theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will require registered social landlords to promote credit union membership to their tenants. \p Matthew Pennycook: There is currently no requirement for registered providers of social housing to promote credit union membership to their tenants, and we do not propose to introduce one.

Registered providers are expected to deliver the outcomes of the Regulator of Social Housing’s regulatory standards. This includes the Neighbourhood and Community Standard, which includes a requirement for registered providers to co-operate with relevant partners to promote social, environmental and economic wellbeing in the areas where they provide social housing. This could include signposting tenants to sources of support, and we recognise the work many register providers do to help tenants sustain their tenancies and manage their finances.
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Colum Eastwood:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on delivering the Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: As announced at the Spending Review, from 2026-27 the UK government will provide targeted, long-term local growth funding to support growth across the UK, once the UK Shared Prosperity Fund ends in March 2026.

In Northern Ireland, we are working closely with the Northern Ireland Office to develop and implement the new Local Growth Fund, in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Executive. The government is committed to engagement with key stakeholders in Northern Ireland to help implement a package of funding that meets local needs and delivers impact. More information on the development of the Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland and engagement plans will be set out soon.
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Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to construct new housing for asylum seekers. \p Alison McGovern: As allocated as part of the Spending Review, the Government is investing £500 million in a new, more sustainable asylum accommodation model, developed in consultation with local authorities. This funding will be delivered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Home Office and councils, to deliver better outcomes for communities and taxpayers.

This fund will support councils to make available basic alternative accommodation so that it can be used on a temporary basis to house asylum seekers waiting for their cases to be processed. In the longer term, our ambition is that this investment will leave a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduce pressure on local housing markets.

We continue to engage with local government on options for design of the fund and the best way to deliver this accommodation in different areas. We will confirm further details in due course.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who the (a) members are and (b) chair is of the Inter-ministerial Group on Rough Sleeping and Homelessness. \p Alison McGovern: The Inter-Ministerial Group includes ministers from across government and is focused on developing a long-term strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness. This includes ministers from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Home Office, Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Health and Social Care, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, Cabinet Office, and His Majesty’s Treasury.

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government or his delegate chairs the Inter-Ministerial Group on homelessness.
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John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made on the potential impact of extending the Armed Forces Covenant Duty across his Departmental responsibilities. \p Alison McGovern: Local authorities are already bound by this duty when they discharge their housing and homelessness duties, and independent Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers support service personnel and their families to register and to vote. Extending the legal duty of the Armed Forces Covenant to MHCLG would therefore align with my department’s existing policies.

A detailed assessment can be found in our response to the Defence Committee in April, available at: committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/142062/default/.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ensure that the local elections in Norfolk take place on 7 May 2026. \p Alison McGovern: The starting point is for all elections to go ahead, unless there is strong justification. We intend for the mayoral election for the new strategic authority to take place in May 2026, alongside the scheduled elections to Norwich City Council and the County Council elections postponed from May 2025.
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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to announce the prospectus for round 4 of the local authority housing fund. \p Alison McGovern: We aim to publish the prospectus for Round 4 by the end of this year, to allow local authorities sufficient time to prepare for delivery to begin in April 2026.

The £950 million fourth round of Local Authority Housing Fund will primarily support local authorities in England to increase the supply of better-quality temporary accommodation and drive down the use of Bed and Breakfasts for families with children.

It will also provide safe and suitable housing for those on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), to fulfil the UK’s humanitarian duties to assist those who assisted British efforts in Afghanistan and are at risk of homelessness.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to publish an update on local government reorganisation plans in Surrey. \p Alison McGovern: Surrey is pursuing local government reorganisation to an accelerated timetable. A decision on which proposal to implement will be announced shortly to Parliament, now the House has returned from the conference recess, and will be shared with Surrey Council leaders at the same time.

It continues to be expected, by both the government and council leaders in Surrey, that elections scheduled to take place in Surrey in May 2026, including those to the County Council, will be replaced by elections to the new unitary councils.

