Written questions by Morris.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a mine water heating grant scheme for community heat networks.

The water from coal mines shows good potential as a renewable source for heat networks. The government’s capital schemes for heat network construction, the Heat Networks Investment Project and its successor, the Green Heat Network Fund, have supported heat networks that use mine water. To date, the Gateshead District Energy Scheme and the Seaham Garden Village network in County Durham have both received funding. The ninth application round of the Green Heat Network Fund is currently open and projects which aim to use mine water are welcome to apply.

With reference to the recommendation 10.4 of the report entitled Road fuel market study, published by the Competitions and Markets Authority on 8 July 2023, if he will take steps to introduce a statutory fuel finder scheme.

The Government response to the road fuels consultation published on 30 October 2024 confirmed that the Government will implement the recommendation made by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in its Final Road Fuel Market Study to set up a statutory open data scheme for fuel prices, called Fuel Finder. Fuel Finder will increase price transparency and help drivers easily compare prices and find the best deals. This will increase pressure on fuel retailers to compete strongly to attract customers. Subject to legislation and parliamentary timings, we aim to launch Fuel Finder by the end of 2025.

If she will have discussions with the Office of Rail and Road on the potential merits of increasing the number of northern services from (a) Seaham and (b) Horden train stations.

Rail North Partnership, on behalf of the Department and Transport for the North is currently examining a business case for the increase in services along the Durham Coast line to these two stations, with effect from the December 2025 timetable. The analysis must balance the economic and social benefits of this enhancement with the performance of existing services and the financial impact on taxpayer subsidy.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of workplace visa rules on staffing levels within her Department.

Whilst the impact of changes to the Skilled Worker Salary threshold, introduced in April 2024, are affecting a very small proportion of staff within the Department, visa expiry and potential options for obtaining a future work visa are specific to individuals’ circumstances and the Home Office legislation which applies at the time that their current visa expires. As current employees’ Visa expiry dates span several years and not all will be impacted by the changes to the skilled worker salary thresholds, the department does not expect changes to the Skilled Worker salary threshold to negatively impact on service levels.

How many train cars were in use by Northern in January 2024.

On 1 January 2024, Northern had 904 carriages. The average number of carriage journeys made by Northern Trains in January was 6543 per day across all train configurations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 25410, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on release of the investment reserve of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme to uplift pensions.

I have written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter and we will continue to work closely with His Majesty’s Treasury on aspects related to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

What recent discussions she has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the level of support provided to (a) Gibraltar and (b) other Red Ensign Group shipping registries for discharging Port State Control responsibilities, in the context of the Maritime Labour Convention.

There has been no discussion between the Secretary of State and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on level of support provided to Gibraltar and other Red Ensign Group ship registers for the discharging of Port State Control responsibilities in the context of the Maritime Labour Convention.

What steps her Department has taken to consult maritime trade unions ahead of the fifth meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention at the International Labour Organization in Geneva on 7-11 April.

The Department regularly engages with the maritime trade unions, including through meetings of the UK Tripartite Working Group on the Maritime Labour Convention.

What recent assessment she has made of the contribution of the Maritime Labour Convention to (a) pay, (b) welfare standards and (c) safety within the UK shipping industry in the last ten years.

The UK takes seafarer safety and welfare seriously having implemented the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, in the UK since 2014. The UK takes an active role in the international Committee which keeps the MLC under review. The UK also undertakes and publishes regular post-implementation reviews of its own MLC implementing legislation. The Government is preparing to attend the Special Tripartite Committee at the International Labour Organization in April 2025 to negotiate further amendments to improve safety and welfare for seafarers.The MLC sets standards on the frequency and composition of seafarer wages but not the level of pay. Within the International Labour Organization, the Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers of the Joint Maritime Commission set the international minimum wage for seafarers.A joint Tripartite Working Group allows UK shipowner and seafarer representatives to meet with the Government on a regular basis to report safety or welfare concerns that arise.

When his Department plans to conclude its consultation on the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework.

We are working at pace with Community Pharmacy England to ensure that the funding we have available is used to support community pharmacy in the best way possible. We will announce the outcome in the normal manner, by letter to contractors, when the consultation has concluded.

When his Department plans to publish the contract for the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework.

We are working at pace with Community Pharmacy England to ensure that the funding we have available is used to support community pharmacy in the best way possible. We will announce the outcome in the normal manner, by letter to contractors, when the consultation has concluded.

When he expects discussions with Mineworkers' Pension Scheme trustees to conclude on the future of the surplus sharing arrangements.

Discussions with the scheme Trustees are ongoing and any announcements will be made in due course.

What the process is for signing off the transfer of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme investment reserve fund back to the trustees to uplift pensions.

Any future agreement on changes to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme would require agreement from His Majesty’s Treasury, the Trustees and my Department.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 25410, what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on release of the investment reserve of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme to uplift pensions.

I have written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter and we will continue to work closely with His Majesty’s Treasury on aspects related to the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

How many staff in her Department are employed on Skilled Worker Visas.

DWP currently employs 204 people on a skilled worker visa.

When the Government delegation to the fifth meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention at the International Labour Organization in Geneva on 7-11 April will be announced.

The UK Government delegation to the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention will be confirmed to the International Labour Organization in the usual way. We expect that the UK delegation will be led by DfT’s Head of Seafarers with additional support and technical expertise provided by officials from DfT and the MCA.

Which ferry operators have access to operate commercial services from UK ports under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

There are ferry operators such as DFDS, Stena Line, Brittany Ferries, Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries, Condor Ferries and others operating commercial services from UK port facilities. The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code sets minimum standards for port and ship security which must be met by operators but does not itself grant access to operate commercial services. Decisions on commercial services are made by ports themselves.

When he expects discussions with British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme trustees to conclude on the transfer of the investment reserve fund.

I met with the Chair and Trustee representatives of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) on 16 December where they outlined their proposals for changes to the Scheme. We will work with the BCSSS Trustees to consider their proposals once the new Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme arrangements have been agreed.

Whether he plans to meet with British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme trustees again to discuss progress on the transfer of the investment reserve fund.

Further work on the future of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme will require close working with the scheme Trustees.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reinstating funding to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

This government’s defining mission is growth, and we are determined that our coalfield communities are central to it. That is why we are working in partnership to invest in and empower the nation’s coalfields, so that they can boost growth, and increase living standards. At the 2024 Autumn Budget we committed to deliver on the promises made to 75 deprived communities from the previous administration’s Long-Term Plan for Towns. The reformed plan will support several coalfield communities including: Kilmarnock, Mansfield, Worksop, Newark-on-Trent, Chesterfield, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Jarrow, Washington, Leigh, Farnworth, Castleford, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley, Merthyr Tydfil and Wrexham. We remain committed to the Government's missions to kickstart economic growth, and this will be reflected in the allocation of all further funding. As with all future funding the Government will set out its long-term vision for local growth at the 2025 multi-year spending review.