Written questions by Lewis.

How many of the community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs set up since July 2024 are run by private contractors.

Since July 2024, five new community diagnostic centres (CDCs) have started reporting activity for the very first time. None of these five will be run by the independent sector (IS) once they are fully operational. Of these five CDCs, the Thanet CDC is temporarily using magnetic resonance imaging services leased from an IS provider to ensure temporary capacity while the main facility is built. Upon completion of the permanent site, the Thanet CDC site will be National Health Service owned and use only NHS owned assets.Since July 2024, 23 new surgical hubs have opened. None of these surgical hubs are run by IS providers.

Media and Sport, when the BBC Charter Review consultation will be launched.

The existing BBC Royal Charter is due to expire on 31 December 2027.The Government will launch the review process through publication of a Terms of Reference and public consultation in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) Ofwat and (b) the Environment Agency on the biobeads spill in Sussex; and whether Southern Water will be fined for that spill.

Environment Agency (EA) officers have been working with all local partners on the initial and long term clean up strategy and have gathered the necessary evidence from impacted areas. The EA will apply their enforcement and sanctions policy when deciding on an appropriate enforcement response.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the reasons for the biobeads spill in Sussex.

The Environment Agency (EA) has a dedicated investigations team to establish cause, pathway and impact on the environment of this pollution event. As a live investigation, I am unable to publicly share details that may harm the credibility of any case which the EA may later bring to the courts. But I can tell you that EA officers have been working with all local partners on the initial and long term clean up strategy and have gathered the necessary evidence from impacted areas. I note that Southern Water Services have publicly stated that inspections at their Eastbourne works have found a damaged filter screen.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to stop companies from using biobeads.

Polluting our waterways is unacceptable. It is right that Southern Water has taken responsibility for the incident at Camber Sands, East Sussex, caused by a failure of a screening filter at their Eastbourne Wastewater Treatment Works. Defra Ministers are in close contact with the Environment Agency, which is now conducting an active investigation into the incident. A decision on the enforcement action will be made in the coming weeks. The sector must step up to deliver improvements for the benefit of customers and the environment, and we are taking decisive action to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas. Water companies should take all necessary precautions to ensure all equipment is properly constructed and maintained to prevent the unauthorised or accidental escape of bio-beads from wastewater treatment works into the environment. The Government is looking into developing new standards for infrastructure resilience which, coupled with robust water company planning through Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans and the new statutory Pollution Incident Reduction Plans, will drive investment to improve wastewater assets and reduce pollution into our environment. I have written to Water Companies asking them to explain their use of bio-beads in the water industry and alternatives.

If she will make a human rights impact assessment of the draft guidance by the Equality and Human Rights Commission entitled Code of practice for services, public functions and associations.

I refer the honourable member to the written answer to PQ 83292, dated 3 November 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85834 on Water Companies: Criminal Proceedings, if she will confirm the number of live proceedings which are subject to reporting restrictions by the court.

Details about all open enforcement and customer disputes cases with Ofwat are available on the Ofwat website. Information about formal cautions and prosecutions carried out by the EA can be found here.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to publish a list of live legal cases the Government is taking against water companies.

At the conclusion of an investigation into a water company the Environment Agency (EA) will ordinarily be able to disclose the fact of the live prosecution from the point the information has been laid and summons granted. This is subject to any reporting restrictions imposed by the Court. Information about formal cautions and prosecutions carried out by the EA can be found here. For any ongoing criminal investigations into water companies, the EA may be constrained in what it can say in order to ensure that they do not prejudice the ongoing investigations, or any criminal proceedings that may follow. Each investigation would need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. Details about all open enforcement and customer disputes cases with Ofwat are available on the Ofwat website.

Whether she has undertaken a human rights impact assessment of the draft guidance by the Equality and Human Rights Commission entitled Code of practice for services, public functions and associations.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following the six week consultation and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities. The parliamentary process for laying the Code is set out in the Equality Act 2006. We will ensure the correct process for considering the Code is followed.

Innovation and Technology, what her planned timetable is for the Gov.uk OneLogin system to re-attain DVS trustmark accreditation.

In April 2025, GOV.UK One Login’s Trust Framework certification was suspended due to a supply chain issue where one third party allowed their certification to lapse. We are working closely with the supplier and our Conformity Assessment Body to resolve this issue and regain certification as soon as possible.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of mandatory digital ID in tackling illegal immigration.

The Digital ID programme is part of a broader strategy to tackle illegal immigration. By making it harder for people without the right to work to gain employment, the government plans to reduce incentives for unlawful entry. Mandating digital ID for right to work checks will strengthen our current approach by:o Acting as a deterrent to would-be migrants hoping to work in the UK illegally.o Ensuring consistency and simplifying the checks that employers must carry out, making it easier for UK citizens and legal residents to demonstrate they have the right to work.o Removing the reliance on physical documents in the UK, making it harder for forged documents to be used as proof of right to work. The Government will start a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year, and has begun engaging with several key stakeholders already.

Innovation and Technology, whether the mandatory digital ID system will be (a) developed and (b) operated by third parties.

The Government has announced plans for a new digital ID for all UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks using the new digital ID by the end of this parliament, but it will not be mandatory for other purposes.We expect the programme to be designed, built and run by in-house Government teams, not outsourced to external suppliers. In the event any specialist external services or expertise are procured to support the delivery of the new digital ID system, this will be subject to all the usual competitive processes to ensure transparency, and value for the taxpayer.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of mandatory digital ID on minority groups.

