Every parliamentary written question tabled by Richard Fuller this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 61–80 of 112 · this parliament
With reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 111852, if he will list the seven approvals granted for branded items since 24 April 2025, including for each (a) the department or business unit, (b) th
On 6 April 2025, the previous Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a ban on unnecessary branded merchandise. The details of the seven approvals granted for branded items since 24 April 2025 are as follows (costs exclude VAT):Government People Gr...
What estimate her Department has made of the average cost of (a) employing a (i) teacher and (ii) a member of support staff and (b) energy and (c) other non-staff expenditure per pupil in the (A) 2023-24 and (B
The department publishes the ‘Schools’ costs: technical note’ (SCTN), which includes data on school workforce costs and non-staff expenditure, including energy. This year’s SCTN publication and historical publications are available at: https://www.gov.uk/...
With reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 116506 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, if he will place in the Library a copy of the OCS invoice dated 6 November 2025 relating to the work
The OCS invoice for the 9 Downing Street works in the published data for the month of November 2025 is item 387, 10000204, OCS Group UK Limited, Transaction HZ820722.
What expenditure has the British Transport Police made on public affairs companies, and for what purposes, since 4 July 2024.
The British Transport Police (BTP) has spent £0 on public affairs consultancy services.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the water industry regulatory framework in providing flexibility to enable water and wastewater companies to respond to major new housing growth, including the proposed Tempsford new town.
Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working to bring together Government, regulators and water companies to ensure sufficient water and wastewater capacity is delivered to accommodate the government’s growth ambitions, including for new homes. Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers and set out how they plan to continue to do so through statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). Water companies consult on revised WRMPs every five years, which inform Ofwat’s price review decisions. The water companies must also maintain their WRMPs and are required to review the plans annually to take account of changes. This includes changes to demand forecasts as a result of housing growth that cannot be accommodated in existing WRMPs. This year, we strengthened and clarified this change process with water companies, issuing guidance to companies on how we will engage and assess any change needed to accommodate growth. The WRMP process works closely alongside Ofwat’s price review cost change process, which allows companies to access additional funding for investment to support the growth, including investment such as sewage treatment works: PR24-Cost-change-process-–-Demand-growth-investment-additional-guidance.pdf.
Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Ofwat on ensuring that future price review processes consider strategic developments including new towns such as Tempsford.
Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working to bring together Government, regulators and water companies to ensure sufficient water and wastewater capacity is delivered to accommodate the government’s growth ambitions, including for new homes. Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers and set out how they plan to continue to do so through statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). Water companies consult on revised WRMPs every five years, which inform Ofwat’s price review decisions. The water companies must also maintain their WRMPs and are required to review the plans annually to take account of changes. This includes changes to demand forecasts as a result of housing growth that cannot be accommodated in existing WRMPs. This year, we strengthened and clarified this change process with water companies, issuing guidance to companies on how we will engage and assess any change needed to accommodate growth. The WRMP process works closely alongside Ofwat’s price review cost change process, which allows companies to access additional funding for investment to support the growth, including investment such as sewage treatment works: PR24-Cost-change-process-–-Demand-growth-investment-additional-guidance.pdf.
Whether she plans to publish an updated Business Case for East West Rail before the commencement of the Development Consent Order examination.
In line with Treasury guidance, the development of the Business Case for East West Rail will progress as East West Rail Company continues to develop and refine the project. The Full Business Case will be submitted for approval and then published, once planning consent has been secured, which is standard for this type of project.
What agreement has been made between East West Rail and Universal Destinations and Experiences on the development timeline of East West Rail during the construction of the Universal Theme Park in Bedfordshire.
Universal’s plans for a theme park near Stewartby represents a significant local and national opportunity for economic growth. Following Government approval of the theme park in April 2025, EWR Co is working alongside Universal and key stakeholders to help integrate their proposals for the theme park with the railway and maximise the potential of both.
Whether a decision has been made on the type of power or traction to be used on East West Rail.
In its autumn announcement in November 2025, EWR Co set out proposals for the discontinuous (partial) electrification of the line which can deliver net zero services with hybrid battery-electric trains.
What recent estimate she has made of the cost per kilometre of East West Rail from Bedford to Cambridge.
Capital cost estimates for Connection Stages 2 (Oxford-Bedford) and 3 (Oxford-Cambridge) routes were published by East West Rail Company in 2024. Final costs for the project will be driven by scope and design choices.
What her planned timetable is for the construction of a railway station at Tempsford.
East West Rail Company has set out details of its proposals for a new station at Tempsford as part of East West Rail in its autumn announcement in November 2025. The Government and East West Rail Company have committed to bring forward the delivery of a new station at Tempsford to introduce services on the East Coast Main Line to the area ahead of the full East West Rail scheme opening and design work is progressing on this.
Communities and Local Government, whether the Government intends to provide exceptional funding support to Bedford Borough Council to cover costs incurred as a result of the Cleat Hill explosion on 19 October 2024.
The impact of the explosion and fire and the tragic loss of life would have been traumatic and I have great sympathy for all those affected. The Department continues to engage directly with Bedford on its overall financial position, including communicating a response to the Council's request to activate the Bellwin scheme in relation to the Cleat Hill explosion. The Local Government Finance Policy Statement published on 20 November confirmed that there will continue to be a framework in place to support councils in the most difficult financial positions. This reflects the ongoing challenges for councils dealing with the legacy of the previous system, while the Government is delivering much needed reforms to the funding framework. Following the Policy Statement the Department issued technical guidance to councils which set out that they should confirm any request for support by 12 December, and that any decisions under this framework are usually taken shortly after the final Local Government Finance Settlement.
