theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with local transport authorities in Greater Manchester on the potential merits of introducing free bus travel for under-22s. \p Simon Lightwood: The Government knows how important affordable and reliable bus services are in enabling people to get to education, work and access vital services. On 1 January, we introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London to help passengers continue to access cheaper bus services and better opportunities. At the Spending Review we announced the cap would be extended until March 2027.

At present, the majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, which can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Greater Manchester Mayoral Combined Authority has been allocated £66.4 million of this funding.

Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for young people. The Bee Network in Greater Manchester offers discounted bus period tickets for young people aged 18–21 who live in Greater Manchester.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle illegal driving instructors; and what steps he is taking to increase public awareness on the requirement for driving instructors to be approved by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. \p Simon Lightwood: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) takes matters of illegal driving instruction extremely seriously. DVSA strives to stamp out illegal driving instruction by targeting offenders and working in conjunction with the local Police force to identify and ultimately, when appropriate, prosecute those involved in this type of criminality.

DVSA’s Counter Fraud and Investigation team thoroughly investigate allegations of illegal driving instruction and always looks to validate any information it is provided with during any investigations. Depending on the information available, DVSA may proceed directly to an investigation or conduct targeted roadside checks, often involving the police, to identify ongoing illegal instruction. The outcomes of DVSA’s investigations can range from issuing a warning to pursuing prosecution.

Information for those wanting to start driving lessons is available on DVSA’s ‘Ready to Pass?’ website on GOV.UK. DVSA advises candidates that anyone teaching them to drive for payment must be either a qualified and approved driving instructor or a trainee driving instructor. There is also further information for candidates on how to find your nearest driving instructors.

DVSA advises candidates to check that their driving instructor is displaying their badge in their windscreen, which shows they are registered with DVSA, this could either be a green badge if they are fully qualified or a pink badge if they are a trainee instructor.

Individuals who have not been through the approved driving instructor process pose a very real threat to road safety. It also damages the reputation and credibility of the driver training industry. DVSA recommends that anyone with concerns about a possible illegal driving instructor follow the advice on GOV.UK: Report an illegal driving instructor.
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Andrew Ranger:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to simplify the process by which disabled motorists in receipt of Personal Independence Payment are able to (a) apply for and (b) receive a vehicle tax reduction; and whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency plans to introduce an online system enabling eligible disabled drivers to (i) claim the 50 per cent vehicle tax discount and (ii) pay by direct debit. \p Simon Lightwood: Customers who receive the enhanced rate mobility component of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and whose vehicles are already licensed in the disabled taxation class can renew their vehicle excise duty (VED) exemption online.

Those customers who receive the standard rate mobility component of PIP which entitles them to a 50 per cent reduction in the rate of VED payable, must send their application to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Facilitating online applications by disabled customers to claim reduced rates of VED requires the electronic exchange of data held by the Department for Work and Pensions with the DVLA. Officials are considering how to improve the ability for customers in receipt of PIP to transact with the DVLA.
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Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to instal Automated External Defibrillators at (a) stations and (b) key infrastructure points as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. \p Simon Lightwood: I can confirm that Automated External Defibrillators are being installed at stations along the route. Discussions are also taking place with local stakeholders to assess the suitability of installing defibrillators on infrastructure outside of the station environment.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase the number of driving tests in (a) Epsom and Ewell constituency and (b) England. \p Simon Lightwood: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times.

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that DVSA will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain.

These actions include incentivised additional testing offers for driving examiners, doubling permanent training capacity for new driving examiners, and a call for volunteers from those currently in other roles (but qualified to examine) to carry out practical driving tests.

DVSA is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country to provide as many tests as possible. Since July last year, DVSA has recruited and trained 290 driving examiners (DE) who are now in post and delivering driving tests.

The test centres that serve candidates in the Epsom and Ewell constituency are Tolworth, Chertsey, Morden and Mitcham.

