Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to amend the biodiversity net gain rules on small sites being potentially developed by SME builders.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As is the case with any new policy, we are collecting information and evidence about the implementation of mandatory biodiversity net gain, including for small sites. Government is committed to working closely with the sector to make Biodiversity Net Gain work effectively and implement solutions to unlock new homes without weakening environmental protections.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on how they can ensure the enforcement of the golden rules around the development on green belt sites, particularly with regard to the provision of appropriate infrastructure.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework sets clear expectations on when development should comply with the Golden Rules.
Ahead of further updates, the relevant planning practice guidance on viability also makes clear that, where development takes place on land situated in, or released from, the Green Belt and is subject to the Golden Rules, site-specific viability assessment should not be undertaken or taken into account for the purpose of reducing developer contributions, including affordable housing and appropriate infrastructure.
As set out in the Framework and supporting guidance, local authorities should, where appropriate, consider the use of conditions or planning obligations. Authorities may take enforcement action against the breach of planning obligations contained in a section 106 agreement. Through our wider reforms to planning fees, including the relevant provisions in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, local planning authorities will be better resourced to deliver their responsibilities, including enforcement activities where relevant.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure there is full consultation with established knife manufacturers and distributors before rules are changed about the design of kitchen knives that can be sold online.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
We will certainly engage with knife manufacturers and distributors as part of these considerations.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of outsourcing the licensing of the operation of the professional basketball league on the (a) investments and (b) financial viability of professional basketball clubs in the UK; and if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the British Basketball Federation's governance model.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The licensing of the operation of the professional basketball league is a matter for the British Basketball Federation (British Basketball), the National Governing Body responsible for basketball in Great Britain. The licensing of the operation of the professional basketball league is an ongoing commercial matter for the British Basketball Federation.
The revised Code for Sports Governance sets out the levels of transparency, diversity and inclusion, accountability and integrity that are required from sporting governing bodies, including the British Basketball Federation, in receipt of DCMS and National Lottery funding from UK Sport and/or Sport England (DCMS’ arm’s length bodies). Performance against those factors is kept under review.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce new regulations to clarify the legal use of (a) ebikes and (b) escooters.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The law on the use of e-cycles and e-scooters is clear. E-cycles can legally be used in the same way as a regular pedal cycle providing the user is aged 14 or over, and providing the cycle meets in full the requirements set out in the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 (as amended). There is ample guidance on gov.uk on this matter. In short, the requirements state that the cycle must be fitted with pedals that can propel it; must have a maximum continuous rated power output of no greater than 250 Watts; and that the motor must stop providing assistance at 15.5 miles per hour. Any electric cycle that does not meet the EAPC regulations is classed as a motorcycle or moped and needs to be approved, registered, insured, and taxed as a motor vehicle; and riders will also need an appropriate driving licence to ride one and must wear an approved motorcycle safety helmet.
It is currently illegal to use private e-scooters on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, and rental e-scooters can only be used as part of the Government’s rental e-scooter trials. The Government recognises the need to address public concern about the regulation of e-scooters and is considering next steps. It will consult on any new proposed regulations before they come into force.
Enforcement of the rules for e-cycles and e-scooters is a matter for the police.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the average length of motorway (a) maintenance and (b) improvement contracts in terms of (i) duration and (ii) distance covered has changed in the last 10 years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For maintenance activities, National Highways operates long-term Maintenance & Response (M&R) contracts, typically spanning 8–15 years. These contracts handle tens of thousands of interventions across the Strategic Road Network annually. Currently, there are 10 M&R contracts, each covering approximately the same road network length as 10 years ago. However, on average, the contract durations have slightly increased compared to their previous iterations. To minimise the impact on customers, National Highways ensures that individual maintenance activities are carefully planned, with most works conducted overnight and designed to have minimal disruption.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the impact of time delays on road users is taken into account when determining the length of motorway (a) maintenance and (b) improvement contracts.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
For maintenance activities, National Highways operates long-term Maintenance & Response (M&R) contracts, typically spanning 8–15 years. These contracts handle tens of thousands of interventions across the Strategic Road Network annually. Currently, there are 10 M&R contracts, each covering approximately the same road network length as 10 years ago. However, on average, the contract durations have slightly increased compared to their previous iterations. To minimise the impact on customers, National Highways ensures that individual maintenance activities are carefully planned, with most works conducted overnight and designed to have minimal disruption.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many miles of the M1 motorway between Junction 34 and Junction 1 had speed restrictions as a result of roadworks as of 1 January in each year between 2015 and 2025.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Unfortunately, the information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost as the department does not hold this information.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention in response to the question from the hon. Member for Sheffield South East of 29 July 2024, Official Report, Column 1028, what progress her Department has made on tackling antisocial road users.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.
On 27 November 2024, the Government announced proposals to give the police greater powers to clamp down on e-bikes, e-scooters and other vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing vehicles.
This will allow the police to quickly remove anti-social vehicles which are creating a nuisance or disturbance in city centres and pedestrian areas. These powers will be included in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the responsibilities of (a) unitary councils and (b) mayors will be for the delivery of the affordable homes programme.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the multi-year Spending Review later this year. This will support local authorities as well as housing associations to build their capacity and make a greater contribution to affordable housing supply.
We are considering how all local authorities with housing responsibilities, including unitary authorities, will interact with our new investment for social and affordable housing and we will announce further details at the Spending Review.
The Devolution White Paper set out that mayors will be given the ability to set the strategic direction of any future affordable housing in their area. Further details will be set out as part of any future programme design.