theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on improving integration between health services and local authority provision in the development of education, health and care plans. \p Catherine McKinnell: Statutory duties are clear that health and local authorities must ensure the integration of educational and training provision with health and social care provision. They must also make joint commissioning arrangements with other local partners about the education, health and care provision to be secured for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission provide an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the local area partnerships’ commissioning arrangements with an emphasis on the outcomes being achieved for children and young people with SEND. Where appropriate, they recommend what the local area partnership should do to improve the arrangements.

Where partners do not meet their duties, the department can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement. We work to monitor, support and challenge local authorities, working closely with NHS England to tackle weaknesses that sit with health partners.

The government is urgently looking at the SEND system and how it needs to be reformed. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care met with Cabinet colleagues earlier this month to discuss SEND system improvements.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her planned timeline is for reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body. \p Catherine McKinnell: The School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) is being established in primary legislation through the Employment Rights Bill, which was introduced in Parliament within the first 100 days of government on 10 October 2024. The Bill is currently at committee stage in the House of Lords. Due to the uncertainties of Parliamentary business and scheduling, we cannot confirm at this stage when the Bill will receive Royal Assent. After Royal Assent, secondary legislation will be required to constitute the body.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to enable Get Information About Schools to recent census data. \p Catherine McKinnell: Get Information About Schools (GIAS) is the department’s register for several organisation types, including schools and academies. GIAS is used by the department and key partners to contact establishments, update systems, perform analysis and inform policy decisions, some of which carry funding implications.

Information on pupils in the GIAS service is based on data provided by schools in the January school census and is updated each summer following the publication of the Schools, pupils and their characteristics accredited official statistics release, which is available at the following address: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2023-24. This time point is used because it is the spring collection when the department receives information for all establishment types (such as General Hospital Schools, Alternative Provision and independent schools) and across all data items (such as free school meal eligibility). This allows for one consistent time point to be used in this public resource.
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Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Dedicated Schools Grant funding formula. \p Catherine McKinnell: The dedicated schools grant (DSG) is paid in support of local authorities’ schools budgets. It allocates funding through four separate blocks covering mainstream schools, high needs, early years and central school services. Each block is calculated using its own separate funding formula.

The total funding allocated through the DSG was £68.8 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, up from £62.5 billion in 2024/25. The table below sets out how this is split across the four blocks.

Dedicated Schools Grant

Financial Year

Mainstream Schools Block (£ bn)

Central School Services Block (£ bn)

High Needs Block (£ bn)

Early Years Block (£ bn)

Total (£ bn)

2024/25

45.3

0.4

10.4

6.4

62.5

2025/26

48.7

0.4

11.2

8.5

68.8

Please note that the 2025/26 and 2024/25 financial year figures are not directly comparable since some funding provided through separate grants in 2024/25 was rolled into the DSG in 2025/26.

Detailed information on the 2025/26 DSG funding allocations can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.

Funding levels for 2026/27 and beyond are subject to the ongoing spending review.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she will take to ensure that the proposed pay award for teachers does not adversely impact (a) staffing levels and (b) educational provision. \p Catherine McKinnell: The overall core schools budget (CSB) is increasing by £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, meaning the CSB will total over £64.8 billion.

Final decisions on the teachers’ pay award for 2025 will be made following recommendations from the independent School Teacher Review Body (STRB). We have received the STRB’s report and will respond in due course.
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Nesil Caliskan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of PE provision in the national curriculum. \p Catherine McKinnell: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Barking, to the answer of 28 March to Question 40068.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to increase per-pupil funding in Devon to the national average. \p Catherine McKinnell: The purpose of the national funding formula (NFF) is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of all their pupils.

Through the dedicated schools grant (DSG), Devon local authority is receiving over £560.1 million for mainstream schools in financial year 2025/26, or £6,195 per pupil on average (excluding growth and falling rolls funding). This represents a 2.4% increase in per pupil funding compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.

The NFF accounts for the particular challenges faced by small schools in rural areas through the lump sum and sparsity factor. All schools attract a lump sum of £145,100 which provides a fixed amount of funding that is unrelated to pupil-led factors. Additionally, eligible primary schools attract up to £57,400, and all other schools up to £83,400, in sparsity funding in financial year 2025/26. Through the 2025/26 NFF, 148 schools in Devon attract sparsity funding.

