Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, when he expects the HousePapers mobile app to be replaced.

Answered by Nick Smith

The HousePapers mobile app is being replaced by improved web apps for both Houses, offering a seamless way to access all parliamentary business papers on the go.

The new web apps will operate on any device, including desktops, mobiles and tablets, and should ensure that more Members, their staff, and anyone interested in the work of Parliament, are able to access the information they need more readily.

The new web apps will be launched by Tuesday 13 January 2026. They will allow users to access:

• House of Commons and House of Lords business papers;
• Hansard;
• Bills and any other papers being debated on the floor of either House and in Westminster Hall or Grand Committee;
• Full texts of Oral and Written Statements as they are made in the House of Commons.

There will be no gap in service for existing users of the HousePapers app, which will continue to provide parliamentary papers until after the launch of the new web apps, and all the documents are also available from the Commons Business and Lords Business webpages.

More information will be available at the House Services Fair for Members and their staff on 9 and 10 December, and further communications will follow nearer to the launch.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87415 on Solar Power, how much solar power generating capacity from installations smaller than 150kW capacity are (a) operational, (b) under construction and (c) awaiting a planning decision.

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

The Government does not hold this information.

The monthly deployment statistics I cited in my previous answer use different capacity thresholds but indicate that, as of September 2025, 7.72GW of capacity was available from installations smaller than 50kW.

We do not have data about the number of projects below 150kW under construction or awaiting planning decisions. Most installations smaller than 150kW will be on rooftops. These installations can generally be constructed quickly. Typically, they do not require an application for planning permission as they fall under permitted development rights.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures are being taken to ensure that the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act supports research and field trials involving the genetic editing of sugar beet to improve resistance to Virus Yellows disease.

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

The secondary legislation needed to implement The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for plants in England commenced on 13 November 2025. This marks a major milestone, enabling research trials to take place and providing a route to market for precision bred products.

Through Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), we are funding innovative research projects and earlier this year, the Department announced a £12.5 million competition focused specifically on precision breeding. Previous projects funded under FIP includes a research project by Tropic, British Sugar and the John Innes Centre to develop sugar beets through precision breeding that are resistant against Virus Yellows.

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 protect gene editing provisions in ongoing trade negotiations with the European Union.

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

Under the UK-EU Common Understanding, it is recognised that there will be areas where the UK will retain its own rules. The scope and detail of those areas are now part of ongoing negotiations. Throughout this process, we have been clear on the importance of maintaining the UK’s ability to regulate precision breeding in a way that supports innovation, gives farmers access to new tools, and upholds high standards of safety.

We continue to engage closely with stakeholders and devolved administrations to ensure that our approach reflects the best available scientific advice and maintains the UK’s position as a world leader in Agri-tech.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support police forces in tackling shoplifting in North West Norfolk constituency.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level. We will not stand for this.

We are ensuring the right powers are in place. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are bringing in a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. We are also removing the legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.

Additionally, we are providing over £7 million over the next three years to support the police and retailers tackle retail crime, including continuing to fund a specialist policing team – in partnership with the retail sector - to better understand the tactics used by organised retail crime gangs and identify more offenders.

Tackling retail crime requires a partnership approach between policing representatives and business. The previous Minister for Crime and Policing launched the ‘Tackling Retail Crime Together Strategy’, which was jointly developed by the police and industry and aims to provide a collaborative and evidence-based approach to preventing retail crime, including organised shop theft.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding her Department has allocated to local policing in North West Norfolk in the last 12 months.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Norfolk Police will receive up to £239.2 million in 2025-26, an increase of up to £16.5 million when compared to 2024-25.

In addition to the funding announced at the settlement, the Home Office provided £1.3 million to Norfolk Police to help with the cost of the 2025-26 police pay award.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to provide additional support to police officers to tackle drug-related crime .in North West Norfolk constituency.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

To deliver on our pledge to halve knife crime in the next decade, it is crucial that we tackle the gangs that lure children and young people into crime and run county lines through violence and exploitation. County Lines is the most violent model of drug supply and a harmful form of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we continue to target exploitative drug dealing gangs and break the organised crime groups behind the trade.