Communities and Local Government, if he will provide a response to the application submitted by Bedford Borough Council for exceptional funding support to cover costs incurred as a result of the Cleat Hill explosion on 19 October 2024.
The impact of the explosion and fire and the tragic loss of life would have been traumatic and I have great sympathy for all those affected. The Department continues to engage directly with Bedford on its overall financial position, including communicating a response to the Council's request to activate the Bellwin scheme in relation to the Cleat Hill explosion. The Local Government Finance Policy Statement published on 20 November confirmed that there will continue to be a framework in place to support councils in the most difficult financial positions. This reflects the ongoing challenges for councils dealing with the legacy of the previous system, while the Government is delivering much needed reforms to the funding framework. Following the Policy Statement the Department issued technical guidance to councils which set out that they should confirm any request for support by 12 December, and that any decisions under this framework are usually taken shortly after the final Local Government Finance Settlement.
Whether he has considered including equestrianism within the definition of active travel for (a) planning and (b) other relevant policy purposes.
The Government has no plans to include equestrianism within the definition of active travel. Decisions on infrastructure to support horse-riding are a matter for local authorities. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans enable local authorities to take a strategic approach to planning local walking and cycling improvements, and to integrate these into wider plans for transport and economic development. We encourage and expect local authorities to consult with local groups such as equestrians as part of their stakeholder engagement.
With reference to her Department's press release entitled Largest fund of its kind to support vulnerable kids & families, published on 14 July 2025, for what reason the Better Futures Fund is not part of the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy.
At the Spending Review, we committed to announcing further details on our plans for Social Impact Investing over the summer. This announcement – alongside the announcements to support low-income families made at SR25 – are a downpayment ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy being published in the autumn, and will form part of it. As per the press notice, the Better Futures Fund will be managed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in close collaboration with other departments and engagement with the impact investing sector. The Better Futures Fund was included in the Spending Review, under the Public Service Reform section. This was before it was named the BFF and was under the working title of ‘Social Impact Investing Vehicle’: The Better Futures Fund will support up to 200,000 children and their families over the next ten years by bringing together government, local communities, charities, social enterprises, investors, and philanthropists to work together to give children a brighter future.
With reference to her Department's press release entitled Largest fund of its kind to support vulnerable kids & families, published on 14 July 2025, which organisation will manage the Better Futures Fund.
At the Spending Review, we committed to announcing further details on our plans for Social Impact Investing over the summer. This announcement – alongside the announcements to support low-income families made at SR25 – are a downpayment ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy being published in the autumn, and will form part of it. As per the press notice, the Better Futures Fund will be managed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in close collaboration with other departments and engagement with the impact investing sector. The Better Futures Fund was included in the Spending Review, under the Public Service Reform section. This was before it was named the BFF and was under the working title of ‘Social Impact Investing Vehicle’: The Better Futures Fund will support up to 200,000 children and their families over the next ten years by bringing together government, local communities, charities, social enterprises, investors, and philanthropists to work together to give children a brighter future.
With reference to her Department's press release entitled Largest fund of its kind to support vulnerable kids & families, published on 14 July 2025, for what reason the Better Futures Fund was not announced at the Spending Review 2025.
At the Spending Review, we committed to announcing further details on our plans for Social Impact Investing over the summer. This announcement – alongside the announcements to support low-income families made at SR25 – are a downpayment ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy being published in the autumn, and will form part of it. As per the press notice, the Better Futures Fund will be managed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in close collaboration with other departments and engagement with the impact investing sector. The Better Futures Fund was included in the Spending Review, under the Public Service Reform section. This was before it was named the BFF and was under the working title of ‘Social Impact Investing Vehicle’: The Better Futures Fund will support up to 200,000 children and their families over the next ten years by bringing together government, local communities, charities, social enterprises, investors, and philanthropists to work together to give children a brighter future.
If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the ongoing review of the customs treatment of low-value imports on tax revenue.
On 23rd April, the Government announced a review of the customs treatment for low value imports. Under our current low value import arrangements, consignments valued below £135 from any overseas retailer can be imported into the UK without incurring customs duty. VAT is due on all imports into the UK. Since the announcement, Ministers and officials have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on the impact and operation of these arrangements to support our review. The outcomes of the engagement will help inform our next steps.
What assessment he has made of the capacity of the National Grid to provide (a) timely and (b) adequate connections in the context of estimated trends in the level of adoption of rooftop solar installations on commercial properties.
Ofgem recently made it easier for smaller generation projects (under 5MW in England and Wales) to connect, by removing the requirement for a transmission network impact assessment [1]. For larger projects, the implementation of connections reform will prioritise connections that are ready and aligned with our clean power 2030 ambitions. Furthermore, the next Ofgem price control for electricity distribution (ED3, 2028-2033) will promote strategic network investment ahead of need, including through the introduction of Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs). This will enable the timely connection of rooftop solar and other low carbon electricity generation across Great Britain. [1] https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/decision/decision-approve-cmp446-increasing-lower-threshold-england-and-wales-evaluation-transmission-impact-assessment
What assessment his Department has made of the feasibility of installing a grid connection corridor along the A1 and A421 to enable commercial warehouses in that area to connect rooftop solar installations to the National Grid.
Distribution Network Operators are upgrading local electricity distribution networks across Great Britain to enable the connection of low carbon generation, including rooftop solar. For the current electricity distribution price control (RIIO-ED2, 2023-2028), Ofgem have allowed £22.2bn of upfront investment, including £3.1bn for network upgrades for low-carbon technologies. For the next electricity distribution price control (RIIO-ED3, 2028-2033), Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) will support strategic network investment ahead of need, on a locational basis. The government will continue to support Ofgem in ensuring that consumer costs are protected while enabling the network transformation required for net zero.