theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Alison Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Peruvian counterpart on (a) restrictions on women’s rights in Peru and (b) the potential implications for those policies on (i) gender equality and (ii) human rights. \p Catherine West: The UK Government closely monitors human rights in Peru, including assessing policies that impact women's rights and gender equality. UK Officials and Ministers also regularly discuss human rights with the Peruvian government, including the Foreign Minister, the Minister for Women and Vulnerable Populations, and wider stakeholders. We will continue to work with the government and wider civil society groups to support the protection of human and women's rights.
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Wendy Chamberlain:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to stop the escalation of violence in Juba, Sudan. \p Anneliese Dodds: On 16 and 17 January, violent protests and looting of Sudanese businesses took place in Juba and across South Sudan. Security forces rapidly managed to restore calm but around 10,000 people were displaced and an unknown number killed. The protests were triggered by reports (including footage circulated on social media) of South Sudanese civilians being killed by allied militias of the Sudanese Armed Forces in Wad Madani, Sudan. Working with partners, the Foreign Secretary is determined to re-energise a political process on ending the Sudan conflict, protecting civilians, and getting aid to where it is most needed. The UK has also raised the importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians with the transitional government of South Sudan. This includes my visit to South Sudan in August 2024 where I pressed the South Sudanese Government to make progress towards peaceful, credible and inclusive elections, emphasising the need for political dialogue to ensure peace and stability.
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Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to deliver humanitarian aid to Sudan. \p Anneliese Dodds: The UK continues to provide humanitarian assistance to support people in Sudan and those who have fled the country. The UK has recently doubled its Official Development Assistance (ODA) this year in response to the conflict in Sudan to £226.5 million - the vast majority of which is spent on vital humanitarian aid including support for the regional refugee crisis. This funding includes support to key UN agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF which are providing life-saving food assistance in Sudan. We are also one of the largest donors to the UN-led Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) which delivers life-saving multi-sectoral support to communities across Sudan and is now piloting support to the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs). The UK also continues to support the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), including their work on emergency preparedness and response, protection of civilians, and providing life-saving healthcare across Sudan.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department has provided to the British Council in the 2024-25 financial year; what information his Department holds on the level of funding provided to equivalent organisations in other G7 countries; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the difference in funding levels on the projection of UK soft power. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: In 2024/25, the FCDO will provide the British Council with £162.5 million Grant-in-Aid funding. The British Council is projected to generate £885 million from other sources over the same period, according to its Corporate Plan 2024-25. This self-generated income is largely derived from the British Council's teaching and exams businesses.

The British Council's specific charitable objects are set out in its Royal Charter. An assessment of any difference in levels of funding with international comparators is not directly equivalent given the British Council's specific charitable objects.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress he has made on the Mass Atrocity Prevention Hub. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) continues to strengthen its capacity dedicated to identifying and responding to atrocity risks, drawing on expertise across government departments and working with civil society, academia, bilateral partners, and multilateral organisations.

