theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Layla Moran:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to implement a statutory code of conduct for parking operators. \p Alex Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 42709 on 7 April 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) increasing protections for sellers in conveyancing processes, in the context of levels of protections in (i) Scotland and (ii) Australia where bids to buy houses are binding once accepted and (b) requiring sellers to provide a full legal pack. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the Hon Member to (a) the answer given to Question UIN PQ 32038 on 28 February 2025, and (b) the answer given to Question UIN PQ 18947 on 20 December 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on funding safe houses for victims of domestic abuse. \p Rushanara Ali: Matters related to domestic abuse, including provision of safe accommodation, are devolved in Northern Ireland and managed by the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Northern Ireland Executive received £18.2 billion from the UK Government for 2025-26, the largest financial settlement in real terms in the history of devolution. It is for the Executive to decide how it utilises this funding.

UK Government ministers talk regularly to counterparts in Northern Ireland across the full range of government business, including at the Interministerial Group for Housing, Local Governments and Communities which is next meeting in summer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to help increase levels of home ownership, in the context of her proposals to maintain levels of Housing Benefit. \p Rushanara Ali: The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own.

Boosting the supply of homes of all tenures must be at the heart of any strategy to improve housing affordability which is why the government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, we are committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme, to support first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit, with lower mortgage costs

This sits alongside our continued commitment to housing support, with the increase to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates in April 2024 costing an additional £1.2 billion in 2024/25 and approximately £7 billion over five years. LHA rates have been maintained at their current levels for 2025/26.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of trends in the level the cost of homelessness support on local government. \p Rushanara Ali: This Government has inherited record levels of homelessness, and we recognise the cost pressures this has put on councils. That’s why we have increased funding for homelessness services in 2025/26 by £233 million to nearly £1 billion, alongside a local government finance settlement for 2025/26 which makes available over £69bn for local government, a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024/25.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the value for money of a national Housing First rollout. \p Rushanara Ali: I refer the Hon Member to the answers given to Question UIN 31735 on 13 February 2025 and Question UIN 15811 on 3 December 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support first time buyers. \p Rushanara Ali: The affordability challenges facing prospective first-time buyers mean that too many people are now locked out of homeownership. This government is determined to change that, ensuring that young families and hardworking renters can buy a home of their own.

Boosting the supply of homes of all tenures must be at the heart of any strategy to improve housing affordability which is why the government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament.

In addition to increasing the supply of homes of all tenures, we are committed to introducing a permanent, comprehensive mortgage guarantee scheme, to support first-time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit, with lower mortgage costs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had with the Welsh Government on council tax revaluation and re-banding. \p Jim McMahon: The government maintains regular engagement with the Welsh Government on a range of issues. Council tax is a devolved matter, but we are aware that the Welsh Government has set out its intention to introduce a revaluation of council tax bands from 2028 and has consulted on wider reforms.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether any elections scheduled for May 2026 will be postponed. \p Jim McMahon: We have no plans to postpone elections scheduled for May 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to p. 3 of the document entitled The Approvals Process for the Creation of New Arm’s-Length Bodies: Guidance for Departments, last update 15 March 2018, whether she has had discussions with the Cabinet Office Public Bodies Team on the establishment of the Local Audit Office as a last resort. \p Jim McMahon: The local audit system is broken, which is why we have a manifesto commitment to overhaul it. The strategy, including the establishment of the Local Audit Office, was based on considerable independent and parliamentary consideration of how to best tackle the issues. The specific proposal to establish a new body, the Local Audit Office, was first recommended in the independent 2018 Kingman Review and again two years later in the Redmond Review. Since those reviews, the problems in local audit have considerably worsened and the most recent Whole of Government Accounts have been disclaimed. My officials have been working with officials across Government including the Cabinet Office in recognition of the need for substantial reform. The Cabinet Office Public Bodies Team is aware of progress and will have final approval on the establishment and classification of the LAO, as required by the 2018 guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to consult with stakeholders on the adequacy of the rurality weighting in the new council funding settlement. \p Jim McMahon: Places with a significant rural population will on average receive almost a 6% increase in their Core Spending Power for 25-26, which is a real terms increase alongside new funding available to rural areas in 2025-26 through guaranteed EPR payments.

