Written questions by Snowden.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question on Table Office: Financing, if the Commission will make an assessment of the potential merits of temporarily increasing staffing levels in the Table Office during peak periods.

The tabling of questions is driven by demand from Members and it is therefore difficult to predict peak periods of activity. The Chamber and Participation Team keeps under review appropriate staffing levels for the procedural offices, taking account of Member demand and the fact that the House Administration is undertaking a Savings and Improvement Programme.

Whether the cross-Government Motor Insurance Taskforce is maintaining a formal record of stakeholder engagement; and whether the Credit Hire Organisation was consulted.

The government’s Motor Insurance Taskforce, led by the Department for Transport and HM Treasury, is engaging with a range of interested stakeholders, including the Credit Hire Organisation. The taskforce plans to publish its final report in the autumn.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that credit hire providers serving vulnerable road users are represented in ongoing motor insurance policy discussions.

Ministers and officials have discussions with a range of stakeholders concerning motor insurance matters. The government’s Motor Insurance Taskforce, led by the Department for Transport and HM Treasury, is engaging with a range of interested stakeholders, including the Credit Hire Organisation. The Taskforce plans to publish its final report in the autumn.

With reference to the letter of 10 January 2025 from the then-Economic Secretary to the Treasury to Anthony Hughes of the Credit Hire Organisation, when her Department plans to meet representatives of the credit hire industry to discuss the Motor Insurance Taskforce.

The government’s Motor Insurance Taskforce, led by the Department for Transport and HM Treasury, is engaging with a range of interested stakeholders, including the Credit Hire Organisation. The taskforce plans to publish its final report in the autumn.

What discussions she has as part of the motor insurance taskforce with representatives of the credit hire and mobility sector on its role in providing replacement vehicles to motorists post-accident.

Ministers and officials have discussions with a range of stakeholders concerning motor insurance matters. The government’s Motor Insurance Taskforce, led by the Department for Transport and HM Treasury, is engaging with a range of interested stakeholders, including the Credit Hire Organisation. The Taskforce plans to publish its final report in the autumn.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that representatives of the credit hire and mobility sector are consulted before the Motor Insurance Taskforce concludes its work.

Ministers and officials have discussions with a range of stakeholders concerning motor insurance matters. The government’s Motor Insurance Taskforce, led by the Department for Transport and HM Treasury, is engaging with a range of interested stakeholders, including the Credit Hire Organisation. The Taskforce plans to publish its final report in the autumn.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many enforcement actions have been taken against water companies for breaches of drinking water quality standards in each of the last three years.

The Government is committed to ensuring that drinking water supplies remain safe and reliable. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) regulates the industry and takes enforcement action where they or the companies identify a risk of failing to meet their obligations under the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016, to mitigate against future breaches. This information is published annually as part of the DWI’s Chief Inspector’s Report.

Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of public drinking water supplies met national quality standards in the most recent reporting year.

The Government is committed to ensuring a high level of protection for human health and the environment. Public drinking water compliance with the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 has been consistently high for a number of years, with a rate of 99.97% in 2024. This compares to compliance rates of between 98-98.5% in the early 1990s. The DWI’s annual report on the quality of publicly supplied drinking water provides water companies, and also the public, with a picture of overall drinking water quality in England.

What responsibilities remain on liquidators of housing developers for resolving (a) legal title and (b) infrastructure issues impacting homeowners.

A liquidators’ statutory functions when winding up a company are to secure and realise any assets, distribute any funds generated to those entitled to them and generally act in the interests of the company’s creditors. In carrying out their statutory functions, liquidators are also obliged to have regard to their regulatory standards and code of ethics. This may extend to resolving legal title and infrastructure issues affecting homeowners if doing so is in creditors’ interests.

Food and Rural Affairs, how frequently drinking water is tested for compliance with (a) microbiological and (b) chemical safety standards.

The sampling frequency for drinking water is set out in Schedule 3 of The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 including which parameters are sampled at which point in the system, with some variation depending on factors such as treatment chemicals used, population served, etc. There is also a requirement to monitor for anything else which may present a risk to health. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) ensures that these requirements are met by companies, and may on occasion increase the sampling frequency if a specific risk is under investigation. The DWI published a report on 26 February 2025 recommending revisions to some parameters listed in the drinking water regulations. The report is the output of work by an advisory group of specialists both UK and internationally. Defra and the DWI will work together to consider potential regulatory updates to England’s drinking water quality legislation based on the recommendations.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to review the processes for adoption of (a) roads and (b) common areas on estates where the developer has become insolvent.

