theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58607 on Saint Helena: Politics and Government, how many of those constitutions include a provision for special responsibility for finance being vested in the Governor; and for what reason such wording is retained in the Constitution of Saint Helena in the context of its ministerial system of government. \p Stephen Doughty: Each Overseas Territory's constitution is unique. In relation to the 2021 amendment to the Constitution of Saint Helena, the Governor, in concert with the Legislative Council, commissioned an independent review of governance arrangements by the Westminster Foundation of Democracy. The findings are now with the Legislative Council for consideration and to determine if further constitutional amendment is required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on assistance provided to Russia by (a) China and (b) Iran to resource military action against Ukraine. \p Stephen Doughty: Chinese companies continue to provide military and dual-use goods to Russia's military industrial complex. This is enabling Putin's invasion of Ukraine. We have repeatedly urged China to take all measures to investigate and to prevent Chinese companies from supplying Russia's military, including when the Foreign Secretary last spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on 22 April. To date, the UK has sanctioned 35 China-based entities for supplying Russia's defence industry under the Russia sanctions regulations.

Iran has supported Russia through its large-scale supply of drones, munitions, and ballistic missiles. In response to Iran's supply of ballistic missiles, the UK and its partners took actions including terminating our air services agreement with Iran Air and implementing new sanctions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with (a) the Payment Systems Regulator and (b) representatives of the payments industry on merchant interchange fees. \p Emma Reynolds: The government is committed to ensuring a world-leading payments ecosystem that meets the needs of all businesses and consumers, as reflected in the National Payments Vision. This includes support for regulation of interchange fees. Government ministers and officials meet regularly with payments firms and their representatives on this and other issues. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and available on gov.uk.

Domestic interchange fees are capped at 0.2% for consumer debit cards and 0.3% for consumer credit cards. The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is responsible for enforcing these caps. The PSR is independent of the Government. However, the Government engages with them regularly on their important work, including on card fees.

The PSR has recently conducted a market review into cross-border interchange fees. These are fees charged when an EEA issued card is used to make a purchase from a UK merchant. It published its final report in December 2024 and is now considering its next steps.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her policies on levels of inflation. \p Emma Reynolds: The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) assessed the impact of Government policies on the level of inflation. While noting they expect inflation to remain close to the 2 per cent target throughout the forecast period, the OBR forecast a temporary rise in inflation, driven by gas and electricity prices and the direct effect of policies announced in the Budget. They conclude that, on average, just under half of the higher inflation in 2025 and 2026 is due to the impact of policies in Autumn Budget 2024.

In March 2025 the OBR assessed that they expected the policies in the forecast to provide a very small boost to CPI inflation, increasing the price level by less than 0.1 per cent by the end of the forecast.

The Bank of England has the responsibility of controlling inflation, and the Government fully supports them as they take action to sustainably return inflation to the 2% target.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Gavin Robinson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the tax-free threshold for pensioners. \p James Murray: The Government is committed to making sure older people can live with the dignity and respect they deserve in retirement. The State Pension is the foundation of the support available to them. Over the course of this Parliament, the yearly amount of the full new State Pension is currently projected to go up by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility's latest forecast.

The Government is also committed to keeping people’s taxes as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility, and so, at our first Budget, we decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much their Department has spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation for languages other than (i) British Sign Language and (ii) languages native to the UK for people contacting (A) their Department and (B) its agencies in 2025. \p James Murray: In 2025 HMT has spent the following amounts against each category requested;

(a) £0

(b) (i) £0

(b)(ii) £0

For our agencies this information is not held centrally to the required level of detailed needed to answer this question on their behalf.
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Ben Coleman:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress she has made on reforming the business rates system. \p James Murray: The Government is committed to creating a fairer business rates system that supports small businesses and protects the high street.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27, which will provide permanent support to the sector.

When the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, HM Treasury intends to publish overall analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and we have frozen the small business multiplier.

Currently, Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to businesses with a single property below a set rateable value. Eligible properties under £12,000 will receive 100 per cent relief, which means over a third of businesses in England (more than 700,000) pay no business rates at all. There is also tapered support available to properties valued between £12,000 and £15,000, which an additional c.60,000 businesses benefit from.

At Autumn Budget 2024 the Government published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for reform, including SBRR.