Simplifying local government structures in Surrey will also support a strong foundation for devolution, and government will continue to work with local leaders to consider options.
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Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will review election regulations. \p Samantha Dixon: This government is committed to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of our elections. Between October 2024 and April 2025, the government worked in partnership with the electoral sector to carry out a strategic review of electoral registration and conduct, focused on improving resilience, reducing risk in the delivery of elections, and supporting voters. The outcomes of the Review were set out in the Government’s Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections, published in July 2025.
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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent progress her Department has made in launching Young Futures Hubs. \p Stephanie Peacock: This Government has committed to up to fifty Young Futures Hubs to be launched over the next four years. The first eight early adopter hubs will be operational by the end of this financial year, backed by a £2m investment and targeted in areas with high levels of crime. Each Young Futures Hub will meet three outcomes of increasing opportunities, improving mental health and wellbeing, and reducing crime. The Government is working closely with the eight early adopters and other stakeholders to design the programme, leveraging local understanding of services in each area.

Young Futures Hubs are part of a wider approach to improve services for young people through the National Youth Strategy, a new long-term vision for young people to be launched later this year.
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Sarah Olney:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to amend the presumption of parental involvement when a parent has been convicted of abuse or violent crimes. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Government has announced that it will repeal the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989 when Parliamentary time allows.

We are committed to ensuring that the child’s welfare remains at the heart of the courts’ decision-making, and that each case considers the individual child and their family circumstances. Courts will continue to make decisions in line with the remaining provisions in the Children Act, the Human Rights Act 1998, ECHR considerations, and caselaw, with the child’s welfare remaining the paramount consideration.

The measure to repeal the presumption forms a key part of broader family court reforms, which include the expansion of the Pathfinder courts. These reforms aim to ensure that any decisions centre the child’s welfare and are based on a robust assessment of potential risks.

Alongside this announcement, we have published the Review of the Presumption of Parental Involvement and the accompanying reports from the three commissioned research projects.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary on improving the terms and conditions for magistrates. \p Sarah Sackman: As magistrates are volunteers, they do not have formal terms and conditions. However, their role is governed by the Lord Chancellor’s Directions, which set out expectations and guidance for their role. While these Directions are issued by the Lord Chancellor, they are developed with input from, and in coordination with, the independent Judiciary.

The Lord Chancellor regularly meets with the Lady Chief Justice and senior judiciary to discuss courts, tribunals, the magistracy, and the wider justice system. It is standard practice not to comment on the specifics of Minister-judiciary conversations.

Magistrates can claim expenses for loss of earnings, travel and subsistence in support of their judicial duties. The Ministry of Justice will consult on, and publish, an updated Magistrates Expenses policy in 2026.

Training of the judiciary is a judicial responsibility. Magistrates are supported with an extensive training programme, provided by the Judicial College, across their first 12-15 months in post, including a three day in person induction course at the outset. All newly appointed magistrates are also supported by a mentor. Continuation training and regular appraisals are provided for magistrates on an ongoing basis.
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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the recommendations in the report by the Magistrates' Association entitled Magistrates Matter, published on 5 June 2025. \p Sarah Sackman: The Ministry of Justice is dedicated to ensuring all magistrates feel valued for their work. We have considered the Magistrates’ Association report on improving recognition of magistrates and its recommendations for Ministers and the Senior Judiciary. We work closely with the Magistrates’ Association, and we will consider their recommendations carefully.
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Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of safeguards to prevent the misuse of private prosecutions for vexatious purposes. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government recognises that vexatious private prosecutions are a serious problem. There are established mechanisms for dealing with vexatious applications. In deciding whether to issue a summons for an individual or organisation to bring a private prosecution, magistrates will review whether the application is vexatious and will decline the application if it is. Defendants who wish to challenge the grant of a summons for a private prosecution against them can do so by requesting a judicial review of the decision or applying to the High Court to quash the summons.

Fairness and transparency are the cornerstones of our justice system and there is a clear need to set consistent standards amongst private prosecutors. We think there is scope to do more to ensure such high standards.