Decisions on whether or not to adopt roads is a matter for the relevant local highway authority. Land may become ‘ownerless’ where a developer has become insolvent. The Law Commission announced on 4 September 2025 that they will undertake a project on ownerless land as part of their 14th Programme of Law Reform, which will aim to clarify the law in this area. As part of their 14th Programme, the Law Commission are also undertaking a project on the management of freehold housing estates. Details of both projects can be found on the Law Commission website here. The government is determined to end the injustice of 'fleecehold' entirely and we will consult this year on options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements, which are the root cause of the problems experienced by many residential freeholders. I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440).

Communities and Local Government, what protections are in place for homeowners facing (a) legal and (b) financial hardship due to the insolvency of housing developers.

Most new build homes are issued with a 10-year new-build warranty which may protect homeowners against builder insolvency leading to failure in completing the build. Some warranties cover the buyer’s deposit in the event the buyer has exchanged contracts off-plan, and the developer becomes insolvent before completing the build.Where developers face financial difficulties before development is completed, we would expect local authorities to work with administrators to help unblock sites and restart housing delivery to complete the development. As part of their responsibilities local authorities should consider how to mitigate risks around infrastructure delivery including looking at the timing of infrastructure completion on site and considering whether it is appropriate to require developers to set aside bonds which can be used to complete infrastructure should the developer be unable to do so.Land may become ‘ownerless’ where a developer has become insolvent and then liquidates. The Law Commission announced on 4 September 2025 that they will undertake a project on ownerless land as part of their 14th Programme of Law Reform, which will aim to clarify the law in this area.

Communities and Local Government, if he will commission an inquiry into the (a) (i) conduct and (ii) accountability of housebuilders who go into administration and (b) impact of that administration on homeowners left without adequate (A) legal, (B) title and (C) infrastructure protections.

Most new build homes are issued with a 10-year new-build warranty which may protect homeowners against builder insolvency leading to failure in completing the build. Some warranties cover the buyer’s deposit in the event the buyer has exchanged contracts off-plan, and the developer becomes insolvent before completing the build.Where developers face financial difficulties before development is completed, we would expect local authorities to work with administrators to help unblock sites and restart housing delivery to complete the development. As part of their responsibilities local authorities should consider how to mitigate risks around infrastructure delivery including looking at the timing of infrastructure completion on site and considering whether it is appropriate to require developers to set aside bonds which can be used to complete infrastructure should the developer be unable to do so.Land may become ‘ownerless’ where a developer has become insolvent and then liquidates. The Law Commission announced on 4 September 2025 that they will undertake a project on ownerless land as part of their 14th Programme of Law Reform, which will aim to clarify the law in this area.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help support homeowners who face delays in property sales due to unresolved title restrictions related to developers in liquidation.

Most new build homes are issued with a 10-year new-build warranty which may protect homeowners against builder insolvency leading to failure in completing the build. Some warranties cover the buyer’s deposit in the event the buyer has exchanged contracts off-plan, and the developer becomes insolvent before completing the build.Where developers face financial difficulties before development is completed, we would expect local authorities to work with administrators to help unblock sites and restart housing delivery to complete the development. As part of their responsibilities local authorities should consider how to mitigate risks around infrastructure delivery including looking at the timing of infrastructure completion on site and considering whether it is appropriate to require developers to set aside bonds which can be used to complete infrastructure should the developer be unable to do so.Land may become ‘ownerless’ where a developer has become insolvent and then liquidates. The Law Commission announced on 4 September 2025 that they will undertake a project on ownerless land as part of their 14th Programme of Law Reform, which will aim to clarify the law in this area.

With reference to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Fylde of 4 September 2025, Official Report, column 435, in which areas the pilot schemes of weekly listing meetings are being run; and if he will make it his policy to publish the outcomes of those schemes.