This includes progress on strengthening global early warning and country risk assessments, expanding programmes with partner organisations and building the FCDO network's capabilities to prevent atrocities through technical training, central guidance and capturing learning. We will continue to invest in ways to improve policy and practical interventions to act earlier to prevent atrocities.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the withdrawal of the USA from the World Health Organisation will lead to an increase in UK contributions to that organisation. \p Anneliese Dodds: We have been consistently clear that US executive orders are matters for the US government and US people. In November 2024, the UK announced new funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in support of its delivery and transformation agenda. The UK will continue to work with the WHO, Member States and other partners to support WHO's ongoing transformation and to strengthen its efficiency, transparency and responsiveness.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organisation on the UK’s financial contribution to that organisation. \p Anneliese Dodds: We have been consistently clear that US executive orders are matters for the US government and US people. In November 2024, the UK announced new funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in support of its delivery and transformation agenda. The UK will continue to work with the WHO, Member States and other partners to support WHO's ongoing transformation and to strengthen its efficiency, transparency and responsiveness.
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Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contracts (a) BFS Group Limited and (b) subsidiary companies of BFS Group Limited hold with (i) his Department and (ii) agencies of his Department. \p Daniel Zeichner: In response to this question neither Defra of any of its agencies have any contracts with BFS Group or any of its subsidiaries.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of agricultural input costs on the financial viability of small farms. \p Daniel Zeichner: We publish regular statistics on agricultural input and output prices in the UK and other data related to farm businesses. For example, we publish monthly statistics on Agricultural price indices (Latest agricultural price indices - GOV.UK).
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Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2024 to Question 10797 on Inland Border Facilities: Dover, what the operating status is of Bastion Point Border Control Point as of 22 January 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: The site at Bastion Point is currently retained in a non-operational state. The Government will explore further options for the site in the future.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research, analysis and intelligence WRAP provides his Department to inform policy. \p Mary Creagh: The Department works with WRAP on a wide range of areas to support policy development including on reducing packaging; simplifying recycling, supporting local authorities and reducing waste on plastics, textiles and food & drink.
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Ian Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to require the inclusion of information on animal welfare standards on food labels. \p Daniel Zeichner: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tamworth Sarah Edwards on 03 February, PQ 27505.
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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect blue carbon habitats from human activities. \p Emma Hardy: In England, we have established a comprehensive network of 181 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which cover the majority of our saltmarsh and seagrass habitats. While blue carbon habitats may not always be an explicitly designated feature, MPA protection may still yield benefits.

Our focus is now on ensuring that these MPAs are effectively protected to allow the designated features to achieve favourable condition. Three Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMAs) designations in English waters came into force in summer 2023. Two of the three designated sites, Allonby Bay and North East of Farnes Deep, contain blue carbon habitats.

Defra set up the UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership in partnership with DESNZ and the Devolved Administrations to address evidence gaps around these important habitats. We are funding a multi-year research project to increase our understanding of UK seabed sediment carbon storage and sequestration, the impact of human activities and to model potential management interventions. Initial outputs from this work were published in January 2025.
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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the the adequacy of the implementation of the Rock Review. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra works closely with the Farm Tenancy Forum and together have delivered the majority of the Rock Review recommendations. These include making Environmental Land Management schemes more accessible for tenants, setting the standard for landlord, tenant and agent behaviour with a new Code of Practice and announcing England’s first Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector. Defra continues to ensure that the unique needs of the sector are accounted for in policy design.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times the Flood Resilience Taskforce has met since 4 July 2024. \p Emma Hardy: The Floods Resilience Taskforce held its first full meeting on 12 September 2024. Following this meeting a series of working level discussions have been held with various Taskforce member organisations on specific issues, which will report back to the full Taskforce. These include a roundtable on the opportunities and barriers to delivering natural flood management, and sessions on flood forecasting and warning, and the new National Flood Risk Assessment and National Coastal Erosion Risk Assessment. The second full meeting of the Taskforce was held on 5 February 2025.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making it mandatory for insurers participating in the Flood Re scheme to provide insurance to properties at risk of flooding. \p Emma Hardy: Flood Re is a joint government and industry flood reinsurance scheme established specifically to help UK households at high risk of flooding to access affordable insurance through their insurance provider. In 2023/24, Flood Re provided cover for over 280,000 household policies, and report that 99% of householders at high risk of flooding can now obtain quotes from 15 or more insurers.

All insurance companies providing home insurance policies in the UK are required to pay the Flood Re Levy irrelevant of whether they cede policies to Flood Re or not. It is for individual companies to decide the policies they offer, and when to cede a policy to Flood Re.

Householders are encouraged to always shop around for the most suitable policy for their needs, including flood cover. For anyone struggling to find appropriate insurance we advise them to look at BIBA’s Flood Insurance Directory, which can be accessed online via www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance. Alternatively, BIBA’s Find an insurance service can be contacted on 0370 950 1790, Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 5:30pm. Consumers must ensure the cover they choose provides appropriate cover for their circumstances.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help farmers prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease. \p Daniel Zeichner: Following confirmation of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Germany on the 10 January 2025, the Government took decisive action to protect the UK by suspending the commercial import of susceptible animals from Germany and restricting personal imports of animal products from across the EU.

