Written questions by Hollinrake.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61181 on Coastal Erosion: Flood Control, whether the quantum of the £2.65 billion funding over 2024-25 and 2025-26 has been amended since 4 July 2024.

Delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change, this government announced in February 2025 that it will spend £2.65 billion over 2024/25 and 2025/26, an average of £1.33 billion per year. This investment compares to £1.05 billion spent under the previous government in 2023/24 and £950 million in 2022/23. This Government has also announced the largest flood programme in history – committing a record £7.9 billion capital investment as part of its landmark 10-year Infrastructure Strategy.

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department has provided to public authorities on what are reasonable charges under the Environmental Information Regulations regime.

The Department does not have a role in providing guidance to public authorities on reasonable charges under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. This is because the Freedom of Information Act 2000 sets out the general functions of the Information Commissioner in its section 47. These include disseminating information on the operation of the Act, good practice, and other matters within the scope of his functions under the Act. Regulation 16 of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 imports the general functions of the Commissioner, with the necessary modifications to references as required for the purposes of comprehension. The Commissioner has therefore published specific guidance on charging for environmental information on his website, including how a public authority can ensure that any charges are reasonable.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61181,on Coastal Erosion: Flood Control, how much capital funding for flood defence his Department has allocated for each year of the 10 year infrastructure programme.

Delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change, this Government is investing record levels in flood protection. We are investing £4.2 billion over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) to construct new flood schemes and maintain and repair existing defences across the country. Recognising the need to invest for the long-term, the Government is providing certainty over the budget for flood defences by committing £7.9 billion of capital (2026-27 to 2035-36) for a new 10-year floods investment programme, benefitting around 840,000 properties by 2035-36. This programme will launch in April 2026. The profile of spend will be determined in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of seasonal water tariffs on households with gardens.

Several water companies are trialling a range of progressive charging approaches. Ofwat as the regulator requires companies to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. Through these trials the sector will learn how to best support households with their water bills.

Whether (a) she and (b) her Ministers have had discussions with (i) the Chair and (ii) members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia to discuss its work.

Details of ministers' meetings with external stakeholders and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2025 will be published in due course.

What guidance his Department has issued on who should pay for the cost of (a) water and (b) electricity used in official residences occupied by Ministers.

The Cabinet Office has not issued any such guidance.

Whether the Law Officers have met with (a) Dominic Grieve and (b) the members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia to discuss the working group and the definition of Islamophobia.

The Law Officers have not met with Dominic Grieve or the members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, to discuss the Working Group or the definition of Islamophobia.The Law Officers have previously met with Dominic Grieve on matters unrelated to the Working Group.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Government on their Collections Blueprint 2025.

No such discussions have taken place, however regular engagement take place with the devolved governments on matters of shared interest as necessary, including at the Interministerial Group (EFRA)

If she will make it her policy to lay a Legislative Reform Order to permit outdoor religious weddings.

The Law Commission’s 2022 report on weddings raises a number of issues around weddings law, including giving greater choice in how and where individuals can get married.Given marriage will always be one of our most important institutions, it is right that we take the time to carefully consider this report. An update on our position on weddings reform will come soon.

Whether the (a) applicants and (b) Community Law Partnership received legal aid in relation to the case that resulted in the High Court decision of [2024] EWHC 1137 (Admin).

Whether or not an individual is in receipt of legal aid constitutes their personal data. Having regard to data protection legislation, it is not possible to disclose whether the Claimant in this matter received legal aid.Legal representatives only receive legal aid funding to the extent that they represent a client in whose favour legal aid has been granted.

What her Department's policy position is on 15 minute cities.

Local Government is at the heart of our transport ambitions. Traffic management schemes to promote walking cycling and public transport are a matter for Local Authorities because they know their areas best. Such schemes should always be developed through engagement with local communities. This is a long-standing policy and there are no plans to change it.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 55440 on National Landscapes, for what reason work has stopped on the (a) Cheshire Sandstone Ridge and (b) Chiltern National Landscapes.

Natural England has the statutory responsibility for identifying areas for new or extended National Landscape designations. Given the pressures on public finances, Defra has had to make difficult decisions about funding. It was not affordable to continue Defra funding to Natural England to continue the new National Landscapes designations programme in 25/26. As such, Natural England have made the decision to keep working on some of the planned programme – including the Chilterns boundary review and the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge assessment. Other elements of the programme, including the Surrey Hills boundary review and potential new National Landscape in the Yorkshire Wolds, are being maintained and progressed as the work was further advanced. Defra is prioritising supporting our existing Protected Landscapes to ensure they remain a source of national pride. We are committed to empower them to become greener, wilder and more accessible. The existing boundary for the Chilterns National Landscape is unaffected and remains in place.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54870 on Parking: Fines, if she will publish the research provided by the (a) Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London, (b) British Parking Association and (c) Local Government Association.

