Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the British Council in delivering the Cultural Protection Fund in support of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in conflict-affected and fragile regions.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Since 2016, DCMS and the British Council have partnered to deliver the Cultural Protection Fund (CPF). This fund safeguards cultural heritage at risk due to conflict and climate change. The fund responds to open calls to protect heritage that is significant to the communities closest to it, regardless of UNESCO World Heritage status.

Since 2016 DCMS has awarded £56m to the British Council and the CPF has awarded over 150 grants to projects in 20 countries. DCMS has confirmed a further £9m of funding to the CPF until March 2029. The British Council’s plans remain ambitious over the coming period, opening a new call for applications in June 2026.

As reported in the 2019 tailored review of the British Council, DCMS feels the CPF has made a significant contribution to the department’s priorities. Three evaluations of the CPF have been published and the evaluation of the CPF’s 2022-2025 programme will be published in spring 2026.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the British Council’s delivery of the Cultural Protection Fund on (a) strengthening support for communities connected to UNESCO World Heritage Sites and (b) promoting international cultural partnerships.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The CPF supports communities to safeguard cultural heritage threatened by conflict and climate change regardless of UNESCO World Heritage status. Funded projects strengthen individual, community and societal identity alongside protecting cultural heritage. The fund is well placed to strengthen support for communities connected to UNESCO World Heritage Sites if that is part of the project scope, and has done for many previous projects.

DCMS has confirmed a further £9m of funding to the CPF until March 2029. A new call for projects will launch in June 2026. While UNESCO sites may apply, and some have received funding from the CPF in the past, applicants must demonstrate local significance.

In 2026, CPF will also take on the stewardship of the Culture in Crisis programme, which will convene international heritage actors to learn from each other and international cultural partnerships.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the contribution of the British Council’s delivery of the Cultural Protection Fund on the safeguarding and long-term preservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Since 2016, the Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) has worked to safeguard cultural heritage globally threatened by conflict or climate change. It supports projects significant to local communities through open calls, irrespective of UNESCO status.

The CPF has delivered projects in UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Bamiyan in Afghanistan, Lamu Old Town in Kenya and Aleppo in Syria. The safeguarding of heritage, both tangible and intangible, is core to all projects delivered by the CPF.

DCMS is positive about the impact the CPF has had on keeping international cultural heritage sites and culturally significant objects safe, as reported in the 2019 Tailored Review of the British Council. Three evaluations of the CPF have been published and the evaluation of the CPF 2022-2025 programme will be published in spring 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the government is taking to (a) promote the use of recycled water, (b) support water companies to harvest the benefits of recycled water and (c) increase public awareness that recycled water may be a way to reduce demand on the supply of potable water.

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

The Government recognises the benefits of water reuse, specifically greywater and rainwater recycling play a key role in ensuring our homes and businesses can be water efficient. This was set out in the Water White Paper, which committed to facilitating the adoption of reused water and review the right to connect to water supply for domestic and non-domestic purposes, freeing up potable water supply for growth.

The Government is also exploring how water-efficient technologies, including greywater and rainwater reuse, can be supported through the review of the Building Regulations (2010). The Government will continue to work with Ofwat, water companies and developers to encourage and support their delivery of water and wastewater efficiency and reuse measures.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of powers held by (a) Government and (b) local authorities to compel housing developers to complete works so that infrastructure can be adopted on newly developed housing estates.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government does not provide any direct financial or other support to assist Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) in adopting infrastructure on newly developed housing estates.

LPAs can use Section 106 planning obligations to secure a commitment from developers to deliver infrastructure that is necessary to make a development acceptable in planning terms. LPAs may take enforcement action in respect of any breach of the obligations contained within a Section 106 agreement.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210) and the answer given to Question UIN 112724 on 3 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support he is providing to assist local authorities in adopting infrastructure on newly developed housing estates.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government does not provide any direct financial or other support to assist Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) in adopting infrastructure on newly developed housing estates.

LPAs can use Section 106 planning obligations to secure a commitment from developers to deliver infrastructure that is necessary to make a development acceptable in planning terms. LPAs may take enforcement action in respect of any breach of the obligations contained within a Section 106 agreement.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210) and the answer given to Question UIN 112724 on 3 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of producing guidance for local authorities on a) the opportunities to reallocate s.106 funding for stalled projects, and b) making it clearer to local authorities that reallocation is permissible.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing for greater pooling of section 106 funds between local authorities to free up unspent funding.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in utilising unspent s.106 funds.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Bob Blackman (Chair); Jonathan Davies; Mr Lee Dillon; Mary Glindon

Found: of 53 (56.6%) Julia Buckley (Labour, Shrewsbury) (added 28 Oct 2024) 39 of 53 (73.6%) Jonathan Davies

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Julia Buckley; Jonathan Davies; Carla Denyer

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Julia Buckley; Jonathan Davies; Carla Denyer

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Bob Blackman (Chair); Jonathan Davies; Mary Glindon; Will Stone;

Found: Letter dated 25/03/2026 from Ian Murray MP to Jonathan Davies MP regarding issues raised during the BBC

Submit Evidence (by 21 May 2026)

The Environmental Audit Committee is examining the role of HM Treasury in shaping the UK’s response to climate change, nature loss and wider environmental sustainability. The Government’s economic policy objective includes a commitment to “accelerate the transition to a climate resilient, nature positive and net zero economy”.[1]