Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has had discussions with aviation industry stakeholders including (a) representatives of Heathrow Airport, (b) representatives of Aurora Group and (c) others representing the aviation industry on the Heathrow Airports National Policy Statement; and whether the Department has had discussions with civil society groups including charities or local groups representing residents.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department engages with a broad range of stakeholders on Heathrow expansion and will continue to do so. Ministers and officials engage with stakeholders including (but not limited to) potential scheme promoters, local authorities, transport bodies, community groups and environmental stakeholders.
The Government’s published Statement of Approach sets out the principles that apply during any such engagement to ensure that the development of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) review and any amended ANPS takes place transparently.
We expect to consult on any revisions to the ANPS this summer, providing an opportunity to further engage with stakeholders on the detail of any proposed amendments. Any amended ANPS will also be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking steps to evaluate the effectiveness of the Crisis and Resilience Fund at tackling furniture poverty that exists in areas such as North Hertfordshire.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department is planning to evaluate the Crisis and Resilience Fund across England, including the full range of discretionary support provided through the Fund, such as assistance with essential furniture and white goods. This evaluation is expected to launch by September 2026.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether guidance on furniture provision will encourage social landlords to offer furnished tenancies to low-income tenants.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
People living without essential furniture can access support through their local authority, including via the Household Support Fund until 31 March, and from April, the Crisis and Resilience Fund, to provide discretionary help with essential items such as furniture.
In 2025, the government consulted on proposals to reform the Decent Homes Standard for both the social and private rented sectors. As part of this, we sought views on how furniture provision could be addressed within best practice guidance.
Our response to the consultation was published in January 2026, confirming our commitment to issue guidance relating to furniture provision. The consultation response can be found on gov.uk here.
As we progress work in this area, my Department will continue to engage with a range of stakeholders including tenant organisations, charities and landlords who already provide essential items to tenants in need.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking a pilot of furnished tenancies as part of the creation of best practice guidance on furniture provision; and whether his Department will meet social landlords with existing furnished tenancy schemes to discuss potential advantages it could bring to the sector.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
People living without essential furniture can access support through their local authority, including via the Household Support Fund until 31 March, and from April, the Crisis and Resilience Fund, to provide discretionary help with essential items such as furniture.
In 2025, the government consulted on proposals to reform the Decent Homes Standard for both the social and private rented sectors. As part of this, we sought views on how furniture provision could be addressed within best practice guidance.
Our response to the consultation was published in January 2026, confirming our commitment to issue guidance relating to furniture provision. The consultation response can be found on gov.uk here.
As we progress work in this area, my Department will continue to engage with a range of stakeholders including tenant organisations, charities and landlords who already provide essential items to tenants in need.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department will meet bodies other than social landlords to discuss best practice guidance for furniture provision.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
People living without essential furniture can access support through their local authority, including via the Household Support Fund until 31 March, and from April, the Crisis and Resilience Fund, to provide discretionary help with essential items such as furniture.
In 2025, the government consulted on proposals to reform the Decent Homes Standard for both the social and private rented sectors. As part of this, we sought views on how furniture provision could be addressed within best practice guidance.
Our response to the consultation was published in January 2026, confirming our commitment to issue guidance relating to furniture provision. The consultation response can be found on gov.uk here.
As we progress work in this area, my Department will continue to engage with a range of stakeholders including tenant organisations, charities and landlords who already provide essential items to tenants in need.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has evaluated the effectiveness of the new Crisis and Resilience Fund at tackling furniture poverty in Cornwall.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Crisis and Resilience Fund launched in April 2026, and therefore no evaluation has taken place yet.
The Department is planning to evaluate the Crisis and Resilience Fund across England, including the full range of discretionary support provided through the Fund, such as assistance with essential furniture and white goods. This evaluation is expected to launch by September 2026.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to incorporate (a) ponds, (b) small lakes, (c) headwater streams and (d) other small waters into the Water Framework Directive as part of ongoing reforms to the regulatory framework for water.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We committed in the recently published Water White Paper to explore setting new ambitious targets for the water environment. As part of these explorations, we are considering a wide range of suggestions from stakeholders, including calls to monitor small water bodies and to set high ecological status objectives.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a High Ecological Status target for the highest-quality waterbodies in England, as part of upcoming reforms to Water Environment targets.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We committed in the recently published Water White Paper to explore setting new ambitious targets for the water environment. As part of these explorations, we are considering a wide range of suggestions from stakeholders, including calls to monitor small water bodies and to set high ecological status objectives.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that Environmental Land Management schemes include funding for (a) integrated, evidence-based management of predation pressure and (b) specialist farmer advisory support to improve the effectiveness of agri-environment measures for breeding wader recovery, including the Eurasian Curlew.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Support for specific species is primarily delivered via Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier where land managers can benefit from 1:1 advice and support from Natural England Advisers. In addition to the payments for the correct land management for Curlew, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier also includes capital grants for specialised predator fencing to protect nesting sites.
Asked by: Chris Hinchliff (Labour - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the England Tree Action Plan will review and improve the scope and effectiveness of Tree Preservation Orders.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government committed in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to publish a new Trees Action Plan for England in 2026. The Trees Action Plan will set out how the Government will invest in tree planting and the forestry sector to achieve our 2030 interim tree canopy and woodland cover target, improve the resilience and condition of our trees and woodlands, and deliver multiple benefits for nature, climate, people and the economy.