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To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the Climate Security Taskforce's planned timetable is for holding its first meeting; and whether a record of that meeting will be published.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the Climate Security Taskforce's planned timetable is for holding its first meeting; and whether a record of that meeting will be published.
The Taskforce on the National Security and Resilience Risks of a Changing Climate and Nature Loss will meet for the first time in the Autumn. A record of that meeting will not be published to allow for open and candid discussion among participants. The public will be kept informed of the Taskforce’s progress and outputs, and we will set out our approach to this in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department still produces Emerging Trends reports, which were bi-annual publications highlighting key developments and their implications produced by the Defra Futures Project.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department still produces Emerging Trends reports, which were bi-annual publications highlighting key developments and their implications produced by the Defra Futures Project.
Defra has no plans to publish a 5th Edition of the Global Megatrends report at present. We continue to routinely monitor both long-term and short-term emerging trends and risks, including through engagement of our expert committees.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has (a) produced and (b) plans to produce a fifth edition of the global megatrends report that was published in 2024.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has (a) produced and (b) plans to produce a fifth edition of the global megatrends report that was published in 2024.
Defra has no plans to publish a 5th Edition of the Global Megatrends report at present. We continue to routinely monitor both long-term and short-term emerging trends and risks, including through engagement of our expert committees.
I commend my hon. Friend’s approach. He is right to say that these allegations are incredibly serious, and that it is crucially important not only for there to be a full investigation but for it to be seen to be independent so that people can have confidence in it. He...
I commend my hon. Friend’s approach. He is right to say that these allegations are incredibly serious, and that it is crucially important not only for there to be a full investigation but for it to be seen to be independent so that people can have confidence in it. He...
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of its policies on family visas.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of its policies on family visas.
The Family routes were established in 2012 aimed at enabling family life, while promoting financial independence and integration.
Reform is overdue. The system has become too complex, inconsistent and open to abuse, with British citizens facing the strictest requirements.
We are introducing a new family policy that will create a fairer and more consistent framework.
As a former councillor on Chesterfield borough council—and given the excellent record that Labour has had there over the last 15 years—I think it will be a shame when the borough council ceases to exist and we move towards unitary authority status, but I have never met someone in a...
As a former councillor on Chesterfield borough council—and given the excellent record that Labour has had there over the last 15 years—I think it will be a shame when the borough council ceases to exist and we move towards unitary authority status, but I have never met someone in a...
I welcome the Government’s statement. My hon. Friend the Minister is right to say that climate change drives nature loss and nature loss drives climate change—we must tackle them hand in hand. I met this week with Moors for the Future, who spoke about peatland and the importance of working...
I welcome the Government’s statement. My hon. Friend the Minister is right to say that climate change drives nature loss and nature loss drives climate change—we must tackle them hand in hand. I met this week with Moors for the Future, who spoke about peatland and the importance of working...
Migrants who come here to work in our national health service and in other crucial sectors are tremendously welcome and should be encouraged, but I have seen surprising cases in Chesterfield because of the number of familial applications that have accompanied the arrival of a single worker. Is it the Secretary of State’s perspective that the family visa regime is working as intended, or does she think it is ripe for reform?
Migrants who come here to work in our national health service and in other crucial sectors are tremendously welcome and should be encouraged, but I have seen surprising cases in Chesterfield because of the number of familial applications that have accompanied the arrival of a single worker. Is it the Secretary of State’s perspective that the family visa regime is working as intended, or does she think it is ripe for reform?
I agree with my hon. Friend. He will know that we suspended family reunion, but as we set out in our White Paper over a year ago, we believe that reform of the family routes system more generally is overdue. We will be introducing a new family policy that creates a fairer and more consistent framework.
The biggest cause of river pollution is agricultural run-off. Will the Secretary of State ensure that, through the sustainable farming measures, she is prioritising farms that are taking action on agricultural run-off? Will she confirm that in the clean water Bill the issue of agricultural run-off will be considered alongside taking action on failing water companies?
The biggest cause of river pollution is agricultural run-off. Will the Secretary of State ensure that, through the sustainable farming measures, she is prioritising farms that are taking action on agricultural run-off? Will she confirm that in the clean water Bill the issue of agricultural run-off will be considered alongside taking action on failing water companies?
I can reassure my hon. Friend that agricultural pollution is top of mind for me as Secretary of State and for the Water Minister, and the issue will form part of the clean water Bill. We need to crack down on water pollution from agriculture in partnership with farmers, making sure that they have the tools that they need to do the right thing, because agricultural pollution accounts for around 42% of overall river pollution.
My right hon. Friend took office shortly after the fiasco of the contracts for difference auction under the previous Government, which did not get a single megawatt of new energy proposed. Since then, we have had tremendous success in boosting the amount of renewable energy, and this country is making tremendous progress. We are moving forward, but what does my right hon. Friend say to people like the shadow Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for East Surrey (Claire Coutinho), who is constantly attempting to undermine the moves this Government are making to decarbonise the grid? Should we not all be celebrating the fact that the industry supports the steps that the Government are taking?
My right hon. Friend took office shortly after the fiasco of the contracts for difference auction under the previous Government, which did not get a single megawatt of new energy proposed. Since then, we have had tremendous success in boosting the amount of renewable energy, and this country is making tremendous progress. We are moving forward, but what does my right hon. Friend say to people like the shadow Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for East Surrey (Claire Coutinho), who is constantly attempting to undermine the moves this Government are making to decarbonise the grid? Should we not all be celebrating the fact that the industry supports the steps that the Government are taking?
I agree with my hon. Friend. He puts it very well. Our renewables auctions have resulted in enough power to power the equivalent of 23 million homes. That is significantly cheaper than building new gas-fired power stations, which is what the shadow Secretary of State wants to do; I am old enough to remember when she was in favour of clean energy—but never mind. The Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds North West (Katie White), mentioned London Climate Action Week, and what is so striking is that countries around the world are drawing the same lesson: that we need to electrify and get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster.
The 500 households in Chesterfield that were flooded during Storm Babet, almost all of which were in council tax bands A and B, will welcome the Government’s intention to make sure that this scheme remains sustainable. It is important to remember that flood victims are just that— victims. They are...
The 500 households in Chesterfield that were flooded during Storm Babet, almost all of which were in council tax bands A and B, will welcome the Government’s intention to make sure that this scheme remains sustainable. It is important to remember that flood victims are just that— victims. They are...
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
T7
.
Mr Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab):
Support for young people wanting access to the world of work has never been more crucial, but the success of youth hubs will depend on their ability to connect with, be useful to and understand the needs of employers. What steps will the youth hubs take to ensure that they are communicating with businesses and understanding their needs?
T7
.
Mr Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab):
Support for young people wanting access to the world of work has never been more crucial, but the success of youth hubs will depend on their ability to connect with, be useful to and understand the needs of employers. What steps will the youth hubs take to ensure that they are communicating with businesses and understanding their needs?
My hon. Friend has raised an important point. This has to be a joint effort between the Government and employers. We had a great roundtable at No. 10 this morning with employers who are committed to expanding youth opportunity, and I have visited Merlin, an important leisure and hospitality business, which has agreed to take on 300 young people through our youth guarantee measures. Other businesses are signing up as well, and I encourage as many as possible to do so.
The Minister is right that all we saw under the previous Government were the numbers going in the wrong direction and the operation of Government coming to a standstill. Of course, we should never forget the role of the right hon. Member for Newark (Robert Jenrick), who does not grace...
The Minister is right that all we saw under the previous Government were the numbers going in the wrong direction and the operation of Government coming to a standstill. Of course, we should never forget the role of the right hon. Member for Newark (Robert Jenrick), who does not grace...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of uncertainty over the future of Flood Re on mortgage availability for properties at high risk of flooding.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of uncertainty over the future of Flood Re on mortgage availability for properties at high risk of flooding.
