Written questions by Onwurah.

What steps she is taking to improve wifi on LNER; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of that wifi performance over the past three years.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment has he made of the potential merits of proposals in the ABPI report published in March 2026.

The Department has considered the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s (ABPI) March 2026 report, Globally competitive United Kingdom wide data-enabled clinical trials: the time is now, and its proposals on improving clinical trial set‑up and recruitment through use of healthcare data. The report raises issues that align with the Government’s ongoing work to improve the UK’s clinical research environment, including delivery of faster trial set‑up and development of the Health Data Research Service (HDRS).The HDRS will be a UK-wide service to bring new treatments and cures to patients by safely enabling the use of patient data to super-charge research, and is currently being set up. It will be for the HDRS leadership team to decide whether to take forward the recommendations of the ABPI report.The Department continues to work with industry and research system partners through the UK Clinical Research Delivery Programme to consider how such proposals could support these objectives, while ensuring high standards of data protection and public trust.As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan, we will integrate the Be Part of Research registry tool with the NHS App to allow people to find and sign up to research relevant to them.

Communities and Local Government, how combined authorities are being supported to develop world‑class industrial clusters as part of local growth plans.

Local Growth Plans are central to delivering growth and boosting living standards in every corner of the country. Government has worked directly in partnership with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to co-agree regional growth priorities, including ensuring this supports the growth of priority sectors in places to help inform and deliver the National Industrial Strategy alongside supporting local ambitions. MHCLG is giving Mayoral Strategic Authorities the tools to support these clusters in a variety of ways with £2.6 billion of Investment Zone funding, new integrated settlements, £902 million Local Growth Funding, £500 million Mayoral Revolving Growth Funding, and £800 million City Densification Funding.

What proportion of General Practices are signed up to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD); and what steps his Department is taking to help address (a) technical and (b) contractual barriers preventing further practices from joining.

The Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) receives data from Optum, Vision, and TPP SystmOne practices, which represent the three largest clinical system providers to general practices (GPs). 32% of practices across all four nations currently participate in CPRD. As of 22 April, there are 7,660 practices in total, 2,428 of which currently have requested to contribute data to CPRD. The following table shows the number of practices in each nation:NationNumber of contributing practicesTotal number of practicesEngland2,1486,112Wales38368Scotland216874Northern Ireland26306 CPRD is mandated to operate on a cost-recovery basis and holds contracts with all three of the main data providers. CPRD’s current data licence and service fees are only able to support a maximum of 35% population coverage across the United Kingdom. The focus is therefore on a representative practice and patient sample rather than 100% coverage.For Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, previous IT system limitations restricting participation are currently being lifted which will allow for further participation across the three devolved nations.CPRD currently has 402 TPP practices signed up in England. However, due to technical issues, CPRD is unable to use TPP patient data and continues to work with the supplier to find a solution.If a patient registers for a type 1 opt-out with their GP, or registers for the National Data Opt-out, then CPRD will not receive any new data for that patient.The number of type 1 opt-outs are not recorded centrally, as it is not possible to specify how many people who registered for a National Data Opt-out did so to opt-out of the sharing of their data via the CPRD, as the opt-out covers a range of research. Information on the numbers of National Data Opt-outs is published at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/dashboards/national-data-opt-out-open-data

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to WPQ 126560, whether Nscale will still be investing in the North East AI growth zone.

The government continues to work closely with the Combined Authority and commercial partners regarding the delivery of the North East AI Growth Zone. Discussions with individual companies are commercially sensitive, and we will provide further updates in due course.

What proportion of patients in England have exercised their right to opt out of sharing their data for research purposes via the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD).

The Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) receives data from Optum, Vision, and TPP SystmOne practices, which represent the three largest clinical system providers to general practices (GPs). 32% of practices across all four nations currently participate in CPRD. As of 22 April, there are 7,660 practices in total, 2,428 of which currently have requested to contribute data to CPRD. The following table shows the number of practices in each nation:NationNumber of contributing practicesTotal number of practicesEngland2,1486,112Wales38368Scotland216874Northern Ireland26306 CPRD is mandated to operate on a cost-recovery basis and holds contracts with all three of the main data providers. CPRD’s current data licence and service fees are only able to support a maximum of 35% population coverage across the United Kingdom. The focus is therefore on a representative practice and patient sample rather than 100% coverage.For Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, previous IT system limitations restricting participation are currently being lifted which will allow for further participation across the three devolved nations.CPRD currently has 402 TPP practices signed up in England. However, due to technical issues, CPRD is unable to use TPP patient data and continues to work with the supplier to find a solution.If a patient registers for a type 1 opt-out with their GP, or registers for the National Data Opt-out, then CPRD will not receive any new data for that patient.The number of type 1 opt-outs are not recorded centrally, as it is not possible to specify how many people who registered for a National Data Opt-out did so to opt-out of the sharing of their data via the CPRD, as the opt-out covers a range of research. Information on the numbers of National Data Opt-outs is published at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/dashboards/national-data-opt-out-open-data

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the 2026–27 police funding settlement in enabling Northumbria Police to bring officer numbers remain back to pre-2010 levels; and how many police forces in England and Wales will have officer numbers above pre-2010 levels at the end of 2026-27.

