theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Navendu Mishra:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to Business Property Relief on family-owned manufacturing businesses. \p James Murray: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

The Government has set out that around 1,500 estates across the UK only claiming business property relief are expected to pay more inheritance tax in 2026-27, with around 1,000 of these expected to only hold shares designated as “not listed” on the markets of recognised stock exchanges, such as the Alternative Investment Market. The remaining 500 estates will include business assets from sectors across the economy that are eligible for business property relief. These reforms mean that around three-quarters of estates claiming business property relief in 2026-27 (excluding those estates only holding shares designated as “not listed”) will not pay any more inheritance tax in 2026-27.

The reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent OBR certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact.
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Tim Roca:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what budget has been allocated for longitudinal monitoring of the financial impact of the proposed Equality and Human Rights Commission's revised code of practice for services, public functions and associations on businesses post-implementation. \p Emma Reynolds: The Office for Equality and Opportunity in the Cabinet Office will consider the EHRC's updated draft Code of Practice once it has been submitted and engage with them to ensure it provides the further certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling. Employers and other duty bearers must follow the law and should take appropriate specialist legal advice where necessary.

We do not centrally retain budgeting information on the EHRC’s spending on specific evaluations of its policies.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Lee Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54350 on Cash Dispensing: Ashfield, how she defines the reasonable provision of free cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for personal current accounts. \p Emma Reynolds: As the regulator responsible for the access to cash regime, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) defines reasonable provision on a geographic basis, whilst having regard to the cash access policy statement set out by HMT. The FCA’s rules set out that 95% of people in urban areas should be within 1 mile of a cash access point and 95% of people in rural areas should be within 3 miles of a cash access point. However, the FCA also notes that assessments should take into account local factors when considering whether there is a deficiency of cash services in a local community.

Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website.

In circumstances where LINK considers that a community requires additional cash services, the financial services sector will provide a suitable shared solution, such as an ATM, cash deposit service, or shared Banking Hub, for cash users in that community.

To ensure the reasonable provision of cash and banking services, the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK, which will provide individuals up and down the country with critical cash and banking services. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 225 hubs have been announced so far, and over 150 are already open.
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Melanie Ward:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle ageism in the provision of financial services. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government works closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure that all customers get the right support with their financial products and services. The FCA requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers.

Ensuring individuals have access to appropriate financial products and services is also a key priority for the Government. This is why I have committed to publish a Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year which will seek to tackle a range of barriers consumers can face in accessing the products they need.

Additionally, the Equality Act 2010 generally prohibits discrimination based on certain protected characteristics, including age. There are some limited exceptions to this. For example, insurance providers cannot refuse to cover potential consumers or charge more for insurance as a result of age, unless they base their risk assessment on relevant information from a reliable source.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of bank branches moving to a counter-free system on accessibility. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government works closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure that all customers get the right support with their financial products and services.

The FCA requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers, including the elderly and disabled customers.

Furthermore, under the Equality Act 2010, banks must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all.
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Kate Osamor:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on consistency across Government in the treatment of people affected by (a) current and (b) historical maladministration . \p Darren Jones: Although schemes to redress the treatment of people affected by maladministration (for instance: Windrush, Post Office, Infected Blood) have department leads, the government's response is always made through a process of collective agreement, via write-round processes inviting views across departments.

The Cabinet Office plays a key role in this process, ensuring coordination between government stakeholders. HM Treasury views are sought on any proposals with spending implications, to promote consistency on government approaches to compensation, in particular. Sign-off is sought either through the Chancellor, or delegated to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in these cases.

