Written questions by Arthur.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure the National Oceanography Centre is meeting its nationwide remit.

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) plays a key role in delivering oceanographic science and innovation across the UK. It provides access to a wide range of data, infrastructure, and research services to universities, government departments, and other partners nationwide.NOC’s activities are designed to reflect and serve the whole of the UK. It collaborates with regional and national partners, including the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). SAMS is a key delivery partner in the NOC-led Marine Science National Capability programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. This partnership ensures that marine science infrastructure, data, and services are accessible to researchers and stakeholders across Scotland.NOC’s performance and use of public funding are subject to regular review and evaluation and is overseen by an independent board to ensure accountability and alignment with national priorities.

What steps she is taking to consult family-owned businesses with annual turnover above £100 million on potential fiscal policies.

Government Ministers and Senior Officials regularly meet with businesses of all sizes, from large corporations to SMEs, including family-owned businesses with an annual turnover of above £100 million. These meetings afford an opportunity for the Government to hear the views of the business community to aid in the formation of policy, including fiscal policy. These engagements are ongoing and will continue to be so.Further information on previous meetings held by HM Treasury Ministers and can be found on the gov.uk website via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

With reference to Sustran's report entitled Transforming mobility, published on 8 July 2025, what steps she is taking to support the roll-out of side road zebra crossings.

An amendment to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) would be required to permit zebra crossings to be placed without zig-zag lines or yellow globes.The Department has been working with Active Travel England who have been carrying out further research to inform good practice advice to support possible future legislative change. The Department cannot give any timescale at present for when TSRGD may be amended.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing zebra crossings without zig-zag lines.

An amendment to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD) would be required to permit zebra crossings to be placed without zig-zag lines or yellow globes.The Department has been working with Active Travel England who have been carrying out further research to inform good practice advice to support possible future legislative change. The Department cannot give any timescale at present for when TSRGD may be amended.

With reference to Sustran's report entitled Transforming mobility, published on 8 July 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing paid local access panels to (a) review and (b) improve transport (i) policy and (ii) practice for disabled people.

The Sustrans Transforming Mobility Report highlights how paid access panels could be one means by which local transport authorities engage with disabled people to shape, review, and monitor transport policies and projects, so that accessibility is embedded from the start of projects.This recommendation is aimed at local leaders, who know their communities and are best placed to make decisions about how they can improve local transport for disabled people. Improving accessibility is a collaborative effort, with operators, industry, and local authorities having key parts to play – alongside the support of all passengers. Breaking down barriers to opportunity is a core mission statement for this government and that is why we are developing an Integrated National Transport Strategy to enable us to better work with partners across the transport sector to deliver a network that works for all passengers.More widely, the government is committed to improving public transport services, so they are more inclusive and enable disabled people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. The Bus Services (No.2) Bill, introduced by the government on 17 December is intended to ensure networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them and includes measures which will make bus travel more accessible and inclusive. In addition, on 1 October 2024, the first phase of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 came into force, meaning that newer vehicles providing local services must provide audible and visible information on stops, destinations and diversions. The majority of services will need to comply by October 2026.Ensuring the rail network is accessible is at the heart of our passenger-focused approach to improving rail services. We are committed to improving the experience for disabled passengers and have committed to publishing an accessibility roadmap to explain the actions we are taking to improve accessibility ahead of the establishment of Great British Rail.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure that innovative UK building products are approved for use in a timely manner.

The Construction Products Green Paper, published earlier this year, set out a range of potential measures for reform. This included proposals which seek to encourage the adoption of new technologies and methodologies that promote safety and sustainability in construction, simultaneously facilitating growth. We also sought views through the green paper on ways to support and encourage innovation in the built environment by ensuring that the safety and regulation of emerging technologies is robust enough to assure a safer future for the built environment. We also consider that there is a need for greater public sector testing and research capacity to support regulatory activity and research safety issues. We are now analysing responses and will set out the government’s initial response, and our next steps for long term reform. More broadly, all building works need to meet the functional requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 regardless of the products or methods used. The functional requirements are product agnostic, allowing designers the freedom to innovate and design new ways to comply.

What steps she is taking to support schools in reducing (a) energy bills and (b) carbon footprints.

The department provides tools, guidance and support to help schools manage their spending:The Energy for Schools offer, helping schools to arrange the best deal on their energy contracts when their current contracts are up for renewal. Details can be found at: https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/7281/register-your-interest-in-energy-for-schools/27000.The Sustainability Support for Education website, which guides users to design a climate action plan and provides signposting to resources which are customised to a school’s context. This is accessible at: https://www.sustainabilitysupportforeducation.org.uk/.The Climate Ambassadors Programme, which sees volunteers from industry and civil society work directly with schools to turn climate ambition into action. Nine regional hub managers coordinate local activity, build strong networks and host events across the sector. Details can be found at: https://climateambassadors.org.uk/.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure new developments are safe and accessible for pedestrians.

