Written questions by Stuart.

If he will make a statement on the (a) timing and (b) outcome of the Trade Remedies Authority’s investigation into imports of US-produced Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and set out the steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK biodiesel producers are not placed at a competitive disadvantage resulting from unfair trading practices.

The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK’s independent arms-length body responsible for the conduct of trade remedy investigations. They make recommendations to the Secretary of State as to whether any such measures should be introduced.On 17 March 2025 the Trade Remedies Authority initiated a subsidy investigation on the import of HVO Biodiesel of US-origin. As the investigation remains ongoing, I cannot comment further. The TRA will publish relevant information on the public file as the review progresses.

What assessment he has made of the potential risk to the UK’s security of energy supply if the gas transmission network does not receive adequate funding under Ofgem’s RIIO-GT3 price control.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, are responsible for agreeing the funding and investment allowances for the gas transmission network and gas distribution network. Final decisions regarding the next price control period (RIIO3 – which covers April 2026 - April 2031) will be confirmed by Ofgem before the end of the year. Through this process, Ofgem has a statutory responsibility to attract investment and maintain security of supply while incentivising efficiency and protecting consumers from excessive costs. The Department will continue engaging with Ofgem to ensure RIIO-3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security through this period. DESNZ launched an Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, as a key forum to discuss risks and standards.

What discussions he has had with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on the potential resilience of energy infrastructure designated as Critical National Infrastructure in the context of Ofgem’s proposed funding reductions in the RIIO-GT3 Draft Determination.

The Cabinet Office frequently engages with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) which is ultimately responsible for the resilience of the energy sector and assessment of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) against its criticality. DESNZ works closely with industry counterparts to maintain energy security and ensure industry has the tools at their disposal to support security of supply. As the risk landscape continues to evolve, ensuring high standards of infrastructure resilience and security across the energy sector is a key priority for DESNZ and Ofgem. DESNZ will continue engaging with Ofgem to ensure RIIO-GT3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security and resilience through the price control period.

What assessment he has made of the gas transmission network’s potential ability to meet rising electricity demand from AI and data centres if it does not receive adequate funding under Ofgem’s RIIO-GT3 price control.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, are responsible for agreeing the funding and investment allowances for the gas transmission network and gas distribution network. Final decisions regarding the next price control period (RIIO3 – which covers April 2026 - April 2031) will be confirmed by Ofgem before the end of the year. Through this process, Ofgem has a statutory responsibility to attract investment and maintain security of supply while incentivising efficiency and protecting consumers from excessive costs. Ofgem advised in their draft determinations for RIIO-3 that funding for projects supporting rising electricity demand, including those driven by AI and data centres, will be considered where appropriate evidence is submitted, and will be confirmed in their final determinations.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for the gas transmission network’s cyber security capabilities if it does not receive adequate funding under Ofgem’s RIIO-GT3 price control.

Funding for National Gas Transmission is set by Ofgem’s RIIO (Revenue = Incentives + Innovation + Outputs) framework for each five-year regulatory period. Both the current RIIO-2 framework (covering the 2021-2026 regulatory period) and the draft RIIO-3 framework (which will cover 2026-2030) include a Cyber Resilience UIOLI (‘Use it or lose it’) allowance, providing flexible funding capped at up to 20% of total expenditure for network companies to improve cyber resilience. While arrangements for RIIO-3 are still being finalised, the framework is expected to include a re-opener enabling National Gas Transmission to request changes to cyber resilience funding during the 2026-2030 price control period.

What assessment he has made of the potential risks to national energy security resulting from reduced asset health funding proposed in Ofgem’s RIIO-GT3 Draft Determination.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, are responsible for agreeing the funding and investment allowances for the gas transmission network and gas distribution network. Final decisions regarding the next price control period (RIIO3 – which covers April 2026 - April 2031) will be confirmed by Ofgem before the end of the year. Through this process, Ofgem has a statutory responsibility to attract investment and maintain security of supply while incentivising efficiency and protecting consumers from excessive costs. The Department will continue engaging with Ofgem to ensure RIIO-3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security through this period. DESNZ launched an Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, as a key forum to discuss risks and standards.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure Ofgem’s RIIO-GT3 Final Determination adequately reflects the UK’s statutory energy security requirements.

DESNZ works closely with the energy sector to maintain energy security and ensure industry has the tools at their disposal to support security of supply. As the risk landscape continues to evolve, ensuring high standards of infrastructure resilience and security across the energy sector is a key priority for the Department and Ofgem. The Department will continue engaging with the regulator to ensure RIIO-GT3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security and resilience through the price control period. For example, DESNZ recently launched an Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, which will be a key forum to discuss risks and standards.

