Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when will (a) Princess Alexandra Hospital and (b) Whipps Cross Hospital receive their allocations from the Estates Safety Fund.

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

The Barts Health NHS Trust was allocated £27,693,000 from the Estates Safety Fund in 2025/26 to deliver vital safety improvements at both Whipps Cross University Hospital and Newham General Hospital. Of this, £16,738,500 was allocated to schemes at Whipps Cross Hospital. The Barts Health NHS Trust does not currently have funding allocated to the Estates Safety Fund scheme at Whipps Cross Hospital for this financial year, 2026/27 or future financial years.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is currently able to access funding from the Estates Safety Fund for their planned schemes at the Princess Alexandra Hospital across 2026/27 and 2027/28 in line with the planned spend profile for the schemes.

This investment is an important step in addressing infrastructure challenges at the site and forms part of the Government's wider programme to improve the safety and resilience of National Health Service buildings.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much of the £27,693,000 allocated to Barts Health NHS Trust through the Estates Safety Fund has been allocated to Whipps Cross Hospital.

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

The Barts Health NHS Trust was allocated £27,693,000 from the Estates Safety Fund in 2025/26 to deliver vital safety improvements at both Whipps Cross University Hospital and Newham General Hospital. Of this, £16,738,500 was allocated to schemes at Whipps Cross Hospital. The Barts Health NHS Trust does not currently have funding allocated to the Estates Safety Fund scheme at Whipps Cross Hospital for this financial year, 2026/27 or future financial years.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is currently able to access funding from the Estates Safety Fund for their planned schemes at the Princess Alexandra Hospital across 2026/27 and 2027/28 in line with the planned spend profile for the schemes.

This investment is an important step in addressing infrastructure challenges at the site and forms part of the Government's wider programme to improve the safety and resilience of National Health Service buildings.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the potential impacts of the incorrect use of disposable barbecues.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will consider the case for further restrictions, including a permanent ban, on the sale of disposable barbecues in the light of experience gained from the temporary ban introduced in August. Any such restrictions are most likely to be implemented under waste legislation, which is why Defra is taking the lead on this issue, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who are leading the Government’s overall approach to wildfires.

In the meantime, local authorities have powers to establish Public Space Protection Orders, which can prohibit the use of disposable barbecues in designated areas where appropriate. It is for individual councils to decide how and to what extent to use these powers.

Found: cell">North of Ireland Veterinary Association British Veterinary Association Northern Ireland Neil Hudson