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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) local government reorganisation and (b) housing targets on (i) air quality, (ii) parks per capita, (iii) household waste volume, (iv) recycling rates, (v) greenhouse gas emissions and (vi) annual energy consumption in Gosport.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In regard to local government reorganisation, on the 5 February I invited unitary proposals from all two-tier councils and neighbouring unitaries including those councils in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton. It will be for local councils to consider the delivery of public services and potential impacts as they develop their proposals for reorganisation.

The invitations were clear that proposals should be supported by robust evidence and analysis and include an explanation of the outcomes it is expected to achieve. As set out in the published criteria, proposals should be for a sensible geography which will help to increase housing supply and meet local needs.

The government is clear all local planning authorities should continue work on local plans and get them in place as soon as possible. While the implications of local government reorganisation will be considered in light of the specific circumstances of any given area, local plans should still be progressed as they will act as the foundation for any new plans as required.

To inform this, local planning authorities are expected to use the government's revised standard method to assess housing needs. This is a starting point used by councils to inform the preparation of their local development plans.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework should be taken into account by local planning authorities when preparing their local plans. The Framework sets out strong policies to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote low-carbon energy use. It also provides strong protections for existing open space, including playing fields and formal play spaces. The revised National Planning Policy Framework should be read in conjunction with the government’s planning policy for waste.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans his Department has to ensure parliamentary oversight of reforms to the Universal Service Obligation.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Parliament has made Ofcom the independent regulator for the postal sector, and as such Ofcom has the responsibility to ensure the provision of the universal service obligation.

Ofcom proposed changes for reform of the universal service obligation in its consultation ending on 10 April. These proposals will not require ministerial or Parliamentary approval, but Ofcom remains accountable to Parliament and I am sure Ofcom will consider and balance all the inputs to its consultation to ensure Royal Mail is able to effectively serve all its customers in the years to come.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans his Department has to ensure that changes to Universal Service Obligation requirements create an (a) adequate and (b) effective postal service.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions. Ofcom has a duty to ensure the provision of the universal service obligation and will carefully consider all the inputs to its consultation to ensure Royal Mail is able to effectively serve all its customers in the years to come.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Universal Service Obligation reform on the affordability of postal services for consumers.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

It is the responsibility of Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to ensure that the universal postal service is affordable for customers as well as being efficient and financially sustainable.

In its consultation document proposing a package of reforms to better reflect people’s usage of postal services and support financial sustainability, Ofcom set out that it plans to consider options to ensure the continued affordability of USO services, including more targeted interventions than the current Second-Class safeguard cap.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill on the number of local authority funded adult social care beds.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government did consider the cost pressures facing adult social care as part of the wider consideration of local government spending within the Spending Review process in 2024. To enable local authorities to deliver key services such as adult social care, the Government is making available up to £3.7 billion of additional funding for social care authorities in 2025/26, which includes an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing regional Circular Economy Champions to support the Circular Economy Taskforce.

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

This Government recognises that delivering circular economy principles through local action is key for any Circular Economy Strategy. We believe it is crucial to listen to high-performing and high-ambition local, regional, and combined authorities, as well as private sector bodies, that are already, or could potentially develop and deliver, local circular economy initiatives.

As ambitious, impactful, and replicable examples which other local and combined authorities, and/or businesses could adopt, we are engaging with these organisations, together with the Circular Economy Taskforce, as we develop our Circular Economy Strategy for England.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what changes to legislation the Circular Economy Taskforce is considering to help increase the size of the repair and reuse economy.

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

This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened a Circular Economy Taskforce, comprising experts from industry, academia, and civil society, to help develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The strategy will map our transition to a circular economy, supported by a series of roadmaps that detail the interventions that the government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis.

Defra recognises that repair and reuse are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action, including legislative changes, right across the economy as we develop the strategy.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in local authority funded adult social care beds due to the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill on the number of delayed hospital discharges.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government has announced an additional £502 million of support for local authorities in England to manage the impact of the changes to employer National Insurance contributions announced at the Autumn Budget

To repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the necessary decision to increase employer National Insurance. A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the bill containing the changes to employer National Insurance contributions. The TIIN sets out the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for Care Quality Commission initial inspections for (a) GP practices, (b) dental practices and (c) care homes.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has introduced additional oversight measures to ensure significant improvements are made to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) operational performance.

CQC is aware of the issues providers have experienced with delays in processing registration applications and the reduction in the number of assessments it undertakes.

CQC is progressing four immediate actions and five foundational improvements, which includes clearing the backlog of registration applications and making improvements to its assessment approach to enable it to complete more, and better quality, assessments. These actions will ensure CQC is more efficient, and lead to a reduction in the time providers wait before they receive a first inspection and rating.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of waiting times for Care Quality Commission initial inspections for (a) GP practices, (b) dental practices and (c) care homes.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has introduced additional oversight measures to ensure significant improvements are made to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) operational performance.

CQC is aware of the issues providers have experienced with delays in processing registration applications and the reduction in the number of assessments it undertakes.

CQC is progressing four immediate actions and five foundational improvements, which includes clearing the backlog of registration applications and making improvements to its assessment approach to enable it to complete more, and better quality, assessments. These actions will ensure CQC is more efficient, and lead to a reduction in the time providers wait before they receive a first inspection and rating.

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Found: Carolyn Harris Tonia Antoniazzi Gill Furniss Catherine Fookes Elaine Stewart Cat Smith Dame Caroline Dinenage

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Found: Carolyn Harris Tonia Antoniazzi Gill Furniss Catherine Fookes Elaine Stewart Cat Smith Dame Caroline Dinenage

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Found: _NC2 Dame Caroline Dinenage Vikki Slade Tim Farron Mike Martin Ellie Chowns Freddie van Mierlo

Found: Carolyn Harris Tonia Antoniazzi Gill Furniss Catherine Fookes Elaine Stewart Cat Smith Dame Caroline Dinenage

Found: Carolyn Harris Tonia Antoniazzi Gill Furniss Catherine Fookes Elaine Stewart Cat Smith Dame Caroline Dinenage

Found: _NC2 Dame Caroline Dinenage Vikki Slade Tim Farron Mike Martin Ellie Chowns Freddie van Mierlo

Found: Carolyn Harris Tonia Antoniazzi Gill Furniss Catherine Fookes Elaine Stewart Cat Smith Dame Caroline Dinenage

Found: _NC2 Victoria Collins Sir John Whittingdale Pete Wishart Dame Caroline Dinenage .

Found: Carolyn Harris Tonia Antoniazzi Gill Furniss Catherine Fookes Elaine Stewart Cat Smith Dame Caroline Dinenage

Found: Carolyn Harris Tonia Antoniazzi Gill Furniss Catherine Fookes Elaine Stewart Cat Smith Dame Caroline Dinenage

Found: Carolyn Harris Tonia Antoniazzi Gill Furniss Catherine Fookes Elaine Stewart Cat Smith Dame Caroline Dinenage

Found: Carolyn Harris Tonia Antoniazzi Gill Furniss Catherine Fookes Elaine Stewart Cat Smith Dame Caroline Dinenage

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