Every parliamentary written question tabled by Bradley Thomas this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 273 · this parliament
How many apprentices her Department recruited in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, (c) 2024 and (d) 2025.
Apprenticeships are a valuable tool for improving skills, productivity, and social mobility, whilst also supporting the development of our workforce. My Department continues to offer apprenticeships whenever a suitable vacancy arises. My Department recruited three apprentices in 2022, three in 2023, and none in 2024 or 2025.
How many apprentices her Department recruited in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, (c) 2024 and (d) 2025.
The Attorney General’s Office recruited the following number of apprentices in the years requested.YearLaw Officer Departments20227202372024520251
Innovation and Technology, how many apprentices her Department recruited in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, (c) 2024 and (d) 2025.
The department did not exist in 2022 and although we have not undertaken external apprenticeship recruitment between 2023 and 2025, we recruit apprentices from within. 57 existing members of DSIT staff are undertaking an apprenticeship or have completed an apprenticeship between 2023 and 2025.(GOV.UK)
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposal for unused pension funds and death benefits to be subject to Inheritance Tax on beneficiaries; and if she will make it her policy to cap the level of Inheritance Tax paid on such funds and benefits.
Most unused pension funds and death benefits payable from a pension will form part of a person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from 6 April 2027. This removes distortions resulting from changes that have been made to pensions tax policy over the last decade, which have led to pensions being openly used and marketed as a tax planning vehicle to transfer wealth, rather than as a way to fund retirement. These reforms also remove inconsistencies in the inheritance tax treatment of different types of pensions. The Government has published a tax information and impact note, which is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/inheritance-tax-unused-pension-funds-and-death-benefits/inheritance-tax-unused-pension-funds-and-death-benefits. The legislation for this reform is included in Finance Act 2026. A cap on the level of inheritance tax related to unused pension funds and death benefits payable from a pension would be inconsistent with the policy objective and reduce the revenue to help fund public services. More than 90 per cent of UK estates will continue to have no inheritance tax liability in 2030-31 following these changes and the reforms will only affect a minority of those with inheritable pension wealth.
How many apprentices her Department recruited in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, (c) 2024 and (d) 2025.
The number of apprentices enrolled on apprenticeship programmes within the department in each calendar year is as follows:2022: 324 apprentices.2023: 257 apprentices.2024: 206 apprentices.2025: 271 apprentices.Note this reflects a combination of new apprentices joining the department and existing staff embarking on apprenticeship programmes as part of their career development.
If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Palantir on the award of a contract by his Department in December 2025.
As the Secretary of State has publicly said, Peter Mandelson had no influence or involvement in the Defence Enterprise Agreement with Palantir.
What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the backlog of grid connection; and what steps he is taking to help reduce connection times for businesses.
Government has worked closely with the National Energy System Operator and network companies on their programme of connections reforms which have already reduced the queue for generation and storage connections by over half. Government is also developing further reforms to the grid connection process for demand, to manage the backlog of speculative data centre applications and enable prioritisation of available capacity for strategically important demand projects.
Whether he plans to issue guidance to planning authorities on the capacity of the grid for battery projects.
The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan outlines an ambition for 23 – 27 GW of grid-scale batteries in Great Britain by 2030 and indicates what proportion of this capacity is required in which part of the country for 2030. It also does the same for 2035. It is a matter for planning authorities whether to grant permission to proposed battery developments in line with existing planning guidance. Government does not plan to issue additional guidance on this matter.
Whether the memorandum of understanding with China signed on 17 March 2025 includes safeguards to protect the UK against security concerns relating to Chinese involvement in the British infrastructure.
The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a non‑binding framework for policy dialogue and technical cooperation between the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and China’s National Energy Administration. The Department works very closely with industry and OGDs to maintain a detailed picture of all foreign involvement in critical national infrastructure. Foreign involvement in critical national infrastructure undergoes the highest levels of scrutiny, with the department working alongside OGDs to monitor and mitigate the security risks in the energy sector and its supply chain
What estimate his Department has made of carbon emissions produced by Chinese manufacturing of UK energy infrastructure for (a) power grids, (b) battery storage, (c) offshore wind power and (d) green hydrogen; and whether he plans to include those emissions in the UK's overall emissions.
The Department estimates greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide) on a territorial basis, meaning emissions that occur within UK borders. This is the approach required by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UK’s Climate Change Act 2008. The latest estimates are published here: UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics - GOV.UK Defra publishes consumption-based emissions statistics, calculated by the University of Leeds, which include emissions associated with imported goods and services. The latest estimates are published here: UK and England's carbon footprint to 2022 - GOV.UK The Government’s industrial strategy and economic growth ambitions are underpinned by large-scale public investment into UK manufacturing and proactive measures to secure demand for UK made products through the deployment of clean energy technology, including through procurement and public finance.
Whether security risks relating to Chinese involvement in the UK’s energy infrastructure was discussed when creating the memorandum of understanding with China signed on 17 March 2025.
