Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled £78bn for councils in turning point settlement to cut deprivation, published on 17 December 2025, what metrics his Department used to determine areas in greatest need.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities, realigning funding with need and deprivation through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade. We are introducing a fairer and evidence-based funding system, which will account for local circumstances, including different ability to raise income locally from council tax and the variation in cost of delivering services. Further information on how funding allocations have been calculated is available in the government’s response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 and the provisional Settlement 2025-26 to 2028-29.
Local authorities are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions but must operate within a legislative and guidance framework designed to ensure that borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable. The government is responsible for that framework and monitors sector behaviour using information and data from a range of sources, including levels of borrowing and debt. To support compliance with the framework and to protect public money, the government is taking forward work to operationalise the new capital powers introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which provide for targeted intervention where councils take on excessive risk through borrowing and investment activity.
On handling Thurrock’s debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled £78bn for councils in turning point settlement to cut deprivation, published on 17 December 2025, whether any councils are receiving reduced funding due to fiscal discipline.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities, realigning funding with need and deprivation through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade. We are introducing a fairer and evidence-based funding system, which will account for local circumstances, including different ability to raise income locally from council tax and the variation in cost of delivering services. Further information on how funding allocations have been calculated is available in the government’s response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0 and the provisional Settlement 2025-26 to 2028-29.
Local authorities are responsible for their own borrowing and investment decisions but must operate within a legislative and guidance framework designed to ensure that borrowing is prudent, affordable and sustainable. The government is responsible for that framework and monitors sector behaviour using information and data from a range of sources, including levels of borrowing and debt. To support compliance with the framework and to protect public money, the government is taking forward work to operationalise the new capital powers introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which provide for targeted intervention where councils take on excessive risk through borrowing and investment activity.
On handling Thurrock’s debt, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 77936 on 13 October 2025.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she will take to support farmers in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has allocated £11.8 billion this parliament to sustainable farming and food production, targeting public money where it delivers most value, in Newcastle-under-Lyme and across the country.
The Government is making supply chains fairer to ensure farmers, particularly smaller farmers who can be most exposed to market pressures, are protected in their contracts, while unlocking new markets for British produce.
The department has published Baroness Batters’ independent Farming Profitability Review 2025. A 25-year Farming Roadmap setting out the long-term direction for farming will follow next year.
Defra is establishing a farming and food partnership board to give farmers a stronger voice in Government.
Changes to planning rules will place greater emphasis on food production, making it easier for farmers to develop infrastructure.
We will take forward sector plans to build profitability in sectors with great potential, and we will seek to boost private finance into farming.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how changes to the fair funding formula will affect the spending power of (a) Surrey County Council and (b) district and borough councils in Surrey.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement is our most significant move yet to make English local government more sustainable. The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities. Our reforms will ensure that this funding is allocated fairly, and that the places and services which need it most are supported.
Since coming into power, this government will have made available a 23.6% cash-terms increase in Core Spending Power in 2028-29 compared to 2024-25, worth over £16 billion. By the end of the provisional multi-year Settlement (2028/29), Surrey’s Core Spending Power will have increased by £82m (7%) since 2024/25. We will support local authorities to manage their updated funding positions by phasing in changes over the multi-year Settlement and protecting councils’ income, including locally retained business rates growth.
Areas will need to agree how to divide available funding locally in a sustainable way during the local government reorganisation implementation period. This will provide areas with greater flexibility.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 the 2026–27 local government finance settlement on councils in Surrey.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement is our most significant move yet to make English local government more sustainable. The government is making good on long overdue promises to fundamentally update the way we fund local authorities. Our reforms will ensure that this funding is allocated fairly, and that the places and services which need it most are supported.
Since coming into power, this government will have made available a 23.6% cash-terms increase in Core Spending Power in 2028-29 compared to 2024-25, worth over £16 billion. By the end of the provisional multi-year Settlement (2028/29), Surrey’s Core Spending Power will have increased by £82m (7%) since 2024/25. We will support local authorities to manage their updated funding positions by phasing in changes over the multi-year Settlement and protecting councils’ income, including locally retained business rates growth.
