Written questions by Stephenson.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 36886 on Personal Income: Expenditure, if she will publish the assessment of behavioural changes referenced in that Answer.

The Office for Budget Responsibility reports on the impact of the government’s policy announcements, including behavioural impacts where relevant. The impact of policies announced at Autumn Budget 2024 can be found in its published document Economic and Fiscal Outlook, October 2024. Additionally, Tax Information and Impact Notes, published on gov.uk, describe the 'economic impact' and 'impact on individuals, households and families'.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Government to turbocharge defence innovation, published on 3 March 2025, which defence firms he met with at RAF Waddington.

The following companies attended the Defence Industrial Strategy and Growth Roundtable at RAF Waddington on 28 February 2025: BAE SystemsBabcockRolls-RoyceQinetiQ GroupLeonardo UKMBDA UKLockheed Martin UKRheinmetall UKRTX UKPearsons EngineeringAtlas Elektronik UKPalantirHelsingAndurilHadeanModini Limited2iCKinsetsu

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer to Question 43757 on Aquariums and Zoos: Tourism, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to GREAT programme funding on Visit Britain’s work to promote (a) safari parks, (b) zoos and (c) aquariums.

The GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland campaign remains an effective tool in driving economic growth and we will continue to work closely with partners to optimise the campaign’s resources to deliver growth right across the UK. DCMS recognises the importance of the GREAT programme funding in supporting the UK’s international tourism promotion, including the work of VisitBritain to showcase the diverse range of visitor experiences available across the UK. VisitBritain’s latest annual attractions survey for 2023 showed that visits to wildlife parks and zoos increased by 6% from the previous year and will continue to monitor the impact of any changes.

Media and Sport, with reference to the press release entitled Major investment to boost growth and cement Britain’s place as cultural powerhouse, published on 20 February 2025, whether this funding is additional to funding allocated at the Autumn Budget 2024.

The £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund is made up of multiple funds including the £85 million Creative Foundations Fund and the £20 million Museum Renewal Fund. Full details of these funds can be found on the UK Parliament website here.The Autumn Budget 2024 set out the new settlements for FY 2025-26 as part of the SR Phase 1. The Arts Everywhere Fund announcement brought together arts programme funding - all of which were included in the overall settlement, as a single strategy. Within the Arts Everywhere Fund are brand new programmes as well as further/new funding rounds for established programmes.

What estimate her Department has made of passenger numbers on Thameslink services in (a) 2030 and (b) 2040.

In line with our published guidance, the Department has developed a number of possible rail demand scenarios in both the medium and long term. The Department considers a wide range of evidence for our project appraisals and policy decisions and seeks to use the most up to date inputs to aid in these decisions.

With reference to the press release entitled Hundreds of quangos to be examined for potential closure as Government takes back control, published on 7 April 2025, whether this review will consider future Arm's Length Bodies already announced.

The review will cover all arm’s-length bodies (ALBs), including proposals for new ALBs.

Whether she has had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on improving (a) awareness and (b) treatment of chronic and recurring urinary tract infections.

The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidelines for referral for patients who present with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/urinary-tract-infection-lower-women/management/recurrent-uti-no-haematuria-not-pregnant-or-catheterized/There are specific referral criteria for women compared to men, and children. There are also guidelines in place for those who present to pharmacy first. If the patient has had a history of UTIs, they are asked to see their GP surgery, rather than being prescribed antibiotics by the pharmacy.Patients with recurrent UTIs should be referred to secondary care to exclude other causes perhaps by ultrasound scan or cystoscopy. Once cleared, patients may be prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.The number of clinics for urinary tract issues is locally managed and commissioned by each Integrated Care Boards (ICB), in accordance with the local population’s needs.While there are no current plans to train GPs and urologists on better recognising the symptoms of chronic UTIs, NHS England’s UTI reduction workstream was established as part of delivery of the ‘UK 5-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2019 to 2024’. This workstream aims to enhance prevention, support early and accurate diagnosis and improve the treatment of UTIs through identifying and adopting best practice and interventions for different populations.More widely, NHSE has also been working with other public bodies, including the UK Health Security Agency, to strengthen the guidance about the appropriate use of diagnostics including dipsticks. GPs can request testing for chronic UTIs via several pathways, including at point-of-care, via community diagnostic centres, or via laboratories.

Whether it is his policy to not allow another Chinese partner for the Scunthorpe steel plant.

Our unique and unprecedented action was related to an individual company no longer acting in good faith. No decisions have yet been made about British Steel's long-term future - that will come at a later date.More broadly, the UK remains open to Chinese investment. At the same time, this Government will always prioritise our own security and resilience. We recognise the importance of the UK's powers through the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to scrutinise and intervene in investments and other acquisitions to protect national security where necessary.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of excluding Chinese firms from critical national infrastructure.