Absolute consistency is not possible or desirable. In each of these examples, the government was responding to very different circumstances behind calls for redress. Answering to the specific recommendations from the inquiries, and developing policy through sensitive engagement with victim groups, takes primacy over standardising our responses. Nevertheless, officials also continue to engage across Whitehall to learn lessons from other compensation schemes.
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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 12807 on Public Appointments, what recent progress he has made on publishing an updated list of significant public appointments. \p Georgia Gould: An update will be provided in due course.
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Mark Sewards:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to ensure that London weighted salaries for civil servants only apply to employees that live in London. \p Georgia Gould: Decisions on pay, including London weighting, are delegated to individual departments for grades below the Senior Civil Service (SCS). The SCS pay framework is managed centrally and only operates a national pay range.
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Chris Bloore:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Civil Service of implementing the proposed EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions, and Associations. \p Georgia Gould: At this time, no such estimate has been made, as that code remains in draft and is currently subject to consultation.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the National Security Adviser plays a role in the (a) recruitment and (b) selection of civil servants working on national security issues; and whether he has had discussions with the Civil Service Commission on this issue. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Special advisers are bound by the Special Adviser Code of Conduct which states they should not be involved in the line management of civil servants or in matters affecting a civil servant’s career such as recruitment, promotion, reward and discipline. The commission ensures the integrity of recruitment, including in the NSS, in the usual way.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the transparency of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The House of Lords Appointments Commission is an independent, advisory non-departmental public body. The Commission publishes an Annual Report on its website, the most recent of which was published on 14 May, along with other information about the Commission’s activity and processes.
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Dr Rosena Allin-Khan:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing emergency planning in relation to infants and children. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Cabinet Office non-statutory guidance sets out that emergency planning should consider groups that require special consideration, including those who are dependent on others, such as children. All education, childcare, and children’s social care settings should have emergency plans in place. Plans should explain how to respond and take any temporary actions in the event of an emergency. This expectation is set out in DfE’s (non-statutory) emergency planning guidance for education, childcare and children’s social care settings. The guidance includes an expectation to evaluate and test plans. DfE also publishes statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment.
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Steve Darling:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a signer being present at Government news conferences. \p Sir Stephen Timms: This Government is strongly committed to making our communications accessible and inclusive, and to reducing the barriers Deaf people face in their everyday lives.

Since we have come into power, we have endeavoured to ensure as many of the Prime Minister's speeches as possible have BSL interpretation in vision during live streams. This can be found on the Prime Minister’s social media channels - X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. Where speeches do not have political content, the interpretation is also made available afterwards on gov.uk.

I pay tribute to the outstanding work of the Government’s BSL Advisory Board. We will continue to work with them, and with other members of the Deaf community, on how we can improve further the accessibility of our communications.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any public body holds information on the pension liabilities of former UK Members of the European Parliament; and which public body administers those pensions. \p Georgia Gould: The Trustees of the Consolidated Fund provide details of pension scheme liabilities for the European Parliamentary (United Kingdom Representatives) Pension Scheme, which was open to UK Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) elected up to 2009. This information is in the public domain.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of concerns from solar developers on the Government’s 2035 projections for their technology and the potential impact on (a) Contracts for Difference competition and (b) reaching Government’s clean power targets post-2030. \p Michael Shanks: My Department engaged extensively with Ofgem, NESO, and stakeholders on the 2031-35 solar capacity ranges figures in the Clean Power Action Plan. In April, we published an update to the Action Plan to reflect the recent trend of an increased solar project pipeline at transmission. [1]

Connections reform will benefit Contracts for Difference competition and achieving clean power by prioritising projects that are progressing and aligned with our strategic needs. Projects which hold CfD contracts, for example, will automatically be considered strategically aligned and will be eligible for a confirmed connection agreement as part of the reformed connections queue.

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-power-2030-action-plan-solar-capacity-update-letter-to-neso/clean-power-2030-action-plan-solar-capacity-update-letter-to-neso-7-april-2025
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52267 on DESNZ: Islamophobia, what definition of Islamophobia was used in the training session. \p Michael Shanks: The training and awareness session was delivered by the Anti-Islamophobia Working Group as an external provider. The material from the session is owned by the provider and therefore we cannot share the content due to commercial sensitivity.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what additional support his Department plans to provide to vulnerable households facing high winter fuel costs in 2025-26. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past.

The Government recognises that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we delivered the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households last winter. We have recently consulted on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would bring around 2.7 million households on a qualifying means-tested benefit into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The consultation closed on 24 March and DESNZ is considering the responses received.

I have been clear with suppliers that they should do all that they can to support their customers – including vulnerable consumers – who may be struggling with their bills.
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Charlotte Nichols:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he plans to take to help make it easier for (a) tenants and (b) leaseholders to install heat pumps. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Warm Homes Plan will help upgrade homes across the country, including those occupied by tenants and leaseholders, by making them cleaner and cheaper to run, from installing new insulation to rolling out solar and heat pumps.

The Government is helping make heat pumps more efficient and easier to install, through increasing funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to £295 million for this financial year, ensuring more families can benefit from £7,500 off the cost of a heat pump. The Government has also allowed heat pumps to be installed within 1m of the property boundary without applying for planning permission.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to consult the public on his revised seventh carbon budget plan. \p Kerry McCarthy: We have a clear mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower. This transition will make people better off now and for generations to come. We remain committed to supporting people to realise the benefits and design policies that are responsive to their needs.

By end of October 2025, we will deliver an updated plan that sets out the policy package out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all sectors of the economy.