Since July 2025, one new entrant examiner has passed their training course and is now conducting tests at Tolworth test centre, with a further new entrant currently undertaking training and one booked on a training course. DVSA also has one new entrant undertaking training and if successful will begin testing at Chertsey. DVSA has also made an offer of employment to a new entrant examiner for Morden test centre. A further three new entrants who have passed their training course are now conducting tests at Mitcham, with a further new entrant awaiting to start their training and one new entrant currently undertaking training.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department’s road safety strategy will include an assessment of the potential impact of daylight hours on accident rates. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The road safety strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish the strategy this year.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to increase access to Bikeability cycle training for children. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department for Transport announced in February an additional £30 million to support the delivery of Bikeability cycle training to children across England in 2025/26.

This includes funding to ensure sessions are accessible to people with additional needs, such as households without cycles or basic cycle training to prepare children for Bikeability training. In 2024/25 the Bikeability programme provided access to over 4,700 new cycles, supporting the delivery of 500,000 training places, which equated to almost 3 million hours of cycling for children.

In 2024/25, approximately 10% of children trained were children with special educational needs and disabilities, which has increased from 8% in 2023/24.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will list the (a) oil refineries and (b) fuel producers which (i) manufacture sustainable aviation fuel and (ii) are developing (A) second-generation and (B) advanced sustainable aviation fuel facilities. \p Keir Mather: The only commercial scale SAF producer in the UK is P66’s Humberside Refinery. There are a wide range of SAF projects across the UK using different technologies and at different stages of development. However, much of the information on the development of fuel projects that DfT holds is commercially sensitive.

Through the Advanced Fuels Fund we have awarded over £198m to 21 UK SAF projects. Information on these projects is published on gov.uk.
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Dan Norris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to promote (a) walking, (b) wheeling and (c) cycling in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Spending Review in June 2025, which covers multiple years from 2026/27 onwards, allocated £616 million for Active Travel England to support local authorities to build and maintain walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure including dedicated cycling routes. This comes on top of £222.5 million announced in February 2025 for local authorities over xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Active Travel funding supports local transport authorities with developing and constructing walking, wheeling and cycling facilities, as well as supporting behaviour change activities and capability building measures. The West of England Combined Authority, of which North-east Somerset and Hanham constituency is part, has been allocated £3,481,065 from the Consolidated Active Travel Fund 2025-26.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82740 on Electric Vehicles: Manufacturing, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Electric Car Grant on (a) new jobs created and (b) jobs secured in the automotive manufacturing sector. \p Keir Mather: The Department does not hold this information.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate she has made of the total cost to taxpayers of the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate compliance system; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that system on (a) emissions savings and (b) the price of new commercial vehicles for operators. \p Keir Mather: The societal and carbon impacts of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate were summarised within the cost benefit analysis published in October 2023.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Schengen 90/180-day rule on UK-based haulage companies operating in the European Union. \p Keir Mather: The Schengen 90/180-day immigration rule has applied since 2021 to all UK nationals (including drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and coaches) undertaking short stays for leisure and work in the Schengen area. The Schengen 90/180 limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals to its territory. As such, it is not UK Government policy.

The Department for Transport is undertaking a research study to improve understanding of the effects of a) the Schengen 90/180-day limit to date, and b) preparedness for the implementation of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) on the international operations of GB-based HGV and coach businesses that hold standard international operator licences. The data is currently being processed, and the study’s findings will be published in due course.
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Sarah Coombes:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many suppliers struck off the register of number plate suppliers due to (a) malpractice and (b) selling number plates illegally have rejoined the register. \p Lilian Greenwood: While there are no specific targets set, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aim to audit each registered number plate supplier at least once every three years.

The DVLA supports Trading Standards and the police in prosecuting suppliers who fail to meet legal requirements. Over the past 12 months, these prosecutions have led to five businesses being removed from the register. Two of these were removed by court order and three deregistered voluntarily before legal proceedings commenced. These five businesses have not returned to the register.
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Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support coach drivers required to travel for work to the Schengen area for longer than 90 days in any 180 day period. \p Keir Mather: The Schengen 90 days in any 180-day period (“90/180”) immigration rule has applied since 2021 to all UK nationals (including coach drivers) undertaking short stays for leisure and work in the Schengen area. The Schengen 90/180 limit is a fundamental part of the EU’s conditions of entry for third country nationals to its territory. As such it is not UK Government policy.