I regularly meet with stakeholders to discuss current and future local government funding, including on rurality. We also invited views from the sector on long-awaited finance reforms through the local authority funding reform objectives and principles consultation. This included our proposal to continue to apply Area Cost Adjustments to account for relative cost differences between local authorities, including differences between rural and urban areas. We will be consulting on more detailed proposals following the Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to replace the Exceptional Financial Support regime with long term debt-restructuring. \p Jim McMahon: We are under no illusion about the fragile state of the sector and the pressures that some councils are facing, and recognise the potential for continued instability as we work to fix the foundations of local government. That is why we have a framework in place to support councils in the most difficult financial positions. On 20 February 2025 we wrote to thirty councils to confirm in-principle support, primarily in the form of capitalisation, through the Exceptional Financial Support process.

It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt in the normal course of business. There are councils currently under statutory Best Value intervention that hold exceptional levels of debt. As part of the Spending Review, we are working with those councils, particularly in the context of local government re-organisation to understand how these councils’ exceptional debt can be managed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Sir Julian Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish a list of the responsibilities that Town and Parish Council will be expected to take over from District Councils following the creating of new Unitary Authorities; how she plans to fund these changes; and what steps she is planning to take to (i) simply the procedures for small Parish Councils to merge and (ii) increase staff support for Town and Parish Councils. \p Jim McMahon: The government has no intention to require town and parish councils to deliver functions as part of local government reorganisation. It is for those councils that have received the statutory invitation to consider the delivery of public services as they develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area.

Principal local authorities have the power to restructure town and parish councils through the existing Community Governance Review process. Town and parish councils operate independently of central government and are best placed to understand and fulfil their staffing needs, ensuring that this approach delivers strong value for money for local precept payers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Andrew Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of bringing town and parish councils into scope of the local government ombudsman. \p Jim McMahon: The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) provides members of the public with a vital complaints resolution service for when things go wrong with the public services they rely on. Their investigations provide the public with personal redress and improve the delivery of these services by local authorities. Most of their complaints are about key public services, such as children’s services, adult social care and homelessness.

The Government has no plans to bring town and parish councils within the LGSCO’s scope.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on the role of councils in London in integrated settlements for the Greater London Authority. \p Jim McMahon: At Autumn Budget 2024 the Government committed to exploring how the Integrated Settlement policy could be applied for the Greater London Authority from the 2026-27 financial year onwards, taking into account the capital’s unique devolution arrangements. This work is currently taking place and the Government plans to announce further details following the conclusion of Phase 2 of the Spending Review 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Lauren Edwards:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how existing local authority third party contracts for the new unitary authorities with end dates beyond the proposed vesting dates will be managed, in the context of her proposals for local government reorganisation. \p Jim McMahon: The potential impact of local government reorganisation on individual areas will be a matter for local councils to consider as they develop their proposals for reorganisation. It is essential that councils developing proposals for reorganisation continue to deliver their business-as-usual services and duties, which remain unchanged up until such time as the reorganisation process is complete. This duty may include arrangements around third party contracts that deliver or support the delivery of statutory services.

Until a decision about any new councils is made and legislation is in place councils are encouraged to consider voluntary arrangements to help balance the decisions needed now to maintain service delivery and ensure value for money for council taxpayers, with those key decisions that will affect the future success of any new councils in the area.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the size of London boroughs on their effectiveness at delivering public services. \p Jim McMahon: There are no current plans to assess the potential impact of the size of London boroughs on their effectiveness at delivering public services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41466 on Electronic Cigarettes and Smoking: Byelaws, what her policy is on requests from local authorities to try to ban (a) smoking and (b) vaping in or adjacent to licenced premises through byelaws. \p Jim McMahon: The Department has not issued guidance on whether byelaws may be used to prohibit (a) smoking or (b) vaping in or around licensed premises. It is for local authorities to ensure that any byelaws they propose are appropriate, enforceable, and consistent with relevant legislation and national policy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43306 on Birmingham City Council: Finance, whether the cost for the Commissioners has been paid by Birmingham City Council. \p Jim McMahon: Yes, Birmingham City Council pays the Commissioners’ fees and expenses which are published on Birmingham City Council’s website at regular three-month intervals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what restrictions are in place that prevent people from becoming a local councillor due to (a) criminal convictions and (b) any other reason. \p Jim McMahon: Candidates must declare anything that might disqualify them from standing for or holding local office, not doing so is a criminal offence.

Certain criminal convictions will disqualify an individual from local government, such as criminal convictions that result in a custodial sentence of three months or more, suspended or not, and convictions for sexual offences. I refer the honourable Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 41451 and UIN 42252 respectively.

Further disqualifications exist that can apply to convictions for illegal or corrupt electoral practice, intimidatory offences motivated by hostility towards a candidate, campaigner or holder of elective office, and non-disclosure of pecuniary interests.

