Written questions by Stephenson.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 182c of the National Planning Policy Framework, how she defines the lifetime of the development.

Paragraph 182(c) of the revised National Planning Policy Framework sets out that all major development should have maintenance arrangements for sustainable drainage systems in place to ensure an acceptable standard of operation for the lifetime of the development. National planning guidance states that residential development can be assumed to have a lifetime of development of at least 100 years, unless there is specific justification for considering a different period. For non-residential development, the lifetime will depend on its characteristics, but 75 years is likely to form a starting point for assessment. Development such as some major infrastructure projects or new settlements may have a lifetime significantly beyond 100 years.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 182c of the National Planning Policy Framework, if she will publish guidance provided to local authorities on enforcement.

Local planning authorities already have a wide range of planning enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance.The government is clear that effective enforcement is important to tackle breaches of planning control, including enforcing SuDS maintenance arrangements which do not conform to the planning permission.Where the local planning authority thinks that a condition imposed on a planning permission has not been met, they can serve a breach of condition notice, which requires the recipient to remedy the breach within a specified time. There is no appeal against such a notice and failure to comply with it is an offence punishable by an unlimited fine.We have published guidance on the enforcement powers available to local planning authorities. I do not have plans to publish further guidance on enforcement at this time.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 15 of the ADAS and Stephenson Halliday report entitled Review of the implementation of National Planning Policy Framework para 186c, issued on 27 August 2024, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of standardising the assessment of ancient woodland impacts.

The report in question confirmed that the National Planning Policy Framework contains a high level of protection for ancient woodland.The Framework makes clear that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons, and a suitable compensation strategy exists. These protections are strengthened further by the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2024 which requires local planning authorities to consult the Secretary of State where they have resolved to grant planning permission for development affecting ancient woodland.Local planning authorities have the principal responsibility for applying these protections effectively, and we do not consider it necessary to standardise the assessment of ancient woodland impacts or mandate arboricultural reports. The Ancient Woodland Inventory, updated Planning Practice Guidance and the Standing Advice on ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees are in place to support local decision makers make informed decisions about planning applications near these habitats.With regard to statutory consultees, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510).We keep policy in this and other areas under review, working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

With reference to the second bullet point in paragraph 2.3 of the document Impact on households: distributional analysis to accompany Autumn Budget 2024 and Spending Review 2025, Phase 1, whether her Department regularly undertakes modelling on the potential behavioural impacts of policy announcements.

HM Treasury distributional analysis only includes measures if they have a clear first-order impact on the benefit income, tax paid or the benefits-in-kind received through public services by UK residents. Therefore, this excludes the behavioural impacts of most measures, for example where households might reduce consumption to reduce the amount of tax they might otherwise pay. However, estimates of behavioural impacts from policy announcements are conducted by the government, as set out below. As per the Green Book (2022), appraisals and evaluation are a key part of detailed policy development and design. HM Treasury officials, independently and in collaboration with other government departments, carry out longlist and shortlist appraisals. These include the consideration of distributional effects and consequences, such as possible changes in behaviour, that may result from an intervention. As the independent official economic and fiscal forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility have a responsibility to report on the impact of policy announcements, including behaviour impacts, which they do in their Economic and Fiscal Outlook. Additionally, Tax Information and Impact Notes, published on gov.uk, describe the 'economic impact' and 'impact on individuals, households and families'.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the proportion of all (a) ancient and (b) veteran trees included in the Ancient Woodland inventory.

The Ancient Woodland inventory (AWI) identifies the location of ancient woodland sites and does not map individual ancient and veteran trees therein or outside of ancient woodlands. The Ancient Tree Inventory (ATI) is hosted and managed by the Woodland Trust and records the number and location of ancient and veteran trees. It currently has 190,000 trees mapped for the UK.

Whether her Department has considered the marginal propensity to consume when developing policies affecting individuals since 5 July 2024.

The marginal propensity to consume influences the level of consumption in the economy, and is relevant for economic forecasting. HM Treasury considers data on household consumption published by the Official for National Statistics as part of its ongoing monitoring of the economy. HM Treasury does not prepare forecasts for the UK economy, including assessments of the impact of policy decisions on UK household consumption. These forecasts are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR’s next forecast will be published on the 26th March 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29188 on Agriculture and Business: Inheritance Tax, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing her Department's data collection methods to enable the collection of data on the number of estates containing woodlands impacted in the 2025-26 financial year.

The reforms to inheritance tax agricultural and business property reliefs come into effect from 6 April 2026.No estates, with or without woodlands, will be affected by these reforms in the 2025-26 financial year. There are no plans to review data collection on the number of estates containing woodlands for that year.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 3 of the ADAS and Stephenson Halliday's report entitled Review of the implementation of National Planning Policy Framework para 186c, published on 27 August 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the recommendations on mitigation strategies.

