Written questions by Barclay.

Communities and Local Government, whether local planning authorities are required to (a) retain and (b) disclose DSEAR assessments for major infrastructure projects.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the Health and Safety Executive will publish the DSEAR assessment for the proposed MVV facility in Cambridgeshire under the Environmental Information Regulations once completed.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether statutory consultees are required to assess risks from (a) lithium-ion batteries and (b) gas canisters when reviewing fire prevention plans for energy-from-waste facilities.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Answer of 29 April 2026 to Question 82312 on Hospitals: Waiting Lists, what were the monthly figures for October 2025 to April 2026.

Awaiting answer.

What is the longest time that (a) an SME and (b) a person has waited for security vetting in the last two years; and whether either application is still ongoing.

UKSV continues to meet its agreed KPIs across each product type. The time taken to complete a vetting assessment varies according to the level of clearance required and the complexity of an individual’s background. In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not disclose granular performance data or specific case details, as to do so could prejudice national security and provide insights into the operational thresholds of our security safeguards. UKSV remains focused on ensuring the vetting process is both rigorous and timely.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2026 to question 124579, if he will publish the (a) KPIs that apply to UKSV and (b) most recent performance data relating to those KPIs.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124580 on Defence: Small Businesses, by what date he expects to have in place the wider range of indicators to measure his Department’s success in attracting new suppliers.

Subsequent to the establishment of the Defence Office for Small Business Growth in January, the Department is currently working to deliver full operating capability by the end of this year. This activity is being aided by engagement with a pathfinder group of SMEs to ensure we are addressing the needs of smaller and non-traditional suppliers. As part of this work, we will develop a range of metrics to measure the impact of the Office.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Ministry of Defence small and medium-sized enterprise engagement published on 24 March 2026, whether his Department plans to publish the (a) the SME action plan and (b) a direct spending target on the same day as the Defence Investment Plan.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to publishing an annual SME Action Plan as a key element of Defence’s work to improve opportunities for SMEs. On current plans, the MOD’s full annual SME action plan, including direct spending target will not be published concurrently with the Defence Investment Plan. The action plan which will include a spending target are currently forecast to be published in the second quarter of 2026.

When he plans to answer question 115383, tabled on 24 February 2026.

I will respond to the right hon. Member shortly.

When he plans to answer question 82312, tabled on 15 October 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 April 2026 to Question 82312.

How many NHS jobs in which Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is the primary function have been advertised in the most recent 12-month period for which data are available.

This data is not centrally held.

How many NHS England staff have accepted voluntary redundancy since 13 March 2025; and what the total financial cost of those voluntary redundancies was to the public purse.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

How many jobs at NHS England have been advertised since 13 March 2025.

A total of 1,214 vacancies advertised - 637 were medical vacancies and 577 non-medical vacancies advertised.

How many NHS sites offering diagnostics have seen at least one modality removed in the last 12 months.

The Department does not hold official data on how many National Health Service sites offering diagnostics have seen at least one modality removed in the 12 months.

Which key performance indicators he will use to judge the success of his Department's SME Commercial Pathway.

The Pathway will be a contributor to the primary measure of success, which is achieving the Ministry of Defence’s target of spending £7.5 billion annually with SMEs, both directly and through the supply-chain, by 2028. The Department is exploring a wider range of indicators to measure the success of our policies in attracting new and smaller suppliers into the defence supply-base, including for example the speed of our procurement and the value of inward investment.

The (a) number and (b) value of Defence Innovation Loans made in each round since 4 July 2024.

The number and value of Defence Innovation Loans made since 4 July 2024, by financial year (FY), are as follows: DIL Round Number ValueDefence Innovation Loan FY2023-24 Cycle 4 1 £881,570Defence Innovation Loan FY2023-24 Cycle 7 1 £1,247,513Defence Innovation Loan FY2024-25 Cycle 2 1 £750,000Defence Innovation Loan FY2024-25 Cycle 5 1 £451,600TOTAL 4 £3,330,683 Defence Innovation Loans are considered to be “made” when funding is agreed at the end of the two-stage decision process, finalised by the Innovate UK Credit Committee, which can sit several months after the initial DASA/F&G decision conference. This is why two projects appear in this list despite their DIL Cycle being prior to the date stated in the PQ.