The publication or otherwise of this research is a matter for the organisations that undertook it. It would not be appropriate for the Department to publish it.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the value is of the (a) RDEL and (b) CDEL settlement for the Electoral Commission in each year of the Spending Review 2025; and what plans the Commission has to delivery efficiency savings.

The Electoral Commission’s five-year Corporate Plan was approved by Parliament in February 2025. The plan outlines the benefits that the Commission’s work and spending will deliver for voters, electoral administrators and political parties and campaigners. The plan can be found on the Commission’s website.The Commission’s budget per financial year (Westminster funding) is as follows:Financial yearRDEL CDEL2025/26£44.2m£2.2m2026/27£47.5m£2.7m2027/28£48.0m£1.4m2028/29£68.5m£1.3m2029/30£68.1m£1.2mThe Commission also has funding arrangements with the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru for work related to devolved elections.The Commission is fully committed to delivering value for money. It has recently made significant efficiency savings, including by sharing office space with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. It has also achieved a 50% reduction in energy consumption at its London office, and a reduction in the cost of providing staff laptops.The Commission will continue work with the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission to ensure Parliament and voters have confidence in the Commission’s finances.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has issued guidance on (a) companies and (b) unincorporated associations raising funds from foreign donations overseas and assigning proceeds for political (i) donations and (ii) donations in kind to (A) political parties and (B) regulated donees.

The Commission’s guidance for political parties covers permissibility of donations from companies and unincorporated associations. If an organisation makes a donation on behalf of another source without disclosing the details of the original donor, this is likely to be an agency offence. The law places a responsibility on the recipient of a donation to ensure they are satisfied as to the identity of the donor, and that the donor is permissibleA company is a permissible donor if it is registered as a company at Companies House, is incorporated in the UK, and is carrying on business in the UK. An unincorporated association is permissible if it has more than one member, the main office is in the UK, and it is carrying on business or activities in the UK.The Commission has highlighted that it remains possible for money from foreign sources to enter the UK electoral system, including through companies and unincorporated associations. There are no requirements for unincorporated associations to check that gifts they receive are from permissible sources, or on how company donations are funded. It has called for changes to ensure the system protects against foreign interference.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56829 on Speed Limits, whether her Department has plans to update 20mph zone guidance for England.

We believe that traffic authorities are best placed to decide where lower limits will be effective on the roads for which they are responsible, and that consultation and community support should be at the heart of the process.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has issued guidance on members’ associations set up as limited companies (a) registering with the Commission to make political contributions and (b) reporting political donations.

The Commission’s guidance for regulated donees sets out the reporting requirements for members associations.Members associations are any type of organisation, including a limited company, whose membership wholly or mainly consists of members of one political party. There is no requirement for members associations which are limited companies to register with the Commission. Members associations must report to us any donations over £11,180 they receive towards their political activities within their party.

Representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 56565 on Political Parties: Crypocurrencies, if he will publish the guidance on non-standard donations.

The Commission’s published guidance on donation permissibility, includes information on cryptocurrencies.This guidance states that the controls which apply to donations of crypto assets are the same as the controls which apply to other types of donations. Donations must be from permissible sources and recipients must establish the value in pounds of donations at the time of receipt.The Commission is currently reviewing this guidance so it can offer parties specific advice on handling donations of crypto assets, considering ongoing developments in the regulation of these assets.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with local authorities on the use of fixed-penalty notices for households for minor waste receptacle issues.

In England, local authorities have limited powers to issue fixed penalties to households relating to waste receptacle requirements. Defra is not proposing changes to this position as part of Simpler Recycling reforms and has not conducted discussions with local authorities on the use of these powers.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 57278 on Water Charges, if he will make it his policy to prevent water companies from using (a) rising block tariffs and progressive and (b) seasonal water metering for households.

The Government welcomes companies’ willingness to trial innovative new approaches to charging customers in order to make bills more affordable and improve water efficiency, putting pounds back in the pockets of working families. Several water companies are trialling a range of progressive charging approaches. Ofwat as the regulator requires companies to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. Through these trials the sector will learn how to best support households with their water bills.