Written questions by Whitby.

What steps he is taking to encourage the integration of data centres into local heat network zoning plans.

The Department is looking at how waste heat from data centres can be used to support the development of large scale, strategic heat networks. Through heat network zoning, certain buildings and heat sources, including data centres, can be required to connect to a network within set timeframes. Additionally, the Green Heat Network Fund provides £195m p.a. in capital grants up to 2029–30 for low carbon heat networks in England. One supported project is a major new network in North-West London that will utilise data centre heat, powering 10,000 new homes and 250,000m2 of commercial space.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of policy measures adopted in Germany to improve energy efficiency and waste heat utilisation in data centres.

To address the growing energy demands of AI, the AI Energy Council was established. The Council offers expert insights into preparing the UK’s energy system to manage AI’s energy footprint, as well as harnessing AI’s potential within a modern energy system - aligned with the Clean Power 2030 goals. Heat network zoning will enable heat sources to be connected to a network. This will allow for strategic heat networks to be built across the country, making use of recoverable heat sources, including data centres, where available. The department is undertaking research into best practice for connecting heat sources to heat networks. This includes learning from national and international case studies.

Pursuant to her written statement of 2 March 2026 on Asylum changes, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the proposed Named Community Sponsorship scheme.

In the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, published on 21 November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme to enable community groups to sponsor refugees and displaced persons.The delivery of the new named sponsorship scheme will support the Government’s overall objective of providing an orderly and controlled system of safe and legal routes that is aligned with community capacity to welcome refugees.Work is underway to deliver the named community sponsorship route. Further details, including timeframes for the launch of the route, will be set out in due course.

Pursuant to the written statement of 2 March 2026 on Asylum changes, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the timeline for establishing a Named Community Sponsorship scheme.

In the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, published on 21 November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme to enable community groups to sponsor refugees and displaced persons.The delivery of the new named sponsorship scheme will support the Government’s overall objective of providing an orderly and controlled system of safe and legal routes that is aligned with community capacity to welcome refugees.Work is underway to deliver the named community sponsorship route. Further details, including timeframes for the launch of the route, will be set out in due course.

What steps he is taking to ensure ICBs provide an annual health check to adults with cerebral palsy.

The Government is committed to making sure that people with cerebral palsy receive quality care. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on cerebral palsy in adults, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng119The guidance recommends that people with cerebral palsy should have an annual review of their clinical and functional needs, carried out by a healthcare professional with expertise in neurodisabilities. This review should consider mobility, communication, pain, mental and physical health, participation, and any new or changing support needs.While NICE guidelines are not mandatory, they reflect best practice, and the Government expects healthcare commissioners to take the guidelines fully into account in designing services that meet the needs of their local population and to work towards their implementation over time. Recommendations in NICE guidance are based on rigorous clinical and economic evidence and ensure that services are both clinically effective and cost‑effective, and support more consistent, sustainable care across the country.

Whether he plans to provide targeted support to businesses that use heating oil.

The government recognises that many businesses across the country will see the global events and be concerned about the impact on their fuel bills. We are monitoring the situation closely and actively engaging with industry and trade associations to understand what support may be needed. It is vital that consumers are treated fairly. Price gouging will not be tolerated. My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has written to the heating oil industry setting out our expectations that they adhere to the industry’s Code of Practice. We have also requested the CMA undertake a detailed examination of the heating oil market and we will work closely with the CMA to understand their findings and develop options to increase consumer protection.

Communities and Local Government, what assurances he can provide that National Parks and National Landscapes will be fully considered in any proposals for an overnight visitor accommodation levy.

The precise design and scope of the overnight visitor levy power is still under development. Decisions on whether to introduce a levy will rest with Mayors and be shaped through local consultation on its design and the impacts the levy may have, including on National Parks and National Landscapes.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to its response to recommendation 24 of the Environmental Audit Committee’s report entitled Environmental Sustainability and Housing Growth, published on 13 March 2026, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of the introduction of mandatory whole-life carbon reporting by EU Member States on the technological readiness of carbon assessment methods.

