Written questions by Shannon.

What discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on innovation in nuclear technology.

DESNZ Ministers engage with Devolved Government counterparts on energy matters regularly, including through the Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Interministerial Group (IMG) which last took place on 17 October 2024. The next IMG is scheduled to meet on 6 March in Belfast with NI Ministers chairing.

What assessment has been made of the adequacy of the uptake of Universal Credit in under 21s in the last 12 months.

Monthly statistics for the number of Starts to Universal Credit in Great Britain by age, are published quarterly on Stat-Xplore, and are currently available to October 2024, with statistics to January 2025 due to be published on Tuesday 18th February 2025. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required. There is also a Universal Credit Official Statistics: Stat-Xplore user guide. The Department’s Youth Offer provides individually tailored Work Coach support to young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit. This support includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to finding work, and Youth Hubs across Great Britain.

What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on small businesses sourcing material.

The Windsor Framework established a broad set of arrangements to support Great Britain-based businesses to move goods to Northern Ireland, including to small businesses based in Northern Ireland. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are front and centre of the Government’s growth mission. The Government is committed to supporting the Executive as it works to generate economic growth. In support of that, I hold regular discussions with ministers and political parties in the Assembly, as well as with businesses and their representative bodies.

What assessment she has made of trends in the level of electric vehicle purchases in the last 12 months.

The Government closely monitors developments in the EV market. 2024 was a record year for the sale of new zero emission cars. In 2024 over 380,000 electric cars were sold, the highest number ever in the UK. These made up a fifth of the new car market – also the highest ever. In 2024, the UK overtook Germany to become the largest electric car market in Europe and the market as a whole grew by 2.6%, faster than France, Germany, and the EU. The electric van market also continues to experience growth. New electric van volumes increased by 3.3% in 2024, compared to the previous year.

What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on enabling oil fuelled heating homes in Northern Ireland to transition to gas.

Energy policy is a transferred matter to the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive. DESNZ holds regular discussions with NI Executive on broader energy matters, including through our Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Inter-ministerial Group.

How many assaults on transport staff there have been in the last 12 months.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of offences and their investigative outcomes recorded by the police in England and Wales on a quarterly basis, which can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tablesThis includes assault offences recorded by British Transport Police. However, it is not currently possible to separately identify assaults against staff from those against passengers in data held centrally.

What comparative assessment he has made of the level of uptake of the flu vaccine in (a) 2024 and (b) the last five years for which data is available.

The UK Health Security Agency publishes provisional monthly data on flu vaccine uptake in England in eligible patient groups, with further information available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-uptake#seasonal-flu-vaccine-uptake:-figuresThe following table shows the percentage of general practice patients with vaccination coverage, broken down by patient groups, from 2019/20 to 2024/25:Patient groupOver 65 years oldAt riskPregnant womenTwo year oldsThree year olds2024/2573.8%38.6%33.7%40.9%42.4%2023/2477.0%40.3%30.9%41.0%41.3%2022/2378.4%46.3%33.2%39.8%42.2%2021/2281.5%49.3%37.3%46.6%49.1%2020/2180.2%51.5%43.0%54.1%56.5%2019/2070.6%40.8%41.3%37.0%36.9% In addition, the following table shows the percentage of school aged children and frontline health care workers in England with vaccination coverage, from 2019/20 to 2024/25: Primary school, from Reception to Year 6Secondary schoolFrontline health care workers2024/2554.0%44.0%36.2%2023/2453.8%41.2%41.0%2022/2355.5%10.3%46.7%2021/2252.9%37.8%58.8%2020/2159.8%53.5%75.3%2019/2057.9%N/A68.5%Note: for secondary school pupils, the eligible year groups varied by season, and so for the years 2024/25, 2023/24, and 2021/22 the data covers those from Year 7 to Year 11, but for 2022/23 it only covers those from Year 7 to Year 9, and for 2020/21, it just includes those in Year 7.Caution should be used when comparing flu vaccine uptake between seasons. In 2024/25, adult groups, excluding pregnant women, were eligible from 3 October, rather than 1 September, as in previous seasons. Therefore, vaccine uptake data for this season is not comparable to previous seasons in these groups. In addition, the roll out to secondary school aged children has not been uniform, in some years not all of those in Year 7 to Year 11 were offered the vaccine.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of fizzy drinks on type 2 diabetes.

Scientific risk assessment and United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on independent advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).In 2015, the SACN published its report on Carbohydrates and Health and recommended that “the consumption of sugars-sweetened beverages should be minimised in children and adults”. With respect to type 2 diabetes, the SACN noted that “a greater risk is associated with a higher intake of sugars-sweetened beverages”. Energy intakes that consistently exceed requirements lead to weight gain and obesity in the long term.A 2014 Public Health England report found that adults living with obesity are five times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than adults of a healthy weight. Approximately 90% of adults with type 2 diabetes are living with overweight or obesity.The SACN is currently considering the World Health Organisation’s guideline on the use of non-sugar sweeteners and the associated systematic review, and whether additional assessment is required. The SACN is due to publish a position statement in 2025.