The UK has contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease as set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England. This includes a comprehensive veterinary surveillance system to detect new and emerging disease threats. All exotic disease control and prevention measures are kept under regular review as part of the Government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of exotic disease.

Livestock keepers are reminded of the importance of maintaining strict on-farm biosecurity and reporting of all suspicions of notifiable disease promptly.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers impacted by flooding. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra’s Environmental Land Management schemes provide payments for managing land and water in a way that reduces flood risk. The Sustainable Farming Incentive provides payments for several actions to improve soil health, including herbal leys and multi-species cover crops. Healthy soils have improved resilience to extreme weather and will recover faster from flood events. Sustainable Farming Incentive actions can also be used to slow down the flow of water within catchments, helping to mitigate wider catchment flood risk. We have also recently announced a significant expansion of the flood and drought resilience offer within Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier with new actions to store water, which can be used to protect agricultural land from flooding.

Tree planting along rivers can help slow water flow and temporarily store water as part of natural flood management. The England Woodland Creation Offer provides financial support for tree planting and incentivises woodland creation that reduces flood risk through supplementary payments.

In addition, the floods investment programme delivers a range of schemes, including natural flood management. The Government inherited an outdated funding formula for allocating money to proposed flood defences. Established in 2011, the existing formula slows down the delivery of new flood schemes through a complex application process, and neglects more innovative approaches to flood management such as natural flood management. A consultation will be launched in the coming months which will include a review of the existing formula.
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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the methodology used to calculate the carbon sequestration generated by cattle. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra has evaluated the methodologies used in on-farm carbon calculators to assess greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration on-farm. This found that methodologies differed between these calculators. For example, there was no consistent, agreed approach taken to assess and report carbon removals or emissions from soil, land use or land use change. This divergence and a lack of verification has driven confusion, reducing trust and confidence in the resulting figures.

Building on the recommendations from the above research, Defra remains committed to developing a harmonised approach for measuring carbon emissions from farms. This will increase consistency and comparability across tools, thereby reducing uncertainty for farmers and the rest of the supply chain.

Defra also funds research to establish the impacts of farm systems, including bringing the latest cutting-edge science into the UK’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
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Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on developing a food strategy. \p Daniel Zeichner: On December 10, the Secretary of State spoke to businesses and industry groups from across the food sector and confirmed that work is underway to develop an ambitious food strategy. In developing the strategy, we are establishing a new way of working with the sector, building on strong partnerships to create a strategy drawing on shared expertise and collective commitments, backed by a clear vision and framework for change from government. Work to develop this is ongoing.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 24102 on Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances, whether his Department has conducted work into assessing the suitability of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance alternatives. \p Emma Hardy: Beyond the preliminary analysis of PFAS alternatives included in the Regulatory Management Options Analysis published in April 2023, more detailed analysis is conducted as part of the preparation of a restriction dossier proposal by the Health and Safety Executive as the Agency for UK REACH. The UK REACH dossier for a restriction on PFAS in fire-fighting foams is due to be published for consultation in March 2025.

Defra also supports international efforts in addressing PFAS risks. This includes support for projects undertaken by the OECD that assess availability of suitable PFAS alternatives for key sectors.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to open funding via the Animal Health and Welfare Infrastructure Grant under the Animal Productivity Pathway for capital investments to improve on-farm productivity in spring 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: Farmers are already receiving support through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to undertake large infrastructure projects. The Rural Payments Agency recently invited eligible applicants to the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant forward to the next stage of the application process, with other farmers accessing funding through the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare Grant. Both grants will support our farmers to continually improve the health, welfare and productivity of their livestock.

We are currently working to simplify and rationalise our grant funding, ensuring that grants are targeted towards those who need them most and where they can deliver the most benefit for food security and nature. We will confirm future grant rounds in due course.