What guidance he has issued to Ofgem during the RIIO-GT3 process to ensure that operators of Critical National Infrastructure can meet the Government's resilience and security standards.

DESNZ works closely with the energy sector to maintain energy security and ensure industry has the tools at their disposal to support security of supply. As the risk landscape continues to evolve, ensuring high standards of infrastructure resilience and security across the energy sector is a key priority for the Department and Ofgem. The Department will continue engaging with the regulator to ensure RIIO-GT3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security and resilience through the price control period. For example, DESNZ recently launched an Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, which will be a key forum to discuss risks and standards.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Ofgem’s RIIO-GT3 Draft Determinations on energy security.

DESNZ works closely with the energy sector to maintain energy security and ensure industry has the tools at their disposal to support security of supply. As the risk landscape continues to evolve, ensuring high standards of infrastructure resilience and security across the energy sector is a key priority for the Department and Ofgem. The Department will continue engaging with the regulator to ensure RIIO-GT3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security and resilience through the price control period. For example, DESNZ recently launched an Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, which will be a key forum to discuss risks and standards.

What recent discussions his Department has had with Ofgem on ensuring that critical national infrastructure is adequately protected against evolving cyber threats.

DESNZ works closely with Ofgem through the Energy Cyber Quad – a strategic partnership comprising DESNZ, Ofgem, the National Energy System Operator and the National Cyber Security Centre. The partnership focuses on strengthening cyber resilience across the energy system, ensuring a coordinated responses to evolving threats. DESNZ recently launched a new Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, which will be a key forum going forward to discuss threats. DESNZ is also joint Competent Authority with Ofgem under the Network and Information Systems Regulations, driving cyber resilience standards for our most critical operators.

Communities and Local Government, whether funding allocated to communities through the Pride in Place Impact Fund can be used as seed capital to support private sector investment in areas.

The Pride in Place Impact Fund will provide £142.5 million of funding to 95 places to support the development of community spaces, public space and to revitalise our local high streets. This will enable immediate work to make sure that the places and spaces valued by communities are improved and matches the pride they feel for their local areas.The purpose of the Pride in Place Impact Fund is to help restore pride to selected places, enhancing local identity and morale which in turn will draw in longer-term, sustainable private investment. Upgrades to community facilities and public spaces such as parks, playgrounds and piers will help improve health and well-being, bring people together and strengthen communities.To maximise the impact of the Pride in Place Impact Fund and broaden its reach, local authorities are encouraged to explore opportunities to leverage funding and seek extra match funding for initiatives. This will help to unlock additional support and accelerate progress on shared priorities for local pride.

What support his Department plans to offer hospital trusts that are in Strand 4 of the NHS acute trust league table.

The NHS Oversight Framework 2025/26 sets out how NHS England will support trusts to improve, based on an assessment of their performance. This is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/nhs-oversight-framework-2025-26/NHS England works through regional teams to monitor National Health Service trust performance, identify issues, and deliver improvement in the most challenged areas. Improvement metrics and trajectories are agreed and proactively monitored.NHS England may also apply interventions and require NHS trusts to take broad actions or address specific concerns related to known issues. This may involve use of NHS England’s enforcement powers, particularly to secure improvement or where improvement is deemed insufficient.Trusts rated low for both performance and capability will receive support from the National Provider Improvement Programme (NPIP), which will replace the Recovery Support Programme. NPIP will determine whether the most challenged have the necessary conditions in place to deliver sustainable improvement and will ensure support is in place as needed. This will be in addition to any targeted improvement support for specific issues such as urgent and emergency care, outpatients, mental health, finance, or maternity.Additionally, newly appointed very senior managers (VSMs) to NHS trusts in segment 5 will be eligible for ‘challenged organisation recruitment premiums’, to attract talented VSMs to join challenged organisations and help turn them around.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Typhoon Force in providing security until the Tempest programme becomes operational.

The Typhoon is a world-class combat aircraft and will continue to serve as the backbone of the UK's Combat Air Force until at least the 2040s. To ensure it remains at the cutting edge of capability, the UK is planning significant investment in the Typhoon through-life equipment programme. This includes the delivery and integration of the advanced European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2) radar, which will enhance the aircraft's operational effectiveness. Further details on future Typhoon investment will be subject to the Defence Investment Plan, which will be published later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers.

This Government is investing £11.8 billion into sustainable food production and nature’s recovery, with funding for Environmental Land Management schemes increasing by 150% by 2028/29. There are currently record numbers of farmers in the schemes, with more money being spent through these schemes than ever before.