This Government is working hard to reduce the court backlog through record number of sitting days in courts and record investment as part of the Spending Review.The following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Areas have regular meetings with Police Witness Care Units and court centres: East Midlands, North West, South East, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside, East of England, London South, Mersey-Cheshire, North East, Thames and Chiltern and SEOCID International, London and South East Division.These meetings are informal and provide opportunities to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of trials.The CPS is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and HM Courts & Tribunals Service to identify and potentially scale up best practice and has recently conducted a survey in collaboration with both with the aim of creating a national operating model in the future.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 74887 on Retail Trade: Health and Safety, how his Department assesses whether (a) employers and (b) local authorities are effectively managing risks for lone workers in these environments.

The Health and Safety Executive have not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade or received any representations from trade unions concerning Project Lunar. Project Lunar is an internal policy that the Co-op is introducing, so it is not a matter for HSE or the government to be involved in.Under health and safety law it is the employer (Co-op) who is responsible for protecting its employees and others from harm. The employer must identify the risks and take action to eliminate them, or if this is not possible, to control the risk. An employer must manage any health and safety risks before people can work alone.HSE and Local Authorities (LAs) work together as co-regulatory partners to enforce health and safety law, with LAs being responsible for regulation of health and safety in most retail businesses. Both HSE and LAs provide advice and guidance on the management of risk and what the law requires, conduct inspections and investigations, and take enforcement action where appropriate.Any correspondence received by HSE raising workplace health and safety concerns is fully assessed, and subsequent actions can include, providing advice or guidance, further investigation or referral to another regulator where appropriate.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has received representations on inconsistencies in legal requirements for indemnity insurance on similar properties within the same estate; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of those practices on sellers’ (a) costs and (b) conveyancing outcomes.

The Department has not received representations on the specific issue in question. On 9 February 2025, the government announced action to improve the availability of property information through digitalisation. This will help transactions run more smoothly by ensuring all parties are able to access the information they need at the right time. We continue to work with stakeholders across industry as we consider next steps.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 74887 on Retail Trade: Health and Safety, whether his Department has received representations from (a) trade unions, (b) retail employers and (c) lone workers on concerns about safety (i) at the Co-op and (ii) in other retail environments.

The Health and Safety Executive have not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade or received any representations from trade unions concerning Project Lunar. Project Lunar is an internal policy that the Co-op is introducing, so it is not a matter for HSE or the government to be involved in.Under health and safety law it is the employer (Co-op) who is responsible for protecting its employees and others from harm. The employer must identify the risks and take action to eliminate them, or if this is not possible, to control the risk. An employer must manage any health and safety risks before people can work alone.HSE and Local Authorities (LAs) work together as co-regulatory partners to enforce health and safety law, with LAs being responsible for regulation of health and safety in most retail businesses. Both HSE and LAs provide advice and guidance on the management of risk and what the law requires, conduct inspections and investigations, and take enforcement action where appropriate.Any correspondence received by HSE raising workplace health and safety concerns is fully assessed, and subsequent actions can include, providing advice or guidance, further investigation or referral to another regulator where appropriate.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2025 to Question 74887 on Retail Trade: Health and Safety, whether (a) he and (b) the Health and Safety Executive has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on Co-op's Project Lunar.

The Health and Safety Executive have not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade or received any representations from trade unions concerning Project Lunar. Project Lunar is an internal policy that the Co-op is introducing, so it is not a matter for HSE or the government to be involved in.Under health and safety law it is the employer (Co-op) who is responsible for protecting its employees and others from harm. The employer must identify the risks and take action to eliminate them, or if this is not possible, to control the risk. An employer must manage any health and safety risks before people can work alone.HSE and Local Authorities (LAs) work together as co-regulatory partners to enforce health and safety law, with LAs being responsible for regulation of health and safety in most retail businesses. Both HSE and LAs provide advice and guidance on the management of risk and what the law requires, conduct inspections and investigations, and take enforcement action where appropriate.Any correspondence received by HSE raising workplace health and safety concerns is fully assessed, and subsequent actions can include, providing advice or guidance, further investigation or referral to another regulator where appropriate.

What steps are being taken to ensure equal access to stoma care across all regions of the UK.

The Government is committed to ensuring patients across the United Kingdom have equitable access to high quality care, including those who need stoma surgery. As set out in the Plan for Change, we are committed to returning to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment by March 2029.Demand for stoma care services will vary across regions. Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and assessing the quality and availability of stoma care services at a regional level and in accordance with their local populations’ health needs.