Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department provides to those veterans’ organisations that fell outside the scope of VALOUR Development Funding.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

In March, the government announced the first 14 lead organisations under VALOUR, which is currently operating 21 VALOUR Recognised Centres (VRC), backed by over £13 million of government funding. The centres span the whole of the country, including centres in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and across England.

A second round for organisations and consortia to bid for funding closed in August, I will make a final decision on which organisations have been successful, and the results will be announced soon.

Alongside this, the VALOUR Campaign Site has launched to help veterans and their families find their nearest VRC, access MOD Veterans Services, and explain the breadth of support available across the UK.

A new digital service will also be introduced for VALOUR, aiming to offer as many options as possible to help veterans and their families find the right support, especially for those unable to travel to a VRC.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans’ organisations were not successful in applying for VALOUR Development Funding; and how many veterans this is expected to affect.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

In March, the government announced the first 14 lead organisations under VALOUR, which is currently operating 21 VALOUR Recognised Centres (VRC), backed by over £13 million of government funding. The centres span the whole of the country, including centres in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and across England.

A second round for organisations and consortia to bid for funding closed in August, I will make a final decision on which organisations have been successful, and the results will be announced soon.

Alongside this, the VALOUR Campaign Site has launched to help veterans and their families find their nearest VRC, access MOD Veterans Services, and explain the breadth of support available across the UK.

A new digital service will also be introduced for VALOUR, aiming to offer as many options as possible to help veterans and their families find the right support, especially for those unable to travel to a VRC.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with operators of UK drone and missile production facilities regarding (a) protective security and (b) business continuity planning in the context of the Kremlin's statement of 25 August 2026.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The MOD is engaging closely with suppliers and continues to work across the wider UK defence industry to improve and increase security measures against a range of hybrid threats. Further detail is being withheld for security reasons.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a ban on diesel exports by the United States on UK consumers; and what preparations she has made to mitigate the impact of such a ban.

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

On 2 October, G7 Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to refrain from export restrictions on energy and energy products between G7 countries, and called on all producers to refrain from imposing bans that could exacerbate market tensions.

We continue to monitor UK supply and prices closely. the government continues to work closely with stakeholders to ensure long-standing contingency plans are ready in the event of disruption. We recognise the pressures people are facing and are focused on helping keep costs down for families and businesses.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many days of average usage are covered by diesel reserves held by the private sector in the United Kingdom.

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

As a member of the International Energy Agency, the UK is required to hold oil stocks equivalent to 90 days of net imports. The UK meets this requirement by placing obligations on major suppliers.

Data on monthly diesel stocks and demand are published in Energy Trends Tables 3.11 and 3.13 respectively.

Energy Trends: UK oil and oil products - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the capacity of diesel reserves held by her Department is.

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

As a member of the International Energy Agency, the UK is required to hold oil stocks equivalent to 90 days of net imports. The UK meets this requirement by placing obligations on major suppliers.

Data on monthly diesel stocks and demand are published in Energy Trends Tables 3.11 and 3.13 respectively.

Energy Trends: UK oil and oil products - GOV.UK

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2026 to Question 32741 on Veterans: Mental Health Services, whether he will meet with me to discuss funding for veterans’ support schemes that fall outside the scope of VALOUR Development Funding.

Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)

Yes, I should be delighted to meet the hon. Member.

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 paragraph 61-086-20250616 of the Planning Practice Guidance, what criteria local planning authorities and Planning Inspectors are expected to apply in determining whether the content of an emerging local plan has "changed significantly from the one presented at the initial Regulation 19 stage" for the purposes of Annex 1 of the National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2024; whether those criteria include any quantitative threshold; and what guidance has been issued to the Planning Inspectorate on applying that paragraph.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There are no set criteria for determining whether a version of a local development plan has changed significantly from the one presented at initial Regulation 19 stage.

No specific guidance on paragraph 61-086-20250616 of the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) has been issued to the Planning Inspectorate.

In interpreting the PPG in question, the position on each plan should be considered on its individual merits.

Whether the removal of a housing allocation or a reduction in the number of homes allocated in a plan constitutes a significant change should be determined in respect of each individual case.

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 paragraph 61-086-20250616 of the Planning Practice Guidance, whether the removal of a housing allocation, or a reduction in the number of homes allocated, following an initial Regulation 19 consultation constitutes a significant change to the content of a plan, such that the plan is treated as having reached Regulation 19 on the date a subsequent consultation commenced for the purposes of Annex 1 of the National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2024.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

There are no set criteria for determining whether a version of a local development plan has changed significantly from the one presented at initial Regulation 19 stage.

No specific guidance on paragraph 61-086-20250616 of the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) has been issued to the Planning Inspectorate.

In interpreting the PPG in question, the position on each plan should be considered on its individual merits.

Whether the removal of a housing allocation or a reduction in the number of homes allocated in a plan constitutes a significant change should be determined in respect of each individual case.

Found: 1998 Exmouth Devon BV22213556/1 Rosemary Reece 01/12/2019 Westminster London SW1P BV22114399/1 David Reed

Found: 1998 Exmouth Devon BV22213556/1 Rosemary Reece 01/12/2019 Westminster London SW1P BV22114399/1 David Reed

Found: 1998 Exmouth Devon BV22213556/1 Rosemary Reece 01/12/2019 Westminster London SW1P BV22114399/1 David Reed

Found: 1998 Exmouth Devon BV22213556/1 Rosemary Reece 01/12/2019 Westminster London SW1P BV22114399/1 David Reed

Found: 1998 Exmouth Devon BV22213556/1 Rosemary Reece 01/12/2019 Westminster London SW1P BV22114399/1 David Reed