My noble friend is absolutely right. Although gas accounts for only 30% or so of the market, at the moment it sets the price over 60% of the time with marginal cost pricing arrangements. It is right that we need to go faster and further. Indeed, today the Government have announced plans, among many other things, to ensure that the element of the renewable input into the system—on renewables obligations rather than fixed-price contracts for difference—can be moved over to that latter category as soon as possible, thereby bearing down on the amount of time that gas sets the price in the market.

Delivering lower bills and a secure energy supply for working families and businesses is at the heart of the Government’s sprint toward homegrown clean energy. Marginal cost pricing has historically incentivised the cheapest forms of energy to provide as much power as possible. That worked well when the competition was between fossil fuel producers, but less well when there are many cheaper bids from renewable sources for power supply but still the price can be set by more expensive and volatile gas. Accelerating the development of renewable generation, as we are now through clean power 2030, will progressively reduce to a residuum the amount of time that gas sets the price.

I am most grateful to my noble friend for his work in promoting the improvement of services for those with heart valve disease. I can say—it might be helpful—that we are driving down cardiology waiting lists. The number of people waiting over 52 weeks from referral to treatment was down 9% between the end of December 2025 and the end of January 2026. Yes, the modern service framework will accelerate this progress to reduce premature mortality and will set standards for the best evidence-based interventions.

My Lords, to accelerate the 10-year health plan ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% and to tackle unwarranted variation across the country, this year we will publish a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework. It will support consistent, high-quality and equitable care while fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway.

The Government collect data on procedures involving beagles rather than on individual animals. In 2024, beagles were used in 2,488 procedures, representing 0.2% of all experimental procedures, and a 30% decrease from 2023. The Government have a manifesto commitment to phase out animal use, and we published a strategy in November 2025 to meet our manifesto goals.

I know how strongly my noble friend feels on this issue. I cannot promise him a Bill on this matter, but I can promise him a replacement strategy, which includes specific targets for reducing the use of dogs and, particularly, reducing their use in cardiovascular safety studies by at least 50% by 2030. The Government are also funding the national centre dealing with this issue to develop new, non-animal methods aimed at replacing dogs in regulatory testing. I hope that my noble friend will support the manifesto commitment to phase out use as soon as possible.

It is the right time because the challenges that the police service faces on an international basis—from organised crime, from drugs, from international terrorism—are ones that need to drive forward this programme. The second really important thing is that it has the support of the police themselves, from the director-general of the National Crime Agency to the Chief Constables’ Council. Thirdly, it will happen because this Government have the political will to make it happen.

The Government will start work immediately to set up the new national police service and will legislate for it as soon as parliamentary time allows. It will first host national services such as IT and the National Police Air Service and later bring in national crime-fighting responsibilities. Work to establish the national police service is fully funded to the end of this Parliament.

NHS England commissions the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) to collect national data on all transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures.

NICOR currently reports aggregate TAVI mortality and does not disaggregate outcomes by clinical indication. However, over the past decade, TAVI mortality has significantly reduced with, for example, in-hospital mortality decreasing from approximately 3% to 4% in 2013/14 to 0.8% in 2022/23.

Aortic stenosis pathways continue to be reviewed to improve access and productivity. In August 2025, a new policy proposition proposal (PPP) for TAVI in aortic valve disease and bioprosthetic valve failure was submitted for further consideration. NHS England is currently reviewing this PPP in line with the national methods for clinical commissioning policy development.

A PPP has also been submitted for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for the treatment of severe tricuspid regurgitation in patients who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy, and is being considered in line with NHS England’s national policy methods.

NHS England routinely commissions transcatheter edge to edge (TEER) repair for primary/degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR). A clinical commissioning policy for TEER for secondary/functional MR has been developed and is awaiting consideration by the Clinical Priorities and Advisory Group.

NHS England commissions the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) to collect national data on all transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures.

