Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Treasury has been informed that the Financial Conduct Authority requested and obtained unfettered access to unredacted versions of (a) the December 2022 and February 2023 KPMG reports, (b) the February 2023 Slaughter and May report and (c) the December 2022 company secretary’s report into whistleblowing disclosures.

Answered by Rachel Blake

I refer the Rt honourable Member to the answers given to his questions in PQ UIN 14370 and UIN 14371 on 30 June 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she asked (a) her officials and (b) officials in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to establish whether communications had taken place between Ministers or special advisers and the Financial Conduct Authority on its investigation into Drax Group plc.

Answered by Rachel Blake

I refer the Rt honourable Member to the answers given to his questions in PQ UIN 14370 and UIN 14371 on 30 June 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2026 to Question 14370 on Drax Group, if she will confirm that no Minister or special adviser have had communication of any kind with the Financial Conduct Authority on its investigation into Drax Group plc.

Answered by Rachel Blake

I refer the Rt honourable Member to the answers given to his questions in PQ UIN 14370 and UIN 14371 on 30 June 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Treasury has been informed whether the Financial Conduct Authority’s investigation into Drax Group plc included consideration of the company’s public statement of 6 October 2022 concerning biomass sourcing.

Answered by Rachel Blake

I refer the Rt honourable Member to the answers given to his questions in PQ UIN 14370 and UIN 14371 on 30 June 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to to ensure continuity of leadership for early-stage type 1 diabetes policy and service development during the transition of functions from NHS England to his Department.

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

The proposed abolition of NHS England and the associated transfer of its functions is subject to legislation and the will of Parliament. We are engaging with partners inside and outside the organisations as the process to design the future Department continues.

NHS England will continue to carry out its existing responsibilities and statutory functions during the transition period.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS bodies regarding a future screening programme for early-stage type 1 diabetes.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Government is guided by the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee which makes its recommendations based on internationally recognised criteria and a rigorous evidence review and consultation process. It is only where the UK NSC is confident that there is robust evidence that to screen would provide more good than harm that a screening programme is recommended, as all medical interventions carry an inherent risk.

The UK NSC received a submission via its 2024 open call process to consider screening for autoimmune type 1 diabetes through blood testing. Now that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published its recommendation on the drug teplizumab, the UK NSC will look again at this open call submission and consider whether a fresh review of the evidence for type 1 diabetes screening should be undertaken.

The UK NSC is aware of the Early Surveillance for Autoimmune Diabetes study and looks forward to receiving the results of this study when the trial is complete.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has referred to the Financial Reporting Council the conduct of KPMG in relation to its reviews of Drax Group plc’s biomass sustainability reporting and the treatment of those findings in the company’s annual reports.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has been in dialogue with other regulators including the Financial Conduct Authority and Ofgem regarding KPMG’s work in relation to Drax’s biomass sustainability reporting. As KPMG’s work for Drax was undertaken as an advisory review rather than as statutory audit work, this does not fall within the FRC’s statutory audit regulatory remit. The FRC continues to monitor this case and will consider any further relevant information.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, further to Question 14369, whether he will place in the Library details of (a) the dates and participants of any meetings and (b) any written correspondence between his Department and the Financial Conduct Authority referring to its investigation into Drax Group plc during the last six months.

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

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) provided the link to their online press statement on 18 June, confirming that their investigation had concluded and no further action would be taken. The Department has had no other correspondence with the FCA on this matter, nor have any meetings taken place with the FCA.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will ask Ofgem to disclose (a) when Drax Group plc first informed Ofgem of the existence of the December 2022 and February 2023 KPMG reports and (b) whether Ofgem obtained unfettered access to unredacted versions of those reports before concluding its investigation in August 2024.

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

As requested, I will ask Ofgem to write to the Rt hon Member in due course to set out responses to your questions.

Please note that Ofgem kept DESNZ officials suitably informed of the progress of its investigation and the documents it accessed in the course of reaching its findings, including the KPMG reports.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to Local Planning Authorities to ensure that green infrastructure delivered via developer contributions satisfies local requirements for spatial quality and facility type.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.

Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.

The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.

The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.

Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of trends in the number of recreational spaces that fall outside Sport England's statutory remit, with reference to data compiled by Fields in Trust since 2020.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.

Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.

The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.

The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.

Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms exist within national planning policy to enable developers to secure long-term legal protection for newly created public green spaces within major housing allocations, with reference to the draft National Planning Policy Framework.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.

Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.

The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.

The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.

Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposed planning reforms on green space accessibility in lower-income socio-economic areas.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.

Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.

The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.

The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.

Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to address local authority playing field accessibility.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.

Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.

The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.

The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.

Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of technical capacity and specialist resources within Local Planning Authorities to evaluate the potential impact of reduced sports facilities in the absence of a statutory consultee requirement.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026 and UIN 119470 on 23 March 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that planning reforms do not lead to a reduction in local sports provisions.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026 and UIN 119470 on 23 March 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the formal consultation responses submitted to the 'Reforms to the statutory consultee system' consultation by sports bodies and figures regarding the adequacy of proposed alternative mitigations for protecting community assets.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026 and UIN 119470 on 23 March 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria his Department plans to use to define a 'subset of high-impact cases' under the proposals in the 'Reforms to the statutory consultee system' consultation; and what assessment he has made of the protections that will remain available to community facilities falling below that threshold.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026 and UIN 119470 on 23 March 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many of the consultation responses received by his Department regarding the proposal to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee, as set out in the November 2025 consultation 'Reforms to the statutory consultee system', expressed formal opposition to that proposal.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026 and UIN 119470 on 23 March 2026.

Found: chinas-zhipu-ai- open-sources-flagship-model-raises-prices-narrow-gap-us-rivals> [accessed 9 April 2026]. 27 Oliver Dowden