We are using the evidence from this Review (Review of the implementation of the NPPF para 186 (c) in applications and appeals in or within 15 metres of ancient woodlands or near ancient and veteran trees), and subsequent engagement with stakeholders, to explore what options are available to improve the implementation of the NPPF regarding ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 6 of the ADAS and Stephenson Halliday's report entitled Review of the implementation of National Planning Policy Framework para 186c, published on 27 August 2024, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of planning officers' specialist arboricultural expertise.

We are using the evidence from this Review (Review of the implementation of the NPPF para 186 (c) in applications and appeals in or within 15 metres of ancient woodlands or near ancient and veteran trees), and subsequent engagement with stakeholders, to explore what options are available to improve the implementation of the NPPF regarding ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 3 of the ADAS and Stephenson Halliday's report entitled Review of the implementation of National Planning Policy Framework para 186c, published on 27 August 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the paragraph on Identification of ancient and veteran status.

We are using the evidence from this Review (Review of the implementation of the NPPF para 186 (c) in applications and appeals in or within 15 metres of ancient woodlands or near ancient and veteran trees), and subsequent engagement with stakeholders, to explore what options are available to improve the implementation of the NPPF regarding ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government on the potential merits of requiring arboricultural (a) reports and (b) impact assessments for all major developments.

We are using the evidence from this Review (Review of the implementation of the NPPF para 186 (c) in applications and appeals in or within 15 metres of ancient woodlands or near ancient and veteran trees), and subsequent engagement with stakeholders, to explore what options are available to improve the implementation of the NPPF regarding ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 3 of the ADAS and Stephenson Halliday's report entitled Review of the implementation of National Planning Policy Framework para 186c, published on 27 August 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the recommendations on compensation strategies.

We are using the evidence from this Review (Review of the implementation of the NPPF para 186 (c) in applications and appeals in or within 15 metres of ancient woodlands or near ancient and veteran trees), and subsequent engagement with stakeholders, to explore what options are available to improve the implementation of the NPPF regarding ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees.

Food and Rural Affairs, how often the Ancient Woodland Inventory is audited.

The Ancient Woodland Inventory (AWI) was originally surveyed in the 1980s. Counties in the south-east of England were reviewed and updated between 2005 and 2015. The AWI is currently being audited with 35 counties in England being reassessed and where necessary boundaries are being redrawn to reflect changes in land use. Nine county revisions have been completed and published as the Revised Ancient Woodland Inventory (England). The remaining 26 counties are expected to be published over the coming months. Natural England also has a process in place to amend the AWI on a site-by-site basis where evidence for a change is supplied. You can find the original dataset here: Ancient Woodland (England) - data.gov.uk and updated and audited counties are being published here: Ancient Woodland - Revised (England) - Completed Counties.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of mental health services for children in Bedfordshire.

We know that waits for children and young people's (CYP) mental health services are far too long, including in Bedfordshire. That is why the NHS planning guidance for 2025/26 makes clear that one of the priorities for children's mental health services is to reduce inequalities in access to CYP mental health services. The Government will also recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers across children and adult mental health services and provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school through expanding Mental Health Support Teams, so every young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate. Early intervention and prevention support in the community is vital. That is why we are providing £7 million of funding to extend support for 24 Early Support Hubs that have a track record of helping thousands of young people in their community.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, what her Department's policy is on whether local authorities that accept new towns will be subject to the duty to co-operate for local plans.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, for what reasons her Department has not discussed the suitability of potential locations for new towns with the New Towns Taskforce.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, how the £20 million to help transform neglected small-scale council-owned sites into new homes for areas most in need will be distributed.

This funding will be made available through the next round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund. Further details on the application process and funding criteria will be announced in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025 in response to a Question from the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, if she will publish guidance on what would happen if a local planning authority was unable to meet its housing target due to construction of a new town on its available sustainable development area.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

What steps he will take to support mental health services for children in Bedfordshire.

We know that waits for children and young people's (CYP) mental health services are far too long, including in Bedfordshire. That is why the NHS planning guidance for 2025/26 makes clear that one of the priorities for children's mental health services is to reduce inequalities in access to CYP mental health services. The Government will also recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers across children and adult mental health services and provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school through expanding Mental Health Support Teams, so every young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate. Early intervention and prevention support in the community is vital. That is why we are providing £7 million of funding to extend support for 24 Early Support Hubs that have a track record of helping thousands of young people in their community.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, what her Department's policy is on whether housing supplied pursuant to a New Towns Taskforce recommendation can be included in a local authority’s Five year housing land supply calculation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.