Following last year’s consultation on reforms to Landfill Tax, at Budget 2025 the Government announced it would remove stabilisers from the exemption for dredged material from April 2027. This reform will encourage businesses to limit the amount of stabilisers used to the amount necessary and incentivise alternative recycling techniques.

Throughout the consultation period and subsequently, the Government engaged with a range of stakeholders from key sectors and has carefully reviewed evidence presented to assess the impact on the market for Air Pollution Control Residues (APCr).

Eligibility for the lower rate of Landfill Tax is set out in the Qualifying Material Order and accompanying guidance; hazardous materials such as APCr are not eligible for the lower rate.

Draft legislation was published for consultation at Legislation Day on 13 July to implement the removal of the exemption for stabilisers used in dredged material from April 2027 and the Government welcomes views from stakeholders on the draft legislation by 7 September.

The National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) is the Government’s principal tool for identifying and assessing the most serious malicious and non-malicious risks facing the United Kingdom and its interests overseas.

Whilst construction supply is not currently included as a discrete risk, critical supply chain disruption is considered from a range of causes across the NSRA.

Both the NSRA and the publicly available version, the National Risk Register (NRR), are kept under continual review to reflect the changing risk landscape. During every update, policy makers are encouraged to consider the potential implications of their risk across a range of sectors.

The National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) is the Government’s principal tool for identifying and assessing the most serious malicious and non-malicious risks facing the United Kingdom and its interests overseas.

Whilst construction supply is not currently included as a discrete risk, critical supply chain disruption is considered from a range of causes across the NSRA.

Both the NSRA and the publicly available version, the National Risk Register (NRR), are kept under continual review to reflect the changing risk landscape. During every update, policy makers are encouraged to consider the potential implications of their risk across a range of sectors.

The Procurement Act 2023 sets out the legal framework for public procurement. The National Procurement Policy Statement sets out the Government’s strategic priorities, which include the need to drive economic growth and strengthen supply chains. The Social Value Model provides the mechanism to deliver these broader economic and social objectives through individual procurement design. Steel is a critical domestically produced construction material, and our updated procurement guidance (PPN 022) ensures that UK made steel is regularly considered in public projects. The guidance requires procurers to consult a digital catalogue of UK-made steel products, before making their procurement decisions.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to UIN11082 on 26 June 2026

UK’s National Accreditation Body (UKAS) is appointed as the UK’s national accreditation body under the UK Accreditation Regulations 2009. UKAS is an independent organisation and operates under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government.

Whilst it is not for government to comment on an ongoing regulatory process undertaken by an independent organisation, UKAS itself has published a statement (attached) confirming the suspension of all scopes of BBA’s accreditation on 26 February 2026 after identifying non-conformities against the relevant standards. UKAS confirms the suspension could remain in place for up to 9 months, during which BBA cannot issue new certificates on new building products under UKAS accreditation during its suspension. This does not prevent the BBA from offering conformity assessment services, but the BBA must not imply that these are UKAS accredited. Existing accredited certificates will remain valid until their expiry date.

The government will continue to engage closely across the sector to understand any further implications, including impacts on assurance routes, market confidence and the availability of certification services, and will keep the position under close review as it develops.

This Government is committed to improving the quality and sustainability of our housing stock, through improvements such as low carbon heating, insulation, solar panels and batteries. This will be vital to making the UK more energy resilient and meeting our 2050 Net Zero commitment.

Installations of qualifying energy-saving materials (ESMs) in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a charitable purpose benefit from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027, after which they will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at five per cent.

The Government recognises that heavier vehicles can accelerate road surface wear. While the Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of this effect, we are actively considering the implications of greater numbers of zero emission heavy goods vehicles on UK roads, including the potential for additional road wear.

The main guidance for local highway authorities on asset management is the Code of Practice for Well-Managed Highways Infrastructure, published by the UK Roads Leadership Group and funded by the Department for Transport. The guidance, sets out a national framework for how local highway authorities should manage their networks using a risk-based, evidence-led approach, taking account of current and expected highways usage. The Department is currently reviewing the Code of Practice, including to ensure it considers the implications of heavier vehicles on road maintenance. An updated version will be published by the end of this year.

In addition, through the £30 million Live Labs 2 programme, the Department is helping local authorities trial innovative approaches to road maintenance, including the use of more durable materials for resurfacing.

Agricultural policy is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Government has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament, investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery. This includes the Government's Paludiculture Exploration Fund, which has been exploring opportunities to support multi-functional crops on rewetted lowland peatlands. One of the twelve trials, the Broads Authority's "FibreBroads", funded a series of workstreams including fibre products for building materials such as reed for thatch, as well as fibreboards and acoustic panels from other wetland crops.

DCMS supports thatching-straw growers through the work of Historic England, Government statutory advisors on the historic environment and arms length body of DCMS. Historic England is hosting a thatching-straw growers’ workshop on 11 March 2026, in Marlborough Wiltshire. The event is aimed at thatch straw growers, and will be a unique opportunity for them to meet one another, share knowledge, and hear updates from Historic England on the work being done to support the production of thatching straw. If you wish to find out more about the event and related issues you can contact the National Specialist Services Team at Historic England on nationalspecialistservices@historicengland.org.uk.

Agricultural policy is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Government has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament, investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery. This includes the Government's Paludiculture Exploration Fund, which has been exploring opportunities to support multi-functional crops on rewetted lowland peatlands. One of the twelve trials, the Broads Authority's "FibreBroads", funded a series of workstreams including fibre products for building materials such as reed for thatch, as well as fibreboards and acoustic panels from other wetland crops.

DCMS supports thatching-straw growers through the work of Historic England, Government statutory advisors on the historic environment and arms length body of DCMS. Historic England is hosting a thatching-straw growers’ workshop on 11 March 2026, in Marlborough Wiltshire. The event is aimed at thatch straw growers, and will be a unique opportunity for them to meet one another, share knowledge, and hear updates from Historic England on the work being done to support the production of thatching straw. If you wish to find out more about the event and related issues you can contact the National Specialist Services Team at Historic England on nationalspecialistservices@historicengland.org.uk.

Defra, Natural England, and Environment Agency are working closely with our Great Fen partners to look at the benefits of paludiculture (wetter farming) and trialling a range of diversification options. This is vital to enable thriving and sustainable rural businesses, protection of our precious lowland peat resources, and enhance biodiversity. The Great Fen provides opportunity to act to test these principles, and will be looking at the benefits of growing reed and a host of other crop types for food and fibre.