Written questions by Stephenson.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of low-complexity work in higher-risk buildings having to be submitted to the Building Safety Regulator for approval on the levels of application processing backlog.

We recognise there have been significant challenges faced by applicants in getting Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approval for low-complexity and lower-risk work. Category B work, generally including less-complex and lower-risk projects, carries fewer procedural requirements in an application to the BSR. The intention was that these category B applications should be simpler for the applicant to prepare and quicker for the BSR to assess. The department and BSR has been working at pace to address these challenges, and to ensure the new regime is fit for purpose and proportionate for all type of work. We will continue to engage with industry while policy review and development is under way. On average Category B applications have taken 11.5 hours to make a decision per application. In comparison, Category A applications have taken an average of 20 hours per application, and New HRB’s have taken an average of 88.2 hours per application. As of 14 November 2025, there are 12 Category B applications currently progressing through Gateway 2 Assessment. When measured against the total volume of Category B assessments received during this financial year, the average time allocated represents approximately 3.6% of overall working hours.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the impact of the High-Risk Building regime on the Government’s target of achieving 99% gigabit-capable broadband coverage by 2032; and what discussions her Department has had with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government on this issue.

Building and fire safety, including the Higher-Risk Building regulatory framework, is the responsibility of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).The department continues to work closely with MHCLG to assess and mitigate delays experienced by the telecoms sector, including those faced by fixed network operators, as a result of the higher-risk building safety regime.We remain committed to removing barriers to the deployment of digital infrastructure and to delivering 99% gigabit-capable coverage by 2032.

Whether her Department has carried out a value for money analysis of the Electric Car Grant.

Yes, the Department has completed an internal value for money assessment for the Electric Car Grant. Officials will continue to monitor the grant, and assess its value for money, to ensure taxpayers’ money is spent in a cost-effective manner.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of rural roads on self-driving vehicles.

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 (AV Act) sets out a comprehensive legal framework with safety at its core.The Act introduces a new authorisation process that will test self-driving capability and identify a corporation to be held accountable for vehicles behaviour. Companies applying to authorise their vehicle under the AV Act will have to set out the area in which the vehicle intends to operate, known as the operational design domain (ODD). This could include the area or road type the vehicle intends to operate in, such as motorways or rural roads.During the authorisation process, it must be demonstrated that the vehicle is capable of operating to the safety standard required in all areas of the planned deployment.We recognise the opportunities automated vehicles can bring in providing new freedoms to those who may be unable to drive. For example, through improving transport links in rural and isolated areas.

Communities and Local Government, what proportion of residential development projects had a main developer which was classified as an SME in each of the last five years.

This information is not recorded by my Department.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by his Department since 4 July 2024.

The information requested is not centrally held in an easily accessible form as there are no expenditure categories that just cover consultations or reviews.Due to this any response could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

With reference to the press release entitled Cutting-edge rail ticket technology to be trialled across the Midlands and North, published on 1 September 2025, how she plans to measure the success of that trial.

An independent evaluation of the Digital Pay-As-You-Go trials, including the one on East Midlands Railway between Leicester, Derby and Nottingham, has been commissioned. The trial is currently expected to end in 2027, and we intend to publish the findings in due course.

With reference to the press release entitled Cutting-edge rail ticket technology to be trialled across the Midlands and North, published on 1 September 2025, for what reason East Midlands Rail and Northern were selected for that trial.

The routes in the East Midlands and Yorkshire operated by East Midlands Railway and Northern were selected as being areas of the rail network that do not have existing or planned Pay-As-You-Go schemes and with large enough passenger numbers to give statistically significant results, a significant commuter demographic, and where existing fares structures supported trial delivery.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the enforcement of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Defra is continuing to engage closely with the Police, local authorities, and rescue and rehoming organisations to monitor the impacts of the XL Bully dog ban. We are also working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to explore measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. We have reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce and look forward to receiving their findings and recommendations in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England.

The proportions of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England and in London can be derived from the data available in the PS2 time series section of the interactive planning application statistics dashboard, available here. They can also be derived from the detailed data held in PS2 open data file on gov.uk here. My Department does not hold the information on political control needed to provide the requested breakdown of figures by controlling political party in each of the last five years.

Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of houses that have been rejected for planning permission in Greater London since 4 July 2024.

The proportions of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England and in London can be derived from the data available in the PS2 time series section of the interactive planning application statistics dashboard, available here. They can also be derived from the detailed data held in PS2 open data file on gov.uk here. My Department does not hold the information on political control needed to provide the requested breakdown of figures by controlling political party in each of the last five years.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 73473 on Health Services: Apprentices, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of funding the provision of those Level 7 apprenticeships in each of the next five years.

Funding for the continuation of Level 7 apprenticeships in five professions has been agreed by NHS England and the Department for courses starting from 1 January 2026 up to 31 March 2029. Funding can be used by employers to cover education costs which would previously have been funded through the apprenticeship levy.Final expenditure is subject to the number of actual apprenticeship starts in each year. However, total funding will be capped annually, aligned to 2023/24 start numbers.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing statutory funding for tackling flooding to fire and rescue services in England.

Protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government. Fire and Rescue Authorities already have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to prepare for emergencies, including major flooding. However, we recognise the interest in creating a statutory duty for flood rescue and officials are working with DEFRA, as lead government department for flooding, to consider the wider implications of this. MHCLG supports Fire and Rescue Authorities in responding to flood incidents by providing national resilience High Volume Pump (HVP) capabilities. These are available to be used by Fire & Rescue Services across the country during major flood incidents. Additionally, DEFRA hold the Flood Rescue National Asset Register, a list of teams or assets that voluntarily join the register and maintain availability for national deployment in England.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of planning applications which have been rejected in each of the past five years in London.

The proportions of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England and in London can be derived from the data available in the PS2 time series section of the interactive planning application statistics dashboard, available here. They can also be derived from the detailed data held in PS2 open data file on gov.uk here. My Department does not hold the information on political control needed to provide the requested breakdown of figures by controlling political party in each of the last five years.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has conducted research on the public’s understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different (a) local and (b) national government (i) authorities and (ii) office holders.

The department has not conducted research on the public’s understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different (a) local and (b) national government (i) authorities and (ii) office holders.

Communities and Local Government, what data his Department holds on the number of houses in urban areas which have been rejected for planning permission since 4 July 2024.

The proportions of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England and in London can be derived from the data available in the PS2 time series section of the interactive planning application statistics dashboard, available here. They can also be derived from the detailed data held in PS2 open data file on gov.uk here. My Department does not hold the information on political control needed to provide the requested breakdown of figures by controlling political party in each of the last five years.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the proportion of planning applications rejected by Councils in each of the last five years, broken down by controlling political party.

The proportions of planning applications that have been rejected in each of the past five years in England and in London can be derived from the data available in the PS2 time series section of the interactive planning application statistics dashboard, available here. They can also be derived from the detailed data held in PS2 open data file on gov.uk here. My Department does not hold the information on political control needed to provide the requested breakdown of figures by controlling political party in each of the last five years.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by his Department since 4 July 2024.

There has been no spend by the communications team at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on promoting (a) consultations and (b) reviews since the department formed in 2023. It is not possible to distinguish time and resource spent by other staff on (a) consultations and (b) reviews from the wider routine work of a policy-making department. Further data is therefore not held.

With reference to the press release entitled Crime cutting courts to target prolific offending hotspots, published on 25 July 2025, whether the expansion will include Bedfordshire.

The expansion of Intensive Supervision Courts, as set out in the press release of 25 July 2025, builds on the success of the pilot in Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and Teesside. Following this, the Ministry of Justice launched an open Expression of Interest process, which was promoted widely through both national and local criminal justice partners, inviting local areas to apply. This process has now closed, and successful applicants will be announced in the coming months.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Key findings, Statistical Digest of Rural England, updated on 15 October 2025, if she will request a formal assessment of the statistics by the Office for Statistics Regulation.

In producing the Statistical Digest of Rural England (the Digest) Defra takes the approach of voluntary application of the Code of Practice for Statistics. The Digest is a compendium publication based on secondary analysis of statistical products produced by other Government departments, most of which are already accredited official statistics that have already been assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation. Formal accreditation is therefore not needed for the Digest, and Defra will not be requesting a formal assessment from the Office for Statistics Regulation.