theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the average capital grant subsidy is per unit for a social rent dwelling. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department delegates delivery of the Affordable Homes Programme to Homes England outside London and to the Greater London Authority (GLA) in London. The government agrees budgets and targets with both agencies to deliver the programme’s overall targets for additional homes and specific types of tenure, as well as types of home, including those built using of Modern Methods of Construction and Supported Housing.

In awarding contracts under the programme Homes England and the GLA assess the need for grant on a site-by-site basis. In agreeing how much grant a project requires they will take into account the costs for building out the site with how much grant is needed to make that project viable, and the overall value for money for the programme. The most recent publication, with data reflecting grant allocations to the end of March 2023, can be found here.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 3.35 of Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, how much and what proportion of the £46 million in funding allocated to her Department will be spent on (a) recruitment and training for graduates and apprentices, (b) accelerating large sites waiting for planning approval and (c) upskilling local planning authority capacity. \p Matthew Pennycook: Details of precisely how the £46 million committed to support capacity and capability in local planning authorities will be allocated is subject to departmental planning, and negotiations are ongoing with delivery partners. Further detail will be provided in due course and the House will be updated in the usual way.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) increases to (i) capital gains tax and (ii) stamp duty, (b) fixed term tenancies and evictions in the Renters’ Rights Bill and (c) requiring landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their properties to a EPC C rating by 2030 on the private rented sector by the end of this Parliament. \p Matthew Pennycook: There were no changes made to Capital Gains tax residential property rates at Autumn Budget and Spending Round 2024.

The increase of the higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) by two percentage points does not affect existing landlords, only those looking to enter the market or expand their portfolio. Landlords can still benefit from the lower non-residential rates of SDLT when purchasing six or more properties in a single transaction, or mixed (commercial and residential) property.

The Department published the Renters’ Rights Bill Impact Assessment on 22 November 2024. It received a ‘Green’ rating from the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC), indicating that it is ‘fit for purpose’. For landlords that already provide decent homes and a prompt repair service to their tenants, the costs of our reforms, including abolishing fixed terms and introducing reformed possession grounds, are estimated to be just £22 per rented property annually – only 0.2% of mean annual rents.

The government will consult shortly on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030. The consultation will be accompanied by an assessment of the potential impacts of the proposals.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of preventing planning inspectors from overturning decisions made in line with neighbourhood plans. \p Matthew Pennycook: Appeal decisions by planning inspectors must be taken in accordance with policies in the development plan for the area, including any neighbourhood plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The revised National Planning Policy Framework, which is a material consideration, continues to make clear that where a planning application conflicts with an up-to-date development plan (including any neighbourhood plans), permission should not usually be granted. Protections from speculative development for areas with a qualifying neighbourhood plan have also been retained in the revised Framework.
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Alex Baker:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of people living in overcrowded housing in Aldershot constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department does not collect data on overcrowding at a constituency level. The government’s Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament will help tackle overcrowding across the country.
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Dr Allison Gardner:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to provide support for veterans who are homeless and rough sleeping in Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. \p Rushanara Ali: This is a government of service committed to ensuring our veterans have access to the housing support they need.

As announced at the Budget, £633.2 million will be provided to councils in England in the financial year 2025 to 2026 through the Homelessness Prevention Grant, to support them to deliver services to tackle and prevent homelessness, including veteran homelessness. This includes an uplift of £192.9 million compared to 2024 to 2025. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is receiving a total of £1,747,686 over 2025-26. All Homelessness Prevention Grant allocations for 2025-26 can be found here.

On 8 November the Government committed a further £3.5 million to the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme from March 2025, including Op FORTITUDE, the homelessness pathway for homeless veterans, including those rough sleeping. This is in addition to £8.55 million of funding made available to support veterans into housing over 2023-25.
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Dr Allison Gardner:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of (a) adults and (b) children living in temporary accommodation in Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. \p Rushanara Ali: Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected.

We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Government is looking at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us back on track to ending homelessness once and for all.

We are already taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. In December, MHCLG announced that £633.2 million will be provided to councils in England in the 25/26 financial year through the Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG), of which £1,747,686 has been allocated to Stoke-on-Trent. These figures represent an additional £635,096 in funding for over 24/25 allocations, a 57.1% uplift, and will help to prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help to prevent rough sleeping.

This brings total spend on homelessness services to nearly £1 billion in 25/26, a record level of funding.

