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Written Question
National Landscapes: Regulation
Friday 6th June 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to implement the recommendations of the report entitled Delivering economic growth and nature recovery: an independent review of Defra’s regulatory landscape, published on 2 April 2025.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has welcomed the publication of Dan Corry’s review of Defra’s regulatory landscape and confirmed that it is actively considering all 29 recommendations. The Government also confirmed that work is already underway on nine key measures with the greatest impact for growth and nature recovery, which are being fast-tracked.


Written Question
Gibraltar: Politics and Government
Friday 6th June 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25787 on Spain: Foreign Relations, whether the Minister discussed the future of Gibraltar during his visit to Madrid on 17 January 2025.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

My meetings with Spanish Foreign Minister Albares and State Secretary for the EU Fernando Sampedro were focussed on the UK's relationship with Spain. We also discussed the progress of the UK-EU negotiations in respect of Gibraltar's future relationship with the EU. We agreed on the importance of reaching an agreement as soon as possible. The UK Government is steadfast in its support for Gibraltar and will only conclude an agreement that protects sovereignty, UK military autonomy, and prosperity. We are working closely alongside the Government of Gibraltar and will only agree to terms with which the Government of Gibraltar is content.


Written Question
Culture and Tourism: Beer and Public Houses
Friday 6th June 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the beer and pub sector on UK culture and tourism.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Pub and beer sector hold a special place in British culture, as well as being a core attraction for tourists and local people alike. They are an essential part of the visitor economy and found in every single community across England. They are a place for social gatherings, entertainment, food and drink as well as overnight accommodation.

According to research published by The British Beer and Pub Association when asked about their go-to spots during UK holidays, 6 in 10 respondents said they visit pubs, placing them just behind restaurants (73%) and on par with historic landmarks (63%).

The Government remains dedicated to ongoing collaboration with the DBT who oversees policy for hospitality to ensure stakeholder views are represented. This commitment will help ensure the UK has an attractive and competitive hospitality offer for both domestic and international visitors.


Written Question
Energy Supply: Carbon Emissions
Friday 6th June 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of making the power grid net zero by 2030 on jobs.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government’s initial assessment of the challenges of building the skilled workforce to deliver the Clean Energy Superpower Mission has been outlined in the Clean Power Action Plan. The Plan includes an Evidence Annex which provides a basis for government to better understand the 2030 workforce requirements and support targeted skills planning. DESNZ will publish our Clean Energy Workforce Strategy this summer. It will set out how we intend to grow and support the talent pipeline for Clean Power 2030 and net zero by 2050.

The wider transition to net zero is expected to support hundreds of thousands of jobs, with Clean Power 2030 playing a key part in stimulating a wealth of new jobs and economic opportunities across the country.


Written Question
Flood Control: Owner Occupation
Friday 6th June 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's guidance, new national flood and coastal erosion risk information, published on 25 March 2025, if he will write to home owners now classified as being in flood zone (a) 2 and (b) 3.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) provides a free service which allows homeowners to check and understand the flood risk around their properties and the actions they can do to reduce their risk. The EA also shares updated information about the risk of flooding at community engagement events.


Written Question
Argentina: Foreign Relations
Friday 6th June 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 25786 on Argentina: Foreign Relations, whether he discussed the future of the Falkland Islands in those conversations.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary reiterated the UK's longstanding position on Falkland Islands sovereignty. While the UK recognises that a constructive relationship with Argentina is in our shared best interests, our commitment to defending the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination will not waiver. Only the Falkland Islanders can and should decide their own future.


Written Question
Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
Friday 6th June 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support efforts to scale up the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

On 19 May, the UK issued a joint statement calling for full aid resumption and for Israel to allow United Nations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) partners to operate independently. We will continue to convene international partners to increase pressure and take further steps to address the catastrophic situation on the ground. As I stated on 4 June, we are appalled by repeated mass casualty incidents at aid sites. No one should risk death or injury to feed their family. The UK will not support any mechanism that endangers civilians or politicises aid. We have committed £101 million this financial year in humanitarian support to trusted partners including UN agencies and NGOs.


Written Question
Electricity: Infrastructure
Friday 6th June 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure the resilience of the electricity grid, in the context of fluctuating levels of power within the grid.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Great Britain has a highly resilient energy network with diverse sources of supply and maintaining the security of electricity supply is a key priority for Government.

We are working with the energy industry, regulators and other stakeholders to continually improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure. We work to reduce the vulnerability of networks and assets, taking into account a range of threats and future system changes.

The National Energy System Operator has well-established tools to balance the system in a wide range of scenarios, including in the event of voltage and frequency fluctuations.


Written Question
Energy Supply: Carbon Emissions
Friday 6th June 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate he has made of the potential impact of making the power grid net zero by 2030 on energy bills.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Our clean power target means transitioning to an electricity system that produces at least 95% of Great Britain’s generation from clean sources.

NESO's analysis confirmed delivering clean power by 2030 is deliverable, more secure, and could see a lower cost of electricity, and lower bills. The Department accepts NESO's modelling that clean power by 2030 can be delivered without increasing costs to consumers, with scope for lower bills.

Over this Parliament the government will be working relentlessly to translate the much cheaper wholesale costs of clean power into lower bills for consumers.


Written Question
Churches: Heating
Friday 6th June 2025

Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, if she will hold discussions with the Church of England on the potential merits of heating church buildings with boilers that are compatible with hydrated vegetable oil.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

The National Church Institutions, Cathedral and Church Buildings Department does not recommend that parish churches use hydrated vegetable oil for heating. They have issued the following advice available here: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/hydrogen-and-hydrotreated-vegetable-oils

All the Parochial Church Councils across England have been encouraged to undertake an energy audit as part of the commitment of the Church of England to reach net zero by 2030. The audit should be conducted on a church-by-church basis to identify the best local heating, insulation, and lighting solutions.

An energy audit enables informed decisions to find the most suitable technology to replace boilers, heating, lighting and insulation. It also allows the parish church to apply for grants from the National Church Institutions, which may be able to help a parish install new technology, equipment and materials to make their buildings more efficient to operate.

Details of the grants can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/net-zero-carbon-church/short-guide-grants-and-projects-help-your-church-get