Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support community centres with the cost of energy bills.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.
In the short-term, the Government wants to provide businesses with better protection from being locked into unfair and expensive energy contracts, and more redress when they have a complaint. Last year, the Government launched a consultation on introducing regulation of Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs), such as energy brokers. This is aimed at enhancing consumer protections, particularly for non-domestic consumers.
The consultation has now closed, and a Government response will follow in due course once all feedback has been reviewed.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he plans to take to support nurseries with energy bills.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.
In the short-term, the Government wants to provide businesses with better protection from being locked into unfair and expensive energy contracts, and more redress when they have a complaint. Last year, the Government launched a consultation on introducing regulation of Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs), such as energy brokers. This is aimed at enhancing consumer protections, particularly for non-domestic consumers.
The consultation has now closed, and a Government response will follow in due course once all feedback has been reviewed.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she plans to make the final payment of the 20 year agreement with UNITAID.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We plan to make a £14 million contribution to Unitaid in December this year. We are proud of the UK's strong support of Unitaid for nearly 20 years and their groundbreaking achievements in promoting equitable access to life-saving health innovations. Unitaid remain a trusted and high-performing partner.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the installation of carbon monoxide alarms in (a) care homes, (b) student halls, (c) office spaces and (d) other residential settings not covered by the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The goverrnment currently has no plans to extend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, which are designed specifically to address issues associated with rented residential accommodation. Other buildings, including workplaces and care settings, are already covered by other regulations.
The Building Regulations 2010 apply to new building work, including air supply and chimney or flue requirements for combustion appliances installed in buildings, and for dwellings only the provision of warnings of a release of carbon monoxide. The Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998 require owners of premises to ensure gas appliances are installed and maintained properly by a competent gas safe registered engineer, which the Health and Safety Executive advise is the most effective way to reduce the risk from carbon monoxide.
The 2015 smoke and CO alarm regulations provide important protections for renters, private and social, requiring landlords to fit smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their homes. In addition to these regulations, fire and carbon monoxide safety requirements can be found in the Housing Act 2004, the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022. The government has also introduced additional safety legislation to protect tenants from health and safety hazards through the introduction of Awaab’s Law which will come onto force for damp, mould and all emergency hazards this month.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms (Amendment) Regulations 2022 to (a) schools, (b) office spaces and (c) other public buildings.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The goverrnment currently has no plans to extend the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015, which are designed specifically to address issues associated with rented residential accommodation. Other buildings, including workplaces and care settings, are already covered by other regulations.
The Building Regulations 2010 apply to new building work, including air supply and chimney or flue requirements for combustion appliances installed in buildings, and for dwellings only the provision of warnings of a release of carbon monoxide. The Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998 require owners of premises to ensure gas appliances are installed and maintained properly by a competent gas safe registered engineer, which the Health and Safety Executive advise is the most effective way to reduce the risk from carbon monoxide.
The 2015 smoke and CO alarm regulations provide important protections for renters, private and social, requiring landlords to fit smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their homes. In addition to these regulations, fire and carbon monoxide safety requirements can be found in the Housing Act 2004, the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022. The government has also introduced additional safety legislation to protect tenants from health and safety hazards through the introduction of Awaab’s Law which will come onto force for damp, mould and all emergency hazards this month.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to RNIB's report entitled In my way: navigating pedestrian journeys with sight loss, published on 4 September 2025, whether she plans to standardise street environment regulations for (a) design, (b) maintenance and (c) enforcement.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The design and maintenance of local roads is the responsibility of local authorities who are bound by the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty. It is for them to ensure streets are designed and maintained in a way that takes account of the needs of everyone. Enforcement of matters relating to local streets is for the local authority or the police, depending on the nature of the offence.
The Department does not set design standards for local roads but provides a legislative and good practice framework. The Department has produced a range of good practice guidance to help them in this, particularly “Inclusive Mobility: A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure”. This is available at
I regularly meet with accessibility stakeholders, including RNIB, to discuss a range of issues and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will meet with RNIB to discuss their report entitled In my way: navigating pedestrian journeys with sight loss, published on 4 September 2025.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The design and maintenance of local roads is the responsibility of local authorities who are bound by the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty. It is for them to ensure streets are designed and maintained in a way that takes account of the needs of everyone. Enforcement of matters relating to local streets is for the local authority or the police, depending on the nature of the offence.
The Department does not set design standards for local roads but provides a legislative and good practice framework. The Department has produced a range of good practice guidance to help them in this, particularly “Inclusive Mobility: A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure”. This is available at
I regularly meet with accessibility stakeholders, including RNIB, to discuss a range of issues and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help restore plantations on ancient woodland sites.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra supports private landowners and land managers to restore Plantations on Ancient Woodland (PAWS) with a dedicated supplement in Countryside Stewardship. Defra is also continuing support to Forestry England to restore PAWS on the public forest estate. Forestry England manages around one-third of all PAWS. Today, a quarter of those sites have been restored. Forestry England is now working to double the pace of restoration, supported for the first time this year by direct Defra funding.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that newly created woodlands are (a) ecologically diverse and (b) climate-resilient.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Both the Woodland Creation Planning Grant and England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) enables landowners to design woodlands that fit with their own and Government objectives for woodland creation. EWCO includes maintenance grants for 15 years to ensure successful establishment. The England Woodland Creation Offer has additional contributions for woodlands designed to enhance nature recovery. The Ecological Site Classification tool ensures that the choice of species will be resilient to future climatic conditions of the site. The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) ensures that a new woodland should have no more than 65% of the site planted with 1 species, to ensure a resilient mix. Elements of EWCO (Nature Recovery Additional Contributions) encourage a diverse use of predominately native tree species beyond UKFS requirements.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the UK Forestry Standard is being enforced in (a) public and (b) private woodland creation.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK Forestry Standard is the technical standard for sustainable forest management across the UK and defines the government requirements for forestry in the UK. When taking decisions on regulatory or grant applications from private landowners, the Forestry Commission assesses all proposals to ensure that they are in line with the UK Forestry Standard. Similarly, Forestry England woodlands are UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) certified by an independent auditor. The UKWAS is based on the UKFS.