Written questions by Snowden.

What criteria his Department used to select Plymouth and South Yorkshire as the initial locations for Defence Growth Deals.

The five Defence Growth Deals announced on 8 September 2025 by the Secretary of State for Defence covering Plymouth, South Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland were assessed using a criteria that looked at the Defence Industrial Base and Ecosystem, the area’s strategic importance to defence, including strengths in specific D Industrial Strategy sub-sectors. It looked at Strategic Location and alignment with existing HMG regional growth initiatives. Finally it looked at Growth Potential such as measures to boost local productivity (e.g., training, R&D) and the overall labour market.

What role the Office of Defence Exports (ODE) will play in securing government-to-government defence export deals; and what targets have been set for the ODE in its first year.

As the Defence Industrial Strategy makes clear “The new Office of Defence Exports (ODE) means responsibility for defence exports has been unified under the control of the MOD. This creates a government-to-government exports offer which reflects what our allies and our industry need”. The ODE will, therefore, play a central role in securing Government-to-Government defence export deals, working closely with Other Government Departments. Design work for the Exports function is well underway. Initial stand up is expected no later than end October 2025 with full implementation – including the development of performance measures - continuing over the next 12 months.

Whether she has received any recent representations from (a) individual and (b) organisations on the standard of maintenance of (i) tactile cones and (ii) other pedestrian crossing aids for blind and visually sighted people; and what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on the maintenance of (A) tactile cones and (B) other pedestrian crossing aids for blind and visually sighted people.

The Department has not received any such representations. The provision and maintenance of tactile cones and other pedestrian crossing aids are matters for local authorities. Local authorities have a duty under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to provide for the safe movement of road users, including pedestrians. They also have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to provide accessible services. The Department has endorsed the code of practice ‘Management of Electronic Traffic Equipment’ which provides good practice advice for local authorities on maintaining assets including traffic signals and associated equipment. This is published by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable regional distribution of defence investment under the new Defence Industrial Strategy.

The Defence Industrial Strategy contains a number of policy offerings designed to support and bolster the defence industrial base across the nations and regions of the UK. This includes the five Defence Growth Deals that were announced in Plymouth, South Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Defence Growth Deals are just one element of the commitment we have made to the nations and regions of the UK and the Defence Investment Plan which will be published this autumn, will work to ensure that defence is investing in the most appropriate way to support defence and defence-adjacent companies and deliver growth for the whole of the UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities and coastal agencies in ensuring public safety during periods of increased jellyfish activity along the coast of Fylde constituency.

Responsibility for safety on the beach sits with the local authority or beach owner. In conjunction with other services HM Coastguard provides safety advice and guidance about the coastal environment.

If she will have discussions with (a) police forces and (b) rural stakeholders on the potential benefits of a (a) digitised and (b) centralised firearms licensing system.

The Government has no plans to introduce the centralisation of the firearms licensing process.The Firearms Act 1968 places statutory responsibility for firearms licensing on the Chief Officer of Police of each individual force in England, Wales and Scotland.This framework is supported by Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police issued by the Home Secretary in respect of firearms licensing and by Authorised Professional Practice issued by the College of Policing.

Whether her Department has consulted police forces on their capacity to implement changes to shotgun licensing procedures.

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation published on 13 February this year, included a commitment to consult on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns.We will be undertaking a public consultation which will launch later this year. We will carefully consider the views put forward through this consultation in due course, which will include the possible impact of any changes on policing.

How many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for using (i) ghost and (ii) cloned licence plates in each of the last five years.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions and convictions for a wide range of offences, including offences relating to motor vehicle licence, trade licence, registration mark, trade plate and registration book offences (except forgery and deception offences) (MOT) in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics - GOV.UK.However, it is not possible to identify specifically offences relating to ghost or clone licensing. This information may be held in court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of people who have used Snapchat to purchase vape products spiked with the synthetic drug spice.

The National Crime Agency routinely assess the threats to the UK from serious and organised crime, including drugs supply. The Government is determined to tackle the sale of illegal drugs online, including those sold as vapes. We are taking a co-ordinated approach that includes law enforcement activity, stronger engagement with tech companies, better education for users so they understand the risks and harms; as well as requiring internet companies to take responsibility for their content.The Online Safety Act 2023 requires internet companies to implement measures to protect their users and to remove illegal content from their platforms, including that related to the sale of illegal drugs. Ofcom, as the independent regulator, is monitoring compliance with the regime. And working with law enforcement, they are seeking to suppress the sale of drugs on the clear web and online platforms through strengthening platform accountability and disrupting online dealer tactics.

What technologies are employed by law enforcement agencies to identify vehicles using (a) ghost and (b) cloned licence plates; and what plans her Department has to (i) improve and (ii) expand such capabilities.

Police and law enforcement agencies use the National Automated Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) Capability and associated technologies to detect and respond to criminal use of ghost and cloned licence plates.The Government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation to tackle crime.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) detect and (b) reduce the use of ghost number plates designed to evade Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems.

The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers.Calendar YearNumber of reports20207,37720217,43020227,83720239,848202410,461 The DVLA continues to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned and ghost number plates. Under UK law, suppliers of number plates must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate.

