Written questions by Dhesi.

How much compensation was provided for (a) childcare, (b) other care, (c) food and drink, (d) travel and (e) parking costs to people on jury duty in real terms in each of the last five years.

Jurors can claim an amount towards loss of earnings and other costs incurred as a direct result of jury service, subject to a daily maximum. They can also claim travel costs and a contribution towards their refreshments.HMCTS does not collect or collate data specifically on all categories of expenses requested here but can disaggregate certain payments made. Parking charges are incorporated into the travel costs and all types of additional care (e.g. childcare and care of vulnerable adults) are amalgamated. The information available is set out in the following table.Costs in 2024 prices (using CPI data)YearTravel Food & Drink Additional Care 2020£ 3,395,508£ 2,437,651£ 199,6252021£ 6,906,633£ 4,468,960£ 347,8622022£ 6,175,245£ 4,433,536£ 345,5512023£ 6,932,989£ 5,177,718£ 361,3562024£ 7,170,537£ 5,227,048£ 353,180The expenses covered in the table above represent only a proportion of total expenses paid to jurors each year. For example, in 2024, a total of £36.5 million was paid in juror allowance, including the £12,750,765 set out under the categories requested in the question asked.

What steps he is taking to ensure the resilience of (a) energy supplies and (b) energy infrastructure that provide power to (i) critical infrastructure and (ii) sites of national strategic importance.

Resilience of critical national infrastructure is paramount, and that includes having resilient power. There are high levels of resilience in the national electricity system, and I would like to reassure my hon Friend that the Government works closely with industry to continually improve and maintain the resilience of energy infrastructure. Alongside Ofgem, the Secretary of State has commissioned the National Energy System Operator to carry out a review to investigate the power disruption to Heathrow on Friday 21 March, and to understand any wider lessons to be learned on energy resilience for critical national infrastructure.

What recent estimate she has made of the average waiting time for a child to receive an education, health and care plan in (a) England, (b) Berkshire and (c) Slough constituency.

The department publishes official statistics on education, health and care (EHC) plans annually and these can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans. This includes data at local authority level on the rate of EHC plans issued within the statutory deadline of twenty weeks.The table linked below shows the number of plans issued within the statutory 20-week deadline for each of the 6 unitary authorities in Berkshire, and the overall figure for England, for the 2023 calendar year:https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/929ca39b-d31e-43d9-ce9b-08dd66bfee22.Information at constituency level is not available.

Whether she plans to alter her policies on the (a) eligibility (b) use (c) thresholds for London house prices and (d) withdrawal penalties criteria for the Lifetime ISA.

The Lifetime ISA remains narrowly focused on supporting people to achieve the aspiration of home ownership, or to build up savings for later life. The property price cap supports most first-time buyers across the UK while targeting households that may find it most difficult to get onto the property ladder. Data from the latest UK House Price Index shows that while the average price paid by first-time buyers has increased since the introduction of the Lifetime ISA, it is still below the LISA property price cap in all regions of the UK except for London, where the average price paid is affected by boroughs with very high property values Any unauthorised withdrawals are subject to a 25% withdrawal charge. This recoups the Government bonus, any interest or growth arising from it, and a proportion of the individual’s initial savings. The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review.

Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with (a) local businesses and (b) residents on the coverage of full-fibre broadband in (i) Slough constituency and (ii) South East England.

The government is committed to delivering 2030 nationwide gigabit connectivity coverage, with 86% of premises now able to access a gigabit-capable connection thanks to a pro-competition regulatory environment. There is now a thriving market of over 100 providers, investing over £40bn rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK.Project Gigabit primarily focuses on the rural areas which are the hardest to reach commercially. We anticipate that the majority of urban areas will receive gigabit-capable broadband through commercial investment. While there is no planned build in Slough under Project Gigabit, the government continues to review the best ways to address gaps in coverage in urban areas.CityFibre and Gigaclear are delivering Project Gigabit-funded contracts across the South East of England. Alongside them, we continue to engage closely with local businesses and residents regarding rollout.

