Written questions by Bailey.

What her planned timescale is for (a) consultation and (b) decision-making on long-term plans for the expansion of rail maintenance capacity around the Temple Mills depot in Leyton.

The Government is fully supportive of a thriving and competitive international passenger rail market and welcomes the prospect of new entrants. The Department recognises that depot capacity for international trains is a key barrier facing new entrants and officials are currently exploring options to address this. Any decision will be subject to the usual business case process and the Government will provide more details as this work progresses.

What steps she is taking to engage with (a) Waltham Forest local authority, (b) the Greater London Authority, (c) Transport for London, (d) existing cross-Channel train operators, (e) potential future cross-Channel train operators, (e) London St. Pancras Highspeed and (f) other stakeholders on long-term plans for the expansion of rail maintenance capacity around the Temple Mills depot in Leyton.

The Department is working at pace to further support the growth of international rail services and address the barriers to entry, including addressing capacity challenges. The Department is actively engaging with a range of stakeholders, including the Greater London Authority, Transport for London, Eurostar, London St. Pancras Highspeed and potential new operators to support the long-term growth of international rail passenger services.

What estimate she has made of the costs of implementing the EHRC’s proposed Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations for railway stations.

I am not aware of any such estimates being made of implementing the proposed EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions, and Associations for railway stations.

What recent discussions she has had with public transport providers on the cost of implementing the proposed EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions, and Associations.

I am not aware of any recent discussions on this issue with public transport providers. The EHRC are currently consulting on the draft statutory Code of Practice and are seeking views from affected stakeholders. This consultation closes on Monday 30th June after which we will consider the final draft.

With reference to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's report entitled Regulatory Horizons Council: the Future Regulation of Space Technologies, published on 25 April 2024, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that small space businesses have regulatory guidance from the Civil Aviation Authority that supports the (a) launch and (b) return of experimental (i) satellites and (ii) spacecraft.

We are working closely with Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), who we understand have met with the Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) on their report published in April 2024. A formal response will be sent to the RHC in the new year.To support the sector the CAA publish guidance setting out regulatory principles and how applicants can comply with the outcome focused legislation. Their guidance was last updated in May 2024.The CAA also has regular, close engagement with the whole sector through Space Launch and Orbit Group (SPLOG), which provides the CAA opportunities to engage with operators to understand mission concepts and provide guidance on how to progress a licence application.Working alongside the CAA, we will ensure we have legislation that is effective and globally competitive, through the use of a Regulatory Sandbox and a Post Implementation Review of the Space Industry Regulations 2021, commencing in January 2025.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) clarity, (b) consistency and (c) timeliness of licensing assessments of launch and return activities for experimental satellites and spacecraft by the Civil Aviation Authority on the investment decisions of small space (i) start-ups and (ii) other businesses in the UK space sector.

The length of time that the Civil Aviation Authority, the independent regulator, takes for a licence application assessment is predicated on the heritage and maturity of the technology, and the quality of information provided by the applicant. The Government has implemented the Regulatory Innovation Office, which will reduce red tape and recognises the innovative technology developments in the space sector. Working alongside the CAA, we will ensure we have legislation that is effective and globally competitive, through the use of a Regulatory Sandbox and a Post Implementation Review of the Space Industry Regulations 2021, commencing in January 2025.