Written questions by Nichols.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 July to Question 3410, if he will make it his Department's policy to estimate the health costs caused by AI displacement in the workforce and associated stresses.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the 10 Year Health Plan, what steps his Department is taking to encourage Integrated Care Boards to engage directly with independent providers of mobile diagnostic imaging services to increase diagnostic capacity in community settings and reduce patient waiting times.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on ensuring a skilled workforce for the (a) civil and (b) defence nuclear sectors.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to ensure that investment in the civil nuclear sector supports the long-term resilience of the UK's wider nuclear skills base.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of large-scale nuclear in creating jobs and on economic growth.

Awaiting answer.

In what way a fleet-deployment approach to gigawatt-scale nuclear development will support the civil nuclear supply chain and help ensure its long-term readiness and competitiveness.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of current school building standards in protecting pupils and staff from extreme heat, and what steps her Department is taking to improve school infrastructure to en

Awaiting answer.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of school uniform requirements on pupil wellbeing during periods of extreme heat; and if she will update guidance to schools on relaxing un

Awaiting answer.

If he will make it her policy to mandate clear labelling of ultra-processed food.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has considered the impact of processed foods and health in 2023 and 2025. The limitations in the available evidence on processed and ultra-processed foods and health means it is unclear whether these f...

If he will make it his policy to mandate clear label markings on packaged food products to indicate excess a) salt, b) fat, c) sugar, d) trans and saturated fats and e) calories.

Food labelling legislation requires that pre-packaged food and drinks include a mandatory nutrition declaration, which provides information on energy, in kilojoules and kilocalories, and key nutrients, including fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt, in gram...

What estimate his Department has made of the health costs caused by AI displacement in the workforce and associated stresses.

Awaiting answer.

What steps the Department is taking to help improve employer-led training and workplace experience within further and higher education, particularly in construction; and what assessment he has made of h

On 23 March 2025, the Chancellor announced a £625 million Construction Skills Package (CSP) to address critical skills shortages across the construction sector. The investment is expected to support up to 60,000 skilled workers over this Parliament by inc...

Media and Sport, how her Department plans to help ensure that the BBC can continue to a) invest in regional storytelling; and b) support growth in regional creative economies under a new Charter.

As a public service broadcaster that matters hugely to public life, the BBC must be responsive to its viewers and listeners, in order to tell inclusive stories about the lives of all people, in all parts of the UK. This Government wants broadcasters, including the BBC, to be more ambitious in growing our world-leading TV sector outside of London and the South East, and to commission content in every part of the country. We want British storytelling to reflect the full diversity of people, communities and experiences across the UK so that more people can see themselves reflected on screen and as part of our national story. This is an area of focus in the BBC Charter Review as we look to make sure the BBC truly represents and delivers for every person in this country, particularly by ensuring that the BBC’s commissioning, decision-making and budgets are spread across all the nations and regions of the UK.

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the BBC on the potential impact on the its ability to host live music events, like the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival, around the UK following the Corporation’s announcement of a £500m cut in its budget.

The BBC is a vital national institution and an engine of the nations and regions. In that context, this news is concerning for the BBC workforce who are facing significant uncertainty, and for the sector as a whole. The BBC is delivering significant savings, which requires difficult decisions to be made independent of the Government. The BBC have stated that there will be more information on their plans later this year. Looking ahead, the Charter Review aims to deliver a BBC that is sustainably funded in a way that sets the BBC on a path to thrive until well into the latter half of this century.

With reference to the Government response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs' report, Barriers to Research Part 2: Schedule 1 Controlled Drugs, published on 16 July 2025, whether the Barriers to Research Working Group has met with the new cross-government working group to discuss implementation of those recommendations.

The Government responded to ACMD recommendations on reducing barriers to clinical research with Schedule 1 drugs in July 2025. A cross-government officials group is in place and is developing the policy and has engaged with other departments, agencies, stakeholders and international partners. The Government remains committed to implementing the recommendations and will publish further plans in due course.

With reference to the Government response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs' report, Barriers to Research Part 2: Schedule 1 Controlled Drugs, published on 16 July 2025, what progress her Department has made on (a) establishing the proposed pilot scheme to exempt universities and hospitals from the requirement to obtain a Home Office licence for research involving Schedule 1 controlled drugs, (b) creating an exemption for clinical studies with MHRA, HRA and Research Ethics Committee approval, (c) reviewing the domestic and import/export licensing system, and (d) developing the framework to assess the impact of those policy changes.

The Government responded to ACMD recommendations on reducing barriers to clinical research with Schedule 1 drugs in July 2025. A cross-government officials group is in place and is developing the policy and has engaged with other departments, agencies, stakeholders and international partners. The Government remains committed to implementing the recommendations and will publish further plans in due course.

What estimate his Department has made of the increased health costs caused by AI displacement in the workforce and associated stresses; and if he will make a statement.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the scheduled closure of Torness, Hartlepool and Heysham nuclear power stations on baseload electricity supply.

Currently, nuclear generation provides around 15% of total electricity. The four Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) stations at these locations are operating beyond their original forecasts, with current expected closures being planned well in advance by the operator (EDF). In September 2025, EDF announced Heysham 1 and Hartlepool power stations are now scheduled to generate until March 2028, an extension of 12 months. Heysham 2 and Torness are both scheduled to generate until March 2030. EDF’s ambition is to continue electricity production at its four generating AGR stations for as long as it is safe and commercially viable to do so and will keep station lifetimes under review. Energy security is a priority for the government, and we work closely with the National Energy System Operator (NESO), Ofgem and key industry stakeholders to constantly monitor electricity supply against forecast demand to ensure electricity operators have the right tools to respond to market signals.

What plans his Department has to support additional large-scale nuclear power stations beyond Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C.

To pursue the option of further potential large-scale nuclear beyond Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, the government has tasked Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) with identifying other suitable sites that could potentially host such a project. GBE-N will report back to Ministers by Autumn 2026 on potential sites to inform future decisions in the next Spending Review and beyond.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential level of contribution that new large-scale nuclear power stations could make to enhancing the UK's energy security.

Large-scale nuclear power stations, including Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, will continue to make a vital contribution to our homegrown clean and secure energy mix, complementing small modular reactors. To pursue the option of further potential large-scale nuclear, the government has tasked Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) with identifying other suitable sites that could potentially host such a project. GBE-N will report back to Ministers by Autumn 2026 on potential sites to inform future decisions in the next Spending Review and beyond.