Asked by: Margaret Mullane (Labour - Dagenham and Rainham)
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 help tackle the impact of outdoor digital billboards on communities in the context of the revised National Planning Policy Framework.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, proposed removing the existing policy on advertisements.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Margaret Mullane (Labour - Dagenham and Rainham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his department has made of the potential impact the expiry of the Renewables Obligation for LFGTE on 31 March 2027 on local authority finances.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government is aware that Renewables Obligation support for most landfill gas to energy (LFGTE) generators ends in April 2027, and that this could affect their commercial viability
DESNZ’s assessment to date has focused on generator viability, and the potential impacts of retirement on energy security and methane emissions, rather than a separate quantified assessment of impacts on local authority finances.
Government plans to publish the consultation on transitional support for landfill gas generation in due course, and would welcome responses from local authorities. Any future support would be subject to rigorous value-for-money and impact assessments.
Asked by: Margaret Mullane (Labour - Dagenham and Rainham)
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 taking to ensure transitional support for the landfill gas to energy sector will be in place when the Renewables Obligation for LFGTE expires on 31 March 2027.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government is aware that support under the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme will end for existing landfill gas generators from April 2027, which could affect the commercial viability of these generators.
That is why, as set out in the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, Government is exploring the implementation of a long-term methane capture scheme, with suitable transitional arrangements.
DESNZ will shortly consult on these proposals. No final decision has been made, and in assessing the case for any future support, we will consider the outcomes of the consultation process, the economic and environmental impacts, as well as value for money to the taxpayer and billpayer.
Asked by: Margaret Mullane (Labour - Dagenham and Rainham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the expiry of the Renewables Obligation for LFGTE on the Methane Action Plan.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Analysis published within the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan indicate that the ending of the Renewable Obligation from 2027 could reduce methane capture at landfills in England from ~54% to ~49% without other measures being put in place. However, under the Methane Action Plan, government is exploring the implementation of a long-term methane capture scheme and will shortly consult on the potential for providing suitable transitional arrangements.