I thank the hon. Lady for that question, but I am surprised that she did not welcome the recent news that the UK was the first country in the G20 to halve its emissions since the 1990s, as I know that subject is dear to her heart. As I have said, in 2023, the UK saw around £60 billion of low-carbon private and public investment. We got that extraordinary success

by encouraging private investment. Whether through the contracts for difference scheme, our new policies on capital allowances, or the effect of the green industries growth accelerator on the supply chain, the UK is doing everything it can to attract investment, and that is exactly why we have made those achievements.

Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) provided initial details on the COVID-19 technology access pool (C-TAP) in October 2020, the UK has, and will continue to engage extensively with all interested parties. We are in ongoing, constructive discussions with the WHO as it refines both governance structures and the operating model for C-TAP.

The date of implementation of the new policy will be determined following the consultation that was launched on the same day. During the consultation period and ahead of the implementation of the new policy, the government will continue to apply current policy for all in-scope activities including proposals for high carbon projects, taking into consideration relevant factors including climate change. During this period, UK Export Finance (UKEF) will apply government’s current policy and continue to consider applications for support in the oil and gas sector.

On 27 March 2020, NHS England published a clinical guide for the management of palliative care in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance highlights the importance of supporting those close to a dying patient to keep in touch, including the ability to connect via phone or other virtual communication.

Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0081-Speciality-guide-Palliative-care-and-coronavirus.pdf

With regard to patients’ ability to access technology to communicate with their families, whilst in hospital, on 9 April, the Government launched an initiative whereby the National Health Service is working with tech firms to help care home residents and patients connect with loved ones. Fifty of the devices have already been deployed to pilot sites in Surrey with Manchester, Newcastle and London to follow.

Further information is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-works-with-tech-firms-to-help-care-home-residents-and-patients-connect-with-loved-ones

The Government published “The UK’s Points-Based System: Policy Statement” on 19 February.

Following advice from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) the Government will reduce the general salary and skills thresholds for those who wish to come to the UK to work. There will also be an element of “tradeable” points which will mean those who do not meet the general salary threshold may still be able to enter the UK if, for example, they have a job in a shortage occupation.

We recognise these proposals represent significant change for employers in the UK. We will deliver a comprehensive programme of communication and engagement in the coming months to ensure those affected understand the way our new system will work.

In delivering on its manifesto commitments for a new points-based system, the Government has considered relevant views, evidence, and analysis. We will also keep labour market data under careful scrutiny.

The Department commissioned four independent separate systematic reviews of all relevant literature on the diagnosis, treatment, transmission and prevention of Lyme disease.

The four systematic reviews were completed and published in December 2017 which assessed the existing evidence. The Department is aware of the findings which are available to the public, the research community and all research funders.

We are investing over £1 billion a year in health research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research on Lyme disease including those that reflect the conclusions of the systematic reviews as part of its regular processes. All applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

DECC recognises the importance of considering the whole system impacts (both costs and benefits) of different electricity technologies when formulating future government policy, since it is a crucial element in delivering secure, clean and affordable energy to consumers.

In order to continue to improve its evidence base in this area and inform future policy developments, DECC has commissioned a project on the Whole System Impacts of Electricity Generation Technologies on the electricity system. This project will improve DECC’s understanding of what these system costs are (for example, the impact of electricity technologies on wider system balancing actions and networks requirements), as well as improve DECC’s modelling capability to quantify these system costs and their dynamics. The project covers both conventional and low-carbon large- and small-scale technologies.

This project is currently ongoing and given the complex modelling involved, it requires a rigorous quality assurance process to ensure the analysis is robust. A report will be published in due course.

Once this project is completed, DECC will be able to better quantify system costs to inform policy decisions. Any future policy development, such as future renewable support, will be informed by the improved evidence base developed through this project.

The Department's announcement of 26 March 2013 of £31 million of funding was for new nuclear technology only.

The Government expects to invest in excess of £800 million in this spending review period directly to support a broad portfolio of innovative low carbon technologies, including renewables.

The 2011 Renewable Energy Roadmap updated in December 2012 sets out the Government’s approach to supporting the development of key renewable energy technologies, including encouraging a UK-based supply chain.

Offshore wind is one of 10 sectors across the economy that is considered of strategic importance to the UK economy and BIS is leading work to develop an industrial strategy for offshore wind which will set out the economic benefits from improving the UK’s supply chain capabilities.

On behalf of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) appointed Energy

Strategy Fellow, Professor Jim Skea, to develop a new roadmap of research, skills and training needs across the entire energy landscape. The roadmap will provide the evidence base for the RCUK Energy Programme to plan its long-term research activities and investments.

The Government also completed a review of the low carbon innovation landscape in 2011 which focused on enhancing the delivery of publicly funded innovation support for low carbon innovation technologies. A copy of the review is available in the Libraries of the House.

The Government and its key partners in the Low Carbon Innovation Coordination Group (LCICG) have developed Technology Innovation Needs Assessments (TINAs) to inform the prioritisation of public sector investment in low carbon innovation. The aims of TINAs are to identify and value the key technology innovation needs that deliver the greatest benefit to the UK. Building on the TINAs, the LCICG is currently working with industry to develop a strategy for low carbon innovation. This will set out a shared LCICG vision of its members' aims, principles, approach and priorities within technology families for public investment between now and 2020. The intention is for this strategy to be published in autumn 2013.

In 2011 the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published a Renewable Energy Roadmap that sets out how we are going to reach our goal of generating 15% of our energy use from renewable by 2020. The Roadmap focused on seven key technologies, including offshore wind, marine energy and biomass heat, with a further update to add solar photovoltaics in December 2012. Deployment of these and other renewable technologies could bring significant investment and jobs to the UK. Between 1 April 2011 and 31 July 2012, DECC collated renewable industry announcements totalling around £12.7 billion confirmed and planned investments, with the potential to support of around 22,800 jobs.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) appointed Professor Jim Skea as a Strategy Fellow for the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme in May 2012. Professor Skea will develop a new roadmap of research, skills and training needs across the entire energy landscape to meet the UK 2050 climate change targets.

The roadmap will be developed over five years and updated annually in light of new technological developments and policy change. During this time the Fellow will consult with stakeholders in the research community, government bodies including DECC and the private sector to map out systems of energy innovation for a range of countries and technologies. The Energy Technologies Institute will also provide support and industrial expertise for the development of the roadmap documents. The roadmap will provide the evidence base for the RCUK Energy Programme to plan its long-term research activities and investments.

HMRC cannot comment on individual cases. HMRC considers all credible information it receives and takes action accordingly. HMRC places a high priority on enforcing UK strategic export controls.

HMRC cannot comment on individual cases. HMRC considers all credible information it receives and takes action accordingly.