Written questions by Timothy.

How many Motability vehicles have been (a) sold, (b) scrapped and (c) stolen in each year since 2010.

Whilst the Department works closely with Motability Foundation and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme, Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations. Any questions relating to the administration of the Scheme should be directed to Motability Foundation.

How many people leased a Motability vehicle in each year since 2010 by (a) benefit claim and (b) health condition.

The Motability Scheme operates throughout the UK and is open to recipients of enhanced mobility Personal Independence Payment, higher rate mobility Disability Living Allowance, War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement and Armed Forces Independence Payment (including equivalent Scottish benefits). Whilst the Government facilitates the transfer of benefits for claimants who choose to join the Scheme, we do not collate data on benefit type or health condition for those who chose to join the Scheme.

How many R&D tax relief claims have been rejected in each year since 2015; and how many of those have been successfully appealed.

In October 2024, HMRC released operational data in the Approach to Research & Development Tax Reliefs 2023-2024 publication. This includes data from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 on the number of R&D enquiries, the proportion of claims requiring adjustment and data on appeals. This publication represents the most comprehensive data on R&D compliance activity and is not available for previous years. This publication also included customer service data on processing times and the average time to complete a compliance check. HMRC processed 92% of claims within 40 days in 2023-2024. Processing means paying the claim, making contact to request further information, or refusing the claim, and, for claims identified as high-risk, starting an appropriately targeted compliance check. The table below provides final and illustrative estimates of the cost of error and fraud in the R&D tax reliefs since 2020-2021. Final estimates 2020-2021 (£m)Final estimates 2021-2022 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2022-2023 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2023-2024 (£m)SME scheme1,0381,2031,003475RDEC scheme9013448125Overall1,1271,3371,050601 The Mandatory Random Enquiry Programme approach introduced for small and medium sized enterprises represents good practice in the measurement of error and fraud, and involves a detailed inspection of a representative sample of claims filed. These estimates are published in HMRC Annual reports and Accounts and previous reports can be found at gov.uk at: HMRC’s Annual reports and Accounts.

How many smart meters have been installed in NHS buildings in each year since 2015.

Data on National Health Service smart meter usage in the NHS is not collected or projected centrally by NHS England. The annual Estates Return Information Collection does collect data on electricity meters, but this does not currently differentiate smart meters. Further information on the annual Estates Return Information Collection is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection

What the (a) sources and (b) levels were of carbon emissions for NHS buildings in England in each year since 2015.

National Health Service organisations are not expected to individually submit carbon emissions data. Estimates are made at a national level, based on energy consumption data submitted by trusts through the annual Estates Return Information Collection. Further information on the annual Estates Return Information Collection is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collectionTotal NHS carbon emissions estimates are published in NHS England’s Annual Report. A copy of a table showing total secondary care emissions by energy source and rounded to nearest 10 ktCO2e, from 2018/19 to 2023/24, the most recent data available, is attached.

If she will make an estimate of the average cost for businesses applying for R&D tax relief.

In October 2024, HMRC released operational data in the Approach to Research & Development Tax Reliefs 2023-2024 publication. This includes data from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 on the number of R&D enquiries, the proportion of claims requiring adjustment and data on appeals. This publication represents the most comprehensive data on R&D compliance activity and is not available for previous years. This publication also included customer service data on processing times and the average time to complete a compliance check. HMRC processed 92% of claims within 40 days in 2023-2024. Processing means paying the claim, making contact to request further information, or refusing the claim, and, for claims identified as high-risk, starting an appropriately targeted compliance check. The table below provides final and illustrative estimates of the cost of error and fraud in the R&D tax reliefs since 2020-2021. Final estimates 2020-2021 (£m)Final estimates 2021-2022 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2022-2023 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2023-2024 (£m)SME scheme1,0381,2031,003475RDEC scheme9013448125Overall1,1271,3371,050601 The Mandatory Random Enquiry Programme approach introduced for small and medium sized enterprises represents good practice in the measurement of error and fraud, and involves a detailed inspection of a representative sample of claims filed. These estimates are published in HMRC Annual reports and Accounts and previous reports can be found at gov.uk at: HMRC’s Annual reports and Accounts.

How many smart meters he expects to be installed in NHS buildings in each year between 2025 and 2030.

Data on National Health Service smart meter usage in the NHS is not collected or projected centrally by NHS England. The annual Estates Return Information Collection does collect data on electricity meters, but this does not currently differentiate smart meters. Further information on the annual Estates Return Information Collection is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection

How much he expects average energy bills to be for NHS buildings in each year between 2025 and 2030.

The Department of Health and Social Care does not make independent energy price projections for National Health Service buildings. However, as matter of course, we make full use of official energy data in policy development, including the central HM Treasury Green Book scenario on energy prices, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s energy and emissions projections, where appropriate. We continue to focus on increasing energy efficiency across the NHS estate, including by investing over £90 million in energy saving measures through National Energy Efficiency Fund in 2024/25, and through our recently announced partnership with Great British Energy, where £100 million will be invested in solar panels across the NHS during 2025/26.