More widely, we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness, including: delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and building 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament; and abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, preventing private renters being exploited and discriminated against, and empowering people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.

In addition, MHCLG’s dedicated team of homelessness advisers work regularly with local authorities, including Stoke-on-Trent, to support them in delivering their statutory duties.
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Dr Allison Gardner:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to help support the regeneration of town centres in Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. \p Alex Norris: This Government is fully committed to rejuvenating our high streets and supporting the businesses and communities that make our town centres successful. This means addressing anti-social behaviour and crime, working with the banking industry to roll out 350 banking hubs, stamping out late payments, empowering communities to make the most of the vacant properties, strengthening the Post Office network, reforming the apprenticeship levy, and business rates.

Furthermore, the Government is investing in local growth with local allocations for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2025-26 now announced, which places may choose to invest in regenerating town centres. Stoke-on-Trent has been allocated £4,476,723. Stoke-on-Trent has additionally received funding from the Levelling Up Fund and Levelling Up Partnerships, which will also support local growth.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Ministers set to unleash biggest building boom in half a century, published on 5 December 2024, what metrics will be used to measure the number of new homes delivered in the third year of the Parliament. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 19066 on 20 December 2024.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2024 to Question 17009 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, whether she had discussions with (a) the Prime Minister or (b) 10 Downing Street on the proposed Chinese Embassy prior to her decision to call-in the planning application. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 17009 on 6 December 2024.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the target of 1.5 million new homes in the context of net migration. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 2451 on 5 September 2024.
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Claire Coutinho:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will publish all submissions to the call for input on single-sex spaces that were determined to have misinterpreted the Equality Act 2010. \p Anneliese Dodds: The submissions to the previous Government’s call for input on single-sex spaces guidance which seem to have misinterpreted the Equality Act 2010 have been sent to the EHRC, as the relevant independent regulator, for further review.
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Sojan Joseph:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to have discussions with EU counterparts on the introduction of the EU Pay Transparency Directive as part of the Government's plans to consult on the draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. \p Anneliese Dodds: This Government is committed to building on the historic achievements of the Equal Pay Act 1970 and Equality Act 2010 and tackle pay discrimination. The Equality (Race and Disability) Bill will introduce mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers and extend the right to make equal pay claims to ethnic minority and disabled people. Additionally, as set out in the Plan to Make Work Pay, we will put in place measures to ensure that outsourcing of services can no longer be used by employers to avoid paying equal pay and improve enforcement by establishing an Equal Pay Regulatory and Enforcement Unit. These changes will strengthen and expand the existing legislative framework.

We are also committed to protecting the ability to draw on equal pay comparators where workers' terms and conditions can be attributed to a single source, ensuring those provisions that were previously derived from EU law remain enshrined in UK law.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2024 to Question 14502 on Gender: Equality, what guidance the (a) Civil Service People Group and (b) Office for Equality and Opportunities has produced on whether positive discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity is permitted under the Equality Act 2010. \p Anneliese Dodds: In April 2023, the previous government issued guidance on positive action in the workplace (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers/positive-action-in-the-workplace). This sets out the differences between positive action and positive discrimination and what is permitted under the Equality Act 2010.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what her Department's definition of gender identity is. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Office for Equality and Opportunity does not have its own definition of gender identity.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question 16341 on Political Parties: Discrimination, if she will issue guidance on the distinction between philosophical and political belief. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued guidance and codes of practice covering philosophical belief. What is and is not a political belief as opposed to a philosophical belief is a question that is for individuals to consider and, if necessary, the courts to determine, if raised in the context of Equality Act 2010 protections.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question HL2771 on Civil Servants: Recruitment and pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2024 to Question 14502 on Gender: Equality, if she will issue guidance to public bodies to stop the practice of internship programmes which restrict applications on the basis of race or ethnicity. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Equality Act 2010 (The Act) provides protections for people from discrimination in the workplace and in society. It makes it unlawful to treat someone unfairly or discriminate against anyone based on certain personal characteristics. This includes race and ethnicity.

The Act also makes it unlawful for recruiters to hire by race, where the person is to be paid under a contract for services. Under certain conditions, a recruiter choosing between candidates of equal merit can hire the candidate from the more disadvantaged or lower-participating race or ethnicity. This is one type of ‘positive action’. Positive action can deliver better outcomes for particular groups in order to overcome or minimise a disadvantage arising from a protected characteristic.

