Written questions by Timothy.

How many smart meters he expects to be installed in NHS buildings in each year between 2025 and 2030.

Data on National Health Service smart meter usage in the NHS is not collected or projected centrally by NHS England. The annual Estates Return Information Collection does collect data on electricity meters, but this does not currently differentiate smart meters. Further information on the annual Estates Return Information Collection is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection

What the (a) sources and (b) levels were of carbon emissions for NHS buildings in England in each year since 2015.

National Health Service organisations are not expected to individually submit carbon emissions data. Estimates are made at a national level, based on energy consumption data submitted by trusts through the annual Estates Return Information Collection. Further information on the annual Estates Return Information Collection is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collectionTotal NHS carbon emissions estimates are published in NHS England’s Annual Report. A copy of a table showing total secondary care emissions by energy source and rounded to nearest 10 ktCO2e, from 2018/19 to 2023/24, the most recent data available, is attached.

What the average cost of energy bills were for NHS buildings in each year since 2015.

The annual Estates Return Information Collection (ERIC) collects data on the energy costs of National Health Service organisations. This data has been consistently reported since 2018/19. The following table shows the cost of energy bills for NHS trusts as reported in ERIC, from 2018/19 to 2023/24: YearTotalMean average per reporting trust2018/19£667,000,000£2,900,0002019/20£672,000,000£3,000,0002020/21£653,000,000£3,000,0002021/22£779,000,000£3,700,0002022/23£1,195,000,000£5,700,0002023/24£1,380,000,000£6,600,000

How much he expects average energy bills to be for NHS buildings in each year between 2025 and 2030.

The Department of Health and Social Care does not make independent energy price projections for National Health Service buildings. However, as matter of course, we make full use of official energy data in policy development, including the central HM Treasury Green Book scenario on energy prices, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s energy and emissions projections, where appropriate. We continue to focus on increasing energy efficiency across the NHS estate, including by investing over £90 million in energy saving measures through National Energy Efficiency Fund in 2024/25, and through our recently announced partnership with Great British Energy, where £100 million will be invested in solar panels across the NHS during 2025/26.

What guidance his Department provides to ambulance trusts to help ensure adequate (a) coverage and (b) response times.

On 30 January 2025, NHS England published the 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance. This set out the actions to be taken by the National Health Service in 2025/26 to improve ambulance response times. The planning guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/2025-26-priorities-and-operational-planning-guidance/Information on further actions to support improvements in urgent and emergency care services during 2025/26 will be published at the earliest opportunity.

If he will list (a) ambulance substations and (b) the number of ambulances permanently located in the East of England in (i) January 2025 and (ii) February 2025.

The information requested is not held centrally. The location of ambulance stations is held locally by ambulance services. The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust publishes a list of ambulance stations on its website, which is available at the following link:https://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/join-the-team/working-for-us/EEAST-station-listThe East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust has reported that it provides services through 577 ambulances.

How many applicants trained abroad were rejected for residency positions with NHS providers in each year since 2020.

The number of British nationals who accepted medical specialty training posts in 2024 was 8,017, and the number of non-British nationals accepting posts was 5,882. The number of applicants trained outside of the United Kingdom who were rejected at different stages of the medical specialty training recruitment processes in 2024 was 5,814. This does not include applicants who were not rejected but who chose to withdraw themselves from at least one of their applications. The number of domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 8,537. The number of non-domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 5,324.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022, and 2023 is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversityThis includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made, and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data looks at each medical speciality separately. Many applicants will apply for more than one specialty, and the published data does not show the number of unique applicants who were successful for at least one specialty or rejected for all, as presented for the 2024 round, as the Department does not hold that data.

How many applicants trained abroad were accepted for residency positions with NHS providers in each year since 2020.

The number of British nationals who accepted medical specialty training posts in 2024 was 8,017, and the number of non-British nationals accepting posts was 5,882. The number of applicants trained outside of the United Kingdom who were rejected at different stages of the medical specialty training recruitment processes in 2024 was 5,814. This does not include applicants who were not rejected but who chose to withdraw themselves from at least one of their applications. The number of domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 8,537. The number of non-domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 5,324.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022, and 2023 is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversityThis includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made, and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data looks at each medical speciality separately. Many applicants will apply for more than one specialty, and the published data does not show the number of unique applicants who were successful for at least one specialty or rejected for all, as presented for the 2024 round, as the Department does not hold that data.

How many (a) British nationals, and (b) foreign nationals were given residency positions in each year since 2020.