Whether her Department plans to support Down syndrome-specific training for teachers as part of its response to the Down Syndrome Act consultation.

High quality teaching is the most important in-school factor for improving outcomes for all children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and the department is committed to ensuring that all pupils receive excellent support from their teachers. The Teachers’ Standards set clear expectations that teachers must understand the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND.From September 2025, the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) will set out a minimum entitlement to training for new teachers. The ITTECF places greater emphasis on adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND. The department has also enhanced the requirement on providers of early career training to develop SEND training materials. This approach, developed with input from SEND educational experts, supports the principle of quality-first teaching to improve outcomes for all.The department has been working collaboratively with the Department of Health and Social Care on upcoming statutory guidance on Down syndrome. This includes case studies on teachers supporting children and young people with Down syndrome in the classroom, and involved engagement with individuals with Down syndrome and other conditions, their parents and carers, as well as various experts and practitioners across many organisations. The guidance will be published in due course and the Down Syndrome Act 2022 sets out that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education must consult on this guidance.

What assessment her Department has made of potential impact of local authority funding for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision on outcomes for children with SEND; and whether her Department holds data on children's outcomes across local authorities with differing levels of SEND funding.

The department publishes a High Needs Benchmarking Tool, which offers comparative data on local authorities’ high needs spending and related special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) indicators across local authorities. This tool may assist in understanding variations between local authorities in how they fund SEND provision.The department also publishes a variety of data on children’s and young people’s outcomes by special educational needs across all local authorities. A summary of these outcomes and their sources can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66bdc2de3effd5b79ba490fd/Special_educational_needs_and_disability_analysis_and_summary_of_data_sources_Aug24.pdf.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the formula for allocating per-pupil high needs funding on educational outcomes in local authorities that have a deficit in their high needs education budgets.

The operation of the high needs funding system is currently under review. Our aim is to establish a fair education funding system that directs resources to where they are most needed and enables improved support and outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).Because it is important that we take the time needed for this review, the structure of the high needs national funding formula is largely unchanged for the 2025/26 financial year allocations to local authorities and we are considering the funding required in future years, following the conclusion of the recent spending review.We want future funding for SEND to support our plans for reforming the SEND system, which will be set out in further detail in a white paper in the autumn. We will also outline, before the end of this year, how the government intends to support local authorities in managing their historic and accruing high needs deficits.

What progress her Department has made on reviewing the high needs national funding formula.

The operation of the high needs funding system is currently under review. Our aim is to establish a fair education funding system that directs resources to where they are most needed and enables improved support and outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).Because it is important that we take the time needed for this review, the structure of the high needs national funding formula is largely unchanged for the 2025/26 financial year allocations to local authorities and we are considering the funding required in future years, following the conclusion of the recent spending review.We want future funding for SEND to support our plans for reforming the SEND system, which will be set out in further detail in a white paper in the autumn. We will also outline, before the end of this year, how the government intends to support local authorities in managing their historic and accruing high needs deficits.

Whether she plans to (a) remove and (b) consult on a timetable for the removal of the historic spend factor from the High Needs National Funding Formula.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.The structure of the high needs national funding formula (NFF) is largely unchanged for the 2025/26 financial year, as the government takes the time needed to consider what changes are necessary. It is important both to make sure that we establish an equitable education funding system that directs funding to where it is needed, including to reflect any substantive differences in the costs of SEND provision in rural areas, and to support the government’s SEND reforms.As part of our review of the NFF we are considering the previous government’s decisions on the element based on local authorities’ spending levels in 2017/18, which amounts to about 25% of the 2025/26 NFF quantum. Our plans for this historic spend factor, as for the NFF as a whole, and for any consultations on changes to the NFF, will be announced in due course.

If she will take steps to ensure that the High Needs National Funding reflects the additional costs of delivering SEND provision in rural areas.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.The structure of the high needs national funding formula (NFF) is largely unchanged for the 2025/26 financial year, as the government takes the time needed to consider what changes are necessary. It is important both to make sure that we establish an equitable education funding system that directs funding to where it is needed, including to reflect any substantive differences in the costs of SEND provision in rural areas, and to support the government’s SEND reforms.As part of our review of the NFF we are considering the previous government’s decisions on the element based on local authorities’ spending levels in 2017/18, which amounts to about 25% of the 2025/26 NFF quantum. Our plans for this historic spend factor, as for the NFF as a whole, and for any consultations on changes to the NFF, will be announced in due course.