In April 2023, the previous government published guidance to help employers understand the difference between positive action and positive discrimination. The guidance is available on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers. Section 9 of this guidance explains the general positive action provision. Section 10.2 explains tie-breaking in more detail. With this considered, there are currently no plans to issue further guidance to public bodies on positive action.
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James Naish:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of updating the Equalities Act 2010 in order to more actively support (a) deaf, (b) deafblind and (c) hard of hearing women. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Government is committed to championing the rights of disabled people. Deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing women are afforded protections under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), in relation to the sex and disability protected characteristics.

The Act makes it clear that businesses and public bodies that provide goods and services to the public must not unlawfully discriminate against disabled people, including those who are deaf or have hearing impairments. The Act places an anticipatory duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve access to premises, buildings and services. The Act is clear that the failure by a service provider to make reasonable adjustments for a disabled person could amount to disability discrimination.

Similar strong protections apply in employment, where a reasonable adjustment applies where an employer is recruiting or already employing disabled women. Failure to make adjustments or generally treating disabled applicants or employees less favourably than others would amount to unlawful disability discrimination. Where the law is breached, disabled people may enforce their rights in court or, as the case may be, at an employment tribunal.

The government also recognises that people hold multiple protected characteristics and that some experience discrimination due to a combination of these, for example sex and disability. We are committed to strengthening protections in this area, and will bring the combined discrimination (dual characteristics) provision at section 14 of the Act into force. This will help ensure adequate protection for people who experience combined discrimination.
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Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the definition of animals in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to include (a) decapod crustaceans and (b) cephalopod molluscs. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach to improve welfare standards for decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs. Defra seeks to commission research and expert opinion to inform any future policy decisions and welcomes the continued dialogue with stakeholders.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the value of government subsidies to farmers in 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government has committed to support farmers through a budget of £5 billion over the next two years, including £2.6 billion in 2024/25.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 December 2024 to Question 20098 on Environment Agency: Motor Vehicles, what colour wheel lug nuts are standard for vehicles purchased by the Environment Agency. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency does not specify a colour for wheel lug nuts on its vehicles and does not cosmetically alter them. All wheel nuts on the Environment Agency’s commercial vehicles have plastic wheel nut indicators attached, which act as a safety feature to indicate if any wheel nuts have come lose. These plastic caps are yellow as standard but can be found in green or orange. Very occasionally, the Environment Agency uses red wheel nut indicators to indicate when a wheel has been changed but has not yet been torqued.

All vehicles owned by the Environment Agency have Chapter 8 markings to comply with Department for Transport codes of practice. The Environment Agency logo is also added to owned vehicles; this is regarded as essential for any public serving organisation, particularly for vehicles being used to respond to incidents where the Environment Agency needs a physical presence. The Environment Agency cannot provide a breakdown of the costs of applying chapter 8 markings and logos. The Environment Agency does not have a specific budget allocated solely for vehicle branding.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to reduce the timeframe for the authorisation of new electric vehicle battery recycling facilities. \p Mary Creagh: Environmental permits enable Government missions on economic growth, green innovation and net zero. To protect the environment and the public, all environmental permits require appropriate assessment to prevent harm.

All environmental permitting is subject to statutory timeframes. Defra and the Environment Agency are constantly reviewing and improving Environmental Permitting services to make them efficient and reactive to customer needs. The Environment Agency will consider prioritising applications, if they meet specific criteria that include supporting economic growth or are for nationally significant infrastructure projects.

The Environment Agency encourages applicants to contact them as early as possible in any project plans and take up pre application advice (Get advice before you apply for an environmental permit), particularly for complex permits for new and novel technologies such as vehicle battery recycling facilities.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Ramsar sites have had their ecological character threatened in each of the last 14 years. \p Mary Creagh: In line with Article 3.2 of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention), Contracting Parties are committed to monitor their Ramsar Sites and inform the Secretariat whenever the ecological character of a site has changed, is changing, or is likely to change as a result of human interference.