We will review the schools NFF for 2026/27 and beyond to ensure that we get any changes right, recognising the importance of a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have (i) met and (ii) corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on animal welfare policy in the last five years. \p Catherine McKinnell: Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.

This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.

The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.

If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many times Cambridgeshire County Council exceeded the statutory 20 week timeframe to provide a final EHCP in each of the last five academic years. \p Catherine McKinnell: The number and percentage of education, health and care (EHC) plans for each Cambridgeshire local authority, issued within the statutory timeframe of 20 weeks from the date of the request for EHC needs assessment and for each of the last 5 years, is accessible at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/55f72795-1ec2-487f-1f6a-08dd8e2f6934.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to prioritise the allocation of homes built on surplus military land to (a) serving armed forces personnel and (b) veterans to create opportunities for Armed Forces homeownership. \p Maria Eagle: The Defence Housing Strategy, planned for publication later this year, will set out a roadmap to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation, where the main objective is to raise the minimum standard of Armed Forces housing.

It will also turbocharge the development of surplus military land creating opportunities for Armed Forces home ownership and support the delivery of affordable homes for families across Britain as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on fpv drone (a) development and (b) procurement since 5 July 2024. \p Maria Eagle: Uncrewed systems are changing the character of warfare at pace, and this Government is adapting our approaches to acquisition, regulation and operation. In support of the conflict in Ukraine the Ministry of Defence has procured over 30,000 First Person View Drones spending circa £35 million and utilised the lessons to inform the Department's approach to FPV Drone capabilities.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned out of service date is of all Royal Navy ships. \p Maria Eagle: The Royal Navy constantly reviews out of service dates to achieve maximum availability of its platforms for operational tasking. For operational security reasons, the Royal Navy does not release the out of service dates of individual platforms.

Class of Ship

Out of Service Date

Queen Elizabeth Class

2069

Albion Class

2025

Daring Class

2038

Duke Class

2035

Wave Class

2025

Tide Class

2040

Bay Class

2034

Fort Class

2028

Hunt Class

2031

Sandown Class

2025

River Class

2028 (Batch 1 Offshore Patrol Vessel) 2040 (Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessel)
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Future Cruise Anti Ship Weapon programme. \p Maria Eagle: Work on the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon programme is continuing under contract with MBDA. Discussions with our partners to finalise arrangements for the next phase are in progress.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Skynet 6 Programme. \p Maria Eagle: The Skynet 6 Programme continues to progress to meet Defence’s satellite communication needs. The build of the Skynet 6A satellite is about to transition into the testing and validation phase. Negotiations for the acquisition of a single narrowband satellite and the competition for up to three wideband satellites are both progressing. The ground infrastructure has remained fully operational.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential military and dual-use implications of Chinese investment in UK critical infrastructure. \p Luke Pollard: The UK welcomes foreign investment. The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (NSIA) provides the UK Government robust powers to scrutinise and, if necessary, intervene in acquisitions or investment that may pose a risk to national security. This legislation is country agnostic and operated by the Investment Security Unit (ISU) in the Cabinet Office. Defence, alongside other Government Departments, works closely with the ISU, which has the cross-Government lead for advising on the national security implications of foreign investment.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how Serco performed against the key performance indicators at the most recent performance review on their RAF Brize Norton Support Services contract. \p Maria Eagle: At their most recent performance review, Serco had achieved the target for all Key Performance Indicators for this contract. The Contract Management Plan for the RAF Brize Norton Support Service contract can be found along with quarterly performance reports at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-performance-indicators-kpis-for-governments-most-important-contracts
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that evidence gathered by (a) UK armed forces and (b) partners in Ukraine is preserved for potential use in war crimes prosecutions. \p Luke Pollard: The UK deplores the barbaric acts that are taking place in Ukraine, after Russia’s illegal invasion, and will continue to support holding all perpetrators to account.

