Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many homes have been (a) destroyed and (b) damaged by wildfires in England in each year since 2020; and what estimate she has made of the proximity of unmanaged vegetation to those homes.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) does not hold data on the number homes that have been destroyed or damaged by wildfires, nor an estimate of the proximity of unmanaged vegetation to these homes.
MHCLG collects data on incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in England through the Fire and Rescue Data Platform (FaRDaP). This includes information on wildfires, including the number of wildfires broken down by month, fire and rescue authority and area burned, as well as information on wildfires involving casualties. Provisional data on wildfires has been published in an ad hoc data release covering 1 April 2010 to 31 August 2026 and can be found here: Provisional wildfire statistics for England, 2010 to 2026 - GOV.UK.
However, FaRDaP currently records any incident where a wildfire has spread to a home as a dwelling fire rather than a wildfire. Therefore, it is not possible to establish the number of homes that have been damaged by wildfire. FaRDaP also does not collect data on the proximity of vegetation to homes.
Work is ongoing to update the data collected in FaRDaP. An upcoming update to FaRDaP includes collecting information on “uncontrolled outdoor vegetation fire” as the cause of fire where an uncontrolled vegetation fire has spread to or caused a fire involving a dwelling. While this field alone does not confirm that the original fire was a wildfire, it could be considered alongside other wildfire criteria to help identify where dwellings have been damaged or destroyed as a result of a wildfire. The information collected through FaRDaP is regularly reviewed and updated in response to changing and developing priorities.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of halving employer national insurance contributions for 21-24 year olds up to £50,270 on hospitality businesses in North Yorkshire.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government has announced £2.5 billion for the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy over the next three years, supporting almost one million young people and helping to deliver up to 500,000 opportunities to earn or learn.
Businesses can already claim employer National Insurance relief for employees under 21 and apprentices under 25, with no employer National Insurance due on earnings up to £50,270. These reliefs were estimated to be worth around £2.5 billion in 2025–26.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of halving employer national insurance contributions for 21-24 year olds up to £50,270 on levels of youth unemployment in North Yorkshire.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government acknowledges that there are significant challenges for young people entering the world of work. That is why the Government has announced £2.5 billion of investment in the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy over the next three years, supporting almost one million young people and helping to deliver up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.
Businesses can already claim employer National Insurance relief for employees under 21 and apprentices under 25, with no employer National Insurance due on earnings up to £50,270. These reliefs were estimated to be worth
around £2.5 billion in 2025–26.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events, and does not routinely comment on proposals.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of broadening eligibility for the Crisis and Resilience Fund to support people with the cost of heating oil.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), including the additional £27 million of heating oil support, is delivered by local authorities in England. As with the wider CRF, heating oil support is targeted at low-income households. The government has been clear that it is not intended to be a universal offer for all households that use heating oil. We must balance the government’s priorities to help households with the cost of living and to protect the public finances. Within this and the broad scope of DWP’s national CRF guidance, local authorities have discretion over scheme design, including eligibility criteria.
As announced at the budget, the government will provide a £100 Household Energy Payment for households in council tax bands A to D. This will be paid into bank accounts where possible from January, giving up to 20 million households in England some breathing space from rising energy prices. The government is also providing £100 million for local authorities in England to provide additional support to households most acutely impacted by rising energy bills.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will ensure that measures to support people with the cost of gas and electricity also apply to heating oil, including the temporary reduction on VAT for electricity bills.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government announced over £53 million of targeted support in March for low-income households reliant on heating oil, ensuring support is directed to those most in need.
Off-gas-grid households with a domestic electricity meter will also benefit from the six-month removal of VAT from domestic electricity bills from 1 October, expected to reduce the annualised Ofgem price cap by around £45.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when the Government plans to introduce regulation for the heating oil sector; and what details of this forthcoming regulation she can provide.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government published its formal response to the Competition and Markets Authority’s heating oil report on 13 October and is taking forward proposals to regulate the heating oil sector for the first time, ensuring households are treated fairly. We are developing options for a proportionate regulatory regime, which will take time to get right to secure the best outcomes for consumers. In the meantime, we will work with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in existing Codes of Conduct. Our aim is a fairer, more resilient and trusted market, with stronger consumer protections while preserving competition and security of supply.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a price cap for heating oil.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the concerns of households that rely on heating oil. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is bought as a single delivery at the prevailing market price, so prices respond quickly to wholesale costs, international oil markets, seasonal demand and local delivery conditions. The Competition and Markets Authority found that the market is generally competitive and that recent price increases largely reflected wholesale costs.
The Government published its formal response on 13 October and will regulate the heating oil market for the first time, developing a proportionate regime to strengthen fair treatment, transparency, protections for vulnerable households and routes to redress, while preserving competition and security of supply.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans her Department has to ensure better access to redress and dispute resolution between consumers and distributors of heating oil.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government agrees with the CMA’s recent assessment that the heating oil sector is not working as it should for consumers, which can lead to poor outcomes, especially during periods of volatility and for vulnerable consumers. This includes the process for price quotations, order cancellations, support for vulnerable consumers, and access to redress. We have therefore announced our intentions to regulate the heating oil sector for the first time. As an interim priority we agree to work with industry to strengthen consumer protections through existing Codes of Conduct, consumer protection initiatives, and awareness of and access to dispute resolution whilst longer-term regulatory solutions are worked through.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will conduct a post hoc impact assessment of the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra continues to monitor the growing evidence on heather and grass burning including the potential impacts of burning on peatland habitats and their recovery, to inform our approach to peatland protection and restoration. There are no current plans to conduct a post hoc impact assessment of the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the BBC on the potential impact of reductions in local BBC news correspondent posts on local coverage of specialist areas, including health, social affairs, transport and business.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The department engages with the BBC on a number of issues, including through the ongoing BBC Charter Review which is ensuring the BBC can serve all communities and regions of the UK effectively. This Government recognises the importance of local radio and news in supporting local democracy and to community engagement, particularly in rural areas. However, with regard to specific changes to BBC local radio services, it is for the BBC to make decisions on the provision of its services as an operationally independent organisation. It is then for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the BBC, to hold the BBC to account on this responsibility.
The Government's BBC Royal Charter Review, launched through our Green Paper last year, is considering the BBC's role in supporting a sustainable, trusted media system across the United Kingdom, including how it can support local news and the sustainability of the UKs creative, broadcast and media industry. This forms part of the Government's broader commitment to a sustainable, trusted public service media system across the United Kingdom including our commitment in the Local Media Action Plan to ensure through Charter Review that the BBC supports the diversity of local media and news services in the UK. Our full plans to do so will be set out in our White Paper.