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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to improve access to social homes for people at risk of homelessness.

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

The government published A National Plan to End Homelessness on 11 December 2025. It can be found on gov.uk here.

In respect of homes funded by the Social and Affordable Housing Programme, we have made clear that registered providers will be expected to assist and work closely with councils to fulfil their duties to meet local housing need. This includes letting rented homes in accordance with, and meeting obligations set out in, nominations agreements. We expect registered providers to provide 100% of first lets through nominations agreements, unless otherwise agreed with the council.

We have also brought forward amendments to the Social Housing Bill to strengthen homelessness prevention. Details can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 October 2026 (HCWS401).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of meetings held between Liverpool City Council planning department staff and members of the public and whether such meetings are recorded.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what oversight does the Chief Executive and planning committee members of Liverpool City Council have of complaints and FOI's about the planning department.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of FOI requests that Liverpool City Council have declined to respond to in the last two years relating to the planning department.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on how many FOIs have been submitted to Liverpool City Council specifically related to the planning department in the last two years.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many FOIs were submitted to Liverpool City council relating to the planning department were responded to within the legal time limit in the last two years.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department does not hold this information, but Liverpool City Council will hold this information.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the capacity of schools to deliver the nature, outdoor and adventure enrichment benchmark across all regions of England.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department has published a new enrichment framework with benchmarks to provide a clear structure against which schools can evaluate and make considered improvements to their offer, including nature, outdoors and adventure provision. Baroness Grey-Thompson has been appointed as Nature, Outdoors and Adventure Ambassador, to highlight effective enrichment practice, and help develop and expand opportunities for young people.

The £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme, which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the department are working in partnership to deliver, will work with over 400 schools to support them to meet the benchmarks set out in the enrichment framework. The programme will support connections between providers and organisations (including, for example, zoos), and schools, enabling pupils to take advantage of the expertise, capacity and experiences available.

This is alongside a variety of governmental programmes which can support schools with enrichment, for example National Education Nature Parks. DCMS’s Every Child Can programme will deliver £132.5 million for new activities programmes structured around the 5 enrichment categories within the framework, delivered through schools, community programmes, weekend activities and holiday provision.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to work with zoos and other outdoor learning providers to support delivery of the nature, outdoor and adventure enrichment benchmark.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department has published a new enrichment framework with benchmarks to provide a clear structure against which schools can evaluate and make considered improvements to their offer, including nature, outdoors and adventure provision. Baroness Grey-Thompson has been appointed as Nature, Outdoors and Adventure Ambassador, to highlight effective enrichment practice, and help develop and expand opportunities for young people.

The £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme, which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the department are working in partnership to deliver, will work with over 400 schools to support them to meet the benchmarks set out in the enrichment framework. The programme will support connections between providers and organisations (including, for example, zoos), and schools, enabling pupils to take advantage of the expertise, capacity and experiences available.

This is alongside a variety of governmental programmes which can support schools with enrichment, for example National Education Nature Parks. DCMS’s Every Child Can programme will deliver £132.5 million for new activities programmes structured around the 5 enrichment categories within the framework, delivered through schools, community programmes, weekend activities and holiday provision.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help support schools to deliver the nature, outdoor and adventure enrichment benchmark, including through sufficient funding.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department has published a new enrichment framework with benchmarks to provide a clear structure against which schools can evaluate and make considered improvements to their offer, including nature, outdoors and adventure provision. Baroness Grey-Thompson has been appointed as Nature, Outdoors and Adventure Ambassador, to highlight effective enrichment practice, and help develop and expand opportunities for young people.

The £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme, which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the department are working in partnership to deliver, will work with over 400 schools to support them to meet the benchmarks set out in the enrichment framework. The programme will support connections between providers and organisations (including, for example, zoos), and schools, enabling pupils to take advantage of the expertise, capacity and experiences available.

This is alongside a variety of governmental programmes which can support schools with enrichment, for example National Education Nature Parks. DCMS’s Every Child Can programme will deliver £132.5 million for new activities programmes structured around the 5 enrichment categories within the framework, delivered through schools, community programmes, weekend activities and holiday provision.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will review the impact of historic Housing Revenue Account debt on the ability of local authorities to deliver social homes.

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

The government recognises that many councils are facing significant financial pressures on their Housing Revenue Accounts.

The government has already taken a number of steps to rebuild the capacity of councils to borrow and invest in new and existing homes, including fundamental reform of the Right to Buy scheme, a 10-year social housing rent settlement, and Social Rent convergence.

We will continue to explore further ways we might support councils to expand their stock of social homes, including low-cost borrowing options.

Gaza flooding response

Found: COMMITTEE STAGE Thursday 29 October 2026 _NC19 David Williams Jess Asato Dr Rosena Allin-Khan Paula Barker

Found: _NC19 David Williams Jess Asato Dr Rosena Allin-Khan Paula Barker Kerry McCarthy Iqbal Mohamed Gill Furniss

Found: selection and grouping of amendments for debate in Committee Thursday 29 October 2026 Chairs: Paula Barker

Found: _NC19 David Williams Jess Asato Dr Rosena Allin-Khan Paula Barker Kerry McCarthy Iqbal Mohamed Gill Furniss

Found: _NC19 David Williams Jess Asato Dr Rosena Allin-Khan Paula Barker Kerry McCarthy Iqbal Mohamed Gill Furniss

Found: selection and grouping of amendments for debate in Committee Tuesday 27 October 2026 Chairs: Paula Barker

Found: _NC19 David Williams Jess Asato Dr Rosena Allin-Khan Paula Barker Kerry McCarthy Iqbal Mohamed .

Found: _NC67 Paula Barker Margaret Mullane .

Found: _NC67 Paula Barker ★.

Found: selection and grouping of amendments for debate in Committee Thursday 22 October 2026 Chairs: Paula Barker

Found: selection and grouping of amendments for debate in Committee Tuesday 20 October 2026 Chairs: Paula Barker