Written questions by Snowden.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) quality and (b) efficiency of radiator systems installed in new-build homes.

Statutory guidance on the design of radiator systems in new-build homes is set out in Approved Document L Volume 1, which accompanies Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) of the Building Regulations. This is intended to ensure that radiator systems in new homes are correctly sized, energy efficient, and equipped with appropriate controls. The most recent update to this guidance was made through the 2021 uplift to Part L, which came into effect in June 2022. The Future Homes and Buildings Standards (FHBS) consultation, which closed in March 2024, proposed further changes to Part L and the accompanying Approved Documents to improve the energy efficiency of heating systems in new-build homes. The Government intends to publish its response to the FHBS consultation in autumn this year.

What support she is providing to Afghan nationals during their transition from Weeton Barracks to long-term housin; and whether this includes assistance with (a) employment, (b) language training and (c) healthcare access.

Supporting Afghans on their arrival into the UK is critical in providing a strong foundation for those rebuilding their new life in the UK.Under the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), transitional accommodation is offered for up to 9 months, within which households will be expected to move on to their settled home.An integration tariff has been developed to provide financial support to Local Authorities (LA) supporting the resettlement of Eligible People (EP) under ARP. Further detail and a breakdown of the integration tariff is provided in the published policy guidance for the ARP.This is viewable on the following link: Afghan Resettlement Programme: policy guidance (accessible) - GOV.UK.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish the list of (a) individuals and (b) entities sanctioned under the new people smuggling sanctions regime.

The UK Sanctions List is updated every time a decision is made to make, vary or revoke a designation. The list is published on gov.uk and sets out which people, entities and ships are designated or specified under regulations made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, and why. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-sanctions-list. The list of individuals and entities sanctioned under the Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons regime was updated on 23 July 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what funding is available for residents to plant trees in urban areas.

Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund provides support for urban trees through grants including the Community Forest’s Trees for Climate programme and also the Trees Outside Woodland Fund. The Trees Outside Woodland Fund launched in June 2025, administered by the Tree Council and funded by Defra. It offered grants between £10,000 and £40,000 to support tree planting in urban and peri-urban areas across England. The fund was open to local authorities and registered charities with a turnover exceeding £100,000, and projects must be completed by 2 March 2026. Applications were open from 10 June to 31 October 2025. The funds are now fully allocated for this financial year.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the accessibility of the UK Emergency Alert System for people who are (a) visually and (b) hearing impaired.

We have ensured that the Emergency Alerts system works with voice reader software. This means that everyone who already has this and all other accessibility settings enabled on their phones should have the alert read out to them. As part of the communications campaign, we have developed a British Sign Language information video explaining the upcoming national test. We have also engaged with disability groups, including the Royal National Institute of Blind People, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People and Mencap. These charities conducted engagement campaigns to reach individuals with visual impairments to help them understand more about the alerts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria are used to determine whether an (a) individual and (b) entity is considered an enabler of people smuggling for the purposes of sanctions.

To consider whether someone is an enabler or otherwise involved in the relevant activity, we use the criteria set out in regulation 8 of The Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025, combined with the statutory threshold of reasonable grounds to suspect and taking information from a range of sources.

What assessment she has made of trends in the level of unemployment in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The information requested is published and available at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp Guidance for users can be found at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

What steps his Department is taking to increase public awareness of the (a) causes and (b) early prevention of plantar fasciitis.

The NHS.UK website, the primary source of public information on health conditions and health services for patients in England, provides information on plantar fasciitis, including details on the causes and symptoms of the condition, as well as information on self-care and when to see a health professional. This information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/plantar-fasciitis/

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce extended producer responsibility regulations for fashion retailers.

The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which it plans to publish for consultation in the coming autumn. The Circular Economy Taskforce will initially focus on six sectors that have the greatest potential to grow the economy, one of which is Textiles. The Circular Economy Taskforce recognises the importance of an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles. As we develop the strategy, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what interventions may be needed, including but not limited to EPR.

Whether her Department is taking steps to investigate potential conflicts of interest in the administration of asylum accommodation contracts relating to people who both oversee contracts and are licence holders for houses in multiple occupation used for asylum accommodation.

All commercial contracts are subject to normal government procurement rules.

What estimate she has made of the number of illegal immigrants residing in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

By its very nature, it is not possible to know the exact size of the illegal migrant population, and so the Home Office under successive governments has not published any official estimates of the illegal migrant population.The Government continues to take decisive action against those found to be in the UK illegally, with a surge in returns activity since the election leading to over 35,000 people with no right to be in the UK being removed between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the licensing regime for Houses in multiple occupation in (a) identifying and (b) addressing potential conflicts of interest involving public contract holders.

It is important that private rented properties are safe, well-maintained, and properly managed. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing schemes play a crucial role in achieving this. Local authorities have robust powers to ensure landlords of HMOs comply with all relevant regulations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the volume of textile waste generated from fast fashion annually.

