Written questions by Whately.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has recent discussions with the Environment Agency on their inspection plans for the battery storage units at Cleve Hill Solar Park.

The Environment Agency (EA) does not directly regulate the batteries associated with solar power schemes; this is the remit of the Local Authority. The EA, under the planning processes, advises on various aspects associated with the building and operation of battery storage facilities to ensure that risks to the environment are appropriately managed. This includes site wide flood risk assessments and pollution prevention plans. The EA are satisfied that drainage of the site, including the management of fire water, will prevent harm to the environment and that any recommendations have informed the Battery Safety Management Plan, approved by the Planning Inspector. If a permit is required from the EA to undertake any part of the operation, the operator is expected to submit a permit application. Details of the proposal will be inspected and a permit granted, where it can be shown by the applicant that the proposal will not cause a risk to the environment. The EA inspects permitted sites to ensure compliance with permits. If a pollution incident occurs, the EA will work with all other emergency services to ensure the environment is fully considered as part of the response.

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to implement the secondary legislation enabling the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to fully come into force.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),

Whether she has held recent discussions with the Health and Safety Executive on their inspection plans for the battery storage units at Cleve Hill Solar Park.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received your correspondence dated 19 March 2024 and 28 March 2025 regarding Cleve Hill Solar Park. HSE sent a reply to both pieces of correspondence on 27 March 2024 and 10 April 2025 respectively. I have asked HSE to re-send these replies in case you have not received them. As HSE has stated in their responses, based on their current understanding of the activities proposed at the Cleve Hill Solar Farm it would be unlikely that they would undertake an inspection prior to the facility becoming operational. Responsibility for the safety of the operations remains with the operator of the facility who should ensure compliance with the relevant regulations. HSE has recently developed web guidance for Grid Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems to assist duty holders with compliance - Grid-scale battery energy storage systems - HSE

If she will instruct the Health and Safety Executive to provide information on their planned inspections of battery storage units at Cleve Hill Solar Park before they are switched on.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received your correspondence dated 19 March 2024 and 28 March 2025 regarding Cleve Hill Solar Park. HSE sent a reply to both pieces of correspondence on 27 March 2024 and 10 April 2025 respectively. I have asked HSE to re-send these replies in case you have not received them. As HSE has stated in their responses, based on their current understanding of the activities proposed at the Cleve Hill Solar Farm it would be unlikely that they would undertake an inspection prior to the facility becoming operational. Responsibility for the safety of the operations remains with the operator of the facility who should ensure compliance with the relevant regulations. HSE has recently developed web guidance for Grid Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems to assist duty holders with compliance - Grid-scale battery energy storage systems - HSE

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will instruct the Environment Agency to provide information on their planned inspections of battery storage units at Cleve Hill Solar Park before they are switched on.

The Environment Agency (EA) does not directly regulate the batteries associated with solar power schemes; this is the remit of the Local Authority. The EA, under the planning processes, advises on various aspects associated with the building and operation of battery storage facilities to ensure that risks to the environment are appropriately managed. This includes site wide flood risk assessments and pollution prevention plans. The EA are satisfied that drainage of the site, including the management of fire water, will prevent harm to the environment and that any recommendations have informed the Battery Safety Management Plan, approved by the Planning Inspector. If a permit is required from the EA to undertake any part of the operation, the operator is expected to submit a permit application. Details of the proposal will be inspected and a permit granted, where it can be shown by the applicant that the proposal will not cause a risk to the environment. The EA inspects permitted sites to ensure compliance with permits. If a pollution incident occurs, the EA will work with all other emergency services to ensure the environment is fully considered as part of the response.

Communities and Local Government, for what reasons she has yet to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on (a) providing freeholders with equivalent rights to leaseholders on estate charges transparency and (b) allowing leaseholders to takeover the management of their property.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),

Communities and Local Government, for what reasons she has yet to implement the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 on (a) providing a comprehensive rights of redress to homeowners on (i) private and (ii) mixed tenure estates and (b) the ability to appeal the reasonableness of those charges.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244),

If she will take steps to ensure that the Health and Safety Executive responds to requests from the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent on battery safety at Cleve Hill Solar Park.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received your correspondence dated 19 March 2024 and 28 March 2025 regarding Cleve Hill Solar Park. HSE sent a reply to both pieces of correspondence on 27 March 2024 and 10 April 2025 respectively. I have asked HSE to re-send these replies in case you have not received them. As HSE has stated in their responses, based on their current understanding of the activities proposed at the Cleve Hill Solar Farm it would be unlikely that they would undertake an inspection prior to the facility becoming operational. Responsibility for the safety of the operations remains with the operator of the facility who should ensure compliance with the relevant regulations. HSE has recently developed web guidance for Grid Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems to assist duty holders with compliance - Grid-scale battery energy storage systems - HSE

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that the Environment Agency responds to requests from the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent on battery safety at Cleve Hill Solar Park.

