Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the powers of councils to improve transport accessibility for people with disabilities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Secretary of State regularly engages with cabinet colleagues on a range of matters. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that when assessing sites that may be allocated in local development plans, or determining specific applications for development, decision makers should ensure that safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users.
The Framework also outlines that applications for development should address the needs of people with disabilities and reduced mobility in relation to all modes of transport.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department (a) has made and (b) plans to make an assessment of the impact of exposure to chemicals on cancer incidence rates.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK REACH regulation aims to protect human health from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, including substances of very high concern such as carcinogens. This is led by the Health and Safety Executive, with the UK Health Security Agency contributing to the process. The Department is currently not planning to make an assessment of the impacts of chemicals on cancer incidence rates for this reason.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will ask Gatwick Airport to publish an assessment of the potential impact of a second runway on levels of emissions other than carbon dioxide.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The application for the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Development Consent Order, submitted by Gatwick Airport Limited, is currently with the Secretary of State for a decision, with a statutory deadline of the 27 October 2025.
The Examining Authority, in its 6-month Examination conducted last year, held several public hearings on the issues of noise and surface transport, providing Interested Parties with the opportunity to present their views. There is no mechanism within the Planning Act 2008 to conduct a public hearing at the decision stage.
The Secretary of State has consulted on several matters during the decision stage and may request further information from Gatwick Airport or Interested Parties, if she is not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to take a decision. Interested Parties can provide further representations to the Secretary of State, which will be taken into consideration. All information regarding this application can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold a consultation on the development consent order for the expansion of Gatwick Airport before deciding whether to approve it.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The application for the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Development Consent Order, submitted by Gatwick Airport Limited, is currently with the Secretary of State for a decision, with a statutory deadline of the 27 October 2025.
The Examining Authority, in its 6-month Examination conducted last year, held several public hearings on the issues of noise and surface transport, providing Interested Parties with the opportunity to present their views. There is no mechanism within the Planning Act 2008 to conduct a public hearing at the decision stage.
The Secretary of State has consulted on several matters during the decision stage and may request further information from Gatwick Airport or Interested Parties, if she is not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to take a decision. Interested Parties can provide further representations to the Secretary of State, which will be taken into consideration. All information regarding this application can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether further public hearings will be held on (a) noise and (b) surface transport relating to Gatwick expansion.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The application for the Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Development Consent Order, submitted by Gatwick Airport Limited, is currently with the Secretary of State for a decision, with a statutory deadline of the 27 October 2025.
The Examining Authority, in its 6-month Examination conducted last year, held several public hearings on the issues of noise and surface transport, providing Interested Parties with the opportunity to present their views. There is no mechanism within the Planning Act 2008 to conduct a public hearing at the decision stage.
The Secretary of State has consulted on several matters during the decision stage and may request further information from Gatwick Airport or Interested Parties, if she is not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to take a decision. Interested Parties can provide further representations to the Secretary of State, which will be taken into consideration. All information regarding this application can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
Asked by: John Milne (Liberal Democrat - Horsham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many integrated care boards have a designated senior leader responsible for (a) neurology and (b) rehabilitation services.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
This information is not held centrally. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for designating senior leaders as appropriate, as well as for commissioning most services for people with long term conditions including for neurology and rehabilitation services. ICBs are allocated funding by NHS England to meet local need and priorities and improve outcomes.