Written questions by Stephenson.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's marketing campaign on heat pumps; and what the total cost was of (a) that campaign and (b) the associated photo shoot at Muncaster Castle.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero intends to publish information on campaign spend within the DESNZ annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025, which is expected to be published later this year on GOV.UK. We will conduct a full evaluation of the Department’s activities to promote heat pumps and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in due course. Control of advertising, marketing and communications (AMC) expenditure ensures that, where taxpayer money is being spent on government communications, it is cost-effective, coordinated and reflects functional standards and professional best practices.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help encourage the resumption of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

We urge all parties to return urgently to talks, implement the ceasefire agreement in full and work towards a permanent peace. More bloodshed is in no-one's interest. Our priority is urging all parties to return urgently to dialogue and to ensuring a ceasefire is implemented in full. It is only a political horizon towards a two-state solution that can ensure the long-term peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis. We are fully committed to playing our full diplomatic role. Since the hostilities resumed, the Foreign Secretary has spoken to Secretary Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, EU High Representative Kallas and the UN emergency relief co-ordinator, Tom Fletcher. On 15 April, the Foreign Secretary spoke to his Israel counterpart Gideon Sa'ar, and on 28 April met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of honeybees in April (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.

There is currently no compulsory registration system for bees and beekeeping in the UK, so it is difficult to provide exact figures for honey bee populations. Beekeepers are however encouraged to voluntarily register on the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) BeeBase website where they can record their details. The figures from BeeBase can be used to provide a useful indication of the number of managed colonies in the UK. An Annual Hive Count is carried out where beekeepers are asked to update their BeeBase records. Information about numbers and location of hives is important for Bee Inspectors in terms of preparing and planning for outbreaks of disease and exotic pests.

What estimate he has made of how much of his Department's budget will be spent on installing electric vehicle chargers on MoD sites in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

Information on the amount spent on installing electric vehicle chargers on Ministry of Defence sites is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

When he expects the MoD to source replacement Challenger 2 tanks.

There are no current plans to source replacement Challenger 2 tanks. Through the Armour Main Battle Tank (Armour MBT) programme, the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank will upgrade and replace 148 Challenger 2 platforms from 2027.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of importing coking coal on the environment.

I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to the hon Member for Basildon and Billericay on 22 October 2024 to Question UIN 9066.

What steps she is taking to support schools to meet the change in the level of demand for SEND provision in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.The department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, following the Autumn Budget 2024. This brings total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to over £12 billion. Of that total, Central Bedfordshire Council is being allocated over £49 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £4 million on their 2024/25 DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula.Local authorities allocate their high needs funding to support schools in making suitable provision for the increasing number of pupils identified as having more complex SEND.The department has also announced High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for financial year 2025/26, totalling £740 million, of which Central Bedfordshire has been allocated £4.4 million. The department is encouraging local authorities to use this funding to adapt mainstream schools for pupils with SEND, creating new special units or resourced provision, as well as to create new places in special schools.The department wants more children to receive the support they need to thrive in their local mainstream school and we want to restore parents’ trust that their child will get the support they need without having to travel a long way to access a specialist placement.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to make businesses aware of the ban on unlicensed use of glue traps in the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022.

The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 bans glue trap use in England in all but the most exceptional, licensable circumstances. It came into force in 2024. Nothing in the law prevents sale of glue traps in England. However, only pest controllers with a licence can legally use them for rodent control. Widespread media coverage in 2022 and 2024 alerted businesses to the change in legislation in England and on-going stakeholder engagement has helped ensure pest controllers acting for businesses are cognisant of the situation. The British Independent Retailers Association has also published advice for retailers to prevent glue traps from being sold for illegal use and we know of market-leading suppliers and retailers having withdrawn them from sale.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Cuts to red tape to make great British staycations cheaper published on 7 April 2025, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reforms on the economy in Bedfordshire.

The domestic tourism sector is of great value to the UK. It provides meaningful employment and supports holiday makers to explore and enjoy the UK’s diverse and plentiful attractions.By removing obstacles and red tape that unnecessarily hinder businesses, especially smaller firms, the proposed reforms seek to open-up the sector to offer consumers better choice and better value options.The proposals will support business collaboration and innovation across all areas of the UK. An Impact Assessment will be published as part of the process.We encourage comment on the consultation ahead of its close on 30 June 2025.

Whether she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her Department’s policies on organised immigration crime on trends in the number of migrants that have arrived in small boats since 1 January 2025.

