Written questions by Timothy.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has taken steps to promote material substitution, in the context of (a) recent trends in the level of Extended Producer Responsibility Fees and (b) the introduction of a deposit return scheme for other drink materials from 2027.

The Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. The packaging reforms increase producers’ roles in supporting this transition. Packaging EPR will make producers, rather than taxpayers, responsible for the costs of managing their packaging, reducing the amount of packaging used by producers and incentivising recyclable and reusable alternatives. In line with previous consultations, and the regulations, Packaging EPR base fees in year 1 are designed to reflect the cost of managing packaging waste. From year 2 fees will include modulation to incentivise more environmentally sustainable packaging, initially focussing on recyclability. I DRS in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland will include single-use drinks containers from 150ml to 3 litres. Materials included are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, steel, and aluminium drink containers. A DRS will create a separate cleaner, closed-loop waste stream which will mean plastic and metal drinks containers can be turned back into new drinks containers, reducing the reliance on virgin materials. The scheme has not been designed to encourage material switching.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility fees being (a) illustrative and (b) not intended for business planning purposes on the ability of business to plan for these costs.

The four UK administrations have published three sets of illustrative base fees to help businesses prepare for the implementation of extended producer responsibility scheme for packaging. Thanks to regular engagement and input with a wide range of businesses for the first time we published the third set of illustrative fees showed point estimates as opposed to ranges, providing further certainty. Large producers are required to submit the next round of 2024 data by 1 April 2025 to ensure the fees are based on accurate data, following this and pending satisfactory regulatory checks, we intend to use these data to publish pEPR base fees by June 2025. PackUK will continue to monitor the expected base fees as more packaging data is submitted for 2024, and will release a new set of illustrative base fees before June if there are significant changes.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to publish new guidance on the exemption process for indirect sales of non-household waste under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme before fees are calculated for the year starting in April 2025.

Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders to consider potential future amendments to the definition of household packaging, which includes the exemption process for indirect sales of non-household waste under the pEPR scheme. The Government will provide an update on progress made and next steps shortly.

What guidance his Department provides to ambulance trusts to help ensure adequate (a) coverage and (b) response times.

On 30 January 2025, NHS England published the 2025/26 priorities and operational planning guidance. This set out the actions to be taken by the National Health Service in 2025/26 to improve ambulance response times. The planning guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/2025-26-priorities-and-operational-planning-guidance/Information on further actions to support improvements in urgent and emergency care services during 2025/26 will be published at the earliest opportunity.

If he will list (a) ambulance substations and (b) the number of ambulances permanently located in the East of England in (i) January 2025 and (ii) February 2025.

The information requested is not held centrally. The location of ambulance stations is held locally by ambulance services. The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust publishes a list of ambulance stations on its website, which is available at the following link:https://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/join-the-team/working-for-us/EEAST-station-listThe East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust has reported that it provides services through 577 ambulances.

How many (a) British nationals, and (b) foreign nationals were given residency positions in each year since 2020.

The number of British nationals who accepted medical specialty training posts in 2024 was 8,017, and the number of non-British nationals accepting posts was 5,882. The number of applicants trained outside of the United Kingdom who were rejected at different stages of the medical specialty training recruitment processes in 2024 was 5,814. This does not include applicants who were not rejected but who chose to withdraw themselves from at least one of their applications. The number of domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 8,537. The number of non-domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 5,324.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022, and 2023 is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversityThis includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made, and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data looks at each medical speciality separately. Many applicants will apply for more than one specialty, and the published data does not show the number of unique applicants who were successful for at least one specialty or rejected for all, as presented for the 2024 round, as the Department does not hold that data.

What steps his Department is taking to help protect the security of sensitive data on multi-purpose interconnectors.

Maintaining a secure energy supply is a key priority for the UK Government. DESNZ works closely with subsea and offshore owners, operators, regulators, and other stakeholders to ensure interconnectors are proportionately protected against a range of threats – including cyber threats. This includes working with industry on data security, which is a critical part of a comprehensive approach to security of infrastructure.

How many pages of paperwork businesses must complete on average to receive planning approval from the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) does not undertake planning approvals. Planning approvals must be sought from the Planning Inspectorate, to whom ONR provides regulatory advice where nuclear sites are involved.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of regulations from the Office for Nuclear Regulation on businesses.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) does not make regulations. Assessments of impacts on businesses of regulations relating to nuclear would be found in the original economic impact assessments for those regulations and, where they have been carried out, in the post implementation review of those regulations. As the Prime Minister announced, the Nuclear Taskforce will be undertaking a review of nuclear regulation, and it would be unfair to comment further until that review has concluded.

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the security of interconnector data.

The Government takes the protection of subsea infrastructure, including interconnectors, seriously and Departments work closely together to ensure infrastructure is protected against hazards and malicious threats. The Secretary of State regularly has discussions with his Cabinet colleagues relating to a range of security matters.

What assessment his Department made of the potential impact of spatial limits in the North Sea on (a) interconnectors, (b) fisheries, (c) wind farms and (d) other offshore infrastructure.

