Written questions by Wild.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the quarry exemption and lower rate of Landfill Tax on the replenishment rate of permitted reserves of (a) crushed rock and (b) sand and gravel.

The government recently consulted on proposals to reform LandfillTax following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the government’s circular economy objectives. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the mineral products and aggregates sector.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the quarry exemption and lower rate of Landfill Tax on levels of cost of UK construction materials.

The government recently consulted on proposals to reform LandfillTax following a call for evidence in 2021 under the previous government, to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the government’s circular economy objectives. The consultation closed on 28 July and the government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the mineral products and aggregates sector.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61229 on Cabinet Office: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 61217 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in his department were considered as part of the zero based review.

The 2025 Spending Review included a zero-based review of spending. The Department scrutinised every line of spending to ensure that it is delivering value for money. The review covered resource budgets across the full Department Group, defined as the Department and all its arm’s length bodies.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61228 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money. Through the zero-based review, the Department for Work and Pensions carried out a line by line review of its current budgets. The review involved differing levels of granularity depending on the type and size of expenditure under review. To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum. Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85902 on Prisoners, for what reason he did not provide an estimate of the number of prisoners detained beyond their release date in 2024-25.

The Ministry of Justice is taking robust action to prevent release inaccuracies. Releases inaccuracy has been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps which includes strengthening release checks across prisons and an independent inquiry will report its recommendations to prevent further inaccuracies.A joint protocol between HMPPS and NPCC is in place, to ensure effective and timely communication between partner agencies when an individual is released in error to rearrest them as quickly as possible.The Government is determined to fix release inaccuracies and ensure the public is properly protected.The data requested comes from internal management information and is therefore not fully Quality Assured and does not meet the standard required for public consumption.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61224 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.Through the zero-based review, DSIT carried out a line by line review of its current budgets. The review involved differing levels of granularity depending on the type and size of expenditure under review.To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61226 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

The Zero Based Review covered all of RDEL spending which encompassed 75 lines of activity.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61227 on Department for Business and Trade: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.Through the zero-based review, the Department for Business and Trade carried out a line-by-line review of its current budgets. The review involved differing levels of granularity depending on the type and size of expenditure under review.To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure - at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61220 on Ministry of Defence: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

At Spending Review 2025, the Government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 61221 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each zero based review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure - at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1 million per annum.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61222 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money. Through the zero-based review, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government carried out a line-by-line review of its current budgets. The review involved differing levels of granularity depending on the type and size of expenditure under review. To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum. Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59412 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

As with all departments, HM Treasury undertook a line-by-line review of all activity within the Department.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61223 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.Through the zero-based review, DCMS carried out a line by line review of its current budgets. The review involved differing levels of granularity depending on the type and size of expenditure under review.To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government’s commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85901 on Prisoners' Release, for what reason he did not state how many of the 262 prisoners released in error in 2024-25 were returned to custody.

The Ministry of Justice is taking robust action to prevent release inaccuracies. Releases inaccuracy has been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.On 11 November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a five-point action plan setting out initial steps which includes strengthening release checks across prisons and an independent inquiry will report its recommendations to prevent further inaccuracies.A joint protocol between HMPPS and NPCC is in place, to ensure effective and timely communication between partner agencies when an individual is released in error to rearrest them as quickly as possible.The Government is determined to fix release inaccuracies and ensure the public is properly protected.The data requested comes from internal management information and is therefore not fully Quality Assured and does not meet the standard required for public consumption.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61219 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.Through the zero-based review, the Home Office carried out a line by line review of its current budgets. The review involved differing levels of granularity depending on the type and size of expenditure under review.To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 61225 on Department for Transport: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61218 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

At the Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.Through the ZBR, the department carried out a line-by-line review of its current budgets. The review involved differing levels of granularity depending on the type and size of expenditure under review.To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure, at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1 million per annum.Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028/29.

With reference to his oral answer on 21 October 2025, Official Report, col 789, what proportion of the increase in NHS budget was provided to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn Trust.

All National Health Service organisations will benefit from the record funding growth agreed for the NHS this year. Revenue funding is provided to integrated care boards (ICBs) and is informed by a calculation of what would constitute a ‘fair share’ for that system. NHS trusts and foundation trusts are not directly funded in the same way. They finance their spending through income generated from the provision of healthcare services, paid via contracts agreed with their commissioning ICBs. Whilst national funding growth is defined by Spending Review settlements, the level of funding in individual trusts is not set by the Government and income levels are dependent on the level of healthcare activity they undertake for their local communities.

How much solar power generating capacity is (a) operational, (b) under construction and (c) awaiting a planning decision.

As of the end of September 2025, there is 20.0GW of solar generating capacity in the UK. Deployment statistics are published monthly, here: Solar photovoltaics deployment - GOV.UK. According to the July edition of the Renewable Energy Planning Database, there is 2.4GW of solar capacity under construction and 12.0GW of solar awaiting the result of either an application for planning permission or a planning appeal. These figures exclude installations smaller than 150kW. The REPD is available here: Renewable Energy Planning Database: quarterly extract - GOV.UK.