The Government has announced plans for a new digital ID to be available to UK citizens and legal residents aged 16 and over. Employers will be required to conduct digital right to work checks using the new digital ID by the end of this parliament, but it will not be mandatory for other purposes.The Government will deliver a comprehensive inclusion programme to help ensure everyone eligible is able to access the new digital ID, including minority groups. We expect that groups that currently struggle to prove their identity, whether it’s due to the cost of passports or other reasons, will benefit from the opportunity to access free digital ID.The Government will launch a public consultation on the new digital ID by the end of the year, setting out the proposed approach in more detail and seeking views on this. This will include the proposed approach to inclusion.The Government will work closely with expert stakeholders from a range of organisations to make the programme as effective and inclusive as possible.Following the Machinery of Government changes of 23/10/2025 policy responsibility now sits with the Cabinet Office.

Whether he plans to recommence arms sales to Israel.

We welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump's peace plan for Gaza - it is a moment of profound relief, particularly for the hostages, their families and the civilian population of Gaza.The ceasefire agreement must now be implemented in full, alongside which we will continue to keep all export licences under close review in line with our robust Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.We will work to support the full implementation of the peace plan.

With reference to the press release entitled US-UK pact will boost advances in drug discovery, create tens of thousands of jobs and transform lives, published on 16 September 2025, which regulations he plans to (a) change and (b) repeal under the civil nuclear deal.

The civil nuclear deal referenced in the press release of 16 September 2025 forms part of a broader strategic partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States, aimed at accelerating innovation and infrastructure delivery across key sectors, including clean energy. The significant time savings referenced in the deal will be achieved by our regulators working in partnership with their US counterparts to align licensing processes and share technical analysis, without the need for any changes to regulation. It will enable British families to benefit from cleaner, more reliable energy and supporting the creation of high-quality jobs. In addition, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) & Ministry of Defence (MoD) has commissioned the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce to examine the regulatory framework governing civil nuclear development. The Taskforce is considering a range of options to streamline regulation, whilst maintaining the UK’s high standards of nuclear safety, security and environmental protection. The Taskforce’s final report has not yet been published. It would therefore be premature to confirm which specific regulations may be subject to change or repeal. Any proposals will be set out in full in the final report and in the government’s response.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press release entitled US-UK pact will boost advances in drug discovery, create tens of thousands of jobs and transform lives, published on 16 September 2025, whether her Department has undertaken an impact assessment for the projected (a) water and (b) energy usage for the data centres announced.

Developers are responsible for undertaking environmental impact assessments for new data centres, including assessments of water and energy usage. As part of the criteria for hosting an AI Growth Zone (AIGZ), applicants must demonstrate access to sufficient water resources to support at least 500MW of AI infrastructure. This includes written confirmation from the relevant water supplier detailing volumes available, infrastructure requirements, and wastewater discharge plans.DSIT are working closely with DESNZ to ensure AI energy demand aligns with future energy planning and ensure long-term sustainability.

Innovation and Technology, whether her Department undertook an environmental impact assessment for the building of new data centres before the announcement of the Tech Prosperity Deal on 16 September 2025.

Developers are responsible for carrying out environmental impact assessments for new data centres. As part of our criteria for hosting major data centres, such as in AI Growth Zones (AIGZ), we set a minimum requirement of at least 500MW of energy capacity by 2030; 100 acres of developable land; and support from local planning authorities.Applicants are also required to demonstrate positive local impact, including access to low-carbon energy sources, potential for regeneration, and alignment with local planning priorities.

What proportion of the original expenditure on the F-35 programme was from his Department.

All of the UK expenditure on the F-35 programme has come from the Ministry of Defence.

How many F-35 foreign military sales have been made by country.

Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of the F-35 are managed by the Joint Program Office. There are 12 F-35 FMS customers who between them, are currently planning to procure 579 F-35 aircraft.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press release entitled US-UK pact will boost advances in drug discovery, create tens of thousands of jobs and transform lives, published on 16 September 2025, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) families will get access to cleaner, more reliable energy, (b) British consumers will be more protected from international fossil fuel price hikes and (c) British workers will benefit from high-paying jobs unlocked by these projects.

In September 2025, we announced the landmark UK-US Technology Prosperity Deal which will help turbocharge the Government’s nuclear and economic growth ambitions. This deal will cut the time it takes to build projects in both our countries, as well as opening the door to major new deals between UK and US companies. Families and businesses across Britain continue to pay a heavy price for our exposure to fossil fuel markets controlled by dictators like Putin. Nuclear has a central role in taking back control of our energy so we can protect our country and bring down bills for good. That is why earlier this year the government announced the biggest expansion of nuclear in half a century - delivering historic public investment in Sizewell C, fusion energy, and the UK’s first small modular reactors, built by Rolls - Royce. This is the biggest investment in renewable energy, which is part of our Clean Energy Superpower mission, jobs, investment, growth for Britain, fighting for working people to deliver a better future. The Technology Prosperity Deal will see greater opportunities through investment and rollout of AI infrastructure in both countries, creating jobs and driving growth. For example, the new AI Growth Zone in the North East will see billions of pounds worth of investment, skills training and jobs funnelled into the region. In addition, it will develop revolutionary quantum computers and speed up the deployment of this technology which will boost healthcare, protect citizens and create highly skilled jobs.