Written questions by Stephenson.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to implement recommendation 23 of the report entitled Delivering economic growth and nature recovery: an independent review of Defra’s regulatory landscape, published on 2 April 2025.

The Government has welcomed the publication of Dan Corry’s review of Defra’s regulatory landscape and confirmed that it is actively considering all 29 recommendations. The Government also confirmed that work is already underway on nine key measures with the greatest impact for growth and nature recovery, which are being fast-tracked.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled, Better deal for motorists and businesses with solar car parks, published on 7 May 2025, whether he will provide funding to local authorities to install solar panels in car parks.

The Government is assessing the potential to drive the construction of solar canopies on outdoor carparks over a certain size through a call for evidence, which is open until 18th June. DESNZ is seeking evidence and feedback on a proposal to mandate the introduction of solar canopies on new outdoor car parks and explore opportunities for deployment on existing car parks. The role of local authorities in any potential policy, including any potential funding mechanisms, has not been determined. The call for evidence aims to understand the potential costs and roles for carpark owners and stakeholders, including local authorities.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled, Better deal for motorists and businesses with solar car parks, published on 7 May 2025, whether he will provide support to retrofit car parks with solar panels.

The Government is assessing the potential to drive the construction of solar canopies on outdoor carparks over a certain size through a call for evidence, which is open until 18th June. DESNZ is seeking evidence and feedback on a proposal to mandate the installation of solar canopies on new outdoor car parks and explore opportunities for retrofitting solar canopies on existing car parks. No policy has been determined yet, but Government will use the evidence gathered to shape policy development in this space, including potential opportunities for increasing retrofit installation.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled, Better deal for motorists and businesses with solar car parks, published on 7 May 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of making solar car parks mandatory for car parks on conservation areas.

DESNZ is seeking evidence and feedback on a proposal to mandate the installation of solar canopies on new outdoor car parks and explore opportunities for deployment on existing car parks, through a call for evidence which closes on June 18th. This includes evidence about exemptions to the proposal. Thorough assessments on how to take the policy forward, including the impact on conservation areas, will be made once the call for evidence has closed, and suitable evidence has been gathered and analysed.

Whether his Department plans to incentivise the use of (a) hydrated vegetable oil and (b) other biofuels in compatible boilers by (i) encouraging the availability of biofuels and (ii) (A) reducing and (B) removing taxes on biofuels; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on the (1) cost and (2) use of biofuels as a renewable alternative for heating buildings.

The Government expects most properties will ultimately switch to heat pumps as these are a proven technology and have been installed in high numbers in other countries.However, the Government is committed to ensuring that there is the right solution for every household. We have therefore commissioned research to collect data on the costs of different approaches to decarbonising the most complex housing archetypes, including the use of renewable liquid fuels, and we expect to receive results from that research in 2025. Before taking decisions on whether to support the use of fuels like hydrotreated vegetable oil, in heating, the Government would require stronger evidence on their affordability for consumers, and the availability of sustainable feedstocks.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to improve sustainable drainage since July 2024.

This Government is committed to requiring standardised Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in new developments. These should be to designs that cope with changing climatic conditions as well as delivering wider water infrastructure benefits, reduce run off and help to improve water quality, amenity, and biodiversity. It is also important to ensure appropriate adoption and maintenance arrangements are in place.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of installing new flood mitigations in Maulden, Bedfordshire.