If she will make an assessment of trends in the level of compensation provided for (a) childcare, (b) other care, (c) food and drink, (d) travel and (e) parking costs to people on jury duty in real terms in the last five years.

The jury process is a cornerstone of the justice system in England and Wales. Jury service is an important civic duty and jurors play a vital role in upholding justice. The Government will keep under review all support provided to jurors throughout their period of service. This will include, but not be limited to, assessing any significant trends in compensation applications or payments, as well as other participation-related data.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international non-governmental organisations that provide official development assistance.

This government remains fully committed to the UK playing a globally significant role on development; it is both in our national interest and in the interest of our partners across the globe. We are engaging with a range of partners and stakeholders on the decision to reduce the Official Development Assistance budget.

Whether he is taking steps to reduce the duration of submarine patrols.

The Royal Navy has successfully maintained Operation RELENTLESS – the Continuous At Sea Deterrent – without interruption for over 56 years. We do not disclose details of the operation, including the duration of time spent at sea, as such information could be used to undermine the security and capability of the mission and our personnel.

What recent assessment he has made of the (a) timeliness and (b) quality of medical equipment delivered to community care facilities for recently discharged hospital patients.

Local National Health Service procuring authorities are responsible for assessing the timeliness and quality of the medical equipment delivered for their patients, procured under contracts they hold with suppliers.The Department works closely with partners across the health system and medical technology landscape, including individual suppliers, trade associations, patient groups, and devolved administrations, to provide challenges and to ensure that stakeholder input is at the right level and at the right time. However, local NHS bodies are responsible for the provision of medical equipment to care facilities.

Innovation and Technology, what estimate he has made of the number of data centres built in England in each of the last five years.

The Government has not historically collected figures on the growth of data centre capacity but has monitored the market periodically and through industry engagement. Other sources for this historical data are available, for example through Tech UK or CBRE's market outlooks.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of vacancies for welders within the defence industry.

The demand for craft skills, including welders, is recognised across the defence sector and is a particular area of interest for the joint Government and industry Shipbuilding Skills Delivery Group. Meeting this demand is also recognised as a challenge across the economy and not solely as an issue for defence. As part of the ongoing Defence Industrial Strategy work, the Ministry of Defence is closely engaged with the Department for Education to identify additional opportunities and approaches to meet the future demand.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help increase the numbers of leading international scientists who choose to undertake their research in the UK.

The UK boasts a world-leading science base, supported by top universities and research institutions. We are open for business in science and technology and aim to be the destination of choice for globally mobile top talent.DSIT is committed to working with the R&D sector, including academia and industry, to attract and retain top talent in the UK. This includes funding through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Academies, which offer prestigious fellowships and professorships.The UK's association with the Horizon Europe programme has also opened more opportunities for British scientists and researchers, providing access to extensive funding streams and a collaborative environment that attracts top-tier talent globally.

What steps his Department is taking to improve adult social care provision.

We recognise the challenges facing the adult social care system, and we are taking immediate action to improve the situation. These actions include:making up to £3.7 billion of additional funding available for social care authorities in 2025/26, including a £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant, resulting in a 6.8% increase to local government spending power in cash terms;taking forward a range of initiatives in 2025/26, including funding more home adaptations, promoting better use of care technologies, and professionalising the adult social care workforce;increasing the Carer's Allowance weekly earnings limit in April 2025 from £151 a week to £196, to support our unpaid family carers;introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to the adult social care sector so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do; andlaunching an independent commission, which will begin in April 2025, as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. Chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, the commission will make clear recommendations for how to rebuild the adult social care system to meet the current and future needs of the population.Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people to access quality care. The Department funds an annual programme of support to local authorities and their partners to help them improve the delivery of their statutory duties.

What steps he is taking tackle skills gaps within the defence industry.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises that attracting and retaining the right mix of skills is critical to sustaining a vibrant, innovative and competitive UK defence sector. This is an important area of focus in the development of the Defence Industrial Strategy and will be a topic given close attention by the Defence Industrial Joint Council. The MOD continues to work closely with the Department for Education, the Department for Business and Trade and defence sector companies to ensure the sector has access to the skilled workforce it requires.