The Department wrote to all holders of public service vehicle operator licences for national and international operations on 31 July 2025 to remind them about the implementation of the EU’s Entry / Exit System (EES). The letter advised UK operators to review the schedules of UK national drivers travelling regularly into the Schengen area to ensure compliance with the 90/180 Schengen limit, brief staff on the upcoming EES system, and monitor updates from the Government regarding EES.

The Government will continue to listen to concerns raised by sectors affected by these rules and will advocate for British citizens abroad.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will set out the statutory limits on seafarers’ hours of work and rest when employed on Workboats over 200 gross tonnage in UK territorial waters. \p Keir Mather: The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 apply to all sea-going commercially operated vessels, including workboats over 200 gross tonnage operating in UK territorial waters. These set the minimum hours of rest as

(a) 10 hours in any 24-hour period; and

(b) 77 hours in any 7-day period.

The 10 hours of rest in (a) may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which is to be at least six hours in length.
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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to expand protections for British seafarers employed by companies registered outside of the UK. \p Keir Mather: The Government is acting through the Employment Rights Bill to improve protections for seafarers by providing powers to protect the working conditions of those working aboard international services frequently calling at UK ports. The Bill will also close a loophole that prevented prosecution of employers who failed to provide notification of proposed collective redundancies aboard ships registered outside of the UK. These protections will benefit seafarers working aboard services in scope, including when they are employed by companies registered outside of the UK.

My Department will also continue to work internationally to improve protections for seafarers, including through implementing the amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention agreed in April by representatives of shipowners, seafarers and governments at the International Labour Organization in Geneva. The new provisions include measures that will help to protect seafarers against violence and harassment, strengthen their rights to repatriation and improve access to shore leave. It is expected that these amendments will come into force internationally on 23 December 2027.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many flag state inspections of commercial workboats for compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention have been carried out by organisations certified by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each year since 2016. \p Keir Mather: These inspections are delegated to the Certifying Authorities, and as such the Maritime and Coastguard Agency do not hold that data directly.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2025 to Question 79364 on Defence Safety Authority, what recent progress the Maritime and Coastguard Authority has made on the development of its own maritime autonomy programme. \p Keir Mather: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have developed multiple workstreams to support the UK’s maritime autonomy industry. This includes marine guidance notices and the third edition of the UK’s Workboat Code, which provide a regulatory framework within which autonomous vessels can operate. In addition, the recently developed Remote Operator Training and Certification Pilot Framework provides a voluntary scheme for training and certification of Remote Operators, which will lead to an experienced and qualified workforce.

The existing provisions under the Merchant Shipping Act have been maximised to support various sizes and types of vessels, and as parliamentary time allows, we will go further to enable emerging use cases.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with equestrian safety organisations on trends in the number of road incidents involving horses over the past five years. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads and my Department works with a broad range of stakeholders, including discussions with the British Horse Society, to help us achieve our aim.

In 2022 The Highway Code was updated to improve the safety of all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. Key changes included the introduction of a Hierarchy of Road Users, which ensures that those who do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat that they pose to others, along with the strengthening of guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking horse-riders.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of road safety measures in protecting (a) horse riders and (b) carriage drivers on public highways. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Government is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads and my Department works with a broad range of stakeholders to help us achieve our aim.

In 2022 The Highway Code was updated to improve the safety of all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. Key changes included the introduction of a Hierarchy of Road Users, which ensures that those who do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat that they pose to others, along with the strengthening of guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking horse-riders.

THINK!, the Government's flagship road safety campaign, plays an important role in raising awareness of, and encouraging compliance with, road safety legislation, including the changes to The Highway Code. THINK!, ran campaigns to alert road users of the changes as they came into effect and broader behaviour campaigns to encourage understanding and uptake of the guidance. Results from the last campaign showed that by September 2023 93% of drivers agreed it was their responsibility to give space to vulnerable road users. We will continue to promote The Highway Code changes on THINK! and DfT social media channels and via our partner organisations.
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Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many an what proportion of cars were powered by electric in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England in the most recent period for which data is available. \p Keir Mather: At the end of June 2025, the number of licensed cars that were battery electric was 3,119 (2.9%) in Newcastle, 4,955 (2.9%) in Northumberland, 30,928 (2.5%) in the North East and 1,355,127 (4.7%) in England.

