On 16 July, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that Dartmoor ponies would be removed from stocking rate calculations in new Environmental Management agreements on Dartmoor, so that farmers do not face a choice between keeping ponies and maintaining sheep or cattle. This implements recommendation 27 of the 2023 Fursdon Review, an independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor. A new dedicated pony supplement will be introduced into farming schemes to remove any financial incentive to reduce pony populations.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 of June 2026 to Question 9431.

Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK, through their Connected Nations reports and the coverage maps available in the ‘Map Your Mobile’ tool. Through the Connected Nation's reports, data is provided on a constituency and local authority level, and through the Map Your Mobile tool, individuals across Devon can determine which operator provides the best level of coverage in their area.

Government recognises that there remain discrepancies in some cases between individual experience and the level of coverage that Ofcom reports should be available.

‘Map Your Mobile’, launched in June 2025, includes crowdsourced data on network performance, opposed to coverage alone to help be more reflective of individual experience. Whilst this was a positive step, we continue to work closely with Ofcom on this issue.

The Government has also restated the importance of continuing to improve the reporting of mobile coverage in the Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum and postal services, designated on 27 April 2026. This includes building on the Map Your Mobile tool, exploring further use of measured and crowdsourced data, and keeping under review definitions of “good” 4G and 5G to ensure they reflect evolving consumer and business expectations.

Decisions on the location of mobile masts are a matter for local planning authorities, who determine planning applications and, where relevant, prior approval applications on matters such as siting and appearance. This provides an opportunity for representations to be made to the local planning authority and that they are able to take local considerations into account alongside the need for mobile infrastructure.

The Government acknowledges industry views that current planning rules can slow the deployment of digital infrastructure. In response, we launched a joint call for evidence with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on proposals to explore whether reforming planning rules for digital infrastructure could support deployment. The government is now considering the responses and will set out next steps in due course.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030; this is commercially led and it is for network operators to define infrastructure deployment plans that align with this.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to high quality standalone 5G by 2030. This includes rural and coastal communities across the UK. The rollout is commercially led by the network operators with all three operators having committed to significant investment plans which align with this Government’s ambition.

Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review with the aim of better understanding how Government can go further in supporting the sector to invest in widespread, high-quality connectivity, as well as continuing efforts to identify and remove barriers to telecoms deployment.

4G connectivity remains important for many and with the help of Government’s Shared Rural Network programme, 4G coverage is now available to over 96% of UK landmass. The programme continues to support the delivery of 4G connectivity improvements to some of the hardest to reach areas of the UK, including South Devon, where a Government-funded SRN mast has been upgraded and activated to provide additional 4G coverage in the Newton Abbot area.

The Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess major developments in the sector and how these impact investment in high-quality connectivity. A Call for Evidence supporting the review closed on 5 May and sought detailed input from stakeholders on whether the regulatory framework is equipped to support future investment, innovation and competition in mobile networks. We have engaged with stakeholders, including the mobile industry, throughout the review process and are assessing the responses received. We will provide an update on our findings and next steps later this year.

No assessment has been made of the comparative adequacy of mobile mast density in the UK against other European countries. It would be difficult to compare these across markets in a meaningful way as the mast density will be dependent on factors including market structure, topology, reusability and sharing of infrastructure, as well as spectrum availability.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030; this is commercially led and it is for network operators to define infrastructure deployment plans to deliver this ambition. Network operators have committed significant investment that align with Government’s ambition and already made significant progress with Ofcom reporting that as of January 2026, standalone 5G is available outside of 93% of premises across the UK from at least one operator.

As part of the Government’s Mobile Market Review call for evidence, we asked how Government should think about, and define, ‘good’ mobile coverage in relation to quality of service provided to consumers, businesses and the public sector. We also asked what steps Government could take to ensure operators are able to provide this.

The call for evidence closed on 5 May; we are now reviewing responses and determining appropriate policy options with a view to setting out next steps later this year.