The protection and security of the energy sector is an absolute priority of this Government.Security considerations, including risks relating to foreign involvement in critical national infrastructure, are a standing consideration in the development of the UK’s approach to international engagement with any country, including when entering into non‑binding memoranda of understanding.
When he intends to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Bromsgrove dated 25 September 2025 representing the concerns of constituents in Bromsgrove and the Villages.
I am grateful to the hon Member for his patience. A response was issued on 24 February.
Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on introducing legislated protections for freeholders against uncapped service charges.
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 4 July 2025 (HCWS780) and the answer given to Question UIN 103549 on 14 January 2026.
Whether the memorandum of understanding with China signed on 17 March 2025 includes commitments on the Chinese embassy.
The MoU provides a strong platform for deepening cooperation across the full breadth of our shared energy priorities – from power market reform and system flexibility to carbon capture, utilisation and storage –and creates space for structured exchanges on the UK’s experience transitioning away from coal, enabling both sides to share lessons and support an accelerated, orderly and affordable clean‑energy transition. There is no presumption that Memoranda of Understanding be made publicly available, a decision that varies from agreement to agreement; indeed, the previous government did not publish the first clean‑energy agreement signed with China in 2015.
Whether the memorandum of understanding with China signed on 17 March 2025 includes contingency measures for the impact of Chinese manufactured energy infrastructure on UK household energy bills.
The MoU provides a strong platform for deepening cooperation across the full breadth of our shared energy priorities – from power market reform and system flexibility to carbon capture, utilisation and storage –and creates space for structured exchanges on the UK’s experience transitioning away from coal, enabling both sides to share lessons and support an accelerated, orderly and affordable clean‑energy transition. There is no presumption that Memoranda of Understanding be made publicly available, a decision that varies from agreement to agreement; indeed, the previous government did not publish the first clean‑energy agreement signed with China in 2015.
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the memorandum of understanding with China signed on 17 March 2025 on Ming Yang's wind turbine manufacturing facility in Scotland.
The MoU provides a strong platform for deepening cooperation across the full breadth of our shared energy priorities – from power market reform and system flexibility to carbon capture, utilisation and storage –and creates space for structured exchanges on the UK’s experience transitioning away from coal, enabling both sides to share lessons and support an accelerated, orderly and affordable clean‑energy transition. There is no presumption that Memoranda of Understanding be made publicly available, a decision that varies from agreement to agreement; indeed, the previous government did not publish the first clean‑energy agreement signed with China in 2015.
Whether the memorandum of understanding with China signed on 17 March 2025 includes measures to assess the national security impact of UK energy infrastructure manufactured in China.
The MoU provides a strong platform for deepening cooperation across the full breadth of our shared energy priorities – from power market reform and system flexibility to carbon capture, utilisation and storage –and creates space for structured exchanges on the UK’s experience transitioning away from coal, enabling both sides to share lessons and support an accelerated, orderly and affordable clean‑energy transition. There is no presumption that Memoranda of Understanding be made publicly available, a decision that varies from agreement to agreement; indeed, the previous government did not publish the first clean‑energy agreement signed with China in 2015.
Whether the memorandum of understanding with China signed on 17 March 2025 included commitments to not publicly disclose the contents of the document.
The MoU provides a strong platform for deepening cooperation across the full breadth of our shared energy priorities – from power market reform and system flexibility to carbon capture, utilisation and storage –and creates space for structured exchanges on the UK’s experience transitioning away from coal, enabling both sides to share lessons and support an accelerated, orderly and affordable clean‑energy transition. There is no presumption that Memoranda of Understanding be made publicly available, a decision that varies from agreement to agreement; indeed, the previous government did not publish the first clean‑energy agreement signed with China in 2015.
What assessment he has made of the adequacy of processing times for paper probate application; and what steps he is taking to help improve the processing time for paper applications inline with wait times for digitally submitted applications.
Processing times for paper applications have improved significantly, but we recognise that they need to improve further. Paper applications are often more complex and may require additional enquiries where they cannot be issued on the first examination, which can affect overall timeliness. HM Courts & Tribunals Service has therefore invested in more staff in 2026, alongside system process improvements and a programme of upskilling to improve the processing time for paper applications.
What steps his Department is taking to (a) tackle kidney disease nationwide and (b) help raise awareness of kidney disease in Bromsgrove and the Villages.
NHS England is delivering a comprehensive programme to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of people with kidney disease through the renal services transformation toolkit published in 2023. Eight commissioned regional renal clinical networks are implementing the toolkit in collaboration with providers. Integrated care boards (ICBs) in the Midlands, including those covering Bromsgrove, are working to improve pathway flows for renal services. Integrated commissioning will make it easier to deliver upstream interventions in primary care around diagnosis and early treatment of kidney disease, that can potentially prevent or delay the need for dialysis and transplants. In addition, renal care is a core component within the Midlands Clinical Strategy for Acute Specialised Services.