Eligible keepers of cattle, pigs and sheep can currently access funded vet visits as part of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. This provides an opportunity for farmers to improve the health, welfare and productivity of their animals through access to bespoke veterinary advice and testing for key endemics diseases.
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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of farm diversification on the working hours of farmers. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra does not hold information on the impact of diversification on the working hours of farmers. Annual statistics on farm diversification of farm businesses in England are published. The latest results cover 2023/24 (Chapter 5: Diversification - GOV.UK) and include the proportion of farms engaging in diversified activities, the type of activities and the average income produced. They show that the proportion of farm businesses in England that have some diversified activity has gradually increased since 2014/15 and in 2023/24 was 71% of farms; these farms had an average (mean) income from diversified activities of £26,900.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the blog entitled An update on capital grants, published on 27 November 2024, what assessment he has made of changes to capital grants on young people starting their career in land management. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government fully recognises the importance of hedgerow creation and the contribution of the Capital Grants scheme. In 2024 the scheme supported agreements to plant over 4,000 miles of new hedgerows across England, creating essential habitats for at-risk species of birds and mammals.

In November 2024, we closed the Capital Grants scheme to new agreements following unprecedented demand. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received more applications from May to November 2024 than over the whole of the 2023-24 financial year. These applications were also worth more. The value of standalone capital applications received as of November 2024 was up 45% compared to the whole of the last financial year. This pattern risked unsustainable spending which would have impacted other schemes. The RPA has written to all farmers who have submitted or started an application to explain the position.

We are forecast to spend more on capital grants this financial year than ever before. This is only possible because we have allocated the largest ever budget for sustainable food production through the farming budget.

We currently are reviewing the Capital Grants offer to ensure funding goes further to improve outcomes for food security and nature conservation. We will provide an update shortly.
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Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ensure that local communities are compensated by water companies for sewage discharges. \p Emma Hardy: Ofwat, the independent economic regulator, sets specific performance targets for companies in the five-yearly price review. Where companies fail to meet these targets, including pollution incidents, they must reimburse customers through lower water bills.

Additionally, under new proposals set out by this Government on the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, households and businesses will be entitled to higher payments from water companies when basic services are not met. This includes payments for incidents of internal and external sewer flooding to a customer’s property.

In October 2024, the Secretary of State and the Welsh Government launched an Independent Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, into the water sector and its regulation, in what is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation. These wide-ranging recommendations will form the basis of further legislation to attract long-term investment and clean up our waters for good.
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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average cost to the public purse was of vets fees for testing cattle herds for bovine tuberculosis in 2023 and 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) holds contracts with regional Delivery Partners to deliver the TB Eradication Strategies across England and Wales respectively. Each regional Delivery Partner maintains its own network of subcontracted veterinary practices who deliver TB skin testing on farms following TB Test allocation by APHA. Contract costs between APHA and its Delivery Partners include TB test delivery on farm, quality assurance, administration, travel, and a contribution to overhead costs of both the Delivery Partner organisations and their subcontractors.

For England:

This information does not include costs of Gamma Interferon testing.

* A TB test event may include the whole herd (usually all the animals of at least 42 days of age), a proportion of a herd, or a few individual animals in a herd.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle bee harm. \p Mary Creagh: Bee health is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Harm to honeybees can be caused by several different means including pests and diseases, invasive non-native species and poor husbandry practices by beekeepers. Defra supports a range of actions to help tackle harm.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) deliver the Defra Bee Health Programme which includes management and control of honeybee pests and diseases. The NBU also provide free training and advice to beekeepers, including on pest and disease recognition. Defra works in partnership with beekeeping stakeholders under the Healthy Bees Plan 2030 to improve honeybee health and husbandry.

Yellow-legged hornet (YLH), an invasive non-native species is a threat to pollinating insects including honeybees. There are established populations of these hornets in Europe and since 2016 there have been regular incursions into GB. Defra takes action against confirmed findings of YLH to prevent this species from becoming established.

The Government is committed to ending the use of those neonicotinoid pesticides that are known to carry substantial risks to pollinator populations. The recent Defra policy statement, released on 21 December, sets out plans to take forward that commitment.
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Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to enforce the ban on peat burning in England. \p Mary Creagh: Defra takes any allegations of breaches of The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 seriously and has developed a robust triage and assessment process with the support of Natural England and Defra’s Counter Fraud and Investigations (CFI).

Natural England's Moorland Change Map demonstrates a significant reduction in burning and cutting activities on England's moorlands since the implementation of the Regulations.

