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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the potential merits of exempting small urban (a) sites and (b) schemes under a certain threshold from biodiversity net gain obligations to prevent reductions in SME housing capacity.

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

On 28 May 2025, the government published a consultation on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development. It can be found on gov.uk here. The consultation closed on 24 July 2025 and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering the responses received.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of biodiversity net gain on the proportion of homes delivered by SME developers in urban areas; and what steps she is taking to ensure such schemes remain viable.

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

On 28 May 2025, the government published a consultation on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development. It can be found on gov.uk here. The consultation closed on 24 July 2025 and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering the responses received.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of biodiversity net gain requirements on the delivery of small-scale (a) industrial and (b) commercial projects.

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

On 28 May 2025, the government published a consultation on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development. It can be found on gov.uk here. The consultation closed on 24 July 2025 and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering the responses received.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of biodiversity net gain related delays on SME development finance costs.

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

On 28 May 2025, the government published a consultation on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development. It can be found on gov.uk here. The consultation closed on 24 July 2025 and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering the responses received.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to introduce a statutory compulsory licensing scheme for builders.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is fully committed to implementing the Grenfell Inquiry recommendation that principal contractors working on higher-risk buildings should be licenced through a scheme managed by the Building Safety Regulator. We have accepted this recommendation as an important step in enhancing building safety standards.

We continue to engage with stakeholders as to whether a wider licencing scheme would improve standards of consumer protection. This work is progressing alongside our broader initiatives to enhance competency across the construction sector through the Industry Competence Committee, ensuring a comprehensive approach to raising standards throughout the industry.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of support available to retired canine military working dogs.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

At the end of their service, Military Working Dogs (MWDs) are individually assessed and every effort is made to rehome them with a suitable owner. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) proactively undertakes diagnostic work, surgery, or other treatment, to prepare the MWD for retirement where it is in the individual animal’s interest and can improve its quality of life in retirement. The buyer receives a complete picture of a dog’s clinical and behavioural issues, and what the prognosis might be ahead of transferral of ownership.

Ownership transfers by sale to the new owner at the point of rehoming. To mitigate any issues in the transition period, however, if the MWD is on medication, the MOD provides up to 3 months’ worth of current medication to allow continuity of care while the dog is being registered with a new civilian veterinary practice. Owners can contact us via DATR-MARC-0Mailbox@mod.gov.uk if they have any concerns and they will be provided with options and/or signposted to relevant organisations.

The MOD continues to review its internal processes to deliver improvements to current support within existing workforce and financial constraints. For example, the Department has been working with re-homing charities to identify further opportunities to support retired MWDs.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the proportionality of biodiversity net gain survey requirements for small urban sites, in cases where (a) survey and (b) finance costs exceeded £30,000 for a compliance fee of under £500.

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

The recent consultation looked at a range of options to make it quicker, cheaper and easier for these businesses to deliver their BNG obligations, including small urban sites.

The recent consultation also looked at options for increasing flexibility for small developers to purchase off-site units, when BNG is not possible or viable to achieve on-site. Natural England maintains a national register of all off-site BNG land which continues to grow, increasing options and reducing costs for developers.

A Government response to the consultation will be published in due course.

We are also on improving the operation of BNG for local planning authorities and SME housebuilders. We will continue to keep the wider local authority biodiversity administration and ecological requirements on SME housebuilders through the planning system under review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the potential impact of variation in (a) local authority biodiversity administration and (b) ecological requirements on the ability of SME housebuilders to (i) forecast costs and (ii) deliver housing.

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

The recent consultation looked at a range of options to make it quicker, cheaper and easier for these businesses to deliver their BNG obligations, including small urban sites.

The recent consultation also looked at options for increasing flexibility for small developers to purchase off-site units, when BNG is not possible or viable to achieve on-site. Natural England maintains a national register of all off-site BNG land which continues to grow, increasing options and reducing costs for developers.

A Government response to the consultation will be published in due course.

We are also on improving the operation of BNG for local planning authorities and SME housebuilders. We will continue to keep the wider local authority biodiversity administration and ecological requirements on SME housebuilders through the planning system under review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of biodiversity net gain requirements on the viability of small urban housing sites developed by SME housebuilders; and if he will review the (a) availability and (b) cost of biodiversity unit credits for such schemes.

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

The recent consultation looked at a range of options to make it quicker, cheaper and easier for these businesses to deliver their BNG obligations, including small urban sites.

The recent consultation also looked at options for increasing flexibility for small developers to purchase off-site units, when BNG is not possible or viable to achieve on-site. Natural England maintains a national register of all off-site BNG land which continues to grow, increasing options and reducing costs for developers.

A Government response to the consultation will be published in due course.

We are also on improving the operation of BNG for local planning authorities and SME housebuilders. We will continue to keep the wider local authority biodiversity administration and ecological requirements on SME housebuilders through the planning system under review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the availability of suitable off-site land for delivering biodiversity net gain in the vicinity of small urban sites.

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

The recent consultation looked at a range of options to make it quicker, cheaper and easier for these businesses to deliver their BNG obligations, including small urban sites.

The recent consultation also looked at options for increasing flexibility for small developers to purchase off-site units, when BNG is not possible or viable to achieve on-site. Natural England maintains a national register of all off-site BNG land which continues to grow, increasing options and reducing costs for developers.

A Government response to the consultation will be published in due course.

We are also on improving the operation of BNG for local planning authorities and SME housebuilders. We will continue to keep the wider local authority biodiversity administration and ecological requirements on SME housebuilders through the planning system under review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of support available to retired canine officers.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Police support animals play an important role in crime detection, prevention, and public safety. The government values the bravery and skill of police dogs and their handlers, recognising the strong bond formed through their work.

Decisions on support for retired police dogs are made by individual forces, led by Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners. Each force manages its animals throughout service and retirement, supported by a mix of charities, volunteers, and benefit schemes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the animal welfare strategy will include a commitment to help end the illegal puppy smuggling trade.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As outlined in our manifesto, the Government is committed to ending puppy smuggling. That is why we are supporting the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.

Found: Antonia Bance (Labour; Tipton and Wednesbury) John Cooper (Conservative; Dumfries and Galloway) Sarah Edwards

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); John Cooper; Sarah Edwards; Alison Griffiths;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); John Cooper; Sarah Edwards; Alison Griffiths;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); John Cooper; Sarah Edwards; Alison Griffiths;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Liam Byrne (Chair); John Cooper; Sarah Edwards; Charlie Maynard;

Found: Antonia Bance (Labour; Tipton and Wednesbury) John Cooper (Conservative; Dumfries and Galloway) Sarah Edwards

Found: Antonia Bance (Labour; Tipton and Wednesbury) John Cooper (Conservative; Dumfries and Galloway) Sarah Edwards

Found: 20.0%) John Cooper (Conservative, Dumfries and Galloway) (added 5 Mar 2025) 4 of 5 (80.0%) Sarah Edwards

Found: Withdrawn after debate_276 Sarah Edwards .

Found: _277 Sarah Edwards .

Found: _277 Sarah Edwards .

Found: _276 Sarah Edwards .

Found: Withdrawn after debate_276 Sarah Edwards .

Submit Evidence (by 14 Nov 2025)

The UK economy confronts challenges to growth, weak productivity and fragile investment. Businesses face rising costs, regulatory uncertainty, and a complex trade environment.  

Found: Non-Group Members • Sarah McDermott, NHS Education Scotland • Steve Brown, Roche Products Ltd • Sarah Edwards