We will also publish a Net Zero Public Participation Strategy which will set out how we will support people to access the benefits of new technologies and ensure that diverse perspectives are considered in net zero policy making.

Looking ahead, we will set Carbon Budget 7 by June 2026, in line with our statutory duties. This will set out the next phase of our pathway to net zero to continue to secure the economic and societal benefits of the net zero transition.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to implement the Fuel Finder open data scheme. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government aims to implement Fuel Finder by the end of 2025, subject to legislation and parliamentary time. The Data (Use and Access) Bill will provide the legislative basis to set up Fuel Finder to increase price transparency for UK drivers.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50278 on Coking Coal: Imports, if he will encourage businesses to source coal domestically used in (a) steel making, (b) the cement and chemical industries and (c) patent fuel manufacture. \p Michael Shanks: Coal mining in Great Britain has been in long-term decline and there are only a handful of coal mines currently operating – these are unaffected by the Government commitment to not grant new coal licences and can continue in line with their existing consents. This includes a coal mine at Aberpergwm, Wales, that supplies coal suitable for certain domestic industrial processes.

The source of coal for use in industry is a private commercial matter for the organisations involved.
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Andrew Pakes:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many grants have been awarded under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in each month since the scheme started by (a) technology, (b) local authority and (c) constituency. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Up to the end of April 2025, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) has received 79,964 applications, and has paid out 51,109 vouchers to the cost of ~£343 million. The Government publish monthly data on the progress of scheme which can be found here.

Published BUS statistics include data between May 2022 to March 2025 on technology type by month (tab M1.1); applications and redemptions for country/region by month and financial year (tab M1.2 & A1.1A); heat pump redemptions by local authority for each financial year (tab A1.7); and the number of redemptions paid for technology type by parliamentary constituency (Q1.3).
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will confirm when his Department will publish a fully-costed plan to achieve a Net Zero power grid by 2030. \p Michael Shanks: The Clean Power Action Plan published in December 2024 outlines the Government’s approach to reaching clean power by 2030, including the need to deliver an estimated £40 billion a year of investment on average per year between 2025-2030. The vast majority of this investment will come from the private sector.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, on what statutory basis his Department can prevent biomass companies from claiming renewable subsidies for burning wood from irreplaceable primary forests. \p Michael Shanks: The Secretary of State has the statutory authority to determine the sustainability criteria for biomass subsidies either by secondary legislation such as regulations under the Renewables Obligation scheme, or by determining the terms of a contract under the Contracts for Difference scheme.

While the Secretary of State sets the sustainability framework, it is for relevant regulators such as Ofgem, or the Low-Carbon Contracts Company as the contractual counterparty to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, to enforce sustainability requirements.

Government only supports biomass that satisfies sustainability criteria. The proposed Low-Carbon Dispatchable CfD will strengthen sustainability criteria by excluding biomass sourced from primary forest and old-growth areas from receiving subsidy.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the 2035 Future Energy Scenarios-derived capacity ranges for solar and batteries in his Department’s Clean Power Action Plan connections annex are intended to be used by Ofgem and network operators as (a) technology caps and (b) interim indications. \p Michael Shanks: The 2035 capacity ranges present credible pathways to decarbonise our energy system and provide certainty to investors by ensuring a 10-year horizon for connection offers. NESO will use the ranges to underpin connection offers out to 2035. The 2035 figures are interim, to enable connection reform to proceed at pace, and are subject to updates through the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, which will be published in 2026.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the energy efficiency of older housing stock in the West Midlands. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future, including those within the West Midlands. The Government will partner with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to roll out this plan.

