Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker where in the parliamentary estate each of the 36 fire incidents since 2016 referenced in the Restoration and Renewal Client Board report Delivering restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster: the costed proposals, published on 5 February, took place; and which of those incidents required an evacuation of the nearby premises.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
A total of 36 fire-related or safety ‑related incidents have occurred since 2016 within the Palace of Westminster. We attach the list of incidents within this timescale.
None of the 36 incidents, resulted in either partial or complete evacuation of the Palace of Westminster and all were dealt with by the in-house teams and did not require the assistance of London Fire Brigade.
Date | Location | Incident | Action |
January 2016 | Palace of Westminster | Residue oil in frying pan had ignited | Chefs reminded not to leave pans unattended |
February 2016 | Palace of Westminster | Smouldering smoking bin | Arrangement made for bins to be checked and emptied more regularly |
June 2016 | Palace of Westminster | Plantroom roof – fire damage to flat roof and scaffold boards | Small fire caused by contractor halogen light; halogen lights banned; extinguished by fire section |
August 2016 | Palace of Westminster | Smouldering smoking bin | Burnt tissues found to be cause |
August 2016 | Palace of Westminster | Smoking bin burnt | Additional smoking receptacles provided; emptied more frequently |
August 2016 | Palace of Westminster | Tea point – Burnt foodstuff | Signage placed to remind staff not to leave microwave unattended |
November 2016 | Palace of Westminster | Overheating phone charger | Electrical engineers informed |
November 2016 | Palace of Westminster | Overheated plug into trailing lead | Electrical engineers informed |
November 2016 | Palace of Westminster | Overheated convector heater | Electrical engineers informed |
December 2016 | Palace of Westminster | Smouldering smoking bin | Arrangement made for bins to be checked and emptied more regularly |
February 2017 | Palace of Westminster | Burnt toast | Signage placed to remind staff not to leave toaster unattended |
March 2017 | Palace of Westminster | Burnt toast | Signage placed to remind staff not to leave toaster unattended |
September 2017 | Palace of Westminster | Burnt out plug and socket | Electrical engineers called to investigate |
November 2017 | Palace of Westminster | Plastic tray left in warming oven | Head chef advised to cease practice |
July 2018 | Palace of Westminster | Plant pot containing peat | Unauthorised smoking caused fire; CCTV used to identify culprits |
September 2018 | Palace of Westminster | Burnt out cable reel | Contractors reminded to unwind reel before use |
October 2018 | Palace of Westminster | Burnt out E‑cigarette charger | Occupants advised to PAT test electrical equipment |
December 2018 | Palace of Westminster | Burnt out switch on oil‑filled radiator | Electrical engineers called |
February 2019 | Palace of Westminster | Burnt food | Occupants advised to watch cooking food |
May 2019 | Palace of Westminster | Burnt food | Occupants advised to check cooking times and not leave microwave unattended |
December 2019 | Palace of Westminster | Burnt out floor socket | Engineers fixed water leak affecting sockets |
February 2020 | Palace of Westminster | Smouldering smoking bin | Discarded paper ignited |
March 2021 | Palace of Westminster | Smouldering defective extension cable | Contractors reminded of correct cable management |
August 2021 | Palace of Westminster | Flare fired from outside perimeter | Extinguished by fire section |
Feb 2022 | Palace of Westminster | Overheating charging cable to hydraulic platform | Dealt with by contractors |
Dec-22 | Palace of Westminster | Plant room-drive belt overheating | Plant isolated – follow up assigned to Engineers Control |
Feb-23 | Palace of Westminster | Burnt food in microwave | Extinguished by user - microwave taken out of service |
Mar-23 | Palace of Westminster | Smoke from overheating electrical component | Power isolated and unit allowed to cool – follow up assigned to Engineers Control |
Apr-23 | Palace of Westminster | Food tray on hot surface | Food warmer isolated by electrician on request of Fire Protection Team |
Apr-23 | Palace of Westminster | Visitor Assistance audio device dropped and battery flared | Device battery extinguished without intervention - removed by Engineers Control for disposal |
Oct-23 | Palace of Westminster | Spilt cooking oil ignited on hob | Small amount of oil burnt off immediately - no extinguishing media required. Follow up assigned to Head Chef |
Aug-24 | Palace of Westminster | Unknown person ignited paper in waste bin | Bin had been placed to catch water leak which had extinguished ignited paper |
Sep-24 | Palace of Westminster | Careless disposal of smoking materials | Smouldering waste bin identified - cigarette/tissue removed and stamped out |
Sep-25 | Palace of Westminster | Careless disposal of smoking materials | Cigarette ignited waste bin – Fire Protection Team extinguished fire |
Oct-25 | Palace of Westminster | Smoke from overheating electrical component | Power isolated and unit allowed to cool – follow up assigned to Engineers Control |
Nov-25 | Palace of Westminster | Smoke from overheating electrical component | Power isolated and unit allowed to cool – follow up assigned to Engineers Control |
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
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 (a) onshore oil developments in the UK on areas of significant housing growth such as the Ardingly Reservoir catchment and (b) those developments on drinking water.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Local planning authorities and the Environment Agency are responsible for assessing the impact of onshore oil and gas developments on housing and drinking water respectively.
