Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to improve the operational readiness of the Type a) 45 Destroyer and b) 23 Frigate.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence keeps the readiness of its Destroyer and Frigate fleets under continual review to meet operational tasking.
For security reasons, we do not routinely disclose elements of the Fleet's schedule and readiness profiles.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to facilitate investment in defence infrastructure at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Ministers and officials regularly meet with Navantia UK to discuss a range of topics including Harland and Wolff shipyard.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his Department’s policy to take steps to strengthen planning regulations so that local authorities must take greater consideration of local architectural characteristics.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Exemplary development should be the norm not the exception so that more communities feel the benefits of new development and welcome it.
As we act to boost housing supply, we are also taking steps to improve the design and quality of the homes and neighbourhoods being built.
On 21 January 2026, we published new consolidated draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) for consultation which can be found on gov.uk here.
The draft PPG encourages local planning authorities to embed clear design visions in local plans and to use tools such as design codes, masterplans, and local guidance to respond to the distinct context of their areas, including architectural character.
The consultation closed on 12 March 2026. We are currently analysing feedback and will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to help ensure that new social housing is architecturally fitting to relevant localities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Exemplary development should be the norm not the exception so that more communities feel the benefits of new development and welcome it.
As we act to boost housing supply, we are also taking steps to improve the design and quality of the homes and neighbourhoods being built.
On 21 January 2026, we published new consolidated draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) for consultation which can be found on gov.uk here.
The draft PPG encourages local planning authorities to embed clear design visions in local plans and to use tools such as design codes, masterplans, and local guidance to respond to the distinct context of their areas, including architectural character.
The consultation closed on 12 March 2026. We are currently analysing feedback and will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to support local authority preparedness for extreme weather conditions in a) England and b) Romford constituency.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The preparation for, response to and recovery from extreme weather sits across a number of organisations, including the Cabinet Office, UK Health and Security Agency, and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) in England are tasked with coordinating local emergency preparedness for extreme weather events. Local Authorities are members of the Local Resilience Forum and work with all organisations within the Local Resilience Forum to ensure plans are in place for severe weather events to reduce and mitigate impacts upon local communities.
The UK Health Security Agency and Centre for Climate and Health Security last month published an updated toolkit to help local authorities prepare for heat risks.
MHCLG encourages Local Authorities to initiate the policies and procedures associated with the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol. MHCLG also shares relevant NHS guidance, alongside MHCLG’s Night Shelter Operating Principles, guidelines.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to extend the operational life of the remaining Type 23 Frigate Fleet.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Navy is carefully managing a surface fleet transition plan to ensure maximum availability maintained through the 2020s and into the next decade. We are replacing our ageing Type 23 Frigates with eight of the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare ships, the Type 26 Frigates. They will be bolstered by five general purpose Type 31 Frigates, providing opportunity to project power, support NATO operations and influence on the global stage.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to extend the operational life of the Type 45 Destroyer.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
All decisions on capabilities will be made in the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) which the Prime Minister is determined to publish before the NATO summit. The DIP will lay out the plan, leveraging Atlantic Shield under the Hybrid Navy construct to ensure the Royal Navy maintains warfighting readiness and is ready for future threats.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Royal Fleet Auxiliary has adequate support capacity pending the fulfilment of the Fleet Solid Support Ship Programme.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) continues to play a vital role in sustaining Royal Navy operations worldwide, and the Department remains committed to ensuring that sufficient support capacity is maintained ahead of the delivery of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships.
In the interim period, the Ministry of Defence has taken measures to mitigate any potential capability gap, including the careful management and sustainment of existing RFA replenishment vessels. In addition, the Royal Navy routinely works with allies and partners to provide mutual logistical support when operating in combined task groups, ensuring that deployed forces can be sustained effectively.
Work on RFA Resurgent is underway in yards across the UK.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to help improve low-cost counter-drone capabilities within the a) Army b) Royal Navy and c) Royal Airforce.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Low-cost counter drone capabilities are applicable across the Integrated Force, rather than single Services.
Ongoing capability development and innovation continues to ensure our systems are improved or complimented with new capabilities within a layered system to deal with the spectrum of threats.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 has taken to help improve water company preparedness for extreme weather conditions in a) England and b) Romford constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Water companies are Category Two Responders under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) and legally required to cooperate and share information with Category One Responders. Water companies are also required under the Security and Emergency Measures Direction 2022 to plan for a wide range of disruptive scenarios, including extreme weather. Companies are also incentivised under Ofwat’s performance targets regime to minimise supply interruptions.
Defra engages frequently with water companies on resilience planning, including in advance of forecasted extreme weather. Water companies also engage with their Local Resilience Forums. This includes Thames Water, Essex and Suffolk Water and the London Resilience Forum.