Government is engaging with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to examine whether the rationale to end the Flood Re scheme in 2039 as planned remains appropriate, or whether we need reconsider this timing in the light of the challenges of climate change. Consideration of mortgage availability for properties at high risk of flooding is included as part of this.
In 2025/26, Flood Re provided cover for over 353,000 household policies, with 742,000 properties benefitting since the scheme’s launch. As at March 2026, the average home insurance quote following a flood claim was around c.£1,316, compared with approximately £4,400 prior to Flood Re.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of closure of the Flood Re scheme in 2039 on the availability of mortgages for properties at high risk of flooding.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of closure of the Flood Re scheme in 2039 on the availability of mortgages for properties at high risk of flooding.
Government is engaging with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to examine whether the rationale to end the Flood Re scheme in 2039 as planned remains appropriate, or whether we need reconsider this timing in the light of the challenges of climate change. Consideration of mortgage availability for properties at high risk of flooding is included as part of this.
In 2025/26, Flood Re provided cover for over 353,000 household policies, with 742,000 properties benefitting since the scheme’s launch. As at March 2026, the average home insurance quote following a flood claim was around c.£1,316, compared with approximately £4,400 prior to Flood Re.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the insurance industry about extending Flood Re beyond 2039.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the insurance industry about extending Flood Re beyond 2039.
Government is engaging with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to examine whether the rationale to end the Flood Re scheme in 2039 as planned remains appropriate, or whether we need reconsider this timing in the light of the challenges of climate change. Consideration of mortgage availability for properties at high risk of flooding is included as part of this.
In 2025/26, Flood Re provided cover for over 353,000 household policies, with 742,000 properties benefitting since the scheme’s launch. As at March 2026, the average home insurance quote following a flood claim was around c.£1,316, compared with approximately £4,400 prior to Flood Re.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Treasury about extending the Flood Re scheme beyond 2039.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Treasury about extending the Flood Re scheme beyond 2039.
Government is engaging with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to examine whether the rationale to end the Flood Re scheme in 2039 as planned remains appropriate, or whether we need reconsider this timing in the light of the challenges of climate change. Consideration of mortgage availability for properties at high risk of flooding is included as part of this.
In 2025/26, Flood Re provided cover for over 353,000 household policies, with 742,000 properties benefitting since the scheme’s launch. As at March 2026, the average home insurance quote following a flood claim was around c.£1,316, compared with approximately £4,400 prior to Flood Re.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to reach a policy decision before the end of this Parliament on the future of Flood Re beyond 2039.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to reach a policy decision before the end of this Parliament on the future of Flood Re beyond 2039.
Government is engaging with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to examine whether the rationale to end the Flood Re scheme in 2039 as planned remains appropriate, or whether we need reconsider this timing in the light of the challenges of climate change. Consideration of mortgage availability for properties at high risk of flooding is included as part of this.
In 2025/26, Flood Re provided cover for over 353,000 household policies, with 742,000 properties benefitting since the scheme’s launch. As at March 2026, the average home insurance quote following a flood claim was around c.£1,316, compared with approximately £4,400 prior to Flood Re.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to issue guidance to insurers on communicating flood risk to homeowners whose insurance policies rely on Flood Re.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to issue guidance to insurers on communicating flood risk to homeowners whose insurance policies rely on Flood Re.
The Government works closely with Flood Re and the insurance industry to improve awareness and understanding of flood risk. Flood Re made a recommendation in their 2024 Quinquennial Review that insurers are required to make clear on their policy documents that a policy has been ceded to Flood Re which Government accepted www.floodre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Flood-Re_QQR-2024_Digital.pdf.
They are also developing Flood Performance Certificate pilots which will provide clearer, trusted information on a property’s level of risk and resilience for use by householders, insurers and lenders. Piloting will begin later this year, with wider rollout to follow.