The Government is committed to retaining SBRR, which is a permanent relief set down in legislation. As highlighted in the Discussion Paper, the Government is interested in hearing stakeholders’ views on the extent to which the current system acts as a barrier to investment and specifically, whether the current eligibility criteria for SBRR impacts businesses' incentives to invest and expand into a second property.

The Government has engaged extensively with stakeholders, both face-to-face at roundtables and through written representations.

In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Budget 2025.

HM Treasury releases a quarterly record of Minister’s meetings with external individuals and organisations. This can be found online: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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John Glen:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the British Business Bank's publication Small Business Equity Tracker 2024, if she will make a comparative assessment of (a) venture capital investment in the life sciences in the UK and the US and (b) the implications for companies in each jurisdiction seeking to scale-up. \p Emma Reynolds: The UK remains Europe’s leading destination for life sciences venture capital (VC) investment, according to the British Business Bank’s Small Business Equity Tracker 2024.

The US market is larger in scale, supporting late-stage growth with deeper capital pools and larger fund sizes. While the UK VC market is competitive with the US at the seed stage, UK companies face a widening funding gap as they scale.

At the recent Spending Review, the Government increased the British Business Bank’s financial capacity to £25.6 billion, a two-thirds increase in investment activity. Alongside reforms to give the British Business Bank greater flexibility to deploy funding responsively, this expanded capacity will enable more substantial support for SMEs and scale-ups, including life sciences companies, and move the UK market closer to the scale of late-stage financing seen in the US.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Entrepreneurship Advisor role on small businesses. \p Emma Reynolds: Reducing barriers for business, entrepreneurs and investors is key to boosting economic growth and delivering the government’s Plan for Change.

Alex Depledge has been appointed as the government’s Entrepreneurship Advisor and brings extensive entrepreneurship experience, having successfully built several businesses from the ground up.

Over the coming months, Alex will advise the Chancellor on the government’s entrepreneurship landscape, focusing on addressing the key barriers faced by businesses seeking to start up and scale up in the UK. The impact of any policy decisions taken by the Chancellor as a result of this advice will be assessed in the usual way.
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John Glen:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much and what proportion of the additional British Business Bank funding will be allocated to the life sciences sector. \p Emma Reynolds: This Government is committed to ensuring high-potential life sciences businesses can access the finance they need to innovate, grow, and boost the UK economy.

As part of the Industrial Strategy, the British Business Bank will invest £4 billion across key sectors, including life sciences, supporting both the expansion of the Life Sciences Investment Programme and direct investment in R&D-intensive companies.

This funding is not hypothecated by sector, allowing the Bank to back the most promising opportunities, including through specialist fund managers.

The percentage of Bank supported deals in life sciences was 7.2%, compared to 4.9% for the overall equity market and 6.1% for the wider PE/VC market from 2022-2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment eligibility on the number of people qualifying for PIP experiencing homelessness. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is there to help people, now and into the future, with the extra costs of living with a disability.

PIP is not intended to cover housing costs, which are paid through Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, but my department is committed to identifying and preventing homelessness amongst all customers.

Tailored support is available to those at risk of and experiencing homelessness. This includes easements for those with work-related requirements, to give the space to resolve housing issues; referrals to local authority housing teams under ‘duty to refer’ legislation; and signposting to money advice services.

We are continuing funding this year for local authorities to provide additional financial support for people struggling with housing and other essential living costs through the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments. Through the Spending Review, we announced £1bn a year including Barnett consequentials from 2026 to reform crisis support in England.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper announced a broad package of plans and proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support. Our reforms will ensure the most vulnerable and severely disabled people are protected, so they can live with dignity and security, while supporting those who can work to do so. As we develop detailed proposals for change, we will continue to consider the potential impacts of reforms.

Ending all forms of homelessness is a priority for this Government. £1 billion has been invested in homelessness and rough sleeping services this year. DWP is fully committed to playing its part in homelessness prevention and supporting MHCLG to develop a new cross-government strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness.
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Charlotte Nichols:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will require the Health and Safety Executive to collect data on asbestos-related ovarian cancer cases. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for collection of data of workplace injury and illness. Under Regulation 9 of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), it requires the responsible person to report a diagnosis of any cancer attributed to an occupational exposure to a known human carcinogen in their current job. When reporting, the responsible person must provide details on the affected person's occupation or job title and a description of the work that led to the disease.

