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 (a) onshore oil developments in the UK on areas of significant housing growth such as the Ardingly Reservoir catchment and (b) those developments on drinking water.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Local planning authorities and the Environment Agency are responsible for assessing the impact of onshore oil and gas developments on housing and drinking water respectively.

The North Sea Transition Authority regulates exploration and development licensing for England’s onshore oil and gas resources on behalf of the Secretary of State. Licence holders require further consents and permits before any operations take place.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many meetings have her (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants attended relating to the Crowborough Training Camp and the accommodation of asylum seekers that were facilitated by the leadership of Wealden District Council since October 2025.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has engaged extensively with Wealden District Council in relation to the use of Crowborough Training Camp. This has included meetings attended by senior civil servants, as well as attendance at a meeting of the Wealden District Council Scrutiny and Performance Committee in November 2025.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has received any written representations or invitations to meet from Councillor Ian Tysh (Maresfield, Planning and Environment Portfolio) of Wealden District Council relating to the accommodation of asylum seekers at the Crowborough Training Camp.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has met regularly with Wealden District Council and has not received written representations or invitations to meet from Councillor Ian Tysh.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has received any written representations or invitations to meet from Councillor Gareth Owen-Williams (Crowborough Jarvis Brook) of Wealden District Council relating to the accommodation of asylum seekers at the Crowborough Training Camp.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has met regularly with Wealden District Council and has not received written representations or invitations to meet from Councillor Gareth Owen-Williams.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has facilitated visits to the Crowborough Training Camp for Councillor Rachel Millward and Councillor James Partridge, the Leaders of Wealden District Council; and on what date any such visit took place.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Yes, the Home Office facilitated a visit on 9 February 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any Ministers from her Department have visited the Crowborough Training Camp since October 2025.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

No, ministers have not yet visited the Crowborough site.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment, of 17 February 2026, how much her Department is contributing to the rail infrastructure projects in Wales by financial year.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The 2025 Spending Review allocated £302 million from the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) for rail enhancement investment in Wales, directly overseen by the Department for Transport. This forms part of the overall £445 million set aside for rail improvements in Wales as part of the Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy.

The £302m RNEP funding will be distributed over financial years 2026/27 to 2029/30, with annual budgets currently being finalised in collaboration with the rail industry in Wales. Further UK Government funding allocations will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment, of 17 February 2026, what funding source is being used; and whether those funds are from existing Department for Transport allocations.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Prime Minister has made a generational UK Government commitment to modernise Welsh rail. Following the 2025 Spending Review, this work is already underway supported by the following funding sources:

• DfT Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline
• The Levelling Up Fund
• The Cardiff Capital Region City Deal
• The North Wales Growth Deal
• Welsh Government Transport Budgets
• Private-sector funding contributions

Further UK Government funding allocations will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews, leveraging further contributions from local partners and private sector investment, to deliver all the projects outlined in Transport for Wales’ vision for rail across Wales and the Borders as quickly as possible.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment, of 17 February 2026, whether that announcement forms part of the transport funding from the Spending Review.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

At least £445 million has been set aside for rail improvements in Wales as part of the 2025 Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy.

This investment marks the beginning of a long-term UK Government commitment, announced by the Prime Minister, to modernise Welsh railways.

The Prime Minister has pledged that the UK Government will collaborate with the Welsh Government to deliver all the projects outlined in Transport for Wales’ vision for rail across Wales and the Borders as quickly as possible.

Further UK Government funding allocations beyond the £445m already announced, will be confirmed at future Spending Reviews.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitment, of 17 February 2026, whether additional funding has been set aside in the fiscal framework for ongoing maintenance of the new stations.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The business cases currently being developed for the new stations will determine anticipated ongoing maintenance costs, which will be funded according to standard industry practices upon their commissioning and entry into service.

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