The average time taken for an SME to obtain security clearance to (a) bid for and (b) deliver a defence contract.

In most instances, it is not necessary for a company or individual to hold security clearance prior to commencing the bidding process for a government contract. Should access to sensitive information or assets be required either during the bidding phase or for the delivery of the contract, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) project team is responsible for initiating the vetting procedure. Security vetting is conducted by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV), which operates under the Cabinet Office. The duration of the security vetting process can differ on a case-by-case basis, due to the multiple checks conducted by various agencies. As a result, there is no standard timeframe applicable to all cases. United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) continues to meet its agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across each product type. UKSV KPIs are set and regularly reviewed in consultation with customer groups, governed by ministerial oversight, to ensure demand is balanced whilst maintaining assurance in national security safeguards. In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.

What is the expected overall value of additional payments to be made to GPs from seeking advice and guidance from hospital consultants for at least 25 per cent of certain referrals in each of the next three years.

The Neighbourhood Health Framework sets out an ambition to improve how patients are directed to the most appropriate care, including through better use of Advice and Guidance (A&G) between general practices (GPs) and specialist services. There is no target for A&G. The 25% diversion rate referenced in the Neighbourhood Health Framework is based on learning seen in areas where this model is already working well and demonstrates the potential benefit to other systems. The importance of clinical judgment remains unchanged, that if a patient needs a hospital referral, they will get one.The 2026/27 GP Contract embeds the £82 million of funding from the previous A&G enhanced service into core practice funding. Embedding A&G in the core contract recognises it as routine clinical practice, removes annual signups, and provides more predictable funding while supporting consistent patient pathways.No separate payments will be made to GPs for each A&G request. As such, the Department has not set an expected overall value of additional payments to be made to GPs seeking A&G from hospital consultants.The GP Contract does not mandate the use of A&G in all circumstances. Instead, as per the Medium-Term Planning Framework published in October 2025, providers are expected to prioritise A&G prior to or in place of a planned care referral for at least ten specialties, selected locally for the greatest overall benefit and to shape delivery of elective pathways. This does not take away a GP’s right to refer, which remains a matter of clinical judgement. This reflects longstanding planned‑care referral practice and does not alter existing legal or professional accountability frameworks for GPs.A&G is designed to support quicker, clearer clinical decision making, by enabling GPs and specialist to discuss and agree the most appropriate next steps for a patient. A&G avoids patients having to join lengthy hospital waiting lists and undertake unnecessary appointments where this is in the patient’s best interests and where care can be delivered closer to home. Direct advice from specialists supports joint working between primary and secondary care. Between April 2025 and November 2025, A&G has avoided 1.1 million patients being added to waiting lists, ensuring patients receive the care they need in primary and community settings where appropriate, instead of being added to the elective waiting list unnecessarily.

How many one star military officers and above does he plan to have in place by the end of this Parliament.

Defence’s workforce structure is regularly reviewed and adjusted according to the threat and capability requirements. This includes the number of senior officers. The future workforce structure and associated workforce plans will be reviewed in conjunction with the Defence Investment Plan.

With reference to Q134 of the oral evidence given by his Department's Permanent Secretary to the Defence Committee on 17 March 2026, HC 1779, if he will publish the metrics used for tracking the reduction in civil service workforce costs and the related data from July 2024 onwards.

The Ministry of Defence publishes metrics to report total Civil Service headcount, and changes over time biannually and are available on gov.uk. (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-biannual-civilian-personnel-report-october-2025) The next edition has a provisional release date of 14 May 2026 and will present MOD Civil Service statistics as at 1 April 2026. The Defence Reform and Efficiency plan, which will be published alongside the Defensive Investment Plan, will also set out the Department's plans in relation to workforce and wider efficiencies.