Written questions by Timothy.

What fire prevention policies battery energy storage systems sites are required to follow.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates battery energy storage systems (BESS) under a framework which requires responsible parties to take measures to ensure health and safety throughout all stages of a BESS’s deployment. Of particular relevance to fire prevention, the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) sets minimum requirements for the protection of workers and others from fire and explosion risks.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of (a) packing export recovery and (b) packaging recovery notes that have been issued each year since 2010.

This data is available on the National Packaging Waste Database – National Packaging Waste Database.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of Packaging Export Recovery Note (PERN) system on global plastic pollution.

All exports of plastic packaging waste are made in accordance with the relevant regulations related to the shipment of waste and are enforced by the Environment Agency (relevant regulator). The PRN/PERN system provides economic support for the recycling of packaging waste whether reprocessed in the UK or overseas.

How much has been spent on ultra-low carbon measures for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England in each year since 2015.

The department is committed to supporting the UK net-zero carbon targets. Since 2021, the department’s own building standards require that all new school buildings we deliver are net-zero carbon in operation and are adapted to climate change to between 2 and 4 degrees temperature increase. The costs of meeting net-zero are within the overall construction costs for each school and not separately identified. Decisions on which projects to prioritise with funding are primarily taken at a local level. For the 2025/26 financial year, the department has increased funding to improve the condition of the estate to £2.1 billion, up from £1.8 billion in 2024/25. Details of capital funding are published on GOV.UK. Capital funding beyond the 2025/26 financial year will be set out following the next phase of the spending review. Schools, along with other public bodies, have also been able to access funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Details of projects funded are also available on GOV.UK.

How much her Department is projected to spend on ultra-low carbon measures for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools by 2030.

The department is committed to supporting the UK net-zero carbon targets. Since 2021, the department’s own building standards require that all new school buildings we deliver are net-zero carbon in operation and are adapted to climate change to between 2 and 4 degrees temperature increase. The costs of meeting net-zero are within the overall construction costs for each school and not separately identified. Decisions on which projects to prioritise with funding are primarily taken at a local level. For the 2025/26 financial year, the department has increased funding to improve the condition of the estate to £2.1 billion, up from £1.8 billion in 2024/25. Details of capital funding are published on GOV.UK. Capital funding beyond the 2025/26 financial year will be set out following the next phase of the spending review. Schools, along with other public bodies, have also been able to access funding from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Details of projects funded are also available on GOV.UK.

How many (a) primary and (b) secondary school buildings will be (a) sold, (b) refurbished and (c) demolished between 2025 and 2030.

The department supports responsible bodies, such as local authorities and charitable trusts, that own and manage the school estate, with capital funding, building programmes and extensive guidance. The department does not generally hold data on planned sales, refurbishment or demolition of primary and secondary school buildings by these bodies.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of plastic recycling facilities that have closed since 2010.

There is no historical record of closures of plastics recycling facilitiesHowever the National Packaging Waste Database which is held by the Environment Agency provides a Public Register of Accredited Reprocessors and Exporters - including those handling plastic - across each nation, that can be tracked back to 2013.

How many people leased a Motability vehicle in each year since 2010 by (a) benefit claim and (b) health condition.

The Motability Scheme operates throughout the UK and is open to recipients of enhanced mobility Personal Independence Payment, higher rate mobility Disability Living Allowance, War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement and Armed Forces Independence Payment (including equivalent Scottish benefits). Whilst the Government facilitates the transfer of benefits for claimants who choose to join the Scheme, we do not collate data on benefit type or health condition for those who chose to join the Scheme.

How many Motability vehicles have been (a) sold, (b) scrapped and (c) stolen in each year since 2010.

Whilst the Department works closely with Motability Foundation and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations. Any questions relating to the administration of the Scheme should be directed to Motability Foundation.

How many Motability vehicles have been taken away due to (a) lapsed eligibility and (b) misuse in each year since 2010.

Whilst the Department works closely with Motability Foundation and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations. Any questions relating to the administration of the Scheme should be directed to Motability Foundation.

What the average delay in payment for businesses applying for R&D tax relief was in the latest period for which data is available.

In October 2024, HMRC released operational data in the Approach to Research & Development Tax Reliefs 2023-2024 publication. This includes data from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 on the number of R&D enquiries, the proportion of claims requiring adjustment and data on appeals. This publication represents the most comprehensive data on R&D compliance activity and is not available for previous years. This publication also included customer service data on processing times and the average time to complete a compliance check. HMRC processed 92% of claims within 40 days in 2023-2024. Processing means paying the claim, making contact to request further information, or refusing the claim, and, for claims identified as high-risk, starting an appropriately targeted compliance check. The table below provides final and illustrative estimates of the cost of error and fraud in the R&D tax reliefs since 2020-2021. Final estimates 2020-2021 (£m)Final estimates 2021-2022 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2022-2023 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2023-2024 (£m)SME scheme1,0381,2031,003475RDEC scheme9013448125Overall1,1271,3371,050601 The Mandatory Random Enquiry Programme approach introduced for small and medium sized enterprises represents good practice in the measurement of error and fraud, and involves a detailed inspection of a representative sample of claims filed. These estimates are published in HMRC Annual reports and Accounts and previous reports can be found at gov.uk at: HMRC’s Annual reports and Accounts.

