Written questions by Wild.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of giving judges the power to compel offenders to appear in court for sentencing hearing for offences (a) that are punishable with imprisonment for 14 years or more and (b) where a life sentence (i) could or (ii) must be imposed.

The Government is committed to legislating to enhance court powers to require offenders to attend their sentencing hearings. This precise measure will be included in the Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill which the Government intends to introduce in the first parliamentary session. We are currently considering the policy options for delivering these measures. Further details will be made available as part of the Bill’s introduction into Parliament.

How many offenders have received a life sentence for causing death by dangerous driving.

Sentencing outcomes at court for offenders prosecuted for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving and other offences can be obtained through published data: Outcomes by Offence data tool: December 2023.Provisions in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 increased the maximum penalty from 14 years’ imprisonment to life for the offences of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and causing death by dangerous driving. These measures came into force on 28 June 2022 and apply to offences committed on or after that date.The Sentencing Council has reflected these changes in the sentencing guidelines and the starting point for cases falling into the highest level of seriousness is now 12 years’ imprisonment, a significant increase from the previous 8 years’ starting point. The sentence range for the most serious instances is now 8 to 18 years’ imprisonment.Although the starting points and sentence ranges for this offence have increased, the courts still retain the discretion to sentence outside of this range and impose a life sentence where the seriousness of the offence is such that they consider it more appropriate.We continue to work alongside the Department for Transport to ensure sentencing law for driving offences is appropriate.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her decision not to proceed with the mayoral devolution deal on (a) economic growth, (b) brownfield housing development and (c) adult skills provision in Norfolk.

This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council which was agreed with the previous government in December 2022.This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible.Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out ahead of the English Devolution Bill.I met with the Leader of Norfolk County Council and the Leader Suffolk County Council on 7 October to discuss next steps for devolution in the area.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions ministers in her Department had with the hon. Members for (a) Norwich South, (b) Norwich North, (c) South West Norfolk, (d) North West Norfolk, (e) Mid Norfolk, (f) Broadland and Fakenham, (g) North Norfolk, (h) Great Yarmouth, (i) Norfolk and Waveney and (j) Waveney Valley constituency before announcing that it would not be proceeding with the mayoral devolution deal with Norfolk.

This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Norfolk County Council which was agreed with the previous government in December 2022.This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible.Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out ahead of the English Devolution Bill.I met with the Leader of Norfolk County Council and the Leader Suffolk County Council on 7 October to discuss next steps for devolution in the area.

When he expects decisions to be made on applications to the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund Phase 3 Spring 2024 competition.

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) Phase 3 spring 2024 window (3.1) is currently awaiting outcomes from the autumn fiscal event before decisions on applications can be made.

If he will make an estimate of the total annual cost of regulation to UK businesses.

In 2023, the previous government repealed the Business Impact Target (BIT) through the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act. The BIT was the principal mechanism through which government made an estimate of the total annual cost of regulation to UK businesses. In place of that, the reformed Better Regulation Framework encourages an earlier and more thorough assessment of impacts of individual regulatory proposals. This government will use the framework to ensure that new regulations achieve their objectives, with the minimum cost to business and support economic growth. We will set out further proposals for regulatory reform in due course.

What steps he is taking to reduce the cost of regulation for businesses.

It is essential that we identify areas where the costs of regulations may be unnecessarily high and burdensome for businesses. Best practice analysis of regulatory interventions and reforms, as well as monitoring and evaluating the success of interventions will help us understand these issues further. The Department for Business and Trade is in the process of developing an ambitious regulatory reform agenda to ensure that any future regulation or regulatory reform will work for businesses and consumers, and aids economic growth. Our proposals will be set out in due course.

What (a) contractors and (b) sub-contractors are involved in the main civil works phase of the HS2 programme.

HS2 Ltd publish details of their main civil works contracts, and multiple other contractors, on their Contract Opportunities Table (https://www.hs2.org.uk/supply-chain/direct-contract-opportunities/); this table can be found on the supply chain section of the HS2 website. In addition to this, HS2 Ltd publish details of subcontracts, for which there are likely to be onward opportunities in the supply chain, through their Indirect Opportunities Table (https://www.hs2.org.uk/supply-chain/indirect-contract-opportunities/).

What assessment she has made of the security risk of (a) connected and (b) autonomous vehicles manufactured using Chinese (i) software and (ii) hardware.

Connected and Automated Vehicles offer benefits to motorists and pedestrians through safer and more enjoyable driving, but these new technologies pose new risks. The Government takes national security very seriously and continues to actively look at threats associated with Connected and Automated Vehicles. The Department for Transport works closely with the transport sector and the National Cyber Security Centre, as well as other Government departments to understand and respond to cyber vulnerabilities associated with all Connected Vehicles, including Automated Vehicles.

With reference to paragraph 4(1)(a)(ii) of the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024, what estimate she has made of the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients that are members of a polygamous marriage.

No such estimate has been made as the requested information is not available.

How many applications for Pension Credit have been (a) received and (b) approved in (i) North West Norfolk constituency and (ii) the UK since 29 July 2024.

The information requested regarding the number of Pension Credit applications is not readily available below national level and to provide it at constituency level would incur disproportionate cost. Year to date figures for weekly Pension Credit claim volumes, received in the Department, were recently published in an ad hoc statistical release. They are available via Weekly Pension Credit claims received from 1 April 2024 to 22 September 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

What steps she is taking to ensure public bodies protect the rights of (a) women and (b) transgender people.

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination based on the protected characteristics of 'sex' and ‘gender reassignment’. The Government is committed to upholding this important legislation. The Public Sector Equality Duty requires public bodies, in carrying out their functions, to have due regard to the need to achieve the objectives set out under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. These are to: eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Act; advance equal opportunities between people who have a protected characteristic and those who do not; and foster good relations between people who have a protected characteristic and those who do not.

What steps she is taking to promote safe spaces for women.

This Government is steadfast in its dedication to protecting women and fostering a society in which they feel respected and empowered. We will uphold the Equality Act and its framework to protect single-sex spaces for women, and ensure that service providers understand how to lawfully protect such spaces.We will also treat violence against women and girls as a national emergency and have committed to halving the instances of this in a decade. This Government believes that women and girls should feel safe and protected wherever they go whether that be at home, on the street or at work.