Written questions by Simmonds.

Whether he has received representations from health professionals have they received on shrinking the default size of the pint glass in licensed premises.

The Government has no plans to restrict the size of a pint of beer served in pubs. Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. The Department will continue to work across Government to better understand how we can best reduce alcohol-related harms, including reviewing the latest evidence.In October 2024, the Department received correspondence from a Cambridge University research team sharing the findings of a research study looking at the impact of pint sizes on alcohol consumption. As part of our commitment to evidenced based policy making, we will consider the findings in the round, alongside other similar studies.

Food and Rural Affairs, how local authorities are charged for the costs of residual waste disposal through (a) incineration and (b) landfill.

For too long the nation has seen recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning or burying waste. The Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy, a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives. Key to this commitment is the reduction of residual waste. Charges for waste disposal are usually expressed as a pound per tonne cost and paid monthly in arrears depending on the tonnage managed under the contractual relationship. The overall cost of waste disposal will depend on a number of variables, associated with their contracts. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap) publishes an annual gate fees report UK Gate Fees report 2023-24 | WRAP. The disposal of waste in landfill is also subject to the Landfill Tax. Landfill Tax rates - GOV.UK

What his planned timetable is for the delivery of the £300 reduction to household energy bills.

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Chinese Government on the granting of planning permission for the proposed new Chinese Embassy in London; and on what dates these discussions took place.

The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role. Officials at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office speak regularly with the Chinese Government about a range of issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions the Government had with the Chinese Government in 2020 on the works to the Chinese Consulate in Belfast in breach of planning controls in a conservation area; and what subsequent assessment has been made of the implications of the Chinese Government ignoring planning restrictions in relation to the proposed new Chinese Embassy in London.

An appointed independent Planning Inspector will hold a public inquiry into the proposal for the new Chinese Embassy in London, after which the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will make a decision on planning grounds in her quasi-judicial role.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 August 2024 to Question 1331 on Energy Performance Certificates Housing, whether this will include banning the (a) sale and (b) purchase of privately occupied dwellings which do not meet minimum energy performance certificate requirements.

The Government’s position on supporting owner occupiers remains as was set out in the Answer to Question 1331. The Government has since published separate proposals to raise minimum energy efficiency standards for privately rented homes in England and Wales by 2030. Proposals in this consultation do not restrict the selling or purchase of private properties. Our position on owner occupied homes remains unchanged from our Answer to Question 1331.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 23346 on Property Development: Air Pollution, how many new developments and dwellings currently undertake air quality assessments; and when such are assessments required.

All developments subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment are required to undertake air quality assessments. Air quality assessments may also be required for developments where national assessment indicates that relevant limit values for air pollutants have been exceeded or are near the limit, or where the need for emissions reductions has been identified. The information regarding how many new developments and dwellings currently undertake air quality assessments is not collated centrally.

Pursuant to the written statement of 30 January 2025, HCWS407, on Police Funding Settlement 2025-26, what estimate he has made of the (a) increase in council tax receipts in monetary terms, (b) absolute level and (c) increase in the average Band D council tax police precept on which the increase in funding is assumed.

Forces will be able to raise up to £329.8 million in funding from council tax precept, based on current forecasts and assuming all PCCs maximise their precept flexibility of £14 for a Band D property.Precept levels are a decision that must be taken by each locally elected PCC.

With reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 28 October 2024, HCWS168, on Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2024, what requirements there will be for the floating offshore wind infrastructure to be manufactured in the United Kingdom.

Local content requirements are not permitted within the UK’s international trade agreements, however, the Government does offer incentives to invest in supply chains: the Clean Industry Bonus (CIB) as part of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme will reward fixed and floating offshore wind developers who choose to invest in the UK’s poorest communities, or in cleaner manufacturing facilities. The initial budget for CIBs is £27m per GW of capacity that applies for the bonus in Allocation Round 7. An amount within the CIB budget will be reserved for investments in the floating offshore wind supply chain.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22329 on Noise: Pollution Control, what guidance her Department has issued on noise complaints about established use, including long-standing (a) chiming clocks and (b) church bells.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 22329 on 17 January 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 19349 on Nature Conservation: EU law, what amendments to assimilated EU law are being considered.

Future plans for the reporting period 24 June to 23 December 2025 will be included in the fourth Assimilated Law Parliamentary Report. Past reports can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/retained-eu-law-reul-parliamentary-report.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21148 on Air Pollution, which local authorities his Department is discussing Clean Air Zones with.

The Government has agreed local plans with all areas in the NO2 programme except for Stoke-on-Trent/Newcastle-under-Lyme. Seven Clean Air Zones have been implemented by local authorities under the previous Government where local plans had evidenced them to achieve legal NO2 levels in the shortest possible time. Government engages with these local authorities on a range of issues, including the operation of their Clean Air Zones, Local authorities with established Clean Air Zones are:BathBirminghamBradfordBristolPortsmouthSheffieldTyneside (Newcastle/Gateshead)

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 24220 on Local Government: Elections, whether she plans to bring forward other secondary legislation relating to local government restructuring before the local elections in May 2025.

As set out in my Statement on 5 February 2025 (HCWS418), I will make secondary legislation to postpone elections to nine local authorities from May 2025 to 2026. No further secondary legislation is planned before May 2025.Where elections have been postponed, all by-elections to county and district councils will take place as normal. Where a vacancy would have been filled at an election which is postponed, it will, instead, be filled at a by-election.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has received representations from the Great Britain-China Centre on the new proposed Chinese Embassy in London.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not received representations from Great Britain-China Centre regarding the Chinese Embassy's planning application. It is not for the FCDO to receive "representations" on this matter. Any representations should have been provided to Tower Hamlets Council or, post call-in, to the planning inspectorate.

Whether she plans to review the policy paper entitled Airports National Policy Statement, published on 5 June 2018.

As required by the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State will review the Airports National Policy Statement when she considers it appropriate to do so.

What recent estimate she has made of the number of people impacted by increased noise pollution from proposed expansion at Heathrow.

There is currently no live Development Consent Order from Heathrow Airport.The Government would carefully consider any application for expansion at Heathrow Airport in line with the relevant planning processes.

Whether her Department plans to review the air traffic movement cap at Heathrow.

Any proposal for change to the existing planning cap on air traffic movements at Heathrow airport would need to form part of a relevant planning application.There is currently no live Development Consent Order application from Heathrow Airport.

Whether she plans to provide additional funding to improve public transport networks to Heathrow Airport.

DfT expects airports, including Heathrow, to work closely with local stakeholders and Government to develop and update their masterplans and surface access strategies every five years. Improvements to surface access to airports are generally funded by the airports themselves.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of expanding Heathrow Airport on the economy.

There is currently no live Development Consent Order application from Heathrow Airport.The Government would carefully consider any planning application in line with the relevant planning processes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 15199 on Council Tax: Wales, if he will list each individual value significant code that is utilised in the Automated Valuation Model.

The subsidised housing indicator is the only value significant code used in the Automated Valuation Model, as detailed in the response to UIN 16941.