Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe complies with UK law, following its decision to retire physical media on its gaming systems.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Department keeps the consumer protection framework under review to ensure that it is effective in protecting consumers but has not made a specific assessment of the potential impact on high street retailers of Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe's decision to retire physical media on its gaming systems.
This is a commercial decision for Sony to make. Consumers are encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions to businesses directly. This encourages businesses to adapt and compete fairly based on demand.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on high street retailers of Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe's decision to retire physical media on its gaming systems.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Department keeps the consumer protection framework under review to ensure that it is effective in protecting consumers but has not made a specific assessment of the potential impact on high street retailers of Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe's decision to retire physical media on its gaming systems.
This is a commercial decision for Sony to make. Consumers are encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions to businesses directly. This encourages businesses to adapt and compete fairly based on demand.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that transport infrastructure is delivered in conjunction with major developments such as new housing and renewable energy projects.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals, using a vision-led approach to identify transport solutions that deliver well-designed, sustainable and popular places. This should involve understanding and addressing the potential impacts of development on transport networks, and realising opportunities from existing or proposed transport infrastructure, and changing transport technology and usage – for example in relation to the scale, location or density of development that can be accommodated.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to sustainable transport and updated policy on the vision-led approach to planning for transport. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure water companies are consulted on planning applications.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Water companies are not statutory consultees on individual planning applications, but they are consulted as part of the preparation of local development plans. The government has no plans to change these arrangements.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce congestion on local roads in rural areas resulting from major planning developments.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
It is for local planning authorities, in consultation with the relevant highways and transport authorities, to assess the impact of major development on the local road network. Where necessary, they can seek to mitigate those impacts through local transport improvements secured by planning conditions or developer contributions.
The National Planning Policy Framework already requires local planning authorities and developers to consider transport issues from the earliest stages of plan-making and when developing proposals. It promotes a vision-led approach to identifying transport solutions that support well-designed, sustainable and popular places.