Written questions by Cane.

What progress her Department has made on recruiting a Permanent Prevent Commissioner.

The Home Secretary announced the creation of a new Independent Prevent Commissioner role in a statement to the House on 17 December 2024. Lord David Anderson KC was announced as the interim Commissioner on 21 January, to allow work to begin swiftly. An open competition to recruit the permanent Independent Prevent Commissioner is underway, and an update will be provided once an appointment has been made.

What assessment he has made of the merits of applying the same ethical sourcing requirements that apply to Great British Energy to private sector solar developers operating in the UK.

This Government is clear that no company in the UK, whether public or private, should have forced labour in its supply chain. Legislation and guidance are already in place to help businesses take action against modern slavery, and DESNZ is working across Whitehall on this important issue to see where we can go further. The Government is also considering how to strengthen Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, including possible penalties for non-compliance. The actions needed to secure supply chains that are sustainable, resilient and diverse will be set out in the Solar Roadmap, due for publication shortly.

What steps he is taking to verify the ethical integrity of supply chains in solar energy developments.

The Government is clear that no company should have forced labour in its supply chain and we are committed to ensuring that solar developers engage in ethical procurement. Legislation and guidance are in place to help developers take action, and we are exploring how we might go further, for example through strengthening Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, including possible penalties for non-compliance. The Procurement Act 2023 will enable public sector contracting authorities to reject bids and terminate contracts with suppliers known to use forced labour anywhere in their supply chain. Further details on the Government’s approach will be set out in the Solar Roadmap, due to be published shortly.

What steps he is taking to ensure that (a) the Sunnica scheme and (b) other solar energy projects do not use components linked to (i) forced and (ii) slave labour in their supply chains.

The Government does not comment on the details of specific projects. We are, however, clear that no UK company, whether public or private, should have forced labour in its supply chain. Legislation and guidance are in place to help developers take action, and we are exploring how we might go further, for example through strengthening Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, including possible penalties for non-compliance. Further details on the Government’s approach to securing solar supply chains that are free from forced labour will be set out in the Solar Roadmap, due to be published shortly.

What steps she is taking to increase access to rail links in rural communities.

The government knows that public transport needs to be better integrated in order to improve the experience for passengers, providing access to services and keeping communities connected. We also know that in rural areas, bus services can be a lifeline for many and can be the only means of accessing services, including other modes of transportation such as rail links. The government is taking action to help improve local bus services and encourage greater integration between transport modes. We introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill on 17 December to put the power over local bus services back into the hands of local leaders, including in rural areas. In addition, the government has confirmed £955 million for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services in England outside London. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has been allocated £10.5 million of this funding, helping to improve bus services and connectivity across the area. The government will also be publishing an Integrated National Transport Strategy this year to set the vision for transport in England. It will focus on how transport should be designed, built and operated to better serve the people who use it, including those in rural areas.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of passenger rail performance.

Improved performance is one of this Government’s strategic priorities for rail services. We are determined to enhance services for passengers and deliver better value for money for the taxpayer. Following a decade of decline, we are starting to see train performance stabilise, with cancellations now no longer rising. The Rail Minister is continuing to meet with the Managing Directors of all train operators and their Network Rail counterparts, to address poor performance and demand immediate action to raise standards.

What steps she is taking to make rail fares more affordable.

We are overhauling the fares system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare. We need to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers as we reform fares and deliver Great British Railways, ensuring everyone gets a fair deal. This year's fares increase of 4.6 per cent was the lowest increase in three years and help to support the Government’s long-term plans to achieve financial sustainability of the railway. Our rail sale, celebrating the 200th anniversary of passenger train in this country, saw passengers travelling with up to 50 per cent discounts on their fares from 17 January to 31 March, accounting for just over 1 million discounted trips, bringing in £9.23 million in gross sales.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing spending on research and development.

Research and development (R&D) is key to our agenda to boost growth and improve lives by maximising the potential of science and technology. Investment in R&D underpins the innovations that help the UK boost productivity and create high-paid jobs. UK public R&D has been estimated to have an average rate of return of 40% 6 years after the investment is made. Each pound invested also leverages on average £2 of private investment in the long run.DSIT's R&D budget has risen to £13.9bn in 2025/26, an increase of 8.5% in real terms compared to its 2024/25 budget. R&D funding beyond 2025/26 is subject to the next phase of the Spending Review, which will conclude in June.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure sustainable energy use in AI growth zones.

The Government recognises the importance of continued innovation and efficiency of AI infrastructure as we deliver AI Growth Zones (AIGZs).AIGZs will seek to shift energy demand to areas with greater capacity, reducing pressure on congested parts of the grid. DSIT is working closely with DESNZ and the NESO to align AI energy demand with future energy planning and long-term sustainability.The AI Energy Council, co-chaired by the Secretaries of State for DSIT and DESNZ, will explore clean energy solutions for AI infrastructure, including small modular reactors and next-gen renewables, to ensure our AI ambitions align with the UK’s net zero goals.

What estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the maximum weight of volumetric concrete mixers on the number of lorry drivers required.

The call for evidence conducted from October to December 2023 was an opportunity for respondents to present evidence, but it did not reveal significant new evidence supporting a change in policy.The outcome of my department’s review into VCMs was published on 18 March. This can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/volumetric-concrete-mixers-reviewThis is not a change to the policy on weights for VCMs, but a decision to continue with the existing policy that a temporary exemption will come to an end in 2028.

What steps he is taking to increase grid capacity.

The Government is taking action to deliver a major expansion of the electricity network. We are working closely with Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator to speed up delivery of new network infrastructure through reforms to planning, support for communities and strategic network design. Government is also reforming the connections process to ensure projects that are ready to connect to the network and strategically aligned can connect first. These actions will result in greater capacity on the network to connect new generation and new demand side investment, securing our energy supply while boosting growth and decarbonisation.

What estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the weight of volumetric concrete mixers on (a) the number of journeys undertaken by volumetric concrete mixers and (b) carbon emissions.

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs). The following factors were considered: reduction in payload per journey, increased waste, and increased vehicle mileage. Information received did not provide any compelling evidence for permitting a weight limit exemption specifically for VCMs. As part of its consideration of the evidence, the Department for Transport has assessed the potential environmental impacts in accordance with the Environment Act 2021 which requires Ministers of the Crown to have ‘due regard’ to the environmental principles policy statement when making policy.This is not a change to the policy on weights for VCMs but a decision to continue with the existing policy that a temporary exemption will come to an end in 2028.

What plans he has to assess land use changes in applications for new energy infrastructure.

Land use changes arising from proposals for new energy infrastructure are subject to rigorous planning processes, which will involve a comprehensive Examination process for those that meet the criteria of a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.

What steps he is taking to help improve the energy efficiency of homes.

The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. We will upgrade up to 5 million homes across the country by accelerating the installation of efficient new technologies like heat pumps, solar, batteries and insulation. The Government has announced Wave 3 of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund in England, to support social housing providers and tenants, as well as the new Warm Homes: Local Grant to support low-income homeowners and private tenants. The Government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency. We will publish further details on the Warm Homes Plan in due course.

What steps her Department is taking to support the mental health and well-being of school students.

This government is committed to improving mental health support for all children and young people. This is critical to high and rising standards in schools and breaking down barriers to opportunity, helping pupils to achieve and thrive in education.That is why the government will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, so every child and young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate. Mental Health Support Teams continue to roll out in schools and colleges across the country and are expected to cover at least 50% of pupils this year.The government will also recruit an additional 8,500 new mental health staff to treat children and adults, and open new Young Futures hubs with access to mental health support workers.To support education staff, the department provides a range of guidance and practical resources on promoting and supporting pupils’ mental health and wellbeing, such as a resources hub for mental health leads and a toolkit to help schools choose evidence-based early support for pupils.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of levels of breakfast club funding.

Over 750 early adopter schools are now delivering free breakfast clubs across the country as part of a test and learn phase before further rollout of the programme. The department has used existing programmes and costs to determine the funding rates for early adopter schools, which have been tested and refined with a number of schools. An average school with 50% take up on the early adopter scheme would receive around £23,000 for a full year.We will be working closely with the early adopter schools to test how they utilise the funding, which includes food, delivery and staffing costs. The department has a robust strategy in place to capture and analyse this data.

What steps she is taking to ensure that Skills England is subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

As an Executive Agency, Skills England will be subject to clear requirements on governance, transparency and accountability as set out by the Cabinet Office and applying across government.A sponsor Minister within the department will be accountable to Parliament on all matters concerning Skills England, including the policy framework within which it operates, ensuring it meets its strategic objectives and, in doing so, delivers value for money.Skills England will be led by a Chief Executive, who will be directly accountable to a relevant departmental sponsor Minister for delivery and day to day activities. They will also be accountable to the sponsor department’s Permanent Secretary for responsible use of public funds, via formal designation as Accounting Officer for the agency.A framework document will be agreed between the department and Skills England, which will be approved by HM Treasury. This will set out the governance and accountability framework within which Skills England and the department will operate and will be publicly available.In line with other Executive Agencies, and as set out in the Public Bodies Handbook, Skills England will regularly publish information on the execution of its functions. This will include an annual report, which sponsor ministers are required to publish to ensure Parliament is kept informed of Skills England’s activities.The IfATE (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill also requires my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, to publish and lay before Parliament, within six months after the closure of IfATE, a report setting out which of the functions in this Bill are being exercised by Skills England and the impact of this on apprenticeships and technical education in England.

What steps she is taking to improve recruitment in the early years sector.

The early years workforce is at the heart of the government’s mission to give every child the best start in life and deliver the Plan for Change. The department is determined to create change in the approach to early years, focusing on high-quality early education, celebrating early years careers and embedding the sector into the wider education system. Later this year, we will publish a strategy to reform early years education, including the workforce.The government is supporting the sector to attract talented staff and childminders by creating conditions for improved recruitment and new routes into the workforce. Our national recruitment campaign is encouraging the public to ‘Do something BIG’ and start a career working with small children, and a dedicated campaign website is helping people to find out more about gaining qualifications and to search existing job vacancies. We are also piloting whether £1,000 financial incentives will boost recruitment in early years and have been running a childminder start-up grant scheme. Finally, we have introduced new routes into the workforce including Skills Bootcamps, which are free, flexible, employer-led courses that lead to accelerated apprenticeships.Retaining and maximising the staff already in the workforce is also of vital importance. Through the experience-based route, providers will be able to maximise the potential of their staff who have the right skills and experience but do not hold an approved qualification. We have also taken steps to increase the graduate workforce via the early years teacher degree apprenticeship, providing a new undergraduate route to gaining early years teacher status.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support first time buyers.

The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own. Boosting the supply of homes of all tenures must be at the heart of any strategy to improve housing affordability which is why the government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament. In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, we are committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme, to support first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit, with lower mortgage costs.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support homegrown produce following the closure of the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme.

The Government’s commitment to our horticulture sector and its vital role in strengthening food security by ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of home-grown fresh produce remains steadfast. Underlining this commitment to our growers is our farming roadmap which will set out a 25-year vision and blueprint to make our farming and food production more sustainable and profitable. Furthermore, we have now confirmed a 5-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route which will provide the sector the certainty they need to plan-ahead, having the labour needed to bring their high-quality homegrown produce to market. We are also continuing support for crop Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs) investing in R&D for breeding to improve crop varieties supporting crop resilience and efficiency.