Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support is available for UK commercial fishing operations in light of recent diesel prices.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK commercial fishing industry benefits from fuel duty relief, meaning that eligible fishers effectively pay no duty on fuel used for fishing operations. In England, the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme also provides financial assistance to the fishing industry, including for new engines and gearboxes which support improved fuel efficiency and sector resilience.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government's response to the Hughes Report of 2024 is awaiting agreement, approval, costing or funding from HM Treasury or another Department.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July in response to Question 16121.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the European Commission on the proposed implementation date of the UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement; and whether July 2027 has been formally agreed by both parties.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Officials continue to engage closely with EU counterparts through negotiations on the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement. Negotiations are at an advanced stage, and this Government remains committed to concluding the agreement ahead of the next UK–EU Summit on 20 November and will announce implementation dates in due course.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of haulage capacity for food and drink businesses during the peak Christmas trading period, including the potential impact of increased demand from supermarkets and other retail sectors.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has not undertaken a specific assessment of the availability of haulage capacity for food and drink businesses during the peak Christmas trading period, including the impact of increased demand from supermarkets and other retail sectors.
The Department for Transport regularly engages with road haulage businesses and trade associations to understand issues affecting the sector.
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) also maintain engagement with industry across the food system to monitor resilience and supply chain pressures. They are acutely aware of peak seasonal pressures, for which industry plans well in advance, and maintains close engagement with industry throughout.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the closure of Papyrus and its HOPELINE247 suicide-prevention service on rural young people and their families; and what discussions her Department has had with the organisations involved on the protection or transfer of the expertise and infrastructure previously provided by HOPELINE247.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 21 September in response to Question 29148.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the closure of Papyrus and its HOPELINE247 suicide-prevention service on rural young people and their families; and what discussions her Department has had with the organisations involved on the protection or transfer of the expertise and infrastructure previously provided by HOPELINE247.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 21 September in response to Question 29148.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of replicating the Welsh Government’s support for low-income households using LPG or heating oil.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In March 2026, the UK Government announced £53 million of targeted support for low-income households that use heating oil, including £3.8 million for Wales. The Welsh Government is using this funding to provide eligible low-income households that use heating oil or liquefied petroleum gas with a one-off £200 payment.
Equivalent support is already available in England through the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Local authorities can provide Crisis Payments to low-income households facing financial hardship with the cost of domestic heating fuels, including heating oil and LPG, and determine the most appropriate support according to local need
The Government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, and plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly. This will include developing options for a proportionate regulatory regime for the heating oil market, which will take time to get right, to ensure the best outcomes for consumers. In the meantime, we will work with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in existing Codes of Conduct, which set rules for the sector. This is a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to create a fairer, more resilient and trusted heating oil market, which delivers stronger consumer protections while preserving competition and security of supply. The full response can be found here:
For households considering alternatives to oil heating, the Government is supporting the installation of low-carbon heating through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The scheme is open to domestic and small non-domestic properties in England and Wales and provides upfront grants towards eligible low-carbon heating technologies. It currently offers £7,500 towards the installation of air-to-water heat pumps and ground source heat pumps, £5,000 towards biomass boilers in limited circumstances, and £2,500 towards air-to-air heat pumps. A time-limited higher grant of £9,000 is available for eligible off-gas-grid properties replacing oil or LPG heating systems, helping households and small businesses most exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices to switch to low-carbon heating. The grant is deducted from the upfront cost by the installer, who applies to Ofgem on the property owner’s behalf. Eligibility, suitability and costs will vary by property, and households should seek advice from an MCS-certified installer before making changes to their heating system.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions the Treasury has had with the Financial Conduct Authority and the travel insurance industry about the affordability and availability of travel insurance for people with a history of cancer; and whether the Government will assess the merits of introducing a time-limited right to be forgotten for cancer survivors, drawing on schemes operating in other countries.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that consumers, including people with a history of cancer, can access suitable travel insurance products, and will consider the proposal referred to. More broadly, HM Treasury has regular engagement with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and industry on a wide range of financial services issues.
The Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under FCA rules. The FCA also requires travel insurers to signpost consumers with pre-existing medical conditions to specialist providers where they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the costs of implementing a Portuguese-style LPG or heating oil support system in England.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has not made a formal assessment of the costs of implementing a Portuguese-style LPG or heating oil support scheme in England.
The Government has allocated £53 million through the Crisis & Resilience Fund administered by local authorities in England to support those on low-income households who use heating oil and LPG to heat their homes.
The Department will continue to review the support available to households facing energy affordability pressures, including those that rely on alternative fuels such as heating oil and LPG.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that poor quality supported housing providers do not receive additional contracts under the Everyone In for Christmas initiative.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local authorities are responsible for determining how best to deliver support in their area and for ensuring that any accommodation offered through the programme is suitable for the individual's needs and circumstances.
We expect accommodation supported through the Rough Sleeping Programme to be safe, appropriate and part of a clear pathway towards sustainable housing outcomes. Local authorities should work with local partners to identify suitable provision and ensure support is delivered in a way that reflects residents' safety, dignity and support needs.
Alongside this, the Government is taking action to raise standards across the supported housing sector. We are currently consulting on regulations to implement the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, which will introduce national supported housing standards and strengthen local oversight of supported housing providers.