Written questions by Jermy.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support councils who pay the Internal Drainage Board levy.

The Government recognises the important role of internal drainage boards (IDBs). We increased the IDB Fund to £91 million. This will reduce future costs and improve assets and water level management across 400,000ha of farmland and benefiting over 91,000 properties. In Norfolk 32 projects have received grants (£10.6 million), 8 of which (£2.32 million) are in South West Norfolk constituency. The Government also announced £5 million in 2025/26 for those local authorities most impacted by IDB levies. Given local pressures, we are launching research to review IDB costs and funding, including whether any changes are needed to the funding model. Protecting communities from the dangers of flooding is one of Defra’s top priorities. This government is investing a record £2.65 billion over two years (2024/25 and 2025/26) for the construction of new flood schemes, and the maintenance and repair of existing ones. Of this £49.6 million is being invested in Norfolk.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 43491 on Internal Drainage Boards: Finance, what steps she has taken to allocate funding to councils.

The government announced at the final 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement that it will provide £5 million in funding for the local authorities most impacted by Internal Drainage Board levies. Allocations for the 2025-26 IDB levy support grant will be announced in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure additional funding for Internal Drainage Boards in (a) England, (b) Norfolk and (c) South West Norfolk constituency.

The Government recognises the important role of internal drainage boards (IDBs). We increased the IDB Fund to £91 million. This will reduce future costs and improve assets and water level management across 400,000ha of farmland and benefiting over 91,000 properties. In Norfolk 32 projects have received grants (£10.6 million), 8 of which (£2.32 million) are in South West Norfolk constituency. The Government also announced £5 million in 2025/26 for those local authorities most impacted by IDB levies. Given local pressures, we are launching research to review IDB costs and funding, including whether any changes are needed to the funding model. Protecting communities from the dangers of flooding is one of Defra’s top priorities. This government is investing a record £2.65 billion over two years (2024/25 and 2025/26) for the construction of new flood schemes, and the maintenance and repair of existing ones. Of this £49.6 million is being invested in Norfolk.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to mitigate the costs to (a) local councils and (b) landowners of internal drainage boards; and what steps he is taking to ensure that (i) South West Norfolk and (ii) Norfolk are protected from flooding.

The Government recognises the important role of internal drainage boards (IDBs). We increased the IDB Fund to £91 million. This will reduce future costs and improve assets and water level management across 400,000ha of farmland and benefiting over 91,000 properties. In Norfolk 32 projects have received grants (£10.6 million), 8 of which (£2.32 million) are in South West Norfolk constituency. The Government also announced £5 million in 2025/26 for those local authorities most impacted by IDB levies. Given local pressures, we are launching research to review IDB costs and funding, including whether any changes are needed to the funding model. Protecting communities from the dangers of flooding is one of Defra’s top priorities. This government is investing a record £2.65 billion over two years (2024/25 and 2025/26) for the construction of new flood schemes, and the maintenance and repair of existing ones. Of this £49.6 million is being invested in Norfolk.

Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department is providing to farmers of broiler hens to (a) replace and upgrade housing to help improve animal health and welfare and (b) help improve the control of pollutive emissions.

There is currently no funding available for replacing broiler housing. However, on 29 May 2025, eligible broiler farmers will be able to apply for grants of between £1,000 and £25,000, through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, towards the cost of a list of items to make improvements to existing housing. Listed grant items address a range of health and welfare issues including ventilation, enrichment, and biosecurity.

Innovation and Technology, what progress he has made on improving broadband connectivity in rural areas.

Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises not included in suppliers' commercial plans.As of the end of March 2024, over one million premises had been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through government-funded programmes.More than £2.3 billion of contracts have already been signed to connect over one million more premises with gigabit-capable broadband, predominantly in rural areas.

How minimum energy efficiency standards take into account properties which are not occupied for less than half of the period between 1 October and 30 April.

As of April 2020, privately rented homes in England and Wales are required to meet the minimum standard of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) E before they can be let, unless a valid exemption applies. The regulations are applicable if a property is let on an assured tenancy, regulated tenancy, or domestic agricultural tenancy, and legally required to have an EPC. There is more information and guidance on the requirement to have an EPC available on gov.uk.

