Written questions by Berry.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential economic (a) costs and (b) benefits of an expansion of Heathrow Airport.

According to the most recent study from Frontier Economics, a third runway could increase potential GDP by 0.43% in by 2050 and could create over 100,000 jobs. Over half – 60% - of that GDP boost would go to areas outside London and South-East. The exact cost of the runway is a matter for Heathrow, the Civil Aviation Authority and the airport’s customer airlines, and the Government has been clear that the scheme will be privately financed without Government support. Our clear expectation is that any associated surface transport costs will be financed from private funding.

With reference to the Independent report by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee entitled DPTAC position on the eligibility criteria for concessionary bus travel, published on 17 August 2022, whether she plans to carry out a review of the eligibility criteria for bus passes for disabled people.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and, while the Department keeps the scheme under review, any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the eligibility criteria, would need to be carefully considered for their impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled, Government launches rapid review to meet Environment Act targets, published on 30 July 2024, whether the rapid review of the Environment Improvement Plan was completed by the end of 2024; and what his planned timetable is to publish the new statutory plan.

The Government has concluded the review of Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) which is informing the development of a revised EIP. The Government will publish a statement of rapid review key findings in early 2025, to be followed by publication of a revised EIP.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he will publish the (a) interim and (b) final report from the Air Quality Information System Review.

The Air Quality Information System Review has now concluded. The final report and accompanying reports will be published shortly.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7788 on Air Pollution, if his Department will take steps to amend clean air targets to bring the UK in line with the European Union's Ambient Air Quality Directive.

The Government is committed to cleaning up our air and protecting the public from the harm of pollution. We recognise the importance of ambitious yet achievable air quality targets, supported by robust delivery plans, which is why the Government has launched a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to revise our plan for significantly improving the environment including for air quality.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 November 2024 to Question 14270 on Press: Regulation, what work her Department is undertaking on this issue; which other Departments have participated; and if she will publish the work completed to date.

DCMS works with a range of other Departments, including the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Home Office, to support a free, plural, and financially sustainable press sector. This includes work to develop a Local Media Strategy and to deliver the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists.We will update Parliament in the usual way on any policy developments in this area and work will be published as appropriate.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to involve communities and stakeholders in the development of a new Clean Air Strategy; and what his planned timetable is for completing the strategy.

The Government is committed to meeting current legal targets for air quality, including the targets recently set under the Environment Act 2021, and will review the policy measures needed to achieve them. The Government launched a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) to revise our plan for significantly improving the environment, including for air quality. The Government concluded the review of the EIP at the end of last year and published a statement of the rapid review’s key findings on 30 January 2025. We will continue to engage with stakeholders, communities and interested parties in meetings to develop a strategy to clean up our air and reduce emissions so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help secure the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

We are committed to securing Mr El-Fattah’s release so he can be reunited with his family and we continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi on 26 December 2024 and 8 January 2025. The Foreign Secretary and National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell raised this case with Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 12 January and 2 January respectively.

Whether there are any planned infrastructure projects at (a) HMNB Clyde and (b) RNAD Coulport that do not fall within the Clyde Infrastructure Programme.

Several infrastructure projects at His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde do not fall within the Clyde Infrastructure Programme, for instance routine base maintenance and Programme EUSTON, the delivery of resilient out of water engineering capability.

What the operating costs were for (a) HMNB Clyde and (b) RNAD Coulport for the most recent financial year.

I am unable to release this information due to operational sensitivities.

What the (a) name, (b) purpose, (c) expected in-service date and (d) forecasted cost to the public purse is for all infrastructure projects within the Clyde Infrastructure programme.

As part of the Government's Major Project Portfolio, details on the Clyde Infrastructure programme are routinely released as part of this Government's annual transparency return to Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the report by the New Economics Foundation entitled Building Hope: how land reforms

The government have made clear its intention to reform the compulsory purchase order process and land compensation rules to enable more effective land assembly that will speed-up and lower the costs of the delivery of housing and critical infrastructure i...

How many households (a) are eligible and (b) have received Cold Weather Payments in 2024, broken down by week.

(a) Table 1 shows the number of estimated eligible qualifiers across 2024. Table 1: Number of Estimated Eligible Recipients in England and Wales Season (1st November-31st March)Estimated Eligible Recipients (England and Wales)2023/243,921,0002024/254,116...

What funding he will provide for drug and alcohol treatment through (a) the Public Health grant and (b) other funding steams beyond March 2025; and if he will continue funding for the Supplementary

The Government supports investment in drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services to ensure that those people with a substance use need get the appropriate help and support. In addition to the Public Health Grant, the Department has allocated local a...

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help support grassroots music venues.

The Government response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's report on grassroots music venues outlines our commitment to working across the live music sector to support grassroots music.We urge the live music industry to introduce a voluntary tick...

What data she holds on the (a) age, (b) gender, (c) disability status and (d) other demographic make-up of users of micromobility services.

The term micromobility can be defined in different ways. For the purposes of this question, we have taken it to refer to rental e-scooters and cycles.DfT's Transport and Transport Technology Tracker survey is designed to be representative of the wider pop...

Media and Sport, if she will publish a response to the recommendations of the report by the Press Recognition Panel entitled Press Intrusion and Regulation, published on 28 August 2024.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not have policy responsibility for the Press Recognition Panel in order to ensure that there is no Government interference in its independent work.

Media and Sport, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to protect people affected by (a) discrimination, (b) inaccuracy and (c) intrusion in the press.

The Government currently has no plans to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the press.It is vital that the public have access to accurate and trustworthy information from a range of different media, and we are working across Government to con...

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral contribution of 4 September 2024 by the Prime Minister, Official Report, column 326, if she will take steps to require housing associations to publish

The Building Safety Act 2022 and associated regulations set out requirements for information that must be provided to residents in Higher-Risk Buildings - buildings which contain at least two residential units and are at least 18 metres in height, or have...

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8868 on Mistreatment of Detainees at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre Inquiry, whether she plans to publish a response to each of the recomm

The abuse that took place at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) in 2017 was unacceptable.Whilst there are no plans to publish a response to each recommendation raised by the inquiry, positive progress continues to be made against the 30 accepted...