Written questions by Snowden.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on biodiversity of proposals for the Morgan and Morecambe windfarm (a) cabling corridor and (b) substations.

National Energy System Operator (NESO) considered the environmental impacts of the proposed Morgan and Morecambe windfarms cabling corridor and substation as part of its Holistic Network Design (HND).[1] The developers, BP and EnBW, have submitted detailed environmental assessments addressing the impacts on biodiversity as part of the Morgan and Morecambe transmission project planning application.[2] [1] https://www.neso.energy/publications/beyond-2030/holistic-network-design-offshore-wind[2] https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN020032/EN020032-000718-Morgan%20and%20Morecambe%20Offshore%20Wind%20Farms%20Examination%20Library.pdf

What steps he is taking to improve access to NHS dentistry in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to NHS dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Fylde constituency, this is the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB.

Whether nursing positions for the provision of care in corridors will be advertised in Lancashire.

The Department does not hold the information requested.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 on the number of police officers in Lancashire.

If it maintains officer numbers at the required level of 3,586 officers.Total funding to police forces in 2025-26will be up to £17.4 billion, an increase of up to £987 million compared to the 2024-25 police funding settlement.This includes a £657.1 million additional Government grant funding to police forces, which includes: £230.3 million to support forces with the increase to the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions as set out by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget; and£100.0 million to deliver the first steps of this Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Commitment in 2025-26. In addition to the force’s government grant of up to £284 million, Lancashire Police will receive £12,596,034 to directly support the maintenance of officer numbers in FY2025/26

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increased long term gilt rates on Government borrowing costs.

The government does not comment on specific financial market movements. Gilt yields are determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors, and it is normal for the price and yields of gilts to vary when there are wider movements in global financial markets. The Chancellor has commissioned the Office for Budget Responsibility for an updated economic and fiscal forecast for the 26th of March, which will incorporate the latest data.

How many people were (a) arrested and (b) charged for (i) drink and (ii) drug driving in December 2024.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Home Office because drunk and drug driving offences are not among the list of offences for which police forces are currently required to notify the Home Office of data on arrests, charges and outcomes.

Pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2024 to question 19898 on Wind Power: Fylde, what account the cost assessments have taken of existing infrastructure connecting Stanah to Penwortham.

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recommended the transmission infrastructure required to connect Morgan and Morecambe offshore wind projects to the grid as part of its Holistic Network Design (HND). In producing the HND, NESO assessed multiple onsho...

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 15346 on Driving under Influence: Drugs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending section 5A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to inclu

Since the general election, the Department has begun work on a new Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade. The Department will share more details in due course.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of children being placed in residential children's homes more than 20 miles away from their family homes on their care.

The number of children looked after who were placed in secure homes and children’s homes over 20 miles from their family home on 31 March 2024 was 4,220.This is published in Table A4 of the ‘Children looked after including adoptions’ statistical release, ...

How many children are in a residential children's home over 20 miles from their family home.

The number of children looked after who were placed in secure homes and children’s homes over 20 miles from their family home on 31 March 2024 was 4,220.This is published in Table A4 of the ‘Children looked after including adoptions’ statistical release, ...

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of paragraph 2.45 of the Office for Budget Responsibility's report entitled Economic and fiscal outl

The Office for Budget Responsibility October Economic and Fiscal outlook based their forecast on the existing policy environment, and did not take account of the impact of policies that we have announced.The Plan for Change published on 5 December 2024 se...

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of removing the role of elected councillors from certain planning processes under the new National Planning Policy Framework

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these should be applied. It makes no reference whatsoever to the role of elected councillors.In the King’s Speech, we set out our intention to use the f...

Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government will take with respect to councils who do not meet the targets set out in the National Policy Planning Framework, announced on 12 December 2024.

The government expects local planning authorities to explore and exhaust all options to deliver the homes their communities need.An authority’s ability to meet their housing need through plan-making will be tested at a public examination, which will asses...

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure the reforms set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, published on 12 December 2024, safeguard the beauty and character of (a) Fylde c

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December retains strong safeguards in relation to the beauty and character of all parts of the countryside.

With reference to his oral Answer to the Question from the hon. Member for Fylde of 8 October 2024, Official Report, column 140, whether his Department has made an assessment of the viability

The Electricity System Operator (then ESO, now NESO) assessed connection to the Stanah substation for Irish Sea windfarms alongside other substations in the Northwest and North Wales as part of the Holistic Network Design.[1] ESO identified that Stanah su...

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the National Planning Policy Framework, announced on 12 December 2024, on infrastructure and services in (a) Fylde constit

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December makes clear that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of necessary infrastructure and facilities....

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues to planning authorities on (a) ensuring applications for lawful development certificates are properly assessed and (b) taking into account the

My Department has published Planning Practice Guidance on the topic of lawful development certificates, which can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what the UK Shared Prosperity Funding allocation will be for Lancashire County Council for the 2024/25 tax year.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is allocated to lead local authorities (LLAs). Details of full funding allocations for LLAs for 2022-25, including allocations for Fylde Borough Council and Wyre Borough Council, can be found here.Lancashire County Co...

Communities and Local Government, what the UK Shared Prosperity Funding allocation will be for Wyre Borough Council for the 2024/25 tax year.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is allocated to lead local authorities (LLAs). Details of full funding allocations for LLAs for 2022-25, including allocations for Fylde Borough Council and Wyre Borough Council, can be found here.Lancashire County Co...

Communities and Local Government, what the UK Shared Prosperity Funding allocation will be for Fylde Borough Council for the 2024/25 tax year.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is allocated to lead local authorities (LLAs). Details of full funding allocations for LLAs for 2022-25, including allocations for Fylde Borough Council and Wyre Borough Council, can be found here.Lancashire County Co...