Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of taking steps to ensure that that fossil fuel companies fund the costs of climate recovery.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether an agreement has been made between her Department and Universal Destinations and Experiences on transport links for workers during the construction of the Universal Theme Park in Bedfordshire.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has not entered a specific agreement with Universal Destinations and Experiences (UDX) regarding transport links for construction workers. The Department is, however, working closely with UDX, Bedford Borough Council and other local partners to support the transport arrangements associated with the development. This includes ongoing consideration of how construction workers can access the site safely and efficiently through the construction phase, including by public transport and other sustainable travel options where appropriate.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with her US counterpart regarding New York and New Jersey’s investigations into ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the significant concerns that many supporters have raised about ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Decisions on ticket pricing are a matter for FIFA and the tournament organisers and the Secretary of State has had no discussion with her counterparts.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the progress of the roll out of Project Gigabit in a) Bedfordshire and b) the East of England.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Through a combination of commercial market and government subsidised delivery, government is ensuring 99% of UK premises will have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032.
Project Gigabit delivery across the East England region is primarily being taken forward through several Project Gigabit contracts, including those covering Suffolk, Norfolk and Bedfordshire, Northampton and Milton Keynes, alongside wider cross-regional interventions to reach remaining premises.
As a result of these Project Gigabit contracts, over 43,740 premises across the East England region have already received a gigabit-capable connection, with an additional 72,420 still expected to be given coverage. Across the county of Bedfordshire, over 5430 premises already have access to a gigabit-capable connection, with a further 1140 expected to receive a gigabit-capable connection via Project Gigabit contracts.
For the remaining premises which are not within the scope of suppliers’ commercial plans or existing Project Gigabit contracts, Building Digital UK (BDUK) is working to put in place further coverage solutions as soon as possible. A market engagement consultation for suppliers was published on 1 June to confirm supplier interest in relation to the premises that still need coverage in Bedfordshire and other areas of central, eastern and south-eastern England.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support biodiversity net gain policy to ensure market confidence and environmental integrity.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Government has recently announced reforms to Biodiversity Net Gain including actions to make it easier and cheaper for smaller developers to access the off-site market.
Government has also recently put in place the legal framework for mandatory BNG to apply to Nationally Significant Infrastructure projects (NSIPs) from November this year, providing a new source of demand.
Taken together, these new measures will support the off-site market and demonstrate this government’s commitment to BNG.
All registered biodiversity gain sites must be legally secured for at least 30 years providing confidence that biodiversity gains will be delivered.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the incidences of attacks on animals by use of airguns.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The possession and use of air weapons is subject to statutory controls and regulation to guard against misuse, including attacks on animals, and to ensure safe handling. The controls on air weapons sit alongside other legislation relating to deliberate attempts to kill, injure or inflict harm on wildlife, or to cause suffering to animals.
In England and Wales, higher powered air rifles can only be held lawfully on a firearm certificate and higher-powered air pistols are prohibited. Lower powered air weapons are subject to controls relating to possession and use. A guide to air weapons, published on gov.uk, explains these controls, including advice on safe handling, recognising that irresponsible or misuse of air weapons can result in serious injuries or death. The guide also explains the restrictions that apply to the shooting of air weapons where this can cause danger or injury to others, damage to property or injury or death wild animals, birds or pets.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of conflict involving Iran on UK farming and food security; and what steps she is taking to mitigate any such impact.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK has a resilient food supply chain. The Government is acting now to limit the impact of any disruption. This includes including cutting the duty on red diesel by a third, bringing it to its lowest rate in over 20 years, as well as extending the 5p freeze in fuel duty for the rest of the year. In addition, Government have reopened the Ensus CO2 production plant to secure CO2 supplies, and it is providing farmers with tools to boost the efficiency of their fertiliser use. Working people are also set to benefit from the Government’s cost of living support.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the England Tree Action Plan will include measures to promote tree equity.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government committed in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to publish a new Trees Action Plan for England in 2026. The Trees Action Plan is currently being developed. It will set out how the government will invest in tree planting and the forestry sector to achieve our 2030 interim tree canopy and woodland cover target, improve the resilience and condition of our trees and woodlands, and deliver multiple benefits for nature, climate, people and the economy.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help tackle graffiti vandalism.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Local authorities have powers to tackle graffiti vandalism, such as by issuing fixed penalty notices of up to £500. Councils also have powers to tackle any persistent or unreasonable behaviour that is having a negative effect on a community’s quality of life by issuing Community Protection Notices and Public Space Protection Orders.
Advisory guidance on managing graffiti for local authorities and businesses is available here. The guidance outlines the options available to local authorities and others for tackling these issues with examples of good practice.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to introduce (a) exemptions and (b) alternative arrangements for specialist steel products that are not manufactured in the UK under the UK steel trade safeguard measures from 1 July 2026.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The product scope of the measure is designed to only cover steel requirements that can be met in the UK. In some instances, this isn’t feasible for technical reasons and quotas have been set with the aim of allowing continued availability of these goods to UK downstream users without unnecessary additional costs. The measure will be reviewed after 12 months to ensure it remains effective.