What recent steps his Department has taken to help tackle maternal health inequalities in (a) Slough and (b) Berkshire.

It is unacceptable that there are such stark inequalities for women and babies. It is a priority for the Government to make sure that all women and babies receive the high-quality care they deserve, regardless of their background, location, or ethnicity.Actions to tackle maternal health inequalities at the Slough and East Berkshire maternity services include, but are not limited to:- a Rapid Communication Aid, developed to assist in identifying patient needs in 30 languages;- free midwife-led antenatal education classes in Urdu, focusing on birth preparation for over 24 weeks gestation;- a culturally competent genetics service being established, to support informed decision-making for close relative couples;- equity training for staff on mandatory update day; and- the implementation of the MAMAs phone line, a triage service staffed by midwives with interpretation services.The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has also focused on addressing inequalities through measures such as improving access to perinatal mental health services and antenatal and preconception information, and by promoting an increase in folic acid uptake.Progress has also been made nationally in recent years. As part of NHS England's three-year plan, all local areas have now published Equity and Equality action plans to tackle inequalities for women and babies from ethnic minorities and for those living in the most deprived areas. However, we recognise that more is required. We are working closely with NHS England, and the wider sector, to identify the right actions and interventions that will deliver the required change.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs on the implications of the use of Artificial Intelligence on the water supply.

My department has discussed the implications of Artificial Intelligence with DEFRA, and representatives from UK water companies, on multiple occasions. We also engage the AI data centre industry to understand how water is used and explore potential alternatives or ways to minimise any potential impact on supplies and output of wastewater. Data centres, and the compute they provide, will also play a major role in powering the high-tech solutions to environmental challenges.

What recent discussions has he had with stakeholders within the medical equipment industry on the provision of medical equipment to care facilities.

Local National Health Service procuring authorities are responsible for assessing the timeliness and quality of the medical equipment delivered for their patients, procured under contracts they hold with suppliers.The Department works closely with partners across the health system and medical technology landscape, including individual suppliers, trade associations, patient groups, and devolved administrations, to provide challenges and to ensure that stakeholder input is at the right level and at the right time. However, local NHS bodies are responsible for the provision of medical equipment to care facilities.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he has taken to increase coverage of full-fibre broadband availability in Slough constituency.

The government is committed to delivering 2030 nationwide gigabit connectivity coverage, with 86% of premises now able to access a gigabit-capable connection thanks to a pro-competition regulatory environment. There is now a thriving market of over 100 providers, investing over £40bn rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK.Project Gigabit primarily focuses on the rural areas which are the hardest to reach commercially. We anticipate that the majority of urban areas will receive gigabit-capable broadband through commercial investment. While there is no planned build in Slough under Project Gigabit, the government continues to review the best ways to address gaps in coverage in urban areas.CityFibre and Gigaclear are delivering Project Gigabit-funded contracts across the South East of England. Alongside them, we continue to engage closely with local businesses and residents regarding rollout.

Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of full-fibre broadband in Slough constituency.

The government is committed to delivering 2030 nationwide gigabit connectivity coverage, with 86% of premises now able to access a gigabit-capable connection thanks to a pro-competition regulatory environment. There is now a thriving market of over 100 providers, investing over £40bn rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK.Project Gigabit primarily focuses on the rural areas which are the hardest to reach commercially. We anticipate that the majority of urban areas will receive gigabit-capable broadband through commercial investment. While there is no planned build in Slough under Project Gigabit, the government continues to review the best ways to address gaps in coverage in urban areas.CityFibre and Gigaclear are delivering Project Gigabit-funded contracts across the South East of England. Alongside them, we continue to engage closely with local businesses and residents regarding rollout.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria will be used to determine allocations from the John Bunyan Fund.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) John Bunyan Fund provides funding to overseas posts to support the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world. UK posts are invited to submit applications that support the central objective of the fund: to curtail FoRB violations and abuses. Diplomatic missions have full control over the exact design and scope of project work to best develop an intervention that suits their specific in-country context and priorities and is complementary to any other financing they receive. Projects must provide value for money, have a clear strategic focus and realistic, tangible outcomes in keeping with FCDO priorities.