Between July 2024 and June 2025, law enforcement activity through the County Lines Programme taskforces has resulted in more than 2,300 deal lines closed, 6,200 arrests (including the arrest and subsequent charge of over 1,100 deal line holders), 3,200 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people, and 600 knives seized.

While the majority of county lines originate from the areas covered by the Metropolitan Police Service, West Midlands Police, Merseyside Police, Greater Manchester Police and West Yorkshire Police, we recognise that this is a national issue which affects all forces, which is why we fund the National County Lines Co-ordination Centre (NCLCC) to monitor the intelligence picture and co-ordinate a national law enforcement response. We also have a dedicated fund to help local police forces, including Norfolk Constabulary, tackle the scourge of county lines.

As part of the Programme, the NCLCC regularly coordinates weeks of intensive action against county lines gangs, which all police forces take part in, including Norfolk Constabulary. The most recent of these took place 23-29 June 2025 and resulted in 241 lines closed, as well as 1,965 arrests, 1,179 individuals safeguarded and 501 weapons seized.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of current powers available to police officers to address anti-social behaviour in North West Norfolk constituency.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of police staffing levels in Norfolk.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government’s Safer Streets Mission sets a clear expectation for policing to deliver safer communities and improved public confidence. An effective, well-supported police service is central to achieving this.

All members of the police workforce play a vital role in delivering an effective police service to communities across England and Wales. As at 31 March 2025, Norfolk Constabulary had a total paid workforce of 3,193 full-time equivalent (FTE). This includes, a total of 1,911 (FTE) police officers, 1,281 (FTE) police staff and designated officers and 101 (FTE) special constables.

It is for Chief Constables and directly elected PCCs, and Mayors with PCC functions, to make operational decisions based on their local knowledge and experience. This includes how best to allocate the resources at their disposal to provide an effective service to local communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 61225 on Department for Transport: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

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

At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.

To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.

Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61219 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

At Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.

Through the zero-based review, the Home Office carried out a line by line review of its current budgets. The review involved differing levels of granularity depending on the type and size of expenditure under review.

To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure – at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1m per annum.

Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028-29.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of regulatory costs on the pub sector.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is committed to easing regulatory burdens for businesses like pubs in the UK, creating the space they need to grow, innovate and thrive. We work closely with the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the productivity and resilience of hospitality businesses by co-creating solutions to the issues impacting business performance.

This is why we launched the licensing taskforce last April, a joint effort between Government and Industry with aims to reduce the administrative burdens the UK licensing regime places on our highstreets. The Government invited views to help shape these reforms and the Call for evidence ran for 4 weeks and ended on the 6 November. This attracted a significant number of responses and work is now underway to analyse these.

Additionally, to help ease cost pressures on pubs, from April 2026, eligible retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with rateable values below £500,000 will benefit from permanently lower business rates multipliers and alcohol duty has been reduced on qualifying draught products which is approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on the protection of chalk streams in North West Norfolk constituency.

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

Chalk streams are incredible source of national pride. As one of Britain’s most nature rich habitats, they support some of our rarest wildlife – from chalk salmon to trout, they are home to beloved and endangered species.

The Government recognises the importance of protecting these globally rare habitats.

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 encourage economic growth in the (a) pubs and (b) hospitality sectors.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government recognises the vital role that hospitality businesses play in local communities and the economy. That’s why we’re investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify, aiming to support rural communities, create new jobs and services.

The Government invited views and evidence to aid development of a modern, proportionate and enabling licensing system. A Call for Evidence ran for four weeks until 6 November. This attracted a significant number of responses and work is now underway to analyse these. These reforms form part of the Small Business Strategy, which is designed to tackle late payments, improve access to finance and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.

We are also creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000. We continue to work closely with the sector through the Hospitality Sector Council to address challenges.

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 implement the Chalk Stream Restoration Implementation Plan.