Though there have been isolated instances of non-compliance, resulting in two successful prosecutions, the overwhelming majority of landowners in England are adhering to these regulations.
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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the negotiations for a global plastics treaty. \p Emma Hardy: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.
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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had discussions with the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries on the UN Global Plastics Treaty. \p Emma Hardy: The UK Government, at all stages of the INC process, has made it a priority to engage with a broad range of stakeholders across the plastics value chain, including trade associations representing fossil fuel and petrochemical industries.

We partnered with the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network to run the UK Treaty Dialogues ahead of each round of negotiations, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to help us understand the variety of views on the draft treaty.
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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to support the introduction of a binding global target to cut all forms of primary plastic polymer production. \p Emma Hardy: The UK supports a global target on the sustainable production of primary plastic polymers. Last year, at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on a treaty to end plastic pollution, the UK endorsed a statement calling for all countries to commit to achieving sustainable levels of primary plastic production and for a global target.
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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding from the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme has been allocated to projects in the (a) Cannock Chase constituency and (b) the Cannock Chase National Landscape area. \p Mary Creagh: Over £570,000 has been spent on approved projects in the Cannock Chase National Landscape area since the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme (FiPL) launched in July 2021, with further projects in progress and to be completed by the end of 24/25.
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Dr Al Pinkerton: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 environmental contamination caused by sewage discharges by water companies in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Emma Hardy: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.

That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill. The Bill will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector.

For Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025 – 2030, Thames Water will invest £784 million to reduce the use of storm overflows including in and around the Surrey Heath constituency. Additional improvement actions also include increasing treatment capacity at sewage works, providing storage for high flows, reducing flows entering the system and provision of treatment for storm overflows which are separate from the main treatment route.

There have been significant pollution incidents at Camberley and Chobham Sewage Treatment Works in the last few years and these are still subject to Environment Agency investigations. We will not let companies get away with illegal activity and where breaches are found, the EA will not hesitate to hold companies to account. The Environment Agency has also undertaken recent inspections of Sewage Treatment Works, including at Camberley, Lightwater and Chobham.
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Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed charge for waste exemption permits on the ability of small environmental farms to recycle. \p Mary Creagh: The Environment Agency charges consultation included information on the affordability of waste exemption charges for the agriculture sector. It can be found online here.

Included in the document is the following estimates for a 3-year registration period:

This is considered a worst-case scenario, as Environment Agency data suggests farmers often register more waste exemptions than they need. Approval to charge will be considered after the Environment Agency has analysed responses from the consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Environment Agency on the potential merits of paying compensation to businesses affected by the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing RPS248. \p Mary Creagh: We currently have no plans to discuss the potential merits of paying compensation to businesses affected by the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing.

Withdrawing the RPS means that using shredded waste carpets for equestrian surfacing is not prohibited, but a waste management permit is needed instead. There is no mechanism to compensate businesses affected by the withdrawal of a regulatory position.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_135
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_135

Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Environment Agency on the potential merits of providing financial support to businesses with the cost of the removal of unusable stock, in the context of the withdrawal of the regulatory guidance statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing, RPS248. \p Mary Creagh: We currently have no plans to discuss the potential merits of paying compensation to businesses affected by the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing.

Withdrawing the RPS means that using shredded waste carpets for equestrian surfacing is not prohibited, but a waste management permit is needed instead. There is no mechanism to compensate businesses affected by the withdrawal of a regulatory position.
wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_136
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_136

Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the adequacy of the length of the notice period for the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing, RPS248. \p Mary Creagh: There have been no discussions with the Environment Agency about the adequacy of the length of the notice period for the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing RPS248.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_137

Victoria Atkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average award received through his Department's capital grant scheme was in (a) July, (b) August, (c) September, (d) October and (e) November. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received a total of 5,470 applications for the capital grant scheme between July and November 2024 with 1,884 Agreements offered during this period with an average value of £14,011.

Across the summer, a much larger volume of applications, than expected, were received meaning more time was required to process.