If she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of processing R&D tax relief (a) applications, (b) rejections and (c) appeals in each year since 2015.

In October 2024, HMRC released operational data in the Approach to Research & Development Tax Reliefs 2023-2024 publication. This includes data from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 on the number of R&D enquiries, the proportion of claims requiring adjustment and data on appeals. This publication represents the most comprehensive data on R&D compliance activity and is not available for previous years. This publication also included customer service data on processing times and the average time to complete a compliance check. HMRC processed 92% of claims within 40 days in 2023-2024. Processing means paying the claim, making contact to request further information, or refusing the claim, and, for claims identified as high-risk, starting an appropriately targeted compliance check. The table below provides final and illustrative estimates of the cost of error and fraud in the R&D tax reliefs since 2020-2021. Final estimates 2020-2021 (£m)Final estimates 2021-2022 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2022-2023 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2023-2024 (£m)SME scheme1,0381,2031,003475RDEC scheme9013448125Overall1,1271,3371,050601 The Mandatory Random Enquiry Programme approach introduced for small and medium sized enterprises represents good practice in the measurement of error and fraud, and involves a detailed inspection of a representative sample of claims filed. These estimates are published in HMRC Annual reports and Accounts and previous reports can be found at gov.uk at: HMRC’s Annual reports and Accounts.

If she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) fraud and (b) error related to R&D tax relief in each year since 2015.

In October 2024, HMRC released operational data in the Approach to Research & Development Tax Reliefs 2023-2024 publication. This includes data from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 on the number of R&D enquiries, the proportion of claims requiring adjustment and data on appeals. This publication represents the most comprehensive data on R&D compliance activity and is not available for previous years. This publication also included customer service data on processing times and the average time to complete a compliance check. HMRC processed 92% of claims within 40 days in 2023-2024. Processing means paying the claim, making contact to request further information, or refusing the claim, and, for claims identified as high-risk, starting an appropriately targeted compliance check. The table below provides final and illustrative estimates of the cost of error and fraud in the R&D tax reliefs since 2020-2021. Final estimates 2020-2021 (£m)Final estimates 2021-2022 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2022-2023 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2023-2024 (£m)SME scheme1,0381,2031,003475RDEC scheme9013448125Overall1,1271,3371,050601 The Mandatory Random Enquiry Programme approach introduced for small and medium sized enterprises represents good practice in the measurement of error and fraud, and involves a detailed inspection of a representative sample of claims filed. These estimates are published in HMRC Annual reports and Accounts and previous reports can be found at gov.uk at: HMRC’s Annual reports and Accounts.

What the average delay in payment for businesses applying for R&D tax relief was in the latest period for which data is available.

In October 2024, HMRC released operational data in the Approach to Research & Development Tax Reliefs 2023-2024 publication. This includes data from 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 on the number of R&D enquiries, the proportion of claims requiring adjustment and data on appeals. This publication represents the most comprehensive data on R&D compliance activity and is not available for previous years. This publication also included customer service data on processing times and the average time to complete a compliance check. HMRC processed 92% of claims within 40 days in 2023-2024. Processing means paying the claim, making contact to request further information, or refusing the claim, and, for claims identified as high-risk, starting an appropriately targeted compliance check. The table below provides final and illustrative estimates of the cost of error and fraud in the R&D tax reliefs since 2020-2021. Final estimates 2020-2021 (£m)Final estimates 2021-2022 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2022-2023 (£m)Illustrative estimate 2023-2024 (£m)SME scheme1,0381,2031,003475RDEC scheme9013448125Overall1,1271,3371,050601 The Mandatory Random Enquiry Programme approach introduced for small and medium sized enterprises represents good practice in the measurement of error and fraud, and involves a detailed inspection of a representative sample of claims filed. These estimates are published in HMRC Annual reports and Accounts and previous reports can be found at gov.uk at: HMRC’s Annual reports and Accounts.

What the average cost of energy bills were for NHS buildings in each year since 2015.

The annual Estates Return Information Collection (ERIC) collects data on the energy costs of National Health Service organisations. This data has been consistently reported since 2018/19. The following table shows the cost of energy bills for NHS trusts as reported in ERIC, from 2018/19 to 2023/24: YearTotalMean average per reporting trust2018/19£667,000,000£2,900,0002019/20£672,000,000£3,000,0002020/21£653,000,000£3,000,0002021/22£779,000,000£3,700,0002022/23£1,195,000,000£5,700,0002023/24£1,380,000,000£6,600,000

How many and what proportion of sentences given in (a) magistrates’ courts and (b) crown courts were less than 60% of the statutory maximum length in the latest period for which data is available.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the number of offenders sentenced at criminal courts in England and Wales in the following links. This includes the information on sentence outcomes, including grouped custodial sentence lengths and average sentence lengths, for a wide range of offences, which can be viewed individually to show the range of sentencing outcomes:Magistrates’ courts: Magistrates' court data toolCrown Court: Crown Court data toolUsing data held centrally to align individual convictions to statutory maxima would only be possible at disproportionate costs.

