Written questions by Snowden.

If he will make an assessment of the economic impact of the extension to the deadline for the decision on granting a Development Consent Order to the Morgan-Morecambe transmission assets.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions she has had with the Prime Minister on the remit of the Special Reviewer on Global Finance and Cooperation.

The Prime Minister’s Special Reviewer on Global Finance and Cooperation will advise on how global finance cooperation can build a stronger Britain, boosting the country’s security and resilience. The Chancellor has a range of positive discussions with the Prime Minister and colleagues on such issues.

What guidance she is offering passengers whose flights are impacted by jet fuel shortages.

UK airlines are clear that they are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel, and there is no need for passengers to change upcoming travel plans. It is important however that passengers are aware of their rights during any disruption and that is why the Government provides guidance through its Air Passenger Travel Guide advice page. In addition to this general guidance the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have also published specific information such as the Jet fuel and travel plans: what you need to know advice page and CAA summer travel advice page.

Whether local authorities in Lancashire will be eligible to partner with charities and independent fostering agencies when applying for funding through the Fostering Innovation Fund.

Lancashire County Council will be able to apply for the Innovation Fund as part of the Foster with Us fostering hub. The department encourages applications from areas working in partnership with other organisations, such as charities or independent fostering agencies.The Fostering Innovation Fund, which launched on 14 May, is open for bids from Regional Care Cooperatives (RCC) and end-to-end fostering hubs, including both existing and those who, at the time of the fund launch, are applying to become an RCC or end-to-end fostering hub. Only those who have been successful in their applications to become an RCC or fostering hub will be awarded funding. Further details can be found in the application guidance at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fostering-innovation-fund-application-guidanceWe will notify successful bidders in due course.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Regulatory Innovation Office in reducing regulatory approval times for emerging technologies.

Awaiting answer.

If he will publish the minutes of the meeting of the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 13 May 2026.

No. I refer the Hon Member to the exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, published on gov.uk

What discussions she has had with European counterparts on the development of international finance partnerships to support defence and security cooperation.

Awaiting answer.

What progress has been made on the manifesto commitment to restore confidence in Government and ensure ministers are held to the highest standards.

The Prime Minister has made clear public service is a privilege and is committed to restoring trust in government by ensuring ministers are held to the highest standards. On taking office, the Prime Minister published a new, strengthened, Ministerial Code which sets out the standards expected of all government ministers. It includes a full articulation of the Seven Principles of Public Life, bringing the importance of public service to the front and fore of the Code. This commitment was further demonstrated in October last year when the Prime Minister updated the Ministerial Code. This update implemented reforms in relation to ministerial severance payments and changes to the operation of the Business Appointment Rules. Last October the Government also established the Ethics and Integrity Commission. This authoritative body and its new mandate will drive up ethical standards across the public sector and take a leading role in helping put ethics and integrity at the heart of every public sector organisation.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure members of the public are aware of symptoms of hantavirus.

Awaiting answer.

What recent assessment she has made of the equity of the pay gap between further education college lecturers and school teachers.

The statutory requirements for maintained schoolteachers' pay are set nationally subject to recommendations from the School Teachers’ Review Body. In 2024/25, the median full-time equivalent (FTE) salary for classroom teachers in secondary schools was £50,471. Further education (FE) colleges have statutory autonomy over the pay of their staff. Colleges have the freedom to meet local technical skills needs within their own local circumstances, and the government does not set college teacher pay. In 2024/25, the median FTE salary for teachers on permanent or fixed term contracts in general FE colleges was £37,581 and £49,725 in sixth-form colleges. FE teachers are central to delivering high-quality technical education. Last year, we announced an additional £190 million for colleges and other 16 to 19 providers to help them address the recruitment and retention of specialist FE teachers. We are providing nearly £9 billion in 16 to 19 funding programme funding in the 2026/27 academic year. Our targeted retention incentive offer is designed to retain eligible FE teachers in technical subjects with payments of up to £6,000 after tax. In its first year, nearly 6,000 teachers received a payment.

What recent estimate she has made of the total annual VAT payments by further education colleges in England.

Education services supplied by an “eligible body” are exempt from VAT. For VAT purposes, an “eligible body” broadly refers to most regulated, publicly funded, or not-for-profit education providers. This means no VAT is charged on supplies of education made by further education colleges, nor are further education colleges able to recover the VAT they have incurred on their expenditure.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers through an (a) exclusive and (b) centralised contracting model on independent community optometry practices.

The consultation on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for older drivers closed on 11 May. The Department for Transport is currently analysing the responses, and the government response will be published once that is complete. The logistical arrangements for carrying out any potential new eyesight tests formed part of the consultation. No decisions will be made until the responses to the consultation have been carefully considered.

What recent estimate her Department has made of the effect on further education colleges of increased student enrolments not being fully funded until the following financial year.

Institutions receive funding for all their students on a lagged approach, meaning the funding in each academic year is based on the number of students in the previous year. This allows the department to issue firm allocations to institutions well in advance of the start of each academic year. This also gives further education colleges and other institutions the confidence to make financial plans for the forthcoming year knowing that, if for some reason their student numbers fall, they will have time to adjust plans before funding reflects that in the following academic year.We recognise that where an institution makes a particularly significant expansion in student numbers in a single year, cost pressures can arise. For that reason, we provide Exceptional In-Year Growth funding for institutions that grow student numbers above a certain level. We are investing £87 million to fund exceptional in-year growth for the 2025/26 academic year.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the number of elected councillors without the right to work in the UK.

Awaiting answer.

What progress her Department has made on recruiting 6,500 new expert teachers in key subjects.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's policies on energy prices for households.

Tackling high energy costs is a central priority for the Government. The actions taken at the Autumn Budget have helped to protect consumers today, ensuring that from 1st April to the end of June, the price cap fell by £117 per year for a typical dual fuel customer paying by Direct Debit. In addition, around 6 million families are benefitting from the expansion of the £150 Warm Home Discount. The Fuel Poverty Strategy also sets out a new plan for the Government to reduce energy costs for low-income households and lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty by 2030.

What progress his Department are making towards recruiting 8,500 additional mental health staff.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of long-term patient relationships in community optometry on continuity of eye care for elderly patients.

We recognise the value of providing care closer to people’s homes, including community optometry, which can support more personalised care and more continuity of care.Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the health needs of their local populations and for commissioning primary and secondary eye care services to meet them. Eligible patients in England can access high street National Health Service sight testing services from any provider. Patients can return to the same provider through choice, and where this is not the case, patients can give consent for their new practitioner to request relevant clinical information from another optical practice. This enables the continuation of their optometric care.

What assessment his Department has made of the fairness and accuracy of the current standards check system for Approved Driving Instructors.

When the current standards checks system was implemented in 2014, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) conducted a full consultation. The system has not changed and, therefore, there has been no formal consultation since those changes. The current process is designed in a way that any and all approved driving instructors (ADI) could be called for a standards check at any time by DVSA. When called for a standards check ADIs must demonstrate their ability to teach pupils as set out in the national standard for driver and rider training.

What progress her Department is making towards delivering 3,000 new primary school-based nurseries.

Awaiting answer.