To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on community and adult social care providers in Suffolk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on community and adult social care providers in Suffolk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what measures are available to support community and adult social care providers in Suffolk affected by increases in employer National Insurance contributions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what measures are available to support community and adult social care providers in Suffolk affected by increases in employer National Insurance contributions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of national resilience arrangements in enabling Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service to maintain fire cover in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituency during the Dunwich Heath wildfire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of national resilience arrangements in enabling Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service to maintain fire cover in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituency during the Dunwich Heath wildfire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the abstraction licensing regime in providing protection for water resources during periods of prolonged drought in water-stressed areas such as Suffolk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the abstraction licensing regime in providing protection for water resources during periods of prolonged drought in water-stressed areas such as Suffolk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with Essex and Suffolk Water about the resilience of water supplies in Suffolk following the introduction of a temporary use ban in August 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with Essex and Suffolk Water about the resilience of water supplies in Suffolk following the introduction of a temporary use ban in August 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her Department’s latest estimate is of the completion date of the Sea Link transmission reinforcement project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what her Department’s latest estimate is of the completion date of the Sea Link transmission reinforcement project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to local authorities in Suffolk to meet expenditure incurred in preparing for the implementation of local government reorganisation before the Government announcement on 7 September 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to local authorities in Suffolk to meet expenditure incurred in preparing for the implementation of local government reorganisation before the Government announcement on 7 September 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on Local Government Reorganisation in Suffolk in financial years a) 2024/25 b) 2025/26 c) 2026/27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on Local Government Reorganisation in Suffolk in financial years a) 2024/25 b) 2025/26 c) 2026/27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much has been spent on Local Government Reorganisation a) nationally and b) in Suffolk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much has been spent on Local Government Reorganisation a) nationally and b) in Suffolk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the total cost incurred to date by local authorities in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk in preparing for local government reorganisation decisions that have been withdrawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the total cost incurred to date by local authorities in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk in preparing for local government reorganisation decisions that have been withdrawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government's proposed technical education pathways will require changes to the funding available for post-16 transport in rural areas such as Suffolk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government's proposed technical education pathways will require changes to the funding available for post-16 transport in rural areas such as Suffolk.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of whether Suffolk will have sufficient specialist school places to meet the needs of pupils who are unable to have their needs met through the Government's proposed more inclusive mainstream education system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of whether Suffolk will have sufficient specialist school places to meet the needs of pupils who are unable to have their needs met through the Government's proposed more inclusive mainstream education system.

Lords statement on local government reorganisation.

Lords statement on local government reorganisation.

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement made in another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Statement is as follows:

“This Government are committed to delivering good growth across the country and power...

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement made in another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Statement is as follows:

“This Government are committed to delivering good growth across the country and power...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating this quite significant Statement. The Government have suddenly paused the reorganisation plans they started for local government. This is astounding. Proposals to merge councils in Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampshire, and Essex have been withdrawn. The 14 areas which formed the third tranche of...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating this quite significant Statement. The Government have suddenly paused the reorganisation plans they started for local government. This is astounding. Proposals to merge councils in Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampshire, and Essex have been withdrawn. The 14 areas which formed the third tranche of...

My Lords, I too thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. Across England, there will be thousands of councillors and council officers who have worked for months, sometimes years, to deliver an effective solution to the Government’s top-down reorganisation diktat. They will have devoted scarce resources in both funding and...

My Lords, I too thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. Across England, there will be thousands of councillors and council officers who have worked for months, sometimes years, to deliver an effective solution to the Government’s top-down reorganisation diktat. They will have devoted scarce resources in both funding and...

My Lords—

My Lords—

Minister!

Minister!

I have to deal with the Front Benchers first, although I thank the noble Lord, Lord Fuller, for his enthusiasm. I am very grateful to both noble Baronesses for their comments, and I understand the frustration that has been expressed.

The noble Baroness, Lady O’Neill, asked about updated legal advice, government...

I have to deal with the Front Benchers first, although I thank the noble Lord, Lord Fuller, for his enthusiasm. I am very grateful to both noble Baronesses for their comments, and I understand the frustration that has been expressed.

The noble Baroness, Lady O’Neill, asked about updated legal advice, government...

My Lords, first, the un-cancellation of local government elections and now the embarrassment of this one, from a hapless MHCLG. Back in April, when your Lordships debated local government reorganisation, I characterised the proposals for Norfolk as a cut-and-shut job that would shame Arthur Daley. It would create England’s poorest...

My Lords, first, the un-cancellation of local government elections and now the embarrassment of this one, from a hapless MHCLG. Back in April, when your Lordships debated local government reorganisation, I characterised the proposals for Norfolk as a cut-and-shut job that would shame Arthur Daley. It would create England’s poorest...