My Department has made no such assessment.

What steps she is taking to increase awareness and funding for (a) materials and mining programmes of study and (b) science and engineering apprenticeships and qualifications in the quarrying sector.

The government supports education and skills training in the minerals, mining and quarrying sectors through:Offering 13 qualifications for 16 to 19-year-olds at Levels 2 to 6 and ​3 Level 2 qualifications in the adult skills fund (ASF) local flexibilities offer.​Investing over £1.4 billion in adult education and skills through the ASF, which covers science and engineering qualifications up to Level 3.Increased investment in 16 to 19 education by £400 million in the 2025/26 financial year, plus a further £190 million investment to fund study programmes that include qualifications in science and engineering.Allocating higher weighting/funding bands to high-cost subjects such as engineering, in both ASF and 16 to 19 funding.There are a range of apprenticeship standards available to support the mining and quarrying sector, including the Level 2 Material processing plant operator, Level 5 Mineral products technician and Level 6 Mine management standards.Offering a range of financial support for employers in all sectors, including engineering and manufacturing, to take on young apprentices. This includes a new incentive of up to £2,000 for non-levy paying employers, essentially small and medium-sized enterprises, that take on 16 to 24-year-old apprentices as new employees.Providing high quality information to pupils about alternative pathways through careers advice, including up-to-date labour market information and details on apprenticeships, T Levels and other technical qualifications.

What oversight mechanisms exist to ensure that behaviour policies adopted by further education colleges do not disproportionately disadvantage young people with SEND.

Further education (FE) colleges are subject to statutory and regulatory oversight to ensure that policies do not disadvantage learners with special educational needs and disabilities. Colleges must comply with the Equality Act 2010, including the duty to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled learners, including those with learning difficulties, are not placed at a substantial disadvantage.Colleges must also meet equality and safeguarding requirements set out in their funding agreements. Where providers fail to meet legal or regulatory duties, the department has powers to support and take further action.Ofsted plays a key role in assessing how effectively providers support learners with high needs. Under its renewed framework, inspectors evaluate participation, development, and behaviour expectations across provision types.Inspectors evaluate participation and development across different FE and skills settings and consider the nature of the learners, along with differences in approach to behaviour monitoring and management for different groups of learners.

What steps he is taking to take ensure that any consultations with pubs include independent publicans.

We recognise the valuable contributions of independent publicans in the pubs consultation process.Ministers and officials from my Department regularly meet with independent publicans and their trade association representatives at the British Institute of Innkeeping and are represented on the Hospitality Sector Council. Last month, I met with pub landlords at a roundtable organised by the British Institute for Innkeeping, attended by several of their members.We always encourage them to engage with all consultations such as the recent ones on licensing reforms, market access for local beers, the Pubs Code Adjudicator and on the forthcoming review of the rateable valuation methodology for pubs.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of industrial carbon capture projects, such as Peak Cluster, on safeguarding domestic cement production and skilled jobs in Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) is essential for fully decarbonising clinker production within the cement sector, which is critical for producing foundational materials for the UK economy. 40% of the UK’s cement and lime is produced in Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The Peak Cluster would therefore significantly contribute to the region’s decarbonisation. Together, the Peak Cluster and Morecambe Net Zero project stated in a recent study that they could create and safeguard 13,000 jobs. This includes: Over 2,000 existing jobs in the cement and lime industryAround 300 new jobs created at manufacturing sites1,200 temporary jobs created for the construction of the pipeline and capture facilities

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help support ex-footballers with neurodegenerative diseases.

