Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of encouraging mediation between pub tenants and Pub Operating Businesses for rent disputes resulting from Market Rent Only proceedings.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The UK Government published the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) covering 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025 on 14 September 2026. The review concluded that the Pubs Code is operating consistently with its two core statutory principles.
The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) has statutory functions in relation to the enforcement of the Code and the resolution of certain disputes. Where parties are engaged in Market Rent Only proceedings, they may choose to seek to resolve matters through discussion, negotiation, mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution where appropriate.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what progress he has made on introducing additional Market Rent Only gateways and opt-out provisions for pub tenants.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Following the publication of the third statutory review of the Pubs Code and the Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) on 14 September 2026, a series of stakeholder engagement exercises has been launched.
This engagement will take place throughout the autumn and winter period to understand the views of tied pub tenants, pub-owning businesses and other interested representative groups on the review's findings and recommendations, including those relating to additional Market Rent Only gateways and opt-out provisions. The Government will consider the evidence gathered through this engagement before deciding what changes to the Pubs Code framework are required.
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, whether her Department consulted with rural hospitality businesses, accommodation providers, and tourist boards on the potential impacts of the proposed overnight visitor levy to the same extent as those in urban areas.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government published its response to the Overnight Visitor Levy consultation on 10 September 2026, during which the Government heard from a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives from rural areas. The choice of whether to introduce a levy will rest with strategic authorities, following consultation in their area. The impacts of the levy will be determined by local decisions, and any levy will need to reflect local circumstances, including the implications for businesses, visitor destinations and rural economies. Strategic authorities will be expected to consult with businesses and communities, and to assess the likely effects of their proposals before implementation.
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, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed overnight visitor levy on a) businesses, and b) the rural economy in North Yorkshire.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government published its response to the Overnight Visitor Levy consultation on 10 September 2026, during which the Government heard from a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives from rural areas. The choice of whether to introduce a levy will rest with strategic authorities, following consultation in their area. The impacts of the levy will be determined by local decisions, and any levy will need to reflect local circumstances, including the implications for businesses, visitor destinations and rural economies. Strategic authorities will be expected to consult with businesses and communities, and to assess the likely effects of their proposals before implementation.
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, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed overnight visitor levy on rural areas.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government published its response to the Overnight Visitor Levy consultation on 10 September 2026, during which the Government heard from a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives from rural areas. The choice of whether to introduce a levy will rest with strategic authorities, following consultation in their area. The impacts of the levy will be determined by local decisions, and any levy will need to reflect local circumstances, including the implications for businesses, visitor destinations and rural economies. Strategic authorities will be expected to consult with businesses and communities, and to assess the likely effects of their proposals before implementation.
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 steps she is taking to support people with the cost of heating oil.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the pressures facing households that rely on heating oil. We have provided an additional £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households, largely in rural communities, including £27 million through the Crisis and Resilience Fund for English local authorities in areas with higher reliance on oil heating. Funding is also available to the Northern Ireland Executive, Wales and Scotland. We continue to monitor heating-oil supply chains and engage frequently with industry to help ensure supply and pricing remain resilient.
In addition, the Government published its formal response to the CMA heating oil report on 13 October, and plans to strengthen regulations in the market for the first time, making sure households who use heating oil are treated fairly.
This will include developing options for a proportionate regulatory regime for the heating oil market, which will take time to get right, to ensure the best outcomes for consumers. In the meantime, we will work with industry to strengthen consumer protection measures in existing Codes of Conduct, which set rules for the sector.
This is a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to create a fairer, more resilient and trusted heating oil market, which delivers stronger consumer protections while preserving competition and security of supply.
A Written Ministerial Statement can be found here: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
The full response can be found here: Government response to the CMA heating oil market study - GOV.UK
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Action 25 of the National Cancer Plan, which NHS trusts have been identified as requiring additional oncology training places; and what proportion of those areas are in rural versus non-rural communities.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Reducing inequalities in cancer care is a priority for this Government. As part of the National Cancer Plan for England, the Government committed to creating additional training places for cancer consultants in areas with the greatest workforce need, including rural and coastal communities. NHS England is currently working through implementation arrangements.
Work is progressing on the expansion of 4,500 resident doctor posts, and is currently for the initial 1,000, although it is not intended specifically to address Action 25 set out in the National Cancer Plan. NHS England uses an allocations methodology that recommends the establishment of additional posts in geographies that are relatively under-resourced. As rural geographies tend to have fewer postgraduate medical training posts per need-adjusted population than urban ones, such geographies would be prioritised for expansion when we increased numbers of training opportunities.
NHS England is currently working with regional colleagues, Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education and trusts to identify additional resident doctor posts. NHS England cannot yet confirm how many of these additional posts will be in clinical oncology or medical oncology, as trusts have yet to send a complete list of expressions of interest in each training programme. Following receipt of the expressions of interest supporting the initial 1,000 posts, we will be able to assess that expansion and provide additional advice for the expansion of the remaining 3,500 posts which will follow in 2028 and 2029.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of successful Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund grant applicants were located in rural areas.
Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The £11.9 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund funded over 80 projects across all nine regions of England, helping people get online safely and with confidence.
Funding was distributed broadly evenly across the regions, with each receiving between 10% - 13% of funded projects (approximately 17 - 23 projects as some projects span multiple regions). A number of these organisations focused on rural areas, such as Rural Media Charity, who supported older adults to improve confidence and access to online services in rural West Midlands communities.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund funding allocated to each region in England.
Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The £11.9 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund funded over 80 projects across all nine regions of England, helping people get online safely and with confidence.
Funding was distributed broadly evenly across the regions, with each receiving between 10% - 13% of funded projects (approximately 17 - 23 projects as some projects span multiple regions). A number of these organisations focused on rural areas, such as Rural Media Charity, who supported older adults to improve confidence and access to online services in rural West Midlands communities.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress he has made on bringing forward legislative proposals on litigation funding agreements.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Litigation funding helps level the playing field, enabling individuals and small businesses to pursue claims against well-resourced opponents. We are pursuing the earliest legislative vehicle to deliver reforms that mitigate the effects of PACCAR by restoring certainty to the litigation funding market, protecting access to justice, and introducing proportionate safeguards to ensure claimants are treated fairly.