Written questions by Paul.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending eligibility for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include property developers seeking to install air source heat pumps into new builds.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is primarily designed to support property owners to replace fossil fuel heating systems in existing properties (retrofits). New builds (with the exception of self-builds) are therefore excluded from the scheme. However, new standards will be brought in that ensure new homes and buildings are fit for a net zero future. Gas boilers will not meet the proposed standard for new homes, meaning low-carbon heating like heat pumps will become the new default. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will publish specifications in due course.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of amending the assessment only route to Qualified Teacher Status to allow applications from unqualified teachers who have worked in one school throughout their careers on teacher recruitment and retention.

The assessment only (AO) route to qualified teacher status (QTS) has been designed to allow experienced unqualified teachers to be assessed against the Teachers’ Standards and awarded QTS if they meet them all at the appropriate level.The AO criteria sets out the entry requirements for the AO route. Applicants must have taught in at least two schools and must be able to demonstrate that they meet all of the Teachers’ Standards without the need for any further training. Typically, applicants with fewer than two years of teaching experience would be unsuitable for the AO route. The AO criteria can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64edf4006bc96d00104ed206/Assessment_only_route_to_QTS_-_criteria_and_supporting_advice.pdf.The department continuously considers whether the criteria we have in place meets the needs of schools and teachers, as well as ensuring the high quality teaching that pupils and parents would expect.

What assessment his Department has made of European NATO's ability to fill capability gaps that would be created by a potential US troop withdrawal from Europe in (a) air defence, (b) intelligence-sharing and (c) rapid deployment forces.

European security is this Government’s foreign and defence priority and NATO is the cornerstone of our defence. The Prime Minister has been clear that European Allies must take greater responsibility for our own security, spending more and producing more. The Ministry of Defence continues its work to ensure the UK and European Allies step up their contribution to NATO as part of our ‘NATO first’ defence strategy.

What discussions his Department has had with NATO allies on the potential redistribution of military capabilities in Europe in the event of a significant reduction in US troop presence.

European security is this Government’s foreign and defence priority and NATO is the cornerstone of our defence. The Prime Minister has been clear that European Allies must take greater responsibility for our own security, spending more and producing more. The Ministry of Defence continues its work to ensure the UK and European Allies step up their contribution to NATO as part of our ‘NATO first’ defence strategy.

What discussions his Department has had with NATO allies on the (a) size, (b) composition and (c) remit of a potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

The Defence Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Staff met with counterparts in Paris last week to discuss the next steps for a coalition of the willing to defend Ukraine’s security – with 37 nations attending the military meeting, alongside NATO and EU representatives. This was followed by the Prime Minister hosting a call on 15 March with European counterparts, the NATO Secretary General and other world leaders to discuss support for Ukraine. Our military planners convened again on 20 March to progress practical plans for how our militaries can support security guarantees for Ukraine’s future.

What recent discussions his Department has had with international partners on increasing the protection of undersea cables and pipelines, in the context of Russian maritime activity.

Subsea cables are critical to UK telecommunications digital infrastructure, and we are committed to maintaining and enhancing the security and resilience of that infra- structure. We continue to co-ordinate with HMG partners, particularly the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology who own subsea cables policy, as well as security partners, the subsea cables industry and international bodies, including NATO, to assess and respond to risks to subsea cables.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of UK troops that could be safely deployed in a peacekeeping capacity to Ukraine without abridging other defence and security commitments.

Discussions regarding how our military can support security guarantees for Ukraine’s future are ongoing. I hope the hon. Member will understand that I can’t comment on operational details at this stage as revealing our force structure only helps Putin.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22503 on Roads: Lighting, what information her Department holds on the potential impact of switching off lighting on stretches of (a) motorways and (b) major trunk roads on the frequency of accidents on those roads, listed by each constituency.

The answer could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. The Department does not readily hold this information in the formats requested and it cannot be produced to the deadlines associated with a Parliamentary Question.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22502 on Roads: Lighting if she will provide the evidential basis for her Answer.

