Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department have had with Thames Water regarding its response to water outages experienced in the Epping Forest constituency this Summer.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra officials met with Thames Water staff during the outages to discuss the response including the support being provided to affected customers. Defra maintains frequent dialogue with Thames Water on its ability to manage water outages.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to bring forward the further necessary commencement order under the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra are committed to implementing measures to end puppy smuggling as soon as is practicable. The department will communicate a timeline in due course.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department are taking to support those who experience (a) miscarriage and (b) baby loss in Epping Forest constituency.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce is currently considering a wide range of evidence and proposals to inform its development of a national action plan that will reform maternity and neonatal services to deliver lasting change for women, families, and their babies. In her response to the debate on Baby Loss Awareness Week on 12 October, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is chairing the taskforce, made clear that miscarriage and baby loss would be a key area of focus for its work, to support women all across the country, including in Epping Forest, who face the loss of their babies.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department have made an assessment of the potential impact of the Government's plans to abolish the Triple Lock on the living standards of people in receipt of the State Pension.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. We will honour our manifesto commitment to maintain the Triple Lock in its current form for the rest of this Parliament.
From April 2030, pensioners will be protected by an adjusted Triple Lock. The State Pension will rise every year by at least the higher of CPI inflation or 2.5%, and by more where needed to maintain its protected value relative to average earnings.
The adjustment will lock in the gains delivered by the Triple Lock, protect pensioners against inflation shocks and ensure that the State Pension keeps up with but does not outpace earnings growth. By putting a rising State Pension on a sustainable footing for today’s pensioners and future generations, we are supporting the living standards of those receiving the State Pension.
The adjusted Triple Lock forms part of a new settlement for older people: protecting a State Pension that rises every year while supporting a National Care Service providing free personal care and greater security in later life.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
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.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
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.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
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.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will have discussions with TFL on the potential impact of stopping the provision of bus services between Waltham Abbey and Chingford on levels of accessibility for people in Waltham Abbey.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL), and decisions on the operation and routing of London bus services, including routes that extend beyond the Greater London boundary, are a matter for TfL. While the Department works closely with TfL on a range of issues affecting public transport, decisions on service levels and network planning rest with the Mayor and TfL.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of autonomous delivery robots on accessibility for people with disabilities.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We have announced that we intend to trial pavement robots using powers the Government is seeking through the Regulating for Growth Bill. A key part of the trial will be understanding the impact on pedestrians, particularly the most vulnerable groups.
No permanent regulations will come into force without detailed public consultation and a full assessment of the impacts.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
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 ban the importation of hunting trophies.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. Defra continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.