Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 implications for his Department’s policies of the report entitled Mission Green Growth: A Strategic Plan from the Environmental Horticulture Group, published in Autumn 2024.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has made no assessment of the implications for the Department’s policies of the report entitled Mission Green Growth: A Strategic Plan from the Environmental Horticulture Group, published in Autumn 2024.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) outdoor learning and (b) horticultural education on the development of (i) children and (ii) young people.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The department has not undertaken a specific assessment on the potential impact of outdoor learning and horticultural education on the development of children and young people.
However, access to green space has been shown to have positive impacts on the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of young people. The department is currently working closely with the University of Oxford on research intended to assess the evidence of the impact of nature-based programmes delivered through schools for mental health and wellbeing in children and young people.
Schools have the freedom to teach about horticulture in the curriculum. For example, in science, pupils are taught the topics of plants and living things and their habitats, giving them the opportunity to find out about plants and the environments in which they flourish.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition's press release entitled United Kingdom Elected as co-chair of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, highlighting ambitious agenda to tackle super pollutants, published 21 February, 2025, what recent discussions he has had with his Brazilian counterpart on country-level methane action plans.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK and Brazil recently co-chaired the first Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Board meeting of 2025. Taking ambitious action on methane remains a key focus for the CCAC and the UK and Brazil are working closely together on this shared objective, including ahead of COP30.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what resources his Department has allocated to the policy (a) development and (b) implementation of the UK’s commitments to the Global Methane Pledge.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Tackling methane emissions is a priority for the department including as part of the Global Methane Pledge's target (to collectively reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030), and under the Climate Change Act. Resource is spread across a number of domestic and international teams in accordance with the priority areas and sectors set out in the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan and Global Methane Pledge.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether consideration has been given to the importance of (a) gardening and (b) nature-based therapies in improving (i) physical, (ii) social and (iii) mental health in the development of a neighbourhood health service.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are committed to moving towards a Neighbourhood Heath Service, with more care delivered in local communities to spot problems earlier, supporting people to stay healthier and maintain their independence for longer. There will be a focus on shifting the way services are delivered to put the needs of people and places at the heart of the health and care system.
We recognise the value of social prescribing for addressing the wider determinants of health that can impact on an individual’s wellbeing. Green social prescribing is the practice of supporting people to engage in nature-based interventions and activities, and can include gardening and nature-based therapies. We know that it can help people from a range of backgrounds to connect with nature to improve their physical, social, and mental health. We remain committed to the development of social prescribing through our ambition to focus on a preventative approach to health inequalities and to deliver support closer to home, in our communities.
The full vision for the health care system will be set out in 10-Year Health Plan. However, Neighbourhood Health Guidelines were published alongside the 2025/26 NHS Operational Planning Guidance and the 2025/26 Better Care Fund policy framework, to help integrated care boards, local authorities, and health and care providers to continue to progress neighbourhood health in 2025/26.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to increase investment in renewable infrastructure projects.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Prime Minister’s Plan for Change sets out our ambitious but achievable target of Clean Power by 2030.
The Clean Power Action Plan demonstrates the significant investment requirements to reach this target, including in renewable infrastructure, and actions we will take to facilitate this.
We have already taken action to remove the de-facto ban on onshore wind in England, approved major solar projects, and delivered a record-breaking renewables auction.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to enforce statutory guidelines on implementing low traffic neighbourhoods.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The draft guidance on low traffic neighbourhoods published in March 2024 was never brought into force and remains in draft. As it says in the introduction, the intention was that when published in final form, it would apply to all traffic authorities in England. However, due to the general election, further work on it was put on hold and the Government is now considering appropriate next steps.
As has always been the case, local authorities are responsible for managing their roads and are accountable to their communities.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Department or agency leads on the Cross Government Working Level Group on Indoor Air Quality; how often it has met since Public Health England closed in September 2021; and which Ministers are involved in its meetings.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department co-ordinated the Cross Government Working Level Group on Indoor Air Quality following the closure of Public Health England in September 2021. Since that date the group has met five times, most recently in July 2023. Ministers have not attended this official-level group. Government departments involved in the group have included the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Education, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Department for Transport, as well as the Scottish Government, the UK Health Security Agency, and the Health and Safety Executive.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of treating biomethane in the same way as fossil gases under the UK Emissions trading scheme on (a) the anaerobic digestion and biogas sector and (b) the wider economy.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Biomethane can play an important role in reducing reliance on imported gas, increasing our country’s energy security, and helping to deliver net zero.
The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) applies a zero emissions factor to biomethane combustion where it is supplied directly to ETS installations. Where biomethane is injected into the gas grid, there is not currently a mechanism to account for the use of biomethane.
The Department is considering stakeholder feedback from the 2024 Call for Evidence on the impacts of this to inform the next steps. The Department will provide an update in due course.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to provide support to (a) anaerobic digestion plants and (b) other small energy producers.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is aware that the expiration of Renewables Obligation accreditation may affect the commercial viability of generators from a range of technologies, including anaerobic digestion plants and other small scale generators.
We are continuing to assess the situation to understand the impact of the end of Renewables Obligation support on security of supply, clean power 2030 and the environment.