Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help integrate NHS national communications and local GP surgery communications.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As part of the Government’s investment in digital channels, the NHS App currently provides patients with a National Health Service ‘front door’ through which they can access primary care services, including making appointments, ordering prescriptions, and viewing test results.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the NHS App will develop further to give patients greater control and choice over their healthcare, enabling them to see their whole health record and contribute to it in one place.

NHS England guidance sets out a digital-first approach to patient communications, with the NHS App increasingly used as the primary channel for patient communications, including for general practice (GP) services, followed by text messages and emails where appropriate. However, digital-first does not mean digital-only, and we will continue to communicate with patients in a way that is comfortable and convenient for them.

NHS England is linking local GP surgery communications with national NHS digital channels through NHS Notify, which includes messaging in the NHS App. NHS England does not currently mandate that all clinical systems utilise NHS Notify, but it is available for all suppliers to use, including those supporting GPs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on supply chain disruption to the construction industry as a consequence of global effects; and what steps his Department is taking to help mitigate these effects on the construction industry.

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

My Department is monitoring the situation, and is in regular contact with stakeholders, including through our partnership with the Construction Leadership Council, which I co-chair.

The Construction Leadership Council’s Material’s Supply Chain Group, in March 2026, noted the main disruption to the sector from the Middle East crisis is the rapid rise in energy prices and their immediate impact on material costs, particularly for products with energy-intensive manufacturing processes or derived from oil-based raw materials.

Ministers are being kept updated on the supply chain disruption (and impacts) as part of our cross Whitehall monitoring.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help small construction companies in the context of recent global supply chain disruption to the construction industry.

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

My Department is monitoring the situation, and is in regular contact with stakeholders, including through our partnership with the Construction Leadership Council, which I co-chair.

The Construction Leadership Council’s Material’s Supply Chain Group, in March 2026, noted the main disruption to the sector from the Middle East crisis is the rapid rise in energy prices and their immediate impact on material costs, particularly for products with energy-intensive manufacturing processes or derived from oil-based raw materials.

Ministers are being kept updated on the supply chain disruption (and impacts) as part of our cross Whitehall monitoring.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made with enacting Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

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

The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

In December 2024 we made changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to support increased delivery of SuDS. The NPPF now requires all development to utilise SuDS where they could have drainage impacts. These systems should be appropriate to the nature and scale of the proposed development.

We consulted on a revised version of the NPPF, with new policies on local plans and national decision making, including flood risk and SuDS, and are now in the process of considering next steps.

Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing national adoptable standards for new build estates.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 18 December 2025  (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing targeted funding to councils to increase infrastructure adoption on new estates.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 18 December 2025  (HCWS1210).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing mechanisms available to hold former parish or town councillors to account for financial decisions that have contributed to substantial increases in local precepts.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Parish and town councils are independent of central government. Decisions on precept levels are taken locally by individual councils, in line with the relevant legislative framework. The Government continues to monitor the precept increases set by town and parish councils, and considers whether to set referendum principles for the sector as part of the annual local government finance settlement process. Issues about parish council expenditure can be raised at the annual parish meeting.

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require parish councils to complete and publish an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) to support scrutiny of council spending and enable the local electorate to hold them to account. To strengthen public confidence in the oversight of parish council finances, the government committed to reviewing the AGAR process in its response to the Local Audit Strategy consultation published in April 2025.

The government has no plans to assess the merits of developing mechanisms to hold former councillors to account.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of financial oversight and scrutiny arrangements in parish and town councils.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Parish and town councils are independent of central government. Decisions on precept levels are taken locally by individual councils, in line with the relevant legislative framework. The Government continues to monitor the precept increases set by town and parish councils, and considers whether to set referendum principles for the sector as part of the annual local government finance settlement process. Issues about parish council expenditure can be raised at the annual parish meeting.

The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require parish councils to complete and publish an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) to support scrutiny of council spending and enable the local electorate to hold them to account. To strengthen public confidence in the oversight of parish council finances, the government committed to reviewing the AGAR process in its response to the Local Audit Strategy consultation published in April 2025.

The government has no plans to assess the merits of developing mechanisms to hold former councillors to account.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the response to UIN 121786 on 23 March 2026, when the National Screening Committee will open the public consultation on screening for the conditions associated with sudden cardiac death.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises the devastating impact of sudden cardiac death on young people, families, and communities.

In considering whether any screening programme should be introduced, the Government is guided by the independent scientific advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. Where the committee is confident that offering screening provides more good than harm, they recommend a screening programme.

Work is ongoing to complete and analyse the latest review of the evidence commissioned by the UK NSC looking at screening for the conditions associated with sudden cardiac death in young people. It is anticipated that the public consultation will open later this spring, and we would encourage those with an interest to contribute.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support those with serious mental health conditions through the Individual Placement and Support Programme.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department recognises the importance of supporting people with serious mental health conditions to access and remain in employment.

Support to improve employment outcomes is embedded within NHS Talking Therapies services. Employment advisers are available in all NHS Talking Therapies services in England and work alongside therapists to provide tailored employment support alongside psychological therapy. In general, people referred for employment support are able to access this within four weeks, and where appropriate, employment support can be provided alongside therapy, or earlier where there is an urgent work-related issue.