The Government’s Safer Streets Mission sets a clear expectation for policing to deliver safer communities and improved public confidence. An effective, well-supported police service is central to achieving this. That is why forces should have the right resources to tackle crime and keep communities safe.Through the police funding settlement, a total of £442.4 million will be available to Northumbria Police in 2026/27, an increase of £20.2 million compared to 2025/26. This represents a 4.8% cash increase.We are focused on what police officers are doing, rather than achieving arbitrary officer headcount targets and are putting officers where people want to see them.We have scrapped arbitrary officer headcounts, which has led to forces hiring officers and, in some cases, putting them in back-office roles. Some 12,000 warranted police officers are now working in support roles across England and Wales. We are instead focussed on putting 13,000 additional policing personnel in neighbourhood roles across England and Wales by the end of this Parliament. By February 2026, we had delivered more than 3,100 additional police officers and PCSOs into neighbourhood roles. (Growth under the Neighbourhood Policing Programme, as at 28 February 2026: management information - GOV.UK)We are also expanding police use of AI and automation technologies. In the Police Reform White Paper we announced £115m over the next three years, led by the creation of “Police AI”, a new national centre for AI in policing focused on supporting police forces rapidly but responsibly use AI to improve their efficiency and effectiveness, resulting in better public safety outcomes for local communities. Taken together this investment package is expected to free up at least 3,000 FTE (or 6 million officer hours) a year by 2028/29.

How Green Book appraisal criteria are used to assess investments in energy infrastructure in regions with high industrial and renewable potential, including the North East.

HM Treasury’s Green Book sets out the framework for assessing value for money for taxpayers across different policy proposals. It is applied consistently across all regions. However, it also uses place-based analysis to account for differences between towns, regions and countries, including areas such as the North East. When assessing infrastructure proposals, officials consider the full range of societal costs and benefits, including upfront and operating costs, changes in energy use, and impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. These are quantified and monetised using the best available evidence and standardised assumptions, ensuring consistent and robust assessments for ministers.

Media and Sport, what support is being provided to regional creative‑industry organisations in the North East, including writing and publishing bodies, as part of the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Vision.

Unleashing the potential of our regions is a core objective of the Creative Industries Sector Plan. The Plan commits £25 million to the North East Combined Authority (NECA) as a high-potential Mayoral Strategic Authority, via our new Creative Places Growth Fund (CPGF). The CPGF will drive growth, innovation, and support greater access to growth capital for regional creative-industry organisations. Local Mayors can use it to drive the growth of their creative sectors, including those in the publishing sector. Additionally, the Sector Plan includes a universal offer to drive UK-wide growth with cross-cutting measures like IP protection and export support that will benefit regional writing and publishing bodies.

What steps she is taking to ensure that national economic policy does not disproportionately impact the Oxford‑Cambridge growth corridor over regions with industrial, technology and energy capacity such as the North East.

The Government’s economic strategy aims to spread growth across Britain, supporting all regions by investing in transport, housing, skills, and key industrial sectors. The Chancellor has repeatedly emphasised that regional growth, including in the North and North East, is central to her plans, highlighted by ongoing work on the Northern Growth Strategy. These measures are part of a place-based approach to boost the UK’s productive capacity and living standards, ensuring national policy promotes growth in every region rather than focusing on a single area.

What steps he is taking to ensure that new offshore wind developments deliver long‑term skilled jobs and supply‑chain opportunities for communities in the North East.

The Government has set out a package of support for offshore wind supply chains and infrastructure of up to £1bn, including £300m from Great British Energy, £400m from The Crown Estate and £300m from industry. Allocation Round 7 secured a record 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity, supporting investment across the UK. This is already translating into local jobs and investment, including the recent offshore foundation fabrication contract at Smulders worth more than £60 million. The Crown Estate recently announced that their next seabed leasing round (Round 6) will be launched in 2027 and will focus on sites off the coast of the North East of England.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to encourage (a) UK and (b) international technology firms to invest in AI and digital innovation clusters in the North East of England.

The Government is committed to driving regional growth by attracting AI and digital investment across the UK, including in the North East of England. The North East AI Growth Zone will provide secure, dedicated compute infrastructure, supporting innovation and productivity and helping to unlock significant long‑term economic growth. The Zone has already attracted substantial private investment, including £10 billion from Blackstone.Alongside this, we are investing up to £500 million through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund to grow high‑potential innovation clusters in 17 regions across the UK. This includes £30 million for the North East, empowering local leaders to target R&D investment, attract private funding and create jobs.

