The government recognises the importance of wastewater provision on new developments. Water companies are under a statutory duty to provide new sewage connections to residential properties, as well as planning to meet the needs of growth as part of Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans.

The water resources planning guideline published by the Environment Agency and Ofwat, sets out how those companies should forecast demand for water based on existing customers and planned levels of household and non-household growth, with the number of planned developments being based on published local plans.

My officials work closely with other government departments, especially Defra, on matters relating to wastewater capacity and infrastructure. I would also note that responsibility for water and wastewater capacity is devolved, and that devolved institutions are best placed to determine the appropriate approach in their respective nations.

Local authorities are responsible for designing and managing their own housing allocations policies to meet local need, including managing their own housing registers (waiting lists).

The government has launched a review into how effectively social housing providers use their properties, including exploring ways to reduce the time homes are left empty, encourage greater movement within the sector to address under-occupancy and overcrowding, and support people to move into more suitable properties.

Housing is a devolved matter but my Department regularly engages with the devolved administrations across a range of issues, including housing.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statements made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771) and 28 January 2026 (HCWS1283), and the Social and Affordable Homes Programme policy statement published on 7 November 2025, which can be found on gov.uk here.

MHCLG has drawn on a range of devolution evidence over time, including evaluations of programmes and interventions delivered through devolved arrangements, wider analysis of devolution-related outcomes, and evidence generated by local areas themselves. This includes support for mayoral areas to evaluate the Investment Funds that have historically accompanied devolution deals. We continue to build the evidence base and are considering what further evaluation would add most value in understanding the impacts of devolution, including on local public services.

Ministers and officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regularly engage with counterparts in the devolved governments on matters relating to local and regional economic growth.

Engagement with devolved governments and the Offices for the Nations forms part of the work to develop and implement the Local Growth Fund in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This will ensure the funding fits the needs and circumstances of each nation, is spent on projects that matter to the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and drives productivity and growth across the UK.

I think it comes from mutual respect and dialogue, which this Government have exhibited since we have come into office. That is in stark contrast to the relationship over the previous 14 years. The Northern Ireland Secretary and I, alongside the Prime Minister, engage with the Deputy First Minister and the First Minister on these issues routinely, and we will continue to try to provide the best answers for the people of Northern Ireland.

Energy policy is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, falling within the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Accordingly, help in supporting the cost of meeting energy bills during the winter of 2025-26 is a matter for the relevant Northern Ireland Executive Ministers.

We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. On 19 June we announced that we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households in England, Wales and Scotland. This means that from this winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bills.

Whilst child protection is fully devolved in the UK and policing devolved except for Wales, all parts of the UK must work together to protect children and bring perpetrators to justice and we are engaging with devolved administrations as part of our response to Baroness Casey’s recommendations.

We expect any relevant findings to be shared with devolved administrations to support a comprehensive approach across the UK. All parts of the UK must work together to protect children and bring perpetrators to justice. We will set out further details on the establishment of the national inquiry in due course and how this may interact with the responsibilities of devolved administrations.

The UK Government is committed to ensuring that people across the United Kingdom live more independent, healthier lives for longer, and will continue to work closely with the Devolved Administrations as needed to achieve this. That is why we will be engaging in the future with the Devolved Administrations on the implications of the forthcoming Health Bill, and the single patient record, to support appropriate cross-border referrals, and appropriate information sharing to inform good decision-making, support healthcare, and minimise risk to patients.

While tourism in Wales, Scotland and Ireland is devolved to the respective Governments and tourism bodies, VisitBritain retains responsibility for marketing Great Britain on the international stage. Its GREAT-funded international marketing campaign launched at the beginning of this year. ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ uses the hook of Britain’s rich film and television history to encourage more international visitors to explore across Great Britain. Staycations are by definition the responsibility of the devolved Administrations.

Animal welfare is a devolved matter in the UK. This means that responsibility for animal welfare policy in each of the nations, including the regulation of dog breeding, is the responsibility of the relevant nation’s Ministers.

Defra works closely with the devolved Governments on a range of shared priorities, including animal welfare, and will discuss any relevant matters as necessary, including at meetings of the Interministerial Group (EFRA).

We have a strong legal framework in place to deal with the perpetrators of racist and other forms of hate crime and expect the perpetrators of these abhorrent offences to be brought to justice.

Defra works closely with the devolved Governments on a range of shared priorities and will discuss any relevant matters as necessary, including at meetings of the Interministerial Group (EFRA).

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) business support is a devolved matter with devolved Governments able to determine how to best support SMEs to adopt net zero approaches.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have engaged with their counterparts in the devolved Governments on the role of SMEs in the transition to net zero, including the potential merits of offering targeted incentives. We have discussed the approaches taken in Scotland and Wales, where loan programmes are in place to support SMEs in adopting low-carbon technologies and practices. We have also engaged with the Northern Ireland Executive, which offers a funded audit scheme to help SMEs identify decarbonisation opportunities. These schemes have provided valuable insights, and we are continuing to explore how similar models might inform future policy development in England.

I repeat the lines that my Ministerial colleague, the Minister for Veterans and People gave that VALOUR is a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support. The detailed structures and processes that will underpin VALOUR will be designed in collaboration with relevant partners and further details will be announced in due course. on 12 May to Questions 50185, 50186, 50187, 50189, 50190, and 50191 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr Cartlidge), and Question 50424 to the Gallant and hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr Jopp).

Funding for special educational needs is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive. It is for the Department of Education to ensure special educational needs are adequately funded in Northern Ireland.

As set out in the recent Spending Review, this Government is providing the Executive with a record £18.2bn for 2025-26, the largest settlement since the start of devolution. That translates into over £1.5 billion more in 2025-26. It is now for the Executive to decide how to allocate that funding.

As a departmental team, we have regular meetings with our colleagues across the devolved Governments, including on issues of how to extend EV charging, and I would be very happy to pick that up with the hon. Gentleman further.

The UK Government will partner with local and regional authorities and Devolved Governments to establish AI Growth Zones (AIGZs), ensuring substantial regional and national benefits, such as upskilling and employment opportunities, are felt across the country.

In February, Devolved Governments, along with local authorities and industry, were invited to come forward with potential sites suitable for hosting AI infrastructure as an early expression of interest. DSIT regularly engages with the Devolved Governments on a range of issues and there was significant interest in AIGZs from across the UK.

Whilst the provision of National Health Service dental care is devolved, my Rt. Hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and I have engaged and intend to continue to engage fully with Ministers from all four nations on matters crucial to the future of our health and social care system.

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) is a UK-wide body, established by the Victims and Prisoners Act to administer the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme to victims of the infected blood scandal across the UK. IBCA began making payments to people impacted by the infected blood scandal last year. As of 21 February, IBCA has invited 204 people to start their compensation claim, and 149 of those have started the claim process. 38 offers of compensation have been made, totalling over £48 million, and so far 22 people have accepted their offers with more than £25 million paid in compensation. IBCA are increasing the number of people invited to make their claim and help test the service, and they aim to reach around 250 claims by the end of March 2025.

The Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change Interministerial Group (IMG) supports the UK's net zero targets by coordinating engagement and promoting collaboration between UK and devolved governments. The devolved governments have significantly contributed through initiatives in renewable energy and sustainability. The next IMG meeting, chaired by NI Ministers, will be on 6 March in Belfast.