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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on the chalk stream recovery pack for the river Test and Itchen.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams, is a top Government priority. That is why on 23 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works.

Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution, and physical modifications of habitats. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our overall programme of reforms for the water sector. Alongside this, we are continuing to direct investment to projects that will improve chalk streams. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme, over 1000 improvement projects are planned within chalk stream catchments between 2024-2029.

Natural England is supporting the Environment Agency’s Test and Itchen Restoration Strategy. The aim of the project is to restore the Test and Itchen to a more functioning chalk stream habitat. This involves projects to improve the river habitat and reconnecting the river with its floodplain. The work undertaken to date has improved the chalk stream habitat, creating a more resilient river for the species which rely on it such as southern damselfly, invertebrates and fish species such as Atlantic salmon.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help support the development of the geothermal energy industry (a) nationally and (b) in Southampton Test constituency.

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

The Government is making support available to the industry through existing schemes such as Green Heat Network Fund, Contracts for Difference and Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Potential projects in the Southampton Test constituency can apply if they meet the scheme eligibility criteria. The Government also continues to commission publicly available research to support the development of the industry. Research into the costs of geothermal energy is due to be published this summer and an open-access UK Geothermal Platform to support project feasibility work is in the final stages of development. Any future support is subject to spending review outcomes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help support the National Park City initiative.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Department recognises the value of the National Park City initiative, which aligns with our priorities to increase access to nature and green spaces for everyone. We continue to engage with the National Park City Foundation to support the initiative's ambition to make urban areas greener, healthier, and more connected to nature.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to issue guidance on the application of the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025 in public spaces.

Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)

The Government has set out our expectation that employers and other duty bearers follow the clarity the Supreme Court ruling provides. Where necessary, they should take appropriate specialist legal advice.

The EHRC is consulting on its draft updated statutory Code of Practice, seeking views from affected stakeholders. We encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation by Monday 30th June. We will consider the final draft Code once it has been submitted and engage with the EHRC to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the ruling.

It is crucial that trans people are safe, included and protected from discrimination. There remain strong protections in place for trans people to live free from discrimination and harassment. In addition to this, work is already underway to fulfil the commitments set out in the Government’s manifesto, advancing the rights and protections afforded to trans people including: delivering a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, ensuring that all trans people receive appropriate and high-quality health care, and equalising all existing strands of hate crime to make them aggravated offences.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to support trans people to feel (a) safe and (b) valued.

Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)

The Government has set out our expectation that employers and other duty bearers follow the clarity the Supreme Court ruling provides. Where necessary, they should take appropriate specialist legal advice.

The EHRC is consulting on its draft updated statutory Code of Practice, seeking views from affected stakeholders. We encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation by Monday 30th June. We will consider the final draft Code once it has been submitted and engage with the EHRC to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the ruling.

It is crucial that trans people are safe, included and protected from discrimination. There remain strong protections in place for trans people to live free from discrimination and harassment. In addition to this, work is already underway to fulfil the commitments set out in the Government’s manifesto, advancing the rights and protections afforded to trans people including: delivering a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, ensuring that all trans people receive appropriate and high-quality health care, and equalising all existing strands of hate crime to make them aggravated offences.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support biodiversity and nature when building houses and infrastructure.

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

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 is clear about the importance of protecting and enhancing biodiversity where it is affected by development and includes stringent protections for nationally designated sites and irreplaceable habitats.

The implementation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Biodiversity Net Gain are helping to highlight opportunities to improve nature in conjunction with development, and to secure tangible contributions to biodiversity enhancements.

The Nature Restoration Fund, introduced by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, will provide further benefits where development could affect protected habitats and species, by enabling strategic improvements.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the volumetric concrete mobile plant industry.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

My Department and I have met with the Batched on-Site Association and engaged with the Volumetric Concrete Mixer (VCM) industry through correspondence.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the ban on volumetric concrete mobile plants in 2028 on the environment.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs). The outcome of this review was published on 18 March 2025. The following factors were considered: reduction in payload per journey, increased waste, and increased vehicle mileage.

Some VCM operators have argued that heavier VCMs could reduce overall trips and emissions, however, the increased road and bridge damage would result in more frequent repairs, offsetting these potential benefits.

As part of its consideration of the evidence, the Department for Transport also assessed the potential environmental impacts in accordance with the Environment Act 2021 which requires Ministers of the Crown to have ‘due regard’ to the environmental principles policy statement when making policy.

VCMs will continue to be permitted on our roads, but as planned, a temporary weight limit exemption for this type of vehicle (via vehicle special orders) will end on 31 March 2028, after which VCMs must operate at the legal weight limits applicable to other heavy good vehicles. This is not a ban or change in policy.