Written questions by Forster.

Whether his Department plans to take steps to support the scale-up of low-carbon heat networks in the Warm Homes Plan; and what recent discussions he has had with Ofgem on the effectiveness of consumer protections in terms of (a) pricing, (b) reliability and (c) service quality.

The forthcoming Warm Homes Plan will set out the Government’s vision for upgrading and decarbonising buildings so that they are fit for the future, including through heat networks. In January 2026, Ofgem will assume its role as heat network market regulator, within a regulatory framework which will provide similar levels of protection available to consumers on gas and electric networks. Ofgem will have the powers to investigate and intervene in cases where prices appear to be unfair or disproportionate. They will enforce guaranteed standards of performance to ensure a minimum quality of service is provided at all times, and regulations will include mandated technical standards to improve network reliability.

Whether she plans to extend the eligibility of the Apprenticeship Levy to include (a) pre-employment and (b) employability schemes.

The government’s new levy-funded growth and skills offer will introduce greater flexibility to employers and learners in England, creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries, aligned with the government’s industrial strategy. This will include introducing new foundation apprenticeships for young people, as well as shorter-duration apprenticeships.Foundation apprenticeships will be a work-based training offer that will provide young people with clear progression pathways into further work-based training and employment. Construction will be one of the key sectors that will benefit from new foundation apprenticeships, which will be launching in August 2025.Further development of the growth and skills offer will be informed by the work of Skills England who will work closely with employers and other key partners to identify priority skills gaps. This will help to ensure that the levy-funded growth and skills offer delivers value for money, meets the needs of business and helps kick-start economic growth.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of EPC rating requirements for industrial buildings; and what steps he is taking to support small manufacturers in meeting future energy efficiency standards.

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations consider the energy efficiency of buildings to ensure they are futureproofed for any usage, irrespective of the occupant. MHCLG also recently published a consultation on EPC reform to ensure they are a more effective tool for understanding a buildings energy performance in future. Non-domestic MEES regulations currently only require buildings, including industrial buildings, below EPC E to improve their energy efficiency. We consulted on strengthening this to EPC B by 2030, and plan to publish our government response in the first half of 2025. In regard to support for small manufacturers, government publishes various schemes on gov.uk, both local and national, that help with the costs of energy efficiency measures. This includes the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund which has offered up to £500 million. Our Business Energy Advice Service Pilot operates in the West Midlands also provides energy demand reduction and decarbonisation recommendations for SMEs with the provision of free match-funded grants available to support implementation. We also encourage SMEs to visit the UK Business Climate Hub, which provides information and advice on how to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure the effective prosecution of tax evasion.

HMRC is not a prosecuting authority, however they have a strong and effective working relationship with their prosecuting partners – the Crown Prosecution Service, Public Prosecution Service, and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. HMRC works closely with prosecutors to conduct criminal investigations and prepare cases to the highest evidential standard, before the relevant prosecuting authority decides if criminal charges should be made and prosecutions sought. HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) and its prosecution partners have a strong success rate, with an average conviction rate of over 90 per cent across the 8 years since FIS was created. HMRC is supporting the government’s ambition to close the tax gap via measures set out at Spring Statement. In particular, HMRC is expanding its counter-fraud capability to increase the number of annual charging decisions for the most harmful tax fraud by 20%, compared to current levels, from 500 to 600 per year by 2029-30. This will lead to increased prosecutions in future years.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling urgent community response teams to administer urgent care at home.

Increasing access to urgent community response (UCR) services is a requirement within the 2025/26 NHS Operational Planning guidance, with integrated care board plans showing increases in capacity across the country. UCR also features as a key service within the ‘urgent neighbourhood services’ component of the published Neighbourhood Health guidance.

What steps his Department is taking to support and expand Urgent Community Response teams.

Increasing access to urgent community response (UCR) services is a requirement within the 2025/26 NHS Operational Planning guidance, with integrated care board plans showing increases in capacity across the country. UCR also features as a key service within the ‘urgent neighbourhood services’ component of the published Neighbourhood Health guidance.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on brewers’ ability to invest in the UK; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on this issue.

In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector.

Whether she plans to amend the Construction Industry Training Board’s legislative scope order to include (a) plumbing and (b) electrical work.

Plumbing and electrical works are excluded from the Industrial Training Board’s (ITBs) current legislative scope order.The 2023 independent review of the two remaining ITBs, Construction and Engineering Construction, recommended that there should be consultation with industry on a modified legislative scope order, aimed at resolving the most obvious anomalies.The department is establishing a steering group to oversee the implementation of the accepted review recommendations and will explore out of scope sectors.Whilst this is likely to primarily focus on new and emerging sectors, part of the exercise will be to listen to views from industry. Where there is strong evidence to support inclusion of different sectors this will be considered before legislative changes are progressed.

Whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to highway authorities affected by the M25/A3 roadworks to cover the increased wear and tear and maintenance costs on diversion routes.

The strategic and local road networks are frequently used to support diversions for one another, typically without the need for compensation from either party. From the early stages of the project, extensive engagement was undertaken with Surrey County Council which is the main local authority impacted by the works. This included detailed discussions on diversion routes that would utilise Surrey County Council’s road network to support the scheme's delivery. The development of these diversion routes carefully considered local communities, road widths, weight and height restrictions, junction configurations, and other relevant constraints.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British aid workers are in Gaza.

We do not have exact figures for the number of British aid workers in Gaza. Humanitarian partners in Gaza are not required to provide staffing numbers to the UK government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to formally respond to the International Court of Justice judgment on Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territories.

