Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of levels of environmental regulation since 2010 on trends in environmental outcomes, including the condition of protected sites, species recovery and wildfire incidence.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The England and UK Biodiversity Indicators are published annually and the latest annual update (England) was published on 2 December 2025.

Figures on the condition and extent of protected areas and trends since 2016 can be found here while those those for species can be found here.

On 22 January 2026 Defra published its 2019-24 Habitat Regulations implementation report for England. It evaluates how conservation measures have supported the protection and restoration of biodiversity. It succeeds the reporting obligation previously required under the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives respectively.

Defra does not hold details on wildfire incidence. MHCLG is responsible for fire policy and operations.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of carbon price linkage within the EU on the oil refining sector in the UK.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK’s refining capacity is very important to our energy security and resilience, and is an industrial base which contributes to the continued growth of our regions. This government recognises the wider challenges facing the sector and know that tackling these with industry is vitally important.

Under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, free allocations are provided to the refining sector to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage and reduce exposure to the carbon price.

Linking the UK ETS and EU ETS is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the UK, including a cheaper path towards decarbonisation by providing businesses with access to a larger, more stable carbon market and creating the conditions for mutual CBAM exemptions, removing a major barrier to trade and lowering costs for UK firms.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of carbon pricing on the refinery sector.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK ETS Authority provides free allocations to sectors at risk of carbon leakage, such as the refining sector, to reduce exposure to the carbon price. The Authority recently concluded a review into free allocation policy which confirmed refining is at risk of carbon leakage and will continue to be eligible to receive support through free allocation, measured against an efficiency standard. The review also determined that the efficiency standard used to set free allocations would be maintained in 2027, providing operators in the sector with the necessary certainty to plan for the forthcoming allocation period. This will provide continuity and additional time for industrial sectors to plan for future benchmark updates, which are expected in 2028. Ahead of this, the UK ETS Authority will perform an assessment of impacts on businesses, including those in the Refining sector.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to include refineries in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism from January 2028.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As announced at Budget 2025, the government is considering the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in future.

The government recognises the role that refineries play in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. The Government published a call for evidence (https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector-call-for-evidence) on the future of the fuel sector on 23^rd February 2026 in order to help understand the current state of the refining sector.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme contributed to the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My department has worked closely with Northern Ireland partners to ensure the funds address the needs and opportunities of Northern Ireland’s people, businesses, and communities, contributing towards the delivery of the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy.

In Northern Ireland, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund invested £150 million into over 60 projects 2022-23 to 2025-26, helping people move towards work, support local businesses to start, thrive and grow, and invest in communities across Northern Ireland.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much under-spending was identified in the first two years of the Shared Prosperity Fund and was any of this under-spending used to support funding in the third year.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In the first two years of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), covering the financial years 2022–23 and 2023–24, the total core UKSPF allocation was £762,669,654. Of this total allocation, £174,447,409 remained unspent at the end of 2023-24 and this amount was carried forward to support UKSPF delivery in 2024-25.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether there will be an open call for the new Local Growth Fund.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department are working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the new Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland. More detailed information on delivery of the funding will follow.

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 whether the proposed funding allocations of the Local Growth Fund align with the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Local Growth Fund will drive economic growth and improve living standards by supporting infrastructure, innovation, business support and skills. MHCLG and the Northern Ireland Office are working with the Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the funding in Northern Ireland, ensuring that investment aligns with Northern Ireland’s priorities and delivers meaningful impact for local people.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February to Question 110802 on Malaysia: Rohingya, whether (a) enforcement mechanisms, (b) monitoring arrangements and (c) safeguards have been established following her representations to the Government of Malaysia.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is a strong supporter of international efforts to assist Rohingya refugees and to work towards a safe, sustainable and dignified solution to their displacement.

The UK regularly raises the Myanmar crisis and the need to assist Rohingya and other refugees with Malaysia and other neighbouring countries. Malaysia is not a party to the UN Refugee Convention but runs its asylum and refugee process in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

In January 2026, the Malaysian government introduced a centralised biometric registration system for refugees and asylum seekers. The UK is working with international partners to encourage Malaysia to build appropriate safeguards into its registration system and broader asylum and refugee process.

Museum online sales to Northern Ireland

75th anniversary of Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster

Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal 2026

Securing the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme

NHS access to medical cannabis for children with drug-resistant epilepsy

90th anniversary of the Spitfire

Armed exports to the United Arab Emirates and the situation in Sudan

Found: (Conservative; Reigate) John Slinger (Labour; Rugby) Sir Mark Tami (Labour; Alyn and Deeside) Sammy Wilson

Found: (Conservative; Reigate) John Slinger (Labour; Rugby) Sir Mark Tami (Labour; Alyn and Deeside) Sammy Wilson

Found: Jessica Morden MP Ben Obese-Jecty MP Rebecca Paul MP John Slinger MP Mark Tami MP Sammy Wilson

Found: (Conservative; Reigate) John Slinger (Labour; Rugby) Sir Mark Tami (Labour; Alyn and Deeside) Sammy Wilson

Found: (Conservative; Reigate) John Slinger (Labour; Rugby) Sir Mark Tami (Labour; Alyn and Deeside) Sammy Wilson

Found: Sojan Joseph; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; Blake Stephenson; John Whitby; Sammy Wilson

Found: Sojan Joseph; Manuela Perteghella; Martin Rhodes; Dr Roz Savage; Blake Stephenson; John Whitby; Sammy Wilson

Found: Cotswolds) Blake Stephenson (Conservative; Mid Bedfordshire) John Whitby (Labour; Derbyshire Dales) Sammy Wilson