My department is taking important steps to ensure that former football players with neurodegenerative diseases, and their families, receive the support they need.The Secretary of State and I have met with affected family members and ex-footballers, including individuals associated with the Football Families for Justice organisation, to discuss player safety and welfare for those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.Our immediate priority is to push the football authorities for greater clarity on the funding available through the Brain Health Fund, and ensure that there is a clear and publicly available articulation of the scope of this funding and process for accessing it. Further to this, we are actively discussing with relevant stakeholders to explore whether funding can be expanded to involve other footballing organisations.

Whether his Department has plans for new incentives to help encourage businesses to install rooftop solar panels on large industrial and commercial buildings.

The Government is aware of the significant potential that commercial rooftops have in our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower. The Solar Council is monitoring delivery of Roadmap actions to support rooftop solar deployment on commercial and industrial buildings, including through resolving complex stakeholder interactions and improving grid access. Businesses already benefit from incentives such as the Smart Export Guarantee, capital allowances, and business rates exemptions for qualifying plant and machinery. We continue to work closely with industry to identify further opportunities to enable cost‑effective uptake.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of current mechanisms supporting small-scale solar generation following the closure of the Feed-in Tariff scheme.

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a market-led mechanism that ensures small-scale solar generators receive payment for any electricity exported to the grid. The Government keeps current market offerings under review to assess whether the market is continuing to deliver effective options. Ofgem also reports annually on the range and uptake of SEG tariffs offered by suppliers. The market offers a wide range of SEG tariffs, with registration numbers increasing to over 270,000 installations at the end of March 2025, compared with around 166,000 for the previous year. The latest Ofgem report can be found at Smart Export Guarantee Annual Report - April 2024 to March 2025 | Ofgem

What steps his Department is taking to coordinate planning, energy policy and building regulations to maximise solar deployment across the built environment.

We work closely across Whitehall to ensure alignment between planning policy, energy policy and building regulations. The Government will publish the Future Homes Standard in the coming months, ensuring solar panels are installed on the majority of new build homes once it comes into force. Similarly, the Future Buildings Standard will ensure that solar will, where appropriate, play an important role on new non-domestic buildings.

Innovation and Technology, what progress her Department has made on the rollout of gigabit broadband in Derbyshire Dales constituency.

In May 2025, BDUK and Full Fibre mutually agreed to end the Project Gigabit contract for the Peak District, affecting some Derbyshire Dales premisesSince then, BDUK has worked with suppliers on alternatives and is now close to agreeing a replacement contract with Openreach. We know this has taken time, but we are working hard to have the contract in place within the next monthSeparately, over 3,200 premises across the constituency are already being reached through two Project Gigabit contracts with Connect Fibre.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help prevent the detention of children from Gaza and the West Bank by the Israeli military.

We are deeply concerned about the detention of Palestinian children by the Israeli military and about allegations of abuse against those children, including sexual violence.The UK calls for all such reports to be fully investigated. The arrest and detention of children must follow due process, in line with international juvenile justice standards.We also call on all parties to the conflict to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross immediate and unfettered access.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of not expanding Healthy Babies funding to all local authority areas from April 2026.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out an ambitious agenda for how we will improve the nation’s health by creating a new model of care that is fit for the future. We recognise that local authorities are ambitious, seeking to deliver universal support to families and prevent escalating need. We are committed to delivering the 10-Year Health Plan ambition to match Healthy Babies, formerly Start for Life, to Best Start Family Hubs over the next decade. From April, the Government is rolling out Best Start Family Hubs to all local authorities, backed by over £500 million to reach up to half a million more children and families. This funding will help embed hubs within a wider support system, including integrated child health services, and will enable proactive identification and support for health issues and early developmental delays.

Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department intends to bring forward legislative proposals to implement the reforms to National Parks governance and purposes announced in December 2024.

The Government is committed to implementing the reforms announced in December 2024 as soon as parliamentary time allows. As set out in the revised Environment Improvement Plan we will champion Protected Landscapes by refreshing our national vision for these special places, eliminating bureaucratic barriers and ensuring teams have the tools and resources to achieve our ambitions.