The number of British nationals who accepted medical specialty training posts in 2024 was 8,017, and the number of non-British nationals accepting posts was 5,882. The number of applicants trained outside of the United Kingdom who were rejected at different stages of the medical specialty training recruitment processes in 2024 was 5,814. This does not include applicants who were not rejected but who chose to withdraw themselves from at least one of their applications. The number of domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 8,537. The number of non-domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 5,324.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022, and 2023 is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversityThis includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made, and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data looks at each medical speciality separately. Many applicants will apply for more than one specialty, and the published data does not show the number of unique applicants who were successful for at least one specialty or rejected for all, as presented for the 2024 round, as the Department does not hold that data.

How many domestically trained applicants were accepted for residency positions with NHS providers in each year since 2020.

The number of British nationals who accepted medical specialty training posts in 2024 was 8,017, and the number of non-British nationals accepting posts was 5,882. The number of applicants trained outside of the United Kingdom who were rejected at different stages of the medical specialty training recruitment processes in 2024 was 5,814. This does not include applicants who were not rejected but who chose to withdraw themselves from at least one of their applications. The number of domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 8,537. The number of non-domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 5,324.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022, and 2023 is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversityThis includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made, and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data looks at each medical speciality separately. Many applicants will apply for more than one specialty, and the published data does not show the number of unique applicants who were successful for at least one specialty or rejected for all, as presented for the 2024 round, as the Department does not hold that data.

How many domestically trained applicants were rejected for residency positions with NHS providers in each year since 2020.

The decision to remove the Resident Labour Market Test for doctors in 2020 has meant that more international medical graduates have also been able to apply for speciality training places, increasing the number of candidates for roles.Residencies, or speciality training positions, are advertised nationally, and the process is administered by a lead deanery on behalf of the four nations of the United Kingdom. There is no obligation on National Health Service providers to advertise residency positions for British nationals before foreign nationals, or to hire British residents before overseas residents. The rules and criteria for recruitment into higher specialty training are agreed by the Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection committees on behalf of the four statutory education bodies of the UK and must meet standards required by the General Medical Council. Working with NHS England, we continue to keep the selection process for all applicants to medical speciality training under review.Data provided by NHS England shows that in 2024, 14,620 graduates from UK medical schools applied for medical specialty training posts. Of these 1,299 were unsuccessful or unappointable in any of their applications as individuals can make multiple applications. A further 1,476 UK graduates were deemed appointable at interview but did not receive any offers due to post availability.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022 and 2023 is published by NHS England. This includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data does not present this information across all specialties together as presented for the 2024 round. The information is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversity

Whether NHS providers are obligated to (a) advertise residency positions for British nationals before foreign nationals and (b) hire British residents before overseas residents.

The decision to remove the Resident Labour Market Test for doctors in 2020 has meant that more international medical graduates have also been able to apply for speciality training places, increasing the number of candidates for roles.Residencies, or speciality training positions, are advertised nationally, and the process is administered by a lead deanery on behalf of the four nations of the United Kingdom. There is no obligation on National Health Service providers to advertise residency positions for British nationals before foreign nationals, or to hire British residents before overseas residents. The rules and criteria for recruitment into higher specialty training are agreed by the Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection committees on behalf of the four statutory education bodies of the UK and must meet standards required by the General Medical Council. Working with NHS England, we continue to keep the selection process for all applicants to medical speciality training under review.Data provided by NHS England shows that in 2024, 14,620 graduates from UK medical schools applied for medical specialty training posts. Of these 1,299 were unsuccessful or unappointable in any of their applications as individuals can make multiple applications. A further 1,476 UK graduates were deemed appointable at interview but did not receive any offers due to post availability.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022 and 2023 is published by NHS England. This includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data does not present this information across all specialties together as presented for the 2024 round. The information is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversity

How the career experience of British nationals and foreign nationals are compared when NHS providers are considering residency applications.

The decision to remove the Resident Labour Market Test for doctors in 2020 has meant that more international medical graduates have also been able to apply for speciality training places, increasing the number of candidates for roles.Residencies, or speciality training positions, are advertised nationally, and the process is administered by a lead deanery on behalf of the four nations of the United Kingdom. There is no obligation on National Health Service providers to advertise residency positions for British nationals before foreign nationals, or to hire British residents before overseas residents. The rules and criteria for recruitment into higher specialty training are agreed by the Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection committees on behalf of the four statutory education bodies of the UK and must meet standards required by the General Medical Council. Working with NHS England, we continue to keep the selection process for all applicants to medical speciality training under review.Data provided by NHS England shows that in 2024, 14,620 graduates from UK medical schools applied for medical specialty training posts. Of these 1,299 were unsuccessful or unappointable in any of their applications as individuals can make multiple applications. A further 1,476 UK graduates were deemed appointable at interview but did not receive any offers due to post availability.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022 and 2023 is published by NHS England. This includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data does not present this information across all specialties together as presented for the 2024 round. The information is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversity

How many dental practices in (a) England, (b) the East of England and (c) Suffolk have stopped accepting NHS patients since 5 July 2024.

