Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to ensure the enforcement of regular risk assessment and monitoring of private water supplies by local authorities as per their responsibilities outlined in the Private Water Supplies Regulations 2016.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Private water supplies are regulated by local authorities. They are responsible for identifying risks to the quality of the water and must have comprehensive monitoring programmes in place to sample the drinking water for any element, organism or substance that they believe may cause the supply not to be wholesome.
Defra expects all local authorities to undertake their statutory duties. Local authorities are regularly reminded of their duties, and where they may not be being complied with, in the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water’s annual reports on the quality of private water supplies in England. Local authorities’ compliance with reporting duties is raised by officials from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government through their regular liaison meeting with the Local Government Association.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to reduce youth economic inactivity in Hexham constituency.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820 million for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy.
Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning, including:
Support to find a job: through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, which over the next three years will offer nearly 900,000 16–24-year-olds a dedicated session, followed by four weeks of additional intensive support with a Work Coach
Further expansion of Youth Hubs: We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 360 locations so that all young people – including those not on benefits – can access opportunities and wider support in every local area of Great Britain
c300,000 additional opportunities for workplace experience and training
Guaranteeing jobs: For long-term unemployed 18–21-year-olds on Universal Credit, the Jobs Guarantee scheme will provide six months of paid employment.
In Hexham, there is a strong network of supportive employers who are providing work experience opportunities. This hands-on experience is invaluable for young people as they navigate their career paths.
There is also a well-established partnership with the Newcastle United Foundation (NUF) who is one of the biggest providers of training and skills in the area, running courses focused on employability, confidence building and teamwork.
In the North East and Northumberland, Jobcentres collaborate with local authorities, colleges, and partners to support young people through targeted programmes. These include Durham Works, helping 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training; the Pre-Employability Sports Programme, which builds essential skills through sports and workshops; and Club Elevate, supporting 16–25-year-olds in North Tyneside who face challenges such as poor mental health, substance misuse, or risk of anti-social behaviour.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to reduce youth economic inactivity in the North East.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820 million for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy.
Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning, including:
Support to find a job: through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, which over the next three years will offer nearly 900,000 16–24-year-olds a dedicated session, followed by four weeks of additional intensive support with a Work Coach
Further expansion of Youth Hubs: We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 360 locations so that all young people – including those not on benefits – can access opportunities and wider support in every local area of Great Britain
c300,000 additional opportunities for workplace experience and training
Guaranteeing jobs: For long-term unemployed 18–21-year-olds on Universal Credit, the Jobs Guarantee scheme will provide six months of paid employment.
In Hexham, there is a strong network of supportive employers who are providing work experience opportunities. This hands-on experience is invaluable for young people as they navigate their career paths.
There is also a well-established partnership with the Newcastle United Foundation (NUF) who is one of the biggest providers of training and skills in the area, running courses focused on employability, confidence building and teamwork.
In the North East and Northumberland, Jobcentres collaborate with local authorities, colleges, and partners to support young people through targeted programmes. These include Durham Works, helping 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training; the Pre-Employability Sports Programme, which builds essential skills through sports and workshops; and Club Elevate, supporting 16–25-year-olds in North Tyneside who face challenges such as poor mental health, substance misuse, or risk of anti-social behaviour.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to reduce youth economic inactivity in Northumberland.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820 million for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy.
Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning, including:
Support to find a job: through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, which over the next three years will offer nearly 900,000 16–24-year-olds a dedicated session, followed by four weeks of additional intensive support with a Work Coach
Further expansion of Youth Hubs: We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 360 locations so that all young people – including those not on benefits – can access opportunities and wider support in every local area of Great Britain
c300,000 additional opportunities for workplace experience and training
Guaranteeing jobs: For long-term unemployed 18–21-year-olds on Universal Credit, the Jobs Guarantee scheme will provide six months of paid employment.
In Hexham, there is a strong network of supportive employers who are providing work experience opportunities. This hands-on experience is invaluable for young people as they navigate their career paths.