How many smart meters have been installed in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England in each year since 2015.

The department does not hold information on how many primary and secondary schools have installed smart meters since 2015, nor do we set an expectation for how many primary and secondary schools should install smart meters. However, smart meters are recommended within the department’s published energy efficiency guidance. The guidance outlines that educational settings should monitor their energy use to help prioritise the best ways to reduce energy consumption. The guidance is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-fe-college-estate/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-further-education-college-estate.

How many smart meters he expects to be installed in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year between 2025 and 2030.

The department does not hold information on how many primary and secondary schools have installed smart meters since 2015, nor do we set an expectation for how many primary and secondary schools should install smart meters. However, smart meters are recommended within the department’s published energy efficiency guidance. The guidance outlines that educational settings should monitor their energy use to help prioritise the best ways to reduce energy consumption. The guidance is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-fe-college-estate/energy-efficiency-guidance-for-the-school-and-further-education-college-estate.

How much (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England are projected to pay on average for energy bills in each year between 2025 and 2030.

The average annual energy costs for primary and secondary schools based on financial returns to the department from 2015 to 2024 are as follows:YearPrimary schools (£)Secondary schools (£)2023/2438,214190,8972022/2333,078169,3382021/2220,285107,6132020/2116,76885,7732019/2017,50886,5782018/1916,67288,8002017/1815,40282,8672016/1714,71580,3882015/1615,55687,343To note:Local authority-maintained schools report costs for the 12-month period to 31 March. Academies report costs for the 12-month period to 31 August.These figures do not include energy costs recorded as attributable to or incurred by multi-academy trust central services.All spending data reported by schools to the department is publicly available at https://financial-benchmarking-and-insights-tool.education.gov.uk/data-sources. The department does not hold a forecast for how much primary and secondary schools are projected to pay in their energy bills beyond the 2025/26 financial year. This is set out in the ‘School costs technical note’ which estimated energy price inflation for schools at a 4.1% increase for the 2024/25 financial year and a fall of 5.1% for the 2025/26 financial year.The department is developing a suite of productivity initiatives to support schools in making efficiencies in their budgets. This includes giving schools the opportunity to join the department’s Energy for Schools initiative. When schools' energy contracts are up for renewal, they can join the department's contract. During the pilot for this project, schools saved 36% on average compared to their previous contracts.

How much (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England paid for energy bills on average in each year since 2015.

The average annual energy costs for primary and secondary schools based on financial returns to the department from 2015 to 2024 are as follows:YearPrimary schools (£)Secondary schools (£)2023/2438,214190,8972022/2333,078169,3382021/2220,285107,6132020/2116,76885,7732019/2017,50886,5782018/1916,67288,8002017/1815,40282,8672016/1714,71580,3882015/1615,55687,343To note:Local authority-maintained schools report costs for the 12-month period to 31 March. Academies report costs for the 12-month period to 31 August.These figures do not include energy costs recorded as attributable to or incurred by multi-academy trust central services.All spending data reported by schools to the department is publicly available at https://financial-benchmarking-and-insights-tool.education.gov.uk/data-sources. The department does not hold a forecast for how much primary and secondary schools are projected to pay in their energy bills beyond the 2025/26 financial year. This is set out in the ‘School costs technical note’ which estimated energy price inflation for schools at a 4.1% increase for the 2024/25 financial year and a fall of 5.1% for the 2025/26 financial year.The department is developing a suite of productivity initiatives to support schools in making efficiencies in their budgets. This includes giving schools the opportunity to join the department’s Energy for Schools initiative. When schools' energy contracts are up for renewal, they can join the department's contract. During the pilot for this project, schools saved 36% on average compared to their previous contracts.

What information her Department holds on the (a) sources and (b) levels of carbon emissions for schools in England in each year since 2015.

Education settings are not required to provide specific data on their energy use or greenhouse gas emissions. To estimate the education estate's emissions position overall, the department references a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy report, the Building Energy Efficiency Survey (BEES) 2014/15. The BEES report estimates that schools and universities represent approximately one third of all England and Wales public sector building emissions. Total greenhouse gas emissions from education sector buildings were estimated to be 4.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) per year. The equivalent figure for industrial sector buildings is 7.8 MtCO2e. The annual greenhouse gas emissions from electrical energy consumption were 2.2 MtCO2e and those from non-electrical energy consumption were 1.9 MtCO2e.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37979, whether the decision to plug and abandon Preston New Road shale gas well was taken by (a) the company, (b) his Department and (c) the North Sea Transition Authority.

As stated in the answer to question UIN 37979, decisions on whether to abandon wells are ultimately a matter for the relevant company.”

What information her Department holds on the number of vehicles in each police fleet aged (a) up to one year, (b) between one and two years, (c) between three and five years and (d) older than five years.

The Home Office has not in the past monitored the procurement and management of vehicles by individual police forces in England and Wales, and does not therefore hold the specific information requested for this question.