Written questions by Timothy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25772 on Prison Service: Recruitment, whether prisons are obligated to (a) advertise positions for British nationals before foreign nationals and (b) hire British residents before overseas residents.

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes vacancies across formal UK advertising boards and welcomes applications from people wishing to work in prisons in England and Wales. The hiring process is the same for both UK and non-UK nationals. Selection is on the basis of fair and open competition, in accordance with the legal requirement set out in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. The Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) govern eligibility for employment in the Civil Service on the grounds of nationality. All applicants applying to work in the Department must meet the CSNRs and other eligibility criterion published in job adverts.

How much plutonium was imported annually since 2010, by country of origin.

We do not import civil separated plutonium to the UK. Historically, spent fuel has been imported from other countries for reprocessing, however the imports took place prior to 2010, and reprocessing stopped in the United Kingdom in 2022. ONR publishes annual figures on the UK's separated plutonium inventory, including material held in the UK on behalf of overseas customers. The most recently published data can be found at the following link: https://www.onr.org.uk/publications/regulatory-reports/safeguards/annual-civil-plutonium-figures/2023-annual-figures-for-holdings-of-civil-unirradiated-plutonium/.

What the specific growth regions for clean power are, broken down by (a) nuclear, (b) wind, and (c) solar.

The Government’s plan to deliver Clean Power by 2030 will deliver economic growth across the country supporting thousands of jobs and businesses. A full regional capacity breakdowns for solar, onshore wind and batteries is included in the ‘Clean Power 2030 Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity – connections reform annex’. Nuclear capacity included in the ‘Clean Power Capacity Range’ is expected to be delivered through some combination of Sizewell B, Heysham 2, Torness, and Hinkley Point C Reactor Unit 1.

What service level agreements exist for firearms licensing.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.The fees were previously increased in 2015 and they no longer met the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that the fees provide full cost recovery so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.The NPCC Lead on Firearms Licensing is currently developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will later this year be undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing.Improvements in police performance will be supported in addition by the introduction of national training, the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police, and the refreshed Authorised Professional Practice for firearms licensing. We will also be shortly publishing the Government response to the consultation held in 2023 on recommendations for improvements in firearms licensing.

How many firearms licence (a) applications and (b) renewals were completed in (i) the UK, (ii) the East of England and (iii) West Suffolk constituency in each year since 2015.

The Home Office publishes information annually on the number of firearm and shotgun certificate applications and renewals that have been granted and refused in England and Wales in the statistical publication on firearm and shotgun certificates. The latest available data is for the year ending 31 March 2024 and can be accessed at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/firearm-certificates-in-england-and-walesThe number of firearm and shotgun certificate applications and renewals that have been granted and refused in England and Wales, the East of England region and Suffolk police force area in each year since 2015 can be found in data tables 2 and 4.Data are not available by constituencies specifically. Police Scotland publish broadly comparable annual statistics on the number of firearm and shotgun certificates granted and renewed in Scotland:https://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/what-we-do/firearms-and-explosives-licensing/There are no comparable statistics for Northern Ireland.

What plans she has to improve the firearms licensing service.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.The fees were previously increased in 2015 and they no longer met the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that the fees provide full cost recovery so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.The NPCC Lead on Firearms Licensing is currently developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will later this year be undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing.Improvements in police performance will be supported in addition by the introduction of national training, the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police, and the refreshed Authorised Professional Practice for firearms licensing. We will also be shortly publishing the Government response to the consultation held in 2023 on recommendations for improvements in firearms licensing.

Whether the revenues from increased firearms licensing fees will be hypothecated to improve the firearms licensing service.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.The fees were previously increased in 2015 and they no longer met the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that the fees provide full cost recovery so that service improvements can be made. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be used to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.The NPCC Lead on Firearms Licensing is currently developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services will later this year be undertaking a thematic inspection of police forces’ arrangements in respect of firearms licensing.Improvements in police performance will be supported in addition by the introduction of national training, the Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police, and the refreshed Authorised Professional Practice for firearms licensing. We will also be shortly publishing the Government response to the consultation held in 2023 on recommendations for improvements in firearms licensing.

What steps his Department is taking to increase domestic inventories of uranium.

The procurement of nuclear fuel, including uranium is a commercial matter for reactors operators. However, the Government does and will continue to work closely with operators and wider industry to ensure a secure and resilient supply for the UK fleet now and in the future. There is a diverse and resilient global uranium supply and uranium deposits which are spread across the globe. The World Nuclear Association notes that the world’s known uranium resources increased by at least one-quarter in the last decade due to increased mineral exploration.

