Written questions by McMurdock.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled New radar systems to unlock offshore wind, published on 20th March 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential risk that the new radar systems may not fully resolve interference issues with offshore wind turbines.

The new radar systems have met the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) requirements and represent the optimal solution currently available. This option is supported by a robust and well-documented methodology that provides the MOD the confidence that the solution can effectively mitigate the adverse impact of offshore wind turbines on long-range Air Defence radars. The MOD will continue to rigorously assess and implement appropriate mitigation measures to ensure that any offshore wind farm, with the potential to affect Air Defence radar operations, is only approved once these safeguards are firmly in place. The MOD continues to support the Government’s Clean Power Mission.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled New radar systems to unlock offshore wind, published on 20th March 2026, what contingency plans are in place if the radar upgrades do not unlock the full 10 GW of offshore wind capacity anticipated.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will continue to work closely to ensure that proposed wind farms can operate at their design capacity and for which MOD consent has been granted. Any necessary contingency measures are incorporated within the bilateral agreements between the MOD and offshore wind developers. Ongoing collaboration between DESNZ, MOD, and developers, provides robust oversight of the overall delivery of offshore wind capacity, with the radar upgrades forming a key part of the wider enabling infrastructure to facilitate increased offshore wind deployment.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled New radar systems to unlock offshore wind, published on 20th March 2026, what estimate he has made of how much of the 10 GW of offshore wind capacity unlocked has already been contracted but not yet constructed.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Ministry of Defence carried out in-depth analysis of the UK’s offshore wind pipeline to understand which offshore wind farms had radar dependencies and would be unlocked by an upgraded air defence radar system that protects both national security and energy security. The 10 GW of offshore wind capacity unlocked consists of relevant projects successful at Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7 and others that will support the Government’s clean power mission which are at varying stages of development.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled New radar systems to unlock offshore wind, published on 20th March 2026, what monitoring arrangements will be put in place to ensure that the radar upgrades deliver the expected increase in offshore wind deployment.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will continue to work closely to ensure that proposed wind farms can operate at their design capacity and for which MOD consent has been granted. Any necessary contingency measures are incorporated within the bilateral agreements between the MOD and offshore wind developers. Ongoing collaboration between DESNZ, MOD, and developers, provides robust oversight of the overall delivery of offshore wind capacity, with the radar upgrades forming a key part of the wider enabling infrastructure to facilitate increased offshore wind deployment.

Pursuant to Answer of 19th March 2026 to Question 120277, Electric Vehicles: Costs, what assessment she has made of the impact of battery degradation on the used electric vehicle value.

The latest data on electric vehicle (EV) battery degradation suggests the majority of EV batteries comfortably exceed warranty thresholds. The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate and the Government’s Electric Car Grant require manufacturers to provide battery warranties of at least eight years or 100,000 miles, ensuring EVs and their batteries have long useable lives, including in the second-hand market. The Government recognises public perceptions around battery health have impacted consumer sentiment relating to used EVs. To strengthen consumer confidence, particularly in second-hand EV purchases, the Government is exploring options to adopt regulations which would provide consumers with standardised, consumer accessible information on EV batteries’ state of health.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2026 to Question 120280, what estimate her Department has made of the average cost of electric vehicle battery replacement outside manufacturer warranty.

The Department does not hold data on average or individual replacement battery costs for electric vehicles.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK–Nigeria partnership to speed up removals, published on 19 March 2026, whether similar return agreements are being negotiated with other countries.

On 18 March 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed a UK-Nigeria Migration Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nigerian Interior Minister, the Hon. Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.The Home Office pro-actively engages with key international partners to maintain, strengthen and improve returns cooperation and supporting processes. The UK uses a range of returns agreements and operational arrangements to support removals. It would not be appropriate to comment on discussions with individual countries, as this could undermine ongoing negotiations.All returns under the UK–Nigeria partnership are conducted in accordance with UK law and international obligations, with safeguarding considerations applied throughout the process. Existing protections for vulnerable individuals, including identification of potential victims of modern slavery, which includes women and children, continue to apply.The partnership streamlines the returns process, reducing processing and detention time, which in turn reduces operational costs. No additional resources have been allocated to Immigration Enforcement as a result of the UK–Nigeria partnership. The agreement is focused on improving efficiency and delivery within existing resources.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK–Nigeria partnership to speed up removals, published on 19 March 2026, what measures the agreement contains to ensure the protection of Nigerian (a) women and (b) children at risk of exploitation.