We do not readily hold the respective figure for Hexham constituency.

It is important to note, vehicles are allocated to geographic location according to the postcode of the registered keeper. The address does not necessarily reflect where the vehicle is located. This is especially true for large fleets kept by companies involved with vehicle management, leasing or rentals.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release titled Record investment to protect thousands of UK homes and businesses, published on 4 February 2025, how much of the £2.65 billion of funding announced for flood defences will be allocated to (a) projects along the River Perry, and (b) protecting housing and businesses in Gobowen. \p Emma Hardy: a: The Environment Agency is developing the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme. This will provide a strategic holistic approach in the Upper Severn catchment, including the River Perry, to manage flood risk and explore how natural processes can be delivered at scale, complimented by traditional engineering approaches. The total value of this strategy within the announcement (24/25-25/26) is £4.3m million.

In addition, £290k is being invested in a Demonstrator project in Oswestry, North Shropshire, to ‘de-pave’, and create new, water absorbing greenspaces. This will improve drainage and slow the flow of water in the built environment.

Also £450k is being invested to investigate the rewetting of lowland peat in the Perry catchment.

b: Shropshire Council have secured £50,000 from the English Severn and Wye Regional Flood and Coastal Committee to investigate a flood scheme to protect approximately 100 properties and rail infrastructure in Gobowen.
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Gavin Robinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on the level of (a) food and (b) retail consumer inflation in each of the next five years. \p Mary Creagh: In autumn last year my department published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on packaging producers as a whole including impact on CPI inflation and impact on consumers weekly expenditure, when the regulations were laid in parliament.
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Gavin Robinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made a comparative assessment of the attractiveness of foreign investment in glass manufacturing in (a) the UK, (b) France and (c) Germany following the introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility. \p Mary Creagh: My department has not undertaken an assessment of this specific topic, but has engaged extensively with other countries that operate extended producer responsibility schemes across the EU and across the world. Extended producer responsibility is an internationally recognised model to reduce packaging waste and improve recycling levels. The UK’s largest waste management companies have pledged a £10 billion investment in the UK’s reprocessing capacity, creating around 25,000 jobs on the back of the packaging reforms.
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Gavin Robinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on trends in the level of (a) economic output and (b) employment in the glass manufacturing sector in the next five years. \p Mary Creagh: In autumn last year my department published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on packaging producers as a whole including impact on CPI inflation and impact on consumers weekly expenditure, when the regulations were laid in parliament. This does not include an assessment of the impact on specific materials or sectors. However, my department has engaged extensively with the glass manufacturing sector to understand the impacts on them. This engagement will continue.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what fiscal measures her Department has considered to promote domestic recycling in (a) Staffordshire and (b) England. \p Mary Creagh: The provision of funding to Local Authorities to support timely and effective implementation of Simpler Recycling will increase recycling rates by ensuring the same materials can be recycled at home, at work or on the go. We have already provided over £340 million in transitional funding to LAs for weekly food waste collections, and from 2026 onwards, the Local Government Finance Settlement will include funding for local authorities to deliver Simpler Recycling as part of the Collection and Packaging waste reforms.

Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) provides funding to Local Authorities across the UK of c. £1.4 billion per annum and will incentivise a more efficient and effective services and higher rates of recycling.

The PRN system (Packaging Waste Recycling Note), used by producers to meet legal recycling obligations, provides a mechanism to drive investment by providing revenue to recyclers. My officials are currently considering options to incentivise domestic recycling over export through reforms to the PRN system.
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Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the cost of insurance premiums for homes at high risk of flooding in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England. \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 2024/25, Flood Re provided cover for over 346,000 household policies. 650,000 properties have benefitted since the scheme’s launch. Notably, prior to Flood Re’s inception, the average home insurance quote for a householder with a flood claim was about £4,400. As of December 2024, the average was c. £1,100. Additionally, 99% of householders at high risk of flooding can now obtain quotes from 10 or more insurers.

