Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to page 392 of the report by the Climate Change Committee entitled The Seventh Carbon Budget, published on 26 February 2025, if he will take steps to (a) identify priority sources of imported emissions and (b) define a benchmark for reducing emissions imported into the UK.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) recommendations are independent advice, not government policy. The Government is considering the CCC’s advice and will set the CB7 level by 30th June 2026.
Alongside reporting the UK’s territorial emissions, the Government publishes UK carbon footprint statistics, which includes imported emissions. In July 2025, we announced the Production and Consumption Transformation (PACT) Centre. PACT will conduct independent world class research to expand the evidence base on production and consumption, providing actionable insights on energy and material efficiency solutions, including assessing imported emissions. This will support effective analysis and policy making in this field.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is undertaking to tackle imported emissions in the supply chain of liquefied natural gas.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) provides the UK with a flexible source of gas supply to meet gas demand – helping respond when demand peaks, for example over winter when gas demand rises for home heating.
However, we are aware of the emissions associated with its use and we are working with international partners to explore ways to minimise methane and CO2 emissions across the LNG supply chain. This includes considering enhanced measuring, monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions to improve accountability and progress toward lower-emission LNG production and transport.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department made of the level of imported emissions from liquefied natural gas for carbon capture, usage and storage in the policy paper entitled Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, published on 23 June 2025.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Natural gas is used as an input for Power CCUS and CCUS-enabled hydrogen production. However, the Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan (23 June 2025) did not include a specific estimate of imported LNG emissions for CCUS. We are clear that future emissions from the production of natural gas will need to reduce in the UK and across the world and we are working with the US, EU and others to develop a framework to better measure, monitor, and report methane emissions from imported gas.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy, published on 19 June 2025, what steps she is taking to help ensure that all new housing developments have access to (a) GP surgeries and (b) other essential local services.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.
Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.
The government provides financial support for essential infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand through Land and Infrastructure funding programmes, such as the Housing Infrastructure Fund.
The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 will also support the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.
The government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
Our Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes various provisions designed to streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure.
My Department engages on a regular and ongoing basis with other government departments to ensure that the planning system supports the provision of necessary infrastructure, including in respect of healthcare and education, alongside new housing development.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring that (a) new and (b) existing housing developments have adequate access to (i) GP surgeries and (ii) other healthcare infrastructure.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.
Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.
The government provides financial support for essential infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand through Land and Infrastructure funding programmes, such as the Housing Infrastructure Fund.
The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 will also support the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.
The government is also committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
Our Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes various provisions designed to streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure.
My Department engages on a regular and ongoing basis with other government departments to ensure that the planning system supports the provision of necessary infrastructure, including in respect of healthcare and education, alongside new housing development.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the powers of councils to improve transport accessibility for people with disabilities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Secretary of State regularly engages with cabinet colleagues on a range of matters. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that when assessing sites that may be allocated in local development plans, or determining specific applications for development, decision makers should ensure that safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users.
The Framework also outlines that applications for development should address the needs of people with disabilities and reduced mobility in relation to all modes of transport.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department (a) has made and (b) plans to make an assessment of the impact of exposure to chemicals on cancer incidence rates.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK REACH regulation aims to protect human health from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, including substances of very high concern such as carcinogens. This is led by the Health and Safety Executive, with the UK Health Security Agency contributing to the process. The Department is currently not planning to make an assessment of the impacts of chemicals on cancer incidence rates for this reason.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will ask Gatwick Airport to publish an assessment of the potential impact of a second runway on levels of emissions other than carbon dioxide.
Answered by Mike Kane
The application for the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Development Consent Order, submitted by Gatwick Airport Limited, is currently with the Secretary of State for a decision, with a statutory deadline of the 27 October 2025.
The Examining Authority, in its 6-month Examination conducted last year, held several public hearings on the issues of noise and surface transport, providing Interested Parties with the opportunity to present their views. There is no mechanism within the Planning Act 2008 to conduct a public hearing at the decision stage.
The Secretary of State has consulted on several matters during the decision stage and may request further information from Gatwick Airport or Interested Parties, if she is not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to take a decision. Interested Parties can provide further representations to the Secretary of State, which will be taken into consideration. All information regarding this application can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold a consultation on the development consent order for the expansion of Gatwick Airport before deciding whether to approve it.
Answered by Mike Kane
The application for the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Development Consent Order, submitted by Gatwick Airport Limited, is currently with the Secretary of State for a decision, with a statutory deadline of the 27 October 2025.
The Examining Authority, in its 6-month Examination conducted last year, held several public hearings on the issues of noise and surface transport, providing Interested Parties with the opportunity to present their views. There is no mechanism within the Planning Act 2008 to conduct a public hearing at the decision stage.
The Secretary of State has consulted on several matters during the decision stage and may request further information from Gatwick Airport or Interested Parties, if she is not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to take a decision. Interested Parties can provide further representations to the Secretary of State, which will be taken into consideration. All information regarding this application can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether further public hearings will be held on (a) noise and (b) surface transport relating to Gatwick expansion.
Answered by Mike Kane
The application for the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Development Consent Order, submitted by Gatwick Airport Limited, is currently with the Secretary of State for a decision, with a statutory deadline of the 27 October 2025.
The Examining Authority, in its 6-month Examination conducted last year, held several public hearings on the issues of noise and surface transport, providing Interested Parties with the opportunity to present their views. There is no mechanism within the Planning Act 2008 to conduct a public hearing at the decision stage.
The Secretary of State has consulted on several matters during the decision stage and may request further information from Gatwick Airport or Interested Parties, if she is not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to take a decision. Interested Parties can provide further representations to the Secretary of State, which will be taken into consideration. All information regarding this application can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.