Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to WPQ 107238 what the timeline is for her review of the Greening Government commitments.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are reviewing the Greening Government Commitments to ensure that they remain aligned with Government priorities, including on the use of AI. Departments are expected to continue to take action to reduce their impact on the environment.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with his Swiss counterpart on the assessment conducted by the (a) Swiss army and (b) Swiss Armed Forces of Palantir, including that company's safeguards for handling sensitive data.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
While no meetings have yet taken place with the Defence Secretary's Swiss counterpart, he recognises the significance of UK defence engagement with Switzerland. He hopes to arrange a meeting in the near future.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to The New Decent Homes Standard: policy statement, updated 28 January 2025, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on the potential impact of the 2035 implementation date for the New Decent Homes Standard on the wellbeing of children in accommodation not at a decent standard.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regularly engages with other government departments, including the Department for Education, in respect of policy development.
The wellbeing of children was a key consideration in the development of the new Decent Homes Standard (DHS). Its Impact Assessment, which can be found on gov.uk here, sets out the tenant impacts of implementing the updated DHS.
Prior to the implementation of the new DHS, landlords must continue to comply with the existing DHS and address non-decency wherever it exists.
The 2035 implementation deadline will give landlords the time they need to meet new duties, including those under Awaab’s Law, and will enable them to balance the cost implications of improving the quality of existing rented homes with the need to increase social and affordable housing supply given the importance of the latter to moving people, including many vulnerable children, out of unsuitable temporary accommodation. The implementation period is also consistent with the time social landlords were given to roll out the first iteration of the DHS.
The government encourages landlords to consider the benefits and feasibility of bringing properties up to the new DHS at the earliest opportunity. They should not delay all action until the end of the implementation period.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the the crude oil and diesel spill from the Piper Bravo Platform on 6 January 2026 on the marine environment.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The crude oil and diesel spills on the Piper Bravo Platform on 6th January 2026 were reported to the Health & Safety Executive in accordance with their hydrocarbon release reporting requirements. Both spills were contained on the installation with no spill to the marine environment.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposals in the Earned Settlement consultation on staffing levels in the adult social care sector; and whether social care roles will be included within the public service consideration which reduces the baseline qualifying period for earned settlement.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, announced changes to the mandatory requirements and qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. It is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.
As part of this consultation, we are seeking views on the potential impact of the proposed changes on different groups, including those working in sectors such as social care. Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following that consultation.
The final proposals will also be subject to full economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to Question 103540 answered on 13 January, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on potential impact of the extension of the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain on the Child Poverty Strategy.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
In developing the Child Poverty Strategy, the Child Poverty Taskforce considered all children across the UK, including migrant children and children in families subject to the No Recourse to Public Funds condition.
The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme will be finalised following that consultation.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has to (a) review and (b) update the Harbour, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
At present there are no plans to review or update the Harbour, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847. Whilst the Department for Transport continues to ensure that the UK’s maritime legislation is fit for purpose, there has been no pressing need identified to warrant parliamentary time to review this Act.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to provide support to public sector workers to access electric vehicles.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
It is for individual public sector employers to manage compensation and benefits for employees. The Government is supporting the uptake of electric vehicles through schemes such as salary sacrifice, and the £2 billion Electric Car Grant, which has supported over 50,000 drivers to choose an electric vehicle since July 2025.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support families who have experienced baby loss in Bristol Central constituency.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Both the North Bristol NHS Trust and the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust have dedicated maternity bereavement teams who provide support for families experiencing baby loss. This includes practical help with funeral arrangements, accessing financial support, and investigations, as well as ongoing emotional support, attending appointments, and supporting them when meeting and making memories with their baby.
Counselling or access to psychological support are available, and spiritual or religious support is provided by chaplaincy teams in collaboration with external religious leaders at the family's request. Support for families during subsequent pregnancy is also provided.
Local teams ensure all those experiencing early pregnancy loss are made aware of the resources available to them through partners and charities, many of whom they work with regularly, and will signpost families on to them where appropriate for ongoing support.
Asked by: Carla Denyer (Green Party - Bristol Central)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87556 on Academies: Electric Vehicles, if the findings of the cross-government review on public sector salary sacrifice schemes will be made publicly available.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Salary sacrifice rules governing the public sector are set out in section 1.5 of the Public sector pay and terms: guidance note: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d3596bded915d0d0f8d5565/190702_Public_sector_pay_and_terms.pdf