Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework. The consultation on the revised framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included a new section intended to replace Chapter 10 of current Framework on supporting high-quality telecommunications infrastructure.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework. The consultation on the revised framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included a new section intended to replace Chapter 10 of current Framework on supporting high-quality telecommunications infrastructure.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework. The consultation on the revised framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included a new section intended to replace Chapter 10 of current Framework on supporting high-quality telecommunications infrastructure.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

National planning policy makes clear that local plans should be positively prepared and, as a minimum, seek to meet identified development needs.

Local planning authorities are expected to do all they reasonably can to meet need, including working proactively with infrastructure providers (including water providers) to align growth and infrastructure provision. If needs cannot be met, the authority must clearly and robustly explain the reasons during the plan examination.

The approach the authority has taken, including how it engaged with infrastructure providers, will be a key consideration for the independent Inspector in evaluating whether the local plan can be found ‘sound’.

Officials across the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are working in partnership with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to explore supply and demand interventions to progress both current planning applications and local plan development.

The period between submission of the Outline Business Case and final Government approval reflected the need to complete the detailed commercial, legal, and financial arrangements for a complex long-term partnership. Additional time was also required following the withdrawal of the original private-sector connectivity partner and subsequent changes to the consortium's governance and management arrangements.

These matters needed to be resolved and assessed before final Government approval could be granted.

The Government does not currently intend to publish a route-by-route timetable for eliminating mobile connectivity blackspots on the rail network.

Improvements to passenger connectivity are being delivered through a range of programmes across the rail network. These include Project Reach, which is improving mobile coverage in railway tunnels and stations, the deployment of Low Earth Orbit satellite technology to enhance onboard Wi‑Fi, and longer-term opportunities associated with the Future Railway Mobile Communication System infrastructure.

As coverage improvements will be delivered through a combination of initiatives and will depend on a range of operational and commercial factors, the Government is not producing a route-by-route timetable for eliminating connectivity blackspots.

The South Eastern Main Line through Tonbridge is not included in the current phase of Project Reach. No decision has yet been taken on its inclusion in any future phase and, consequently, no start date has been set.

The current phase of Project Reach will improve mobile connectivity in fifty-seven railway tunnels and provide upgraded 5G neutral host infrastructure at twelve Network Rail stations, with delivery scheduled through to March 2029.

Any future expansion of the programme will be considered in due course, subject to priorities, funding, and approvals.

There are currently no plans to build additional slip roads at Junction 5 of the M25. National Highways will soon be refreshing its Route Strategies, which are the key evidence base that informs the development of future investment plans for the Strategic Road Network. Development of these strategies will involve extensive stakeholder consultation, and there will be an opportunity for local groups to engage with National Highways as part of that process.

Together with our international partners the UK has applied the most comprehensive sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. Nevertheless, we continue to keep our sanctions regimes, measures and effectiveness under constant review and adapt them to respond to evolving risks.

UK financial sanctions prohibit making funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to designated persons, including sanctioned Russian banks, and prohibit circumvention of these measures. The UK has also implemented a prohibition on investments in relation to Russia. All UK entities are required to comply, supported by robust enforcement across government, but it is our long-standing policy not to comment on individual companies or investments.

Train operators and Network Rail are required to work together to plan services that meet current and future demand while delivering value for money. While we recognise the benefits of a direct service, there are significant financial and operational challenges, particularly on the busy Brighton Main Line. A feasibility study is underway, and I understand that Network Rail has committed to meeting with you ahead of publication of the findings, which will help clarify the options and inform any next steps.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) regulate water company performance against the Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD), including its requirement for companies to identify and prioritise vulnerable customers.

The DWI’s assessment into the supply failures experienced by South East Water customers in the Tunbridge Wells area provides a recent illustration of how DWI scrutinise company performance against SEMD requirements.

The DWI have a range of enforcement options for non-compliance. These include the ability to serve companies with enforcement orders under section 18 of the Water Industry Act. DWI enforcement against South East Water for the multiple failings experienced in late 2025 and early 2026 should lead to improved resilience measures in the longer term, but the scale of the changes required will take time to implement. In the meantime, the Government expects SEW to take urgent action to improve the robustness of its contingency plans to meet SEMD obligations.

The Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD 2022) requires water companies to make, keep under review, test and revise plans to ensure the continuation of their water supply functions, and ensure they have the necessary capability, capacity and facilities to implement their plans. In the event of an unavoidable failure of normal (piped) supply, companies must ensure that a minimum supply of safe drinking water is provided by alternative means, with a specific requirement to identify and prioritise its vulnerable customers.

