Every parliamentary written question tabled by Nick Timothy this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 681–700 of 956 · this parliament
Media and Sport, how many times her Department has invited the Centre for Media Monitoring to official events since 4 July 2024.
Ministers and officials engage with a range of stakeholders in the course of usual business. However, my department has found no record of responses to any letters from the Centre for Media Monitoring, or of the Centre for Media Monitoring being invited to DCMS-led official events, since 4 July 2024.
Media and Sport, how many letters her Department has responded to from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.
Ministers and officials engage with a range of stakeholders in the course of usual business. However, my department has found no record of responses to any letters from the Centre for Media Monitoring, or of the Centre for Media Monitoring being invited to DCMS-led official events, since 4 July 2024.
Innovation and Technology, how many letters his Department has responded to from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.
There has been no correspondence from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology to the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.
Innovation and Technology, how many times his Department has met with representatives from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not met with representatives from the Centre for Media Monitoring since 4 July 2024.
Innovation and Technology, how many times his Department has invited the Centre for Media Monitoring to official events since 4 July 2024.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has not invited the Centre for Media Monitoring to official events since 4 July 2024.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to designate thoroughbred horses as high health animals, in the context of the Border Target Operating Model.
A commitment to designating thoroughbred horses as high-health animals was made as part of the Border Target Operating model, and we have continued to develop that as part of our preparation to implement that border model.
If he will review the reimbursement system for (a) pharmacies and (b) GP practices dispensing medicines.
Consultation with Community Pharmacy England for the 2025/26 Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework has started and will include reviewing the allowance for medicine margin as part of funding, and any further changes to the reimbursement arrangements.The Department has previously reviewed the reimbursement arrangements for community pharmacies which lead to a consultation on several improvements in 2019. The consultation response was published in November 2021, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/community-pharmacy-drug-reimbursement-reform/outcome/community-pharmacy-drug-reimbursement-reform-consultation-responseThere are currently no plans to review the reimbursement system for general practices (GPs) dispensing medicines. Dispensing practices receive a dispensing fee, approximately £2.00 to £2.30 per item, which is intended to cover dispensing costs. This fee is calculated based on forecasted volumes of prescriptions to be dispensed and the size of the funding envelope, according to a methodology agreed by the Department, the General Practitioners Committee (GPC), NHS Employers, and the Welsh Government.An updated methodology was agreed between the British Medical Association and NHS England to address the issue of continuing fluctuation between over and underspend year on year, the alternating pattern of over and under spends, and implemented in October 2023.The Department and NHS England started consulting with the GPC England, of the British Medical Association, on the 2025/26 GP Contract on 19 December and will consider all proposed policy changes, including dispensing practices. An announcement will be made before April 2025.
What the cost of recycling (a) cement, (b) concrete and (c) asphalt for road maintenance and construction was in each year between 2014 and 2024.
The costs involved in recycling materials used in road maintenance and construction are a commercial matter for highway authorities, and the Department does not hold data on this. The Department encourages local highway authorities to consider the use of recycled road materials where feasible.
How many dental practices in (a) England, (b) the East of England and (c) Suffolk have stopped accepting NHS patients since 5 July 2024.
NHS dentists are required to keep their NHS.UK website profiles up to date so that patients can find a dentist more easily. This includes information on whether they are accepting new patients. This information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentistThe Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.
What the carbon emissions were for Highways England in each year between 2014 and 2024.
The corporate carbon emissions for National Highways (NH), or predecessor organisations (Highways Agency and Highways England), within the period requested were as follows:YeartCO2e2013-1498,4962014-15104,9782015-1695,3732016-1789,5912017-1883,6592018-1972,3022019-2066,0462020-2157,0552021-2250,3882022-2344,8092023-2445,266
If she will list all training that has been provided to traffic officers on managing electric vehicles in incident recovery situations in each year between 2014 and 2024.
National Highways has evolved its training programme for Traffic Officers on Electric Vehicles (EVs) as their use on the network has emerged and grown. Our training provision is aligned to the traffic officer work instructions in operation at that time, which have evolved as the number of EVs on our roads has increased. Booster Pack and Skids training was provided for all Traffic Officers from December 2020 to April 2021. This was consolidated into new starter training from May 2021. Booster Pack training is the familiarisation of the booster pack that Traffic Officer vehicles carry. This training covers component parts of the booster pack and how to apply to release electronic handbrakes in line with manufacturer guidelines. Skids training is delivered to enable Traffic Officers to put skids underneath tyres that are unable to turn when electronic handbrakes cannot be released, enabling clearance of the carriageway. Whilst neither are exclusively EV training, they are methods that can be used with EVs. Both training packages were subsequently consolidated into New Starter training for Traffic Officers as part of the continuous improvement of foundation training. EV eLearning was also rolled out to all Traffic Officers from January 2021 until November 2023, across a range of subjects, including: Overview of EV and HybridsEvaluate the Positives and Negatives of EV and HybridsIdentify Types of EV/Hybrids at scene of incident or breakdownsPotential hazards involved when dealing with EV/HybridsEV and Hybrid component partsH&S (HSE Guidance) The EV and Hybrid Awareness eLearning package covers identification of component parts of EVs, such as High Voltage batteries and their location. The EV training delivered at New Starter Course offers a higher level of awareness, including when EVs are involved in Road Traffic Collisions and sustain a higher degree of damage. Carriageway clearance, which includes EV training, is delivered to all new National Highways Traffic Officers as part of their Foundation training, this has been in place since 2018.
