Ellie Chowns

Energy efficiency improvements remain the best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term, contributing to the reduction of energy bills, as well as reducing carbon emissions in line with Net Zero.

The Warm Homes Plan will offer grants and low interest loans to support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other home improvements to cut bills. We will partner with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to roll out this plan.

We will announce further policy detail in due course.

This government is committed to reducing the number of fuel poor households in England. We will require landlords to improve their properties to Energy Performance Certificate standard C by 2030. Ensuring warmer, healthier private rented homes will lift many families out of fuel poverty and reduce energy bills.

The River Wye is one of Britain’s most important, iconic rivers. We share concerns about its declining condition and the impact of agricultural pollution.

Cleaning up our rivers is one of this Government's top priorities. We are working closely with the Welsh Government to tackle agriculture pollution and restore the river's health.

We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities.

The use of lead shot in England and Wales is already prohibited in specific circumstances by existing legislation – including on all foreshores, and in or over specified sites of special scientific interest, predominantly wetlands.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently finalising its UK REACH opinion on further action to restrict the use of lead in ammunition. This work has included looking at information submitted to them with regard to possible options to control the use of lead ammunition. The previous study from the paper cited (also known as the SHOT-SWITCH study) has been considered and is referenced in the background document of evidence and opinion with respect to what can be inferred on a voluntary transition from lead shot to alternatives.

HSE expects to issue its final restriction opinions in autumn 2024. The decision to apply any UK REACH restrictions as a further regulatory measure, or not to do so, will subsequently be made by the DEFRA Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers.

DWP is conducting an evaluation of the fourth iteration of the Household Support Fund. This includes research with a selection of representative Local Authority case study areas, consisting of interviews with Local Authority officials and their delivery partners, and surveys and interviews with recipients of the HSF. This evaluation will provide key evidence on how Local Authorities are delivering the scheme, and their experiences of doing so, as well as the effectiveness of the funding for recipients.

The Government has announced funding to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) for a further 6 months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025.

An additional £500 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF, including funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.

As with previous HSF schemes, the Fund will be made available to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England to provide discretionary support to those most in need.

The HSF scheme guidance and individual Local Authority funding allocations for the forthcoming extension will be announced as soon as possible ahead of the scheme beginning on 1 October 2024.

The health and social care systems are facing significant challenges. The Government is committed to tackling the multiple factors contributing to delayed discharges. These include processes within hospitals and between hospitals and other health and care services, and the availability of appropriate care packages. These care packages are commissioned by both the National Health Service and by adult social care partners.

By developing local working partnerships between the Government, the NHS, and social care, we will ensure that people are not stuck in hospital beds when they are well enough to go home.

Tracking and reporting financing for food security and nutrition consistently is important, and we welcome the proposals in the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report. The UK reports on food security and nutrition finance using the G7 Elmau methodology. We are an active member of the G7 subgroup that seeks to update and improve this methodology.

The UK has made progress toward its 2021 Nutrition for Growth commitment to integrate nutrition objectives and interventions into multiple sectors across its Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme portfolio. 12 per cent of FCDO programmes integrated nutrition in 2022, up from 10.7 per cent in 2021. This meant that in 2022 the FCDO spent £336.4 million of bilateral ODA on nutrition, an increase of 8.9 per cent from 2021.  The UK is committed to tackling malnutrition; prevention and treatment of malnutrition is vital for the UK's work on global health, humanitarian response and in empowering women and girls.  At the G20 Development Ministers Meeting in July, I announced the UK would join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty to work in partnership to lift ambition and finance for long-term solutions.

We are committed to addressing the causes of global food insecurity and malnutrition, leveraging UK expertise and investment to build greater resilience to shocks, help transform agrifood systems for greener, inclusive growth and nutritious and sustainable foods, support smallholder farmer livelihoods and tackle malnutrition, through initiatives like the Child Nutrition Fund and our support to the CGIAR, the world's leading agricultural science and innovation organisation. At the G20 Development Ministers Meeting in July, I announced the UK would join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty to work in partnership to lift ambition and finance for long-term solutions.

The UK, the UN and other states use the findings of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report extensively. The persisting high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition are concerning. We are committed to addressing these, working alongside partners to provide immediate humanitarian support, tackle the causes of food insecurity and malnutrition, and leverage UK-funded science and technology expertise for more climate-resilient food systems. At the G20 Development Ministers Meeting in July, I announced the UK would join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty to lift ambition, ensure better international coordination, and unlock much-needed finance.

This Government is clear that International Humanitarian Law must be upheld, and civilians protected. Israel must take steps working with humanitarian agencies to fully restore water supplies and to significantly increase the flow of aid into and through Gaza. We have consistently raised water supplies and the opening of vital water lines with Israel throughout the conflict

The FCDO is monitoring the impact of the recent evacuation orders on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.