Other disqualifications exist that apply in circumstances not relating to criminal convictions. The Electoral Commission publishes guidance for candidates on the relevant qualifications and disqualifications for local government online.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when assessing new byelaw applications which relate to areas of land which are in (a) public and (b) private ownership, what assessment her Department makes of the potential regulatory impact on (i) people and (ii) businesses. \p Jim McMahon: Under the Byelaws (Alternative Procedure) (England) Regulations 2016, local authorities are required to submit a regulatory assessment when making a byelaw. This sets out the rationale for the proposed byelaw and its anticipated impact. It is for the local authority to demonstrate that proposed byelaws are necessary, proportionate, and justified, including consideration of any implications for those affected.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Andrew Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of audit requirements for town and parish councils following the abolition of the Audit Commission in 2015. \p Jim McMahon: In December 2024, the government launched a strategy to overhaul the local audit system in England. Through the strategy and subsequent consultation response, the government has committed to a number of measures in relation to smaller bodies including to review the effectiveness of the Annual Governance and Accountability Return process for smaller bodies. The government will introduce legislation to move away from audit regimes based solely on thresholds to ensure a risk based and proportionate approach. As part of the wider reforms, the government is establishing the Local Audit Office (LAO) to streamline and oversee the currently fragmented system. In the longer term, the LAO’s appointment and contract management function will expand to include the smaller authorities’ appointment and assurance framework to minimise fragmentation in the system.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Lauren Edwards:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, when she plans to communicate decisions on unitary structures. \p Jim McMahon: On 5th February 2025 I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. In this invitation I set out the timelines for the submission of proposals for each area.

Once proposals have been submitted it will be for the government to decide on taking a proposal forward to consult on as required by statute. We will take a phased approach, and expect that Government will take decisions on proposals between summer 2025 and spring 2026, ahead of delivering new unitary authorities in April 2027 and 2028.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking with local government to tackle abuse faced by women working in local government. \p Jim McMahon: This government is clear there is no place in local government for bullying, intimidation or harassment, including abuse faced by women. Such behaviour causes great personal distress to those affected, particularly as the current local government standards and conduct framework lacks effective sanctions to hold perpetrators to account.

In December we launched a consultation seeking views on proposals that will apply to all types and tiers of local authorities in England to strengthen the standards and conduct framework, including proposals to introduce the sanction of suspension. We are now in the process of analysing the responses to the consultation, and the Government Response will be issued in due course.

We also continue to fund the Local Government Association’s sector support offer, including its Civility in Public Life programme, which offers training for councillors related to personal safety, handling abuse, and intimidation online.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a long-term funding strategy for Internal Drainage Boards. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 43491 on 10 April 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which organisation is paying for the provision of military aid to the civil authorities in Birmingham; and what the estimated cost is. \p Jim McMahon: The government has been supporting Birmingham City Council in its efforts to address the backlog of waste that had been building up on the city’s streets, and significant progress has been made in the last fortnight. This support has included the three office-based military personnel with logistical expertise that were made available to the council to assist with planning. They have now returned to normal duties. We are grateful to our colleagues in the MoD for their support. We are working with the Council on options to address further costs arising from the industrial action
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Steve Barclay:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what national formula will be applied in calculating national distribution of the debt from county councils that are disbanded; and by what date that will be published. \p Jim McMahon: On 5 February 2025 I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. It is the responsibility of councils to manage their budgets, and it is standard for councils to borrow and to hold debt, which they will do in the normal course of business. Local government re-organisation does not change this.

As set out in the invitation, the default position is that assets and liabilities remain locally managed by councils. In general, as with previous restructures, there is no proposal for council debt to be addressed centrally or written off as part of reorganisation. For areas where there are exceptional circumstances where there has been failure linked to capital practices, proposals should reflect the extent to which the implications of this can be managed locally, including as part of efficiencies possible through reorganisation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34056 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, whether the funding formula has been adjusted to take into account (a) new housing developments, (b) new major roads, (c) battery storage for large scale solar farms and (d) other large scale infrastructure developments since the 2013-14 financial year. \p Alex Norris: Government funding for fire and rescue services is provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) through the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) in the form of revenue support grant (RSG) and retained business rates.

The 2025/26 LGFS was published on 3 February and sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue. Standalone fire and rescue authorities will see an increase in core spending power of £65.5m in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. In 2025/26, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Authority will have core spending power of £40.3 million; an increase of £1.8 million (4.7 per cent) on 2024/25.