What assessment he has made of the electricity demand of large‑scale data centres, in (1) the UK and (2) those located in the North East; and what plans exist to ensure adequate grid capacity to support future digital growth.

The Department’s energy and emissions projections include growth in power demand from computing services like data centres. To ensure a comprehensive view of the system, the methodology projects at a broader sector level, not disaggregating specific estimates for data centres. The Government is committed to ensuring electricity networks can meet rising electricity demand, including from data centres, by deploying new renewable and low-carbon generation in line with the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. The Capacity Market ensures supply continuously meets demand, balancing cost and reliability to maintain adequate electricity security.

What steps he is taking to help tackle content advising individuals to misrepresent health conditions for financial gain though the benefits system.

I refer the Hon. member to the answer I gave on 24th March 2026 to PQ 123138.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of industrial electricity prices on inward investment in AI data centres since OpenAI’s decision to pause its UK Stargate project.

The Government is focused on continuing to create the right conditions for investment in the UK’s AI and data centre infrastructure. Through the AI Energy Council, it is already bringing together energy system bodies and leading technology companies, including NESO, EDF, Microsoft and Google, to address the energy implications of AI growth and ensure the system is ready to support future demand. Alongside this, the Government is bringing forward a consultation on discounting data centres' energy costs for eligible projects in areas with excess electricity supply, including Scotland, Cumbria and the North East.

What estimate his Department has made of the total untapped offshore wind generating capacity in the North Sea; and what proportion of that capacity could be brought forward through future Crown Estate leasing rounds.

In January 2026 the UK signed a clean energy pact with Germany, France, Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark and Norway. This noted that 300GW of offshore wind could be built across the North Sea by 2050. The Crown Estate has said publicly that they could bring 20-30GW of new offshore wind capacity to market by 2030.

What discussions he has had with the British Business Bank on supporting access to capital for women‑led and ethnic minority‑led businesses.

The British Business Bank has numerous new and successful programmes to support access to capital for underrepresented groups, including:new £400 million Investor Pathways Capital initiative to reduce barriers to entry for new fund managers, with 50% of this ringfenced for women,new Diverse Angel Syndicate initiative to catalyse the growth of diverse angel groups,Start Up Loans programme which has delivered more than £1.2 billion in loans, with around 40% of its loans to female founders and 20% to ethnic minority-led businesses,£130 million invested into the Invest in Women Taskforce’s funding pool.The Bank is also a founding signatory to the Investing in Women Code.

What assessment he has made of trends in the level of regional distribution of venture capital investment; and what steps she is taking to increase investment flows to the North East.

The number of equity deals in the North East increased 8.6% year on year in 2024, to 63 deals. Comparatively, London’s dominance of the UK equity market reduced slightly in 2024, with the share of deals in the capital dropping from 50.8% to 47.1% year-on-year, while the proportion of investment was 61.2% in 2024 – a reduction from 61.9% in the previous year, and from 73.3% in 2020.The Government is addressing regional disparities in access to finance through the Nations and Regions Investment Funds, with businesses in the North East eligible for debt and equity finance from the £660 million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.North East businesses are also set to benefit from the British Business Bank’s Cluster Champions programme, which will help strengthen financial networks and connect high-potential firms in the eight Industrial Strategy priority sectors to investors, while also providing an additional £100 million of investment.We have also expanded the Regional Angels Programme, helping improve access to early-stage equity across the UK.

Whether funding programmes are available to support inclusive founding teams in (a) technology, (b) creative industries, (c) green energy and (d) other high‑growth sectors.

The Government provides a range of available funding programmes to support inclusive founding teams across high-growth sectors. For example, Innovate UK provides specialised funding through initiatives such as its £101 million Clean Growth Fund, and other sector-specific grant giving competitions for technology, and creative innovation.Other programmes include the British Business Bank’s Future Fund for investment in Life Science and Deep Tech, and its Start Up Loans programme which has supported a high proportion of inclusive founding teams (with around 40% of its beneficiaries being women, and around 20% from ethnic minority backgrounds).

Innovation and Technology, what role science diplomacy plays in the Government’s strategy for achieving UK technology sovereignty; and whether the UK intends to pursue shared leadership arrangements with international partners where appropriate.

Science diplomacy plays an important role in building UK technology sovereignty through international partnerships with partners which strengthen our shared capabilities, resilience and security.Our Science & Technology Network, covering 65 locations, is a core pillar of the UK’s science diplomacy toolkit, which aims to develop and strengthen our partnership with international partners.We have science and technology partnerships with a broad range of countries including the US and EU, Japan, India, South Korea, Switzerland, France and Germany. We are also active members of multilateral fora including OECD, G7 and G20. These partnerships are part of helping us ensure sovereign strengths and strengths through stable collaboration.