Whilst not a legal definition, Ofcom recently proposed a good performance standard for consumers for discussion in their ‘Connectivity you can count on’ discussion paper, published 3^rd June 2026; this can be found at the following link

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/mobile-connectivity-you-can-count-on

The Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess the technological, structural and financial factors impacting investment in networks and what further action the Government can take to support the sector to invest in high-quality connectivity across the UK into the long term. Our Call for Evidence closed on 5 May 2026. We are now carefully assessing the detailed responses received and will provide an update on our findings and next steps later this year.

The social prescribing service is a vital part of the shift from hospital to community, and from sickness to prevention. We are funding social prescribing link workers in primary care to connect patients with preventive community support, and we are granting £3 million to the National Academy for Social Prescribing to support staff training and local infrastructure. Social prescribing will also be at the heart of our neighbourhood health service, so that community-led care can really transform lives.

This Government inherited a justice system in crisis, with a backlog of eighty thousand criminal cases in the Crown court.

That is why we are investing over two and a half billion pounds in our courts. This will fund unlimited sitting days, boost legal aid, and ultimately speed up justice for victims.

The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.

Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.

In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.

AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).

Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.

The Scotland Office uses the information technology system provided and operated by the Cabinet Office, which has responsibility for all hardware and software procurement, administration, support maintenance, security, and integrity of the system. This includes artificial intelligence services and tools.

The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.

Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.

In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.

AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).

Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.

The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.

Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, Departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.

In line with public procurement transparency requirements, Departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.

AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).

Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.

The Ministry of Justice uses a range of AI-powered tools and services to support frontline operations and general staff productivity, providing capabilities such as transcription and summarisation, semantic search, and data analytics. All our procured AI tools have associated cross government commercial agreements or direct agreements with vendors such as Microsoft, OpenAI and Amazon Web Services.

The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.

Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.

In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service. GPC card may be used for localised trials of AI products to a small, controlled group of internal technical users. This spend is tightly governed and details published externally in accordance with GPC spend guidelines.

AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes.

Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).

Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.

Microsoft 365 Copilot is procured through existing cross‑government commercial arrangements and is used to support productivity, improve access to information, and enhance the efficiency of day-to-day business operations.

The Department has established governance and assurance processes to ensure the safe, proportionate and responsible use of AI, including guidance for staff, and oversight of how tools are applied in practice.

In specialist Digital and Data Science teams the use of Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude and OpenAI GPT models is also permitted for small, controlled groups of technical users using non-contractual purchase methods. This spend is tightly governed and details published externally as appropriate.

The £18m Playgrounds Fund is a targeted programme to improve children’s access to safe, inclusive, high‑quality local play spaces in communities where it has fallen furthest behind. This investment in playgrounds reflects the Government’s commitment to give children the best start in life. At this stage, we have no current plans to expand the Playgrounds Fund to additional local authorities.

The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public. The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) provides officials, Ministers and special advisers with access to a secure, enterprise-grade generative AI tool that has been assured to the appropriate security standards and approved for official use.

Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.

In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.

AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).

Departments remain responsible in all cases for ensuring compliance with procurement legislation, securing value for money, and publishing relevant contractual information in line with transparency requirements.

As set out in the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published on 12 June, the Government is projected to invest £4.5 billion up to 2030 for active travel. This includes £1.1 billion of funding for Active Travel England, of which £760 million will be provided to local authorities to help them deliver local walking, wheeling and cycling schemes, including to support active travel for business use and for commuting.

ATE is additionally providing £3.1 million to the Modeshift Sustainable Travel Accreditation and Recognition Scheme (STARS) programme up to 2028/29, which also supports travel planning for businesses.

School closure information is available via the register of schools, which is accessible at: https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.

The latest school census data, as at June 2026, reveals pupil numbers remain firmly within historical patterns seen for over the last 20 years. Further information is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2025-26.