For people with more severe mental illness, the Department is expanding the Individual Placement and Support programme so that 73,500 people can access this evidence-based service by March 2028.

More widely, the Department recognises that the fit note process is not working as effectively as it should in supporting people to manage health conditions at work. Through initiatives such as the WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund, local areas are piloting improved ways of connecting people to appropriate work and health support, helping to support earlier returns to work and reducing avoidable pressure on psychological therapy services. Wider work to better join up health and employment support includes initiatives such as Health and Growth Accelerators. Further information can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/funding-boost-to-support-patients-to-stay-in-and-return-to-work

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of regional disparities in the outcome of the Individual Placement and Support Programme.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) was available in 12 areas in England and 2 Health Board areas in Wales. Evaluation of the programme is ongoing.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the amount of people supported into employment through the Individual Placement and Support scheme.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) was available in 12 areas in England and 2 Health Board areas in Wales. Evaluation of the programme is ongoing.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that early years guidance and reforms are implemented consistently across local authorities.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The department continually monitors early years provision across England ensuring that all guidance and reforms are implemented.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England, about provision, specifically regarding the sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing.

The key measure of sufficiency is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children.

Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Part B of the ‘Early education and childcare’ statutory guidance for local authorities highlights that local authorities are required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents.

Where a local authority reports any sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action the local authority is taking to address those issues, and where needed, support them with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

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 ensure transparency and accountability in cases where parish or town councils implement significant increases in the council tax precept; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of such increases on residents.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It is for town and parish councils to set their precept and explain their decisions to residents. These precepts have not been subject to referendum principles, but this comes with a clear expectation that councils will take all available steps to mitigate the need for increases. Decisions taken by town and parish councils in 2026-27 will be taken into account by the government when considering referendum principles in future years.

Where a town or parish council has a precept worth £140,000 or more, the information supplied with the council tax bill must set out its expenditure council tax requirement, and the council’s opinion on the impact of expenditure on the precept level.

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 increase the affordability of insulation material for construction companies.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is consulting on long-term reforms to the construction products regulatory regime, which aims to create a dynamic environment that supports long-term economic growth, infrastructure and housing delivery.

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 encourage the use of permeable surfaces on new housing estates and in the public realm by developers.

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

Building Regulations apply when new building work is being undertaken. The options for dealing with rainwater are set out at Schedule 1 Part H of the Building Regulations 2010 which state that paved areas around a building shall be adequately drained and rainwater discharged, according to priority, by either soakaway or other adequate infiltration system. The regulations can be found on gov.uk here. It is the responsibility of the developer to design a rainwater system in a manner appropriate to the site.

In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that applications which could affect drainage should incorporate sustainable drainage systems to control flow rates and reduce volumes of run off. This is supported by Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on Flood Risk and Coastal Change, which encourages the use of comprehensive sustainable drainage approaches to help alleviate flood risk and manage the impacts where flooding does occur, including by maximising opportunities for infiltration of surface water through replacement of impermeable surfaces with permeable surfaces, and maximising opportunities for planting and vegetated areas in preference to engineered surfaces. National PPG on design highlights that design codes can specify how sustainable drainage systems and permeable surfaces can be incorporated into public space.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new NPPF. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to flood risk and sustainable drainage. 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 steps his Department is taking to support properties being retrofitted with permeable surfaces to reduce flooding risks.

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

Building Regulations apply when new building work is being undertaken. The options for dealing with rainwater are set out at Schedule 1 Part H of the Building Regulations 2010 which state that paved areas around a building shall be adequately drained and rainwater discharged, according to priority, by either soakaway or other adequate infiltration system. The regulations can be found on gov.uk here. It is the responsibility of the developer to design a rainwater system in a manner appropriate to the site.

In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that applications which could affect drainage should incorporate sustainable drainage systems to control flow rates and reduce volumes of run off. This is supported by Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on Flood Risk and Coastal Change, which encourages the use of comprehensive sustainable drainage approaches to help alleviate flood risk and manage the impacts where flooding does occur, including by maximising opportunities for infiltration of surface water through replacement of impermeable surfaces with permeable surfaces, and maximising opportunities for planting and vegetated areas in preference to engineered surfaces. National PPG on design highlights that design codes can specify how sustainable drainage systems and permeable surfaces can be incorporated into public space.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new NPPF. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to flood risk and sustainable drainage. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to encourage local authorities to take action against engine idling, particularly outside of schools.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

All Local Authorities already have powers available to them to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to drivers who are idling unnecessarily. Local Authorities are best placed to determine where to carry out enforcement against idling. Guidance on enforcement issued by the Department for Transport encourages Local Authorities to consider enforcement at sensitive sites, which could include outside schools, hospitals or other sites where unnecessary idling is a persistent issue.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of simplifying the definition of affordable housing types set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

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

To reflect this government’s priorities, the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 includes a separate definition of Social Rent so that it is not referred to as just one of a number of types of affordable housing for rent.

We have no current plans to further simplify the definition of affordable housing types set out in the NPPF.

Found: ; Melksham and Devizes) David Mundell (Conservative; Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) James Naish

Found: Democrat; Melksham and Devizes) David Mundell (Conservative; Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) James Naish