Written questions by Stephenson.

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.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 73482 on Integrated Care Boards: Finance, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of the use of five-year population projections on the level of funding from his Department for the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB.

Allocations are determined through a complex, weighted capitation formula that incorporates multiple factors beyond population projections, including age, sex, need, and cost adjustments. Isolating the effect of a single component would not accurately reflect the complexities of the overall methodology.

Communities and Local Government, 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.

This Government is committed to using reviews, consultations and wider public engagement to inform effective decision-making and delivery. These activities are undertaken as part of the Department’s routine business, and costs are not separately recorded in a way that would enable us to provide the estimate requested.

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.

Consultations and reviews form part of everyday policymaking in the Department, making it impossible to disaggregate a figure for salary costs specifically relating to consultations. Therefore, the information requested is not held.

Media and Sport, with reference to the press release entitled Cricket domes to bring year-round sport to communities, published on 25 August 2025, what the location will be of the dome in Luton.

On 25 August, the Government announced £1.5 million investment into two indoor cricket domes in Luton and Farington, to be delivered through the England and Wales Cricket Board.Luton’s new state-of-the-art indoor cricket dome will be in Lewsey Park and is expected to open in summer 2026, providing world-class indoor practice facilities for cricket, so local players, schools and grassroots clubs can access the sport all year round.The flexible space will also have the potential to host other sports, such as hockey, tennis and badminton, ensuring as many local people as possible can get active. The new facility will also have a particular focus on encouraging more women and girls into the game ahead of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.Work with the England and Wales Cricket Board is ongoing to monitor the impact and effectiveness of these sites and we’re keen that they benefit as wide a local area as possible.

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

The information is not readily available or held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer to Question 8701, what action her Department has taken since 21 October 2024 to encourage (a) inbound and (b) domestic tourism in Bedfordshire.

The government is committed to expanding the tourism sector and enabling more inbound and domestic visitors to fully experience the UK's diverse offerings in areas including Bedfordshire, home to stately homes such at Bridgerton’s West Park and family attractions including Whipsnade Zoo.To drive more inbound visits across Britain, VisitBritain launched a global screen tourism campaign ‘’Starring Great Britain’’ in January 2025. The campaign uses the country's rich film and television history as a hook to inspire visitors to explore diverse and often rural destinations. The launch was supported by a wider advertising campaign across the UK’s largest and most valuable inbound visitor markets including Australia, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, France, Germany and the USA. The Government has secured a multi-billion-pound investment in a major new Universal theme park and resort in Bedford. This project will create thousands of jobs and drive millions of visitors, both inbound and domestic to Bedfordshire, reinforcing the UK as a world leader in the creative industries. The Government has also announced the expansion of Luton airport which will significantly increase its passenger capacity enabling it to play a significant role in accommodating international visitors to the Universal theme park. The East West Rail corridor will also include Bedford from 2030, improving connectivity and driving economic growth.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Reed: Government to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, published on 19 July 2025, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the interaction between the planning system and pressures on (a) water and (b) sewerage infrastructure.

The Government is committed to requiring sustainable drainage systems in new developments and we are working together with MHCLG to ensure that new developments do not overwhelm the existing sewerage network. Defra has established the Ministerial Water Delivery Taskforce to ensure that water companies deliver on their planned investments to provide water and wastewater capacity. It will look at projects that are essential for growth.   It will ensure the additional water, wastewater and drainage capacity needed to meet the ambitious growth targets in the Government's Plan for Change are understood, and that suitable plans are in place for delivery within and beyond the PR24 programme.   It is currently working closely with MHCLG colleagues to identify and resolve blockers to wastewater projects that require cross-government action and resolve challenges before they are able to obstruct growth ambitions.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 55487 on Tourism: National Landscapes, if she will make an estimate of the economic contribution of tourism to areas with a protected landscape in each of the next five years.