While we do not hold any internal estimates on fast fashion waste volumes in the UK, industry partners provide some insight. WRAP estimates that the UK generated approximately 1.45 million tonnes of post-consumer textiles in 2022, which includes clothing, household linens and more. WRAP does not isolate a proportion of this as fast fashion. However, they note that low-quality textile goods are saturating secondary markets, with the average person in the UK throwing 35 items of unwanted textiles straight into the general waste each year, demonstrating the fast turnover of clothing. Meanwhile, figures from BusinessWaste indicate that 300,000 tonnes of clothing waste enter household bins annually in the UK, with much of this likely being fast fashion.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the level of ground rents on mortgage lending decisions.

The pricing and availability of mortgages, including how ground rents factor into mortgage applications, is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. More widely, the Government remains firmly committed to its manifesto commitment to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rents.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the outcomes of the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer schemes since its launch.

Since launching in Spring, the eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers are testing a range of localised support to reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training. The eight Trailblazer areas are actively identifying and engaging at risk or disengaged young people to help them access tailored support to move into employment and training opportunities through local connections with employers and delivery partners. The findings of the local and national evaluations will inform our approach to wider roll-out of the Youth Guarantee. To further improve outcomes for young people, we have committed to continue funding the Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in 2026/27 to enable more young people to access employment, education and training opportunities.

Whether guidance has been issued to (a) banks and (b) financial services firms on (i) detecting and (ii) reporting transactions linked to sanctioned people smuggling networks.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has designated 25 individuals and entities under the new Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025, and previously published statutory guidance. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), responsible for implementing and enforcing financial sanctions, has produced an extensive suite of guidance to provide industry with further clarity and support to comply with financial sanctions, such as the OFSI general guidance, threat assessment reports and FAQs.For further information view OFSI’s general guidance here, and its full suite of guidance here.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of Weeton Barracks for transitional accommodation on (a) military training operations and (b) the availability of housing for service personnel and their families.

Weeton Barracks has been occupied by 1st Battalion The Lancashire Regiment since 2024. It was not used as transitional accommodation for Afghans. I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that only surplus Service Family Accommodation was allocated as part of the Afghan Relocation Programme. There has been no impact caused by the Afghan Relocation Programme on military training operations or the availability of housing for Service personnel at Weeton Barracks. The Afghan Entitled Persons (EPs) are expected to have vacated the Surplus SFA by the end of November 2025. Following the vacation of the Afghan EPs, the properties will be refurbished as required and made available for allocation to Service personnel.

What steps he plans to take to return of Weeton Barracks to its original military function; and what his planned timetable is for the complete withdrawal of ARAP-related residents.

Weeton Barracks has been occupied by 1st Battalion The Lancashire Regiment since 2024. It was not used as transitional accommodation for Afghans. I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that only surplus Service Family Accommodation was allocated as part of the Afghan Relocation Programme. There has been no impact caused by the Afghan Relocation Programme on military training operations or the availability of housing for Service personnel at Weeton Barracks. The Afghan Entitled Persons (EPs) are expected to have vacated the Surplus SFA by the end of November 2025. Following the vacation of the Afghan EPs, the properties will be refurbished as required and made available for allocation to Service personnel.

If he will take steps to fund specific communications campaigns in (a) Lancashire and the (b) North West to (i) raise awareness of the chickenpox vaccine and (ii) address misinformation.

On 29 August 2025, the Government announced plans to introduce chickenpox vaccination into the routine childhood immunisation schedule from 1 January 2026, using the MMRV vaccine which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (varicella).The launch of the chickenpox vaccination programme in January 2026 will see a press campaign with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England working together to inform and educate through the use of low and no cost communications. This will continue throughout the year with key bursts of activity on all childhood vaccines. The last national childhood vaccination campaign was elevated in the North West area, with outdoor advertising up weighted in funding and exposure in the North West’s lowest uptake areas.The Department of Health and Social Care will also launch a national childhood vaccination paid marketing campaign in February 2026 to encourage uptake of all childhood vaccinations for those age 0-5 years and will include high impact advertising across video on demand, online video, radio, out of home posters and social media. This will be supported by partnerships across a range of sectors including retailers, nursery providers and charities. Activity will be upweighted to key low uptake communities and geographical areas across the country.Ahead of the launch, NHS England is hosting vaccine confidence sessions for health care workers to help them have vaccine conversations and address questions or concerns with parents and carers.Communications toolkits and assets will be issued to primary care teams across all regions to support the launch of the MMRV programme, which includes material for parents and carers on the new vaccination programme.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will consider requiring insurers participating in the Flood Re scheme to include surface water flooding coverage as standard.

The Flood Reinsurance (Scheme Funding and Administration) Regulations 2015 define a “flood” as “water, from any source external to a building, which enters a building…at or below ground level, or above ground level, provided that part of the body of such water is at ground level; and does so with a volume, weight or force which is substantial and abnormal". Therefore, under this definition, surface water flooding is included as standard within the Flood Re scheme’s offer. Insurance companies can choose to cede the flood risk element of an eligible household policy to Flood Re if the Schemes premium for that is lower than they can otherwise offer. Flood Re does not have any involvement in or influence over individual insurers’ decisions to cede policies.