Areas will need to agree how to divide available funding locally in a sustainable way during the local government reorganisation implementation period. This will provide areas with greater flexibility.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what are the findings of the department’s business case on new private finance in the NHS.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As set out in the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy (the Strategy) and the 10-Year Health Plan, in addition to significant capital investment, the Government would explore the feasibility of using new Public Private Partnership (PPP) models for taxpayer-funded projects in very limited circumstances, where they could represent value for money. This included the potential use of PPPs to deliver Neighbourhood Health Centres (NHCs).
A business case was developed by the Department and supported by National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). The business case was considered by ministers and has resulted in the announcement in the Budget published on 26 November 2025.
The Budget builds on the Strategy and the 10-Year Health Plan by confirming that the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme will deliver new NHCs through upgrading and repurposing existing buildings and building new facilities through a combination of public sector investment and a new model of PPPs.
This new PPP model is being developed by NISTA, and is supported by the Department, and will ensure private sector expertise is harnessed to deliver these assets on time and on budget.
The new model will build on lessons from the past and other models currently in use, and will draw on lessons learnt, including the National Audit Office’s 2025 report on private finance.
To ensure the NHC PPPs are managed transparently and are fiscally sustainable, these partnerships will be budgeted for as if they are on a balance sheet.
Delivering new NHCs through a combination of public investment and PPPs will also allow, for the first time, for evidence to be built and compared between different delivery models.
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 91862 on the Marine Environment, what is the scope of the Sustainable Ocean Plan; what is the (a) process and (b) timetable for consultation with stakeholders; and whether blue finance will be incorporated.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Sustainable Ocean Plan (SOP) will set out a framework to achieve 100% sustainable use of UK waters, supporting long-term growth in the ocean economy. We are currently in the scoping phase, which includes looking at areas such blue finance. As we develop the plan, we will provide further information on stakeholder consultation.
Asked by: Darren Paffey (Labour - Southampton Itchen)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of adding veterinary medicine to the list of second-degree courses eligible for tuition fee loans, including the potential impact on (a) access to the veterinary profession and (b) the UK’s veterinary workforce.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
To ensure the student finance system remains sustainable, students who already hold a qualification at an equivalent or higher-level qualification (ELQ) to that of their current course are not normally eligible for tuition fee or maintenance loans. An exception has been made to these rules to encourage access to certain professions, including veterinary medicine. Students undertaking a full-time second degree in veterinary medicine starting before 1 January 2027 will qualify for maintenance support for the duration of their course.
This position will change under the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, which will replace higher education student finance loans from 1 January 2027. An additional loan entitlement will be made available for a limited number of priority subjects, such as medicine. These are courses required to address priority skills needs and that align with the government’s Industrial Strategy.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of whether it is possible to carbon offset all flights; and what are the commercial or other mechanisms for doing so.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is supportive of the role of carbon markets in driving cost-effective decarbonisation of the aviation sector, including through the global carbon offsetting scheme, CORSIA, and aviation’s inclusion in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS). Such measures complement other Government action to achieve net zero aviation by 2050, including on Sustainable Aviation Fuel and airspace modernisation.
Airlines may also choose to offset their emissions voluntarily or offer this to customers. The Government supports businesses engaging with voluntary carbon markets in a way that complements deep emissions cuts, using high-integrity credits to finance additional climate action where immediate abatement is not possible.
Asked by: Kirith Entwistle (Labour - Bolton North East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government response to the Fair Funding Review consultation published on 20 November 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of cumulative Dedicated Schools Grant deficits on local authorities’ ability to deliver services for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government recognises that local authorities are continuing to face significant pressure from the impact of Dedicated Schools Grant deficits on their accounts.
Government will set out its ambitious plans for reform of SEND provision early in the new year to deliver a sustainable system which supports children and families effectively. The 2025 Spending Review provided investment for SEND reform. Future funding implications will be managed within the overall government DEL envelope, such that we would not expect local authorities to need to fund future special educational needs costs from general funds, once the Statutory Override ends at the end of 2027-28. We will set out further details on our plans to support local authorities with historic and accruing deficits through the upcoming Local Government Finance Settlement.