Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure the business rates system supports the regeneration of high streets.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has already started the work of reforming our business rates system by introducing new permanently lower multipliers for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new multipliers will benefit over 750,000 properties.

The Government is paying for this through higher rates on the top one per cent of most expensive properties. This includes many large distribution warehouses, such as those used by online giants. The high value multiplier is 33% more than the multiplier for small RHL properties.

The new RHL multipliers replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since the pandemic. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress her Department has made on reform of the credit union common bond.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is a strong supporter of the mutual sector, including credit unions, and is working to support its growth in line with the manifesto commitment to double the size of the sector.

On 18 March, the government announced plans to reform the credit union common bond in Great Britain by:

• Increasing the potential membership cap on the locality bond from 3 million to 10 million, which will significantly expand the potential size of locality-based credit unions, which make up 79% of the sector, and reduce uncertainty around merger activity.
• Allowing credit unions to admit students to locality-based credit unions, if not otherwise eligible through residence or work.
• Expanding eligibility for members' relatives to allow credit unions to admit relatives of qualifying members regardless of whether they share a household.
• Allowing credit unions to retain retired members as fully qualifying members.

These reforms will help more people get access to fair loans and a safe place to save, so families have a real alternative to high-cost credit.

Full details of the government’s plans have been published in a call for evidence response available on GOV.UK.

The government will legislate to give effect to these reforms as soon as parliamentary time allows.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her department has made to a) strengthen the Environment Agency and b) support the EAs work to improve the condition of the River Wear.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) works to ensure all sectors, including the water industry, are fulfilling their legal responsibilities to the environment. Where breaches and illegal activity are found, they will not hesitate to hold companies to account.

The Water (Special Measures) Act has provided the most significant increase in enforcement powers to regulators, including EA in a decade, to take tougher action against water companies.

The Environment Agency is regulating Northumbrian Water to ensure it invests in the Wear catchment to reduce sewage discharges and improve water quality through the water industry national environment programme (WINEP). As part of this WINEP cycle, there are approximately 400 investigations and interventions to improve the condition of the River Wear.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of patient parking at hospitals across County Durham.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No assessment has been made by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, of the adequacy of patient parking at hospitals across County Durham.

National Health Service organisations decide locally on the amount of car parking they provide to patients, visitors, and staff, depending on the clinical services they provide and their local environment.

Restructuring at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Industrial action and the cost of living

World Social Work Day 2026

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (No. 2)

Payment of employment tribunal awards

National No Smoking Day

New United Nations Convention on the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals