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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 80732 on Local Government management, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of his Department's proposals to require councils to adopt a cabinet model of governance on councils that do not currently have a cabinet model of governance.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government believes that the leader and cabinet governance model provides clearer and more easily understood decision-making structures, and would expect it to have a positive impact where it is adopted by a council.

The Government remains keen to work closely with all councils required to adopt the leader and cabinet model to ensure a smooth and effective transition.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department will take to reduce the use of forms of temporary accommodation such as nightly-paid accommodation in line with commitments made in the National Plan to End Homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Plan to End Homelessness sets out immediate action to help councils address the most unacceptable forms of homelessness, including our target to end the use of B&B accommodation for families except in emergencies by the end of this parliament. To achieve this target, we will support and drive temporary accommodation models that address specific challenges in local areas and share good practice through an Emergency Accommodation Reduction Programme with £30 million funding to tackle a wider range of poor practice – including B&B and unsuitable out-of-area placements.

We will also increase the supply of good-quality, affordable temporary accommodation including through the £950 million fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities and the voluntary sector have sufficient resources to deliver the National Plan to End Homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Our National Plan to End Homelessness is backed by £3.5 billion from 2026/27 to 2028/29. Over £3 billion of this funding will be delivered to councils through the multi-year local government finance settlement. We are also providing £37 million through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund for voluntary, community and faith groups.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support the provision of stepping-stone accommodation to supporting care leavers into independent living.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 96485 on 10 December 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure adequate provision of one-bedroom homes for young people within the Government’s target of delivering 180,000 homes for social rent.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

For details on the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 11 November 2025 (HCWS1027).

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that it is for local planning authorities to assess the size, types and tenure of housing needed for different groups, including (but not limited to) those who require social rented homes and to reflect this in their planning policies.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the list of energy-saving materials eligible for VAT relief beyond heat pumps, including heat batteries.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Installations of qualifying energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a charitable purpose benefit from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027, after which they will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at five per cent. The list of qualifying ESMs, which includes but is not limited to heat pumps, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-energy-saving-materials-and-heating-equipment-notice-7086.

The Government assesses whether to add ESMs to this relief by evaluating them against the following tests: the primary purpose of the technology must be to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions; relieving the technology of VAT must be a cost effective lever for encouraging installations; and it must be practical for business to operate and for HMRC to administer.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the placement of homeless families with children alongside single adult households in shared temporary accommodation, in the context of commitments made in the National Plan to End Homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Plan to End Homelessness sets out immediate action to help councils address the most unacceptable forms of homelessness, including our target to end the use of B&B accommodation for families except in emergencies by the end of this parliament. To achieve this target, we will support and drive temporary accommodation models that address specific challenges in local areas and share good practice through an Emergency Accommodation Reduction Programme with £30 million funding to tackle a wider range of poor practice – including B&B and unsuitable out-of-area placements.

We will also increase the supply of good-quality, affordable temporary accommodation including through the £950 million fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to reduce out-of-area placements in temporary accommodation; and what support local authorities will receive to help people remain in their local areas, in line with commitments made in the National Plan to End Homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The National Plan to End Homelessness sets out immediate action to help councils address the most unacceptable forms of homelessness, including our target to end the use of B&B accommodation for families except in emergencies by the end of this parliament. To achieve this target, we will support and drive temporary accommodation models that address specific challenges in local areas and share good practice through an Emergency Accommodation Reduction Programme with £30 million funding to tackle a wider range of poor practice – including B&B and unsuitable out-of-area placements.

We will also increase the supply of good-quality, affordable temporary accommodation including through the £950 million fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential for fiscal devolution to narrow regional inequalities.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to supporting regional growth. Analysis informed by OECD evidence shows that equipping local leaders with fiscal tools can stimulate investment in priority areas and foster sustainable growth. This is why we are pursuing further fiscal devolution through enhanced local revenue raising powers, including our intention to introduce a new power for Mayors to introduce a levy on short-term overnight stays. A public consultation was launched immediately following the Chancellor’s Budget statement and will run until 18 February.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans the Government has to uprate the Local Housing Allowance to the 30th percentile of local rents.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates are reviewed each year at Autumn Budget.

In his Written Ministerial Statement following Autumn Budget, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions confirmed that LHA rates will remain at current levels in 2026/27. He considered a range of factors, such as rental levels across Great Britain and the challenging fiscal context.

Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

For those renters who require additional support to meet a shortfall in rent costs, Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve capacity within the social care system and (b) reduce delayed discharges.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is working closely with NHS England and local authorities to improve social care capacity and reduce delayed discharges.

The Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund (MSIF) provided over £1 billion to local authorities for adult social care over 2025/26, based on their areas’ needs, to target increasing fee rates paid to adult social care providers, increasing adult social care workforce recruitment and retention, and reducing waiting times for care.