On 18 March 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed a UK-Nigeria Migration Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nigerian Interior Minister, the Hon. Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.The Home Office pro-actively engages with key international partners to maintain, strengthen and improve returns cooperation and supporting processes. The UK uses a range of returns agreements and operational arrangements to support removals. It would not be appropriate to comment on discussions with individual countries, as this could undermine ongoing negotiations.All returns under the UK–Nigeria partnership are conducted in accordance with UK law and international obligations, with safeguarding considerations applied throughout the process. Existing protections for vulnerable individuals, including identification of potential victims of modern slavery, which includes women and children, continue to apply.The partnership streamlines the returns process, reducing processing and detention time, which in turn reduces operational costs. No additional resources have been allocated to Immigration Enforcement as a result of the UK–Nigeria partnership. The agreement is focused on improving efficiency and delivery within existing resources.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled New radar systems to unlock offshore wind, published on 20 March 2026, what the cost is of procuring the new air defence radar systems.

The Government has signed a £95m contract with BAE Systems to deliver a technologically advanced radar that secures the coexistence of air defence and offshore wind, supporting both national and energy security. These upgrades to the UK’s air defence radars will help unlock up to 10GW of offshore wind, £20bn in private investment and thousands of skilled jobs. The Ministry of Defence has agreed to fund this contract, with financial support from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, as part of a mission-led government. Funding was allocated at the Spending Review 2025 and has not been diverted from wider RAF or Air Defence budgets.

What plans he has to make compliance with the Model Emergency Department mandatory for NHS trusts.

The Model Emergency Department, published in February 2026, sets out a consistent national framework describing the core principles and pathways of high-performing emergency departments, including a national model for extended emergency medicine ambulatory care. The approach is intended to support improved patient flow, lower waiting times, and reduced overcrowding. The guidance provides a shared national model to support greater consistency and faster decision-making across urgent and emergency care pathways, while maintaining local decision-making.We do not plan to make the Model Emergency Department mandatory for National Health Service trusts. We have developed a Model Emergency Department in partnership with clinical experts to enable trusts to implement the urgent and emergency care pathways that we know improve the quality and timeliness of care. On this basis would expect those trusts who are able to implement, to do so without the requirement to mandate.NHS England has asked providers to begin developing improvement plans aligned with the guidance, including demand and capacity modelling, with the aim of supporting consistent implementation from 2026/27.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK–Nigeria partnership to speed up removals, published on 19 March 2026, what savings are expected from faster removals.

On 18 March 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed a UK-Nigeria Migration Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nigerian Interior Minister, the Hon. Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.The Home Office pro-actively engages with key international partners to maintain, strengthen and improve returns cooperation and supporting processes. The UK uses a range of returns agreements and operational arrangements to support removals. It would not be appropriate to comment on discussions with individual countries, as this could undermine ongoing negotiations.All returns under the UK–Nigeria partnership are conducted in accordance with UK law and international obligations, with safeguarding considerations applied throughout the process. Existing protections for vulnerable individuals, including identification of potential victims of modern slavery, which includes women and children, continue to apply.The partnership streamlines the returns process, reducing processing and detention time, which in turn reduces operational costs. No additional resources have been allocated to Immigration Enforcement as a result of the UK–Nigeria partnership. The agreement is focused on improving efficiency and delivery within existing resources.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled New radar systems to unlock offshore wind, published on 20 March 2026, what his planned timetable is for deployment of the new radar systems.

By upgrading our air defence radars, this government will unlock up to 10GW of offshore wind capacity through projects in Scotland, East Anglia and North East England, £20bn in private investment and thousands of skilled jobs, supporting both national and energy security. The Government’s contract is with BAE Systems. Work will take place at BAE Systems’ facilities in Cowes, sustaining high quality engineering jobs in the Isle of Wight. Further commercial aspects of BAE Systems’ bid are commercial matters for the supplier. These new radars will be installed from 2029.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled New radar systems to unlock offshore wind, published on 20 March 2026, what estimate he has made of the lifetime operating and maintenance costs of the new radar systems.

By upgrading our air defence radars, this government will unlock up to 10GW of offshore wind capacity through projects in Scotland, East Anglia and North East England, £20bn in private investment and thousands of skilled jobs, supporting both national and energy security. The Government’s contract is with BAE Systems. Work will take place at BAE Systems’ facilities in Cowes, sustaining high quality engineering jobs in the Isle of Wight. Further commercial aspects of BAE Systems’ bid are commercial matters for the supplier. These new radars will be installed from 2029.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled New radar systems to unlock offshore wind, published on 20 March 2026, which offshore wind projects will be enabled by the radar upgrades.

By upgrading our air defence radars, this government will unlock up to 10GW of offshore wind capacity through projects in Scotland, East Anglia and North East England, £20bn in private investment and thousands of skilled jobs, supporting both national and energy security. The Government’s contract is with BAE Systems. Work will take place at BAE Systems’ facilities in Cowes, sustaining high quality engineering jobs in the Isle of Wight. Further commercial aspects of BAE Systems’ bid are commercial matters for the supplier. These new radars will be installed from 2029.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled New radar systems to unlock offshore wind, published on 20 March 2026, whether any elements of the radar systems will be manufactured outside the United Kingdom.

