Written questions by Holden.

What progress Network Rail has made on improving passenger mobile connectivity through the upgrade from GSM-R to the Future Railway Mobile Communication System; and what the planned timeline is for that upgrade.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the use of a Russian shadow fleet to evade oil sanctions; and whether she (a) plans to restrict access to UK ports and services for such vessels and (b) is considering further sanctions on entities providing (i) insurance and (ii) financial services.

Awaiting answer.

When she plans to publish her Department's response to the Animals in Science Committee report on non-technical summaries and retrospective assessments.

The Home Office published the Department’s response to the Animals in Science Committee report on non-technical summaries and retrospective assessments on 8th May 2026. The response can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-technical-summaries-and-retrospective-assessments-response-from-lord-hanson

Whether he plans to accept the UK Statistics Authority's recommendation that the Office for National Statistics deliver a census of England and Wales in 2031.

The Government response was published alongside the UKSA recommendation in July 2025 and can be found here. It confirmed that a census of England and Wales will be held in 2031.

What steps her Department is taking to mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks affecting the rail sector.

The Department for Transport (DfT) views the cyber security of the rail sector as a priority, working across Government to introduce relevant standards, guidance, and policy to ensure the cyber security and resilience of our essential services.DfT uses both policy and regulatory levers to support the rail sector to effectively manage cyber risk and assist the sector to secure its networks and systems. We work closely with partners across UK government and law enforcement, the rail industry, and others to continuously assess and mitigate emerging cyber threats to the sector.As Competent Authority under the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations, DfT is committed to working with rail operators to strengthen protection against cyber threats and improve preparedness. We will use the implementation of the Cyber Security and Resilience (NIS) Bill to further strengthen our regulatory powers, improve incident reporting, and expand the type of entities in scope.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with Inter Mediate on de-sanctioning the Syrian regime since 4 July 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was given on 3 June 2025 on the last occasion he asked this question (UIN 52690).

With reference to the College for National Security Privacy Notice, published on 20 May 2025, whether individuals participating in the College for National Security's pilot courses are required to provide data relating to protected characteristics as part of diversity monitoring and course evaluation.

The College for National Security’s courses are open to all civil and crown servants with safeguards to ensure content is only accessed by staff with appropriate clearances.The College does not collect Protected Characteristic data of pilot participants and does not use it for monitoring or evaluation. However, the College does gather additional information to ensure that accessibility requirements are met.Personal data is currently collected and processed in line with the College’s Privacy Notice, which can be accessed on GOV.UK.

With reference to the answer of 24 April 2026 to Question 107772 on Childbirth: Medical Records, which NHS trusts have recorded SNOMED CT codes (a) 125678001, (b) 699110007, (c) 1269487002, (d) 1269486006 and (e) 842009 within the Maternity Services Dataset since the introduction of guidance on consanguinity recording in September 2024.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

How many Permanent Secretary and Second Permanent Secretary roles are (a) being advertised through open and fair competition, (b) have advertised but the recruitment is now closed and the appointment has not yet been made, (c) are being advertised only internally and (d) are unfilled with no recruitment process.

There are currently five permanent secretary recruitment processes underway. One is open for applications through an external advert. Four are now closed but the appointment has not yet been made. Three were advertised externally and one was advertised internally across government.There are currently no unfilled roles with no recruitment process.

What information his Department holds on the number of marriages between uncle and niece legally contracted overseas by people now residing in England and Wales.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 14th May is attached.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, whether any Cabinet decisions since July 2024 would have been sped up as a result of the proposed reform to the process for collective Cabinet agreement of government policy.

Awaiting answer.

What guidance she has issued to Departments on whether former Ministers should be consulted before internal Ministerial papers are shared with the courts.

The Solicitor General has not issued any guidance to Departments on whether former Ministers should be consulted before internal Ministerial papers are shared with the courts.

With reference to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30828 on 9 Downing Street: Media, which scheduled transparency return will publish the OCS invoice; and on which date.

Awaiting answer.

What the evidential basis was for not exempting large islands such as the Isle of Wight from the UK Emissions Trading Scheme.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the European Commission’s support for grazing and the controlled burning of vegetation as measures to reduce wildfire risk.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 41645 on Cabinet Office: Email, what the automatic deletion policies are for non-Ministerial inboxes for officials in his Department where individual emails are not intentionally selected for long-term storage.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer of 4 April 2025, Official Report, PQ 41645.

With reference to the Answer of 24 April 2026 to Question 107772, whether his Department plans to make the recording of consanguinity and related information in the Maternity Services Dataset mandatory; and which NHS trusts have recorded births using relevant SNOMED CT codes.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What recent estimate his Department has made of the scale of the maintenance backlog across central government property.

Awaiting answer.

Whether Ofgem has reviewed the Employment Tribunal case involving the Drax whistleblower; and whether Ofgem has assessed whether any matters raised in that case have implications for Drax’s compliance with sustainability reporting requirements under the Renewables Obligation regime.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 118920, if she will develop new Outline Business Cases for the Haughley Junction upgrades.

The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.