The Border Security Command (BSC) continues to focus on tackling the organised immigration crime gangs that are facilitating small boat crossings, working with domestic partners such as the National Crime Agency, and overseas counterparts in a range of countries, to dismantle the gangs and disrupt their supply chains. This work has already led to a number of widely publicised raids and arrests, as well as agreements with France, Germany, Italy, Iraq and other key partners which will increase enforcement activity and cooperation further over the coming months.The Home Office will shortly publish an official statistical note analysing the impact of weather conditions in the Channel on the level of small boat arrivals in recent years, including since 1 January 2025. That analysis will reinforce the commitment of this Government to tackle the smuggling gangs at every level, and disrupt their ability to exploit good weather conditions in future to undermine our border security.

When he expects the ordered H-47(ER) helicopters to be delivered.

Construction of the first two Chinook H-47 (Extended Range) aircraft has commenced in Philadelphia, with the first aircraft due to be delivered in 2027.

Communities and Local Government, whether councils can account for costs of planning appeals when calculating the level of planning fees in the context of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill contains a measure which would allow local planning authorities to set their own planning fees. The process for setting these fees will be set out in regulations. We will also publish guidance on the costs that may be considered when calculating planning fees.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reducing VAT on US firms exporting to the UK.

In line with international guidelines, VAT is charged equally on goods and services consumed in the UK whether they are produced domestically or imported. VAT is ultimately paid by the final consumer, similar to US sales taxes. Businesses in the supply chain can typically reclaim the VAT they pay, including import VAT.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of future rates of Air Passenger Duty on levels of economic growth.

The Government published Tax Impact and Information Notes (TIINs) assessing the impacts of the 2025/26 and 2026/27 APD rates, which can be found at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-air-passenger-duty-rates-from-1-april-2025/air-passenger-duty-rates-from-1-april-2025-to-31-march-2026 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-air-passenger-duty-rates-from-1-april-2026/air-passenger-duty-rates-from-1-april-2026-to-31-march-2027 These measures are not expected to have any significant macroeconomic impact.

Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department has provided to (a) Bedford Borough and (b) Central Bedfordshire Councils to tackle rough sleeping in each financial year since 2022-23.

Between 2022/23 and 2024/25, Bedford Borough Council were allocated funding to tackle rough sleeping through the Rough Sleeping Initiative, Accommodation for Ex-Offenders, Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme and Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment. Bedford Borough Council were allocated £2,929,761 in 2022/23, £2,007,058 in 2023/24 and £1,718,596 in 2024/25. In 2025/26, this Government has simplified local authorities’ access to and management of rough sleeping grants by consolidating the Rough Sleeping Initiative and Accommodation for Ex Offenders programmes into the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant. Bedford Borough Council have also been allocated Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme and Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment in 2025/26. The total funding allocation is £1,699,802. Between 2022/23 and 2024/25, Central Bedfordshire Council were allocated funding to tackle rough sleeping through the Rough Sleeping Initiative and the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme. Central Bedfordshire Council were allocated £542,406 in 2022/23, £560,600 in 2023/24 and £388,479 in 2024/25. In 2025/26 Central Bedfordshire Council have been allocated £388,479 to tackle rough sleeping through the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant and the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme.

How much and what proportion of the funding for steel through the National Wealth Fund will be used to maintain steel production in Scunthorpe.

The funding required to maintain iron and steel production at Scunthorpe will be drawn from the £2.5bn funding for steel, which is available through the National Wealth Fund and other routes. The National Wealth Fund is operationally independent, and financing is already accessible to projects that meet the investment principles. Companies across the UK are already engaging with them on projects within the steel sector.The Department for Business and Trade's accounts for 2025/26 will reflect the financial support that the department has given to British Steel.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of expanding London Stansted Airport on the economy in (a) the East of England and (b) Bedfordshire.

We have been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they contribute to economic growth, can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding climate change commitments and meet strict environmental requirements on air quality and noise pollution. The impacts of any planning application made by Stansted Airport to expand the airport will be carefully considered by the relevant planning authority.

What steps she is taking to help ensure the safety of retail workers who deliver to people's homes.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to UIN 48505 on the 6th May 2025.

If he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of his Department's (a) recruitment and (b) retention of armed forces personnel.

The current Government inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention from the last administration, and we are committed to addressing this through a range of targets, initiatives and measures. Although Armed Forces outflow currently remains greater than intake, compared to the previous 12-month period Armed Forces inflow has increased and outflow has decreased, with the gap between getting smaller.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support increased participation in grassroots rugby.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport, including rugby, at grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all.Sport England provides long term investment to the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League, the National Governing Bodies for rugby. The Rugby Football Union receives £13.9 million from 2022-27 and the Rugby Football League (RFL) receives £11.9 million from 2022-2025 of funding to support grassroots rugby league.