Rural Related Politics - An RSN weekly review

TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2025

Oral Questions: To the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Energy questions this week focused on household affordability and fuel poverty, support for businesses facing high energy costs, and progress on the clean energy transition, including renewable investment, nuclear, community energy and large-scale solar. MPs also raise issues around energy efficiency, market reform, and the environmental aspects of net zero such as carbon sinks and peatland emissions.

Westminster Hall Debate: Impact of land use change on food security, Wendy Morton MP

Westminster Hall Debate: Flood risk and flood defence infrastructure in the North West, Sarah Hall MP

WEDNESDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2025

Westminster hall Debate: Impact of local government reform in Huntingdonshire, Ben Obese-Jecty MP

THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2025

Oral Questions: Transport (including Topical Questions)

Transport questions centre on the reliability and performance of rail services, the adequacy of local and rural bus provision, and progress on major infrastructure upgrades and station reopenings. Questions are also focused on decarbonising transport, including maritime and active travel, alongside economic growth, better public transport integration, driving test backlogs, and support for motorists and the aviation sector.

MONDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2025

Oral Questions: Housing, Communities and Local Government (including Topical Questions)

Questions not yet published

TUESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2025

Oral Questions: Health and Care (including Topical Questions)

Questions not yet published

Legislation: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Day Two): Remaining stages

THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2025

Oral Questions: Water and sewerage companies as consultees on nationally significant infrastructure projects - Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

MONDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2025

Legislation: Planning and Infrastructure Bill – consideration of Commons amendments and/or reasons

TUESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2025

Oral Questions: Fair Funding Review: housing and employment growth, Lord Jamieson

TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2025

Oral Evidence: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Climate and weather resilience

Oral Evidence: Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Affordability of Home Ownership

Oral Evidence: Business and Trade Committee, Financing the real economy

Oral Evidence: Built Environment Committee, New Towns: Creating Communities

Rural Railway Stations: Step-Free Access

MPs debated step-free access at rural railway stations, led by Helen Morgan MP (North Shropshire). She highlighted long-running accessibility problems at Whitchurch station, where passengers travelling south must climb 44 steps, making the platform unusable for many disabled or older residents. Members from across the House raised similar concerns in their constituencies, citing stalled or unclear progress under the Access for All programme and the impact of inaccessible stations on travel, work, and local economies.

Responding for the Government, the Rail Minister confirmed that initial feasibility studies for 50 nominated stations. including Whitchurch, have been completed, with decisions on which projects will progress expected “in the coming months.” He noted that many rural stations meet only partial accessibility standards and that value-for-money criteria mean lower-use stations are less likely to be prioritised, although alternative funding routes remain possible.

Read the full debate transcript here

Rural Connectivity Raised At Science & Tech Questions

MPs pressed Ministers on slow rural broadband, persistent mobile notspots and digital exclusion during departmental questions.

Read more in our article here

Topical Questions: Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

This week’s DEFRA Topical Questions covered a wide range of rural and environmental issues, from water quality and flooding to the financial pressures facing family farms. The Secretary of State highlighted her priorities of restoring nature, backing British farming, improving water standards and securing a sanitary and phytosanitary deal with the EU. MPs raised concerns about sewage pollution, accountability of water companies, support for flood-hit communities, and air quality around waste incinerators.

Rural and farming issues featured prominently. MPs questioned Ministers on the impact of the proposed “family farm tax”, farm profitability, upland viability, and the consequences of changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief for diversified farms. Ministers pointed to forthcoming publications, including the Batters review and a 25-year farming roadmap, and reiterated commitments to making farming more productive and sustainable. Members also pressed for action on hill farmer incomes, enforcement against polluting water companies, and support for agritech skills development through institutions such as Harper Adams University.

Read the full transcript here