What low carbon (a) materials and (b) methods are used by Highways England in road (i) maintenance and (ii) construction.
National Highways use a wide range of low carbon materials and methods such as using bio-binders and recycled materials in asphalt, stipulating lower carbon concrete mixes in construction contracts, and investing in research and development into low-carbon materials. National Highways also follow lean construction practices and the principles of the circular economy to embed approaches that minimise emissions, including updating their standards - the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) - to include use of recycled materials. Additional information on National Highways, ambitious programme for putting roads at the heart of Britain’s net zero future can be found online (see: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/netzerohighways/) and within their ‘Net zero highways Our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan’.
If he will take steps to bring grid infrastructure for new data centres under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure needed to deliver on the Government’s ambitions. The Government published a working paper [1] on the proposals on the 26th January 2025 and more detail will be available in due course. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517 on Crime: Westminster Bridge, which public bodies are responsible for law enforcement in relation to (a) unlawful gambling, (b) unlawful street vendors, (c) red line parking and (d) unlicensed pedicabs on Westminster Bridge.
Localised incidents of illegal gambling are the responsibility of the relevant licensing authority and relevant police force. In the case of Westminster Bridge, this is Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police. The police are able to ask street vendors to show their licence. Westminster Bridge is on the Transport for London Road Network and enforcement action against illegally parked vehicles there is a matter for Transport for London (TfL). The Pedicabs (London) Act 2024 conferred powers onto TfL to regulate London’s pedicab industry for the first time, and TfL has now begun the process of consulting on the proposed regulations.
What recent discussions (a) ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials within his Department have had with technology companies on the energy infrastructure needed for new data centres.
Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.
How many trees have been planted by Highways England in each year between 2014 and 2024; and what the cost to the public purse was of this work.
National Highways (NH) does not keep a central record of the number of trees they have planted across England in any given year. However, as outlined in their ‘Net zero highways: our 2030 / 2040 / 2050 plan’, NH aims to plant at least 3 million trees by 2030 (in addition to the trees planted as ‘essential mitigation’ for projects).
If he will take steps to allow the National Policy Statements for Energy and Planning Policy Guidance to approve grid infrastructure for new data centres.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will provide the powers to accelerate the infrastructure needed to deliver on the Government’s ambitions. The Government published a working paper [1] on the proposals on the 26th January 2025 and more detail will be available in due course. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning/planning-reform-working-paper-streamlining-infrastructure-planning
Pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23517, on Crime: Westminster Bridge, what steps her Department is taking to tackle (a) unlawful parking and (b) unlicensed pedicabs on Westminster Bridge; and if she will initiate discussions with the relevant responsible authority.
Westminster Bridge is owned and managed by Transport for London (TfL). Ministers and officials have regular conversations with TfL on a variety of issues but decisions about unlawful parking and unlicenced pedicabs on Westminster Bridge are solely for them to make. However, the Department for Transport has recognised the need to regulate the Pedicabs industry in London through the passing of the Pedicabs (London) Act 2024. This legislation will be applied through regulations that TfL are currently consulting on until 7 March 2025.
If she will make an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of building (a) charging infrastructure and (b) on-road services for electric vehicles in each year between 2014 and 2024.
The Government is committed to accelerating the roll-out of charging infrastructure so that everyone, no matter where they live or work, can make the transition to an electric vehicle (EV). We will work closely with stakeholders to accelerate the rollout of chargepoints, and to ensure the benefits of the transition are felt across all of society. The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) has awarded £83 million in grant funding to 219 LAs since 2017 and will see more than 21,300 chargepoints installed.Between 2017 and 2024, over £14m was spent by National Highways to advance the rollout of chargepoint infrastructure on the Strategic Road Network, including £4.5 million through a project to install chargepoints and £9.5m through the Energy Storage Systems project to support ultra rapid chargepoints at motorway service areas. In addition, Ofgem has run a £300m Green Recovery Scheme to accelerate network investment, including to support charging at motorway service areas.The £381m Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund supports local authorities in England to work with industry and transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking. The funding backed by substantial private investment, will support the installation of at least 100,000 on-street chargepoints, ensuring the rollout continues at pace to support drivers in every part of the country.In addition, the Government confirmed in the October 2024 Budget that it wants to support the uptake of EVs by investing over £200 million in 2025/26 to accelerate EV chargepoint rollout.
If he will take steps to provide additional support to the (a) Planning Inspectorate, (b) statutory consultees, (c) local planning authorities, and (d) government consenting teams on taking forward grid infrastructure for new data centres.
Reforming the planning system is key to unlocking our country’s economic growth, to deliver the critical infrastructure that we need. The Government has announced a £46 million package of investment into the planning system to support capacity and capability. The Government will deliver workforce reform, enhanced training, and reformed career development packages. Resourcing in key organisations, including the Planning Inspectorate and Government consenting teams are currently being reviewed to determine the required support.