The amount of funding that fire and rescue services receive is determined and distributed using an outdated formula. This formula is currently being reviewed as part of Local Government funding reform and a public consultation on this ran from 18 December 2024 to 12 February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing local authorities with the ability to use automatic number-plate recognition in car parks to help (a) increase the efficiency of payment collection, (b) improve enforcement and (c) reduce risks to civil enforcement officers. \p Alex Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 17350 on 12 December 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Sojan Joseph:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for bringing forward measures to ban (a) trophy hunting and (b) animal smuggling. \p Mary Creagh: The Government committed to a hunting trophy import ban of endangered animals in its manifesto and we will deliver on this. Defra is engaging with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can deliver on this commitment in the most effective way.

As outlined in our manifesto, we are committed to ending puppy smuggling. The Government is supporting the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by the hon. Member for Winchester. The Bill will close loopholes in the non-commercial pet travel rules that are abused by unscrupulous traders and give the government powers to prevent the supply of low-welfare pets to the United Kingdom. We are fully supportive of this Bill and would like to see it pass through both Houses as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with relevant authorities to protect the ecosystems of mountain ranges. \p Mary Creagh: Mountain ranges, and specifically the montane habitats they contain, can support a unique flora and fauna. They receive the same statutory protection as other nationally important sites in England. The Cumbria High Fells for example has 110 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that cover about 18 per cent or 35,852 hectares (ha) of the area. The majority of this SSSI area (31,286 ha) is also designated under the Habitats Regulations as ‘Special Areas of Conservation’ (SAC).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on what extended producer responsibility fee rates are for glass packaging used in the hospitality sector in (a) the UK and (b) other European countries. \p Mary Creagh: Illustrative fee-rates for the UK packaging extended producer responsibility (pEPR) scheme in the UK have been published on GOV.UK and we expect to publish final fee-rates June 2025. Fee-rates vary depending on the material that is used. As part of the development of the UK's pEPR scheme, we have studied mature pEPR schemes across Europe and the rest of the world. This has included looking at their fee rates and how they were calculated. Illustrative base fee estimates for the UK are in the same order of magnitude of other countries’ fees. However, comparisons are not straightforward because of differences in waste infrastructure and waste management approaches.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made a comparative assessment of the (a) cost and (b) complexity of the implementation of extended producer responsibility regulations in (i) the UK and (ii) other G7 economies. \p Mary Creagh: There has been no formal assessment, but these matters were all considered in depth during the policy development and consultation process under the previous government.

Illustrative base fee estimates for the UK are in the same order of magnitude of other countries’ fees. However, comparisons are not straightforward because of differences in waste infrastructure and waste management approaches.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with local authorities on access to affordable glass recycling services by pubs. \p Mary Creagh: Local authorities have a duty to arrange the collection of commercial waste when requested to by an occupier of a premise in its area. This may mean providing a service or entering into a contract with a private waste collector. There is no requirement for waste collection authorities to begin offering collection services to premises where they do not already have a service in place, unless a request is made by any such premises. All services arranged by the local authority to collect commercial waste must be compliant with Simpler Recycling from 31 March 2025, unless the micro-firm exemption applies (which allows workplaces with less than 10 full-time equivalent employees an additional 2 years to comply, until 31 March 2027). Simpler Recycling requires collection of glass, either as part of a dry mixed recycling service, or through a dedicated glass collection (depending on the preference of the local authority). It also requires the collection of the other core materials: plastic, metal, paper and card, and food waste.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department issues import permits for hunting trophies of cheetahs. \p Mary Creagh: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), an executive agency of Defra, is responsible for issuing import permits for hunting trophies. APHA only issue import permits when the strict criteria set out in the UK Wildlife Trade Regulations are satisfied, including that the import does not have a detrimental impact on the conservation status of a species.

Data on permits issued for hunting trophies is publicly available on the CITES trade database - https://trade.cites.org/
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_67

Tonia Antoniazzi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the extended producer responsibility scheme on local economic growth. \p Mary Creagh: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, including extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR) and the packaging reforms more broadly.