Over the last 14 years, 9 cases have been opened for UK Ramsar Sites under Article 3.2. Following actions to manage these changes or risks of change, the majority have been closed. Three cases remain open with regards to the following sites:

Work is ongoing to address and close these cases.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of material switching by food producers currently using metal food cans on (a) UK food security and (b) the (i) recyclability of and (ii) cost of recycling other types of packaging. \p Mary Creagh: The Scheme Administrator will study what measures may be needed to mitigate against material switching, where switching may produce perverse environmental outcomes. As pEPR places the cost of disposing of packaging back on those who place packaging on the market, the system contains intrinsic incentives against producers switching to materials which are more expensive to reprocess in the waste stream.
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Gill Furniss:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) protect natural habitats and (b) promote biodiversity net gain. \p Mary Creagh: In England we are committed to nature protection and recovery. This includes delivering our legally binding biodiversity target to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042.

We will create, restore and connect wildlife-rich habitat, reduce pressures on species including from pollution and climate change, and take targeted action to recover specific species.

The Environmental Improvement Plan is being reviewed and we have confirmed the commitment to restoring 75% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) to favourable condition by 2042. SSSIs continue to be one of the most effective tools for protecting and enhancing biodiversity and deliver a wide range of health and socio-economic benefits.

A priority for this Government is to support building the homes and infrastructure we desperately need while protecting the environment.

Mandatory biodiversity net gain, which became a requirement for most developments in February 2024, is an important means of enabling this.

Officials are working closely with the construction, environmental, and local authority sectors to monitor the delivery of biodiversity net gain to ensure its success.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to announce his decision on the future of the Farming Investment Fund. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra is working to simplify and rationalise its grant funding offer, including the Farming Investment Fund, ensuring that grants are targeted towards those who need them most and where they can deliver the most benefit for food security and nature. The timings of any future grant offers will be confirmed in due course and is subject to the outcome of the Phase 2 of the Spending Review.

Defra continues to support farmers with £5 billion to the farming budget over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production and to boost rural economic growth. In the long term, Defra will support farmers and farming businesses to become sustainable and self-reliant.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to align future application windows of the Farm Equipment and Technology Fund with the agricultural calendar. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra is working to simplify and rationalise its grant funding offers including the Farming Investment Fund, ensuring that grants are targeted towards those who need them most and where they can deliver the most benefit for food security and nature. The timings of any future grant offers will be confirmed in due course and is subject to the outcome of Phase 2 of the Spending Review.

Defra continues to support farmers with £5 billion to the farming budget over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production and to boost rural economic growth. In the long term, Defra will support farmers and farming businesses to become sustainable and self-reliant.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support SME manufacturers of farm equipment in cases where demand has fallen, in the context of funding provided by the Farming Investment Fund. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra recognises that farmers and the agricultural supply sector need clarity and certainty. Defra continues to roll out schemes and will optimise them in an orderly way over time so that farmers can plan. The budget for future years will be set in Phase 2 of the Spending Review, and details of future grant rounds will be confirmed in due course.

Defra is supporting farmers with £5 billion to the farming budget over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production and to boost rural economic growth. In the long term, Defra will support farmers and farming businesses to become sustainable and self-reliant.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the safety of zoos. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (the Zoo Standards) set out, amongst other things, requirements which licensed zoos in England are expected to meet with regard to public and animal safety. Defra is currently working to update the Zoo Standards, including considering updates to public safety requirements. Updated Zoo Standards will be published shortly.

Zoos must also comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which ensures the safety of staff. The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) also publish Health & Safety Guidelines for Zoos & Aquariums which focus on the health and safety of employers, employees and the public within zoos.
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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Animal Welfare Committee’s December 2024 opinion on specialised dog reproductive practices. \p Daniel Zeichner: The department is carefully considering the Animal Welfare Committee’s findings and will outline any next steps in due course. Any policy changes would be made with appropriate engagement with stakeholders.
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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to regulate the use of stud dogs in dog breeding. \p Daniel Zeichner: Under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the 2018 Regulations) anyone in the business of breeding and selling dogs and/or who breeds three or more litters in a 12-month period needs to have a valid licence from their local authority. Licensed breeders who own and use stud dogs as part of their breeding activity must provide for their welfare in line with the 2018 Regulations’ licensing conditions.