We are also supporting the digitisation of adult social care, which can strengthen capacity within the social care system through productivity improvements. 80% of registered care providers now have digitised care records, benefitting 89% of people who draw on care. Digital care records can save time spent on administrative tasks, releasing over 20 minutes per care worker, per shift.

The Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 identifies reducing delays in hospital discharge as a key priority. Hospitals are expected to eliminate discharge delays of more than 48 hours caused by in-hospital issues, to work with local authorities to tackle the longest delays, starting with those over 21 days, and to profile discharges by pathway to support local planning. In addition, the 2025/26 policy framework for the £9 billion Better Care Fund requires the National Health Service and local authorities to jointly agree local goals for reducing discharge delays.

Starting in the financial year 2026/27, we will reform the Better Care Fund. This reform will provide a sharper focus on ensuring consistent joint NHS and local authority funding for those services that are essential for integrated health and social care, such as hospital discharge, intermediate care, rehabilitation and reablement. We will set out further details in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has to support low-income households with decarbonisation of homes in the context of the end of the Energy Company Obligation scheme by March 2026.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has committed to additional grant funding of £1.5bn which will be directed towards upgrading low-income households, benefiting those in fuel poverty. Details of this will be included within the Government’s ambitious Warm Homes Plan.

The Government is also developing a new fuel poverty strategy for England to ensure that more households can afford to heat their home at a reasonable cost, slash fuel poverty and improve their quality of life. This will include funding energy efficiency upgrades and low-carbon heating for social housing residents, lower income households, and renters, via the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund and Warm Homes: Local Grant schemes.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of setting a phase-out date for fossil fuel heating systems.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We remain committed to delivering net zero and are clear this will require us to decarbonise virtually all heat in buildings. The previous Government planned to end the installation of new and replacement oil, LPG and coal heating systems in homes in England from 2035. This government has been clear on several occasions that we will not force anyone to rip out a working boiler, instead we will make use of all available data to inform future decisions on heat decarbonisation.

We will soon publish our Warm Homes Plan which represents the biggest ever public investment in home upgrades. This will include support for clean heating technologies like heat pumps and heat networks.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) growth and (b) employment in the hydrogen sector.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The sector is nascent but is expected to grow significantly; the global hydrogen market could exceed $1 trillion by 2050, with the UK well positioned to capture a substantial share.

We intend to publish a revised Hydrogen Strategy which will include the latest hydrogen jobs estimates and set out plans to optimise the job creation and economic benefits delivered by the UK hydrogen economy.

We will continue to engage with stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain; working together with industry and unions to identify actions that support the skills and workforce needs of the UK’s low carbon hydrogen economy.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support schools and colleges in the transition to V Levels.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

We are currently consulting on post-16 pathways, including the introduction of V Levels. The consultation closes on 12 January 2026.

Schools and colleges can expect to be supported with the transition to V Levels through access to a comprehensive package of guidance and resources. Dedicated online information will provide timely updates and practical materials to help prepare for delivery. Clear guidance will set out the structure and requirements of the new qualifications, supporting staff understanding and effective implementation. Exemplar pathway documents will assist providers in planning learner routes, while study programme guidance will explain how V Levels can be used to develop meaningful programmes of study.

In addition, we expect awarding organisations to supply specifications, sample assessments and training materials to support accurate delivery and assessment. Together, these measures will provide schools and colleges with the clarity and confidence needed for the successful implementation of V Levels.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the electricity price assumptions in SAP and RdSAP will be updated to reflect the announced reduction in electricity bills.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Electricity price assumptions in the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) and Reduced Data SAP (RdSAP) are set when each methodology is published and are not updated between versions. This ensures consistency for Energy Performance Certificates and related regulations. Updating assumptions mid-cycle would require a full methodology review and could alter EPC ratings, affecting compliance and fuel poverty metrics.

The Department is maintaining stability ahead of planned 2026 reforms, when the Home Energy Model will replace SAP and EPC metrics will be reviewed. In the meantime, the “estimated yearly energy costs” shown on Energy Performance Certificates are periodically updated using the latest fuel price data, ensuring that indicative running cost information remains as current as possible for households.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to review the effectiveness of her Department's policies on reducing road accidents.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

On 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035. This target will focus the efforts of road safety partners across Britain, with measures to improve road design, protect vulnerable road users, and review motoring offences. All of this will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety Board chaired by the Minister for Local Transport.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed shotgun licensing reforms on rural employment.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February this year, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. We intend to publish this consultation shortly.

