Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing further sanctions against Israel for the loss of British property around Bethlehem Children with Disability charity in the Nur Shams refugee camp.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 9 June, and to her responses on these issues in departmental oral questions on 16 June.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of intensive factory farming of chickens, and whether there are plans to further regulate this sector with regards to animal welfare.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

All farms, regardless of size and type of production system, must comply with legislation on animal health and welfare. The Government remains firmly committed to improving animal welfare and wants to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The Animal Welfare Strategy outlines government’s plans to improve farm animal welfare including through transitioning away from intensive confinement systems such as cages and encourage efforts to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of NHS patient communications continue to be sent by post nationally, and the estimated cost of printing and posting these communications.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data on National Health Service spend on patient communications isn’t collected centrally. The monitoring of National Health Service patient correspondence, including appointment letters, is the responsibility of individual NHS providers.

The Government’s focus on shifting from ‘analogue to digital’ will streamline information and communication processes, including by improving the NHS App.

This will make it easier and quicker for patients to access information about their appointments, to cancel and reschedule appointments, and to receive correspondence on NHS test results. 96% of acute trusts in England now allow patients to view appointment information via the NHS App if they wish, reducing reliance on physical letters.

Usage has increased significantly, with the NHS App now supporting approximately eight million patient–trust interactions per month, an increase of 82% compared to a year ago. It also saves staff time to focus on providing high quality, non-digital communication for those who want and need it.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the wastewater treatment capacity of Alton Sewage Treatment Works to accommodate planned housing growth in Alton, Four Marks, Holybourne and surrounding villages; and whether Thames Water has set a timetable for capacity upgrades at that works.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Sewerage undertakers, in this case Thames Water, must ensure that their sites can support current and future customer needs, and plan upgrades accordingly.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that local authorities have sufficient resources to enforce the proposed new minimum energy efficiency standards for private rented properties; and whether the PRS database established under the Renters' Rights Act will be operational before the 1 October 2030.

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

The government will continue to work with local authorities to understand the impact of the PRS Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES).

We have already set out a number of measures designed to ease the compliance burden and to support local authority efforts in respect of compliance and enforcement, including amendments and improvements to the exemptions regime and the recent launch of an improved PRS Exemptions Register.

Through existing and forthcoming legislation, we will ensure local authorities are further supported through improved access to data and strengthened powers. The government will increase the maximum fine for non-compliance to £30,000 per property, per breach, to deter poor practice and the PRS Database and improved Exemptions Register will reduce administrative burdens and make it easier to identify non-compliance.

As outlined in the roadmap for implementing the Renters' Rights Act 2025, which can be found on gov.uk here, roll out of the PRS Database on a geographical basis will begin from late 2026.

In relation to the additional resourcing for local authorities, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 2020 on 27 May 2026.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that policy changes arising from consultations relevant to the Warm Homes Plan are implemented in time to support delivery of that Plan's objectives.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The government is committed to delivering the Warm Homes Plan at pace. We will carefully consider responses to consultations relevant to the Plan and will implement policy changes in line with legislative and delivery timetables.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to make timely decisions on energy efficiency and retrofit schemes, the mobilisation of the Warm Homes Plan and associated policy changes to avoid the loss of workforce capacity, skills and investment between programmes.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is committed to delivering the Warm Homes Plan at pace while providing clarity and a stable pipeline for industry. We are working across energy efficiency and retrofit policy to support timely decisions on scheme design, mobilisation, and implementation. This includes considering workforce capacity, skills, and supply chain impacts as part of scheme development. We are also working with the TUC through the Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce to support jobs and skills across the sector. We will continue to engage with delivery partners and industry to support investment and minimise disruption between programmes.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Energy Performance Certificate methodology for determining eligibility for Government-funded low-carbon heating and energy-efficiency schemes.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The government is reforming Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to ensure they provide a more complete assessment of a home's energy performance. We will introduce four headline metrics for domestic EPCs: Fabric Performance, Heating System, Smart Readiness and Energy Cost.

Moving from a single headline metric to a suite of complementary metrics will allow government schemes to choose the metrics most relevant to their objectives when determining eligibility and targeting support. The government is considering the interaction between reformed EPCs and government-funded energy efficiency and low-carbon heating schemes as part of the development of both future schemes and EPC reforms.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Warm Homes Plan target of lifting one million households out of fuel poverty in meeting statutory fuel poverty objectives.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Tackling fuel poverty is a priority for this Government. Through the 2026 Fuel Poverty Strategy for England and the Warm Homes Plan, we are taking action to accelerate progress, with an ambition to lift up to 1 million households out of fuel poverty by 2030. This will be achieved through new regulations in the rental sector as well as £5 billion of support from the Warm Homes Plan for low-income households and the expanded Warm Home Discount.