As the first step towards the Warm Homes Plan, the Government has committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency, with £1 billion of this allocated to 2025/2026. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out in due course.
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Mr Jonathan Brash:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that British suppliers are used for major energy infrastructure projects. \p Sarah Jones: We have always been clear; our country’s clean energy future must be built in Britain. That’s why we launched the Clean Industry Bonus for offshore wind. The first round was hugely successful – more than doubling the budget for developers to invest in UK factories. It’s why we set up our National Wealth Fund to invest in crucial supply chains. And it’s why we created Great British Energy – which has already announced £300 million to invest in domestic offshore wind supply chains.
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Chris Hinchliff:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support the implementation of community energy projects. \p Kerry McCarthy: In 2025 and 2026 Great British Energy will provide over £9m in support directly for community energy projects – from solar on rooftops to hydropower in rivers - through the GBE Community Fund as well as support for the CARES scheme in Scotland. These projects will help to support jobs, boost our energy security and increase public support for the energy transition. GBE will grow this support over this parliament as it becomes fully established.
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Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether policies on smart thermostats will be included in the Warm Homes Plan. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: We recognise the key role that smart technologies play in decarbonsing homes. A digitised energy system will help consumers manage their usage and reduce their bills. We will set out further details in the Warm Homes Plan later this year.
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David Williams:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with energy companies on reforming the energy market. \p Ed Miliband: We are continually engaging industry, providing regular updates to energy companies and reflecting on feedback to policy options. This includes the REMA Autumn Update publication, following which we have conducted extensive assessments of both zonal and reformed national market designs.
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Alan Gemmell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the role of new nuclear in supporting a clean energy transition. \p Ed Miliband: Nuclear power will play a central role in our future clean power system, providing clean, homegrown baseload power to the grid. I am delighted that today we have announced £14.2bn of support for Sizewell C and that Rolls Royce are the winners of the SMR competition, and I look forward to laying this out in full to the House shortly.
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John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many permanent civil servants in his Department are staff without assigned posts; and how many are placed in an equivalent (a) people action team, (b) priority movers list, (c) redeployment register, (d) talent pool and (e) skills match hub in the most recent period for which data is available. \p Ian Murray: The Scotland Office has no permanent civil servants without assigned posts and no staff are placed in the referenced categories.
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the research presented to the Scottish government on ultra high frequency electronic identification technology in livestock. \p Ian Murray: Farming policy is a devolved matter, and the Government has not formally assessed the impact of the Scottish Government's decision. Defra officials are working closely with devolved administrations to ensure compliance with the UK Internal Markets Act (2020).

In the recent UK-EU joint statement, the Government committed to building on the Windsor Framework and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to reduce trade barriers.
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Scottish government’s decision to use ultra high frequency electronic identification technology for animals on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. \p Ian Murray: I am aware of the Scottish Government’s decision to adopt ultra-high frequency electronic identification technology for animals, and the Government is committed to understanding its potential implications for trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

We will continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that any developments are closely monitored and that robust livestock traceability is maintained across the UK.
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John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many permanent civil servants in her Department are staff without assigned posts; and how many are placed in an equivalent (a) people action team, (b) priority movers list, (c) redeployment register, (d) talent pool and (e) skills match hub in the most recent period for which data is available. \p Jo Stevens: There are no permanent Civil Servants in my Department without assigned posts and no permanent Civil Servants are placed in a people action team, priority movers list, redeployment register, talent pool, or skills match hub in the most recent period for which data is available.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Leader of the House, what guidance she has issued on when there should be pre-legislative scrutiny of Bills that have constitutional implications. \p Lucy Powell: Chapter 21 of the Guide to Making Legislation sets out the broad principles and process by which a bill is considered for publication in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny. Decisions in relation to whether a bill is published in draft are taken on a case by case basis in the broader context of the overall legislative programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Steve Darling:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to tackle age discrimination in the workplace. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Equality and opportunity for all are at the heart of the Government’s programme of national renewal and the UK has a strong history of protecting against direct and indirect discrimination. The Equality Act 2010 has protections that enable people to challenge age discrimination across a range of fields, including in the provision of services, employment and recruitment processes. Where age discrimination cannot be objectively justified and is unlawful, individuals can seek redress in the courts or, where relevant, at an employment tribunal.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_459

Dan Aldridge:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent estimate she has made of the cost of legal advice for small businesses of the proposed changes to the Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions, and Associations by the EHRC. \p Dame Nia Griffith: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent of government. The purpose of the EHRC’s Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations is to ensure or facilitate compliance with the Equality Act 2010 or an enactment made under that Act. The EHRC has opened its consultation on the draft updated statutory Code of Practice, seeking views from affected stakeholders. We encourage all those affected stakeholders to submit a response to the consultation. We will then consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_460

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking with the (a) Northern Ireland Executive and (b) Royal Portrush Golf Club to help create a lasting (i) sporting and (ii) economic legacy following the Open Golf Championship in July 2025. \p Hilary Benn: Royal Portrush will stage the 153rd Open Golf Championship next month, providing another outstanding showcase for golf in Northern Ireland. The 148th Open, held at Royal Portrush nine years ago, became the biggest sporting event ever held in Northern Ireland, delivering a combined economic and media benefit of more than £100 million to the region.

I visited Royal Portrush Golf Club in April which was an excellent opportunity to learn more about their preparations which are well underway. I would encourage the Right Honourable Member to share any suggestions he has to help create a lasting sporting and economic legacy from the Open with the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland, and the Department for Business and Trade.

