Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press notice entitled Prime Minister unveils game changing investment to tackle national security threat from people smuggling gangs, published on 4 November 2024, whether the £75m funding announced for Border Security Command is in addition to the funding allocations set out in the Autumn Budget 2024.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Border Security Command is funded from within the Home Office’s Spending Review settlement, as announced at the Budget.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential of the Autumn Budget 2024 on the defence supply chain.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Autumn Budget settlement means the defence budget will grow in line with the economy.

The Department is committed to bringing forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy which will ensure national security and a high-growth economy. The strategy will deliver a better, more innovative and more resilient defence sector to boost capabilities in critical defence technologies.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 on UK R&D.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Chancellor on a range of issues. In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced that total HMG investment in R&D is rising to a record allocation of £20.4bn in 2025/26, with DSIT's R&D budget rising to £13.9bn, a real terms increase of 8.5%. This investment increases Core Research funding to at least £6.1bn, protecting funding for the UK's world leading research base in real terms, and fully funds the UK's association with Horizon Europe. Further details on how this funding will be allocated will be set out in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will require local authorities to refer planning decisions where the Environment Agency objects for a call in.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local planning authorities are currently required to refer certain planning applications where they are minded to grant planning permission. Such applications include proposals for major development in a flood risk area to which the Environment Agency has made an objection that it has not been able to withdraw. Full details are set out in the Town And Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2024.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the support available to pensioners (a) this winter and (b) in winter 2023/24.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

From 2024/25, Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales will be targeted to low-income pensioners. Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue to be worth £200 for households with someone aged 66-79, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged 80 or over.

Eligible pensioners in England and Wales will also receive Cold Weather Payments for each seven day period of very cold weather, and an annual rebate on their energy bill of £150, through the Warm Home Discount.

The powers to make winter heating assistance payments were devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 2016.

The Government is investing £421 million to extend the current Household Support Fund in England for six months, running from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. In addition, at the Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that £1 billion, including Barnett impact, will be invested to extend the Household Support Fund in England by a full year until 31 March 2026.

This Government remains absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. We are honouring our commitment to the Triple Lock with a 4.1% increase to the basic State Pension, the new State Pension, and to the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit. As such, according to the latest OBR projections, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,900 over the course of this parliament whilst the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,500.

In 2023/24, Winter Fuel Payments were universal for those of State Pension age. Pensioner households received a Winter Fuel Payment combined with a cost of living payment of £500 / £600 depending on age. Cold Weather Payments and rebates from the Warm Home Discount Scheme were also payable in 2023/24.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with Network Rail on accelerating the delivery of Access for All schemes.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Rail Minister has had several meetings with Network Rail about improving delivery of access for all and can report that 32 stations are due to complete this financial year, the most since the programme was launched in 2006.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that local planning authorities use the Environment Agency’s forthcoming NaFRA2 data.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

National planning policy and guidance expects flood risk assessments to consider all sources of flooding, and to take the most up-to-date information into account, which will include the Environment Agency’s forthcoming NaFRA2 data.

During the course of next year, the Environment Agency is expected to publish new national risk information for flooding and coastal erosion that will be used to inform these assessments.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a statutory duty for firefighters in England to respond to flooding.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Defra is the Lead Government Department for flooding, and they are responsible for the response to and prevention of flooding. Fire and Rescue Authorities have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) to prepare for emergencies, including major flooding. Fire Rescue Authorities also have discretionary powers to respond to incidents under their general powers in the Fire and Rescue Services Act (2004) and in response to the risks set out in their Community Risk Management Plans prepared under the National Framework.

The Home Office is undertaking further work alongside Defra, National Fire Chiefs Council and other relevant stakeholders to understand in more detail if there are gaps in the Fire and Rescue Services flooding response and resilience system.

Housing

Found: Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd; Sarah Gibson; Chris Hinchliff; Martin Rhodes; Blake Stephenson

Found: Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd; Sarah Gibson; Chris Hinchliff; Martin Rhodes; Blake Stephenson

Found: Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd; Sarah Gibson; Chris Hinchliff; Martin Rhodes; Blake Stephenson

Submit Evidence (by 20 Dec 2024)

The Environmental Audit Committee is seeking views on how the Government’s proposed reforms to national planning policy and housebuilding targets might affect environmental protections and current approaches to sustainable development.Read the terms of reference and find out how to submit written evidence through the Committee's evidence portal here.

No description available

The Environmental Audit Committee in the 2024 Parliament has revived the predecessor Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research’s inquiry into The UK and the Antarctic Environment.

Submit Evidence (by 13 Jan 2025)

The Environmental Audit Committee is undertaking an inquiry on flood resilience in England, focusing on how flood resilience can be strengthened in response to increasing risks from extreme weather, rising sea levels, and evolving flood hazards.