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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2026 to UIN 105608, if he will publish the evidence on the application of the Remoteness Adjustment in the Fair Funding Review.

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

The government will apply the remoteness adjustment to the Adult Social Care Formula, but not to formulas more broadly. The government recognised in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 the case in principle for the impact of a remoteness adjustment on costs.

The best evidence the government has heard in response to the consultation indicates remoteness may have a particular impact on adult social care services. Social care was also the area most frequently mentioned by respondents to the consultation in relation to the impact of remoteness.

On balance, taking into consideration the available evidence and the views of stakeholders, the government has made a judgement that remoteness should be accounted for when assessing the cost of delivering adult social care services.

The technical methodology annexes published at the provisional Settlement set out the Area Cost Adjustment's methodology and data sources - Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026-2027 to 2028-2029 - GOV.UK.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing businesses to continue paying rates based on the previous year's valuation where a newly determined business rates valuation is under appeal with additional liability payable only if the appeal is unsuccessful.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

If customers disagree with their Rateable Value (as published in the Rating Lists), there is a three-stage process run by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) known as Check, Challenge, Appeal to challenge this.

Ratepayers are required to continue paying business rates based on the current valuation while a case is ongoing.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to introduce measures to manage bottom trawl fishing in the 41 English marine protected areas consulted on in 2025; and if she will set out a timeframe for introducing these measures.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ely and East Cambridgeshire on 13 November 2025, PQ 88509.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will list ML3 arms export licences to Israel licensing the transfer of ammunition for civilian use extant between 1 January 2025 and 31 September 2025.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department does not hold continuous records on the number of export licences extant at any point over historic periods, but publishes data regularly based on decisions taken and has, on an exceptional basis, periodically published further detail on licences for Israel extant as at a point in time.

In August 2025 the Department published informed on the 347 licences involving Israel which were extant on 31 July. This total included 5 licences with an ML3 rating. Any ammunition covered under such licences was assessed as not having utility in military operations in Gaza, either because the items were to be re-exported to third countries, or because the items covered related to training ammunition or non-military purposes.

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 potential impact of the Deposit Return Scheme on small retailers in rural areas.

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

Defra published the Final Impact Assessment on DRS, including its assessment of impact on retailers, for England and Northern Ireland in 2024. This can be found at: The Deposit Scheme for Drinks Containers (England and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that exemption arrangements under the Deposit Return Scheme are accessible to rural retailers.

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

The regulations set out rules requiring all grocery retailers that sell drinks that are included in the scheme to host a return point, unless they qualify for an exemption.

Retailers, including those in rural communities, will be able to apply to the deposit management organisation, Exchange for Change, for an exemption to operating a return point on their premises if they qualify under the relevant criteria. These include being in close proximity to another return point or not having suitable premises for operating a return point safely.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to promote water literacy training.

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

Defra works closely with Waterwise, an independent not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation who are spearheading the Water Literacy Training Pilot, which aims to equip professionals with the knowledge and tools to play their part in tackling water scarcity and its environmental impact in the UK, and to support their pilot and consider next steps.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to mitigate water demand from new housing developments in water-stressed regions.

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

The Department is taking forward a number of steps to mitigate water demand from new housing developments in water stressed regions.

Policy options on amendments to Water Efficiency Standards in Building Regulations have been tested through a public consultation which ran from September to December 2025. The Government response will set out how we will tighten water standards in new homes to protect water stressed regions.

Defra has established a Water Delivery Taskforce to ensure that water companies deliver on their planned investments to provide water and wastewater capacity for the development of new homes and businesses. The Taskforce has seen excellent work across departments to resolve blockers where water scarcity issues have stalled development. For example, in Cambridge, one of the most water-stressed regions of the UK the Taskforce is facilitating innovation through a series of testbed projects to help resolve local water supply challenges.

Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank

Crawley Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre opening hours

Review of the student loan system

Securing the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme

Found: Q93 John Milne: Good morning.

Found: Debbie Abrahams (Chair); Lee Barron; Johanna Baxter; Steve Darling; Damien Egan; Amanda Hack; John Milne