The Government is considering the findings of its post-implementation review of the 2018 Regulations and the Animal Welfare Committee’s opinion on the welfare implications of specialised canine reproductive practices and will outline any next steps in due course.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of income for farmers in 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government has committed to support farmers through a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, including £2.4 billion in 2025/26. We publish regular accredited official statistics on farm income in England and other data related to farm businesses. For example, on 14 November 2024, we published our Farm Business Income statistics (Farm business income - GOV.UK), which looked at how Farm Business Income has changed in 2023/24, including the contribution of Direct Payments and agri-environment payments to farm incomes and analysis by farm type.

Farm Business Income has seen substantial year-on-year fluctuations over the past 15 years driven by a multitude of factors which include weather and market fluctuations. For most farm types, Farm Business Income in 2023/24 saw very large falls relative to exceptional highs in 2022/23. At the all-farm level and a longer-term view, the average Farm Business Income of approximately £82,000 for the agricultural transition (2021/22-2023/24) remains above the pre-transition average of approximately £58,000 (2018/19-2020/21).

Further, farming evidence packs have been recently updated including key statistics and farm performance (Farming statistics evidence packs - GOV.UK). These set out an extensive range of data to provide an overview of agriculture in the UK, and the contribution of farm payments to farm incomes, including analysis by sector, location in England and type of land tenure.

The Secretary of State discussed the department’s approach to the problem of low farming income across Britain at the Oxford Farming Conference on 9 January, and his full remarks can be found here.

We will continue to carry out appropriate and timely assessments of our interventions to inform policy development.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_434

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of British produce is being brought in (a) hospitals, (b) army bases and (c) prisons. \p Daniel Zeichner: This data was not collected at any point by the last Government. However, the new Government wants to fix the unequal playing field for British farmers attempting to bid into the £5 billion spent each year on public sector catering contracts. As a first step, we are committed to working with industry to create a baseline, then monitor the food currently bought in the public sector and where it is bought from, as announced at the Oxford Farming Conference this week so we can ensure future support to enter this important supply chain, which would need to be consistent with our domestic and international legal obligations, is effective.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_435

Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on the implementation of the Genetic Technologies (Precision Breeding) Act 2023. \p Daniel Zeichner: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The Secretary of State has recently announced that the secondary legislation necessary to implement the Precision Breeding Act for plants in England will be laid by the end of March.

Defra is also considering the animal welfare framework outlined in the Precision Breeding Act.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_436
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_436

Claire Young:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on how many (a) mallards and (b) other gamebirds of which species have been destroyed at rearing and release facilities due to (i) highly pathogenic avian influenza and (ii) which other notifiable diseases in each of the last five years. \p Daniel Zeichner: Over the last five years highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed at seven premises (five in England, one in Scotland and one in Wales) where commercial gamebirds have been kept, out of a total of 411 premises were HPAI has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds. Under avian influenza rules gamebird covers any pheasant, partridge, ptarmigan, grouse or moor game, black (or heath) game and ducks bred for shooting.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) holds records of how many poultry or other captive birds including kept gamebirds are culled for disease control purposes by Government. In addition, the outcome of veterinary investigations conducted by APHA at all sites where HPAI has been confirmed in kept birds including any cases in kept gamebirds are published on gov.uk in APHA’s outbreak epidemiology reports. These reports include information on the number and type of birds present at infected premises.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_437
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_437

Claire Young:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on how many (a) mallard and (b) other gamebird rear and release facilities where cases of (i) highly pathogenic avian influenza and (ii) other notifiable diseases had been detected (A) had already released gamebirds into the natural environment that season and (B) were open to wild birds (1) by being unroofed and (2) through pop holes being open in each of the last five years. \p Daniel Zeichner: My Department holds information on the release of Pheasants and Red-legged partridges on and within a 500m buffer of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in England for the last four years for SACs and two years for SPAs.

In addition, the outcome of veterinary investigations conducted by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at all sites where highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds including any cases in kept gamebirds are published on gov.uk in APHA’s outbreak epidemiology reports. These reports include information on potential pathways to infection at the infected premises.

