Written questions by Timothy.

How many R&D tax relief claims have been rejected in each year since 2015; and how many of those have been successfully appealed.

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 much (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England paid for energy bills on average in each year since 2015.

The average annual energy costs for primary and secondary schools based on financial returns to the department from 2015 to 2024 are as follows:YearPrimary schools (£)Secondary schools (£)2023/2438,214190,8972022/2333,078169,3382021/2220,285107,6132020/2116,76885,7732019/2017,50886,5782018/1916,67288,8002017/1815,40282,8672016/1714,71580,3882015/1615,55687,343To note:Local authority-maintained schools report costs for the 12-month period to 31 March. Academies report costs for the 12-month period to 31 August.These figures do not include energy costs recorded as attributable to or incurred by multi-academy trust central services.All spending data reported by schools to the department is publicly available at https://financial-benchmarking-and-insights-tool.education.gov.uk/data-sources. The department does not hold a forecast for how much primary and secondary schools are projected to pay in their energy bills beyond the 2025/26 financial year. This is set out in the ‘School costs technical note’ which estimated energy price inflation for schools at a 4.1% increase for the 2024/25 financial year and a fall of 5.1% for the 2025/26 financial year.The department is developing a suite of productivity initiatives to support schools in making efficiencies in their budgets. This includes giving schools the opportunity to join the department’s Energy for Schools initiative. When schools' energy contracts are up for renewal, they can join the department's contract. During the pilot for this project, schools saved 36% on average compared to their previous contracts.

How much (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England are projected to pay on average for energy bills in each year between 2025 and 2030.

The average annual energy costs for primary and secondary schools based on financial returns to the department from 2015 to 2024 are as follows:YearPrimary schools (£)Secondary schools (£)2023/2438,214190,8972022/2333,078169,3382021/2220,285107,6132020/2116,76885,7732019/2017,50886,5782018/1916,67288,8002017/1815,40282,8672016/1714,71580,3882015/1615,55687,343To note:Local authority-maintained schools report costs for the 12-month period to 31 March. Academies report costs for the 12-month period to 31 August.These figures do not include energy costs recorded as attributable to or incurred by multi-academy trust central services.All spending data reported by schools to the department is publicly available at https://financial-benchmarking-and-insights-tool.education.gov.uk/data-sources. The department does not hold a forecast for how much primary and secondary schools are projected to pay in their energy bills beyond the 2025/26 financial year. This is set out in the ‘School costs technical note’ which estimated energy price inflation for schools at a 4.1% increase for the 2024/25 financial year and a fall of 5.1% for the 2025/26 financial year.The department is developing a suite of productivity initiatives to support schools in making efficiencies in their budgets. This includes giving schools the opportunity to join the department’s Energy for Schools initiative. When schools' energy contracts are up for renewal, they can join the department's contract. During the pilot for this project, schools saved 36% on average compared to their previous contracts.

How many smart meters have been installed in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England in each year since 2015.

The department does not hold information on how many primary and secondary schools have installed smart meters since 2015, nor do we set an expectation for how many primary and secondary schools should install smart meters. However, smart meters are recommended within the department’s published energy efficiency guidance. The guidance outlines that educational settings should monitor their energy use to help prioritise the best ways to reduce energy consumption. The guidance is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-fe-college-estate/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-further-education-college-estate.

How many smart meters he expects to be installed in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year between 2025 and 2030.

The department does not hold information on how many primary and secondary schools have installed smart meters since 2015, nor do we set an expectation for how many primary and secondary schools should install smart meters. However, smart meters are recommended within the department’s published energy efficiency guidance. The guidance outlines that educational settings should monitor their energy use to help prioritise the best ways to reduce energy consumption. The guidance is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-fe-college-estate/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-further-education-college-estate.

What information her Department holds on the (a) sources and (b) levels of carbon emissions for schools in England in each year since 2015.

Education settings are not required to provide specific data on their energy use or greenhouse gas emissions. To estimate the education estate's emissions position overall, the department references a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy report, the Building Energy Efficiency Survey (BEES) 2014/15. The BEES report estimates that schools and universities represent approximately one third of all England and Wales public sector building emissions. Total greenhouse gas emissions from education sector buildings were estimated to be 4.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) per year. The equivalent figure for industrial sector buildings is 7.8 MtCO2e. The annual greenhouse gas emissions from electrical energy consumption were 2.2 MtCO2e and those from non-electrical energy consumption were 1.9 MtCO2e.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37979, whether the decision to plug and abandon Preston New Road shale gas well was taken by (a) the company, (b) his Department and (c) the North Sea Transition Authority.