Estimated numbers of cases of certain kinds of cancer other than mesothelioma and lung cancer that are attributable to past exposure to asbestos are available from previous HSE sponsored research into the burden of occupational cancer in Great Britain. However, ovarian cancer in relation to asbestos was not considered at the time this research was carried out, and so estimates are not currently available and HSE has no plans to collect this data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of automatically exempting armed forces veterans with severe, long-term PTSD from repeat disability assessments. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Currently, Work Capability Assessment re-assessments are prioritised for customers on Employment and Support Allowance and the health element of Universal Credit who report a change in their health condition. Routine department-led reassessments are scheduled according to expected prognosis length for recovery and subject to available assessment capacity.

Individuals who have Limited Capability for Work- and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA), with the most severe and lifelong health conditions or disabilities, whose level of function means that they will always have LCWRA and are unlikely ever to be able to move into work, are not routinely reassessed.

Our wide-ranging package of reforms to health and disability benefits, set out in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, will improve experiences of the system for those who need it. The functional impact and severity of a condition can significantly vary across individuals, which is why we will continue to ensure that those with the most severe, life-long health conditions, who will never be able to work, will not need to be reassessed.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many veterans will be impacted by proposed changes to (a) Universal Credit and (b) Personal Independence Payment. \p Sir Stephen Timms: No such assessment has been made.

However, as we develop proposals further, we are carefully considering the potential impacts, including on veterans and their families, as part of our broader response to the Green Paper consultation. We would encourage organisations supporting and representing veterans, such as the Royal British Legion, the Soldiers', Sailors', and Airmen's Families Association (SSAFA), and many others, to contribute their views on how best to support wounded, injured, and sick veterans.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help protect (a) disabled and (b) vulnerable people from people who seek to take over their homes for illegal activities. \p Jess Phillips: The Government recognises the appalling harm caused by criminals who take over vulnerable people’s homes for illegal activities. This is why we are introducing a new offence of ‘cuckooing’ in the Crime and Policing Bill to target criminals who exploit vulnerable people to take over their homes for criminal purposes. The new offence will be supported by statutory guidance for police, as well as non-statutory guidance for other agencies, to provide information on how to identify, protect and support vulnerable people at risk of cuckooing.

It is a matter of deep regret that His Majesty’s Official Opposition chose to vote against these measures at the Third Reading of the Crime and Policing Bill on 18 June.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent data her Department holds on the prevalence of intimate partner violence among young people aged 16 to 19. \p Jess Phillips: Acknowledging the complex nature of domestic abuse, the ONS recently revised a question module in the Crime Survey for England and Wales to improve the accuracy and depth of data collected on domestic abuse. According to the new survey module, 18.7% of 16 to 19-year-olds experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024.

The Home Secretary has been clear that teenage relationship abuse is an extremely important issue the government is tackling. Current CPS guidance applies to all cases of domestic abuse, irrespective of the age of the perpetrator or victim, meaning that protective orders such as Restraining Orders can be implemented to protect victims.

In the upcoming VAWG Strategy, we will also outline steps we are taking to respond to teenage relationship abuse - including through prevention and supporting victims further.
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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59412 on Government Departments: Reviews, if her Department will publish the line by line review of its spending conducted for the Spending Review 2025. \p Dame Diana Johnson: I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was given on 17 June to Question 59412.
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Claire Hazelgrove:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will (a) take steps to make identity theft a police-recordable crime and (b) make an assessment of the adequacy of support given to victims of identity theft. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The act of stealing personal information, and using it for criminal means and gains, is already outlawed. This includes through legislation such as the Fraud Act 2006, Computer Misuse Act 1990 and the Data Protection Act 2018.

The most effective way of preventing identity theft is to improve the safety and security of the identity systems we use and empower people to protect themselves from identity theft, particularly online.

We have introduced a checklist providing advice and steps on how to prevent the misuse of identities which can be found here:https://data.actionfraud.police.uk/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Identity-theft-victims-checklist.pdf

Further information about staying safe online and to avoid identity theft-enabled fraud can be found at: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/
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Apsana Begum:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the police, (b) women's groups, (c) representatives of the legal profession, (d) human rights organisations and (e) civil liberties organisations on amendments 61 to 63 of the Crime and Policing Bill. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office engaged with law enforcement and third sector partners prior to introduction of the Bill. The Home Office continues to engage with these stakeholders to ensure that the measures meet the needs of operational colleagues as well as victims and survivors.