What discussions he has has with relevant stakeholders on the provision of sustainable funding for transforming (a) palliative and (b) end of life care services.

In February, I met with key palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, in a roundtable format, with a focus on long-term sector sustainability within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan.I also recently met Rachael Maskell MP and Baroness Finlay to discuss the progress of their independent commission into palliative and end of life care.As part of the work to develop the 10-Year Health Plan, we will be carefully considering policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our partners.We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and palliative and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift.

Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department provides to farmers for laying hens.

We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant was recently offered to commercial laying hen and pullet keepers in England. It supports these farmers to improve the health, welfare, and productivity of their flocks through access to £22.6 million in grants towards the cost of upgrading their housing. Applications closed on 18 September 2024 and all applicants have been contacted to notify them of next steps.

What steps her Department is taking to lower waiting times for speech therapy for children.

The department continues to improve access to speech and language therapy by including the ‘Early Language and Support for Every Child’ (ELSEC) pathfinder project, in partnership with NHS England and within the department’s existing Change Programme. This is delivered across nine pathfinder sites, with one in each English region.The interim programme evaluation allows the department to explore insights into the effectiveness of ELSEC delivery at a local level. Highlight reporting data shows that therapy support teams have helped around 20,000 children so far and just over 3000 setting staff have been upskilled in delivering interventions. A final evaluation will take place following the end of the summer term 2025.The department is continuing funding support for the 11,100 schools registered for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme. As of March 2025, as part of NELI, 47,982 pupils undertook an initial Language Screen assessment in the 2024/25 academic year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what data his Department holds on levels on lead in tap water exceeding safe limits in (a) England, (b) Norfolk and (c) South West Norfolk constituency.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) holds data on lead in drinking water based on compliance samples taken by water companies. These tests assess whether lead levels meet the regulatory standard of 10 micrograms per litre under the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016. Where a sample exceeds this limit, it is recorded as a failure and triggers an investigation. Each failure is followed up to a satisfactory resolution. Most failures are linked to lead pipework, often in the final sections of pipework in private ownership. In such cases, customers may need to replace their section of pipe, with support from the water company. In the meantime, companies mitigate risk by adding orthophosphate to reduce lead solubility. To support long-term improvements, companies are delivering lead reduction strategies under the current Asset Management Period (AMP8), which began in 2024. Anglian Water, which supplies South West Norfolk, reported 16 exceedances across its entire supply area - serving 5 million consumers - over the past five years. Its AMP8 lead strategy is being closely monitored. National compliance with the lead standard was 99.60% in 2020–2022. More detail is available in DWI’s triennial report.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of the Transformation Fund announced in the Spring Statement 2025; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of using this fund to improve palliative and end of life care services.

We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.As part of the Spring Statement, the Government announced a £3.25 billion Transformation Fund to drive efficiencies across Government and save money later in the Parliament and set out how this would be allocated over the Spending Review process.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the distribution of funding for research and development across (a) England, (b) Norfolk and (c) South West Norfolk constituency.

DSIT's R&D budget is rising to £13.9 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, a real terms increase of 8.5% compared to 2024/25. This will include investments in our R&D system in every region of the UK.In 2023/24, UKRI invested £8,357 million in England, £141 million in Norfolk and £0.5 million in South West Norfolk.UKRI’s investments in Norfolk include £317 million for Norwich Research Park to establish a pioneering plant and microbial research hub by 2030.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current level of Physical Infrastructure Access fees.

Ofcom’s Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) framework supports market entry and expansion by alternative network operators via access to Openreach’s ducts, poles, and other utility infrastructure.Ofcom has powers to impose access conditions on electronic communications networks, enabling third party infrastructure access on fair and reasonable terms, conditions and charges, and without undue discrimination.My officials meet with Ofcom on a regular basis to discuss a range of regulatory issues including PIA. The Government supports this framework but will not intervene in independent Ofcom decisions regarding fee pricing structure or the adequacy of the current level of fees.