The Environment Agency (EA) recognises the impact of the flooding that residents of Maulden experienced following the severe weather events of 2024. Following events such as these, the immediate focus moves to recovery; Risk Management Authorities in the area have been and continue to work hard to progress this work. Central Bedfordshire Council are leading flood risk studies in Maulden and nearby in Clophill to identify potential options to reduce flood risk in the future. These studies are being funded by the local Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and are expected to complete this financial year. Whilst this work progresses, the EA and Central Bedfordshire Council, alongside other partners have worked to implement additional maintenance works in Maulden aimed at improving local flood resilience and the EA has offered support to the local Flood Action Group.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to give Mayors the power to allocate new towns.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Question UIN 35940 on 13 March 2025, Question UIN 42674 on 7 April 2025, and Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities that have expressed interest in hosting a new town on the impact of the new town on their housing targets.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Question UIN 35940 on 13 March 2025, Question UIN 42674 on 7 April 2025, and Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether the New Towns Taskforce will be able to recommend sites for new towns that include land already allocated for strategic development.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Question UIN 35940 on 13 March 2025, Question UIN 42674 on 7 April 2025, and Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the New Towns Taskforce on the willingness of local authorities to allocate new towns through their local plans.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Question UIN 35940 on 13 March 2025, Question UIN 42674 on 7 April 2025, and Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the merits of publishing proposals received by the New Towns Taskforce but which are not taken forward.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Question UIN 35940 on 13 March 2025, Question UIN 42674 on 7 April 2025, and Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, over what period her Department plans to require housing supply of 370,000 houses per year.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a new Standard Method for assessing housing need that is aligned to our Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England by the end of this Parliament. The new Standard Method sets a local housing need for England of 370,408. Detail on how individual local planning authorities should plan to meet this updated housing need, including transitional arrangements, is set out in the Framework.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the guidance entitled New national flood and coastal erosion risk information, published on 25 March 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies on planning and development of this data.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 is clear that new housing and most other forms of development should not be permitted in functional flood plains.National planning policy and guidance expect flood risk assessments to consider all sources of flooding, and to take the most up-to-date information into account, which includes the Environment Agency's NaFRA2 data.It is for individual decision-makers, including local planning authorities and the Planning Inspectorate, to apply this policy and guidance. Support in doing so is available from various sources, including recent webinars hosted by the Town and Country Planning Association. Additional guidance on interpreting the updated NaFRA2 data is also available through the Environment Agency and sector partners to assist local planning authorities.The New Towns Programme aims to create environmentally resilient places that support the Government’s net-zero agenda through sustainable design, nature enhancement, low-carbon infrastructure, and responsible development, including flood risk mitigation.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many 1 in 100 year flooding events have occurred in Bedfordshire since 2010.

Data on the return period (such as “1 in 100 years”) of recent events is not available as flooding is never consistent and affects communities differently each time. Environment Agency (EA) records show that since 2010, there have been around 10 notable flood events where property flooding occurred, these covered at least 22 communities in Bedfordshire.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of closing RAF bases and using the land for housebuilding on national security.

The Royal Air Force would not recommend the disposal of any of its bases which were required for national security purposes. All Ministry of Defence sites identified for disposal are published on the disposal database on Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Portfolio - GOV.UK a in accordance with Government guidelines.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Tebworth solar farm on (a) access to countryside for local communities, (b) nature recovery and (c) the protection of wildlife.

It would not be appropriate for DESNZ Ministers to comment on matters related to any specific projects. However, all solar projects are subject to a rigorous planning process, in which the views and interests of local communities are considered. This includes any impact on rights of way, biodiversity, and the natural environment.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's guidance, New national flood and coastal erosion risk information, published on 25 March 2025, whether his Department has had discussions with local authorities on the new flood zone mapping.

The Environment Agency has regular discussions with Lead Local Flood Authorities and Local Planning Authorities both nationally and locally, including before and after publication of the new flood and coastal erosion risk information.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the guidance entitled New national flood and coastal erosion risk information, published on 25 March 2025, whether he has had discussions with the insurance sector on properties now classified as being in flood zone (a) two and (b) three.

The department regularly engages with the insurance industry, including bilaterally with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA). Engagement includes representation from the sector on the Flood Resilience Taskforce and an Insurance Roundtable hosted by me in September 2024. The Environment Agency (EA) also has regular discussions with the insurance industry as part of its engagement on flood and coastal erosion risk management, including on the new flood and coastal erosion risk information. It is important to note that insurance companies make decisions on premium prices based on their own assessment of the risk, using commercially available risk analysis models and are not mandated to use EA models.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's guidance, New national flood and coastal erosion risk information, published on 25 March 2025, if he will make an estimate of the number of houses in Bedfordshire now classified as being in flood zone (a) 2 or (b) 3.

The number of properties in Bedfordshire classed within Flood Zone 2 is approximately 8200. The number of properties in Bedfordshire classed within Flood Zone 3 is approximately 3500.