Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the Golden Valley Development to delivering the Defence Investment Plan’s objectives for the cyber domain.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Investment Plan underlines the importance of strengthening the UK's cyber capabilities, supporting innovation and fostering collaboration between Government, industry, and academia. The Golden Valley Development has the potential to contribute to these objectives through the creation of a cyber and technology ecosystem. The MOD continues to engage with key partners to understand how such developments can support the delivery of defence and national security objectives. Detailed assessments of individual projects are kept under review as part of the Department's ongoing strategic planning cycles.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on support for the Golden Valley Development.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence Ministers are in regular contact with colleagues across Government, including the Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, on a range of critical matters including how defence plays a vital role in supporting regional economic growth and development. The MOD recognises the wide-ranging potential economic benefits associated with the Golden Valley Development. Discussions are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment on their detail.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will increase financial support for homeowners to maintain thatched houses.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Government does not offer a dedicated, standalone grant scheme for maintenance and repair of thatched properties, but thatched properties can qualify for broader historic building grants from Government and arms length bodies, including Historic England, as long as they meet the relevant grant criteria. For example in 2025, Historic England supported the rethatching of the Upminster Tithe Barn in Havering, Greater London alongside partners given its important historical and community significance.
All Government grants are listed on find a grant UK GOV website. For a full list of funding available for activities that relate to the repair, conserve and care for heritage, please consult Historic England website, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund website. On the whole, private domestic dwellings are only considered for public funding in exceptional circumstances and would have to demonstrate significant heritage and community value.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what consideration her Department has given to relaxing the listed building requirements for use of thatching materials.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Listed building consent is determined by local planning authorities. In making their decision, local planning authorities are able to use advice issued by Historic England, as Government’s statutory advisors on the historic environment, including technical advice on the conservation of thatched properties.
In February 2025, Historic England updated their guidance on the conservation of traditional thatch for local planning authorities. The guidance clarifies that a change of thatch materials might be justified in times of shortage and when a roof is in urgent need of repair and all other options for maintaining it have been exhausted. The guidance now incorporates a checklist intended to provide local authorities with the evidence needed to justify granting consent in cases of genuine need, whilst the presumption in favour of straw thatching in other cases will help to maintain support for the straw-growing sector.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve communication and engagement with local authorities regarding immigration and asylum.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office regularly reviews its engagement with local authorities across the English regions and devolved nations to ensure it remains effective and responsive to local concerns. Feedback from local authorities and partners informs how these engagement arrangements continue to develop. It engages through regional teams and established governance structures, including Place-Based Boards and Regional Executive Boards, which support information sharing, discussion of local operational impacts and partnership working. The Home Office has strengthened these arrangements through regular engagement on current and future accommodation plans, consultation with local authorities on dispersed accommodation proposals, and governance mechanisms which ensure local feedback informs operational planning and delivery.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment her Department has made of the quality of its engagement with local authorities for immigration and asylum support.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office regularly reviews its engagement with local authorities across the English regions and devolved nations to ensure it remains effective and responsive to local concerns. Feedback from local authorities and partners informs how these engagement arrangements continue to develop. It engages through regional teams and established governance structures, including Place-Based Boards and Regional Executive Boards, which support information sharing, discussion of local operational impacts and partnership working. The Home Office has strengthened these arrangements through regular engagement on current and future accommodation plans, consultation with local authorities on dispersed accommodation proposals, and governance mechanisms which ensure local feedback informs operational planning and delivery.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Members of Parliament are able to request information from Government departments without being prevented from doing so by the FoI cost limit of £600 specified in the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.
Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
All FOI requests made to government departments are handled in line with the legislation.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Disability Living Allowance Child claims per year are refused due to a lack of requested information such as identity verification documentation.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
For the number of Disability Living Allowance Child (DLAc) new claims which were rejected over the latest five-year period, please see table 1.
Table 1: Number of DLAc new claims which were rejected in the last five performance reporting years
Performance reporting year data - April 01 to 31 March each year
2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 |
24,860 | 25,700 | 27,770 | 33,890 | 54,770 |
Notes:
The information requested on why claims were rejected, including lack of requested information, and if any of the rejected claimants went on to raise a mandatory reconsideration, is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Disability Living Allowance Child claims per year are i) refused ii) and of those refusals, how claimants submit a Mandatory Reconsideration request.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
For the number of Disability Living Allowance Child (DLAc) new claims which were rejected over the latest five-year period, please see table 1.
Table 1: Number of DLAc new claims which were rejected in the last five performance reporting years
Performance reporting year data - April 01 to 31 March each year
2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | 2025-2026 |
24,860 | 25,700 | 27,770 | 33,890 | 54,770 |
Notes:
The information requested on why claims were rejected, including lack of requested information, and if any of the rejected claimants went on to raise a mandatory reconsideration, is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Independent - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support producers of long-stemmed straw used for thatching.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Historic England’s Traditional Thatch Project is working with thatching straw growers to understand the challenges they face and identify steps to increase the amount, viability and resilience of domestic thatching material supply.