Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide additional funding to offset the closure of the Community Ownership Fund.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government remains committed to the communities’ sector and to community empowerment. The Devolution White Paper, which was published on 16 December 2024, set out plans which demonstrate our commitment.
As part of the English Devolution Bill, we will legislate to introduce a strong new ‘right to buy’ for valued community assets, such as empty shops, pubs and community spaces. This will empower local people to bring community spaces back into community ownership and end the blight of empty premises on our high streets.
Community Right to Buy will help local people acquire valued community spaces if they come up for sale, keeping these assets in the hands of the community.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to replace the Community Ownership Fund.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
This Government remains committed to the communities’ sector and to community empowerment. The Devolution White Paper, which was published on 16 December 2024, set out plans which demonstrate our commitment.
As part of the English Devolution Bill, we will legislate to introduce a strong new ‘right to buy’ for valued community assets, such as empty shops, pubs and community spaces. This will empower local people to bring community spaces back into community ownership and end the blight of empty premises on our high streets.
Community Right to Buy will help local people acquire valued community spaces if they come up for sale, keeping these assets in the hands of the community.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects National Highways to decide on whether the lights along the M25 between Junctions 8 and 9 will be switched back on at night.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways expects to be in a position to make a decision on the lighting in this location once the current evaluation is finished and the appraisal is completed, which is expected to be in January 2026.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) other stakeholders on creating a 12 car turn-back facility at Reigate train station since July 2024.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Reigate 12 car scheme was closed by the previous Government following Spending Review 2021. No development work has taken place on the project since this point.
Officials in my Department are in regular discussions with Network Rail on opportunities to improve services across the Brighton Main Line, including the Reigate area. In preparing for Spending Review 2025 we are assessing potential transport investments, ensuring every penny spent supports our missions and the plan for growth.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to improve accessibility at Earlswood train station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. We are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme and will announce the next steps after completion of the Spending Review.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, following the the 18 month assessment period for light switch off between junctions 8 and 9 of the M25, when she expects the TA 501 road lighting appraisal to be available.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways expect the appraisal to be completed in January 2026 and the TA501 assessment will be made available from National Highways, upon request, after a decision has been made on the future of the lighting in this location.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she has had with National Highways on its programme of (a) turning off and (b) removing lights on motorways.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department meets monthly with National Highways to discuss its performance and delivery. This includes discussions on the company’s actions to meet its Key Performance Indicator targets, one of which is Corporate Carbon reduction. Electricity used to light the strategic road network is by far the biggest contributor to National Highways’ overall carbon emissions. To meet the reduction target, National Highways has been trialling turning off some sections of lighting, where it has been assessed safe to do so, alongside its LED replacement programme.
The Office of Rail and Road, as the independent highways monitor, also meets the Department monthly to provide advice on National Highways’ plans and ongoing performance, also covering the Company’s actions to reduce its carbon emissions.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she expects contactless ticketing to be rolled out to Reigate train station.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department announced last year that Reigate would be included in the next tranche of pay-as-you-go stations during contactless expansion. Further details on timing are not available at this stage, but Reigate Station will get contactless ticketing before the end of 2025.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) other stakeholders on transport improvements in Reigate constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Officials in my Department are in regular discussions with Network Rail on opportunities to improve services across the Brighton Main Line, including in the Reigate area. As part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan, £900 million is being invested in renewing the railway across the route between 2024 and 2029. In preparing for Spending Review 2025 we are assessing potential transport investments, ensuring every penny spent supports our missions and the plan for growth.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the cost to the public purse of providing hotel accommodation to migrants in Reigate constituency over the last (a) five years, (b) 18 months and (c) nine months.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)
Quarterly data on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab for our most recent statistics release. The data can also be broken down by local authority. Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab).
The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).