NHS dentists are required to keep their NHS.UK website profiles up to date so that patients can find a dentist more easily. This includes information on whether they are accepting new patients. This information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentistThe Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

If he will review the reimbursement system for (a) pharmacies and (b) GP practices dispensing medicines.

Consultation with Community Pharmacy England for the 2025/26 Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework has started and will include reviewing the allowance for medicine margin as part of funding, and any further changes to the reimbursement arrangements.The Department has previously reviewed the reimbursement arrangements for community pharmacies which lead to a consultation on several improvements in 2019. The consultation response was published in November 2021, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/community-pharmacy-drug-reimbursement-reform/outcome/community-pharmacy-drug-reimbursement-reform-consultation-responseThere are currently no plans to review the reimbursement system for general practices (GPs) dispensing medicines. Dispensing practices receive a dispensing fee, approximately £2.00 to £2.30 per item, which is intended to cover dispensing costs. This fee is calculated based on forecasted volumes of prescriptions to be dispensed and the size of the funding envelope, according to a methodology agreed by the Department, the General Practitioners Committee (GPC), NHS Employers, and the Welsh Government.An updated methodology was agreed between the British Medical Association and NHS England to address the issue of continuing fluctuation between over and underspend year on year, the alternating pattern of over and under spends, and implemented in October 2023.The Department and NHS England started consulting with the GPC England, of the British Medical Association, on the 2025/26 GP Contract on 19 December and will consider all proposed policy changes, including dispensing practices. An announcement will be made before April 2025.

How many ambulances were (a) petrol, (b), diesel, (c) hydrogen, (d) hybrid, (e) plug-in hybrid and (f) fully electric in (i) England, (ii) East of England and (iii) Suffolk in each of the last 10 years.

The attached tables show the number of double-crewed ambulances and other emergency vehicles for England and the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust by fuel type, from 2019/20 to 2023/24. Data is only held for the years included in the tables attached, and information is not available for the Suffolk geographical area.

How many vehicles other than ambulances used by the NHS were (a) petrol, (b), diesel, (c) hydrogen, (d) hybrid, (e) plug-in hybrid and (f) fully electric in (i) England, (ii) East of England and (iii) Suffolk in each of the last 10 years.

The information requested is not held centrally.

What estimate he has made of the staff time taken in ambulance trusts to meet the target for the NHS to reach net zero by 2040, broken down by (a) FTE positions and (b) salary.

The information requested is not held centrally. No estimate has been made.

If he will publish a list of the (a) name and (b) postcode of all ambulance depots in (i) England, (ii) East of England and (iii) Suffolk; and how many (A) ambulances and (B) other vehicles are based at each depot.

A table showing the names, postcodes, and operating foundation trusts of all ambulance depots in England, including the East of England and Suffolk, is attached. Information on the number of vehicles at each depot is not held centrally.

How many electric vehicle charging points were available at ambulance stations in (a) England, (b) the East of England and (c) Suffolk in each year between 2014 and 2024.

NHS England has collected this data since 2017 through the Estates Return Information Collection (ERIC) at a national and regional level, for the East of England National Health Service region, although it does not separate the data for Suffolk. The most recent data for 2023/24 shows that there are 572 national electric vehicle (EV) chargers on all ambulance sites, 22 of which are in the East of England. The following table shows the number of EV chargers at a national level and for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, broken down by year, from 2017/18 to 2023/24:YearNational EV chargersEast of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust EV chargers2017/183402018/197742019/20116162020/21164162021/22246152022/23350222023/2457222Source: data is from the Estates Returns Information Collection, published by NHS England, and available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collectionNotes: EV charging points have been provided for all ambulance sites, and these will include ambulance stations, make ready hubs, and other sites;the data for England includes the total number of EV charging points available on site, including those for use by the trust's own internal fleet and available for patients, visitors, and staff, irrespective of any fees charged;it is not possible to provide accurate data for Suffolk as several ambulance stations under 1,000 meters squared Gross Internal Area will be aggregated and reported as one line, under Other Reportable Sites, so will not have a location; andsince the pilot year of reporting in 2017, the definitions and reporting consistency has varied due to feedback received, and some of the national data reported in ERIC has been adjusted by NHS England to account for reporting errors and missing returns between 2017/18 and 2021/22.