Written questions by Osborne.

What recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on a Free Trade Agreement.

On 29 July 2024 the Secretary of State for Business and Trade announced the Government’s intention to deliver negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, India, Israel, South Korea, Switzerland and Turkey. The Secretary of State has spoken to Minister Barkat a number of times since the July 2024 General Election, including on the Free Trade Agreement.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the UK's nuclear energy capacity on delivering the AI Opportunities Action Plan, (b) the costs of regulatory processes on building new nuclear and (c) existing plants being decommissioned without replacement on AI.

As outlined in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, AI datacentres are a potential new consumer of nuclear power. We see the potential benefits of nuclear-powered datacentres and are considering how to unlock this potential. Regulatory processes involve multiple steps to demonstrate the nuclear power plant will be safe, secure and can manage its waste, non-proliferation, and environmental obligations. There are multiple variables that drive timelines and costs. The Department undertakes regular modelling on future energy scenarios, including on demand changes driven by new technology and plans for generating assets. This forms part of the considerations on the wider AI sector.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a similar scheme to the Small Business Investment Company in the USA.

The government is committed to supporting small businesses, recognising their vital role in driving economic growth and innovation. The government continually reviews its support for small businesses to ensure it remains effective and responsive to their needs. The government will publish its Small Business Strategy in 2025 after the Phase 2 Spending Review. This will set out the government’s vision for supporting small businesses, from boosting scale-ups to growing the co-operative economy and across key policy areas. The government already has schemes in place that deliver outcomes similar to the US’s SBIC scheme: providing finance to small businesses. Currently, the UK offers a range of support mechanisms for small businesses, including the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme which provide tax reliefs to investors who make new equity investments in high risk, early stage Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), in order to help them grow and develop. Additionally, the British Business Bank plays a crucial role in improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through various programmes, helping them to grow and succeed. These include programmes which provide funding to professional equity and debt fund managers, as well as guarantees to enable high street lenders provide additional finance to SMEs.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 24615 on Housing: Carbon Emissions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned amendments to building regulations on the economy.

The Future Homes and Buildings Standards consultation was published in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. It set out proposals for improving the energy efficiency of new homes and buildings. An impact assessment was published concurrently, which included an assessment of the economic impact of the proposals, and the consultation invited consultees to offer their views on this assessment.We are carefully considering the feedback received. We intend to introduce new energy efficiency standards later this year and will publish an updated impact assessment at that time.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of levels of demand for new housing in different areas of the UK; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of new homes on the economy of the different regions.

In December 2024, the government implemented a new standard method for assessing local housing needs. This method aligns with the government’s ambition for 1.5 million new homes over this parliament, and better directs new homes to where they are most needed and least affordable. Indicative housing figures for each local authority and region in England are published on gov.uk.Investment in housing and infrastructure today drives future productivity growth and higher living standards, making these areas pivotal to the success of the Growth Mission. This government is committed to kickstarting economic growth and getting Britain building.

Whether he plans to issue new guidance on the use of (a) Novarapid, (b) Insulin flextouch, (c) Insulatard and (d) Levimir for diabetes patients before March 2025.

In late 2024, the Department issued communications on the discontinuation of both Novorapid Flextouch and Insulatard Penfill cartridges to the National Health Service, advising on suitable alternatives. The Department is working with NHS England and clinical experts to develop management advice for healthcare professionals ahead of the discontinuation of Levemir, in December 2026. This will be communicated at the earliest opportunity. There are no plans to issue guidance on Insulin Flextouch.

What her planned timetable is for the proposed consultation on e-invoicing.

At Budget 2024, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a public consultation on e-invoicing to promote its wider use across UK businesses and government departments. HMRC and Department for Business and Trade will be publishing a joint consultation with an expected publication date of early 2025. The consultation will run for 12 weeks and will be open to all business sizes and sectors, individuals, and software providers.

Whether the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities will be resuming the annual evidence reviews on tobacco-based products previously undertaken by Public Health England.

Public Health England did not previously publish annual evidence reviews on tobacco-based products. However, Public Health England did publish a series of reports on nicotine vaping products over 10 years. They are available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/e-cigarettes-and-vaping-policy-regulation-and-guidanceThese reports aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool. Heated tobacco products were also assessed in two of the reports. The final report in the commission was published in 2022, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nicotine-vaping-in-england-2022-evidence-updateThe Department continues to monitor emerging data, and we are working closely with stakeholders and experts, including internationally, to ensure we are researching the long-term health impacts of vaping. We are exploring additional research and will set out plans in due course.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a statutory food hygiene rating scheme in England.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is operated by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.We will consider whether the mandatory display of ratings should be introduced in England in due course. In the meantime, the FSA is working with its local authority partners to maintain and improve the impact and benefits of this highly successful public health scheme.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the display of restaurant food hygiene ratings in all English licenced premises assessed.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is operated by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.We will consider whether the mandatory display of ratings should be introduced in England in due course. In the meantime, the FSA is working with its local authority partners to maintain and improve the impact and benefits of this highly successful public health scheme.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to incorporate harvest control rules into future fisheries management plans.

Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) are evidence-based action plans ensuring stocks can be sustainably harvested. Work is being done to implement actions in the six published FMPs. Collectively, these can be considered as equivalent to the ‘harvest control rules’ for the individual fisheries. Defra published a harvest standard specification in September setting out the broad framework within which individual harvest strategies can be developed for English fisheries. Harvest standard specification for fisheries management plans in English waters - GOV.UK Harvest Control Rules require a sufficient level of data and understanding of a stock. Currently, there are some FMP stocks that they cannot apply to until there is a better evidence base.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish proposed measures for the Stage 3 offshore Marine Protected Areas.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rotherham on 16 September 2024, PQ 4529.

With reference to HMRC's policy paper on making tax digital, updated on 19 December 2022, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a digital tax system for managing duty on vaping.

The government is committed to modernising tax administration to enhance efficiency and compliance.HMRC operates on a ‘digital by default’ basis and will look to mandate digital channels by which all businesses within the scope of the Vaping Products Duty (VPD) must register, report and pay online, with exceptions only for those who are digitally excluded by virtue of protected characteristics. This was set out in VPD consultation response document: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672263b43ce5634f5f6ef582/Vaping_Products_Duty_consultation_response.pdf

What steps she is taking to help reduce driving test waiting times in (a) Medway and (b) Kent.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA’s) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.DVSA continues to take measures to increase test availability. These include the recruitment of driving examiners (DE), conducting tests outside regular hours, including at weekends and on public holidays and buying back annual leave from driving examiners.As part of its recruitment efforts in Kent, DVSA has made offers to 15 potential new DEs. DVSA launched its latest recruitment campaign in September 2024. From this campaign DVSA aims to recruit a further eight DEs in the Kent area.

What assessment she had made of the adequacy of the condition of local roads in Kent and Medway.

The Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. Kent County Council and Medway Council are the local highway authorities for different parts of the Chatham and Aylesford constituency, and they are therefore responsible for the condition and maintenance of their local road networks. They will receive £38.3 million and £3.5 million respectively from this Department during 2024/25 to help them carry out their local highway maintenance responsibilities, and it is up to them to decide how that funding is used. For England as a whole, the Government has a commitment to enable local highway authorities to fix up to a million more potholes a year.

What his Department's timetable is for making a decision on the development Medway Maritime Trust elective care centre in Chatham.

Presently, there is no Medway elective treatment business case going through assurance with the Department. NHS England has delegated authority for business cases costed at under £25 million, in which case the Department is not the decision maker. This aligns with our approach that local health infrastructure needs are determined by local health system planners, in collaboration with NHS England.

What data her Department holds on the use of section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 by police forces to tackle nuisance behaviour involving (a) motorbikes, (b) e-bikes, (c) e-scooters, (d) quad bikes and (e) any other type of motor vehicle.

Information about the powers the police use to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) incidents is not held centrally by the Home Office, and is collected by HMICFRS.The Home Office collects and publishes data about the number of ASB nuisance incidents on a quarterly basis, however information about which of these incidents involved motor vehicles is not currently identifiable.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data quarterly on the proportion of respondents who experienced types of ASB in their local area, including “Vehicle related behaviour”, in the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) – however the type of vehicle used is not currently identifiable.Both the ONS and Home Office datasets for ASB in the year to March 2024 can be found here:https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesotherrelatedtablesInformation for the year to June 2024 will be published on 24th October 2024.

What steps her Department is taking to increase Crown Court capacity in Kent.

The Crown Court outstanding caseload remains one of the biggest challenges facing the Criminal Justice System. The caseload has risen in recent years as a result of the pandemic and an increase in cases coming before the criminal courts.To address this, we plan to sit 106,500 working days at the Crown Court this financial year and continue to keep 18 Nightingale courtrooms open for 2024/25. Alongside this, we consistently invest in the recruitment of c.1000 judges and tribunal members annually and are also considering further measures to speed up justice.HMCTS receives a specified level of funding each year to operate the courts and tribunals. This level of funding is agreed by the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice via the Concordat process. Sitting days are subsequently allocated to regions and local courts.In 2024/25, Maidstone Crown Court is scheduled to sit at its maximum capacity in line with the number of judges and courtrooms it has available. We continue to explore the prospect of increasing the number of courtrooms available at the Court. Canterbury sits below capacity, but this reflects the improving performance picture at the court.