What locations have been selected for the Defence Technical Excellence Colleges; and how will the £182 million investment in defence skills be distributed.

No locations for Defence Technical Excellence Colleges have yet been chosen. They will be selected through a fair and transparent competition process, run by the Department for Education working with the Ministry of Defence. We expect the competition to be launched later this year. All general further education colleges in England will be able to apply, subject to meeting specific eligibility criteria. Further details on the process and criteria will be published in due course. The Ministry of Defence, working with partners across Government, industry and the skills community, will oversee the £182 million investment to ensure the skills package is delivered effectively to boost skills in the sector.

How many incidents of vehicle licence plate cloning were reported in each of the last five years.

The table below shows the number of occasions where members of the public have contacted the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about correspondence, fines or penalties that they have received from third parties about the use of vehicles which they do not recognise or accept responsibility for. It is important to clarify that these figures do not represent confirmed cases of number plate cloning. While some of these reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may result from administrative errors, such as incorrect entry of registration numbers.Calendar YearNumber of reports20207,37720217,43020227,83720239,848202410,461 The DVLA continues to work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned and ghost number plates. Under UK law, suppliers of number plates must be registered with the DVLA and are required to verify that customers are entitled to the registration number. Suppliers must also maintain records of all plates issued. The DVLA supports enforcement efforts by investigating reports of illegal trading and sharing intelligence with police and Trading Standards where appropriate.

How much has the Government spent on updating (a) government websites, (b) signage, (c) stationery and (d) other branded materials as a result of changes in (i) ministerial titles and (ii) departmental structures following the reshuffle.

The Cabinet Office does not centrally hold information or data on this topic.

How many special advisers left government employment as a result of the government reshuffle; and what was the total cost of (a) severance and (b) compensation payments to those individuals.

In line with the Model Contract for Special Advisers, when a special adviser’s appointing minister leaves office special advisers’ contracts are automatically terminated. The Model Contract states special adviser severance entitlement. The cost of severance payments is stated in the Annual Report on Special Advisers.

Whether the membership of the Women’s Business Council reflects geographical diversity; and what steps she took to encourage businesswomen from the North West to apply.

The Women’s Business Council was established to advise the government on maximising women’s contribution to economic growth. The Council’s members are senior business people and entrepreneurs who are leaders on gender equality in the workplace. This Government is committed to strong regional membership - which can drive opportunities for growth right across the country. Current members are based in the north west, south west and the south east and we will continue to look for inspirational leaders from across the UK as the Council’s work progresses.

If he will publish an account of the total cost of the government reshuffle, listing totals for (a) redundancy payments, (b) severance payments, (c) relocation costs, and (d) administrative costs associated with ministerial changes.

Severance reformThis Government has reformed ministerial severance payments to ensure that payments are both proportionate and fair. Ministers are now expected to forgo their entitlement to a ministerial severance payment if they have served in office for less than six months or leave office following a serious breach of the Ministerial Code. Ministers who return to office within three months of leaving will be asked to forgo their salary until the end of that three-month period and ministers who have seriously breached the Business Appointment Rules will be expected to repay any severance payment received. Severance paymentsDetails of severance payments received by ministers and special advisers are routinely published in the relevant department’s Annual Report and Accounts. Any severance costs associated with the September reshuffle will be included as part of the 2025-26 Annual Report and Accounts which will be published in late summer 2026. Relocation costsRelocation costs are not recorded by the Cabinet Office Administrative costsAny administrative costs associated with the reshuffle will be part of the costs of running the department and will not be published separately in the Annual Report and Accounts.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring local authorities to install (a) audible and (b) tactile signals on all pedestrian crossings on busy roads for blind and visually impaired people.

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 permit the use of audible and tactile signals at traffic signal junctions and crossings, but the Department has no plans to make them mandatory. The Department’s good practice advice in Chapter 6 of the Traffic Signs Manual makes clear that tactile signals should be provided at crossing facilities as a default. They can be used at times and in places where audible signals are not suitable, for example where an audible signal is switched off overnight or where the site layout would result in an unclear signal to road users. Chapter 6 is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual. The provision of audible and tactile signals and consideration of how they should operate are matters for local authorities, bearing in mind their duties to provide safe movement under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and to provide accessible services under the Equality Act 2010.

What recent discussions she has had with (i) TfL and (ii) the Mayor of London on the cost of TfL strikes on the North West economy over the last 12 months.

As transport in London is devolved to TfL, the Mayor of London is managing the impact of strike action on London’s transport network. Nevertheless, the Government understands this is disappointing for passengers and businesses and we continue to encourage all sides to work together to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 72990 on Mobile Scooters: Safety, if he will publish the terms of the review.

This review into the law on powered mobility devices will involve an in-depth investigation of the existing legal framework for the use of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters on the roads and pavements in Great Britain, as well as the opportunities and risks of using modern technology safely and responsibly which consider the needs of all disabled people. It will not cover taxation, welfare, such as personal independence payments, or policing; nor will we seek changes to medical device regulations.