Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61223 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
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, DCMS 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.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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:
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.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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 27 June 2025 to Question 61226 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Zero Based Review covered all of RDEL spending which encompassed 75 lines of activity.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 June 2025 to Question 61220 on Ministry of Defence: Public Expenditure, how many lines of activity in his Department were considered as part of the zero based review.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
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.