Housing within Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government.In England, the National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that when assessing sites that may be allocated in local development plans, or specific applications for development, it should be ensured that safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users.The Framework also sets out that applications for development should give priority first to pedestrian and cycle movements, both within the scheme and with neighbouring areas, and should create places that are safe, secure, and attractive and which minimise scope for conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to create conditions for the release of people persecuted in Russia for political reasons.

The UK Government condemns the continued deterioration in the Kremlin's dire domestic human rights record and will continue to call on the Russian government to comply with its international obligations. The Foreign Secretary and I have both been clear that the Russian authorities must release all political prisoners. The UK regularly uses multilateral fora, such as the UN and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), to highlight Russia's human rights violations and hold it accountable. On 10 April the UK called for the release of political prisoners in Russia at the OSCE alongside 14 other states and on 14 May the UK Human Rights Ambassador condemned the sentencing of an independent Russian election monitor, Grigory Melkonyants, to five years' imprisonment.

What steps she is taking to support initiatives aimed at increasing cycling participation among women and girls.

The Department and Active Travel England (ATE) work with local authorities and other delivery partners to support active travel outreach programmes for underrepresented groups, including women and girls. This includes funding for Bikeability cycle training for children and outreach programmes to engage underrepresented groups through Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival programme and local authorities. In addition, ATE is working with local authorities across England to provide high-quality cycling infrastructure including as part of wider transport schemes. This includes providing lighting for walking and cycling schemes, improving social safety and delivering road safety improvements to existing schemes. Responsibility for many aspects of transport in Scotland, including active travel, is devolved. My honourable friend the member for Edinburgh South West may wish to speak to the Scottish Government regarding steps taken to increase cycling participation among women and girls in Scotland.

What steps his Department is taking with the transport and logistics industry to identify where new energy infrastructure will be required to support the transition to electric vehicles in (a) commercial freight, (b) delivery and (c) other networks.

The Government is introducing new strategic spatial planning processes, at national level (the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan) and regional level (Regional Energy Strategic Plans), to help ensure energy infrastructure meets future demand, including that of transport. The Government is encouraging transport stakeholders, such as the Freight Energy Forum (an expert advisory body led by the Department for Transport), to engage with the producer of these plans (the National Energy System Operator) and Ofgem to provide clarity and evidence on transport and electric vehicle requirements.

What steps he is taking to (a) encourage breastfeeding and (b) support mothers who choose to breastfeed.

The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever and giving every child the best start in life. We know breastfeeding has significant health benefits for babies and for their mothers. Through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, we are investing £18.5 million in 2025/26 to improve infant feeding support across 75 local authorities in England. We have also extended and expanded the National Breastfeeding Helpline so that more families across the United Kingdom can access breastfeeding support 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The child health workforce is central to how we provide infant feeding support. We have committed to strengthening health visiting services so that all families can access joined-up, high quality services. We have also committed to training thousands more midwives to better support women throughout their pregnancy and beyond. By April 2025, the number of full-time equivalents had increased by 1,330 compared to April 2024.

Whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on the withdraw funding for Veterans First Point Lothian.

I engage regularly with the Scottish Government and with the Scottish Veterans' Commissioner on issues affecting veterans who live in Scotland. Health is a devolved matter, so it is for the Scottish Government to decide on funding allocations.

What steps she is taking to (a) reduce pensioner poverty and (b) increase pension benefit uptake.

The Government is committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the financial security and dignity they deserve. The State Pension is the foundation of support for older people and together with the private and workplace pensions system provides for security in retirement. That’s why we have made a commitment to the Triple Lock for the entirety of this Parliament which will see the forecast annual spend on people’s State Pensions rise by around £31 billion. In April this year, the basic and new State Pensions increased by 4.1%, benefitting 12 million pensioners by up to £470 this year. That’s up to £275 more than if pensions had been up rated by inflation. The standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit, which provides a vital safety net for around 1.4m pensioners on the lowest incomes, also increased by 4.1%. Pension Credit can passport pensioners to a range of extra support including help with rent, council tax reduction, fuel bills (via the Warm Home Discount scheme and Cold Weather Payments) and a free TV licence for those over 75. We have been running the biggest Pension Credit campaign since Autumn 2024. Our drive to maximise Pension Credit take-up has seen the Department receive around 285,600 claims from July 2024 to May 2025 with almost 60,000 extra awards on the comparable period the previous year. Further promotional activity is planned from this Autumn through to the end of the financial year with the campaign aimed at eligible pensioners, their friends and their family.

What is the average waiting time for a driving test in Currie; and when she expects the backlog to be cleared.

The year-to-date average waiting time for a driving test at Edinburgh (Currie) driving test centre (DTC) is 24 weeks.The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.DVSA expects to deliver thousands of additional tests this month and is working to increase test availability further over the coming year. Over 630,000 learners across Great Britain now have a test booked. That number will rise as the DVSA increases test availability.

Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps to support independent cinemas.

We are supporting cinemas through permanently lower business rates multipliers for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure premises with rateable values under £500,000 from 2026/27.Our Plan for Neighbourhoods will provide £1.5 billion to 75 towns across the UK over ten years. Places will be able to use their £20 million to enrich their cultural and media offering and could, amongst other opportunities, refurbish, restore, or develop cultural and heritage assets, including local cinemas.The British Film Institute (BFI), a DCMS Arms Length Body, also provides support to the cinema sector. The BFI’s Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) is a collaboration of eight film hubs, managed by leading film organisations and venues around the UK. Film hubs are centres of expertise and support that connect cinemas, festivals and creative practitioners including using lottery funding to support the independent cinema exhibition sector by enhancing skills and sharing best practice.Further information about film hubs is available at: https://www.bfi.org.uk/get-funding-support/bring-film-wider-audience/bfi-film-audience-networkFurthermore, we are actively considering the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's recommendation to deliver capital infrastructure funding for independent cinemas and what we can do to further recognise the importance of cinemas within their local area.

What steps she is taking to support unemployed women back in to work.

Tackling child poverty and reaching an 80% employment rate are key Government objectives. The Get Britain Working White Paper outlines plans to transform the jobs and careers service into a more inclusive, skills-focused system that helps people find and progress into meaningful work. Women are more likely to have the main childcare responsibility in the family and more likely to provide care for loved ones who have a disability or health condition, which can be barriers to moving into work. Supporting more women into work is essential to increasing household income, reducing child poverty and reaching an 80% employment rate. This is supported by the work of the Child Poverty Taskforce. Lead carers and part-time carers receive personalised support from work coaches who tailor expected work or job search hours based on individual circumstances including the age of their youngest child or other circumstances which limit the customer’s ability to work, for example a health condition. Employment support includes skills assessments, training referrals, careers advice, job search assistance, volunteering opportunities and financial help for the costs of moving into work through the Flexible Support Fund. The Government also provides a range of support for childcare costs for eligible working parents including the upfront costs. We also take seriously the impact of menopause as a barrier to work, so on World Menopause Day, the Government appointed Mariella Frostrup as the new Menopause Employment Ambassador. The Menopause Employment Ambassador is working closely with employers across the country to improve workplace support for women experiencing the menopause.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce alcohol related cancers.

The National Cancer Plan will build on the shift from sickness to prevention set out by the 10-Year Health Plan, and will seek to reduce risk factors. The plan will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, as well as prevention. This will include alcohol consumption, alongside other risk factors, given alcohol is linked to an increased risk of seven types of cancer: mouth; pharynx; larynx; oesophagus; breast; liver; and bowel, which includes the colon and rectum.In relation to ensuring public awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer, the Government has a responsibility to provide the most up to date health information to enable people to make informed choices about their drinking. Both the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines and the National Health Service’s webpage on alcohol clearly state that alcohol consumption can increase the risk of developing seven types of cancer.On 3 July 2025, the Department published ‘Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England’, which outlines plans to introduce mandatory alcohol labelling, to increase awareness of harms and enable people to make healthier choices. Details of the next steps will be shared in due course.The 10-Year Health Plan also recognises that No and Low (NoLo) drinks may have the potential to help adults reduce their alcohol intake if consumed in place of a standard-strength alcohol drink. In the document, we outline plans to explore if there is a need to change the threshold at which products can describe themselves as alcohol free, to support growth of this sector. We will also explore options to restrict access to NoLo products, so they are treated in the same ways as all alcohol products, including banning sales to children under 18 years old. Alongside the plan, a large multi-year National Institute for Health and Care Research study is underway to examine the public health impacts of NoLo products, and we look forward to the findings of that being available in the coming year.The 10-Year Health Plan also commits to supporting community level innovation, and continued expansion of Individual Placement and Support schemes for people with alcohol addiction to find good work.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that Green Freeports have the (a) authority and (b) mechanisms to hold businesses accountable in relation to their commitments on (i) fair work and (ii) achieving net zero.

As detailed in guidance, Green Freeports are required to implement robust tax site management strategies that ensure investments align with the overarching vision and policy objectives. Green Freeports must ensure that their partners deliver on the commitments set out in the approved business case. To support this, tax site landholders are expected to enter into formal legal agreements with the Green Freeport operating company to enforce compliance including fair work practices and net zero commitments. The governments reserve the right to sanction Green Freeports where these commitments are not upheld.

What steps she is taking to ensure that under-25s are adequately supported by the benefits system.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill legislates for the first sustained above inflation rise in the basic rate of Universal Credit since it was introduced. This increase will be for new and existing customers and will benefit millions of households. DWP provides young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need, nationwide employment programmes and support delivered by work coaches based in our Jobcentres and in local communities working alongside partners. As part of our plan to Get Britain Working, we are launching a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 in England to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work.