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 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

If she will make an estimate of the average cost for businesses applying for R&D tax relief.

In October 2024, HMRC released operational data in the Approach to Research & Development Tax Reliefs 2023-2024 publication. This includes data from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 on the number of R&D enquiries, the proportion of claims requiring adjustment and data on appeals. This publication represents the most comprehensive data on R&D compliance activity and is not available for previous years. This publication also included customer service data on processing times and the average time to complete a compliance check. HMRC processed 92% of claims within 40 days in 2023-2024. Processing means paying the claim, making contact to request further information, or refusing the claim, and, for claims identified as high-risk, starting an appropriately targeted compliance check. The table below provides final and illustrative estimates of the cost of error and fraud in the R&D tax reliefs since 2020-2021. Final estimates 2020-2021 (£m)Final estimates 2021-2022 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2022-2023 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2023-2024 (£m)SME scheme1,0381,2031,003475RDEC scheme9013448125Overall1,1271,3371,050601 The Mandatory Random Enquiry Programme approach introduced for small and medium sized enterprises represents good practice in the measurement of error and fraud, and involves a detailed inspection of a representative sample of claims filed. These estimates are published in HMRC Annual reports and Accounts and previous reports can be found at gov.uk at: HMRC’s Annual reports and Accounts.

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.

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.

If she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of processing R&D tax relief (a) applications, (b) rejections and (c) appeals in each year since 2015.

In October 2024, HMRC released operational data in the Approach to Research & Development Tax Reliefs 2023-2024 publication. This includes data from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 on the number of R&D enquiries, the proportion of claims requiring adjustment and data on appeals. This publication represents the most comprehensive data on R&D compliance activity and is not available for previous years. This publication also included customer service data on processing times and the average time to complete a compliance check. HMRC processed 92% of claims within 40 days in 2023-2024. Processing means paying the claim, making contact to request further information, or refusing the claim, and, for claims identified as high-risk, starting an appropriately targeted compliance check. The table below provides final and illustrative estimates of the cost of error and fraud in the R&D tax reliefs since 2020-2021. Final estimates 2020-2021 (£m)Final estimates 2021-2022 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2022-2023 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2023-2024 (£m)SME scheme1,0381,2031,003475RDEC scheme9013448125Overall1,1271,3371,050601 The Mandatory Random Enquiry Programme approach introduced for small and medium sized enterprises represents good practice in the measurement of error and fraud, and involves a detailed inspection of a representative sample of claims filed. These estimates are published in HMRC Annual reports and Accounts and previous reports can be found at gov.uk at: HMRC’s Annual reports and Accounts.

If she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) fraud and (b) error related to R&D tax relief in each year since 2015.

In October 2024, HMRC released operational data in the Approach to Research & Development Tax Reliefs 2023-2024 publication. This includes data from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 on the number of R&D enquiries, the proportion of claims requiring adjustment and data on appeals. This publication represents the most comprehensive data on R&D compliance activity and is not available for previous years. This publication also included customer service data on processing times and the average time to complete a compliance check. HMRC processed 92% of claims within 40 days in 2023-2024. Processing means paying the claim, making contact to request further information, or refusing the claim, and, for claims identified as high-risk, starting an appropriately targeted compliance check. The table below provides final and illustrative estimates of the cost of error and fraud in the R&D tax reliefs since 2020-2021. Final estimates 2020-2021 (£m)Final estimates 2021-2022 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2022-2023 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2023-2024 (£m)SME scheme1,0381,2031,003475RDEC scheme9013448125Overall1,1271,3371,050601 The Mandatory Random Enquiry Programme approach introduced for small and medium sized enterprises represents good practice in the measurement of error and fraud, and involves a detailed inspection of a representative sample of claims filed. These estimates are published in HMRC Annual reports and Accounts and previous reports can be found at gov.uk at: HMRC’s Annual reports and Accounts.

How many and what proportion of sentences given in (a) magistrates’ courts and (b) crown courts were less than 60% of the statutory maximum length in the latest period for which data is available.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the number of offenders sentenced at criminal courts in England and Wales in the following links. This includes the information on sentence outcomes, including grouped custodial sentence lengths and average sentence lengths, for a wide range of offences, which can be viewed individually to show the range of sentencing outcomes:Magistrates’ courts: Magistrates' court data toolCrown Court: Crown Court data toolUsing data held centrally to align individual convictions to statutory maxima would only be possible at disproportionate costs.

How many smart meters have been installed in NHS buildings in each year since 2015.

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