That is why the Government launched a consultation into the regulation of private prosecutors which closed earlier this year. We will set out next steps shortly.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of sentences for people convicted of crimes involving breaches of trading standards. \p Jake Richards: The Ministry of Justice has made no assessment of sentencing for offending involving breaches of trading standards.

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts. Parliament has provided the courts with a broad range of sentencing powers to deal effectively and appropriately with offenders, including discharges, fines, community sentences, suspended sentences and custodial sentences.

When deciding what sentence to impose, courts must consider the circumstances of the case, including the culpability of the offender, the harm they caused or intended to cause, and any aggravating and mitigating factors. The courts also have a statutory duty to follow any relevant sentencing guidelines, developed by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales.
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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to her oral contribution during the Second Reading of the Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-sentence Reports) Bill, Official Report, column 997, what recent progress his Department has made on the review of the data that his Department holds on disparities in the justice system; when he plans to complete the review; and whether he plans to take further steps to assess (a) the underlying causes and (b) effectiveness of policy on disparities in the justice system. \p Jake Richards: The previous Lord Chancellor commissioned a review of the latest data on sentencing disparities and its causes. I will provide more information on this in due course.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question 76411 on Ajax Vehicles, if he will publish the findings of the assessment programme for the use of the ARES variant of Ajax for mounted close combat. \p Luke Pollard: I hope the hon. Gentleman will understand that I am withholding the details of the assessment programme findings, as its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
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Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with Kosovo counterparts on (a) strengthening defence and security collaboration and (b) industrial and armed forces cooperation. \p Al Carns: As one of the first countries to recognise Kosovo’s independence in 2008, the UK has a strong bilateral defence relationship. We continue to play a leading role in the professionalisation of the Kosovo Security Force since its inception in 2009. Today our cooperation focusses on areas including training and exercising, defence education and defence reform. HMG also continue to explore future defence export opportunities to Kosovo. Alongside bolstering Kosovo’s security and resilience, this cooperation aims to support jobs throughout the United Kingdom and maintain our world-class defence-industrial base. Defence exports as well as bilateral defence cooperation were issues discussed when the Kosovan Director for Policy and Strategy met with UK Defence officials in the margins of DSEI in September.
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Peter Lamb:To ask the Leader of the House, whether he has taken steps to implement the suggested initial priorities outlined in the Memorandum to the Modernisation Committee, published on 12 February 2025. \p Sir Alan Campbell: The Memorandum to the Modernisation Committee, published on 13 February 2025, set out the Committee’s next steps, following the consultation exercise it held between October and December 2024. The Memorandum stated that the Committee intended to pursue three broad packages of work. These were: improving accessibility for MPs, staff and the public; effective use of the Commons; and creating more certainty about the timing and nature of parliamentary business.

So far, the Committee has prioritised work on the first of these three themes. It launched an inquiry into Access to the House of Commons and its Procedures on 20 March 2025. Between April and July, it held seven oral evidence sessions, hearing from disabled MPs and former MPs, staff, and peers, and from academics and senior House of Commons staff, including the Clerk of the House and the Director General. Transcripts of all the sessions are available on the Committee’s website. The inquiry has also drawn on submissions to the consultation exercise, questionnaire responses, written evidence, and one-to-one interviews.

A report with recommendations to the House authorities and others is currently in preparation. A letter from the Director General to the then Chair of the Modernisation Committee, dated 28 May 2025, outlines some of the measures that have already been taken as a result of the Committee’s inquiry. This letter is also available on the Committee’s website.

The other two themes mentioned in the Memorandum remain areas of interest and ongoing work for the Committee, but have not yet been the subject of an inquiry. The Modernisation Committee made it clear in its Memorandum that it wants to work with other committees and it awaits with interest the outcome of the Procedure Committee’s inquiries into call lists, and electronic voting, the Standards Committee’s inquiry into outside employment and interests, and the Administration Committee’s inquiry into health and wellbeing.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of net zero policies on Scotland's oil and gas sector. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: I’m due to be in Aberdeen next week to meet a range of North Sea oil and gas operators.

