Every parliamentary written question tabled by Chris Hinchliff this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 201 · this parliament
Communities and Local Government, how many meetings he has had with housing developers in relation to The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026.
My Department has undertaken extensive consultation and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including developers, the Local Government Association, professional bodies, community and campaign groups in respect of the measures in the Town and Coun...
Communities and Local Government, how many meetings he has had with the Local Government Association in relation to the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regula
My Department has undertaken extensive consultation and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including developers, the Local Government Association, professional bodies, community and campaign groups in respect of the measures in the Town and Coun...
Communities and Local Government, how many meetings he had with (a) community rights campaign groups and (b) democratic planning campaign groups in relation to The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Pl
My Department has undertaken extensive consultation and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including developers, the Local Government Association, professional bodies, community and campaign groups in respect of the measures in the Town and Coun...
Communities and Local Government, how many meetings he has had with the Town and Country Planning Association in relation to The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (Englan
My Department has undertaken extensive consultation and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including developers, the Local Government Association, professional bodies, community and campaign groups in respect of the measures in the Town and Coun...
What assessment his Department has made of the impact of current timelines for the implementation of a transitional support mechanism for landfill gas operators set out in the Methane Action
Government recognises that the expiry of Renewables Obligation support from April 2027 could affect the commercial viability of some generators in the landfill gas to electricity sector. DESNZ is progressing the development of a potential transitional sup...
Communities and Local Government, what the latest available figure is for Housing Revenue Account debt owed to the Public Works Loans Board by local authorities, including (a) the collective figure for all local
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) accelerate the reform of the F-Gas Regulation to phase down hydrofluorocarbons and (b) publish a National Cooling Action Plan.
Between 5 November and 17 December 2025, Defra consulted on proposals to reform the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the F-gas Regulation. Following consideration of the 137 responses received, Defra confirmed on 15 May 2026 that further work ...
Whether her Department has had discussions with aviation industry stakeholders including (a) representatives of Heathrow Airport, (b) representatives of Aurora Group and (c) others representing the aviation ind
The Department engages with a broad range of stakeholders on Heathrow expansion and will continue to do so. Ministers and officials engage with stakeholders including (but not limited to) potential scheme promoters, local authorities, transport bodies, co...
Whether his Department is taking steps to evaluate the effectiveness of the Crisis and Resilience Fund at tackling furniture poverty that exists in areas such as North Hertfordshire.
The Department is planning to evaluate the Crisis and Resilience Fund across England, including the full range of discretionary support provided through the Fund, such as assistance with essential furniture and white goods. This evaluation is expected to ...
Whether his Department has evaluated the effectiveness of the new Crisis and Resilience Fund at tackling furniture poverty in Cornwall.
The Crisis and Resilience Fund launched in April 2026, and therefore no evaluation has taken place yet. The Department is planning to evaluate the Crisis and Resilience Fund across England, including the full range of discretionary support provided throug...
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to incorporate (a) ponds, (b) small lakes, (c) headwater streams and (d) other small waters into the Water Framework Directive as part of ongoing reforms to the regul
We committed in the recently published Water White Paper to explore setting new ambitious targets for the water environment. As part of these explorations, we are considering a wide range of suggestions from stakeholders, including calls to monitor small ...
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a High Ecological Status target for the highest-quality waterbodies in England, as part of upcoming reforms to Water
We committed in the recently published Water White Paper to explore setting new ambitious targets for the water environment. As part of these explorations, we are considering a wide range of suggestions from stakeholders, including calls to monitor small ...
Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of undertaking a pilot of furnished tenancies as part of the creation of best practice guidance on furniture provision; and
People living without essential furniture can access support through their local authority, including via the Household Support Fund until 31 March, and from April, the Crisis and Resilience Fund, to provide discretionary help with essential items such as...
Communities and Local Government, whether his Department will meet bodies other than social landlords to discuss best practice guidance for furniture provision.
People living without essential furniture can access support through their local authority, including via the Household Support Fund until 31 March, and from April, the Crisis and Resilience Fund, to provide discretionary help with essential items such as...
Communities and Local Government, whether guidance on furniture provision will encourage social landlords to offer furnished tenancies to low-income tenants.
People living without essential furniture can access support through their local authority, including via the Household Support Fund until 31 March, and from April, the Crisis and Resilience Fund, to provide discretionary help with essential items such as...
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that Environmental Land Management schemes include funding for (a) integrated, evidence-based management of predation pressure and (b) specialist farmer advisory support to improve the effectiveness of agri-environment measures for breeding wader recovery, including the Eurasian Curlew.
Support for specific species is primarily delivered via Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier where land managers can benefit from 1:1 advice and support from Natural England Advisers. In addition to the payments for the correct land management for Curlew, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier also includes capital grants for specialised predator fencing to protect nesting sites.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026 to question 106695, what discussions she has had Natural England on restricting access to Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including at Hoads Wood in 2023.
The Environment Agency is continuing to temporarily restrict vehicular access to Hoads Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and, alongside Kent Police, is leading the criminal investigation into the illegal dumping of waste. The primary legal framework for protecting SSSIs is the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which places a duty on public bodies to conserve and enhance SSSI features and controls operations likely to cause damage. Landowners and occupiers must obtain consent from Natural England (NE) before carrying out listed activities, including vehicle use. NE has enforcement powers to prevent or stop harm, including issuing stop notices, making byelaws and taking action against those who intentionally or recklessly damage SSSI features. Additional powers are available under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which allows authorities to make Traffic Regulation Orders to protect SSSIs, with offences for non-compliance. The Police can also prosecute off-road vehicle use (including over SSSI land) under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and may seize vehicles under the Police Reform Act 2002 where use causes, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance.
Food and Rural Affairs, on which date was Natural England first notified of organised criminal activity in Hoads Wood Special Site of Scientific Interest.
Natural England (NE) does not hold a record of a specific date on which it was first notified of organised criminal activity at Hoads Wood SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest. NE visited the site in February 2020 with Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council. Kent Police were also present to advise on the risks following reports of illegal activity.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many instances of fly tipping have been recorded on the public forest estate in each of the last 10 years.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton on 10 April 2026, PQ UIN 125371.
Food and Rural Affairs, if a Special Representative for important trees will be appointed to champion them at a political level, as recommended in the Government-sponsored Tree Council report, published in 2025.
The Defra-funded report led by the Tree Council and Forest Research provides a range of recommendations for improving the protection and stewardship of ‘important’ trees. The Government is carefully considering its recommendations, including their feasibility and potential impacts, balancing our approach with our existing priorities and statutory obligations. We will set out actions to protect important trees in the new Trees Action Plan which will be published this year.