Written questions by Timothy.

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.

What assessment his Department made of the potential impact of spatial limits in the North Sea on (a) interconnectors, (b) fisheries, (c) wind farms and (d) other offshore infrastructure.

As set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, we need a long term, holistic approach to managing growing demand for use of the seabed. The Crown Estate’s Marine Delivery Routemap will provide an opportunity to positively plan for shared outcomes across different sectors with an agreed set of design parameters that incentivise best environmental practice across the project lifecycle.

If he will take steps to ensure that wind turbines manufactured in China are not vulnerable to foreign espionage.

The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure extremely seriously with the UK being one of the most reliable and safest energy systems, and one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world. Maintaining a secure energy supply is a key priority for the UK Government. DESNZ works closely with subsea and offshore owners, operators, regulators, and other stakeholders to ensure subsea and offshore energy infrastructure is proportionately protected against a range of threats. The Government will take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. The Government will co-operate where it can, compete where it needs to, and challenge where it must.

What the average waiting time is for businesses to receive planning approval from the Office for Nuclear Regulation by nuclear reactor types since 1997.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) does not undertake planning approvals. Planning approvals must be sought from the Planning Inspectorate, to whom ONR provides regulatory advice where nuclear sites are involved.

What steps his Department is taking to help remove barriers to the development of Small Modular Reactors.

The Government recognises that Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could play an important role helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.The Department has supported development of SMRs through the Advanced Nuclear Fund and the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund. Separately, Great British Nuclear is running an SMR technology selection process and is on track to make final decisions in spring.In addition, we recently launched a regulatory taskforce to streamline regulatory processes and published the draft EN-7 National Policy Statement, setting out a refreshed planning framework for new nuclear reactors, including SMRs.

What discussions (a) Ministers, (b) advisors and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Office for Nuclear Regulation on Small Modular Reactors.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reduced energy imports from Norway on energy prices in the UK.

Great Britain has a secure and diverse energy system, which has delivered reliable energy supplies this winter and over recent years, despite challenging global conditions. This includes the UK’s homegrown energy from renewables and nuclear. The UK imports gas through pipelines with Norway and mainland Europe and from the global market via Liquefied Natural Gas ports, and have ten operational electricity interconnectors with Europe. Our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower provide energy security in the long term and help protect billpayers from global markets.

With reference to the Written Statement of 10 February 2025 HCWS424, whether generation dispatched by the National Energy System Operator from Drax power station will count towards the maximum load factor to receive subsidies.

Yes. Under the low carbon dispatchable CfD, there will be a cap on the volume of electricity generation subsidised across the year. The cap is set with reference to maximum seasonal load factors (with Winter higher than Summer, to reflect system requirements). All generation by Drax Power Station will count towards the cap on subsidised generation. This includes generation that results from actions taken by NESO to balance the electricity system, such as through the Balancing Mechanism and balancing services markets.

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

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

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

Innovation and Technology, whether it is his policy to allow the Research Excellence Framework people, culture and environment pilot to go forward.

Research England has notified the Department about their plans for developing the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029, which includes the People, Culture, and Environment pilot. This pilot aims to assess the feasibility and practicality of incorporating this element into the REF. The findings will guide future developments of the REF. Final decisions on the REF's structure will be made after the pilot concludes and further engagement with the sector.

Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to accept Research England’s proposed changes to the research excellence framework.

Research England has notified the Department about their plans for developing the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029, which includes the People, Culture, and Environment pilot. This pilot aims to assess the feasibility and practicality of incorporating this element into the REF. The findings will guide future developments of the REF. Final decisions on the REF's structure will be made after the pilot concludes and further engagement with the sector.

If she will make an estimate of what the level of carbon emissions from National Highways will be in each year between 2025 and 2040.

National Highways set-out its ambitions for putting roads at the heart of Britain’s net zero future within its ‘Net zero highways: our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan’ published in 2021. This includes details on emissions reductions goals and the steps that National Highways will take within the period 2025 to 2040. Additionally, the ‘Strategic road network initial report: 2025-2030’, published in 2023, proposes how National Highways in the next five years will specifically support the third road investment strategy (RIS3) development objective of improved environmental outcomes, set out in the ‘Planning Ahead for the Strategic Road Network’ document. The contribution of RIS3 to National Highways’ carbon emissions will be considered as part of the underpinning analysis when RIS3 is set later in 2025.

How many vehicles in the National Highways fleet are 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 National Highways fleet consists of:147 vehicles aged up to one year;195 vehicles aged between one and two years;708 vehicles aged between three and five years; and108 vehicles older than five years. National Highways continues to manage its fleet efficiently to ensure operational effectiveness and value for money.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26897 on Data Centres: Planning, what assessment his Department has made of the grid (a) capacity and (b) infrastructure that will be required for new data centres.

The National Electricity System Operator (NESO) is investigating the future power consumption of data centres, as well as grid constraints, lead times for developers, and how to improve connection processes.

How many (a) petrol, (b) diesel, (c) hydrogen, (d) hybrid, (e) plug-in hybrid and (f) fully electric vehicles were purchased by National Highways in each year since 2014.

The number of vehicles purchased by National Highways since 2014, broken down by engine type, is as follows: No. Vehicles Purchased by Engine TypeYearPetrolDieselHydrogenHybridPlug-In HybridFully Electric201401000020150240000201605400002017010000201801950000201902280036020200104003802021012000128120220131001751920230200195182024012007574

What the value was of vehicles (a) purchased and (b) sold by National Highways in each year since 2014.

The value of vehicles purchased and sold by National Highways since 2014 is broken down as follows: YearTotal Vehicle SpendTotal Revenue from Vehicle Sales2014£34,640.3002015£773,767.3002016£2,145,237.4802017£48,811.5002018£11,556,927.8802019£17,113,959.8902020£17,576,940.21£150,802.732021£25,525,278.82£823,805.282022£29,611,298.66£3,303,299.372023£12,515,348.93£2,195,094.382024£11,352,979.81£1,603,758.81

How many vehicles were purchased by National Highways by car manufacturer in each year since 2014.

The number of vehicles purchased, per year since 2014 and by car manufacturer, by National Highways is on the attached table.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27405 on Highways England: Carbon Emissions, what the carbon emissions were by (a) source and (b) activity in each year since 2014.

Below is a breakdown of National Highways’ (NH) Carbon Emissions, covering the period 2021/22 to 2023/24.Carbon emissions prior to this were not reported to this level and are not available.YearBreakdown by activity/source2021-22 Activity/emission sourcetCO2eElectricity (kWh used)39,797Building heating (kWh used)4,584Fleet (miles travelled)4,159Business travel (miles travelled)1,848Total50,3882022-23 Activity/emission sourcetCO2eElectricity (kWh used)35,165Building heating (kWh used)4,770Fleet (miles travelled)2,887Business travel (miles travelled)1,987Total44,8092023-24 Activity/emission sourcetCO2eElectricity (kWh used)35,840Building heating (kWh used)5,029Fleet (miles travelled)2,212Business travel (miles travelled)2,185Total45,266