These reforms, pEPR, Simpler Recycling and the Deposit Return Scheme, will deliver positive environmental and economic benefits, creating 21,000 new jobs in our nations and regions, and stimulating more than £ 10 billion investment in recycling capability over the next decade.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_68

Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) pubs and (b) other businesses are not charged twice for glass recycling under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. \p Mary Creagh: Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward and on assessing the tonnages of packaging any amendment might affect in the hospitality sector and in other sectors. We are planning next steps as a priority.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_69

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent the double counting of packaging waste in pubs under the extended producer responsibility scheme. \p Mary Creagh: Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward and on assessing the tonnages of packaging any amendment might affect in the hospitality sector and in other sectors. We are planning next steps as a priority.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_70

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with industry representatives on the potential merits of introducing fee (a) exemptions and (b) reductions in the extended producer responsibility scheme to prevent double charging of packaging waste in the pub sector. \p Mary Creagh: Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward and on assessing the tonnages of packaging any amendment might affect in the hospitality sector and in other sectors. We are planning next steps as a priority.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_71

Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether pubs that have already paid for glass recycling will be reimbursed for Extended Producer Responsibility charges. \p Mary Creagh: Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward and on assessing the tonnages of packaging any amendment might affect in the hospitality sector and in other sectors. We are planning next steps as a priority.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_72

Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure that local authorities use funds from the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme solely for waste management and environmental purposes. \p Mary Creagh: pEPR regulations include a range of measures to drive improved performance and ensure local authorities make the investments needed to support an efficient and effective waste management service for household packaging. These include:
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_73

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will implement the provisions of the Environment Act 2021 to establish a due diligence regime for forest risk commodities before COP30. \p Mary Creagh: The UK strongly supports global efforts to protect forests, including advocating for the international commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, while supporting livelihoods and economic development.

We will set out our approach to addressing deforestation in the UK’s supply chains in due course.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_74
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_74

Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on meeting the Government’s circular economy goals. \p Mary Creagh: Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) is the first step in realising the Government’s circular economy manifesto commitment. This forms part of a set of interconnected reforms, including Simpler Recycling in England, the Plastic Packaging Tax, the expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme and the Deposit Return Scheme for drink containers, which will provide the basis for system wide change.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_75
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_75

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to review funding for the (a) conservation and (b) management of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to increase their (i) environmental and (ii) recreational value. \p Mary Creagh: National Landscape teams are powerful delivery partners, bringing together outcomes for nature, climate and communities.

We understand resourcing remains a challenge and recognise that the Defra core grant is an essential foundation for National Landscapes’ work. We want to work closely with National Landscape teams to support their proven ability to innovate, drawing on their expertise, knowledge and partnerships with farmers, businesses and communities across England.

We are committed to working with National Landscape organisations to ensure they are sustainably resourced to fulfil their statutory role and we will shortly begin a wider discussion about how we fund these places and organisations.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_76
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_76

Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on (a) local economic growth and (b) the financial resilience of local authorities. \p Mary Creagh: Extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR) and the packaging reforms more broadly, will deliver both positive environmental and economic benefits, supporting 21,000 jobs in our nations and regions, and stimulating more than 10 billion pounds investment in recycling capability over the next decade. The impact of pEPR on local economic growth has not been assessed.

Local government in England is expected to receive over £1 billion of new funding in 2025-26 through the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme.

The government will guarantee that if local authorities in England do not receive Extended Producer Responsibility income in line with their November 2024 payment estimates in the first year of the scheme (2025-26), they will provide an in-year top up.

This funding will cover the existing costs local authorities incur for managing household packaging waste, provide additional funding for new legal duties, and support much needed investment in the waste and recycling industry.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_77

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the hospitality sector on the potential impact of double counting and duplication of packaging waste fees under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. \p Mary Creagh: Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward and on assessing the tonnages of packaging any amendment might affect in the hospitality sector and in other sectors. We are planning next steps as a priority and will share more information soon.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_78
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_78

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the cost of extended producer responsibility fees in (a) the UK and (b) other European countries. \p Mary Creagh: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4th April 2025, UIN 42346.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_79
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_79

Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on brewers’ ability to invest in the UK; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on this issue. \p Mary Creagh: In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_80
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_80

Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed fee structure for the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on economic growth. \p Mary Creagh: In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_81
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_81

Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will introduce price controls on food. \p Daniel Zeichner: It is not for the Government to set retail food prices nor to comment on day-to-day commercial decisions taken by businesses.

We continue to monitor all key agricultural commodities. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments.
wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_82
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-29)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-29 conversation_82

Anna Sabine: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 trends in the level of profits earned by (a) supermarkets and (b) food multinationals in the last five years. \p Daniel Zeichner: It is not for the Government to set retail food prices nor to comment on day-to-day commercial decisions taken by businesses.

We continue to monitor all key agricultural commodities. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments.