Written questions by Timothy.

Whether NHS providers are obligated to (a) advertise residency positions for British nationals before foreign nationals and (b) hire British residents before overseas residents.

The decision to remove the Resident Labour Market Test for doctors in 2020 has meant that more international medical graduates have also been able to apply for speciality training places, increasing the number of candidates for roles.Residencies, or speciality training positions, are advertised nationally, and the process is administered by a lead deanery on behalf of the four nations of the United Kingdom. There is no obligation on National Health Service providers to advertise residency positions for British nationals before foreign nationals, or to hire British residents before overseas residents. The rules and criteria for recruitment into higher specialty training are agreed by the Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection committees on behalf of the four statutory education bodies of the UK and must meet standards required by the General Medical Council. Working with NHS England, we continue to keep the selection process for all applicants to medical speciality training under review.Data provided by NHS England shows that in 2024, 14,620 graduates from UK medical schools applied for medical specialty training posts. Of these 1,299 were unsuccessful or unappointable in any of their applications as individuals can make multiple applications. A further 1,476 UK graduates were deemed appointable at interview but did not receive any offers due to post availability.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022 and 2023 is published by NHS England. This 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 does not present this information across all specialties together as presented for the 2024 round. The information is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversity

How the career experience of British nationals and foreign nationals are compared when NHS providers are considering residency applications.

The decision to remove the Resident Labour Market Test for doctors in 2020 has meant that more international medical graduates have also been able to apply for speciality training places, increasing the number of candidates for roles.Residencies, or speciality training positions, are advertised nationally, and the process is administered by a lead deanery on behalf of the four nations of the United Kingdom. There is no obligation on National Health Service providers to advertise residency positions for British nationals before foreign nationals, or to hire British residents before overseas residents. The rules and criteria for recruitment into higher specialty training are agreed by the Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection committees on behalf of the four statutory education bodies of the UK and must meet standards required by the General Medical Council. Working with NHS England, we continue to keep the selection process for all applicants to medical speciality training under review.Data provided by NHS England shows that in 2024, 14,620 graduates from UK medical schools applied for medical specialty training posts. Of these 1,299 were unsuccessful or unappointable in any of their applications as individuals can make multiple applications. A further 1,476 UK graduates were deemed appointable at interview but did not receive any offers due to post availability.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022 and 2023 is published by NHS England. This 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 does not present this information across all specialties together as presented for the 2024 round. The information is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversity

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

The decision to remove the Resident Labour Market Test for doctors in 2020 has meant that more international medical graduates have also been able to apply for speciality training places, increasing the number of candidates for roles.Residencies, or speciality training positions, are advertised nationally, and the process is administered by a lead deanery on behalf of the four nations of the United Kingdom. There is no obligation on National Health Service providers to advertise residency positions for British nationals before foreign nationals, or to hire British residents before overseas residents. The rules and criteria for recruitment into higher specialty training are agreed by the Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection committees on behalf of the four statutory education bodies of the UK and must meet standards required by the General Medical Council. Working with NHS England, we continue to keep the selection process for all applicants to medical speciality training under review.Data provided by NHS England shows that in 2024, 14,620 graduates from UK medical schools applied for medical specialty training posts. Of these 1,299 were unsuccessful or unappointable in any of their applications as individuals can make multiple applications. A further 1,476 UK graduates were deemed appointable at interview but did not receive any offers due to post availability.Information on medical specialty recruitment in 2021, 2022 and 2023 is published by NHS England. This 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 does not present this information across all specialties together as presented for the 2024 round. The information is available at the following link:https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/equality-and-diversity

What the value was of vehicles (a) purchased and (b) sold by National Highways in each year since 2014.

The value of vehicles purchased and sold by National Highways since 2014 is broken down as follows: YearTotal Vehicle SpendTotal Revenue from Vehicle Sales2014£34,640.3002015£773,767.3002016£2,145,237.4802017£48,811.5002018£11,556,927.8802019£17,113,959.8902020£17,576,940.21£150,802.732021£25,525,278.82£823,805.282022£29,611,298.66£3,303,299.372023£12,515,348.93£2,195,094.382024£11,352,979.81£1,603,758.81

Innovation and Technology, when Research England informed his Department of their plans for the (a) Research Excellence Framework 2029 and (b) people, culture and environment pilot.

Research England has notified the Department about their plans for developing the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029, which includes the People, Culture, and Environment pilot. This pilot aims to assess the feasibility and practicality of incorporating this element into the REF. The findings will guide future developments of the REF. Final decisions on the REF's structure will be made after the pilot concludes and further engagement with the sector.

If she will make an estimate of what the level of carbon emissions from National Highways will be in each year between 2025 and 2040.

National Highways set-out its ambitions for putting roads at the heart of Britain’s net zero future within its ‘Net zero highways: our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan’ published in 2021. This includes details on emissions reductions goals and the steps that National Highways will take within the period 2025 to 2040. Additionally, the ‘Strategic road network initial report: 2025-2030’, published in 2023, proposes how National Highways in the next five years will specifically support the third road investment strategy (RIS3) development objective of improved environmental outcomes, set out in the ‘Planning Ahead for the Strategic Road Network’ document. The contribution of RIS3 to National Highways’ carbon emissions will be considered as part of the underpinning analysis when RIS3 is set later in 2025.

How many vehicles were purchased by National Highways by car manufacturer in each year since 2014.

The number of vehicles purchased, per year since 2014 and by car manufacturer, by National Highways is on the attached table.

Innovation and Technology, whether it is his policy to allow the Research Excellence Framework people, culture and environment pilot to go forward.