As set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, we need a long term, holistic approach to managing growing demand for use of the seabed. The Crown Estate’s Marine Delivery Routemap will provide an opportunity to positively plan for shared outcomes across different sectors with an agreed set of design parameters that incentivise best environmental practice across the project lifecycle.

How many applicants trained abroad were rejected for residency positions with NHS providers in each year since 2020.

The number of British nationals who accepted medical specialty training posts in 2024 was 8,017, and the number of non-British nationals accepting posts was 5,882. The number of applicants trained outside of the United Kingdom who were rejected at different stages of the medical specialty training recruitment processes in 2024 was 5,814. This does not include applicants who were not rejected but who chose to withdraw themselves from at least one of their applications. The number of domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 8,537. The number of non-domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 5,324.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022, and 2023 is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversityThis includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made, and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data looks at each medical speciality separately. Many applicants will apply for more than one specialty, and the published data does not show the number of unique applicants who were successful for at least one specialty or rejected for all, as presented for the 2024 round, as the Department does not hold that data.

If he will take steps to ensure that wind turbines manufactured in China are not vulnerable to foreign espionage.

The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure extremely seriously with the UK being one of the most reliable and safest energy systems, and one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world. Maintaining a secure energy supply is a key priority for the UK Government. DESNZ works closely with subsea and offshore owners, operators, regulators, and other stakeholders to ensure subsea and offshore energy infrastructure is proportionately protected against a range of threats. The Government will take a consistent, long-term and strategic approach to managing the UK’s relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. The Government will co-operate where it can, compete where it needs to, and challenge where it must.

How many applicants trained abroad were accepted for residency positions with NHS providers in each year since 2020.

The number of British nationals who accepted medical specialty training posts in 2024 was 8,017, and the number of non-British nationals accepting posts was 5,882. The number of applicants trained outside of the United Kingdom who were rejected at different stages of the medical specialty training recruitment processes in 2024 was 5,814. This does not include applicants who were not rejected but who chose to withdraw themselves from at least one of their applications. The number of domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 8,537. The number of non-domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 5,324.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022, and 2023 is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversityThis includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made, and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data looks at each medical speciality separately. Many applicants will apply for more than one specialty, and the published data does not show the number of unique applicants who were successful for at least one specialty or rejected for all, as presented for the 2024 round, as the Department does not hold that data.

What the average waiting time is for businesses to receive planning approval from the Office for Nuclear Regulation by nuclear reactor types since 1997.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) does not undertake planning approvals. Planning approvals must be sought from the Planning Inspectorate, to whom ONR provides regulatory advice where nuclear sites are involved.

How many domestically trained applicants were accepted for residency positions with NHS providers in each year since 2020.

The number of British nationals who accepted medical specialty training posts in 2024 was 8,017, and the number of non-British nationals accepting posts was 5,882. The number of applicants trained outside of the United Kingdom who were rejected at different stages of the medical specialty training recruitment processes in 2024 was 5,814. This does not include applicants who were not rejected but who chose to withdraw themselves from at least one of their applications. The number of domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 8,537. The number of non-domestically trained applicants accepting an offer of a place within the 2024 medical specialty recruitment process was 5,324.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022, and 2023 is published by NHS England, and is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversityThis includes information for each individual medical specialty programme on the number of applications made, the number of appointable applicants, the number of offers made, and the number of accepted roles. The information is available by nationality group and country of qualification. The published data looks at each medical speciality separately. Many applicants will apply for more than one specialty, and the published data does not show the number of unique applicants who were successful for at least one specialty or rejected for all, as presented for the 2024 round, as the Department does not hold that data.

What steps his Department is taking to help remove barriers to the development of Small Modular Reactors.

The Government recognises that Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could play an important role helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs.The Department has supported development of SMRs through the Advanced Nuclear Fund and the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund. Separately, Great British Nuclear is running an SMR technology selection process and is on track to make final decisions in spring.In addition, we recently launched a regulatory taskforce to streamline regulatory processes and published the draft EN-7 National Policy Statement, setting out a refreshed planning framework for new nuclear reactors, including SMRs.

What discussions (a) Ministers, (b) advisors and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Office for Nuclear Regulation on Small Modular Reactors.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reduced energy imports from Norway on energy prices in the UK.

Great Britain has a secure and diverse energy system, which has delivered reliable energy supplies this winter and over recent years, despite challenging global conditions. This includes the UK’s homegrown energy from renewables and nuclear. The UK imports gas through pipelines with Norway and mainland Europe and from the global market via Liquefied Natural Gas ports, and have ten operational electricity interconnectors with Europe. Our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower provide energy security in the long term and help protect billpayers from global markets.

With reference to the Written Statement of 10 February 2025 HCWS424, whether generation dispatched by the National Energy System Operator from Drax power station will count towards the maximum load factor to receive subsidies.

Yes. Under the low carbon dispatchable CfD, there will be a cap on the volume of electricity generation subsidised across the year. The cap is set with reference to maximum seasonal load factors (with Winter higher than Summer, to reflect system requirements). All generation by Drax Power Station will count towards the cap on subsidised generation. This includes generation that results from actions taken by NESO to balance the electricity system, such as through the Balancing Mechanism and balancing services markets.