Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the time taken for Section 278 approvals on SME development timelines.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government recognises that the road adoption process under the Highways Act 1980, including Section 278 agreements where developers modify existing public highways, has become increasingly fragmented and prolonged across England. This has contributed to a decline in road adoption rates. In response, the Department for Transport is conducting research to better understand the underlying causes and identify opportunities for improvement.

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 introducing (a) time limits and (b) penalties for local planning authorities that do not determine small applications within statutory deadlines.

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

My Department recognises the importance of timely decision-making in the planning system, particularly for small applications which are often vital to local communities and small businesses.

Local planning authorities are already subject to statutory timeframes for determining planning application. For small or non-major application, the statutory deadline is eight weeks. Where this deadline is not met, and no extended time period has been agreed, applicants have the right to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds of non-determination.

My Department monitors the performance of local planning authorities in terms of both the speed and quality of decision-making, with separate metrics for major and non-major applications. Speed of decision-making is measured by the proportion of decisions that are made within the statutory deadline or an agreed extended time period. The current performance threshold for non-major applications is at least 70% of decisions made within these timeframes.

Where an authority fails to meet this threshold, the Secretary of State has the power to designate the authority. Designation requires the authority to prepare an improvement plan, and applicants may choose to submit relevant applications directly to the Planning Inspectorate, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government will consider the potential merits of (a) exemptions and (b) reduced thresholds for small and medium sized housebuilders under biodiversity net gain regulations.

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

The Government has recently consulted on how to improve biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development. This included options on exemptions and potential reduced thresholds for minor development. The Government is considering responses and will publish a summary of responses received as well as a Government response in due course.

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 biodiversity net gain requirements on the viability of small and medium-sized housing schemes.

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

The Government has recently consulted on how to improve biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development. This included options on exemptions and potential reduced thresholds for minor development. The Government is considering responses and will publish a summary of responses received as well as a Government response in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to introduce a cascade mechanism for Section 106 affordable housing agreements.

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

Section 106 agreements are, and will remain, an essential mechanism for delivering social and affordable housing.

The government continues to progress work on a holistic policy package that will deal with the legacy problem of existing uncontracted S106 units and also prevent the problem recurring by laying the foundations for a simpler, more transparent, and more resilient S106 system.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a (a) targeted help to build and (b) mortgage guarantee scheme for first-time buyers purchasing SME-built homes.

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

My Department has no current plans to make such an assessment.

The Help to Build: Equity Loan scheme, targeted at those wanting to custom build, self build or shell build a home, opened in June 2022 and closed to new applications in March 2025. There are no plans to allocate further funding to it.

The government has introduced a new, permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, available to support and sustain availability of low deposit mortgage products for prospective buyers. Additionally, the Bank of England is easing the loan-to-income limit, enabling up to 36,000 additional first-time buyers in the first year. The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) ongoing review of the mortgage market means many buyers can now borrow 10% more towards a property purchase. The government looks forward to ambitious proposals from the FCA’s paper. First-time buyers may also benefit from home ownership initiatives offered at the local level.

We have also provided £3 billion of additional support for SMEs and the Build to Rent sector, in the form of housing guarantee schemes.

My Department has regular discussions with HM Treasury on a range of issues including measures to support SMEs.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury about potential measures to support demand for SME-led housing.

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

My Department has no current plans to make such an assessment.

The Help to Build: Equity Loan scheme, targeted at those wanting to custom build, self build or shell build a home, opened in June 2022 and closed to new applications in March 2025. There are no plans to allocate further funding to it.

The government has introduced a new, permanent Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, available to support and sustain availability of low deposit mortgage products for prospective buyers. Additionally, the Bank of England is easing the loan-to-income limit, enabling up to 36,000 additional first-time buyers in the first year. The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) ongoing review of the mortgage market means many buyers can now borrow 10% more towards a property purchase. The government looks forward to ambitious proposals from the FCA’s paper. First-time buyers may also benefit from home ownership initiatives offered at the local level.

We have also provided £3 billion of additional support for SMEs and the Build to Rent sector, in the form of housing guarantee schemes.

My Department has regular discussions with HM Treasury on a range of issues including measures to support SMEs.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether reviews have been conducted by (a) the Animals in Science Regulation Unit and (b) other relevant bodies to ensure that the facilities at MBR Acres in Wyton, Huntingdon, provide appropriate safeguards for (i) dogs and (ii) puppies; and whether she is taking steps to ensure that licence conditions adequately protect animals during periods of extreme heat.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Animals in Science Regulation Unit conducts both announced and unannounced audits to ensure establishments’ compliance with the terms of their licences, the Code of Practice and with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). ASPA provides protections for animals bred in the UK for use in scientific procedures.

These documents require establishments to have contingency plans to ensure animal welfare. Establishment licence holders must ensure sufficient trained staff are in place to maintain high standards of care and facility management.

Daily checks by competent personnel are mandated to monitor animal welfare and environmental conditions, with prompt action required to address any issues. Establishments are required to report any breaches or potential breaches of licence conditions to the Secretary of State.