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 the palliative care sector in Epping Forest.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 19 October in response to Question 33165, which sets out the steps the Government is taking to support hospices and other palliative care services throughout England.
The Prime Minister and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, have also made clear their commitment to improve the quality and availability of palliative care and end-of-life care through a new modern service framework, as set out in the answer provided on 14 September in response to Question 27682.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the fire and rescue services funding floor calculation in meeting operational demands and inflationary pressures; and if she will review the impact on Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and other services which rely on the funding floor.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
For 2026-27, the Settlement makes available a Core Spending Power of up to £101.36 million for Essex Fire and Rescue Authority, an increase of 3.8% compared to 2025.
The government recognises that the current fire funding formula was designed over a decade ago. As part of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 reforms, the fire and rescue relative needs formula has been updated by using the most up-to-date data available.
The government is providing an additional £15 million to standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities across the multi-year Settlement. In 2026-27, we will ensure they see Core Spending Power increase of at least 3.8% compared to 2025-26.
The government is continuing to work with the fire sector on a comprehensive review of the formula ahead of the next Spending Review, to make sure that fire and rescue services have the resources they need to protect their communities.
Asked by: Neil Hudson (Conservative - Epping Forest)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what estimate she has made of the change in the level of financial viability of hospitability businesses in Epping Forest since July 5th 2024.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government recognises the vital contribution hospitality businesses in Epping Forest make to jobs and the local economy. At Budget, the Chancellor announced the government is introducing a two-year real-terms freeze for all retail, hospitality and leisure properties to cap bill increases at inflation. The Government is also increasing the Small Business Rates Relief thresholds for retail, hospitality and leisure properties, taking a further 70,000 properties out of business rates altogether and meaning half of all RHL properties will pay no business rates.
On 28 October, Government published 'Hope on the High Street' - a new cross-government high streets strategy. The strategy sets out Government’s plan to revive our high streets, giving local leaders and communities greater power to shape their future, helping businesses thrive, tackling crime and bringing essential services closer to the people who need them.
We are also supporting the sector through a £10 million Hospitality Grant Scheme to boost growth, resilience and innovation, and are backing pubs, clubs and live music venues through additional business rates support. We also engage closely with businesses and trade associations through the Hospitality Sector Council to address challenges and support productivity and resilience across the sector.
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 assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on data centre proposals on national water supply levels.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Data centres currently account for an estimated 0.2% of non-household water demand in England. The Environment Agency works with water companies to ensure emerging demand is reflected in water resources planning. Government has set out measures to minimise demand, increase data transparency and prioritise recycled water, helping manage pressure on water.
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.