We will carefully consider all of the views put forward during the consultation once it is completed, including from those who live and work in rural communities, before taking any decision on whether and what changes may be necessary in the interests of public safety. We will also provide an assessment of the impact of any changes that we bring forward after the consultation, including to the business community in rural areas.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Council of Nations and Regions’ programme of work will consider fiscal devolution.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The United Kingdom Government regularly considers how fiscal devolution arrangements are working in practice, taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is her policy to introduce longer-term fiscal devolution.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The United Kingdom Government regularly considers how fiscal devolution arrangements are working in practice, taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department carried out an impact assessment on the introduction of an affirmative statutory instrument to amend the Public Order Act 2023.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

On Thursday 27 November 2025, the Home Office laid an affirmative Statutory Instrument in Parliament to amend Section 7 and Section 8 of the Public Order Act (POA) (2023). This will amend the list of key national infrastructure within Section 7 of the POA, to add the life sciences sector and define the life sciences sector in Section 8 of the POA.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument. However, the Economic Note makes frequent use of the original Impact Assessment produced for the Public Order Bill in 2022. The Economic Note also contains a specific impact test for statutory Equalities Duties in which it assesses there to be no expected impacts on any protected characteristics as an outcome of these regulations.

An Explanatory Memorandum and an Economic Note are available alongside this instrument at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2025/9780348277029/resources

The Impact Assessment conducted for the Public Order Bill in 2022 is available here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0008/Impact%20Assessment%20-%20Public%20Order%20Bill%20-%2017May22.PDF

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of Centrepoint’s call to build 40,000 one-bedroom homes per year to address record levels of youth homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Our National Plan to End Homelessness sets out how we will tackle the root causes of homelessness, including by building 1.5 million homes, including a generational increase in new social and affordable homes backed by £39 billion investment through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme. The new programme is designed to be flexible to support the greater diversity of supply needed, and we are asking providers to come forward with ambitious bids that reflect this diversity.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing (including Social Rent), and reflect this in their planning policies. The Government is consulting on changes to the Framework, including proposals relating to the delivery of social rent and affordable homes. The consultation document is available here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of Centrepoint’s finding that local authorities face a £400 million funding shortfall in meeting their statutory duties to young people experiencing homelessness.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government has provided more than £1 billion funding for homelessness and rough sleeping services this year. Councils should use this record investment to meet the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in their area, including young people.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to routine tissue freezing for brain cancer patients in Newbury.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Information on the number of National Health Service trusts in England that have facilities for fresh freezing brain cancer tissue samples is not currently collected and no recent assessment has been made on the adequacy, extent, or capacity of procedures for freezing brain cancer and general cancer tissue samples across NHS trusts in England.

Pathology services in England are delivered through 27 regional pathology networks, and offer a comprehensive range of tests, including the analysis of brain tissues. Individual pathology services maintain their own standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fresh, or snap-freezing, of tissue samples. These SOPs outline local capabilities and practices.

In addition, the Department invests over £1.6 billion each year in research through the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR’s investments for capital equipment, technology, and modular buildings support NHS trusts across England to deliver high-quality research to improve the health of the population. This investment includes cutting edge research equipment and fixed assets such as ultra-low and cryogenic freezers, to strengthen research capacity and improve access to samples for research.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to ensure that cancer patients in Newbury are treated within 62 days.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We have now exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million appointments across elective, diagnostic, and cancer care, having now delivered over five million more appointments as the first step to ensuring earlier and faster access to treatment.

Between November 2024 to October 2025, approximately 110,000 more patients were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days compared to the previous 12 months. This supports the achievement of the 62-day treatment standard, as faster diagnosis means that patients can begin treatment sooner.

The latest available data shows that the 62-day treatment standard for the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board has improved by 3.5% between October 2024 and October 2025.

However, we recognise that there is more to do, including for patients in Newbury.

To ensure that the most advanced treatment is available to the patients who need it, and so that patients can be treated sooner, the Government has also invested £70 million of central funding to replace outdated radiotherapy machines, including one at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Social media for under 16s

Health and Care Worker visas

Gambling harms

Commemorating National Care Leaver’s Month November 2025

Import of illegal meat

Dolly Parton's birthday

Public health campaign on tackling stigma towards suicide

Richard Clothier MBE for services to sustainable agriculture and food production

Brain cancer

Iran protests

Deregistration of international non-governmental organisations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Use of UK bases by the United States and international law in relation to Greenland

Less Survivable Cancers Week

In memory of Andrew Arbuckle MBE

Nuclear Regulatory Review and habitats regulations

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Bob Blackman (Chair); Jonathan Davies; Mr Lee Dillon; Mary Glindon

Found: Mr Lee Dillon: Lee Dillon, MP for Newbury. Good morning.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Martin Vickers (Chair); Jonathan Davies; Mr Lee Dillon; Mary Glindon

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Florence Eshalomi (Chair); Lewis Cocking; Chris Curtis; Mr Lee Dillon