Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, how much of the funding to (a) maintain and (b) improve bus services will be spent in Huntingdon constituency in each year between 2025-26 and 2029-30.

The £900 million RDEL per year to maintain and improve bus services referenced in the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy refers to funding announced at the Spending Review on 11 June. This funding applies from 2026/27 through to 2028/29. The Department for Transport is working with key stakeholders to develop and implement a new bus grant allocation system for future years of bus funding, and individual allocations for Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) will be announced following this process. The Department has already announced individual allocations for funding to support and improve bus services in 25/26 through the LA Bus Grant. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority have been allocated £10.6 million. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, which could include improvements in Huntingdon constituency.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, how much of the funding for the Local Transport Grant to improve transport connectivity in (a) smaller cities, (b) towns and (c) rural areas will be spent in Huntingdon constituency.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) has been allocated just under £40 million of the Local Transport Grant from 2026-27 to 2029-30. It is for CPCA to determine how this funding is used across the combined authority and constituent authorities, in line with local priorities. The Local Transport Grant is additional to bus, active travel and highways maintenance funding.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, by what date she plans to publish the new plan for freight and logistics.

The Government intends to publish a new plan for freight and logistics before the end of the year. The development of this plan is underway in partnership with industry and sector stakeholders. This includes workshops in early summer and discussions with the Freight Council to ensure the plan addresses sector needs and supports the ambitions of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.The forthcoming plan will build on actions already taken to raise the status of freight within government and provide tangible support the sector in areas including innovation and planning. The plan will reaffirm our commitment to collaborating with the freight and logistics sector to drive transformation and recognise freight as a strategic enabler in delivering economic growth and the transition to Net Zero. Further commitments and actions will be detailed when the plan is published.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress she has made on introducing low-earth-orbit satellite connectivity on mainline trains.

Following the Spending Review, we have secured funding to deliver low earth orbit satellite technology, to improve on board passenger Wi-Fi on mainline trains. We are currently considering the most appropriate procurement and delivery approach, with a preliminary notice period issued on gov.uk. Funding will be made available in 2026 as part of the settlement period.However, we know satellite connectivity will not work in tunnels. Network Rail's Project Reach will address mobile connectivity in 57 key mainline tunnels.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, how much of the funding to support the roll-out of charging infrastructure will be spent on (a) privately-owned cars, (b) zero emission vans and (c) zero emission HGVs in Huntingdon constituency.

We’re investing over £4.5 billion to help industry and consumers make a supported switch to electric vehicles (EVs).  This includes £400 million to support the rollout of charging infrastructure, including along the strategic road network in England, charging infrastructure to facilitate the deployment of zero emission vans and HGVs, and existing grants.Alongside that, the Government’s £381 million Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry and transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking. Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority, which includes Huntingdon, was allocated almost £6.2m capital and resource funding through the LEVI Fund.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, how much of the capital funding to (a) maintain and (b) improve roads between 2026-27 and 2029-30 will be spent in Huntingdon constituency.

Further details on the breakdown of the £24 billion of capital funding will be announced in due course.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what his target date is for the rollout of 6G networks in the UK.

The development of 6G technology is still in its early stages, and rollout timelines depend on the progress of the industry-led standardisation process. We expect that 6G technology will not be deployed anywhere globally until the early 2030s. Rollout of 6G networks in the UK will depend on commercial decisions of mobile network operators. The Government is committed to working with operators and others to support the health of the sector and the success of the ongoing rollout of 5G, so that the UK will be in a strong position for the transition to the next generation of mobile communications.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, how much of the Freight Innovation Fund accelerator is allocated to be spent in Huntingdon constituency.

In 2023, the Freight Innovation Fund accelerator awarded £133,000 to RoboK Limited, a Cambridgeshire based start-up. This award was part of the more than £3.9 million funding that the accelerator has allocated to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK in the last three years.This accelerator programme is open to UK-based SMEs who meet additional eligibility criteria and fund recipients are subject to a rigorous selection process to ensure awards are directly supporting innovation in the freight sector and specific challenges set each year. The Department will shortly announce the successful SMEs for year four of the accelerator.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the commitment to unleash the economic potential of the life sciences cluster in Cambridge on Huntingdonshire.

The Government is committed to working with local partners to unleash the economic potential of Cambridgeshire, helping to drive jobs and growth across the region, including Huntingdonshire. We have not specifically assessed the impact on Huntingdonshire, but through the Life Sciences Sector Plan and broader Industrial Strategy, we will continue to deliver for the region. This includes through investing in flagship infrastructure such as East West Rail, planning reform, and securing partnerships – such as the recent landmark BioNTech announcement, which will see a new R&D hub established in Cambridge as part of a £1 billion, 10-year UK investment programme, creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs in the region.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on creating the world’s most (a) advanced, (b) secure and (c) AI-ready health data platform.