If she will make an estimate of recent trends in the number of people prescribed pain medication in the last 12 months.

The Prescription Cost Analysis data release gives items and quantities of each medicine dispensed in the community in England. The following table shows the total number of items dispensed for analgesics in England, regardless of where prescribed, as well as the unique number of patients that were dispensed medicines listed in British National Formulary (BNF) Section 4.7 Analgesics, from December 2023 to November 2024:Month and yearTotal number of itemsUnique identified patientsDecember 20235,000,0003,100,000January 20245,200,0003,200,000February 20244,800,0003,100,000March 20244,900,0003,100,000April 20245,100,0003,200,000May 20245,200,0003,200,000June 20244,800,0003,100,000July 20245,200,0003,200,000August 20245,000,0003,100,000September 20244,900,0003,100,000October 20245,200,0003,200,000November 20245,000,0003,200,000Total60,400,0007,500,000For further information, BNF 4.7 includes:- non-opioid analgesics and compound preparations;- opioid analgesics;- neuropathic pain medicines; and- antimigraine medicines.No data has been captured relating to the clinical indication a prescription is intended for. Some of these products can be used for a variety of clinical indications and therefore the figures provided may include items that were prescribed for a different condition, rather than for pain relief.It is important to note that this data does not capture medicines classified elsewhere within the BNF, which are primarily used for other reasons, but may also be used for analgesic purposes. This includes, for example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which feature in 10.1 ‘Drugs used in rheumatic diseases and gout’, and antidepressants, used off-label in chronic primary pain, which feature in 4.3 ‘Antidepressant drugs’.

What contracts his Department plans to provide to businesses in each of the devolved regions.

The Defence footprint is nationwide and in every one of the UK’s nations and regions the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is making a positive difference. The MOD is required to use fair and open competition for all its contract opportunities, which includes non-discrimination on the grounds of location of a potential supplier in the UK, and is always keen to attract new entrants to the supply chain. Details of contracts awarded by the Department can be found on the Defence Sourcing Portal.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of reports of freedom of religion or belief violations in India.

The UK Government condemns any instances of discrimination because of religion or belief, regardless of the country or faith involved. Concerns about the rights and opportunities of some religious minorities in India are widely reported, and our High Commission in New Delhi and network of Deputy High Commissions across India track these issues closely.We take this seriously. Dialogue concerning this is an important aspect of the UK-India relationship, and where we have specific concerns, we raise them directly with India. Our network in India also meets regularly with religious representatives from different faith communities, and, on 18 October, I held a roundtable with a range of faith leaders in Delhi to discuss issues facing religious organisations today.

If she will make an estimate of the number of people convicted for offences related to puppy farming in the last 12 months.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on offenders convicted for animal cruelty offences in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.However, data held centrally does not include information on whether defendants were convicted for offences related to puppy farming.This information may be held in court records but to examine individual court records would be of disproportionate costs.

Whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the financial compensation available to those that have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides specific support for people with asbestos-related conditions via a range of schemes. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) provides non-contributory, “no-fault” benefit for disablement because of an accident at work, or because of one of over 70 prescribed diseases known to be a risk from certain jobs. IIDB is a weekly award that can be worth up to £11,500* per year and has been consistently uprated in line with inflation. The department also provides one-off lump-sum compensation payments under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979 (the ‘1979 Act scheme’) to individuals who suffer from one of the dust-related diseases covered by the scheme, subject to the wider eligibility criteria being satisfied. This scheme is designed to cover people who are unable to claim damages from any relevant employers because they have gone out of business. Asbestos-related diseases covered by IIDB and the 1979 Act scheme include pneumoconiosis (including asbestosis), diffuse mesothelioma, unilateral or bilateral diffuse pleural thickening and asbestos-related primary carcinoma of the lung. Subject to Parliamentary approval, both IIDB and the 1979 Act scheme are due to be uprated by 1.7 per cent from April this year. In addition to these schemes someone suffering from long-term disabling affects due to an asbestos-related condition may be eligible for further financial support via Personal Independence Payment, or through Universal Credit and New Style Employment and Support Allowance for those with a health condition that limits their ability to work. Those who have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace may pursue a civil compensation claim against an employer. Where their employer no longer exists or their employer’s insurer cannot be traced, individuals diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma may also be eligible for an award under the 2014 Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme if there is evidence that their exposure was due to employer negligence. *Figure rounded to the nearest hundred.

Representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing staff salary pay scales so parliamentary advisors can be paid at the same level as hon. Members.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) keeps MPs' staff pay under review and periodically assesses benchmarking data so that pay scales remain in line with the salaries of other similar roles within the public sector.There are seven standard MPs' staff roles plus interns, each having different job descriptions, required skills and competencies, experience, and levels of responsibility. IPSA's benchmarking process insures that salary differentials reflect the market rates for different roles.IPSA annually presents its recommendations to the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority as part of the committee's review of IPSA's main estimate.

What steps she is taking to improve meals in schools for SEN children.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. It is important that children eat nutritious food at school and the department encourages schools to have a whole-school approach to healthy eating.The minimum standards for school food are set out in legislation. Beyond this, headteachers, school governors and their caterers are best placed to make decisions about their school food policies that take into account local circumstances. In doing so, schools are expected to make reasonable efforts to cater for pupils with particular requirements, for example to reflect medical, dietary and cultural needs.School governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the School Food Standards. To support governors, the department, along with National Governance Association, are running a pilot online training course on school food for governors and trustees. The department will evaluate the training programme’s reception and effectiveness in the short-term.Education settings are obliged, under the Equality Act 2010, to make reasonable adjustments for children and young people with disabilities to avoid putting them at a substantial disadvantage in relation to a relevant matter, in comparison with persons who are not disabled. Schools are required to make reasonable adjustments to enable such pupils to access their school meals, should they wish to. Schools should work with the pupil, their family and any other professionals involved, to agree the necessary support. It is for the school to make the decision about what is reasonable in any particular situation.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recent reports of missile tests in North Korea.

The UK is monitoring the continued testing of ballistic missiles by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), including the short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) launches on 14 January 2025 - all of which violate UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCR). The UK remains committed to calling out all violations of UNSCRs and will continue to work with partners to enforce existing UN approved sanctions on DPRK.

If he will take steps to provide additional incentives to help encourage people to establish small businesses.

The Government supports entrepreneurs with funding and mentoring through, for example the British Business Bank, via Start-up Loans.The recently announced Business Growth Service which is due to be landed later this year, will help businesses access the support they need to grow, whether they are starting out or looking to scale up. One aim is to ensure that businesses can access more targeted support that considers their particular needs.We will publish our Small Business Strategy later this year, setting out how the Government will encourage entrepreneurship across the UK and enable small businesses to grow, empowering entrepreneurs to innovate, export and create new jobs.

What steps she is taking to prevent higher education institutions from targeted influence from hostile states.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only. This government is committed to ensuring our world-leading universities remain free from foreign interference. There are a set of measures that protect against undue foreign interference in our universities. These range from the Academic Technology Approval Scheme, which vets students and researchers seeking to study in sensitive areas, to the provisions of the Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act 2023, which includes the implementation of a new complaints scheme which will offer a new focused route for concerns regarding foreign interference in academic freedom and free speech to be raised. The government offers practical advice to support the sector to engage with international partnerships in transparent and secure ways. The Research Collaboration and Advice Team, the National Protective Security Authority, the National Cyber Security Centre, and guidance published by Universities UK all support the sector to manage the security-related risks of internationalisation. The government is currently working at pace on the implementation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which will apply to universities across the UK, and will require registration of foreign directed activity involving specific governments and entities where it is necessary to protect the safety or interests of the UK. We expect the scheme to commence in summer 2025. Finally, the government is conducting an internal review, informed by engagement with the regulator, sector, academics impacted by foreign interference, as well as international partners, to assess existing approaches to managing the risk of foreign interference and what more support they might need.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of rises in employer National Insurance contributions on victims of domestic and sexual violence.

The Government recognises the important role charities play in our society and has made it a priority to reset the relationship with civil society by developing a Civil Society Covenant.To repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance.The Government recognises the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of employers with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year. Charities will still be able to claim employer NICs reliefs including those for under 21s and under 25 apprentices, where eligible.More broadly, within the tax system, we provide support to charities through a range of reliefs and exemptions, including reliefs for charitable giving., with more than £6 billion in charitable reliefs provided to charities, CASCs and their donors in 2023 to 2024.

If she will hold discussions with the devolved Administrations on the adequacy of (a) funding and (b) devolved powers for the provision of public services.

The UK Government regularly engages with officials and ministers from the devolved governments on a wide range of issues, including their funding to deliver public services. The devolved governments’ settlements for 2025-26 are the largest in real terms of any settlements since devolution. Each devolved government is receiving at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK, amounting to over £16 billion more in 2025-26. In total, the devolved governments will receive over £86 billion in 2025-26, including an additional £6.6 billion through the Barnett formula. Barnett-based funding is not ringfenced for a specific policy area. This provides the devolved governments with the flexibility to allocate funding across devolved areas according to their own priorities and local circumstances, including public services. The devolved governments remain accountable to their respective devolved legislatures for these decisions.