Written questions by MacDonald.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure transparency from AI companies on the level of their energy usage.

Large AI companies in the UK must report energy and carbon use under The Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework. Many companies also voluntarily report their Power Utilisation Effectiveness, which is the industry standard measure of efficiency of a data centre. Government is assessing the relevant technologies and metrics involved in its drive towards building a sustainable energy system as part of the AI Energy Council.

What comparative assessment her Department has made of the impact of the High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold on single-earner and two-earner households.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) applies to Child Benefit recipients, or their partner, who has an adjusted net income of £60,000 or more. An individual’s adjusted net income is their total taxable income before any Personal Allowances and less certain tax reliefs. The HICBC threshold was increased to £60,000 in April 2024, which took 170,000 families out of paying this tax charge in 2024/25. The point at which Child Benefit is fully withdrawn was also raised to £80,000.  The HICBC threshold was £50,000 prior to 6 April 2024. The adjusted net income threshold of £60,000 ensures the Government supports the majority of Child Benefit claimants, whilst keeping welfare expenditure sustainable. HICBC is calculated on an individual rather than a household basis, in line with other income tax policy. In the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced that there are no current plans to change to a system where HICBC is calculated on a household income basis, as it is estimated this would cost up to £1.4 billion or would require some families currently in receipt of Child Benefit and outside the scope of the tax charge to lose out. As with all elements of tax policy the Government keeps HICBC under review as part of its Budget process.

Whether she plans to review the income threshold for the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) applies to Child Benefit recipients, or their partner, who has an adjusted net income of £60,000 or more. An individual’s adjusted net income is their total taxable income before any Personal Allowances and less certain tax reliefs. The HICBC threshold was increased to £60,000 in April 2024, which took 170,000 families out of paying this tax charge in 2024/25. The point at which Child Benefit is fully withdrawn was also raised to £80,000.  The HICBC threshold was £50,000 prior to 6 April 2024. The adjusted net income threshold of £60,000 ensures the Government supports the majority of Child Benefit claimants, whilst keeping welfare expenditure sustainable. HICBC is calculated on an individual rather than a household basis, in line with other income tax policy. In the Autumn Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced that there are no current plans to change to a system where HICBC is calculated on a household income basis, as it is estimated this would cost up to £1.4 billion or would require some families currently in receipt of Child Benefit and outside the scope of the tax charge to lose out. As with all elements of tax policy the Government keeps HICBC under review as part of its Budget process.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the impact of pharmaceutical and medical device R&D site closures on the trends in the levels of UK’s scientific research capacity since 2010.

The Government has made no formal assessment of the impact of pharmaceutical and medical device R&D site closures on trends in the UK’s scientific research capacity since 2010.The Government does monitor the health of the UK life sciences sector, including R&D performed by UK businesses. Office for National Statistics data shows £9.3 billion of pharmaceutical R&D was performed by UK businesses in 2024, accounting for almost 17% of all R&D undertaken by UK businesses.We are actively working with industry to boost the UK’s competitiveness and significantly grow the volume of private sector R&D and manufacturing in the UK over the next decade. For instance, the up to £520 million Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund and the pilot £50m Transformational R&D Investment Fund, which are supporting companies like UCB to invest in innovative early manufacturing in the UK.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to support the retention and re-employment of UK scientists alongside plans to recruit scientists from overseas.

The government is committed to ensuring universities and research institutions remain internationally competitive, with long-term career sustainability. DSIT has allocated £38.6 billion to UKRI over four years, including £14 billion for curiosity-driven research. DSIT supports talent at all career stages to help researchers build and sustain careers here, with over £5 billion of investment to attract and retain talent over four years. This includes government funding to train doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and deliver globally prestigious fellowship and professorship schemes through UKRI and the National Academies. The UK’s new Global Talent Fund has already announced eight leading researchers as successful awardees.

Innovation and Technology, what estimate he has made of the number of UK-trained scientists who have left the UK workforce following redundancies in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors over the past 15 years.

Government has not made an estimate of the number of UK-trained scientists who have left the workforce following redundancies in these sectors over the past 15-years. Over that period there have been both redundancies and the start of many new companies.Life Sciences is a vibrant and growing sector supported by the recently published Life Sciences Sector Plan and over £2 billion of government investment. Skills England estimate that employment could increase by up to 100,000 by 2030 if past growth trends continue.The Office for Life Sciences is working with Government colleagues and sector stakeholders to ensure access to a domestic pipeline of skilled workers. This includes support for RESILIENCE, the UK Medicines Manufacturing Skills Centre of Excellence.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in payment of the Civil Service pension on people in receipt of that pension.

In November 2023, the Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita. This was under the previous government. The Scheme transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025. We are aware that Capita’s current performance is having a detrimental impact on some members. We are working urgently with Capita to resolve these issues, and to ensure that civil servants, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve. We have established a cross-departmental team to work with Capita to develop and implement a recovery plan. Alongside this, Capita is increasing staffing in key areas, to increase processing times in relation to new retirements and support for members, particularly those impacted by delays.