On 7 April 2025, the Prime Minister announced that the Government and the Wellcome Trust will invest up to £600 million to create a new Health Data Research Service (HDRS), co-designed through engagement with the public and patients, data users and stakeholder organisations.Significant progress has been made since then towards the creation of HDRS, as highlighted in the recent NHS England blog post from the senior officials responsible for the programme, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/health-data-research-service-unlocking-the-potential-of-health-and-care-data-to-transform-lives/Key achievements to date include: job adverts going live for CEO and Chair; stakeholder engagement forums established; and coordinated commitments in three major Government strategy publications, namely the Industrial Strategy, 10-Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan.Over the coming months, we will establish the independent organisation that will run HDRS and complete detailed discovery work. In autumn 2025, we will publish comprehensive policy principles developed with leading experts across healthcare, research, patients, ethics and data protection. Our first services will launch by the end of 2026, with core capabilities rolling out progressively.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on streamlining (a) regulation and (b) market access by supporting the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers support to all regulators through its Regulators’ Pioneer Fund, which is used for initiatives which improve the regulatory environment for innovation and investment. DSIT is contributing further to the development of the regulatory framework through its funding, alongside the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council, of the Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation. Finally, the Regulatory Innovation Office has been working with DHSC, MHRA and other regulators to address the regulatory barriers to the development and adoption of AI and digital in healthcare.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of prioritising frontier life sciences industries in pharmaceuticals on (a) developing non-animal methods of testing and (b) phasing out animal testing.

The Government is committed to supporting non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption.Frontier life science companies are pioneering innovative drug development, including via human-specific targets that require human-based models in their discovery and testing, and alternative technologies that can be used to support this, such as AI and machine learning. Supporting these industries will help advance alternative methods and contribute to the reduction of animal testing, in alignment with the forthcoming government strategy on alternatives.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on the transition to Connected and Autonomous Mobility.

The Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan committed £150 million R&D grant funding to 2030 to support the transition to connected and automated mobility. £18 million of this funding has already been allocated to support supply chain, passenger and freight projects in Belfast, Sunderland, Cambridge, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, and others. £36.5 million will be open for competition this autumn.Complementing this work, Department for Transport is implementing the Automated Vehicles Act (2024) by 2027 and has recently closed consultations on Misleading Marketing and Safety Principles with another on Advanced Passenger Services closing 28 September.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on making the UK the leading life sciences economy in Europe by 2030.

Since publishing the Life Sciences Sector Plan in July, we have moved rapidly into delivery. The Plan sets out 33 concrete commitments, each with clear metrics, milestones and a named Senior Responsible Officer to drive accountability. Robust assurance mechanisms are being established to track the delivery of the Plan, including progress reporting into the Life Sciences Delivery Board every four months, and a stakeholder engagement plan to ensure sector views on delivery are captured. Delivery is already underway – with recruitment going live for the Chair and CEO of the Health Data Research Service with the Wellcome Trust, and the recent launch of both Europe's first Biofoundry for mRNA manufacturing and the £85m Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme with Eli Lilly – all part of building the UK into Europe’s leading life sciences economy by 2030.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what the scope is of the National Quantum Technologies Programme.

The UK's Industrial Strategy names quantum as one of six priority frontier technologies in the dedicated digital and technologies sector plan.The Plan commits to delivering an ambitious next phase of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme to accelerate the development, scaling and adoption of quantum technologies.Priorities outlined in the plan include:Progressing the UK’s 5 National Quantum Missions.Enabling access to infrastructure, developing an innovative regulatory environment and delivering a series of deep international collaborations across research, industry and regulation.Developing a skills action plan with the sector.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on developing a new network for Robotics Adoption Hubs.

As part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, HMG committed £40 million to establish a new network of Robotics Adoption Hubs with the expertise, equipment and connections to help accelerate firms to take up robotics. DSIT is currently working to finalise programme design, including through engagement with wider Government and industry with an expected launch in 2026.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of quantum computing as a domain of strategic competition on the economy.

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionise our economy, transforming our ability to drive growth and productivity in key industrial sectors, such as through the acceleration of drug discovery, or optimisation of global supply chains.Oxford Economics estimate that, by 2045, quantum computing could support up to £11bn in UK GDP as well as up to 126,000 jobs across the economy.The Government is investing £670m to drive development and adoption of quantum computers in the UK, including 10 year backing for the National Quantum Computing Centre.

How many jobs there are within the civil nuclear sector.

DESNZ do not produce their own figures on the number of jobs within the civil nuclear sector. Cogent Skills, who published their industry-led 2024 Nuclear Workforce Assessment, estimated that the civil nuclear sector supported over 51,000 jobs in 2024.

With reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on building the world’s first commercial scale High Assay Low Enriched Uranium fuel supply chain.

The UK’s £300m HALEU programme will be the first commercial scale capability outside of Russia and is due to deliver in the early 2030s.The programme is already underway with site preparation work having commenced on the £196 million enrichment project at Urenco’s Capenhurst site, to develop an enrichment capability. Further funding has been allocated to support the HALEU supply chain through awards to National Transport Solution on transportation prototypes (including testing and development of pilot transport packages for safely and securely moving HALEU), the regulators and our National Nuclear Laboratory building our technical capabilities. This project will support building resilient nuclear supply chains, free from political interference and reduce global reliance on Russia.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of engineering biology as a domain of strategic competition on the economy.

The Modern Industrial Strategy is founded on supporting high-growth sectors across the UK’s strengths. As part of developing the Digital and Technologies Sector Plan Government assessed a range of technologies to assess those of highest growth to be included as frontier technologies. Engineering biology was selected as a frontier technology as part of this assessment process, backed by £380 million of investment in the Sector Plan.