We continue to support the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigating allegations of international crimes committed in Ukraine and are also working closely with the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, where the UK has provided £11.3 million to support Ukraine's domestic accountability efforts, including to document, investigate and prosecute atrocity crimes.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43148 on Ministry of Defence: Written Questions, whether his Department has used artificial intelligence to support (a) routine operations and (b) policy work for operational matters. \p Luke Pollard: The provision of support to routine operations by artificial intelligence (AI) is ambitious, safe and responsible, in line with the Dependable AI Joint Service Publication 936. All capabilities, whether AI-enabled or not, are developed and used in line with existing rigorous processes to ensure safety, effectiveness and lawfulness.

Adherence to the rule of law is central to the Ministry of Defence’s approach to and its conduct of military operations. Any operation supported by AI is subject to the same applicable laws. Military commanders remain responsible for their decisions at all times, including where these are enabled by AI.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of General Data Protection Regulations on the training of armed forces personnel to use uncrewed systems. \p Luke Pollard: The Department has policies and procedures in place to ensure that all its processes are compliant under Data Protection legislation and Ministry of Defence personnel are mandated to complete data protection training on an annual basis. This was most recently reviewed and updated in 2024.

There have been no specific reports of GDPR restrictions affecting activities. Training regularly features drones as part of exercises. We are constantly experimenting with and embracing innovative technology, including in drone warfare.
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Natasha Irons:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how Operation VALOUR will support (a) veterans in Croydon East constituency and (b) the creation of a new veterans hub in Croydon. \p Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for Veterans and People gave on 12 May to Questions 50185, 50186, 50187, 50189, 50190, and 50191 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr Cartlidge), and Question 50424 to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr Jopp).

Veterans: Government Assistance (docx, 16.2KB)
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is providing (a) training and (b) technical assistance to help Ukrainian forces (i) operate and (ii) maintain drone technologies. \p Luke Pollard: The UK is co-leading the Drone Capability Coalition (DCC) with Latvia, which will increase the quality and quantity of drones provided to Ukraine, including through a recent order of 30,000 drones.

Nationally, in the 2024-25 financial year, the UK delivered drones worth over £325 million to Ukraine, which included collaboration between UK and Ukrainian drone companies.

The UK works closely with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to ensure that they can effectively operate the drones provided, including through providing training and technical assistance. It should also be noted that Ukrainian drone capability is world leading so this partnership offers significant opportunity for UK capability.
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Mark Pritchard:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will hold discussions with his counterpart in Nepal on the (i) number of Nepalese nationals who are and (ii) steps Nepal is taking to help prevent its nationals fighting as mercenaries for the Russian Federation in Ukraine; and what information his Department holds on whether those mercenaries have received training from the British Army. \p Luke Pollard: The Ministry for Defence engages regularly with the Government of Nepal. The Nepali Government has denounced recruitment and has formally asked Russia to desist its attempts to recruit Nepali citizens to fight.

They have also sought to deter Nepalis travelling to Russia through immigration measures and raising public awareness of the risks, to which HMG is supportive. As the Government of Nepal does not allow citizens to join the Russian military there are no official figures available.

No evidence has been provided by Ukraine or Nepal to suggest that Nepalis trained by the British Army are fighting for Russia.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 46788 on Waste Disposal: Birmingham, if he will publish the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities request from the Ministry of Housing, Community, and Local Government. \p Luke Pollard: It is not standard practice to publish MACA requests as the hon. Gentleman will know from his time in Government.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of converting the UK's two aircraft carriers to catapult-and-arrest configuration. \p Maria Eagle: The Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers operate the F-35B Lightning fighter aircraft, which does not require Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment. The Royal Navy's Maritime Aviation Transformation Strategy will expand the deployment of uncrewed air systems in Royal Navy ships, including the aircraft carriers.