Once gamebirds have been released, they are classed as wild birds for avian influenza rules. Reports of mortality in release gamebirds are investigated through APHA’s wild bird surveillance programme. Details of findings of HPAI in wild birds are published on gov.uk and are available to view and interrogate via APHA’s interactive wild bird surveillance map and dashboard.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_438
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_438

Claire Young:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the current research his Department is conducting on the impacts of gamebird releases includes looking at the impacts of mallard releases. \p Daniel Zeichner: The current research my Department is conducting on the impacts of gamebird release does not include looking at impacts of mallard releases.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_439
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_439

Claire Young:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had recent discussions with its international counterparts on (a) coordination and (b) information sharing in the context of the circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza across international boundaries; and whether his Department plans to develop a platform for stakeholders to (i) share resources and (ii) coordinate efforts to help tackle the disease. \p Daniel Zeichner: Wild waterbirds of the orders Anseriformes (for example, ducks, geese, and swans) and Charadriiformes (for example, gulls, terns, and waders) are considered the natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses. Their migratory patterns and interactions with kept birds form the backbone of most established avian influenza transmission networks worldwide enabling the virus to spread across international boundaries. This includes the UK despite robust controls preventing the movement of potentially infected poultry and poultry products from infected areas.

International collaboration and knowledge exchange on global dynamics of avian influenza are facilitated through discussions between the UK Chief Veterinary Officer and representatives from Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) avian influenza national and international reference laboratories, and their global counterparts through the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Quadripartite Organisations and allied projects. This includes working through the joint WOAH-FOA Scientific Network on animal influenza OFFLU. In addition, international collaboration is ongoing through specific research projects, such as KAPPA-FLU project which is focusing on understanding the connectivity and dynamics of avian influenza.

Information and guidance for bird keepers and members of the public are published and available via gov.uk/birdflu and the international research network FluGlobalNet platform founded by APHA which facilitates information and science exchange on animal influenzas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_440

Sojan Joseph:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to include the recycling of small electrical items as part of household waste collections. \p Mary Creagh: The Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) regulations make producers responsible for the electrical products they place on the market when they become waste. As part of this producers can pay into the WEEE Compliance Fee fund that provides project funding for local authorities seeking to provide more recycling opportunities for local residents. It also funds consumer awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of properly disposing of their electrical waste. According to Material Focus, 100 local authorities in the United Kingdom operate Kerbside collection for small electricals.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_441
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_441

Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department plans to provide to (a) Quantock Hills, (b) Blackdown Hills and (c) other national landscapes in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Mary Creagh: Business planning is ongoing, so we are currently unable to confirm Defra grant allocations to National Landscapes, including the Quantock Hills and Blackdown Hills, for the 2025-26 financial year. We understand the uncertainty around resourcing remains a challenge and recognise that the Defra core grant is vital to support our Protected Landscapes.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_442
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_442

Alex Mayer:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many and what proportion of soaps and other skincare products used on the parliamentary estate are cruelty free certified. \p Nick Smith: Our supplier contract stipulates all products used should be, so far as is reasonably possible, cruelty free, and compliant with the recommendations of Cruelty Free International.

All soaps supplied comply with the relevant cosmetic regulations (Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products) which means they are not allowed to be tested on animals.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_443
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_443

Tonia Antoniazzi:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent steps he has taken to support the expansion of university provision in Derry/Londonderry under the terms of the New Decade, New Approach agreement. \p Hilary Benn: As part of our mission-led approach, this Government is committed to working with the Northern Ireland Executive to address regional economic imbalances, including through good university provision in the North West.

The Derry & Strabane City and Region Deal was signed on 18 September 2024. This deal will help support university expansion in Derry/Londonderry through a £39 million investment into Ulster University’s Cognitive Analytics & Digital Robotics Innovation Centre. This is in addition to investment towards Phase 2 of the School of Medicine project, including a Medical Education Facility on the Altnagelvin Hospital site.

This Government will continue to work with the Executive to deliver high-quality university education in Derry/Londonderry, and deliver the City Deal programme to provide capital investment that supports expanded provision at Ulster University’s Magee Campus as set out in NDNA.
wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_444
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-13)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-13 conversation_444

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on ensuring the continuity of full employment at the Spirit AeroSystems site in Northern Ireland. \p Hilary Benn: The Government is working with the Northern Ireland Executive to help ensure the best outcome for Spirit Aerospace and all its skilled and hardworking staff.

The Northern Ireland Office and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) are fully aware of the commercial discussions taking place about the potential acquisition of the Spirit business. DBT continues to be in contact with Spirit, Airbus, Boeing and other potential buyers, and we want to see an outcome that includes a commitment to develop Spirit and its supply chain as part of any acquisition and provides the best possible opportunity for growth in Northern Ireland.

DBT continues to provide over £13 million of support for Spirit’ Research and Development activity through the Aerospace Technology Institute programme.