Written questions by MacDonald.

What discussions his Department has had with (a) Ofgem and (b) energy suppliers on (i) providing additional financial support and (ii) targeted protection for vulnerable households with increased costs associated with the replacement of radio teleswitch service meters.

The Department attends the Industry Taskforce on the Radio Teleswitch Service, which was convened by Ofgem last year and is led by Energy UK. The Taskforce’s Call to Action in October 2024 highlighted that energy suppliers should fast-track meter upgrades to RTS customers, particularly prioritising vulnerable customers, ahead of the switch-off. Ofgem has also consulted on plans to introduce new RTS specific licence conditions for energy suppliers. These propose that suppliers must take all reasonable steps to provide an energy tariff that leaves all their customers ‘no worse off’ than before once their RTS meter is replaced.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the transition from the radio teleswitch service on households in (a) rural and (b) remote areas; and what steps he is taking to ensure that these households are not disproportionately affected.

The Department and Ofgem have been clear that they expect energy suppliers to promptly arrange suitable replacement metering solutions for their remaining RTS customers. Suppliers should sufficiently resource themselves to ensure they have installer workforce capacity to replace RTS meters in rural and remote areas. This could involve measures such as deploying roaming teams of installers in areas with low installer capacity. Ofgem has consulted on new licence conditions which will seek to ensure consumers are treated fairly and have an alternative metering arrangement following the cessation of RTS.

Whether his Department has set a financial target for the reduction of energy bills by 2030.

The Government is determined to cut bills as far and as fast as we can. In October 2023, independent experts modelled the effect of a clean power system on electricity bills. Based on the latest renewable generation costs available at the time, they found electricity bills could be up to £300 cheaper by 2030 when compared with the cost of electricity in July-September 2023, which was higher than today’s levels. The independent NESO set out pathways to a clean power system in 2030, and confirmed it was deliverable, more secure, and could see a lower cost of electricity, and lower bills.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that creative industries and their intellectual property rights are (a) protected and (b) strengthened, in the context of increasing use of Artificial Intelligence.

The Government’s consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence (AI) closed on 25th February.This consultation sought views on a range of approaches to clarify copyright law for both the creative industries and AI innovators. The Government’s priority now is to review all responses to the consultation, gathering the evidence to inform its next steps. The Government will continue to engage extensively before setting out proposals in due course.

What steps his Department has taken to ensure that Britain's soft power (a) is maintained (b) continues to play a part in the defence of the UK and her allies, in the context of the reduction in ODA spending.

The Strategic Defence Review will set out the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty first century. This takes account of the commitment to increase spending on defence to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027 recently set out by the Prime Minister in Parliament.

What recent discussions his Department has had with the utility companies on offering off-peak electricity prices at the same hourly rate applicable for charging an electric vehicle for people with electric storage heaters.

The Government is supportive of electricity suppliers offering tariffs which incentivise consumers, including electric vehicle owners, to consume energy at off peak times, as this benefits all consumers by reducing the need for additional grid capacity. The Government continues to work with Ofgem to ensure that tariffs, such as Economy 7 tariffs used by households with storage heaters, are priced fairly. This includes ensuring there is an appropriate price cap for Economy 7 tariffs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the reduction in ODA spending on the UK's position on the United Nations Security Council.

The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the UK will continue to use its seat on the Council to advance our objectives on matters of international peace and security.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of developing a National Brain Tumour Strategy.

My Rt. Hon friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has announced that a National Cancer Plan for England will be published this year. The National Cancer Plan will have patients at its heart and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care. It will seek to improve every aspect of cancer care to improve the experience and outcomes for people with cancer, including brain tumour patients. Research is also a key focus of the plan, and we will work closely with partners including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) on this.We realise that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with brain tumours, and we recognise the significant impact this rare cancer can have on patients, carers and their families. The government is invested in driving new lifesaving and life-improving research, supporting those diagnosed and living with brain tumours.Furthermore, the Department, NHS England and NIHR are taking several steps to help improve outcomes for brain tumour patients to ensure the most promising research opportunities are made available to adult and child patients.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments to include people who have been forced to move abroad due to life-threatening medical conditions.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can continue to be paid during an absence from Great Britain for 13 weeks. This can be increased to 26 weeks where the absence is specifically in relation to medical treatment of the condition which existed prior to a temporary absence.We have no plans to change these rules.Where someone moves permanently to a European Economic Area country or Switzerland, for customers in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement (WA) the export of the daily living component of PIP can exceed the temporary absence rules. The length of time PIP can be exported for depends on their individual circumstances. Further information on receiving benefits abroad and the WA are available on Gov.UK: Moving or retiring abroad - GOV.UK.

What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the recent increase in the energy price cap on fuel poverty in Scotland.

The Government is taking steps to protect consumers by consulting on an expansion to the Warm Homes Discount. This proposal will help an additional 200,000 households in Scotland with £150 off their energy bills.However, the way to bring down bills for good is to deliver our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower - with GB energy, based in Aberdeen, playing a key role in this.

Whether guidance on community benefit funds for electricity transmission infrastructure will include transmission projects where (a) voltage and (b) capacity upgrades are required resulting in additional impacts on local communities.