The North Sea Transition Authority regulates exploration and development licensing for England’s onshore oil and gas resources on behalf of the Secretary of State. Licence holders require further consents and permits before any operations take place.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following the demolition of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine in East Jerusalem.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Lord Bishop to the joint statement issued by the Foreign Secretary and a number of her overseas counterparts on 28 January, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
We the Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom strongly condemn the demolitions by the Israeli authorities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) headquarters in East Jerusalem, on 20 January 2026.
This unprecedented act against a United Nations agency by a UN Member State marks the latest unacceptable move to undermine their ability to operate. We urge the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure the protection and inviolability of United Nations premises in accordance with the provisions of the UN General Convention (1946) and the Charter. We call upon the Government of Israel, a member of the United Nations, to halt all demolitions.
We reiterate our full support for UNRWA's indispensable mission to provide essential services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem. We welcome UNRWA's commitment to reform and implementation of the recommendations of the Colonna Report to ensure they meet the highest standards on neutrality and integrity. UNRWA is a service provider delivering healthcare and education to millions of Palestinians across the region, particularly in Gaza, and must be able to operate without restrictions. We reiterate our deep concern regarding the application by the Government of Israel of legislation, adopted by the Knesset in October 2024 and strengthened in December 2025, forbidding any contact between Israeli state entities and officials and UNRWA, prohibiting and de facto preventing any UNRWA presence within Israel and in Jerusalem including the supply of electricity, water and gas to properties registered under UNRWA.
Israel agreed to President Trump's 20-Point Plan, which committed to the entry and distribution of aid into Gaza, led by the UN and Red Crescent and without interference. We call on the Government of Israel to fully abide by its obligations to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in accordance with international law. Despite the increase in aid entering Gaza, conditions remain dire and supply is inadequate for the needs of the population. Therefore, we call on the Government of Israel to take the following urgent and essential steps:
- Allow the expanded, safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and services throughout the whole of Gaza and the West Bank in accordance with international humanitarian law.
- Ensure that international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza, including by lifting restrictive registration requirements.
- The reopening of all crossing points, including the announced plans to re-open the Rafah crossing in both directions.
- And lift persistent restrictions on humanitarian goods' imports, including items considered to have a "dual use" that are essential to humanitarian and early recovery operations.
Asked by: Lord Markham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of the white paper A New Vision for Water, on 20 January, what plans they have to expand community water fluoridation to improve oral health outcomes in England.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
A New Vision for Water sets out that public health will be considered in new water frameworks and regulations. This will support delivery of shared outcomes, like those in the 10-Year Health Plan, which commits to assessing the further rollout of water fluoridation in areas where oral health outcomes are worst. We will also expand community water fluoridation in the north east of England from 2028 so that it reaches 1.6 million more people by April 2030. We will also refurbish older, existing water fluoridation schemes in England, benefitting a further six million people by 2030.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of attenuation ponds in reducing both the volume and flow of run from major roads where such works were not considered necessary pre-1990.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Attenuation ponds are deployed by Risk Management Authorities as a flood alleviation measure; they are determined by a range of factors including cost to benefit ratio and the standard of protection that can be achieved. In recent years, the highway sector has been innovative in its use of sustainable drainage and green infrastructure to help manage road flooding.