Research England has notified the Department about their plans for developing the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029, which includes the People, Culture, and Environment pilot. This pilot aims to assess the feasibility and practicality of incorporating this element into the REF. The findings will guide future developments of the REF. Final decisions on the REF's structure will be made after the pilot concludes and further engagement with the sector.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27405 on Highways England: Carbon Emissions, what the carbon emissions were by (a) source and (b) activity in each year since 2014.

Below is a breakdown of National Highways’ (NH) Carbon Emissions, covering the period 2021/22 to 2023/24.Carbon emissions prior to this were not reported to this level and are not available.YearBreakdown by activity/source2021-22 Activity/emission sourcetCO2eElectricity (kWh used)39,797Building heating (kWh used)4,584Fleet (miles travelled)4,159Business travel (miles travelled)1,848Total50,3882022-23 Activity/emission sourcetCO2eElectricity (kWh used)35,165Building heating (kWh used)4,770Fleet (miles travelled)2,887Business travel (miles travelled)1,987Total44,8092023-24 Activity/emission sourcetCO2eElectricity (kWh used)35,840Building heating (kWh used)5,029Fleet (miles travelled)2,212Business travel (miles travelled)2,185Total45,266

Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to accept Research England’s proposed changes to the research excellence framework.

Research England has notified the Department about their plans for developing the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029, which includes the People, Culture, and Environment pilot. This pilot aims to assess the feasibility and practicality of incorporating this element into the REF. The findings will guide future developments of the REF. Final decisions on the REF's structure will be made after the pilot concludes and further engagement with the sector.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26900 on Highways England: Vehicles, whether her Department plans to sell National Highway’s (a) diesel and (b) plug-in hybrid vehicles before 2027; and when those vehicles were purchased.

Operational decisions on its vehicle fleet are made by National Highways; the fleet replacement strategy is to retain vehicles for an operational period of around 3 to 4 years, subject to factors such as mileage, general condition, and suitability for ongoing operational use. National Highways contracts with vehicle disposal agents that use auction services to repurpose and sell its vehicles at the end of their operational life. The table below details the current number of diesel and plug-in hybrid vehicles which were added to National Highways’ fleet (by year, since 2018) to align with the governments’ Road to Zero Strategy for vehicle replacements. On fleet dateNumber of VehiclesFuel Type20181Diesel0PHEV20195Diesel2PHEV20205Diesel15PHEV20210Diesel128PHEV20220Diesel174PHEV20230Diesel195PHEV20240Diesel75PHEV

How many (a) petrol, (b) diesel, (c) hydrogen, (d) hybrid, (e) plug-in hybrid and (f) fully electric vehicles were purchased by National Highways in each year since 2014.

The number of vehicles purchased by National Highways since 2014, broken down by engine type, is as follows: No. Vehicles Purchased by Engine TypeYearPetrolDieselHydrogenHybridPlug-In HybridFully Electric201401000020150240000201605400002017010000201801950000201902280036020200104003802021012000128120220131001751920230200195182024012007574

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26897 on Data Centres: Planning, what assessment his Department has made of the grid (a) capacity and (b) infrastructure that will be required for new data centres.

The National Electricity System Operator (NESO) is investigating the future power consumption of data centres, as well as grid constraints, lead times for developers, and how to improve connection processes.

How many vehicles in the National Highways fleet are 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 National Highways fleet consists of:147 vehicles aged up to one year;195 vehicles aged between one and two years;708 vehicles aged between three and five years; and108 vehicles older than five years. National Highways continues to manage its fleet efficiently to ensure operational effectiveness and value for money.

How many migrants on Health and Care Visas have claimed asylum since 2020.

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.However, the Home Office publishes data on visas and asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The ‘How many people claim asylum in the UK?’ chapter of the release provides the following information: “Internally matched data for asylum claims suggests that around 20% of people claiming asylum in 2023 held a valid visa within 7 days of lodging an asylum claim”.

How many migrants subject to voluntary removals received payments to ensure departure since 5 July 2024; and what the (a) total, (b) average, (c) lowest and (d) highest payment made was.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Answer I gave on 6 February to Question UIN 28420.

How many migrants on Health and Care Worker visas claimed asylum in each year since 2020.

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.However, the Home Office publishes data on visas and asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The ‘How many people claim asylum in the UK?’ chapter of the release provides the following information: “Internally matched data for asylum claims suggests that around 20% of people claiming asylum in 2023 held a valid visa within 7 days of lodging an asylum claim”.

How many migrants on (a) work, (b) student and (c) family visas have claimed asylum since 2010.

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.However, the Home Office publishes data on visas and asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The ‘How many people claim asylum in the UK?’ chapter of the release provides the following information: “Internally matched data for asylum claims suggests that around 20% of people claiming asylum in 2023 held a valid visa within 7 days of lodging an asylum claim”.

If she will take steps to bar Mohamed Hoblos from entry into the UK.

As the Honourable Member will be aware, it is longstanding policy that the Home Office does not comment on individual cases.However, we have robust safeguards to ensure that those who intend to sow hatred and division in our communities are refused entry to our country, and we make no apology for this. Our priority remains maintaining the safety and security of the UK and our communities.

If she will publish a breakdown of migrants removed since 5 July 2024 by (a) voluntary and (b) enforced removals; and by nationality.

The Home Office publishes data on the number of returns from the UK in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The latest data on returns are presented in table Ret_D01 of the ‘returns detailed tables’, where the data can be broken down by return type, quarter and nationality. The latest data goes up to September 2024.  Data up to the end of December 2024 is due to be published on 27 February 2025. Information on enforced and voluntary returns from 5th July to 31st January is published at Returns from the UK since 5 July 2024 - GOV.UK.