Media and Sport, how many times her Department has invited the Centre for Media Monitoring to official events since 4 July 2024.

Ministers and officials engage with a range of stakeholders in the course of usual business. However, my department has found no record of responses to any letters from the Centre for Media Monitoring, or of the Centre for Media Monitoring being invited to DCMS-led official events, since 4 July 2024.

Innovation and Technology, how many times his Department has met with representatives from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not met with representatives from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.

Innovation and Technology, how many letters his Department has responded to from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.

There has been no correspondence from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology to the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.

Media and Sport, how many letters her Department has responded to from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.

Ministers and officials engage with a range of stakeholders in the course of usual business. However, my department has found no record of responses to any letters from the Centre for Media Monitoring, or of the Centre for Media Monitoring being invited to DCMS-led official events, since 4 July 2024.

Innovation and Technology, how many times his Department has invited the Centre for Media Monitoring to official events since 4 July 2024.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not invited the Centre for Media Monitoring to official events since 4 July 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to designate thoroughbred horses as high health animals, in the context of the Border Target Operating Model.

A commitment to designating thoroughbred horses as high-health animals was made as part of the Border Target Operating model, and we have continued to develop that as part of our preparation to implement that border model.

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.

What the cost of recycling (a) cement, (b) concrete and (c) asphalt for road maintenance and construction was in each year between 2014 and 2024.

The costs involved in recycling materials used in road maintenance and construction are a commercial matter for highway authorities, and the Department does not hold data on this. The Department encourages local highway authorities to consider the use of recycled road materials where feasible.

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.

What the carbon emissions were for Highways England in each year between 2014 and 2024.

The corporate carbon emissions for National Highways (NH), or predecessor organisations (Highways Agency and Highways England), within the period requested were as follows:YeartCO2e2013-1498,4962014-15104,9782015-1695,3732016-1789,5912017-1883,6592018-1972,3022019-2066,0462020-2157,0552021-2250,3882022-2344,8092023-2445,266

If she will list all training that has been provided to traffic officers on managing electric vehicles in incident recovery situations in each year between 2014 and 2024.

National Highways has evolved its training programme for Traffic Officers on Electric Vehicles (EVs) as their use on the network has emerged and grown. Our training provision is aligned to the traffic officer work instructions in operation at that time, which have evolved as the number of EVs on our roads has increased. Booster Pack and Skids training was provided for all Traffic Officers from December 2020 to April 2021. This was consolidated into new starter training from May 2021. Booster Pack training is the familiarisation of the booster pack that Traffic Officer vehicles carry. This training covers component parts of the booster pack and how to apply to release electronic handbrakes in line with manufacturer guidelines. Skids training is delivered to enable Traffic Officers to put skids underneath tyres that are unable to turn when electronic handbrakes cannot be released, enabling clearance of the carriageway. Whilst neither are exclusively EV training, they are methods that can be used with EVs. Both training packages were subsequently consolidated into New Starter training for Traffic Officers as part of the continuous improvement of foundation training. EV eLearning was also rolled out to all Traffic Officers from January 2021 until November 2023, across a range of subjects, including: Overview of EV and HybridsEvaluate the Positives and Negatives of EV and HybridsIdentify Types of EV/Hybrids at scene of incident or breakdownsPotential hazards involved when dealing with EV/HybridsEV and Hybrid component partsH&S (HSE Guidance) The EV and Hybrid Awareness eLearning package covers identification of component parts of EVs, such as High Voltage batteries and their location. The EV training delivered at New Starter Course offers a higher level of awareness, including when EVs are involved in Road Traffic Collisions and sustain a higher degree of damage. Carriageway clearance, which includes EV training, is delivered to all new National Highways Traffic Officers as part of their Foundation training, this has been in place since 2018.

What low carbon (a) materials and (b) methods are used by Highways England in road (i) maintenance and (ii) construction.

National Highways use a wide range of low carbon materials and methods such as using bio-binders and recycled materials in asphalt, stipulating lower carbon concrete mixes in construction contracts, and investing in research and development into low-carbon materials. National Highways also follow lean construction practices and the principles of the circular economy to embed approaches that minimise emissions, including updating their standards - the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) - to include use of recycled materials. Additional information on National Highways, ambitious programme for putting roads at the heart of Britain’s net zero future can be found online (see: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/netzerohighways/) and within their ‘Net zero highways Our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan’.