The Strategic Defence Review will consider opportunities for modernisation and transformation, and greater productivity, including through the rapid and consistent application of Digital Age technologies. As new technologies develop, it is possible that some uncrewed systems would require specific Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment. Should this become the case, balance of investment decisions would be made to ensure that the Royal Navy is optimised to gain the most benefit from uncrewed systems.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with Lockheed Martin on purchasing F-35C. \p Maria Eagle: The Strategic Defence Review is looking at the threats we face and the capabilities we need to meet the challenges, threats and opportunity of the 21st century.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many staff in (a) his Department and (b) UKRI and the Research Councils have job titles that include the words (i) equality, (ii) diversity, (iii) inclusion, (iv) gender, (v) LGBT and (vi) race. \p Feryal Clark: (a) There are 4 staff within DSIT with one or more of the terms in their job title, the individual breakdowns are as follows - Equality: 0, Diversity: 0, Inclusion: 4, Race: 0, Gender: 0, LGBT: 0.

(b) There are 20 staff within UKRI and its research councils with one or more of the terms in their job title, the individual breakdowns are as follows: (note: some staff have multiple terms in their job title, while some staff only have one term in their job title, so the numbers below are greater than 20) - Equality: 18, Diversity: 18, Inclusion: 19, Race: 1, Gender: 0, LGBT: 0
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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help develop supply chains for (a) compound semiconductors and (b) other critical semiconductor materials. \p Feryal Clark: This Government is supporting the development of supply chains for compound semiconductors and other critical semiconductor materials as part of our work to deliver the upcoming Industrial Strategy, which includes Digital and Technologies as a priority growth-driving sector. We recently secured a £250 million investment from one of the world’s largest manufacturers of semiconductors - Vishay Technologies – into the UK’s largest semiconductor facility as part of plans to develop large-scale compound semiconductor manufacturing in the UK, supported by the government’s Automotive Transformation Fund. Investments such as this will help develop UK supply chains in this high growth area of technology.
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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the US Food and Drug Administration's publication entitled Roadmap to Reducing Animal Testing in Preclinical Safety Studies, published on 10 April 2025. \p Feryal Clark: It is not yet possible to replace all animal use due to the complexity of biological systems and regulatory requirements for their use. The Government has reviewed the FDA roadmap and is engaging with the MHRA on how to accelerate the science-led adoption of alternatives to the use of animals for drug development and testing. The Government will publish a strategy later this year that will support this ambition and accelerate the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods across the biosciences.
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Rebecca Paul:What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Bill [Lords] on the capture of sex data in public services. \p Chris Bryant: The Data Bill does not alter data collection practices for public services.

Public service providers processing personal data are still subject to compliance requirements under data protection legislation.

The Government accepts the Supreme Court Ruling. We are working through this judgement carefully, including on how public services collect (and subsequently process) sex data in public services.
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress he has made on improving broadband connectivity in rural areas. \p Chris Bryant: Project Gigabit is the government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises not included in suppliers' commercial plans.

As of the end of March 2024, over one million premises had been upgraded to gigabit-capable broadband through government-funded programmes.

More than £2.3 billion of contracts have already been signed to connect over one million more premises with gigabit-capable broadband, predominantly in rural areas.
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Steve Witherden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help improve mobile phone coverage in rural areas. \p Chris Bryant: The Shared Rural Network continues to deliver 4G connectivity where there is limited or no coverage. Beyond this, our ambition is for all populated areas, including rural communities, to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030.

We are working with Ofcom and the industry to ensure we have the right policy and regulatory framework to support investment and competition in the market.

Ofcom have written to me confirming that their improved online coverage checker will go live in the second half of June, which will better reflect people’s real experience. A copy of my letter and their letter has been deposited in the libraries of both houses.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support local councils to tackle fly-tipping. \p Mary Creagh: Fly-tipping is a serious crime which blights local communities and the environment. Local authorities have a range of enforcement powers to help them tackle fly-tipping including fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, vehicle seizure and prosecution action which can lead to a significant fine or even imprisonment. We encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers and are taking steps to develop new guidance to support them to consistently, appropriately and effectively exercise these existing powers.  We have also announced a review of council powers to seize and crush the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool.

We committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess that they have created as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. We will provide further details on this commitment in due course.

In the meantime, Defra continue to chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders, such as local authorities and the Environment Agency, to share good practice on preventing fly-tipping. Various practical tools are available from their webpage which is available at: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group#.
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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging fees on (a) food and (b) drink costs. \p Mary Creagh: The Department has assessed the impact of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on both producers and consumers, including the potential effect on the affordability of food and drink. This assessment is included in Section 8 of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.