The UK will not compromise on economic security and will continue to prioritise national security and resilience. We will continue to cooperate with China on trade and investment, recognising there will also be areas where we need to challenge non-market policies and protect sensitive sectors of the economy. We will continue to support UK business to engage with the second largest economy in the world, while being clear-eyed to any risks and ensuring security and resilience. The National Technical Authorities (National Cyber Security Centre and National Protective Security Authority) provide advice to critical national infrastructure (CNI) industry on best practice for CNI security and resilience.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the UK leaving the EU on the level of tariffs applied to the UK by the US.

The UK has a strong and balanced trading relationship with the US worth £315 billion. Investment supports around 2.5 million jobs across both countries. Trade is second only to the EU where our trading relationship is worth £813 billion. The level of tariff applied to any country, including the UK, by the US is determined by the US government.On 8 May, the UK government announced a landmark economic deal with the US, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump. This deal protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK.

What steps he is taking to support van manufacturers in the context of US tariffs.

A landmark economic deal with the US, announced on 8 May, protects jobs in key sectors including automotive, directly supporting over 320,000 jobs across the UK. The Government also continues to support van manufacturing through the Automotive Transformation Fund, aiming to build a competitive electric vehicle supply chain. The 2024 Autumn Budget allocated over £2 billion for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing and supply chains, including £120 million to extend the Plug-in Van Grant (PIVG) until 2025/26. In addition, following the recent ZEV support consultation, fine levels for vans will also decrease by £3,000 to £15,000, and a bidirectional mechanism will be implemented for credit exchange between car and van schemes.

If she will hold discussions with local leaders in Bedfordshire on the effectiveness of (a) rules relating to on-street parking and (b) the enforcement of those rules near train stations on the (a) Thameslink line and (b) Marston Vale line in the context of increased visitors to the Universal Bedfordshire project.

Responsibility for implementing parking restrictions rests with the appropriate local authority, as they are best placed to consider how to balance the needs of residents, emergency services, local business and those who work in and visit the area. Central Bedfordshire Council has civil parking enforcement powers to deal with any contraventions of their parking restrictions.

If she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of judicial reviews in (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22, (c) 2022-23, (d) 2023-24 and (e) 2024-25.

A judicial review challenge may be made against a wide range of public bodies, including Government Separtments, local authorities, police, NHS trusts, regulatory bodies, and certain courts and tribunals.There is no centrally held data on the total cost of judicial reviews across these different bodies.

If he will make an estimate of the total value of fossil fuels in the UK which have not yet been extracted.

The volumes, commercial recoverability and ultimate value of unextracted fossil fuels in the UK are all influenced by several factors and as such, a single figure of total value has not been calculated by the Department.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the total cost of employers’ National Insurance contributions in (a) London boroughs, (b) Metropolitan districts, (c) County councils, (d) Shire districts, (e) Unitary authorities, (f) the Greater London Authority, (g) fire and rescue authorities and (h) fire and rescue authorities in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26.

In the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced funding to help public sector organisations cover the additional costs associated with employer National Insurance Contributions. This funding has been allocated to departments and other public sector employers, with shares based on data covering headcount, wage and salary costs The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government allocated its share of the funding based on a measure of total service expenditure. The department published details of its methodology on the government website: Updated explanatory note on the Employer National Insurance Contribution Grant 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, if she will implement the powers provided under section 113 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 23874 on 22 January 2025.

What support his Department plans to provide to rural communities that are off the grid to connect to mains Gas Distribution Networks.

Any new gas mains connections to rural communities are a commercial decision between the relevant gas distribution network and the connecting property or properties. There are currently no plans to introduce new government support schemes for new gas connections, but the Government is committed to ensuring energy is affordable for all households and is working closely with Ofgem to ensure that consumers are put first. The only way to guarantee our energy security and protect vulnerable households permanently is to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and towards homegrown clean energy.

If she will hold discussions with local leaders in Bedfordshire on the adequacy of bus capacity in the context of increased visitors to the Universal Bedfordshire project.

The Department for Transport will work with local authorities and bus operators to ensure that bus services reflect the needs of the local communities that rely on them. We believe local leaders know their areas best and so are best placed to make decisions about their bus networks. The Government is working towards delivering a major investment in infrastructure around the Universal site to support the delivery of the project and ensure it is well connected and easily accessible. Further details will be set out in due course.

Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the cost of tourism in school holidays.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education regularly engages with ministers from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, including through the government’s Opportunity Mission, where improving school attendance is a key focus. The cost of tourism in school holidays is a significant challenge for families, and we remain committed to tackling the cost of living.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press notice entitled Chancellor vows to go further and faster to kickstart economic growth, published on 29 January 2025, what her Department's timetable is for publishing the location of the submissions for sizeable new developments along the East-West Rail route.

The New Towns Taskforce will submit its final report this summer.