Government is committed to ensuring that communities who live near clean energy infrastructure can see the benefits. This includes publishing guidance on community funds this quarter, which will set out government’s expectations for communities living near to electricity transmission network infrastructure. The guidance aims to balance the need for consistency without being overly prescriptive and unintentionally omitting projects or infrastructure where communities should be entitled to benefits. We aim to publish this guidance in due course.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using renewable liquid fuels as an alternative to mains gas for households unable to connect to the grid.

As sustainable biomass is a limited resource, the Government expects to prioritise its use in sectors like aviation which have fewest options to decarbonise. Renewable liquid heating fuels (RLHF) are also much more expensive to use than other heating solutionsHowever, the Government recognise that RLHFs could play a limited role in decarbonising heat off the gas grid.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of Carer's Allowance in supporting unpaid carers; and whether she plans to increase the rate of that allowance.

This Government continues to protect the value of benefits paid to carers whilst also spending record amounts in real terms. The Secretary of State undertakes a statutory annual review of benefit and pensions, and the value of Carer’s Allowance is protected by Up-rating it each year in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). The rate of Carer’s Allowance is £81.90 a week in 2024/25, and from April 2025 this will increase to £83.30 a week, subject to Parliamentary processes. In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits, such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit. These benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the carer element and the additional amount for carers respectively. Currently, the Universal Credit carer element is £198.31 per monthly assessment period. The additional amount for a carer in Pension Credit is £45.60 a week. These additional amounts are worth around £2400 a year.

Whether the funds raised from the increase in firearms licensing fees will be ringfenced for administering firearms licensing.

On 15 January, the Government laid a statutory instrument before Parliament that will increase fees charged by police forces to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications. The new fees will come into force on 5 February.It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that full cost recovery fees are introduced so that service improvements can be made. I have therefore written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to ensure their firearms licensing teams are properly resourced and trained for this purpose.Other manifesto commitments under the Safer Streets mission will be delivered through alternative funding routes.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential risks to pets from ingesting antifreeze products.

The RSPCA and Cats Protection offer advice on how to keep pets safe from accidental poisoning and what to do if someone suspects their pet may have been poisoned. The intentional poisoning of a protected animal is a criminal offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 increased the maximum sentence to five years imprisonment and/or unlimited fine for animal cruelty offences, including administering a poison to animal.

If he will hold discussions with manufacturers on the potential merits of developing antifreeze products without ethylene glycol.

Products containing ethylene glycol can only be placed on the market if they are safe. This includes meeting any legal requirements on the concentration within that product so that it is at a level that is safe for both humans and the environment. I have not held, and do not plan to hold, specific discussions with manufacturers at this time.

What support is available to households with legacy gas heating systems for the cost of (a) repairs and (b) replacements; and what steps he is taking to (i) encourage and (ii) support those households to transition to zero-carbon heating systems.

The Energy Company Obligation delivers household energy efficiency retrofits across Great Britain. Subject to eligibility, these retrofits may include measures such as heating controls, insulation, or improvements to legacy heating systems. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme supports property owners in England and Wales with grants up to £7,500, to replace fossil fuel heating systems with heat pumps and biomass boilers, with property owners in Scotland supported via the Home Energy Scotland grant and loan scheme. The Home Upgrade Grant supports lower-income households off the gas grid, and the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund and Warm Homes: Local Grant, support social housing providers and tenants, and lower-income homeowners.

What assessment his Department has made of the (a) adequacy of EV charging infrastructure in (i) rural and (ii) remote areas and (b) potential impact of that infrastructure on the phasing out of cars with internal combustion engines.

The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle. As of 1st of January 2025, the Government and industry have supported the installation of over 73,334 publicly available charging devices (including 14,448 rapid charging devices). The matter is devolved to the Scottish Government. In England, the Government is also delivering the £381 million Local EV Infrastructure Fund which supports local authorities to work with industry to significantly transform the availability of affordable public chargepoints across the country, including in rural and remote areas. At least 100,000 new public charging points are planned to be installed in England by local authorities under the fund.

If he will take steps with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations to implement a national brain cancer strategy.

Health Services across the United Kingdom are devolved. In England, we are developing a 10-year plan to radically reform the National Health Service, and my Rt Hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has been clear that there needs to be a national cancer plan, which will include brain cancer. We are currently in discussions about this plan and its relationship to the 10-Year Health Plan and the Government’s wider health mission.UK Government Ministers regularly engage with their counterparts in the Devolved Governments. No discussions have been had about a UK-wide national brain cancer strategy.

If he will take steps with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations to implement a national strategy for treating neurological conditions.

There are no current plans to implement a national strategy for neurological conditions. We have, however, announced that we are setting up a new United Kingdom-wide neuro forum, facilitating formal, biannual meetings across the Department, NHS England, the devolved administrations and health services, and the Neurological Alliances of all four nations in the UK.The new forum will bring key stakeholders together to share learning across the UK, discuss important neurology services’ transformation and workforce challenges, as well as best practice examples and potential solutions that will add to both the existing programmes of work and wider health plans.