An equality impact statement for the new offence has been published alongside the Bill and is available at: EIA. The Government also published on introduction a memorandum addressing issues arising under the ECHR in respect of measures in the Bill.

The programme motion agreed by the House on 17 June extended from one to two days the normal time available for the remaining stages of the Bill.
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Apsana Begum:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will conduct an equality impact assessment for new offences created by amendments 61 to 63 at Report Stage of the Crime and Policing Bill. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office engaged with law enforcement and third sector partners prior to introduction of the Bill. The Home Office continues to engage with these stakeholders to ensure that the measures meet the needs of operational colleagues as well as victims and survivors.

An equality impact statement for the new offence has been published alongside the Bill and is available at: EIA

The Government also published on introduction a memorandum addressing issues arising under the ECHR in respect of measures in the Bill.

The programme motion agreed by the House on 17 June extended from one to two days the normal time available for the remaining stages of the Bill.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) charges, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions for unlawful abortion there have been in England and Wales in each of the last ten years. \p Jess Phillips: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to MP Mr Gregory Campbell East of Londonderry, Democratic Unionist Party on 5 June 2025.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the press release entitled AI experiments see “Humphrey” help townhalls cut costs and improve services, published on 23 May 2025, if he will publish the quality assurance data her Department receives from its trial of Minute. \p Feryal Clark: Minute is currently undergoing Alpha trials across the public sector, including a discovery with 25 local authorities. After this concludes in July, we will publish a summary of the findings and set the direction for the project.
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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question 59412 on Government Departments: Reviews, if his Department will publish the line by line review of its spending conducted for the Spending Review 2025. \p Feryal Clark: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is committed to meeting the 5% savings and efficiency target, with SR funding allocations agreed on this basis.

These funding allocations – informed by the findings of the ZBR – are the first step in a wider plan to finalise budgets for different projects and programmes, with any necessary savings decided through that process. The savings taken forward will be subject to the normal rigorous business planning processes, and in-year financial management.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what guidance is his Department provides to local planning authorities on balancing the need for digital infrastructure with environmental and heritage considerations. \p Chris Bryant: Local planning authorities are responsible for determining applications for digital infrastructure, including telecommunications, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework which requires that planning decisions take account local environmental and heritage considerations.

In addition, the Department has published a Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England, and the Cabinet Siting and Pole Siting Code of Practice 2016 which provide practice on siting and design and encourages early engagement with communities and relevant local authorities to help balance the need for network deployment with environmental factors.
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Sadik Al-Hassan:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on protecting children from the potential impacts of excessive use of smartphones. \p Feryal Clark: Creating a safer online world is a priority for the government and we are focused on implementing the Online Safety Act so that children can benefit from its wide-reaching protections.

The Government is reviewing the evidence base on children’s smartphone use, social media and their wellbeing.

DSIT works closely with other government departments on a range of online safety matters with work on child online safety being a particular priority across government.
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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many reports of incidents of flooding have been made in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency in the last five years. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) have records of 43 reports of flooding in the North East Somerset and Hanham Constituency over the last 5 years. However, property flooding is often underreported for many reasons, and this number only includes incidents of flooding that have been reported to the EA.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support horticulture businesses in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government is committed to our horticulture sector and the vital role it plays in strengthening food security by ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of home-grown fresh produce.

Underlining this commitment to our growers is our farming roadmap which will set out a 25-year vision and blueprint to make our farming and food production more sustainable and profitable.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of reviewing the plant health inspection regime. \p Daniel Zeichner: Plant Health inspection uses a risk-based approach to understand global plant health threats and the Department carries out horizon scanning for new and emerging risks to the UK.

The Department undertakes systematic, proactive screening of new and emerging plant health risks, which are listed in the UK Risk Register. The register contains details of over 1400 plant pests and pathogens which have been screened for their potential to be damaging in the UK.

Risks are reviewed monthly by an expert groups and Ministers, and prioritised for actions such as surveillance, enhanced inspection, regulation, national measures, import controls, research and awareness raising.
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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what options his Department considered for the use of fines collected from water companies. \p Emma Hardy: Following the Spending Review, the Government has confirmed water company fines will be allocated to local environmental projects and programmes to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.

