Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact on the natural environment of the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the recent conflict.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

No such assessment has been made.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether a minister will attend the High-Level Segment of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels from 28 to 29 April.

Answered by Lord Whitehead

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the right reverend Prelate.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what their policy priorities are in enacting the transition away from fossil fuels.

Answered by Lord Whitehead

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the right reverend Prelate.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to increase investment in renewable energy produced in the UK, following the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas carrying vessels.

Answered by Lord Whitehead

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the right reverend Prelate.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they delivered their commitment to provide £11.6 billion of international climate finance between 2021–22 and 2025–26, including £3 billion to protect and restore ecosystems abroad.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

The UK is a leading global provider of climate finance and has met its spending target of at least £11.6 billion over the five financial years from 2021/22 to 2025/26. We have also met our £3 billion Nature target.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support businesses with (1) accessing climate information, (2) adaptation planning, and (3) managing the health of employees during extreme weather.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government supports businesses to adapt to climate change through National Adaptation Programmes under the Climate Change Act 2008. The Third Programme (2023) prioritises better climate information, guidance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and identifying climate-related economic opportunities for UK growth.

The Met Office Local Authority Climate Service, launched in 2024 with Defra, provides free, localised climate data to help manage risks and reduce disruption. Further SME support comes from the Small Business Plan (2025).

The Climate Change Committee recently published its Well-Adapted UK report, HMG will carefully consider the CCC's recommendations as it develops its Fourth National Adaptation Programme, to be delivered in 2028.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce heat-related deaths during heat waves in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The UK Health Security Agency aims to reduce heat-related deaths primarily through the Adverse Weather and Health Plan. This provides guidance and tools for the public and public sector organisations to prepare for impacts of adverse weather, including heat. The plan is reviewed and monitored annually to ensure it remains effective.

Health risks are communicated through Heat‑Health Alerts. These identify periods of greatest risk to vulnerable populations and enhance communications to support partner organisations and the public in taking action to minimise health harms. Summer 2025 was the warmest on record, yet heat-related deaths, estimated at 1,504, were roughly half of the 3,039 expected based on past trends. This reduction highlights the success of coordinated responses across national, regional, and local levels, alongside improved public awareness and health system readiness.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to mandate climate adaptation measures in urban planning.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published on 12 December 2024, makes clear that the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change should be considered in preparing and assessing planning applications.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new NPPF. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to climate change adaptation.

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

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support early pipeline renewable energy generation projects to move into construction and operation.

Answered by Lord Whitehead

The Government is supporting early-pipeline renewable projects by pulling every lever to move them into construction and operation faster. The Government is taking multiple actions to speed up the planning process and grid connections, while providing greater investor certainty through regular Contracts for Difference auctions and measures to strengthen supply chains, so projects can be delivered swiftly.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to incentivise collaboration between community energy organisations and local authorities in order to deliver renewable energy targets at a local level.

Answered by Lord Whitehead

DESNZ is supporting local government capacity work, including funding Regen to deliver training and guidance for planners on renewable energy and storage technologies. This will provide invaluable capacity support when partnering with community energy groups on projects.

In addition, the Local Power Plan, backed by up to £1 billion of funding from Great British Energy (GBE), sets out plans to support local projects. This includes GBE’s Partnerships Grant which will fund joint Local Government and Community Energy Projects – more detail expected later this year.

Alongside direct investment, GBE will also provide a team of experts to help communities plan and build their projects. GBE will act as a convener and coordinator to connect communities, community energy groups, local government and others to help projects to be developed.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to strengthen co-ordination between high-level spatial development strategies and local energy planning to support community energy projects.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The preparation of spatial development strategies (SDS) will be a matter for strategic planning authorities. An SDS may specify or describe infrastructure, including infrastructure for mitigating or adapting to climate change, and there is a requirement to have regard to sustainable development when preparing an SDS. Any SDS will also have to take into account the National Planning Policy Framework which contains policy about both SDSs and energy. Local plans will have to be in general conformity with an adopted SDS.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relationship between tree canopy cover in urban areas and measurable outcomes for public health.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognise the link between mental and physical wellbeing and access to nature. Natural England research shows that we could save the NHS more than £2 billion a year if everyone had good access to green space. Urban green spaces alone support 2.1 million people to meet their weekly physical activity guidelines, avoiding health service costs of around £1.4 billion.

Forest Research has estimated that one additional tree per kilometre of street is associated with 1.18 fewer medical prescriptions per thousand population. If this represents a causal relationship it would translate to a value of £16 million of UK urban street trees through avoided antidepressant costs.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, or intend to have, about the public health benefits associated with trees and green spaces as part of the development of the forthcoming England Trees Action Plan.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government recognises the significant public health and wellbeing benefits that trees and green spaces provide. Evidence shows that green neighbourhoods and access to trees and woodlands can improve health outcomes by encouraging physical activity, increasing mental wellbeing, improving air quality and by helping to create healthier, more attractive places to live and work.

The England Trees Action Plan is currently being developed and will be published later in 2026. We are working closely with industry, researchers and other stakeholders to shape the vision, priorities and content of the plan.

Found: Letter dated 13/05/2026 from Lord Whitehead to the Lord Bishop of Norwich regarding what assessment has

Found: Letter dated 13/05/2026 from Lord Whitehead to Lord Bishop of Norwich regarding what the government's

Found: Letter dated 13/05/2026 from Lord Whitehead to the Lord Bishop of Norwich regarding whether a minister