Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the costs incurred by local authorities in Essex in working on local government reorganisation plans since July 2024.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government recognises the significant work and resources committed by local authorities in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock to local government reorganisation. The activity to date and costs incurred by councils are being considered as part of the review of the local government reorganisation programme.
Previously, the Government provided £514,318 to support the development of local government reorganisation proposals in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. This formed part of £7.6 million made available in June 2025 to all councils in the LGR programme, the first time such funding had been provided to support the development of proposals.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has undertaken an assessment of the potential impact on access to public services caused by the decision to cancel the A12 Widening Scheme.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Following cancellation of the unaffordable A12 Widening Scheme, National Highways is working with local stakeholders on potential smaller-scale interventions for this section of road. This work is considering existing safety, reliability and resilience issues, alongside future housing, employment and freight growth. These are important factors to consider to understand the potential impact on access to public services. This work is developing a phased approach to potential investment, with shorter-term operational improvements and longer-term options requiring further assessment before any investment decisions are taken.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which representatives from the Government met with the Mauritian Prime Minister during his most recent visit to the UK.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Prime Minister Ramgoolam held a with a Senior Officials, on 2 October in London. He did not meet with any other Ministers during his most recent visit to the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will (a) review her decision to cancel the A12 Widening Scheme; and (b) re-evaluate the economic case for the A12 Widening Scheme.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government inherited a series of unfunded road schemes in July 2024. Following the conclusion of the Spending Review in 2025, it took the difficult decision to cancel the A12 Widening Scheme, as it was unaffordable. There are no plans to review that decision, which reflected a range of considerations, including the scheme's economic case and its poor value-for-money.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Development Consent Order for the A12 Widening Scheme will be revoked.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department intends to take forward the statutory process for revoking the Development Consent Order. The timing of any revocation will be subject to completion of that process.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will review her decision to remove the A120 Dualling Scheme from the Road Investment Strategy.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There are no plans to revisit the decision to remove the proposed dualling of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey from the future major enhancements pipeline set out in the Government’s third Road Investment Strategy. National Highways will soon be commencing its Route Strategies process, which is the key evidence gathering mechanism to inform future investment on the network. The case for any future improvements to the A120 will be informed by this work.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans she has for funding for heath facilities in Essex in each of the next five years.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has set out its long-term approach to National Health Service infrastructure investment through the 10 Year Capital Plan for Health and Social Care. Details of capital allocations and individual schemes are published on the GOV.UK website as funding decisions are made.
In Essex, we have already announced significant investment in NHS facilities. This includes £6 million over two years to refurbish and improve the emergency department at Basildon Hospital, doubling rapid assessment, triage, and treatment capacity from three to eight bays to improve patient flow and reduce delays. Over the next four years, the Estates Safety Fund will also provide funding for essential repairs across Essex, including over £8 million for Princess Alexandra Hospital and over £4.6 million across Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals.
In addition, new community-based mental health centres will be developed in Clacton-on-Sea and at Thurrock Community Hospital, providing earlier local support and specialist crisis care outside accident and emergency.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide an update on the RAAC remediation plans for each affected school in Essex.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department has committed to the removal of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from schools and colleges. By 2029, every school and college in England that is not being substantially rebuilt will be RAAC-free, and every school with RAAC and in need of a rebuild will be in construction through the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP).
In Essex, the removal of RAAC is being delivered through both the SRP and grant-funded projects. Schools and responsible bodies are kept informed of progress throughout the project.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the housing growth forecast in each local authority area in Essex in each of the next five years.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
It is for individual local planning authorities to calculate their local housing need figures.
Housing and economic needs assessment Planning Practice Guidance can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her planned timetable is for the Norwich to Tilbury Great Grid Upgrade to be (a) constructed and (b) operational.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Norwich to Tilbury is being developed by National Grid, who are responsible for its construction and delivery. Under Ofgem's Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment framework, the licence delivery date for the project is December 2031. The project is the subject of a live application for development consent; it would not be appropriate to comment further on its timetable while that process is ongoing.