Economic growth is the number one priority of the Government. That is why we are working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to create a thriving, competitive and regionally balanced economy in Northern Ireland through increased investment, job creation, and higher living standards.
wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_1

Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to ensure that approved methods of killing piglets on farms are being adhered to through proactive inspections. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has legal powers under Section 28 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to inspect farm premises. These inspections help ensure that animals bred or kept for farming purposes are treated in accordance with welfare regulations.

APHA conducts a set number of welfare inspections on farms each year. These visits are often unannounced and are intended to assess compliance with animal welfare legislation.

In addition, APHA investigates complaints of the illegal slaughter or killing on farms. APHA provides advice on how to achieve compliance and where necessary, APHA supports the local authority in carrying enforcement actions, including prosecutions, to ensure compliance.
wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_2

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to prohibit cane corso dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government currently have no plans to add these breed types to Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Owners of any breed of dog which is dangerously out of control are breaking the law. We will continue to encourage responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog and to consider whether the current dog control rules are sufficient to ensure communities are protected.
wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_3

Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to strengthen deterrence of illegal personal imports of (a) meat and (b) dairy products following the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Germany. \p Dame Angela Eagle: In England, Border Force and port health officials seize and destroy illegal imports of meat and dairy products, and importers risk additional sanctions including financial penalties or prosecution.

On 12 April 2025, Defra extended the ban on personal imports of meat and dairy products from the European Union (EU) following recent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Germany and other EU countries. Defra has worked with other government departments, ports, airports and international travel operators to communicate the ban.

Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.
wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_4

Sarah Edwards:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the animal welfare strategy will include a commitment to help end the illegal puppy smuggling trade. \p Dame Angela Eagle: As outlined in our manifesto, the Government is committed to ending puppy smuggling. That is why we are supporting the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_5

Cat Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects the research her Department has commissioned into tackling gaps in the scientific evidence on the potential impact of various catching methods for farmed poultry to conclude. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Research into assessing the impact of poultry catching and handling methods on animal welfare and catching durations in Great Britain is expected to be completed in 2028, after which the Government will consider its findings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_6

Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to support farmers in Yorkshire to transition to free farrowing systems. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Rt. Hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield, Laurence Turner, on 3 April 2025, PQ UIN 41698.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_7

John Whitby:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 April 2025 to Question 57518 on Farms: Tenants, if she will make it her policy to prevent agricultural landlords participating in the (a) Sustainable Farming Incentive, (b) Countryside Stewardship Scheme, (c) Landscape Recovery Scheme and (d) other similar schemes for a period of 12 months after they have taken land back from a tenant farmer. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government remains committed to ensuring agricultural tenancies are fair and collaborative. Agricultural tenancy agreements grant tenant farmers statutory protections. Where tenancies end, all parties are encouraged to employ the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice, which sets out expected standards for constructive tenancy negotiations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_8

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to prevent the importation of low-welfare animal products. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare. We will promote robust standards nationally and internationally.

All agri-food products must comply with our import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. This includes ensuring imported meat products have been slaughtered to animal welfare standards equivalent to our domestic standards.

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, the Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. We recognise concerns about methods of production, such as sow stalls and battery cages, which are not permitted in the UK. While methods vary in line with different climates, diseases, and other contextual reasons, we will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, we will be prepared to use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect our most sensitive sectors including permanent quotas, exclusions, and safeguards.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_9

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of the funding provided to the National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit in March 2025 will be allocated to local partnerships in Lincolnshire. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra does not provide financial allocations to local partnerships for tackling wildlife crime but instead provides funding directly at the national level, to the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), and in 2025/26 is providing £424,000. Home Office, similarly, does not provide financial allocations to local partnerships. Home Office provides funding directly at the national level. In 2025/26 the Home Office has provided the NWCU with £450,000 and the National Rural Crime Unit with £365,000.
wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_10

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for ensuring that half of all food purchased across the public sector is (a) locally produced and (b) certified to higher environment standards. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government is open to considering all lawful means of achieving its ambition that half of all food purchased across the public sector should be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards. As a first step, we will be reviewing the food currently purchased by the public sector and its provenance to help inform our future approach on public sector food procurement.
wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-23 conversation_11

Melanie Onn:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how often physical sampling checks are applied by the Service d’Inspection Vétérinaire Et Phytosanitaire to UK consignments of Category 3 fishmeal and fish oil exported through Calais; how long those checks take; and what representations she has made to her French counterpart on those checks. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The baseline frequency rate for physical checks on consignments of fishery products, is set out in EU legislation, though this may be increased where serious deficiencies are identified on specific goods. The EU regulations also require that for Processed Animal Protein (PAP), which includes fishmeal, the first six consignments of bulk imports are tested and their compliance verified by EU border controls before releasing the consignment.