Over £100 million in fines has been levied against water companies since October 2023, which will be reinvested into local environment projects and programmes to address pollution and improve water quality.

More information on this announcement can be found on GOV.UK. A further announcement on the details on the projects and programmes that this funding will go towards will be set out in due course.

Water company fines that accumulated between April 2022 and October 2023 will be invested through the Water Restoration Fund. Up to £11 million of funding was made available on a competitive basis to support a range of water restoration projects to improve the water environment. Successful applicants have been notified, and an official announcement will follow in due course.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,  pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54689 on Dangerous Dogs: Social Rented Housing, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of being denied permission to take up residency by housing providers on people with legally exempted XL Bully dogs. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra undertook an impact assessment when developing legislation to ban XL Bully dogs. This assessment recognised that some housing providers would not allow owners to keep XL bullies. It is for the housing provider to decide their own policies on whether they permit tenants to keep exempted banned breed types.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of regulations on dog breeding licenses. \p Daniel Zeichner: We know climate change presents challenges to the agricultural sector. The government is offering a New Deal for Farmers to help address this.

We are providing farmers and land managers with the support needed to help restore nature, which is vital to safeguard our long-term food security and build resilience to climate change. In the recent spending review we committed to carrying on the transition towards paying to deliver public goods for the environment, with over £7 billion directed into nature’s recovery between 2026 and 2029. This includes environmental farming schemes (£5.9 billion), tree planting (£816 million) and peatland restoration (£85 million).

To address the impacts of flooding on farmers and rural communities, we will be investing £4.2 billion over three years in flood defences across the country – an average of £1.4bn each year and a 5% increase compared to the current spending review period
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of his policies in tackling global deforestation. \p Mary Creagh: We recognise the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. Deforestation associated with UK consumption is estimated to have fallen by 55% since 2005, although progress has slowed over the last decade.

The Government recently published a Post-Implementation Review evaluating the effectiveness of the UK Timber Regulation (UKTR), which prohibits the placing of illegally harvested timber on the GB market. The review concluded that the regulation has been largely effective in reducing the risk of illegal timber entering the market and has contributed to tackling deforestation.

The Government will set out its approach to addressing UK consumption of forest risk commodities in due course. We are committed to ensuring that any regulatory framework is robust, proportionate and effective in addressing deforestation in UK supply chains.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to establish a national chemicals regulator to improve the (a) monitoring and (b) management of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination. \p Emma Hardy: Defra and the Scottish and Welsh Governments work closely with regulators and government agencies to prioritise issues for regulatory action in the UK relating to chemicals. We are working across government to help us assess levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform policy and regulatory approaches. The revised Environmental Improvement Plan, which will be introduced in 2025, will set out the Government’s approach to managing PFAS.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to review the current regulatory limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. \p Emma Hardy: The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has provided guidance on PFAS to water companies since 2007; updated in August 2024, and a consolidated version was published in March 2025.

In February 2025, the DWI published a report from the advisory group of drinking water quality recommending revisions to the drinking water regulations. One recommendation was to introduce DWI’s guideline value into legislation. Defra and the DWI will work together to consider this, and other, recommendations and will update our regulations where appropriate.

The DWI monitors publications and advice provided by the World Health Organization and the UK’s Committee on Toxicity in relation to PFAS. It will continue to act accordingly to use a risk-based approach to monitor test results for both raw and treated water based on the scientific evidence as it emerges, to safeguard public health from the risks from PFAS in drinking water. Work continues across government to assess levels of PFAS to safeguard current high drinking water quality and to ensure our regulations remain fit for purpose.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating a registration system for pet dogs. \p Daniel Zeichner: We have no plans currently to introduce a registration system for pet dogs. Since 2016, all dogs over eight weeks old must be microchipped and registered with a compliant database. A separate registration system for pet dogs is therefore not necessary.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-27 conversation_47

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure animal shelters are (a) appropriately registered and (b) operating ethically. \p Daniel Zeichner: Rescue and rehoming establishments in England must comply with statutory welfare requirements set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Defra engages regularly with stakeholders across the animal welfare sector, including on issues relating to rescue and rehoming practices.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to allocate additional resources to help rural and farming communities adapt to increased drought risk. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) has produced an updated irrigation prospects report for summer 2025. The report provides options to support irrigators now and in the longer term.

