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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2024 to Question 11941 on Community Ownership Fund, if she will publish details of options her Department is considering.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This Government is committed to community ownership, and through the English Devolution Bill will introduce a new Community Right to Buy, which will make it easier for communities to take on valued assets, such as empty shops, pubs and community spaces.

All future funding is subject to the Spending Review, launched by the Chancellor on 2 August 2024. The Government will use the Spending Review to change the way public services are delivered by embedding a mission-led approach, driving forward public service reform and making the best use of technology to better deliver services. The Spending Review will set spending plans for a minimum of three years of the five-year forecast period.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of improving the longevity of gas storage capacity.

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

The Government recognises the value in having natural gas storage facilities in place as a source of balancing system flexibility when demand for gas is high and allowing for the future storage of hydrogen. Energy security remains a key priority for this government. The Government will continue to work with storage operators, as well as the regulatory community, to explore options around the role storage can play in supporting future gas system resilience in a changing gas landscape.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of HM Inspectorate of Prisons' report entitled Separation of children in young offender institutions – review of progress, published on 1 October 2024.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Where there is a clear risk of harm, separation is used to prevent harm to the child or young person who is being separated, or to others. Separation should be a last resort when managing behaviour, but it can be critical to reducing the risk of harm in difficult situations.

The separation of children and young people is rightly an area for scrutiny. The Youth Custody Service (YCS) has clear oversight at a national level of every child and young person who is separated, including the length of time for which they have been separated, and their access to regime. It should be noted that there are some children and young people who are subject to separation who have elected not to associate with their peers.

The increase in use of separation should be seen in the context of the change over time in the level of risk. In 2023-24, on average, 68% of children and young people were in custody for offences of violence against the person, compared with 33% in 2015-16. In Young Offender Institutions (YOIs), approximately 40% of the population are on remand, which adds to high number of new admissions and consequent instability. Unlike other parts of the Children and Young People Secure Estate, YOIs are required to accept any child or young person placed with them.

Our YOIs are working hard to reduce the use of separation and non-association, which is often necessary to manage risk and safeguarding concerns. The YCS has taken a range of actions to improve use of separation in the youth estate, including providing additional resources to ensure effective management and to improve national and local oversight. It is working hard to improve regime and time-out-of-room for all children.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has prepared improvement action plans for rail franchises due to be brought back into public ownership.

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

There will be no immediate changes to the specifications of services at the point of transfer. All operators will continue to go through an annual planning process with the Department to agree plans for changes to service specifications, performance improvements and other deliverables.

Once transferred, publicly owned operators will be managed by DfT Operator. DfT Operator works closely with its train companies to drive forward improvements for passengers and rail employees through its reform initiatives and it will ensure that its operators continually find better ways to make rail accessible for all.

The Government will not tolerate poor performance and will continue to hold all operators to account, regardless of ownership.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on hostages in Gaza.

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

Securing an immediate ceasefire and the safe release of all hostages, including Emily Damari and three other hostages with strong UK links, remains the UK's top priority. We have continuously supported hostage talks, and continue to work alongside our allies and partners in the region, exercising every possible diplomatic lever to see the hostages immediately released. On 8 December, the Foreign Secretary spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa'ar, and stressed the importance of securing a ceasefire to enable the safe return of Emily Damari and the three other UK-linked hostages and see an end to the war in Gaza.

Import and sale of real fur

75th anniversary of National Parks

Certificate of Common Sponsorship

Found: Gibson (Liberal Democrat; Chippenham) Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat; South Cambridgeshire) Chris Hinchliff

Found: Toby Perkins (Chair); Julia Buckley; Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd; Sarah Gibson; Chris Hinchliff

Found: Chair); Julia Buckley; Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd; Sarah Gibson; Pippa Heylings; Chris Hinchliff

Found: Chair); Julia Buckley; Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd; Sarah Gibson; Pippa Heylings; Chris Hinchliff

Found: Chair); Julia Buckley; Ellie Chowns; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd; Sarah Gibson; Pippa Heylings; Chris Hinchliff

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.

The Environmental Audit Committee is undertaking an inquiry on governing the marine environment, which will focus on the UK's environmental obligations under marine treaties and how the UK is delivering on them, as well as the Government's strategy for marine planning and protection in its domestic waters.