I met with senior leaders from the insurance industry this month. We discussed how the industry can support customers both to secure relevant and affordable insurance, and at the point of claim, particularly for householders in areas at high risk of flooding such as Hexham constituency, Northumberland, Newcastle, the North East, and across England.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the CMA's decision to allow some water companies to increase bills above the rate set by OFWAT on consumers. \p Emma Hardy: Redetermination is an independent process, and the decision remains subject to consultation. The CMA will publish their final decision in March 2026.

We expect all water companies to put appropriate support in place for customers struggling to pay their bills and to proactively engage with their customers to ensure they know what support schemes are available and how to use them.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to ban bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas. \p Emma Hardy: The Government’s approach is to restrict fishing which is assessed as damaging to the specific protected features in each Marine Protected Area, based on advice from the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies. A consultation on the latest round of proposed fisheries byelaws, which proposes further restrictions on bottom trawling, closed on 29 September. The Marine Management Organisation is now carefully considering all responses received, and decisions will be made in due course.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the additional hectares of farmland in Buckinghamshire that will remain under agri-environment schemes as a result of the extension to Countryside Stewardship. \p Dame Angela Eagle: There are 6474 hectares of farmland in Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreements in Buckinghamshire which are due to expire on 31 December 2025. The majority of these will be offered a one-year extension.
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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to increase the significance of improving animal welfare within the work of the Animal and Plant Health Agency. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Animal welfare is, and will continue to be, a high priority for the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Through its knowledge and expertise, effective delivery of regulatory functions, and provision of guidance and advice, APHA plays a critical welfare role.
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Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding her Department has provided for (a) biosecurity and (b) food importation public awareness campaigns in each of the last 10 calendar years. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Marketing and campaign activity is based on need and in-year circumstances. The vast majority of communications is delivered through no-cost communications channels owned by the department (such as outreach to partner organisations, webinars or content posted to Defra social media channels) and earned communications (such as media coverage).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_174

Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on raising the cap for 100% Agricultural Property Relief to £5 million. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_175
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_175

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51109 on UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland, how many species are scheduled to have their prohibition lifted by 31 December 2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra has submitted technical dossiers to the European Commission seeking derogations for 45 species of plants from the EU's prohibitions on entry for high-risk plants. 35 of these have been successful to date, subject to specific conditions being met. The remaining 10 applications are under review by the Commission. Their up-to-date status can be found here: Export of high risk plants to the EU - UK Plant Health Information Portal
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_176
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_176

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the planned timescales are for the action points in the Cross-government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Group Roadmap on addressing levels of fipronil and imidacloprid detected in UK waterways; and how she plans to measure their levels of success. \p Emma Hardy: The Cross-government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PiE) Group Roadmap sets out a phased approach to addressing the presence of fipronil and imidacloprid in UK waterways. It outlines three broad categories of action: immediate efforts focused on communication and education; medium-term actions centred on evidence gathering; and longer-term regulatory interventions.

To ensure the roadmap remains responsive to emerging evidence and evolving priorities, the timelines have been intentionally kept broad. This flexibility is essential to allow the programme to adapt to new challenges or opportunities as they arise. While we have indicative timeframes, i.e. immediate actions are expected to show significant progress within a year, medium-term actions within five years, and longer-term actions will be shaped by the evidence gathered during the medium term, we recognise that agility is key. In particular, the longer-term regulatory actions will require careful consideration of the evidence base as it develops.

Success will be measured through progress against roadmap actions, including delivery of stakeholder engagement, improved guidance, and evidence outputs. In addition, environmental monitoring, led by the relevant UK environment agencies, will track levels of fipronil and imidacloprid in surface waters over time. Collectively, these measures will help assess the effectiveness of stewardship efforts and guide future regulatory decisions.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_177
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_177

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has considered requiring pet products containing pesticides that are sold off the shelf to the public to provide explicit (a) advice and (b) warnings of their potential impacts on the environment at the point of sale. \p Emma Hardy: The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is aware of stakeholder concerns regarding veterinary medicines that can be sold without a prescription and are available from general retailers (AVM-GSL distribution category) for some companion animal flea and tick products. A review of this distribution category for these products remains an option that the VMD is considering in order to assess the requirements for advice and environmental warnings at the point of sale.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_178
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_178

Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the cattle vaccine against bovine tuberculosis undergoing Phase 3 trials by the Animal and Plant Health Agency will be available in Northern Ireland. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The field trials and the cattle vaccine will not be available in Northern Ireland. Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency are only seeking marketing authorisation in Great Britain at this stage.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_179
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_179

John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cases of bluetongue virus in alpacas have been recorded since October 2023. \p Dame Angela Eagle: There have been no confirmed cases of bluetongue virus in alpacas since October 2023. Bluetongue is a notifiable disease, which means all suspected cases must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_180
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_180

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of fireworks displays on (a) wildlife and (b) domestic animals. \p Dame Angela Eagle: No specific assessment has been made of the potential merits of designating firework-free zones to help protect animals or on the impact of fireworks on animal welfare.

However, the Government is continuing to engage with animal welfare stakeholders, businesses, consumer groups and charities on the impacts of fireworks, to inform any future action.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_181
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_181

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to introduce activity regulations under the Animal (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023; and what her Department's timetable is for the full implementation of that Act. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire, Pippa Heylings on 23 September 2025 PQ UIN 73101.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_182
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_182

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43740 on Animal Welfare: Trapping, what recent discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on ending the use of snare traps. \p Mary Creagh: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The Secretary of State has had no recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on ending the use of snare traps, but Defra Ministers and officials have regular meetings with organisations that have an interest in snare use. As outlined in our manifesto, we will bring an end to the use of snare traps. We are considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_183
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_183

David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) safety and (b) wellbeing of penguins housed in (i) zoos and (ii) aquariums. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government published new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain on 24 May 2025, which will come into force from May 2027. The new Standards contain the very latest in best practice for caring for animals in zoos and aquariums, including penguins, and will replace the 2012 Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice.

Local authorities are responsible for licensing zoos and aquariums, enforcing conditions and carrying out inspections to ensure animals are being kept in line with the Standards.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_184
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_184

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the average cost of veterinary bills for pet owners. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Competition and Markets Authority is conducting a market investigation into the provision of veterinary services for household pets. Their Provisional Decision Report was published on 15 October and is open for consultation until 12 November. Defra will consider any remedies from their final report when it is published in Spring 2026.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_185
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_185

Olivia Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department will take steps to (a) review and (b) increase the powers available to (i) the RSPCA and (ii) other animal welfare organisations to intervene in cases of suspected neglect. \p Dame Angela Eagle: There are no current plans to review or increase the powers the RSPCA or other animal welfare organisations have. The RSPCA has strong working relationships with the Police and Local Authorities who support them in protecting animals where needed.

The Government recognises the valuable work the RSPCA and other animal welfare organisations do to improve the welfare of animals. The Government remains committed to working with the RSPCA, and other animal welfare organisations, so that our high animal welfare standards are maintained and offenders are subject to appropriate penalties.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_186
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_186

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has been made of the potential impact of fireworks on the welfare of (a) livestock and (b) pets. \p Dame Angela Eagle: No specific assessment has been made of the potential impact of fireworks on animal welfare.

However, the Government is continuing to engage with animal welfare stakeholders, businesses, consumer groups and charities on the impacts of fireworks, to inform any future action.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_187
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_187

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Environment Agency's Chief Scientist’s Group report entitled Exploring recreational water use in England, published in July 2025. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is considering the approach to improving access to nature and is committed to working with stakeholders as this develops. The Environment Agency’s report on recreational water use will help to inform that process.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_188
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_188

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to consult with recreational user groups during the development of the proposed White Paper on water reform. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is considering the approach to improving access to nature, including for recreational water users, and is committed to working with stakeholders as this develops.

Extensive consultation with stakeholders took place during the Independent Water Commission’s review of the water sector. The government will continue to engage key stakeholders as it develops its full policy response to the recommendations.

A new partnership between Government, the sector, investors and communities will deliver the change the public expects.