A new three-year £4.2 billion Flood and Coastal Risk Investment Programme will start in April 2026, where new projects will align with the strategic objectives set out in the Government’s new funding rules announced in October 2025. This means investment goes where it is most needed, accounting for flood risk, value for money, natural flood management opportunity and additional contributions to make Government investment go further. This investment will benefit properties, infrastructure and agriculture.
The Government and the Environment Agency are committed to improving England’s picture of flood and coastal erosion risk, including from surface water. The Environment Agency published its new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) data in 2025.
Asked by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
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 relative cost benefit of attenuation ponds compared with repeated flood damage to (a) properties, (b) infrastructure and (c) agricultural land.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Attenuation ponds are deployed by Risk Management Authorities as a flood alleviation measure; they are determined by a range of factors including cost to benefit ratio and the standard of protection that can be achieved. In recent years, the highway sector has been innovative in its use of sustainable drainage and green infrastructure to help manage road flooding.
A new three-year £4.2 billion Flood and Coastal Risk Investment Programme will start in April 2026, where new projects will align with the strategic objectives set out in the Government’s new funding rules announced in October 2025. This means investment goes where it is most needed, accounting for flood risk, value for money, natural flood management opportunity and additional contributions to make Government investment go further. This investment will benefit properties, infrastructure and agriculture.
The Government and the Environment Agency are committed to improving England’s picture of flood and coastal erosion risk, including from surface water. The Environment Agency published its new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) data in 2025.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help support (a) the older population and (b) pensioners with water poverty.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Water companies are more than doubling social tariff support for vulnerable customers and Government is working with industry to keep their support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. We are considering ways to drive more consistency across the schemes and increase awareness of the support consumers can access. Defra also expects companies to hold themselves accountable for their public commitment to end water poverty by 2030.
Government has committed to reforming the WaterSure support scheme. We recently consulted on proposals to increase scope and support to low-income households who have higher water usage due to medical needs or three or more children in the household.
We expect all water companies to make sure households are aware of the schemes and measures available to help those struggling to pay their bills and do everything they can to support all customers who are vulnerable, including having regard to the interests of individuals of pensionable age.
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton West)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help support households with increases to water bills.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Water companies are more than doubling social tariff support for vulnerable customers and Government is working with industry to keep their support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. We are considering ways to drive more consistency across the schemes and increase awareness of the support consumers can access. Defra also expects companies to hold themselves accountable for their public commitment to end water poverty by 2030.
Government has committed to reforming the WaterSure support scheme. We recently consulted on proposals to increase scope and support to low-income households who have higher water usage due to medical needs or three or more children in the household.
We expect all water companies to make sure households are aware of the schemes and measures available to help those struggling to pay their bills and do everything they can to support all customers who are vulnerable, including having regard to the interests of individuals of pensionable age.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure businesses affected by the water outage receive suitable compensation in Sussex.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the disruption that consumers have suffered and takes the need for appropriate compensation to customers seriously. The Government is clear that it is the responsibility of the water company to provide compensation that is commensurate with the scale of the disruption.
The Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) sets the minimum standards of service for all customers of water companies. Where a company fails to meet any of the standards, it is required to make a specified payment to the affected household or business customer. The Government announced a major update to the GSS as part of its initial package of water sector reforms in July 2025. The updates reformed the GSS, improving consumer protections by further protections for customers – increasing the payment values, to double or more, and by expanding the scope to include additional standards. South East Water must make mandatory payments to affected customers in line with the GSS following the water outages in East Grinstead and Uckfield.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that businesses affected by the water outage receive suitable compensation in East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the disruption that consumers have suffered and takes the need for appropriate compensation to customers seriously. The Government is clear that it is the responsibility of the water company to provide compensation that is commensurate with the scale of the disruption.
The Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) sets the minimum standards of service for all customers of water companies. Where a company fails to meet any of the standards, it is required to make a specified payment to the affected household or business customer. The Government announced a major update to the GSS as part of its initial package of water sector reforms in July 2025. The updates reformed the GSS, improving consumer protections by further protections for customers – increasing the payment values, to double or more, and by expanding the scope to include additional standards. South East Water must make mandatory payments to affected customers in line with the GSS following the water outages in East Grinstead and Uckfield.