The Environment Agency (EA) and Southampton City Council (SCC) have developed proposals for a flood defence scheme on the western bank of the lower River Itchen. This proposal will need approximately £100 million to be progressed. Although some Flood Risk Management Grant funding is available, the scheme will not progress unless further investment can be identified. The EA will review the status of the scheme, to see if the funding situation has changed, after the current Government consultation on flood defence funding for England has concluded and is implemented from April 2026.

Alongside SCC’s Renaissance Vision, the EA will continue to support the Authority in developing suitable flood defence projects. The existing Southampton Coastal Strategy will be reviewed alongside revised flood model data by 2028 which will better identify future flood risk needs to support a growing and thriving city.

Flood defence funding has previously been invested in property flood resilience to 55 properties in the St Denys area and for a Southampton schools surface water resilience study.

Through AI Growth Zones (AIGZs) and the AI Energy Council, we are collaborating with DESNZ, DEFRA and other relevant stakeholders to ensure our energy system is ready to support AI and that AIGZs are water efficient.

The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (the Pathway) was launched in 2023 to support continual improvement in farm animal health and welfare beyond the regulatory baseline, this is a critical part of the farming reforms set out in the Agricultural Transition Plan.

Under the Pathway, eligible poultry keepers have had access to capital grants to improve flock welfare. In September 2024, the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant provided funding contributions towards infrastructure projects to deliver excellent animal health and welfare. Additionally, the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which closed its third round on 10 July, offered grants of £1,000 to £25,000 for equipment tackling a range of health and welfare challenges.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.

The Government remains committed to reducing both the frequency and duration of storm overflow spills, in line with the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan (SODRP). The SODRP will eliminate ecological harm from all storm sewage discharges by 2050.

As part of Price Review 2024 (2025-30), Southern Water is investing £1.1 billion to reduce storm overflow spills by 24% by investing in 246 spill reduction schemes. As part of this cycle, 4 investigations and asset improvements are planned across the City of Southampton and a further 6 at assets that currently overflow to Southampton Water.

The Water (Special Measures) Act is introducing independent monitoring of every sewerage outlet, with water companies required to publish real-time data for all emergency overflows. Discharges will have to be reported within an hour of the initial spill. This will match the pre-existing duty for storm overflows and create an unprecedented level of transparency, enabling the public and regulators to see where, and how often, overflows are discharging, and hold water companies to account. This will meet the Government commitment to ensure monitoring of every outlet.

Furthermore, the Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will recommend reforms to reset the water sector. The Independent Water Commission: interim report was released on 03 June 2025. Final recommendations will be published this summer and presented to both the UK and Welsh Governments.

The Government acknowledges that households have paid the price for the country’s broken energy market, with sky-high bills, suppliers collapsing, and poor customer service during a cost-of-living crisis. To address this, in December the Government launched its first comprehensive review of the energy regulator, Ofgem.

The review will establish Ofgem as a strong consumer champion, driving up standards for household and business consumers both now, and as energy use evolves with smarter and greener technology. It will ensure that consumers have confidence that Ofgem is equipped to address unacceptable outcomes for consumers. A Call for Evidence to support the review closed on 28 February 2025 and the Department is considering the responses.

Ofgem is committed to driving efficiencies through the use of technology and the introduction of improved processes and systems. These efforts are aimed at delivering better value for money while safeguarding the integrity and impact of the schemes it administers.

Treasury Ministers and officials regularly engage with a variety of stakeholders, including other departments, representatives of the insurance industry and consumer groups, on a range of issues.

The government recognises the important role of insurance products, including travel insurance, in building the financial resilience of consumers and protecting them when things go wrong. That is why the government is determined that everyone has access to suitable insurance products at the right price.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry, including firms providing travel insurance.

Under FCA rules introduced in 2021, if a travel insurance customer is declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their pre-existing medical condition, insurers are required to signpost consumers to a directory of specialist providers who may be better placed to provide cover

FCA rules also require insurers to offer products that provide fair value. This means that the price a consumer pays for a product or service must be reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive.

The FCA has robust powers to act against firms that fail to comply with its rules, and the FCA actively monitors the insurance sector. For example, today it published a review of claims handling in home and travel insurance, highlighting examples of good practices and areas where improvements need to be made.

The Government is completely committed to ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the "High Seas Treaty" or "Global Ocean Treaty"), which is in line with our determination to reinvigorate the UK's wider international leadership on climate and nature. Legislation will be introduced by the end of the year to enable ratification of the Agreement.

The Department ran a call for evidence from October to December 2023 seeking views on three potential options on weight limits for Volumetric Concrete Mixers (VCMs). The outcome of this review was published on 18 March 2025. The following factors were considered: reduction in payload per journey, increased waste, and increased vehicle mileage.

Some VCM operators have argued that heavier VCMs could reduce overall trips and emissions, however, the increased road and bridge damage would result in more frequent repairs, offsetting these potential benefits.

As part of its consideration of the evidence, the Department for Transport also assessed the potential environmental impacts in accordance with the Environment Act 2021 which requires Ministers of the Crown to have ‘due regard’ to the environmental principles policy statement when making policy.

VCMs will continue to be permitted on our roads, but as planned, a temporary weight limit exemption for this type of vehicle (via vehicle special orders) will end on 31 March 2028, after which VCMs must operate at the legal weight limits applicable to other heavy good vehicles. This is not a ban or change in policy.

My Department and I have met with the Batched on-Site Association and engaged with the Volumetric Concrete Mixer (VCM) industry through correspondence.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 is clear about the importance of protecting and enhancing biodiversity where it is affected by development and includes stringent protections for nationally designated sites and irreplaceable habitats.

The implementation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies and Biodiversity Net Gain are helping to highlight opportunities to improve nature in conjunction with development, and to secure tangible contributions to biodiversity enhancements.

The Nature Restoration Fund, introduced by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, will provide further benefits where development could affect protected habitats and species, by enabling strategic improvements.

The Government has set out our expectation that employers and other duty bearers follow the clarity the Supreme Court ruling provides. Where necessary, they should take appropriate specialist legal advice.

The EHRC is consulting on its draft updated statutory Code of Practice, seeking views from affected stakeholders. We encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation by Monday 30th June. We will consider the final draft Code once it has been submitted and engage with the EHRC to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the ruling.

It is crucial that trans people are safe, included and protected from discrimination. There remain strong protections in place for trans people to live free from discrimination and harassment. In addition to this, work is already underway to fulfil the commitments set out in the Government’s manifesto, advancing the rights and protections afforded to trans people including: delivering a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, ensuring that all trans people receive appropriate and high-quality health care, and equalising all existing strands of hate crime to make them aggravated offences.

The Government has set out our expectation that employers and other duty bearers follow the clarity the Supreme Court ruling provides. Where necessary, they should take appropriate specialist legal advice.

The EHRC is consulting on its draft updated statutory Code of Practice, seeking views from affected stakeholders. We encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation by Monday 30th June. We will consider the final draft Code once it has been submitted and engage with the EHRC to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the ruling.

It is crucial that trans people are safe, included and protected from discrimination. There remain strong protections in place for trans people to live free from discrimination and harassment. In addition to this, work is already underway to fulfil the commitments set out in the Government’s manifesto, advancing the rights and protections afforded to trans people including: delivering a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, ensuring that all trans people receive appropriate and high-quality health care, and equalising all existing strands of hate crime to make them aggravated offences.