportunities assessment of the current and future costs of climate change to the UK, including in relation to cultural heritage, where the estimated costs are currently unknown.The Third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) sets out the actions that government and arm’s length bodies will take to adapt the country to the impacts of climate change from 2023 to 2028, including risks to cultural heritage (H11) which represents DCMS sectors. For estimating future costs of extreme weather, decisions on key government spending are subject to clear requirements through the Green Book. This includes supplementary guidance which covers the impacts of climate change, i.e. accounting for the effects of climate change. This ensures that policies, programmes and projects are resilient to the effects and future costs of climate change, and that such effects are being taken fully into account when appraising policy options.

Whether he has made an assessment of the readiness of integrated care boards to assume responsibility for commissioning vaccination and immunisation services.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leicester East on 29 September 2025 to Question 76374.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of existing national planning policy and guidance in relation to meanwhile use.

My Department has made no such an assessment. The government recognises the important role that meanwhile use can play in activating empty high street units, including through pop-up shops and community hubs, while longer-term plans are developed.

What data her Department holds on the scale of ride sharing car services.

The Department does not hold any data on the scale of ride sharing car services. However, to help better understand the scale of usage I have commissioned officials to consider how we can support and promote the use of car club and car-sharing schemes, starting with a roundtable of industry stakeholders.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of families expected to benefit from the 30 hours of free childcare by council area in the East of England.

It is our ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We are delivering more support to working families than ever before with the rollout of 30 hours government-funded childcare.The department does not hold data on estimates of the numbers of families expected to benefit by area.However, we do collect data on eligibility codes, which show the number of children, down to local authority level, who have benefitted. This information can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/expansion-to-early-childcare-entitlements-eligibility-codes-issued-and-validated/2025-may.This data is being updated periodically in response to the hours rollout.

What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of expenditure on special educational needs transport provision in England.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard to the answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62591.

What assessment her Department has made of trends in current levels of concessionary bus travel usage.

The Department publishes statistics on concessionary travel in England in the Concessionary Travel Statistics release, which are based on survey data collected from Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs). Concessionary travel relates to when eligible people travel on reduced (or free) fares. The latest concessionary travel statistics, including figures on concessionary bus passenger journeys in England for the year ending March 2011 to the year ending March 2024 for older and disabled people are provided in the table below: Table: Older and Disabled Concessionary Bus Journeys, millionsYear ending MarchEnglandEngland outside LondonLondonEnglish metropolitan areasEnglish non-metropolitan areas20111,04875329630245020121,05474730729545320131,00971129828143020141,00770830027743020159896932962684252016958670289258412201792564428124739720188816082732323762019861592269226366202080255025220934020212701799276103202249132216912919320235703721981412312024604389215144245

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of road traffic incidents in which unrestrained pets have caused (a) injury to vehicle occupants, (b) difficulty for emergency services accessing vehicles and (c) secondary accidents as a result of pets escaping following a collision.

The information requested is not held by the Department.

What impact the Pension Commission will have for residents in (a) Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard constituency and (b) Bedfordshire.

This government is committed to enabling tomorrow’s pensioners to have security in retirement. The Pensions Investment Review and the Pension Schemes Bill currently going through Parliament both focus on ensuring the pension pots of savers in Bedfordshire and throughout the UK are working as hard as they can – for average earners saving in a DC workplace pension over their career this could mean up to £29,000 more in retirement pots. The Pensions Commission has been revived to consider what is required in the long term to deliver financial security in retirement through a pensions framework that is stronger, fairer and more sustainable for people up and down the country.

Whether Great British Railways will introduce a centralised lost property system across the rail network.

Great British Railways will bring the track, train and rail estate together under one organisation. This will enable it to more effectively adapt and create a system to better suit passenger needs. We are working closely with industry on opportunities to optimise the approach to standards across the rail sector.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the decision to extend UK e-scooter rental trials until 2028 on (a) private and (b) public funding of active travel infrastructure.

The Department has made no specific assessment of the impact of e-scooter trial extensions on active travel infrastructure investment.In the Spending Review we announced £616 million for Active Travel England from 2026-27 to 2029-30 to support local authorities to build and maintain walking and cycling infrastructure.

What steps her Department is taking to prevent the resale of stolen mobile phones in (a) Bedfordshire, (b) Cambridgeshire and (c) Suffolk.

The Home Secretary has been clear that tackling mobile phone theft and the resale of stolen devices is a priority.Earlier this year the Home Secretary brought together police, the National Crime Agency, the Mayor of London, leading tech companies and others to drive greater collaboration in breaking the business model of mobile phone thieves. The Summit resulted in clear commitments from attendees to work in partnership, including work to disrupt the resale of stolen phones, exploring technological solutions to make devices harder to re-register or resell, and working with the police to better understand the routes used to sell stolen phones.The Home Office is driving this work with the police and other stakeholders to tackle this criminality.In addition, the Crime and Policing Bill includes a measure to give police the power to enter and search premises for stolen property that has been electronically geo-location tracked to those premises, where it is not reasonably practicable to obtain a warrant without seriously prejudicing the entry and search purpose. This power will support efforts to recover stolen phones before they can be resold.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving National Highways a remit to increase the efficiency of motorways and major A roads by incentivising increasing the number of people in a car.

National Highways does not currently have a formal policy on car sharing but recognises the role it can play in reducing congestion. National Highways will continue to seek opportunities to collaborate with partners and stakeholders to support a more efficient and sustainable strategic road network, including initiatives such as car sharing.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing NHS trusts to reduce mileage reimbursement to incentivise use of pool vehicles.

Whilst no specific assessment has been made, the NHS Staff Council, which has responsibility for maintaining the Agenda for Change system of pay and terms and conditions, is currently negotiating a new mechanism that will assess the costs of motoring to determine mileage reimbursement rates. Further updates from the NHS Staff Council’s work will be made in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many miles of canal have been closed for navigation due to water shortages in 2025.

The country’s largest navigation authority, the Canal and River Trust, reports that the prolonged period of dry weather this spring and summer has led to a number of restrictions and closures across its 2,000-mile inland waterway network. As well as low water levels generally, restrictions on navigation due to water shortages can also include closing locks to preserve the water in the canal sections between them. While this results in through navigation being closed, it may still be possible to navigate between turning points within the sections of canal between closed locks. As of 31 August 2025, the Trust reports that there were 32 low water closures on 29 waterways impacting an estimated 403 miles, or 1/5th of the network. Since April 2025 the Trust has had 76 low water closures, 53 over 48 hours’ duration and 23 under 48 hours.

What proportion of staff working in DfT Operator were women as of the end of July 2025.

As of 31 July 2025, 56.7 per cent of the DfT Operator workforce were women.

What evaluation framework is used to measure the effectiveness of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative.

The Home Office have developed a multi-strand analytical approach to measure the progress of the Safer Summer Streets Initiative. This includes:PCCs and police forces providing the Home Office with monthly light-touch monitoring data and qualitative insights related to the initiative.Home Office analysts will analyse data already reported to the Home Office via the Police Annual Data Requirement (ADR) on crime volumes and positive outcomes related to relevant offences.Light-touch process evaluation activity will also be conducted with a limited number of forces to understand how the initiative has been delivered and take learning forward to improve future activity and inform policy.This approach has been communicated to PCCs, including a drop-in session held on the 23 June and a meeting chaired by Minister Johnson on the 24 June.