The UK is fully committed to international law and respects the independence of the International Court of Justice. We continue to consider the Court's Advisory Opinion carefully, with the seriousness and rigour it deserves.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the extra cost of car insurance premiums faced by (a) all drivers and (b) those drivers who have not previously claimed.

The Government committed in its manifesto to tackle the high costs of motor insurance. Our cross-Government Motor Insurance Taskforce, launched in October, is comprised of ministers from relevant government departments and the Financial Conduct Authority and Competition and Markets Authority. This Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments aimed at stabilising or reducing the cost to all drivers, including those who have not previously made a claim on their motor insurance.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a GCSE in Ukrainian.

I refer the hon. Member for Woking to the answer of 2 April 2025 to Question HL5393.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the availability of approved driving instructor (ADI) tests; and if she will make it her policy to temporarily extend the two-year qualification period applicable after passing part one of the ADI.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) understands that waiting times remain high for approved driving instructor (ADI) tests and has a rolling programme of recruitment and training for ADI examiners.Since December 2024, the DVSA has also made available weekend slots for ADI part 2 and part 3 tests.When managing the book to hold list, DVSA’s deployment team will look at the part 1 expiry date to help prioritise trainee driving instructors whose expiration date is approaching.The legislation requires that a part three test is booked, not taken, before the expiry of the part one test. The DVSA has put measures in place to support candidates whose part one pass is due to expire by allowing them to book a part three test online, or if no tests are available they can book a test to hold. Both of these options meet the regulatory requirements.The two-year qualifying period is set in legislation and there are no plans to extend this.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a British Sign Language GCSE.

The department is in the process of developing a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE. This landmark GCSE is an important step towards greater recognition of BSL as a language and will foster better communication between Deaf and hearing communities.The department published subject content for the BSL GCSE in December 2023. Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator, is developing assessment arrangements and will launch a technical consultation on this in due course.

How many (a) troops, (b) tanks and (c) other military vehicles the United Kingdom had in Estonia on 27 March (i) 2025 and (ii) 2021.

Since 2017, the UK has been the Framework Nation to Estonia as part of the NATO construct, enhanced Force Presence (eFP). This construct provides members of the Alliance positioned along the Eastern Flank of NATO (Host Nations) with bilateral guarantees from other NATO members. The UK’s presence in Estonia has been centred on an Armoured Battle Group, based in Tapa and comprising up to 1,300 Service personnel and high end warfighting capabilities. These capabilities included the Challenger 2 Armoured Tank, numerous Anti-Tank capabilities, armoured infantry and artillery. In addition the Battle Group is supported by Divisional level assets such as Short Range Air Defence and long range strike artillery. Following the Madrid NATO summit in 2022 and the full invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the Alliance increased the level of support to Host Nations, with Framework Nations agreeing to reinforce with up to a Brigade in times of crisis. This was termed Forward Land Forces (FLF). To date, the UK has achieved this through the allocation of 12 Armoured Bde and associated capability. Bilaterally, the UK will reinforce Estonia with the balance of a Brigade. This year, 12 Bde are being replaced by 4 Bde, reinforced with an Aviation Task Force. This transition will be showcased on Ex HEDGEHOG, a Baltic wide demonstration of the FLF construct. Both 2021 and 2025 saw UK personnel numbers remain stable at around 700 personnel in country.

Whether the United Kingdom is contributing to the NATO Hedgehog Exercises.

The UK has endorsed the deployment of 4 Brigade and four Typhoons to Exercise HEDGEHOG. The UK will provide roughly 2,500 Service personnel towards the exercise, in addition to the Forward Land Forces armoured battle group already deployed in Estonia, comprising circa 800 soldiers. France will also provide support, alongside Finland and the US. This is an excellent demonstration of close cooperation in the name of European security.

What the fee status is of Ukrainian refugees when applying for university; which fee level they fall under; and what financial support they are provided with.

Those who have been granted leave under one of the Ukraine schemes generally qualify for home fee status and higher education student support in England, without being required to meet the normal 3 year ordinary residence test.Higher education providers set their own fees in line with the relevant legislation.

What steps his Department is taking through the NHS 10-Year Plan to improve public access to first aid (a) training and (b) equipment.

The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts our National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. The detail of the plan will be set out in due course, but all of these shifts are relevant to improving first aid in all parts of the county. Throughout the 10-Year Health Plan engagement process, we have sought the views of first aid charities and organisations, with representation from the British Red Cross at our Partners Council, where they have provided views on emerging policy themes.Whilst the 10-Year Health Plan is being developed, we are continuing to invest in first aid training and equipment. For example, the Community Automated External Defibrillators Fund is a £1 million fund that is increasing the number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) within England. Further to this, NHS England has partnered with St John Ambulance to co-ordinate skills development to significantly increase the use of AEDs by individuals in community settings.

What steps his Department is taking to increase (a) survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests and (b) the availability of defibrillators in Woking.

In a bid to improve patients' survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, the Government has committed to improving access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces and reducing inequalities in access to these life saving devices. Following the depletion of the existing AED Fund, launched in September 2023, the Government approved a further £500,000 in August 2024 to fulfil the existing applications to the fund.As part of the application process, the Department has set out requirements to ensure that resources are allocated to where there is the greatest need, for instance in remote communities with extended ambulance response times, places with high footfall and high population densities, hotspots for cardiac arrest, including sporting venues and venues with vulnerable people, and deprived areas. Three AEDs have been distributed through the AED Fund in Woking.