By upgrading our air defence radars, this government will unlock up to 10GW of offshore wind capacity through projects in Scotland, East Anglia and North East England, £20bn in private investment and thousands of skilled jobs, supporting both national and energy security. The Government’s contract is with BAE Systems. Work will take place at BAE Systems’ facilities in Cowes, sustaining high quality engineering jobs in the Isle of Wight. Further commercial aspects of BAE Systems’ bid are commercial matters for the supplier. These new radars will be installed from 2029.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled New UK–Nigeria partnership to speed up removals, published on 19 March 2026, whether additional resources have been allocated to immigration enforcement as a result of that agreement.

On 18 March 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed a UK-Nigeria Migration Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nigerian Interior Minister, the Hon. Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.The Home Office pro-actively engages with key international partners to maintain, strengthen and improve returns cooperation and supporting processes. The UK uses a range of returns agreements and operational arrangements to support removals. It would not be appropriate to comment on discussions with individual countries, as this could undermine ongoing negotiations.All returns under the UK–Nigeria partnership are conducted in accordance with UK law and international obligations, with safeguarding considerations applied throughout the process. Existing protections for vulnerable individuals, including identification of potential victims of modern slavery, which includes women and children, continue to apply.The partnership streamlines the returns process, reducing processing and detention time, which in turn reduces operational costs. No additional resources have been allocated to Immigration Enforcement as a result of the UK–Nigeria partnership. The agreement is focused on improving efficiency and delivery within existing resources.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled New radar systems to unlock offshore wind, published on 20 March 2026, which Department's budget the new radar systems will be sourced from.

The Government has signed a £95m contract with BAE Systems to deliver a technologically advanced radar that secures the coexistence of air defence and offshore wind, supporting both national and energy security. These upgrades to the UK’s air defence radars will help unlock up to 10GW of offshore wind, £20bn in private investment and thousands of skilled jobs. The Ministry of Defence has agreed to fund this contract, with financial support from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, as part of a mission-led government. Funding was allocated at the Spending Review 2025 and has not been diverted from wider RAF or Air Defence budgets.

Media and Sport, how much of the £500 million allocated to the Better Futures Fund has been committed to projects in (a) the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency, and (b) Essex.

DCMS is currently in the design stages of the Better Futures Fund and is currently consulting with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to assess their capacity for participation in delivery. We anticipate large-scale participation in social outcomes partnerships to commence in 2027 onwards, for which we will engage local commissioners via a dedicated capacity and capability building programme beforehand.The Better Futures Fund is not yet open for applications. The first phase of bidding is expected to invite bids in Summer 2026 for projects where all partners have a track record of successfully delivering social outcomes partnerships.The Better Futures Fund is part of a suite of combined measures outlined in the Child Poverty Strategy which support the government’s ambitions to tackle the structural and root causes of poverty for children, young people and their families. The Fund is being designed to fund projects that reduce the short or longer term impacts of poverty on the life chances and outcomes for children.The Better Futures Fund will primarily fund projects that deliver social outcomes partnerships. The exact proportion will be determined during the application stages.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the capacity of local authorities and voluntary sector organisations to design and deliver Social Outcomes Partnerships at scale.

DCMS is currently in the design stages of the Better Futures Fund and is currently consulting with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to assess their capacity for participation in delivery. We anticipate large-scale participation in social outcomes partnerships to commence in 2027 onwards, for which we will engage local commissioners via a dedicated capacity and capability building programme beforehand.The Better Futures Fund is not yet open for applications. The first phase of bidding is expected to invite bids in Summer 2026 for projects where all partners have a track record of successfully delivering social outcomes partnerships.The Better Futures Fund is part of a suite of combined measures outlined in the Child Poverty Strategy which support the government’s ambitions to tackle the structural and root causes of poverty for children, young people and their families. The Fund is being designed to fund projects that reduce the short or longer term impacts of poverty on the life chances and outcomes for children.The Better Futures Fund will primarily fund projects that deliver social outcomes partnerships. The exact proportion will be determined during the application stages.

Media and Sport, whether she has made assessed the risk that the Better Futures Fund will deliver short-term measurable outcomes without addressing the underlying structural causes of child poverty.

DCMS is currently in the design stages of the Better Futures Fund and is currently consulting with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to assess their capacity for participation in delivery. We anticipate large-scale participation in social outcomes partnerships to commence in 2027 onwards, for which we will engage local commissioners via a dedicated capacity and capability building programme beforehand.The Better Futures Fund is not yet open for applications. The first phase of bidding is expected to invite bids in Summer 2026 for projects where all partners have a track record of successfully delivering social outcomes partnerships.The Better Futures Fund is part of a suite of combined measures outlined in the Child Poverty Strategy which support the government’s ambitions to tackle the structural and root causes of poverty for children, young people and their families. The Fund is being designed to fund projects that reduce the short or longer term impacts of poverty on the life chances and outcomes for children.The Better Futures Fund will primarily fund projects that deliver social outcomes partnerships. The exact proportion will be determined during the application stages.