Written questions by MacDonald.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

What data her Department has used to estimate the potential behavioural impacts of changes to the VAT registration threshold on small businesses.

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by small businesses to economic growth and life in the UK. Tax rates and thresholds are one of a range of factors that affect small businesses’ decisions on growth and recruitment, alongside wider economic conditions, demand and market considerations. There is a range of views on the VAT registration threshold. Any consideration of changes to the threshold would have to carefully balance potential impacts on small businesses, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of VAT registration threshold on incentives for small businesses to increase their turnover.

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by small businesses to economic growth and life in the UK. Tax rates and thresholds are one of a range of factors that affect small businesses’ decisions on growth and recruitment, alongside wider economic conditions, demand and market considerations. There is a range of views on the VAT registration threshold. Any consideration of changes to the threshold would have to carefully balance potential impacts on small businesses, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the VAT registration threshold on the level of recruitment of additional employees or apprentices by small businesses.

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by small businesses to economic growth and life in the UK. Tax rates and thresholds are one of a range of factors that affect small businesses’ decisions on growth and recruitment, alongside wider economic conditions, demand and market considerations. There is a range of views on the VAT registration threshold. Any consideration of changes to the threshold would have to carefully balance potential impacts on small businesses, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of raising the VAT registration threshold on the public purse.

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by small businesses to economic growth and life in the UK. Tax rates and thresholds are one of a range of factors that affect small businesses’ decisions on growth and recruitment, alongside wider economic conditions, demand and market considerations. There is a range of views on the VAT registration threshold. Any consideration of changes to the threshold would have to carefully balance potential impacts on small businesses, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.

What guidance his Department issues to energy suppliers on the level of customer credit balances that are considered reasonable for (a) domestic and (b) business energy accounts.

The Department issues no such guidance to energy suppliers. Requirements for how energy suppliers should treat customer credit balances are included within the Supplier Licence Conditions. These set out consumer standards, rules on credit balances, and what suppliers must do to stay financially stable, as set down by the industry regulator Ofgem. If a customer is concerned about the size of a credit balance on their energy account, they should contact their supplier and they can ask for a refund.