The Barts Health NHS Trust was allocated £27,693,000 from the Estates Safety Fund in 2025/26 to deliver vital safety improvements at both Whipps Cross University Hospital and Newham General Hospital. Of this, £16,738,500 was allocated to schemes at Whipps Cross Hospital. The Barts Health NHS Trust does not currently have funding allocated to the Estates Safety Fund scheme at Whipps Cross Hospital for this financial year, 2026/27 or future financial years.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is currently able to access funding from the Estates Safety Fund for their planned schemes at the Princess Alexandra Hospital across 2026/27 and 2027/28 in line with the planned spend profile for the schemes.

This investment is an important step in addressing infrastructure challenges at the site and forms part of the Government's wider programme to improve the safety and resilience of National Health Service buildings.

The Barts Health NHS Trust was allocated £27,693,000 from the Estates Safety Fund in 2025/26 to deliver vital safety improvements at both Whipps Cross University Hospital and Newham General Hospital. Of this, £16,738,500 was allocated to schemes at Whipps Cross Hospital. The Barts Health NHS Trust does not currently have funding allocated to the Estates Safety Fund scheme at Whipps Cross Hospital for this financial year, 2026/27 or future financial years.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is currently able to access funding from the Estates Safety Fund for their planned schemes at the Princess Alexandra Hospital across 2026/27 and 2027/28 in line with the planned spend profile for the schemes.

This investment is an important step in addressing infrastructure challenges at the site and forms part of the Government's wider programme to improve the safety and resilience of National Health Service buildings.

The Government will consider the case for further restrictions, including a permanent ban, on the sale of disposable barbecues in the light of experience gained from the temporary ban introduced in August. Any such restrictions are most likely to be implemented under waste legislation, which is why Defra is taking the lead on this issue, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who are leading the Government’s overall approach to wildfires.

In the meantime, local authorities have powers to establish Public Space Protection Orders, which can prohibit the use of disposable barbecues in designated areas where appropriate. It is for individual councils to decide how and to what extent to use these powers.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL), and decisions on the operation and routing of London bus services, including routes that extend beyond the Greater London boundary, are a matter for TfL. While the Department works closely with TfL on a range of issues affecting public transport, decisions on service levels and network planning rest with the Mayor and TfL.

We have announced that we intend to trial pavement robots using powers the Government is seeking through the Regulating for Growth Bill. A key part of the trial will be understanding the impact on pedestrians, particularly the most vulnerable groups.

No permanent regulations will come into force without detailed public consultation and a full assessment of the impacts.

The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. Defra continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.

Across the country, the Department and NHS England, working with local delivery partners including integrated care boards and National Health Service trusts, are working to ensure hospital beds remain available for those who need them most, whilst expanding access to integrated, community-based care and reducing avoidable hospital stays. This includes investment in same day emergency care and urgent treatment centres, to ensure patients are seen where it is most appropriate and avoid unnecessary admission.

From the Scheme’s inception date to the 04 July 2024 there were 52 Water Management Grant Agreements worth £7,901,286.46 awarded. Of this £6,664,811.59 has been claimed and paid by the Rural Payments Agency. There are currently 2 of these projects still in progress with £237,848.94 remaining to be paid to them.

The total funding remaining for the Water Management Grant Fund is £8,020,371.40.

Since 05 July 2024 there has been 28 Water Management Grant Agreements awarded, worth £5,147,486.26. Of this, £3,085,828.95 has been claimed and paid by the Rural Payments Agency.

It will be for Strategic Authorities to decide whether to put in place an Overnight Visitor Levy in their area. Any impacts will largely be determined by local decisions, including whether local leaders choose to introduce a levy and the detail of any local scheme.

Under the Security and Emergency Measures Direction 2022 (SEMD), water companies must identify and prioritise vulnerable customers during supply interruptions. They must maintain a Priority Services Register (PSR) to identify those needing extra support in emergencies, including priority access to alternative water supplies. Ofwat provides PSR guidance, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate regulates compliance with SEMD.

During sustained or large-scale water supply incidents, Defra regularly engages with water companies. Support for vulnerable customers, including those on PSR, is routinely discussed, and companies must demonstrate that appropriate arrangements are in place.

The Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) requires companies to provide at least 48 hours' notice for planned supply disruptions lasting longer than four hours. Last year this Government doubled or more the financial penalties companies must pay to affected customers if they fail to meet GSS standards. Ofwat also requires water companies in England and Wales to communicate upcoming maintenance work and infrastructure projects transparently, focusing on accessibility, timeliness, and customer-led approaches.

If customers believe their water company has not communicated effectively, they can contact the Consumer Council for Water or use the alternative dispute resolution system.

Water companies in England are responsible for maintaining water supplies in all weather conditions. If supplies fail, they can deploy emergency measures, including mobile water tankers and bottled water stations. Under the Security and Emergency Measures Direction 2022 (SEMD), companies must support vulnerable customers and maintain Priority Service Registers to target alternative supplies. Consumers are encouraged to use water responsibly during extreme heat. During drought, companies should implement their Statutory Drought Plans to maintain secure supplies and are expected to plan for resilience against a 1-in-500-year drought. Drought Plans should align with Water Resources Management Plans, ensuring secure, sustainable supplies.

The Government supported Essex County Council to develop the Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), which includes Epping Forest. Essex LNRS, brings together local stakeholders to agree priorities for nature recovery and supports groups and individuals to target action where there is greater benefit for biodiversity.

Natural England (NE) works closely with the City of London Corporation which owns and manages much of Epping Forest. NE recently provided support in securing major agri-environment agreements that fund habitat restoration, including for ancient trees and wood pasture. NE is also monitoring the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation to inform key actions to protect it.

We know people are concerned about climate change and a majority support the Government taking action to tackle this.

Our Energising Britain plan sets out how we will work to ensure people have the facts and understand the scale, pace of change and benefits of climate and nature action as well as the opportunities for their local communities, including through policies that are responsive to people’s needs and views.

The first annual Energising Britain event was held on 6 July at five locations across England, celebrating, supporting and learning from the vital climate and nature action already taking place across the country.

On 13 July, the Government delivered its second annual statement on the state of climate and nature to provide Parliament and the public with an honest assessment of the challenges we face and the progress being made in response.

The Animal Welfare Codes, made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, recommend that keepers should have contingency plans for events such as the disruption of feed, power or water supply.

The Government expects water companies to provide a secure and resilient supply of water at all times. Disruptions to water supplies can have significant consequences for animal health and farm operations, underlining the importance of water companies maintaining robust resilience and contingency plans.

We know that children and young people across the country are waiting too long to access National Health Service mental health services.

In the Government’s first 12 months, nearly 40,000 more children and young people received support compared to the previous 12 months. This is helped by delivering our commitment to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers this Parliament three years ahead of schedule. But more is needed. Transforming the system will take time, but we are committed to delivering a new approach to mental health.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country, including children and young people’s mental health services. We are accelerating the rollout of mental health support teams in schools and colleges to reach full national coverage by 2029. We are also expanding access to early intervention and community-based support, including through Early Support Hubs and Young Futures Hubs, so that children and young people can access help earlier and closer to home. Decisions about the design and delivery of local mental health services in Epping Forest are made by local commissioners and providers to meet the needs of their population. As prioritised in the NHS Medium-Term Planning Framework, we are taking action to reduce the longest waits for specialist children and young people’s mental health services by addressing variation across the country and reducing inequalities in access. We will ensure that services for children and young people are as productive as possible in order to bring down the length of time children and families are left waiting.

We are also developing a new cross-Government mental health strategy for England, covering all ages, to be published later this year. It will be informed by the findings and recommendations from the Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health, ADHD And Autism, and will align with the modern service frameworks for children and young people and severe mental illness, and the new Mental Health Act.

Since 5 July 2024, 38 Grant Funding Agreements, with a total value of £910,264, have been issued through the Smaller Abattoir Fund. Of this, £687,734 has been paid to successful applicants to date.

Before and including 4 July 2024, 12 Grant Funding Agreements, with a total value of £208,987, had been issued through the Smaller Abattoir Fund. Of this, one payment of £7,875 had been made to a successful applicant by that date.