NICOR currently reports aggregate TAVI mortality and does not disaggregate outcomes by clinical indication. However, over the past decade, TAVI mortality has significantly reduced with, for example, in-hospital mortality decreasing from approximately 3% to 4% in 2013/14 to 0.8% in 2022/23.

Aortic stenosis pathways continue to be reviewed to improve access and productivity. In August 2025, a new policy proposition proposal (PPP) for TAVI in aortic valve disease and bioprosthetic valve failure was submitted for further consideration. NHS England is currently reviewing this PPP in line with the national methods for clinical commissioning policy development.

A PPP has also been submitted for transcatheter edge-to-edge repair for the treatment of severe tricuspid regurgitation in patients who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy, and is being considered in line with NHS England’s national policy methods.

NHS England routinely commissions transcatheter edge to edge (TEER) repair for primary/degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR). A clinical commissioning policy for TEER for secondary/functional MR has been developed and is awaiting consideration by the Clinical Priorities and Advisory Group.

Obviously, the deployment of police resources is a matter of operational independence for the police, but my noble friend makes the important point that, whether it is a large business, a small business, an international business or a business located in a small rural area, they all deserve protection,

whether they are the workers or the business overall. The important point of principle is that we are proud of our defence industry and, whether they are small, medium or big businesses, we will support them.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

This Government is committed to making sure that our veterans have equitable access and opportunity to a full range of career options after leaving military service, including self-employment, SME (small & medium-sized enterprise) ownership and entrepreneurship.

The Government-owned British Business Bank has a specialist delivery partner, X-Forces Enterprise, for its Start Up Loans programme which specifically supports veterans, members of the wider Armed Forces community and their family members. Since 2013 there have been over 3000 Start Up Loans delivered by X-Forces Enterprise, totalling over £33 million of finance provided.

This Government is committed to making sure that our veterans and their families have equitable access and opportunity to a full range of career options after leaving military service, and to working with employers to make this vision a reality.

The recently announced Op PROSPER backed by £2.1 million in government funding will work closely with employers and industry bodies to establish new clear and accessible routes for veterans and their families into employment which makes the most of their skills and capabilities, in key industries at the forefront of innovation and economic growth.

We have also introduced and continued 12-month National Insurance relief for eligible employers recruiting veterans in their first civilian role after leaving military service, which is of benefit to all businesses and employers across the country.

This work is supported by the OVA-launched Employers Guide to Hiring Veterans which showcases innovation and best practice and the OVA-hosted Veteran Employers’ Group brings together leading employers from across the UK.

This Government is committed to making sure that our veterans and their families have equitable access and opportunity to a full range of career options after leaving military service, and to working with employers to make this vision a reality.

The recently announced Op PROSPER backed by £2.1 million in government funding will work closely with employers and industry bodies to establish new clear and accessible routes for veterans and their families into employment which makes the most of their skills and capabilities, in key industries at the forefront of innovation and economic growth.

We have also introduced and continued 12-month National Insurance relief for eligible employers recruiting veterans in their first civilian role after leaving military service, which is of benefit to all businesses and employers across the country.

This work is supported by the OVA-launched Employers Guide to Hiring Veterans which showcases innovation and best practice and the OVA-hosted Veteran Employers’ Group brings together leading employers from across the UK.

I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member on 20 May 2024. (UINs PQ26837-PQ26838-PQ26840).

I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member on 20 May 2024. (UINs PQ26837-PQ26838-PQ26840).

Due to the high volume of activity already in the pipeline, the Department does not currently have any plans to increase training on the UK Defence Training Estate with partners or allies (NATO or otherwise) within the next 12 months.

Due to the high volume of activity already in the pipeline, the Department does not currently have any plans to increase training on the UK Defence Training Estate with partners or allies (NATO or otherwise) within the next 12 months.

Further to question 18034, the Office of Veterans’ Affairs plans to launch the improvements by October.

Updated guidance on GOV.UK for veterans is underway, and will be updated iteratively as we work through the pages available.