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

Chalk streams are embedded in our plan to reform the water sector. The Government has announced an ambitious programme of reforms to clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good. Our focus is now on delivering this revolution across the entire water sector, ensuring chalk streams, alongside all our rivers, lakes, and seas, benefit from this era of reform.

As such, the Chalk Stream Recovery Pack, which was announced by the previous government, falls short of these wider ambitions and is no longer being taken forward.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment has been made of the potential impact of her Department's planned changes to retail, hospitality, and leisure sector multipliers on the pub sector.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

In April 2026, the Government will introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible properties, including pubs, benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes, as well as the broader economic and fiscal context, into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, the Government prevented RHL business rates relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. Under the previous Government, RHL relief was due to end entirely in April 2025, and so by extending it, the Government has saved the average pub, with a ratable value of £16,800, over £3,300.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61218 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.

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

At the Spending Review 2025, the government conducted the first zero-based review (ZBR) of department budgets in 18 years, with every line of spending scrutinised to ensure value for money.

Through the ZBR, the department carried out a line-by-line review of its current budgets. The review involved differing levels of granularity depending on the type and size of expenditure under review.

To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure, at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1 million per annum.

Savings identified through this process will support delivery of the government's commitment for all departments to deliver at least 5% savings and efficiencies by 2028/29.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 82390 on Iraq and Syria: Islamic State, what part the UK is taking in the re-structure of the Global Coalition against Daesh agreed at the Madrid Small Group meeting; and how the revised working group mechanisms will affect the UK’s regional priorities in (i) Syria, (ii) Iraq, (iii) Central Asia, and (iv) sub-Saharan Africa.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As stated in the answer to which the Hon Member refers, the UK's priority remains the enduring defeat of Daesh in all regions where they or their affiliates are operating, and we continue to work closely with a wide range of international partners towards that goal.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 82390 on Iraq and Syria: Islamic State, what contribution the UK is making to Coalition efforts to address the security risks associated with detained (a) Daesh fighters and (b) Daesh-supporting non-combatants held in detention camps in Syria.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As stated in the answer to which the Hon Member refers, the UK's priority remains the enduring defeat of Daesh in all regions where they or their affiliates are operating, and we continue to work closely with a wide range of international partners towards that goal.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 82390 on Iraq and Syria: Islamic State, what steps she is taking with Coalition partners to (a) leverage new technologies and (b) counter the online use of the internet for Daesh recruitment.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As stated in the answer to which the Hon Member refers, the UK's priority remains the enduring defeat of Daesh in all regions where they or their affiliates are operating, and we continue to work closely with a wide range of international partners towards that goal.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 82390 on Iraq and Syria: Islamic State, what work her Department is undertaking with partners through the ISIS-Khorasan Province Diplomatic Grouping; and what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of that work on countering ISIS-K activity.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As stated in the answer to which the Hon Member refers, the UK's priority remains the enduring defeat of Daesh in all regions where they or their affiliates are operating, and we continue to work closely with a wide range of international partners towards that goal.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 82390 on Iraq and Syria: Islamic State, what role the UK is playing in the Terrorist Travel Working Group of the Global Coalition against Daesh; and what outcomes her Department expects from UK participation in that forum.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As stated in the answer to which the Hon Member refers, the UK's priority remains the enduring defeat of Daesh in all regions where they or their affiliates are operating, and we continue to work closely with a wide range of international partners towards that goal.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of permitting self-defence weapons on personal safety.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has no plans to permit the possession or use of currently prohibited weapons, such as pepper sprays or tasers, for self-defence purposes. Pepper sprays and tasers are prohibited under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.

The Government considers that increased availability of such items potentially increases the risk of them being used by violent criminals, alongside a risk that they may be used inappropriately or irresponsibly in a variety of different circumstances, increasing the risk of serious injuries.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary schools in a) Norfolk and b) North West Norfolk constituency do not have a school library.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the hon. Member for North West Norfolk to the answer of 22 October 2025 to Question ​​81502​.