The updated irrigation prospects across England for the summer season is ‘moderate’. If the dry weather continues, irrigation supplies are at risk, especially where farm reservoirs have been depleted over the spring. Reduced irrigation may impact on crops.

Options to support irrigators this summer include following good irrigation practice, signing up to managing water abstraction and impoundment licences online, and discussing short-term options with the EA for improving access to water (e.g. water rights trading).

One way to increase longer-term water supply resilience is to apply for a local water resources options screening study – for which applications are now open. The EA also encourage the sector to establish Water Abstractor Groups to work together to plan for their future water needs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's planned timetable is for responding to the consultation on making the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse statutory, which closed in April 2024. \p Mary Creagh: A copy of the consultation document on publishing statutory litter enforcement guidance will be deposited in the Library.

This consultation was run in March 2024 under the previous Government. This Government has yet to make a decision on whether to publish statutory guidance. Any decision will be announced in the usual way. Following this, we would expect to release a consultation response.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms to reduce pollution by water companies in local rivers. \p Emma Hardy: The Water (Special Measures) Act (WSMA) provides the most significant increase in enforcement powers for the regulators in a decade, giving the teeth they need to take tougher action against water companies.

A record 81 criminal investigations into water companies have been launched in England since the election, and the Environment Agency has increased inspections into sewage pollution by nearly 400% since last July.

Furthermore, the regulators will be bolstered by at least £55 million additional per year through water company permit charges and implementation of the new cost recovery powers in the WSMA, ensuring that polluters are held to account for breaches of their obligations.

The Independent Water Commission will consider the roles and responsibilities of the water industry regulators and how we can ensure our regulators operate as effectively as possible. The Commission’s Interim Report was published on 3 June, and the final report and recommendations will be published later in the summer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement of 3 June 2025, HCWS680, on Consulting on a reformed approach to investing in flood resilience and coastal erosion, how much of the £2.65 million in funding was originally allocated by the previous Government. \p Emma Hardy: Delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change, this Government is investing a record £2.65 billion over 2024/25 and 2025/26 for the construction of new flood schemes, and the maintenance and repair of existing ones. With this funding, 1,000 flood schemes have been or will continue to be supported, better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026.

This Government has also announced the largest flood programme in history – committing a record £7.9 billion capital investment as part of its landmark 10-year Infrastructure Strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a minimum price for fleece that covers the cost of animal welfare requirements for sheep farmers. \p Daniel Zeichner: British Wool is a public body, responsible for the collection, sale and marketing of wool from across the UK. Sales are conducted by auction throughout the year and reflect global market developments in price and availability. Payments to British Wool’s producer members are calculated at year end once the full value of that member’s clip is known.

Farmers have a duty to care for the animals they keep and sheep shearing in preparation for the summer is key to ensuring welfare and preventing suffering from, for example, heat stress. The Government is already supporting sheep farmers to improve the health and welfare of their flocks. Schemes currently offered by the service and available to sheep farmers include the ‘Get funding to improve animal health and welfare service’ launched in June 2024 as part of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, the Animal Health and Welfare Review and the Endemic Disease Follow-up. These schemes give eligible livestock keepers access to a series of funded vet visits which include bespoke advice and testing for key endemic diseases and conditions. Funding contributes to the cost of vet time, farmer time and testing. Eligible sheep farmers can claim £436 in the Review, and additional £639 in the Follow-up for a single flock.

Details about this funding can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/funding-to-improve-animal-health-and-welfare-guidance-for-farmers-and-vets. Animal health and welfare is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-27)

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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of excess sewage sludge on river pollution. \p Emma Hardy: Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 (SUiAR) supported by the Sewage Sludge Code of Practice provide environmental and health protections from sludge spreading.

The Government is continuing to work with the Environment Agency to assess the regulatory framework for spreading sludge. We recognise that effective and proportionate regulations are an essential tool to improve the water environment.

The Independent Water Commission’s Call for Evidence, published in February 2025, highlighted the Environment Agency’s recommendation to strengthen the regulatory framework for sludge application on land by incorporating the Sludge Use in Agriculture Regulations 1989 into the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016.

A set of recommendations will be delivered by Q3 of this year. The UK Government will then respond and consult on proposals we intend to take forward.