We are closely monitoring the potential impact of these costs on consumer prices and remain committed to balancing environmental goals with economic considerations.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 on Question 47705 on Client Earth, (a) when and (b) how his Department has engaged with Client Earth since July 2024. \p Mary Creagh: The Department engages with Client Earth in a range of ways. Myself and Client Earth attended a United Nations General Assembly event on 25 September 2024. Client Earth participated in an online Collective Intelligence debate as part of our Environmental Improvement Plan review, in March 2025. We responded to Client Earth letters on 7 January, 23 January and 5 February 2025, and to further correspondence to which Client Earth were co-signatories, since July 2024. Client Earth staff also receive Departmental newsletters.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to consult businesses affected by the extended producer responsibility scheme. \p Mary Creagh: We consulted on the principles, objectives, and proposals for extended producer responsibility in 2019 and 2021, and these received high levels of support. We then consulted on the draft regulations in 2023. To ensure producers are prepared for the implementation EPR we engage widely though our monthly Business Readiness Forum, alongside events on specific topics and our regular newsletter goes to over 11,000 subscribers which contains updates and information on the requirement of the scheme. We also work with the Environment Agency and their programme of work which further supports business. This has included extensive engagement on pEPR disposal fees and the Recyclability Assessment Model. We are also actively listening to the sectors concerns and have recently announced further engagement with the sector to improve specific aspects of the scheme such, such as dual use packaging, the packaging recycling note system, and driving increased efficiency and effectiveness in local authority delivery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_244

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Green Lane Association on sustainable countryside access. \p Mary Creagh: This Government recognises the importance of access to nature for health and wellbeing and is committed to ensuring it is safe, inclusive, and appropriate including for people with reduced mobility. We are delivering on our ambitious manifesto commitment to create nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England. Further details will be shared later this year, following the Spending Review and the publication of the revised Environmental Improvement Plan.

Additionally, we are implementing key initiatives to increase access to green spaces, including the £33 million ‘Access for All’ programme, which aims to make protected landscapes, national trails, forests, and the wider countryside more inclusive and accessible.

Local authorities are responsible for maintaining rights of way in the area they are responsible for. They are required to publish and maintain a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) which must explain how improvements made by the local authority to the public rights of way network including restricted byways and byways open to all traffic will provide a better experience for all users including those with reduced mobility.

There have been no recent discussions with the Green Lane Association.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_245

Phil Brickell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to mitigate against wild fires on the West Pennine Moors. \p Mary Creagh: I was concerned to see there was a wildfire last month in part of the hon. Member’s constituency, at Longworth Road.

Defra encourages landowners and land managers to adopt good quality wildfire management plans and use sustainable methods to manage habitat, such as restoring peatlands. Evidence shows that wetter, healthy-functioning peatlands are more resilient to the impacts of wildfire.

We are currently consulting on proposed changes to The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021, which would extend protections to a broader area of upland peat. The consultation is open until 25 May.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_246

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on the future of the chalk stream recovery pack programme. \p Emma Hardy: Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams is a top government priority. That is why on 23 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works.

Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution and physical modifications of habitats. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our overall programme of reforms for the water sector.

Alongside this, we are continuing to direct investment to projects that will improve chalk streams. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), over 1000 improvement projects are planned within chalk stream catchments between 2024-2029.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_248

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the conditions on which water companies' licences are renewed where there is repeated (a) pollution or (b) non-compliance. \p Emma Hardy: Where companies have failed to meet their statutory or licence obligations, Ofwat have the power to take action through an enforcement order or financial penalty.

This Government will continue to work with water sector regulators to hold water companies to account on poor performance and drive improvements for customers and environment.

The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_249

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has considered increasing funding for the Environment Agency for (a) capital and (b) appraisal work for (i) upstream water storage at Bramhall Green in Cheadle and (ii) other local schemes in preventing flooding. \p Emma Hardy: The proposed capital project in Bramhall Green, Cheadle was not successful in receiving a Grant-in-Aid or Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Local Levy funding allocation in 2025/26. A robust prioritisation exercise was undertaken to determine which projects should receive funding and, unfortunately did not qualify. The bidding process for projects in 2026/27 has now opened and Bramhall Green, as well as Chorlton Brook Cheadle will bid to be able to progress next Financial Year. The Environment Agency continues to work with Mersey Rivers Trust in the Cheadle area to explore additional opportunities that can be pursued in the meantime.