The Department does not readily hold this information in the formats requested and it cannot be produced to the deadlines associated with a Parliamentary Question.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22501 on Roads: Lighting if she will provide the evidential basis for her Answer.

The Department does not readily hold this information in the formats requested and it cannot be produced to the deadlines associated with a Parliamentary Question.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29868 on Euthanasia: Scotland, whether any staff employed in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel provided (a) advice and (b) other assistance on the drafting of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is a Scottish Member's Bill. Therefore, there has been no involvement from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel who is responsible for drafting UK government Bills.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending Building Regulations Approved Document S to require (a) landlords and (b) management agents to install electric vehicle charging stations at existing (i) flats and (ii) multi-dwelling units.

The Building Regulation set functional requirements and apply to new building work; they are primarily intended to protect people’s safety, health, and welfare. Building Regulations are not retrospective and thus are not an effective mechanism to encourage action in relation to existing buildings. Building Regulations Schedule 1 Part S sets requirements for infrastructure for charging electric vehicles and applies when new residential buildings are built or if dwellings result from a material change of use; and when residential buildings undergoing major renovation. Government is required to carry out a post implementation review before June 2027 looking at the effectiveness of the Approved Document S as published in 2021, which will assess how the objectives of Part S are working and whether they are still appropriate.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging scheme on the hospitality sector.

In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector. The Government has been engaging extensively with stakeholders from various sectors, including the hospitality sector, to continue to develop our understanding of the impacts of this policy. Feedback has been factored into the work on setting illustrative base fees as well as in considering where the legislation could be amended, both in a planned amending SI and for any future changes. The Government will continue to monitor the impact of implementing the pEPR scheme on the packaging market.

What involvement the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel had in drafting the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024.

The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill from both 2023 and 2024 are Scottish bills. Therefore, there has been no involvement from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel draft Government legislation for Westminster.

When she plans to bring forward the necessary statutory instruments to bring section (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 of the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 into force.

The Government is committed to halving levels of violence against women and girls in a decade. An important part of this ambition is tackling public sexual harassment which often leaves people, disproportionately women, feeling unsafe. The Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act 2023 will make this type of harassment a specific offence and could see perpetrators face a custodial sentence of up to 2 years.As with any new criminal justice legislation, an implementation period is necessary to ensure all processes, systems and guidance are updated - including drawing up the statutory guidance. We will ensure the legislation comes into force as quickly as reasonably possible. We will confirm next steps on implementation of the Act at the earliest opportunity.

With reference to his Department's response to the consultation on hub and spoke dispensing, last updated on 13 May 2024, what his planned timetable is for introducing the legislative amendments outlined in his Department's response.

The policy proposals, consultation, and response were published under the previous administration. Following the General Election, the Government has reviewed the proposals. The Department is working towards introducing legislation to enable hub and spoke dispensing between different legal entities this year. This change will be enabled via amendments to both primary and secondary legislation, and is subject to the usual Parliamentary processes.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Code for Sports Governance in increasing female representation in sport.

Sport England and UK Sport's Code for Sports Governance ensures bodies in receipt of substantial public funding have ambitious diversity and inclusion action plans. This includes a drive for greater diversity on boards, which has helped female representation on the boards of partners complying with the Code rise to 44% since its introduction in 2016.

With reference to page 32 of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's report entitled Registering historic, classic, rebuilt vehicles and vehicles converted to electric: Response summary report, published in December 2024, what her planned timetable is for publishing new policy proposals.

Following the publication of the summary of responses to the call for evidence, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency held a very positive meeting with members of the Historic Vehicle User Group to discuss next steps. Following this meeting, members of the Historic Vehicle User Group submitted further feedback which is currently being considered.

How many road lighting schemes on (a) motorways and (b) all-purpose trunk roads were renewed at the end of their service life following completion of the TA 501 appraisal process in each of the last five years.

The answer could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7682 on Cancer: Medical Treatments, when he plans to publish the updated NHS Commercial Framework for New Medicines.

NHS England published its updated Commercial Framework for New Medicines on 29 January 2025. The publication can be found here: NHS England » NHS commercial framework for new medicines