Written questions by Stephenson.

Communities and Local Government, how much she expects the non-Council Tax element of the core spending power of (a) Central Bedfordshire Council and (b) Bedford Borough Council to increase in 2025/26.

The government published a policy statement on 28 November 2024 that confirmed that local government will receive an around 3.2% real-terms increase overall in Core Spending Power as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement 2025-26.We will set out more detail at the provisional Settlement in December where we will consult on allocations for 2025-26, alongside launching a consultation on the objectives and principles of local government funding reform.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support people in areas of poor (a) broadband and (b) mobile phone signal during the switchover to digital alternatives to landlines.

For current landline-only customers it will be possible to order a VoIP landline without purchasing a general internet connection. Customers will only be offered VoIP if they live in an area with sufficient broadband connectivity. In areas with insufficient mobile coverage to rely on their mobile as a back-up to VoIP, communication providers are required to comply with Ofcom regulations and provide a battery back-up solution. This ensures customers have a minimum of 1 hour access to emergency services. Major communication providers have signed up to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) charter and the non-voluntary migrations checklist published by the Department on 19 November 2024.

What steps she plans to take to improve the reliability of train services.

Improving railway performance and delivering reform is a top priority for the Department. Ministers continue to meet with Managing Directors of the worst performing train operators and their Network Rail counterparts to address poor performance and demand immediate action to raise standards. Furthermore, performance information will be displayed at stations, demonstrating transparency, and allowing passengers to hold us to account as we deliver change.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of train delays in (a) Q3 and (b) Q4 2024 on productivity.

Whilst the Department has not made an assessment of the impact of train delays on productivity, we recognise the inconvenience and costs felt by passengers, local communities and businesses arising from poor performance. Ministers have been clear that rail services have been failing passengers. The Department expects passenger services currently operated by private sector operators under contract with the Secretary of State to transfer into public ownership over the next three years. The failures of the past three decades cannot be fixed overnight, but bringing train operations into public ownership is the first step in the government’s plans to improve the railways for passengers and taxpayers.

What steps her Department has taken to help the automotive industry meet the 2030 phase-out date for petrol and diesel cars.

We will continue to support industry and consumers to make the switch to zero emission vehicles, with over £300 million announced in the Budget to drive uptake of electric vehicles and £2 billion to support the transition of domestic manufacturing and supply chain.

Whether his Department has had discussions with Stellantis on the phase-out timeline for petrol and diesel cars.

The Secretary of State met Stellantis on multiple occasions throughout the summer and more recently in relation to its manufacturing presence in the UK. The Department has close engagement with the vehicle industry and engages regularly on topics including the transition to zero emission vehicles.

Whether his Department plans to take steps to help Luton Borough Council secure the long-term future of employment at the Stellantis Vauxhall site in Luton.

Stellantis announced on 26 November that it was starting a consultation with staff on its plans to consolidate its two UK manufacturing sites into one plant at Ellesmere Port. The Department is actively engaging with the company and has asked them to share the full details of its plans, including for the future for the site. We will continue to work closely with Stellantis, as well as trade unions and Luton Borough Council on the next steps of their proposals.

If his Department will make an assessment of the impact of the closure of the Stellantis Vauxhall site in Luton on the economy of (a) Luton Borough and (b) Bedfordshire.

Stellantis announced on 26 November that it was starting a consultation with staff at its Luton plant on its plans for the future of its manufacturing there. The Department is actively engaging with the company and has asked them to share the full details of its plans, including the site. We will continue to work closely with Stellantis, trade unions and Luton Borough Council to understand the impact of their proposals on the economy of Luton and Bedfordshire.

Whether he had discussions with Stellantis prior to the announcement of the closure of the Vauxhall site in Luton.

The Secretary of State has been in contact with Stellantis since July to discuss the pressures in their UK and global business and the future of the Luton plant. He met them again on 26 November where they regrettably shared their proposals to consult on the closure Luton and consolidation at Ellesmere Port. We know this will be a concerning time for the families of employees at Luton who may be affected, and we will continue to work closely with Stellantis, as well as trade unions and Luton Borough Council on the next steps of their proposals and how the impact on employees affected and the local area.

If he will ask local authorities to improve signposting of support groups for unpaid carers.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. It is for local authorities to decide how best to support their local population, including how they signpost unpaid carers to support groups.The Government recognises the scale of the reforms needed in social care. That is why we will set out next steps for a process that engages with adult social care stakeholders, including cross-party and unpaid carers, to ensure their voices are heard as we develop plans to create a National Care Service.Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service is clear that a fresh approach to supporting and involving unpaid carers is required to improve outcomes for carers, people needing care, and the NHS.

If her Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of financial support available to unpaid carers in Bedfordshire.

Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting elderly or disabled relatives or friends. Sometimes unpaid carers will need to turn to the benefit system for financial support, so it is right that we keep Carer’s Allowance under review, to see if it is meeting its objectives, and giving unpaid carers the help and support they need and deserve. Unpaid carers may be able to receive financial and/or employment support from the department depending on their circumstances. Carer’s Allowance provides a measure of financial support and recognition for people who are not able to work full time due to their caring responsibilities. The rate of Carer’s Allowance is £81.90 a week in 2024/25, and from April 2025 this will increase by 1.7% to £83.30 a week. Spending on Carer’s Allowance in the mid-Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency in 2023/4 was £3.6 million. 912 people in mid-Bedfordshire were in receipt of Carer’s Allowance in May ’24. In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits, such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit. These benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the carer element and the additional amount for carers respectively. Currently, the Universal Credit carer element is £198.31 per monthly assessment period. The additional amount for a carer in Pension Credit is £45.60 a week. These additional amounts are worth around £2400 a year.

What steps she is taking to help tackle dangerous driving in rural areas.

Any form of dangerous driving is a serious road safety issue. Dangerous driving is the offence of driving far below the standard that would be expected of a careful and competent driver. The maximum sentence for dangerous driving is an unlimited fine, disqualification and up to 14 years in prison.How the police enforce road traffic legislation and investigate road traffic offences is an operational matter for the local chief officer, in conjunction with Police and Crime Commissioners.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a statutory duty for firefighters in England to respond to flooding.

Defra is the Lead Government Department for flooding, and they are responsible for the response to and prevention of flooding. Fire and Rescue Authorities have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) to prepare for emergencies, including major flooding. Fire Rescue Authorities also have discretionary powers to respond to incidents under their general powers in the Fire and Rescue Services Act (2004) and in response to the risks set out in their Community Risk Management Plans prepared under the National Framework.The Home Office is undertaking further work alongside Defra, National Fire Chiefs Council and other relevant stakeholders to understand in more detail if there are gaps in the Fire and Rescue Services flooding response and resilience system.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the support available to pensioners (a) this winter and (b) in winter 2023/24.

From 2024/25, Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales will be targeted to low-income pensioners. Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue to be worth £200 for households with someone aged 66-79, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged 80 or over. Eligible pensioners in England and Wales will also receive Cold Weather Payments for each seven day period of very cold weather, and an annual rebate on their energy bill of £150, through the Warm Home Discount. The powers to make winter heating assistance payments were devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 2016. The Government is investing £421 million to extend the current Household Support Fund in England for six months, running from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. In addition, at the Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that £1 billion, including Barnett impact, will be invested to extend the Household Support Fund in England by a full year until 31 March 2026. This Government remains absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. We are honouring our commitment to the Triple Lock with a 4.1% increase to the basic State Pension, the new State Pension, and to the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit. As such, according to the latest OBR projections, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,900 over the course of this parliament whilst the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,500. In 2023/24, Winter Fuel Payments were universal for those of State Pension age. Pensioner households received a Winter Fuel Payment combined with a cost of living payment of £500 / £600 depending on age. Cold Weather Payments and rebates from the Warm Home Discount Scheme were also payable in 2023/24.

Whether she has had discussions with Network Rail on accelerating the delivery of Access for All schemes.

The Rail Minister has had several meetings with Network Rail about improving delivery of access for all and can report that 32 stations are due to complete this financial year, the most since the programme was launched in 2006.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of flooding of agricultural land on UK food security.

We recognise that the recent period of wet weather has impacted UK agriculture. On 13 November we announced that additional financial support will be provided to rural communities, recognising the importance of preventing flooding for farmers and protecting food security. Defra is providing a one-off £75 million Internal Drainage Board (IDB) Fund, to accelerate IDBs’ recovery from the winter 2023 -24 storms and to modernise and upgrade assets. More than 12,700 farmers impacted by the severe wet weather, including Storms Babet and Henk, between October 2023 and March 2024, have received recovery payments totalling £57.5 million from the Farming Recovery Fund. These are one off recovery payments which will support land recovery activities such as soil remediation, recultivation and the removal of debris caused by flooding.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that local planning authorities use the Environment Agency’s forthcoming NaFRA2 data.

National planning policy and guidance expects flood risk assessments to consider all sources of flooding, and to take the most up-to-date information into account, which will include the Environment Agency’s forthcoming NaFRA2 data.During the course of next year, the Environment Agency is expected to publish new national risk information for flooding and coastal erosion that will be used to inform these assessments.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential of the Autumn Budget 2024 on the defence supply chain.

The Autumn Budget settlement means the defence budget will grow in line with the economy. The Department is committed to bringing forward a new Defence Industrial Strategy which will ensure national security and a high-growth economy. The strategy will deliver a better, more innovative and more resilient defence sector to boost capabilities in critical defence technologies.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 on UK R&D.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Chancellor on a range of issues. In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced that total HMG investment in R&D is rising to a record allocation of £20.4bn in 2025/26, with DSIT's R&D budget rising to £13.9bn, a real terms increase of 8.5%. This investment increases Core Research funding to at least £6.1bn, protecting funding for the UK's world leading research base in real terms, and fully funds the UK's association with Horizon Europe. Further details on how this funding will be allocated will be set out in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will require local authorities to refer planning decisions where the Environment Agency objects for a call in.

Local planning authorities are currently required to refer certain planning applications where they are minded to grant planning permission. Such applications include proposals for major development in a flood risk area to which the Environment Agency has made an objection that it has not been able to withdraw. Full details are set out in the Town And Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2024.