National Parks are vital assets for tourism, attracting millions of domestic and international visitors each year and supporting local economies through recreation, hospitality, and cultural heritage. While there are no plans to make an estimate of the economic contribution of tourism to areas with a protected landscape, DCMS recognises the importance of protected landscapes to the UK’s tourism offering. DCMS continues to work with VisitBritain to champion visits to the British countryside to a worldwide audience. VisitBritain’s new GREAT-funded international marketing campaign, ‘Starring GREAT Britain’, uses the hook of Britain’s rich film and television history to encourage more international visitors to explore across Britain, including many rural destinations, landmarks and National Parks.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the likely trends in food production over the coming decade.

The UK Food Security Report sets out an analysis of statistics relating to food security, providing an evidence base to inform future government policy and public understanding. It tracks trends in domestic production, import reliance, inflation, and supply chain shocks. The UK was 65% self-sufficient for all food and 77% self-sufficient for indigenous type food in 2024, continuing a broadly stable trend. The new annual Food Security Statistics Publication will be published in the years between the UK Food Security Report, with the first one by the end of 2025. Defra also contributes to the OECD and FAO’s forward-looking, ten-year projections for UK agricultural production, which are published annually as part of the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook. The most recent Agricultural Outlook was published in July. The projections are based on historic trends, macro factors such as population growth, and projected world prices in these commodities.

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.

This information is not held centrally and therefore it has not been possible to provide the answer within the allotted time frame. I will write to the hon. Member with an update in due course and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an estimate of the level of (a) water and (b) sewage infrastructure investment required to maintain existing levels of capacity, in the context of the Government’s plan to build 1.5 million homes in this Parliament.

Ofwat’s Price Review 2024 (PR24) final determinations set a total expenditure allowance of £104 billion over the 2025-2030 period. This provides:£60 billion of base expenditure to maintain the long-term capability of assets.£1.8 billion to increase capacity at sewage treatment works to accommodate population growth over the 2025-26 to 2029-30 period.£8 billion for actions associated with the Water Resource Management Plans, including the Strategic Resource Options (SROs).

With reference to his Department's press release entitled New Defence Growth Deals Created to Boost Local Economies Under Major Sector Plan, published 7 September 2025, when he expects to announce further Defence Growth Deals.

The Ministry of Defence is working at pace to develop the five Defence Growth Deals in Plymouth, South Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Should economic and fiscal conditions allow, the Government will consider launching more Defence Growth Deals across the UK in the next Parliament.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50630 on Local Visitor Economy Partnership, whether her Department is providing specialised support to areas without a Local Visitor Economy Partnership.

The purpose of the LVEP programme is to attract investment and ultimately drive growth, training, and help places tell their own unique stories to visitors. Through a collaborative approach that unites local authorities, businesses and regional partners, LVEPs enhance the quality of the visitor offer and ensure that the positive impacts of tourism are distributed widely across communities. economy together. 37 Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) are currently accredited across England, covering a broad mix of urban, rural and coastal destinations. In some other places, such as Bedfordshire, LVEPs are still in development. These areas are still working through how best to organise their destination management functions, align multiple local authorities, and secure the long-term funding and governance arrangements required for accreditation. The current geographical distribution reflects a strong spread of partnerships across regions, and the Department continues to work with VisitEngland to provide guidance, regional development support and resources to all destinations. VisitEngland offers dedicated assistance through Regional Development Leads and programme tools to help local areas strengthen governance, build capability and work towards accreditation. This support is available to both accredited and aspiring LVEP areas, including Bedfordshire. LVEP performance is monitored locally through delivery plans and nationally through evaluation by VisitEngland. VisitBritain/VisitEngland’s Business Plan 2025-26 allocated £1.5 million to supporting regional and local growth. This includes working with LVEPs to achieve local growth strategies and supporting the LVEP structure. VisitEngland’s regional leads and the regional pilots in the NorthEast and West Midlands have also benefited from a direct £1.35 million funding boost in 2025/26 to help the regions attract even more tourists and investment to the UK.