Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
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 adequacy of the current regulatory framework for designing buildings and the act of building, in the context of the requirements introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022; and what steps are being considered to address knowledge gaps identified within the industry.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Safety Act 2022 created duties to keep the safety and standards of buildings under review and also to establish and maintain the Building Advisory Committee, which advises on matters connected with building safety, except those relating to the competence of persons in the built environment industry, and registered building inspectors. The Act also requires the Regulator to prepare a report on certain safety-related matters by October 2026 and consider further provision, or guidance, about stairs and ramps, emergency egress of disabled persons, and automatic water fire suppression systems in relevant buildings, with a view to improving the safety of persons in or about the built environment. Functions are ongoing and no review or assessment of these parts of the Act have been carried out to date.
In response to the Grenfell Inquiry’s recommendation 19, both the regulator, the Architects Registration Board (ARB), and the professional body, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), have taken steps to improve the education and training of architects. On 17 December 2025, the government published the Single Construction Regulator prospectus. The prospectus sets out how government will develop a strategy to reform regulation of built environment professionals, including with a view to better support the competency of professionals.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to funding eligibility for Level 7 apprenticeships on access to architectural training; and what discussions have taken place with stakeholders regarding age limits and future funding arrangements.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question UIN 57098.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to extend the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint and Infrastructure Grants for Landlords beyond 31 March 2026.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
An announcement on the available chargepoint grants for 2026-27 will be made shortly.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme on educational access for disadvantaged children, and whether the Government plans to extend FiPL funding beyond March 2026.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
At the Oxford Farming Conference on 8 January, the Secretary of State was pleased to announce a three-year extension to the programme with an additional £30m of funding.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department holds a copy of the contract for the National Investigation Service to investigate COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud nationwide of September 2020 that was signed by both the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and the National Investigation Service.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I confirm that the Department holds a copy of the contract for the National Investigation Service to investigate COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud nationwide of September 2020 that was signed by both the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and Thurrock Council (being the host of the National Investigation Service).
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for the implementation of reforms to the enforcement of standards in local government following his Department's response to the Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England consultation.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We are continuing to engage closely with the sector on the detailed design of the proposed reforms and will bring forward the necessary legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for primary schools to apply for funding under the £10 million Libraries for Primaries scheme; and how will primary schools be able to apply for that funding.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has responsibility for the Dormant Assets Scheme, which is providing funding to support the primary school library commitment, previously announced by the Chancellor.
Through the Scheme, £132.5 million has been allocated to increasing disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities in the arts, culture, sports and wider youth services, aimed at improving wellbeing and employability over the long term. This includes a commitment to ensuring that every primary school in England has a library space by the end of this Parliament.
The Government is working with The National Lottery Community Fund to co-design the programme and develop more of the specifics around its delivery. Further details will be announced in due course, including expected timelines and funding criteria.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for requiring estate managers to join an approved redress scheme, under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating restaurants in England to display their food hygiene rating.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is operated by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Evidence from Wales and Northern Ireland demonstrates that mandatory display has improved transparency, which encourages businesses to achieve better levels of compliance with hygiene requirements.
Introducing a statutory scheme in England with mandatory display of ratings at premises and online, would require primary legislation and the securing of a suitable legislative vehicle and parliamentary time. Ministers will consider the options in due course supported by the FSA.
In the meantime, the FSA is continuing to work with its local authority partners to deliver an excellent Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.
Asked by: Mike Martin (Liberal Democrat - Tunbridge Wells)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question 76468 on National Investigation Service: Audit, if he will publish the report into NATIS conducted by the Public Sector Fraud Authority; and what recommendations did the Public Sector Fraud authority make on the governance of the National Investigation Service.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department is not planning to publish the report or recommendations from the Public Sector Fraud Authority’s review of the National Investigation Service at this time. Any future publication will be coordinated with the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, who oversee the PSFA. Disclosure would risk revealing sensitive operational, policy, and commercial information, which could prejudice law enforcement activities and undermine ongoing policy development and commercial interests. The balance of public interest lies in maintaining the confidentiality of this information to protect the effectiveness of counter-fraud operations and ensure robust policy formulation.