Companies must make available 10 litres of alternative water per day to all customers who are off supply within 24 hours of an incident starting, and maintain this supply until the piped supply is restored. Defra expects water companies to follow Ofwat guidance on supporting vulnerable customers during incidents. Their plans should take into account the higher-than-average quantities of water needed by some vulnerable customers, in particular those with specific medical needs, as well as being able to promptly identify and support to vulnerable customers, including transient vulnerabilities and customers that are not on a Priority Services Register (PSR).

Natural England (NE) is the organisation which has powers to designate National Landscapes (formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, AONBs).

NE is working on proposals to extend the boundary of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, and to create a new National Landscape in the Yorkshire Wolds. The package of evidence for each designation project is expected to be submitted to the Secretary of State (SoS) in Summer 2026. The SoS will then make a decision for each project.

There is no formal application process for National Landscape designation and NE takes an evidence-led approach, guided by government policy steers. Beyond the present projects, Defra is prioritising support for our existing Protected Landscapes.

Defra and the regulators have met regularly with South East Water since 13 November 2025 to discuss company performance. The Water Delivery Taskforce met with South East Water on 21 April 2026.

The Asylum Accommodation Plans are the mechanism via which the Home Office works towards achieving Full Dispersal and thus, a fair and balanced distribution of asylum accommodation across all local authorities nationally.

The Asylum Accommodation Plans are underpinned by an indexing model which accounts for a multitude of pressures within local authorities, including – availability of housing, levels of homelessness, availability of GP and dentists as well as levels of community cohesion. Development of the plans was informed by engagement with a range of national, regional and local stakeholders, to ensure that the evidence base was reflective of broader local authority feedback.

For the safety and security of those we accommodate and staff, it is our longstanding policy not to disclose information about sites which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office.

The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area, including those in dispersal properties. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

The Asylum Accommodation Plans are the mechanism via which the Home Office works towards achieving Full Dispersal and thus, a fair and balanced distribution of asylum accommodation across all local authorities nationally.

The Asylum Accommodation Plans are underpinned by an indexing model which accounts for a multitude of pressures within local authorities, including – availability of housing, levels of homelessness, availability of GP and dentists as well as levels of community cohesion. Development of the plans was informed by engagement with a range of national, regional and local stakeholders, to ensure that the evidence base was reflective of broader local authority feedback.

For the safety and security of those we accommodate and staff, it is our longstanding policy not to disclose information about sites which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office.

The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area, including those in dispersal properties. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

The Asylum Accommodation Plans are the mechanism via which the Home Office works towards achieving Full Dispersal and thus, a fair and balanced distribution of asylum accommodation across all local authorities nationally.

The Asylum Accommodation Plans are underpinned by an indexing model which accounts for a multitude of pressures within local authorities, including – availability of housing, levels of homelessness, availability of GP and dentists as well as levels of community cohesion. Development of the plans was informed by engagement with a range of national, regional and local stakeholders, to ensure that the evidence base was reflective of broader local authority feedback.

For the safety and security of those we accommodate and staff, it is our longstanding policy not to disclose information about sites which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office.

The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area, including those in dispersal properties. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out a number of proposals to support development in sustainable locations, including a “default yes” for suitable proposals that develop land around rail stations within existing settlements, and around ‘well-connected’ train stations outside settlements, including on Green Belt land.

We have considered how the proposed draft policies could affect existing rail capacity and we will continue to work closely with the Department of Transport and with rail operators, including Network Rail, to address any issues should they arise.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Southeastern (SET) have plans to improve services, increase capacity and reduce crowding to/from Maidstone East from May 2026. These include the reintroduction of Mainline services to London Blackfriars at peak times from Maidstone East; additional services between Charing Cross and Maidstone East on weekdays; and more off-peak services between London Victoria and Ashford International via Maidstone East.

SET are also exploring further options for the December 2026 timetable.

SET are always exploring the possibility of providing extra capacity where needed. This is not always feasible due to a variety of reasons, including platform lengths, rolling stock availability and funding considerations.

Southeastern (SET) have plans to improve services, increase capacity and reduce crowding to/from Maidstone East from May 2026. These include the reintroduction of Mainline services to London Blackfriars at peak times from Maidstone East; additional services between Charing Cross and Maidstone East on weekdays; and more off-peak services between London Victoria and Ashford International via Maidstone East.

SET are also exploring further options for the December 2026 timetable.

SET are always exploring the possibility of providing extra capacity where needed. This is not always feasible due to a variety of reasons, including platform lengths, rolling stock availability and funding considerations.