The Fuel Poverty Strategy acknowledged that sustained action beyond 2030 will be required to tackle fuel poverty and committed to consulting on a new fuel poverty target to succeed the 2030 target.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how will the Government ensure that housing growth required through national planning policy is matched by timely funding for water supply, sewerage and wastewater infrastructure during the transition to new unitary authorities.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 6660 on 10 June 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has the Government made of the potential impact of additional housing growth on chalk stream catchments in instances where wastewater treatment works are functioning at or near full capacity.

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

My Department has made no such specific assessment.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That draft Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes a new reference to chalk streams as features of high environmental value and an updated definition of irreplaceable habitat, setting out more clearly the criteria which decision-makers should consider when determining whether a habitat falls under the definition.

It also requires early engagement between relevant plan-making authorities and utility providers so that development plans are informed by a clear understanding of capacity and future requirements for water infrastructure, and includes a new decision-making policy to support the delivery of water supply, drainage, and wastewater infrastructure, giving substantial weight to the benefits of improving capacity for existing users, supporting growth, improving water quality and reducing waterborne pollution.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions has the Secretary of State had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Ofwat regarding the alignment of water company investment programmes with planned housing growth.

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

The Secretary of State engages regularly with ministerial colleagues and officials in non-ministerial government departments on a range of matters. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the risk of residential development being approved in areas where Local Plans have been delayed or withdrawn following Local Government Reorganisation before necessary water supply and wastewater infrastructure improvements have been secured; and what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his polices of statements by water companies regarding capacity constraints affecting housing applications in those areas.

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

The government remains determined to drive local plans to adoption as quickly as possible in order to achieve our ambition of universal plan coverage and to ensure that plans contribute positively to increasing rates of housebuilding and infrastructure delivery. Local government reorganisation should not hinder the adoption of an up-to-date local plan.

National planning policy makes clear that local plans should be positively prepared and, as a minimum, seek to meet identified development needs. Local planning authorities are expected to do all they reasonably can to meet need, including working proactively with infrastructure providers (including water providers) to align growth and infrastructure provision. If needs cannot be met, the authority must clearly and robustly explain the reasons during the plan examination. The approach the authority has taken, including how it engaged with infrastructure providers, will be a key consideration for the independent Inspector in evaluating whether the local plan can be found ‘sound’.

Local planning authorities should consider whether otherwise unacceptable development could be made acceptable through the use of conditions or planning obligations. This could include the provision of infrastructure which is necessary to make a development acceptable in planning terms. Where it is in place, developers may also contribute towards infrastructure through the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Defra has established a Water Delivery Taskforce to ensure that water companies deliver on their planned investments to provide water and wastewater capacity. Water companies are under a statutory duty to provide new water and sewerage connections and must plan for future growth through their water resources and wastewater management plans. The water resources planning guideline published by the Environment Agency and Ofwat. Sets out how those companies should forecast demand for water based on existing customers and planned levels of household and non-household growth.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of local government reorganisation on infrastructure planning in local authority areas where emerging Local Plans have been delayed or withdrawn as a result.

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

The government remains determined to drive local plans to adoption as quickly as possible in order to achieve our ambition of universal plan coverage and to ensure that plans contribute positively to increasing rates of housebuilding and infrastructure delivery. Local government reorganisation should not hinder the adoption of an up-to-date local plan.

National planning policy makes clear that local plans should be positively prepared and, as a minimum, seek to meet identified development needs. Local planning authorities are expected to do all they reasonably can to meet need, including working proactively with infrastructure providers (including water providers) to align growth and infrastructure provision. If needs cannot be met, the authority must clearly and robustly explain the reasons during the plan examination. The approach the authority has taken, including how it engaged with infrastructure providers, will be a key consideration for the independent Inspector in evaluating whether the local plan can be found ‘sound’.

Local planning authorities should consider whether otherwise unacceptable development could be made acceptable through the use of conditions or planning obligations. This could include the provision of infrastructure which is necessary to make a development acceptable in planning terms. Where it is in place, developers may also contribute towards infrastructure through the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Defra has established a Water Delivery Taskforce to ensure that water companies deliver on their planned investments to provide water and wastewater capacity. Water companies are under a statutory duty to provide new water and sewerage connections and must plan for future growth through their water resources and wastewater management plans. The water resources planning guideline published by the Environment Agency and Ofwat. Sets out how those companies should forecast demand for water based on existing customers and planned levels of household and non-household growth.

Generation Z and the State Pension

Royal Mail delivery standards

Russian sanctions

International Court of Justice's July 2024 Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territories