In light of these higher volumes, offers on new applications were not made to allow monitoring of the impact on the intended scheme outcomes and to investigate the implications of the increased value of some applications

The monthly breakdown is as follows:

July

August

September

October

November

Total

Applications Received

963

937

978

1,403

1,189

5,470

Agreements Offered*

904

961

11

6

2

1,882

Average Value of Claims Paid**

£12,952

£13,323

£14,006

£14,420

£15,094

£14,011

* The application may have been received prior to July 2024.

** This relates to all claims paid within July to November regardless of when the agreement started. Agreement holders have up to 3 years from start date to submit their claim.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_138

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that illegal hunts do not take place on Ministry of Defence land. \p Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Defence has only ever issued licences to recognised hunts for Trail and Drag hunting which are legal activities authorised by the Hunting Act 2004.

Any suspicion of illegal hunting should be reported to the Police.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_139

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the proposed increase in employer National Insurance contributions for financial year 2025-26. \p Maria Eagle: There is no additional cost to the Ministry of Defence.

The Government will be supporting departments with the cost of additional employer national insurance contributions. This is in line with the Government’s usual approach to supporting the public sector, as was the case with the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy. The allocation for the Ministry of Defence, along with all other departments, will be set out in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

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Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to strengthen the UK’s place within the international F-35 Lightning II supply chain programme. \p Maria Eagle: The F-35 programme is not a workshare programme. It is a competitive international supply chain where F-35 work is won and secured on merit. The UK has been successful in securing F-35 work to date and are well placed to secure work in the future.

Through Lockheed Martin and the Joint Program Office approximately 15% of every F-35 aircraft delivered globally is manufactured by UK companies. The UK is the design authority for a range of significant Lightning aircraft components, securing highly skilled jobs within the UK and providing significant economic benefit. For example, the rear fuselage, batteries, ejector seats and actuators are manufactured in the UK for the entire F-35 global fleet. This manufacturing and equipment support for the global fleet of F-35 includes over 100 UK-based Tier 1 suppliers and has created over 20,000 jobs in the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_141

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) educational institutions to help ensure the safety of defence industry representatives at university recruitment events. \p Maria Eagle: This Government fully supports defence companies and their personnel attending events in the higher education sector to demonstrate the benefits and opportunities of careers in the defence sector. They should be able to do so confident they will be safe and free from intimidation. Alongside my counterparts in the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Education I am working with the higher education sector to ensure appropriate measures are taken to support the safety of those attending such events.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_142

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on Semaglutide since 1 January 2024. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence has spent £49,900 on the drug semaglutide since the 1 Janurary 2024.

Semaglutide is a diabetic medication used for the treatment of type two diabetes in military patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_143

Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending pension entitlements to Army reservists who were excluded from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme between July 2000 and March 2015. \p Al Carns: Following legal advice, the Ministry of Defence has lodged an appeal against the Milroy employment tribunal ruling. We are unable to comment further on the payment of military reservist pensions for pre-2015 service whilst the appeal is ongoing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_144

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence,  whether his Department has received representations from small and medium-sized defence companies on difficulties in securing bank accounts. \p Maria Eagle: The difficulties that smaller defence suppliers can have in accessing finance, including opening a bank account, have been raised with the Department and were recognised in the Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent published in December 2024. Tackling barriers such as these to the growth of a better, more innovative and more resilient defence sector is a key aim of the Defence Industrial Strategy and we are consulting widely with stakeholders across the defence and financial services sectors to this end.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_145

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has received representations from small and medium-sized defence companies on challenges in obtaining insurance liability coverage. \p Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Defence has been working closely with small and medium-sized defence companies to understand the difficulties they face. The Defence Industrial Strategy Statement of Intent, which was published in December 2024, recognised issues with regards to access to finance, including obtaining insurance liability coverage. The Department is consulting with a wide range of stakeholders, including defence suppliers and financial institutions, to assess the ways in which we can reduce barriers to investment and create a strong and resilient defence sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-05 conversation_146

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for when the Ajax armoured vehicle will achieve initial operating capability. \p Maria Eagle: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 438 on 22 July 2024.

Ajax 	armoured vehicle  (docx, 28.7KB)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-05)

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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 25651 on Boeing E-7, when he plans to complete the approval of the full business case for E7 Wedgetail. \p Maria Eagle: The E-7 Full Business Case is being considered and a decision on approval will be made in due course.