The Environment Agency works closely with the department at every level to ensure that the Environment Agency maintains high standards of delivery for stakeholders and the public, including when handling correspondence. Members of Parliament are encouraged to deal directly with the Environment Agency on day-to-day operational matters.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) revised Battery Safety Management Plan’s adoption of the National Fire Protection Agency 855 (2023) exclusion zone standards and (b) BS EN IEC 62933-5-2 testing protocols in ensuring the safety of lithium-ion battery storage at Cleve Hill Solar Park.

Under Requirement 3 of the Cleve Hill Solar Park Order 2020 the matters raised are matters for Swale Borough Council after consulting with the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Following an appeal by the developer, on 5 July 2024 the Planning Inspectorate, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, approved the Battery Safety Management Plan after Swale Borough Council had refused an application for its approval.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to monitor the responsiveness of the Environment Agency to enquiries from hon. Members.

The Environment Agency works closely with the department at every level to ensure that the Environment Agency maintains high standards of delivery for stakeholders and the public, including when handling correspondence.

What the responsibilities of the (a) Health and Safety Executive, (b) Environment Agency, (c) Kent Fire and Rescue Service and (d) Swale Borough Council are in certifying the safety of Cleve Hill Solar Park’s batteries.

Requirement 3 of the Cleve Hil Solar Park Order 2020 made Swale Borough Council responsible for approving the Battery Safety Management Plan after consulting with the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. There is no requirement for Swale Borough Council to consult with the Environment Agency. Following an appeal by the developer, The Battery Safety Management Plan was approved by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State on 5 July 2024 after Swale Borough Council refused an application for its approval.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) exclusion zones, (b) fire suppression systems, and (c) environmental risk mitigation measures outlined in the revised Battery Safety Management Plan for Cleve Hill Solar Park.

The issues raised are matters for Swale Borough Council acting in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Fire and Rescue Service as set out in Requirement 3 of the Cleve Hill Solar Park Order 2020. Following an appeal by the developer, on 5 July 2024 the Planning Inspectorate, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, approved the Battery Safety Management Plan after Swale Borough Council had refused an application for its approval.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of measures implemented by (a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) Kent Fire and Rescue Service, (c) Swale Borough Council, and (d) the Environment Agency to mitigate (i) fire, (ii) toxic emissions and (iii) explosion risks associated with the lithium ferrophosphate batteries at Cleve Hill Solar Park.

Battery safety was considered during the Examination of the development consent application and in the Secretary of State’s decision letter (in particular paragraphs 4.139 and 4.148 to 4.176). Requirement 3 of the Cleve Hill Solar Park Order 2020 made Swale Borough Council responsible for approving a Battery Safety Management Plan, after consulting with the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Following an appeal by the developer, on 5 July 2024 the Battery Safety Management Plan was approved on behalf of the Secretary of State by the Planning Inspectorate.

What accountability mechanisms are in place for (a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) Kent Fire and Rescue Service, (c) Swale Borough Council and (d) the Environment Agency to ensure the adequacy of safety inspections of the batteries at Cleve Hill Solar Park.

Requirement 3 of the Cleve Hill Solar Park Order 2020 made Swale Borough Council responsible for the regulation of the Battery Safety Management Plan. The plan was informed following consultation with the Health and Safety Executive and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Swale Borough Council will be responsible for providing regulation and oversight of the construction and operation of the development.

Whether her Department is taking steps to monitor the responsiveness of the Health and Safety Executive to inquiries from hon. Members.

The Department attaches great importance to the effective and timely handling of correspondence and keeps this under constant review. The Cabinet Office publishes statistics on Departmental performance which can be found on the gov.uk website and can be viewed here.

Whether her Department’s investigators can apply to police to have individuals suspected of committing fraud against the Department arrested.

Where appropriate, DWP can apply to the Police to undertake an arrest as part of a criminal investigation into suspected fraud.

How many times the Public Sector Fraud Authority has applied to the county court for a recovery order for the assets of people found to have committed fraud in each of the last five years.

The Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) works with government departments and public bodies to understand and reduce the impact of fraud and error against the public sector. The PSFA is expected to surpass its 2024-25 target of recovering and preventing £250m of fraud - ensuring public money is out of the hands of fraudsters. Since the Authority’s launch in 2022, the PSFA has started the pilot of the new Enforcement Unit for government, which began fraud investigations in May 2024.The Enforcement Unit is actively investigating cases of fraud, and will seek to use relevant civil powers to recover funds stolen by fraudsters. To date, the PSFA has not applied to any county court for a recovery order regarding the assets of people found to have committed fraud. This government is taking tough action to reduce public sector fraud. In January, we introduced the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, giving us more tools to combat fraud, allowing government to investigate fraud, recover public money and sending fraudsters a clear message: you won’t get away with stealing public money.

How many times her Department has used (a) section 71 and (b) section 71ZE of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 to recover assets from people found to have committed fraud in each of the last five years.

The Department has not recovered assets from the debtor, such as through a writ of possession or charging order, under either section 71 or section 71ZE of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 in the last five years. Debts under section 71 are currently recovered by deduction from benefit or a Direct Earnings Attachment. However, the Department does use The Proceeds Of Crime Act to recover assets following criminal prosecutions.

When her Department plans to respond to e-petition 701064.

A response was sent to the Petitions Committee (Commons Select Committee) on 3 April 2025 for consideration for publication.