The Government is clear that Scotland’s oil and gas industry will remain part of our energy system for decades to come.

We are also strengthening our energy security and making Scotland home to the green jobs of the future by investing in homegrown clean power through GB Energy.

GB Energy is already investing in Scottish renewables. This includes an investment of £200 million in solar and renewable energy projects on public buildings across the country, and in June, GB Energy also pledged £300 million of investment in offshore wind supply chains, as part of a £1 billion package in collaboration with industry and the Crown Estate.
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John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of visits abroad by Scottish Government Ministers on UK trade policy. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: The Hon Gentleman, not the Scottish Government, can be assured that it is the UK Government that has delivered trade deals with India, the United States, the European Union. As the former trade policy Minister, I have some experience in these matters.

In every negotiation there is give and take. The President does not give gifts, he does deals and the negotiating counterpart of the United States is the United Kingdom.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help tackle the use of catapults by young people to harm pond wildlife in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Mary Creagh: The Government takes crimes against wildlife seriously and is aware of the ongoing and horrific misuse of catapults against wildlife.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals in England and Wales. It is illegal under this Act to deliberately attempt to kill, injure, or harm protected species of wild birds. There are a range of other offences found in further legislation to protect wild animals from cruelty such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Significant sanctions are available to judges to hand down to those convicted of crimes under these Acts.

While Defra will continue to keep relevant legislation under review, there are sufficient laws in place to protect wildlife from targeted use of catapults and existing powers are already available for the police to tackle their misuse. Defra therefore has no current plans to take further steps to tackle the use of catapults by young people to harm pond wildlife.
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Dr Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to reform processes for the (a) monitoring and (b) management of (i) ponds, (ii) headwater streams and (iii) other small waters. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) has in recent years expanded monitoring of headwater streams through its new Small Streams Network, and an increased number of smaller lakes with the Lake Surveillance Network, part of the Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment Programme. The evidence from this new monitoring will be subject to ongoing data analysis.

The EA also undertake occasional operational and investigative monitoring in very small streams in response to pollution, or where they are of particular importance locally.

Additionally, the Government will respond to the recommendations published in the final report of the Independent Water Commission through a White Paper and a new water reform bill, bringing forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for customers, investors and the environment and restore trust and accountability. Together with the building blocks the Government has already put in place, this will mark the most fundamental reset to our water system in a generation.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with supermarkets on the potential impact of online-only discounts on older people without smartphones. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Ministers and officials in the department regularly engage with retailers on a wide range of issues affecting consumers, including affordability and access to food.

The Government expects retailers to consider the needs of all customers, including older people and those who may find it difficult to access online services. Supermarkets are responsible for their own pricing and promotional strategies, but we know that many offer a range of in-store and online discounts to ensure fair access.
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Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to implement the recommendations in the Independent Review into Public Sector Food Procurement, published in May 2024. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government is currently considering the policy options available to deliver further on our ambitions for public sector food and catering. We are engaging with stakeholders across public sector supply chains and are carefully reflecting on possible policy options. The findings of the Independent Review into Public Sector Food Procurement will be considered as part of this ongoing policy development process.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many agricultural business have received Sustainable Farming Incentive grants in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire in (i) 2024 and (ii) 2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: As of the 1st of January 2025, there were 32,200 Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements in England. This was made up of 25,300 agreements in the Sustainable Farming Incentive 23 and 6,900 agreements in the Sustainable Farming Incentive Expanded Offer. This includes agreements for agricultural businesses in South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.
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Richard Foord:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to section 245 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, what steps she is taking to ensure compliance with the protected landscapes duty. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is working with a range of partners to consider the impact of the Protected Landscapes Duty. We have received and considered many letters on this matter, including one Campaign for National Parks wrote on behalf of over 170 organisations.

The duty is intended to facilitate better outcomes for England’s Protected Landscapes, which are in line with their statutory purposes.