There is also a well-established partnership with the Newcastle United Foundation (NUF) who is one of the biggest providers of training and skills in the area, running courses focused on employability, confidence building and teamwork.
In the North East and Northumberland, Jobcentres collaborate with local authorities, colleges, and partners to support young people through targeted programmes. These include Durham Works, helping 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training; the Pre-Employability Sports Programme, which builds essential skills through sports and workshops; and Club Elevate, supporting 16–25-year-olds in North Tyneside who face challenges such as poor mental health, substance misuse, or risk of anti-social behaviour.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment the Department has made of the level of energy-related cost pressures on low- income households in the North East as referenced in the Child Poverty Strategy.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The 2025 sub-regional fuel poverty statistics (using 2023 data) use the LILEE (Low Income, Low Energy Efficiency) metric to estimate fuel poverty for local areas. In 2023, 16,198 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Northumberland local authority, representing 10.7% of households in this area. In 2023, 4,614 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Hexham constituency, representing 10.8% of households in this area.
For the wider North East region, we refer to the 2025 fuel poverty statistics, which use the LILEE metric to estimate fuel poverty at regional level. In 2024, 123,000 households were fuel poor in the North East region, representing 10.1% of households in this region.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment the Department has made of the level of energy-related cost pressures on low- income households in Northumberland as referenced in the Child Poverty Strategy.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The 2025 sub-regional fuel poverty statistics (using 2023 data) use the LILEE (Low Income, Low Energy Efficiency) metric to estimate fuel poverty for local areas. In 2023, 16,198 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Northumberland local authority, representing 10.7% of households in this area. In 2023, 4,614 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Hexham constituency, representing 10.8% of households in this area.
For the wider North East region, we refer to the 2025 fuel poverty statistics, which use the LILEE metric to estimate fuel poverty at regional level. In 2024, 123,000 households were fuel poor in the North East region, representing 10.1% of households in this region.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment the Department has made of the level of energy-related cost pressures on low- income households in Hexham constituency as referenced in the Child Poverty Strategy.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The 2025 sub-regional fuel poverty statistics (using 2023 data) use the LILEE (Low Income, Low Energy Efficiency) metric to estimate fuel poverty for local areas. In 2023, 16,198 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Northumberland local authority, representing 10.7% of households in this area. In 2023, 4,614 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Hexham constituency, representing 10.8% of households in this area.
For the wider North East region, we refer to the 2025 fuel poverty statistics, which use the LILEE metric to estimate fuel poverty at regional level. In 2024, 123,000 households were fuel poor in the North East region, representing 10.1% of households in this region.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of businesses in the Hexham constituency that may request support to improve their energy management practices.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In order to keep the level of reporting obligations on businesses to a minimum, DESNZ does not collect information detailing the uptake of energy management improvements by businesses.
Specific small business funding in Northumberland is available through North East Growth Hub, Business Northumberland and The Northumberland Small Business Service. Details are available at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/business/grants-funding/grants-funding
Small businesses can search for other local grant and advice schemes on the finance and support for businesses page on gov.uk.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of businesses in Northumberland that may request support to improve their energy management practices.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In order to keep the level of reporting obligations on businesses to a minimum, DESNZ does not collect information detailing the uptake of energy management improvements by businesses.
Specific small business funding in Northumberland is available through North East Growth Hub, Business Northumberland and The Northumberland Small Business Service. Details are available at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/business/grants-funding/grants-funding
Small businesses can search for other local grant and advice schemes on the finance and support for businesses page on gov.uk.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of businesses in the North East that may request support to improve their energy management practices.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In order to keep the level of reporting obligations on businesses to a minimum, DESNZ does not collect information detailing the uptake of energy management improvements by businesses.
Specific small business funding in Northumberland is available through North East Growth Hub, Business Northumberland and The Northumberland Small Business Service. Details are available at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/business/grants-funding/grants-funding
Small businesses can search for other local grant and advice schemes on the finance and support for businesses page on gov.uk.