Nearby Poise Brook in Hazel Grove received £340k funding this year, including Grant in Aid allocation of £42,000. This was awarded to support the continuation of appraisal work and to further assess the shortlisted options. Should a viable scheme be identified through this work, it has the potential to bring significant benefits to the communities of Hazel Grove, Torkington, and Offerton Green, enhancing their resilience and providing greater peace of mind for the future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_250

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to continue approving permits for British trophy hunters who shoot Cheetahs to bring the trophies back to the UK. \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 will continue to issue import permits only 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.

This Government has also committed to a ban on the import of hunting trophies of species of conservation concern in its manifesto and will deliver on this. DEFRA is currently engaging with a range of stakeholders in order to decide on the most effective approach.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_251

Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the ranking of the use of municipal solid waste to produce sustainable aviation fuel in the waste hierarchy. \p Mary Creagh: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 May 2024 to Question 49143.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_252

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of publishing a local authority league table for incidences of fly-tipping. \p Mary Creagh: This Government has not made an assessment of the potential merits of publishing a local authority league table for incidences of fly-tipping.

Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and actions to Defra, which are published annually at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england. In assessing the figures local authorities should not be classified as ‘good’ or ‘poor’ performers based purely on numbers of fly-tips and comparisons between local authorities should be made with care.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_253

Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to implement reforms for rights of way included in the Deregulation Act 2015 to provide (a) clarity and (b) certainty for land managers. \p Mary Creagh: We are reviewing the rights of way reform programme alongside our policies for delivering improved access to nature for all users.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_254

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 42689 on Environment Protection: Planning, if he will publish the stakeholders with which his Department has consulted. \p Mary Creagh: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 31 March 2025, UIN 42689. We have no plans to publish the recommendations or stakeholders engaged.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_255

Liz Saville Roberts:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Ofgem's data on Smarter Meter Switch off Identified Properties on the number of properties in Gwynedd with storage heaters as their primary source of heating. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Smart meters, and the communication services that support smart metering, will not be switched off.

The Department does not receive information from energy suppliers about the number of households with storage heaters.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_256

Dave Doogan:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make (a) an estimate of the number of radio teleswitch service meters in use in Scotland in the latest period for which data is available and (b) it his policy to delay the RTS signal switch off to avoid loss of service for customers who have not yet transitioned from RTS meters. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Data on the number of remaining RTS meters is collected by Ofgem. The latest data as of 18 April indicates that there are c.125,000 RTS meters remaining in Scotland.

The industry-led RTS is reaching the end of its operational life and can no longer be adequately maintained. The switch-off will start from the end of June, and the Government and Ofgem have called on suppliers to rapidly increase the pace of RTS replacements, so that there is a smooth transition and consumers are protected. We continue to closely monitor progress.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_257

Liz Saville Roberts:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of delaying the Radio Teleswitch Service switch off. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The industry-led Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) is reaching the end of its operational life and can no longer be adequately maintained.

The switch-off will start from the end of June, and the Government and Ofgem have called on suppliers to rapidly increase the pace of RTS replacements, so that there is a smooth transition and consumers are protected. We continue to closely monitor progress.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_258

Liz Saville Roberts:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department will take to support households unable to access Energy Company Obligation 4 before its expiration on 31 March 2026. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Eligibility for the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) does not guarantee assistance, the Department cannot direct who receives support. ECO4 and GBIS have already supported an estimated 292,490 households to February 2025, with around 9,000 homes per month in the last quarter. We are committed to meeting fuel poverty and Net Zero targets, and we are currently considering what policy mix will best achieve that, including what role energy company obligations should play post-2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-15 conversation_259

Liz Saville Roberts:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the number of households on Economy 7 tariffs in Gwynedd impacted by the Radio Teleswitch service switch off. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Department does not receive information from energy suppliers on the number of households on specific tariffs, such as Economy 7.