Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress has been made on agreeing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with the United Arab Emirates.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a whole and is prioritising strengthening our trade and investment relationship with all six GCC countries through a UK-GCC-wide trade deal. The UAE is an important trading partner, the largest within the GCC. Total trade in goods and services between the UK and the UAE was £25.3 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q3 2025.
The UK strongly values the UK-UAE relationship and will continue to work to further deepen cooperation in trade and investment.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the adequacy of maintenance works on Ousemere Lode, Billingborough; and what steps the Environment Agency is taking to reduce flood risk in that area.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency (EA) keeps maintenance arrangements for Ousemere Lode, Billingborough under review as part of its ongoing assessment of flood risk management. Ousemere Lode is regularly inspected and maintained through routine activities, including seasonal grass cutting, weed removal and targeted tree management to maintain channel capacity.
Following flooding in January 2025, the EA published an Evidence Based Review which identified exceptional rainfall falling on frozen ground as the primary cause of flooding. The review noted that improved maintenance of local roadside drainage could have reduced the depth and duration of flooding. These findings are being further examined through technical modelling undertaken by external specialists, with final reports expected in summer 2026. In parallel, the EA is working with the local community, including a newly established flood action group, to identify measures to improve resilience.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
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 help improve flood defences in Grantham and Bourne constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency (EA) works to reduce flood risk across the Grantham and Bourne constituency, which includes the Upper River Witham, South Forty Foot Drain, Upper River Slea, River Welland and East Glen catchments.
Work is underway to improve flood risk modelling for the Upper River Witham, with outputs under review to strengthen understanding of risk and inform investment. The Upper Witham Strategic Review, including Grantham, has been identified as a potential future project, with initial assessment work expected from 2027.
In the Fenland areas of the constituency, including the South Forty Foot Drain and Welland Fens, the EA has helped develop the Fens 2100+ programme, which has published baseline reports and a Case for Change to inform long-term flood risk management and climate adaptation.
The Department also supports Lincolnshire County Council’s Defra-funded Project Groundwater, installing water level monitors in Bourne and Lower Bitchfield to support local flood action planning.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Environment Agency's flood modelling in relation to the decommissioning of the Black Sluice Pumping Station.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra keeps the Environment Agency’s (EA) flood risk modelling under review to ensure it remains robust and appropriate for managing flood risk.
Following flooding in the Black Sluice, or South Forty Foot Drain, catchment in January 2025, the EA published an Evidence Based Review in May 2025. This review identified the need for a detailed assessment of flood modelling associated with the decommissioning of the Black Sluice Pumping Station. In response, additional work was commissioned later that month to examine the 2016 Black Sluice Catchment Works modelling and to assess how modelling assumptions compared with the circumstances of the January 2025 flooding event. This work also considered other factors that contributed to the flooding. The technical modelling assessment has been undertaken by consultants, Mott MacDonald, and has been completed with final reports being prepared for publication in summer 2026.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Competition and Market Authority’s final report of March 26th 2026, what Impact Assessment the Department has undertaken on the veterinary market reforms; and what assessment the Government has made on the potential effect of those reforms on the veterinary industry and market provision.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra welcomes the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA’s) investigation into the veterinary market for household pets and the publication of its final report on 24 March. Defra will consider the findings alongside the responses to the public consultation on reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA) which closed on 25 March. A formal response to the CMA’s final report will be published in due course.
Defra will produce an impact assessment as part of the legislative process related to proposed reform of the VSA.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions Ministers or officials in her Department have had regarding the dispersal of asylum seekers or refugees in Grantham with i) South Kesteven District Council, ii) Lincolnshire County Council, iii) the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, iv) Lincolnshire Police, and v) other relevant local authorities.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
There are currently no refugees arriving via the UK's Safe and Legal Routes who are scheduled for resettlement in Grantham.
The Asylum Accommodation Plans are the mechanisms via which the Home Office works towards achieving Full Dispersal and thus a fair and balanced distribution of asylum accommodation across all local authorities nationally. The Asylum Accommodation Plans are underpinned by an indexing model which accounts for a multitude of pressures within local authorities, including availability of housing, levels of homelessness, availability of GP and dentists as well as levels of community cohesion. Development of the plans was informed by engagement with a range of national, regional and local stakeholders, to ensure that the evidence base was reflective of boarder local authority feedback.
Procurement and delivery of asylum accommodation, in line with the plans, is supported by regular engagement between the Home Office, accommodation providers, and local authority officials. Engagement is undertaken both via regular official forums jointly chaired by the Home Office and regional Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs), as well as via ad hoc meetings with individual local authorities where there is a need to discuss specific concerns and/or issues. I can confirm that there has been continued engagement between Home Office, South Kesteven and Lincolnshire officials, both via official forums as well as ad hoc meetings, not only in reference to the broader Asylum Accommodation Plans but also more specifically regarding Grantham.
Consultation with local authority officials forms a vital part of procurement of asylum accommodation; ensuring procurement of suitable accommodation that allows us to fulfil out statutory obligations whilst carefully considering any potential impacts on local areas. The Home Office and its accommodation providers operate a robust consultation process, which not only ensures that local authorities are aware of all ongoing procurement activity of Dispersed Accommodation in their respective areas, but also allows them to share local expertise and intelligence to inform procurement. This approach supports our commitment to ensuring that the provision of asylum accommodation is informed by local context and that any impacts on communities and services are minimised.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer provided to UIN 119503, on Asylum: Housing, which Asylum Accommodation Plan covers Dispersal Accommodation in Grantham.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
There are currently no refugees arriving via the UK's Safe and Legal Routes who are scheduled for resettlement in Grantham.
The Asylum Accommodation Plans are the mechanisms via which the Home Office works towards achieving Full Dispersal and thus a fair and balanced distribution of asylum accommodation across all local authorities nationally. The Asylum Accommodation Plans are underpinned by an indexing model which accounts for a multitude of pressures within local authorities, including availability of housing, levels of homelessness, availability of GP and dentists as well as levels of community cohesion. Development of the plans was informed by engagement with a range of national, regional and local stakeholders, to ensure that the evidence base was reflective of boarder local authority feedback.
Procurement and delivery of asylum accommodation, in line with the plans, is supported by regular engagement between the Home Office, accommodation providers, and local authority officials. Engagement is undertaken both via regular official forums jointly chaired by the Home Office and regional Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs), as well as via ad hoc meetings with individual local authorities where there is a need to discuss specific concerns and/or issues. I can confirm that there has been continued engagement between Home Office, South Kesteven and Lincolnshire officials, both via official forums as well as ad hoc meetings, not only in reference to the broader Asylum Accommodation Plans but also more specifically regarding Grantham.
Consultation with local authority officials forms a vital part of procurement of asylum accommodation; ensuring procurement of suitable accommodation that allows us to fulfil out statutory obligations whilst carefully considering any potential impacts on local areas. The Home Office and its accommodation providers operate a robust consultation process, which not only ensures that local authorities are aware of all ongoing procurement activity of Dispersed Accommodation in their respective areas, but also allows them to share local expertise and intelligence to inform procurement. This approach supports our commitment to ensuring that the provision of asylum accommodation is informed by local context and that any impacts on communities and services are minimised.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what allocation the Department has made for (a) refugees and (b) asylum seekers that are to be dispersed in Grantham.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
There are currently no refugees arriving via the UK's Safe and Legal Routes who are scheduled for resettlement in Grantham.
The Asylum Accommodation Plans are the mechanisms via which the Home Office works towards achieving Full Dispersal and thus a fair and balanced distribution of asylum accommodation across all local authorities nationally. The Asylum Accommodation Plans are underpinned by an indexing model which accounts for a multitude of pressures within local authorities, including availability of housing, levels of homelessness, availability of GP and dentists as well as levels of community cohesion. Development of the plans was informed by engagement with a range of national, regional and local stakeholders, to ensure that the evidence base was reflective of boarder local authority feedback.
Procurement and delivery of asylum accommodation, in line with the plans, is supported by regular engagement between the Home Office, accommodation providers, and local authority officials. Engagement is undertaken both via regular official forums jointly chaired by the Home Office and regional Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs), as well as via ad hoc meetings with individual local authorities where there is a need to discuss specific concerns and/or issues. I can confirm that there has been continued engagement between Home Office, South Kesteven and Lincolnshire officials, both via official forums as well as ad hoc meetings, not only in reference to the broader Asylum Accommodation Plans but also more specifically regarding Grantham.
Consultation with local authority officials forms a vital part of procurement of asylum accommodation; ensuring procurement of suitable accommodation that allows us to fulfil out statutory obligations whilst carefully considering any potential impacts on local areas. The Home Office and its accommodation providers operate a robust consultation process, which not only ensures that local authorities are aware of all ongoing procurement activity of Dispersed Accommodation in their respective areas, but also allows them to share local expertise and intelligence to inform procurement. This approach supports our commitment to ensuring that the provision of asylum accommodation is informed by local context and that any impacts on communities and services are minimised.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Serco on the dispersal of asylum seekers or refugees in Grantham.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office maintains regular and ongoing engagement with all asylum accommodation providers, including Serco, to ensure contractual obligations are met and that accommodation is delivered in line with the Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contract (AASC).
These discussions take place on a frequent and sustained basis as part of routine operational oversight. Engagement focuses on performance, property standards, welfare provisions, and the quality of accommodation, ensuring services are delivered in accordance with Home Office guidance and statutory responsibilities.
While the Home Office and Serco work closely on these operational matters, decisions on the use of specific properties or locations - including in Grantham - are taken within the Home Office's statutory duty under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to ensure asylum seekers are not left destitute while their claims are processed. The Department retains overall responsibility for accommodation provision, with Serco delivering services and managing property portfolios in line with contract requirements.
We continue to work closely with local authorities, including those covering the Grantham area, to ensure dispersal is carried out fairly, responsibly, and with consideration of local capacity and public services.
In circumstances where concerns are raised by the local authority about proposed accommodation, these matters are considered through the Home Office's strengthened governance and oversight arrangements for asylum accommodation. Where agreement cannot be reached at a local level, issues may be escalated through internal decision‑making routes for further consideration, in line with the enhanced governance and contract‑management framework described in recent Home Office responses to parliamentary scrutiny.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many properties in i) South Kesteven and ii) Grantham will be utilised for the dispersal of asylum seekers.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
There are currently no refugees arriving via the UK's Safe and Legal Routes who are scheduled for resettlement in Grantham.
The Asylum Accommodation Plans are the mechanisms via which the Home Office works towards achieving Full Dispersal and thus a fair and balanced distribution of asylum accommodation across all local authorities nationally. The Asylum Accommodation Plans are underpinned by an indexing model which accounts for a multitude of pressures within local authorities, including availability of housing, levels of homelessness, availability of GP and dentists as well as levels of community cohesion. Development of the plans was informed by engagement with a range of national, regional and local stakeholders, to ensure that the evidence base was reflective of boarder local authority feedback.
Procurement and delivery of asylum accommodation, in line with the plans, is supported by regular engagement between the Home Office, accommodation providers, and local authority officials. Engagement is undertaken both via regular official forums jointly chaired by the Home Office and regional Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs), as well as via ad hoc meetings with individual local authorities where there is a need to discuss specific concerns and/or issues. I can confirm that there has been continued engagement between Home Office, South Kesteven and Lincolnshire officials, both via official forums as well as ad hoc meetings, not only in reference to the broader Asylum Accommodation Plans but also more specifically regarding Grantham.
Consultation with local authority officials forms a vital part of procurement of asylum accommodation; ensuring procurement of suitable accommodation that allows us to fulfil out statutory obligations whilst carefully considering any potential impacts on local areas. The Home Office and its accommodation providers operate a robust consultation process, which not only ensures that local authorities are aware of all ongoing procurement activity of Dispersed Accommodation in their respective areas, but also allows them to share local expertise and intelligence to inform procurement. This approach supports our commitment to ensuring that the provision of asylum accommodation is informed by local context and that any impacts on communities and services are minimised.