Oral QuestionDepartment for Energy Security and Net Zero

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the conflict in the Middle East on domestic energy bills.

Tabled: 1 July 2026Answered: 7 July 2026

Asked by

Sally Jameson

Labour (Co-op)Doncaster Central

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Answer from Hansard

The Minister for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook)

The Government attach great importance to the green belt, including the more than 20,000 hectares in the borough of Waverley in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency. In planning terms, the green belt serves a number of specific purposes, but the fundamental aim of green belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open. The Government do not intend to change the general purposes of the green belt or its general extent, but we are committed to taking a more strategic approach to green-belt land designation and release so that we can build more homes in the right places.