What steps his Department is taking to help tackle delays in payment of the Civil Service pension.

In November 2023, the Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita. This was under the previous government. The Scheme transferred to Capita on 1 December 2025. We are aware that Capita’s current performance is having a detrimental impact on some members. We are working urgently with Capita to resolve these issues, and to ensure that civil servants, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve. We have established a cross-departmental team to work with Capita to develop and implement a recovery plan. Alongside this, Capita is increasing staffing in key areas, to increase processing times in relation to new retirements and support for members, particularly those impacted by delays.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the VAT registration threshold on the UK’s obligations under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland as amended by the Windsor Framework.

VAT policy, including the VAT registration threshold, applies on a UK-wide basis and operates in Northern Ireland in line with the UK’s international obligations under the Windsor Framework.The VAT registration threshold is consistent with the operation of the Framework.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the resilience of mobile communications infrastructure during prolonged power outages.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 21 January 2026 to Question UINs 104628, 104629, and 104630.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to request that Ofcom introduces new mandates for telecom resilience requirements, including adequate on-site, built-in resilience measures, particularly backup power via batteries at mobile phone masts and increasing the mandated minimum amount of backup power via batteries.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 21 January 2026 to Question UINs 104628, 104629, and 104630.

What measures her Department is taking to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between helicopter operations and the impact of aviation noise on communities located beneath established helicopter routes.

The Government’s overall policy on aviation noise is to balance the economic and consumer benefits of aviation against its social and health implications. The Air Navigation Guidance 2017 provided by the Department to the Civil Aviation Authority urges helicopter operators to fly with consideration for communities that may live under their flightpath. The Department has also sought to encourage pilots to follow other available guidance, such as that produced by the British Helicopter Association which encourages pilots to fly as high as possible within safety and operational limits. Aircraft and traffic noise is not included as a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Government believes it is not practical for local authorities to enforce noise from these sources, and that aviation noise is better managed through specific Government policies tailored to individual noise sources. Powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are devolved in Scotland.

What measures her Department is taking to review the adequacy of the exclusion of aircraft noise from the statutory nuisance regime, particularly in relation to communities affected by regular helicopter overflight.

The Government’s overall policy on aviation noise is to balance the economic and consumer benefits of aviation against its social and health implications. The Air Navigation Guidance 2017 provided by the Department to the Civil Aviation Authority urges helicopter operators to fly with consideration for communities that may live under their flightpath. The Department has also sought to encourage pilots to follow other available guidance, such as that produced by the British Helicopter Association which encourages pilots to fly as high as possible within safety and operational limits. Aircraft and traffic noise is not included as a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Government believes it is not practical for local authorities to enforce noise from these sources, and that aviation noise is better managed through specific Government policies tailored to individual noise sources. Powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are devolved in Scotland.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of existing monitoring and data collection arrangements for helicopter movements in uncontrolled airspace, including over residential areas.

The Department for Transport does not monitor aircraft movements within uncontrolled airspace and therefore has not made any assessment of existing monitoring and data collection arrangements for helicopter movements in uncontrolled airspace. The Civil Aviation Authority, as the UK's independent regulator for civil aviation, manages and regulates the use of UK airspace. Uncontrolled airspace enables aircraft to operate freely and without the need to follow set routes, whilst abiding by the Rules of the Air Regulation 2015.

What discussions his Department has had with Ofgem on the enforcement of noise standards for electricity transmission infrastructure.

Noise from electricity network infrastructure is not regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem’s remit covers the economic regulation of network operators and the protection of consumers.

What guidance his Department provides on escalation mechanisms available to communities where an electricity network operator has acknowledged non-compliance with permitted noise levels but remediation has not been delivered.

For operational infrastructure, in England and Wales any noise concerns should be raised to local planning authorities in line with the Environmental Protection Act 1990. You can report an noise nuisance via: Report a noise nuisance to your council - GOV.UK. For Scotland, powers in this act relating to noise and statutory nuisance are devolved to Scottish Government. In England and Wales where a project meets the threshold for an Environmental Impact Assessment, developers are required to assess and mitigate noise impacts. They are similarly required to do so at the planning stage in accordance with the National Policy Statement EN‑5 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

What guidance Ofgem provides to electricity network operators on timescales for rectifying infrastructure found to be operating above permitted noise levels.

Noise from electricity network infrastructure is not regulated by Ofgem. Ofgem’s remit covers the economic regulation of network operators and the protection of consumers.

What discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on community benefit expectations for renewable energy developments, including the real-terms value of the £5,000 per installed megawatt per year figure referenced in Scottish Government guidance published in 2014.

As the government explores options for community benefits, we have engaged with stakeholders across Great Britain, including the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

What recent discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on its public consultation on Community Benefits which ended in April 2025.

The government engages regularly with the Scottish Government regarding community benefits.

What progress his Department has made since the publication of the working paper Community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure on 21 May 2025.

The government is in the process of reviewing responses and intends to publish a response setting out our next steps in due course.