What assessment her Department has made of the merits of improving the road network in East England.

The second Road Investment Strategy sets out planned investment for the operation, maintenance, renewal and enhancement of the strategic road network in the East of England between 2020 – 2025. National Highways will shortly confirm its planned investment in the region for the 2025-26 Interim Settlement year in its Delivery Plan. The Department for Transport is developing the third Road Investment Strategy, which is anticipated to cover planned investment between 2026 – 2031.The prioritisation of investment in all other road networks in the East of England are the responsibility of the relevant local highways authority.

What steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for the Home Office to tackle freight crime; and what assessment she has made of the merits of targeting the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme funding at areas with high rates of freight crime.

This Government understands the significant and damaging impact freight crime can have on businesses and drivers. Through our Safer Streets Mission and wider reforms, we are tackling crime and restoring public confidence in policing and the wider criminal justice system. Alongside the Home Office Minister of State for Policing and Crime Reduction, I met Rachel Taylor MP, Chair of the APPG for Freight and Logistics on 26 March to discuss the impact of freight crime. The Home Office continues to work closely with the police and the wider automotive industry to ensure our response to vehicle crime, including freight crime, is as strong as it can be. The Department for Transport’s HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme is providing up to £43.5 million of joint investment with industry to upgrade HGV parking and driver welfare facilities across England. This investment has been allocated and is supporting operators across 30 counties in England to improve security, toilets, showers and refreshment facilities and increase lorry parking spaces. This is on top of up to £26 million joint investment by National Highways and industry in lorry parking facilities, including Motorway Service Areas, along the strategic roads network. Future funding for financial years beyond 25/26 and its potential targeting towards high freight crime areas is subject to the Spending Review.

Whether he plans to include measures on reforming funding allocations for (a) palliative and (b) other end of life care services in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

The Spending Review is underway. We are, however, already supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for adult and children’s hospices in England, to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, and £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices.

What guidance she has provided to (a) local authorities and (b) families on the special assessments section of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund.

Detailed guidance has been provided to local authorities and regional adoption agencies about the recent changes to the adoption and special guardianship support fund, including regarding specialist assessments. Similar information has been shared with stakeholder organisations representing families. The GOV.UK website has also been updated with information to explain the recent changes. This information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/adoption-support-fund-asf#funding-eligibility.

Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on physical infrastructure access pricing for full fibre broadband.

Ofcom’s Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) framework supports market entry and expansion by alternative network operators via access to Openreach’s ducts, poles, and other utility infrastructure.Ofcom has powers to impose access conditions on electronic communications networks, enabling third party infrastructure access on fair and reasonable terms, conditions and charges, and without undue discrimination.My officials meet with Ofcom on a regular basis to discuss a range of regulatory issues including PIA. The Government supports this framework but will not intervene in independent Ofcom decisions regarding fee pricing structure or the adequacy of the current level of fees.

What assessment her Department has made of the the merits of extending the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme beyond the current funding period.

This Government understands the significant and damaging impact freight crime can have on businesses and drivers. Through our Safer Streets Mission and wider reforms, we are tackling crime and restoring public confidence in policing and the wider criminal justice system. Alongside the Home Office Minister of State for Policing and Crime Reduction, I met Rachel Taylor MP, Chair of the APPG for Freight and Logistics on 26 March to discuss the impact of freight crime. The Home Office continues to work closely with the police and the wider automotive industry to ensure our response to vehicle crime, including freight crime, is as strong as it can be. The Department for Transport’s HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme is providing up to £43.5 million of joint investment with industry to upgrade HGV parking and driver welfare facilities across England. This investment has been allocated and is supporting operators across 30 counties in England to improve security, toilets, showers and refreshment facilities and increase lorry parking spaces. This is on top of up to £26 million joint investment by National Highways and industry in lorry parking facilities, including Motorway Service Areas, along the strategic roads network. Future funding for financial years beyond 25/26 and its potential targeting towards high freight crime areas is subject to the Spending Review.