As stated in the answer to question UIN 37979, decisions on whether to abandon wells are ultimately a matter for the relevant company.”

What assessment his Department has made of (a) the effectiveness of fire prevention policies and (b) potential fire hazards at battery energy storage systems sites following the fire in Liverpool in 2020.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) oversees a robust regulatory framework which covers batteries and requires responsible parties to take measures to ensure health and safety throughout all stages of a battery system’s deployment.

What discussions her Department has had with Distribution Network Operators on steps to accelerate the upgrades to substations near charging points for police electric vehicles.

The Home Office has not in the past monitored the procurement and management of vehicles by individual police forces in England and Wales, and does not therefore hold the specific information requested for this question.

What information her Department holds on the number of police forces that have introduced discounted salary schemes for employees who own electric vehicles.

The Home Office has not in the past monitored the procurement and management of vehicles by individual police forces in England and Wales, and does not therefore hold the specific information requested for this question.

Whether she has had discussions with the Bank of England on a tiered reserve system.

The Bank of England has operational independence from the government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability. Monetary policy, including quantitative easing, is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England. The separation of fiscal and monetary policy is a key feature of the UK’s economic framework, and essential for the effective delivery of monetary policy, so the government does not comment on the conduct or effectiveness of monetary policy.There are no plans to change the way reserves are remunerated at the Bank of England. The government continues to support the Bank to bring inflation in line with its target, including by managing the public finances responsibly.

What information her Department holds on the number of vehicles in each police fleet aged (a) up to one year, (b) between one and two years, (c) between three and five years and (d) older than five years.

The Home Office has not in the past monitored the procurement and management of vehicles by individual police forces in England and Wales, and does not therefore hold the specific information requested for this question.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of introducing a tiered reserve system on public finances.

The Bank of England has operational independence from the government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability. Monetary policy, including quantitative easing, is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England. The separation of fiscal and monetary policy is a key feature of the UK’s economic framework, and essential for the effective delivery of monetary policy, so the government does not comment on the conduct or effectiveness of monetary policy.There are no plans to change the way reserves are remunerated at the Bank of England. The government continues to support the Bank to bring inflation in line with its target, including by managing the public finances responsibly.

Whether battery energy storage systems sites are required to have fire insurance.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) oversees a robust regulatory framework which covers batteries and requires responsible parties to take measures to ensure health and safety throughout all stages of a battery system’s deployment.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Bank of England's mandate to maintain fiscal stability.

The Bank of England has operational independence from the government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability. Monetary policy, including quantitative easing, is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England. The separation of fiscal and monetary policy is a key feature of the UK’s economic framework, and essential for the effective delivery of monetary policy, so the government does not comment on the conduct or effectiveness of monetary policy.There are no plans to change the way reserves are remunerated at the Bank of England. The government continues to support the Bank to bring inflation in line with its target, including by managing the public finances responsibly.

What information her Department holds on the number and proportion of police vehicles that were (a) petrol, (b) diesel, (c) hydrogen, (d) hybrid, (e) plug-in hybrid and (f) fully electric in each year between 2015 and 2025.

The Home Office has not in the past monitored the procurement and management of vehicles by individual police forces in England and Wales, and does not therefore hold the specific information requested for this question.

What information her Department holds on the number of vehicles purchased by police forces in each year since 2015, broken down by car manufacturer.

The Home Office has not in the past monitored the procurement and management of vehicles by individual police forces in England and Wales, and does not therefore hold the specific information requested for this question.

What information her Department holds on the (a) level of carbon emissions and (b) source of carbon emissions for each police force in each year between 2015 and 2025.

The Home Office has not in the past monitored the procurement and management of vehicles by individual police forces in England and Wales, and does not therefore hold the specific information requested for this question.

What information her Department holds on (a) start and (b) end dates for lease agreements held by each police force for their vehicle fleet.

The Home Office has not in the past monitored the procurement and management of vehicles by individual police forces in England and Wales, and does not therefore hold the specific information requested for this question.

What contingency plans are emergency services required to provide in the event of a fire at a battery energy storage systems site.

It is the responsibility of fire and rescue authorities to ensure that firefighters receive the appropriate equipment and training they need to safely respond to the wide range of incidents which they attend.The National Fire Chiefs Council also provide guidance to fire and rescue services to help keep firefighters and the public safe. In 2023, the NFCC published guidance on Battery Energy Storage System sites.