The Government has published guidance on the Protected Landscapes duty to ensure public bodies operating in these areas, including water companies, deliver better environmental outcomes working together with Protected Landscape organisations.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has considered revising its guidance to local authorities on dog breeding licence fees in relation to (a) if the licence is new or being renewed, (b) the scale of the licensed activity measured by the number of breeding dogs and (c) how far the cost recovery principle can cover enforcement. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), a local authority can charge such fees as it considers reasonable to meet its statutory licensing responsibilities. The Regulations require local authorities to provide an annual return to the department outlining their licensing fees. That information is published here.

Defra has recently completed its Post-Implementation Review of the Regulations and considered local authority returns and other evidence about the fees charged by local authorities. The review was published in December 2024 and can be found here. The Government is considering the review’s findings and will be outlining more detail on next steps in due course.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to determine the future of Animal Health and Welfare Pathway grants to support the transition to cage free systems for laying hens. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and will continue to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which we are considering very carefully.

The Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, part of the broader Animal Health & Welfare Pathway, recently offered funding to commercial laying hen and pullet keepers in England to refurbish or replace housing, including for those transitioning from colony cages to high-welfare non-cage systems. The first stage of the application process closed in September 2024 with eligible applicants invited to submit a full application. Due to the extended timeframe of the grant, data regarding the assessment of potential impacts is not available.
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Ben Goldsborough:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to produce a National Bluetongue Strategy. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Disease control is a devolved matter. Defra works closely with the Devolved Governments to provide, where possible, a consistent and coordinated response across the UK.

The disease control measures we deploy for incidents of bluetongue in Great Britain are set out in the ‘GB Bluetongue Virus Disease Control Strategy’.

Defra’s bluetongue disease control measures aim to limit the spread of BTV infection through proportionate and evidence-based control measures, whilst balancing the burdens of controls against the benefits of slowing the spread of bluetongue and minimising the cost of any outbreak both to Government and farmers. Our control framework, which was developed with a wide range of sector representatives, recognises that BTV control via movement restrictions was not a long-term solution, noting keepers and businesses can be affected not only by the impacts of disease on animals, but by disease control measures as well.
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Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) amending the Protected Landscapes duty under section 245 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, (b) publishing supporting regulations and (c) updating guidance. \p Mary Creagh: We are working with a range of partners to consider the impact of the Protected Landscapes Duty. The duty is intended to facilitate better outcomes for England’s Protected Landscapes, which are in line with their statutory purposes.

In December, Government published guidance on the Protected Landscapes duty to ensure public bodies operating in these areas, including water companies, deliver better environmental outcomes working together with Protected Landscape organisations.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of pollution incidents did the Environment Agency attend in each of the last three years. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) responds to approximately 15,000 environmental incidents every year. Environmental incidents include environment management (pollution), waterways, fisheries, and water resources incidents. For each reported incident they assess the risk and likely impact and then respond accordingly.

Not all incidents reported result in site attendance, a response can be provision of advice and guidance remotely. The EA seeks to attend all serious pollution incidents (Category 1 and 2) which pose a significant risk to people or wildlife, and those incidents which could escalate to cause more serious impacts.

For example, in 2024, The EA attended 53 of 74 (72%) category 1 and 2 water industry incidents.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_179

Kim Leadbeater:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of (a) funding for the Canal & River Trust to maintain and improve England’s waterways and (b) the long-term funding arrangements for the Trust. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is currently providing the Canal and River Trust with a 15-year grant (2012-2027) totalling about £740 million to support maintenance of the canal network infrastructure. When it was set up in 2012, the Government also provided the Trust with a permanent endowment fund now worth around £1 billion that generates a further quarter of its income. A review of the grant funding in 2021-2023 concluded that the Trust is providing value for money and there was a good case for continued grant funding. A further substantial 10-year grant from 2027 of £401 million was confirmed by the Government in August 2024. This further grant reflects the importance of the country’s inland waterways and continues to support the Trust in the long-standing objective of reducing its reliance on public funding while developing alternative funding sources.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_180

Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what flood (a) protection, (b) mitigation and (c) response measures are in place in Newbury constituency. \p Emma Hardy: In Newbury constituency there are a variety of flood defences that benefit communities. These have been delivered by organisations including the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, West Berkshire Council and the Environment Agency (EA). A full list of flood Alleviation schemes that have been delivered in this constituency is below:

The EA has a variety of support available in Newbury constituency to support communities to be aware of their flood risk. This includes online risk maps (Check the long term flood risk for an area in England - GOV.UK), free flood warnings for the River Kennet, Lambourn and groundwater (in some areas). The relevant Risk Management Authority also provides advice and guidance regarding personal and community flood plans and engages with communities via the Lambourn Valley and Newbury Flood & Drainage Forums.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_181

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether manure that is (a) subject to (i) annual returns to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and (ii) veterinary approval and (b) has been granted a licence by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of the Government of Ireland can lawfully be transported from livestock farms in Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This is a devolved matter and the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_182

Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to send a delegation to the (a) 47th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention and (b) 20th Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol meeting. \p Emma Hardy: The 47th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Convention and 20th Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol will take place from 27-31 October 2025. The UK will send a delegation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_183

Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on marine geo-engineering. \p Emma Hardy: Marine-based GGR techniques present potential environmental risks that need to be managed alongside potential climate benefits. Our priorities are developing the evidence base and establishing a science-based framework for regulation of these techniques.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_184

Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement on food (a) production, (b) supply and (c) security. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The EU-Mercosur trade agreement has not been signed yet and is a matter for the EU. We do not expect that it will impact UK food production, supply or security.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_185

Dr Danny Chambers:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press notice entitled More lost pets to return home as microchipping system reformed, published on 29 March 2024, what progress her Department has made on introducing a central portal to search pet microchip records. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Department is working closely with the Association of Microchip Database Operators to explore the development of an industry-led solution that would make it easier for authorised users to access information contained on the databases digitally.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_186

Dr Danny Chambers:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of and (b) effectiveness of the response from local authorities in tackling stray dogs. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government regularly meets with stakeholders to understand the issues and trends affecting the sector. This includes the impact of the rising cost of living on pet owners and welfare organisations, as well as issues local authorities may face in meeting their obligations related to stray dogs under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_187
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_187

Luke Myer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring Disclosure and Barring Service checks for tattoo artists as part of the licensing process. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office is not responsible for the licensing of tattoo artists so has not made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring Disclosure and Barring Service checks as part of the licensing process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_188

Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that no person is extradited to Hong Kong for an act that is not a crime in the UK. \p Dan Jarvis: The UKs extradition framework, governed by the Extradition Act 2003,enshrines the principle of dual criminality.

This legal requirement means that no person can be extradited from the UK unless the conduct in question would also constitute a criminal offence under UK law.

In addition, all UK extradition cooperation is underpinned by strong legalsafeguards operationalised by independent UK courts who have extensive powers to bar extradition where it is politically motivated or where it would beagainst an individual’s human rights.
wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_189
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_189

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the Annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals, Great Britain for 2024; and what funding her Department has allocated for research into alternative testing methods. \p Dan Jarvis: The Annual Statistics of scientific procedures on living animals, Great Britain: 2024 will be published on October 23, 2025.

The Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has a diverse portfolio of investments that supports research which can lead to alternatives, such as organ-on-a-chip, cell-based assays, functional genomics and computer modelling. UKRI also invests £10 million annually in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). The Government also co-funds seven Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSI), two focusing on AI which will support alternative method development.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_190

Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 for protecting animals used in science. \p Dan Jarvis: The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) provides a robust and rigorous regulatory framework that protects animals used in science. It requires that the principles of the 3Rs - replacement, reduction and refinement - are followed so that animals are only used where there are no alternatives, the minimum number of animals are used, and the most refined procedures for using animals are employed to minimise harm. Work is being undertaken to restate and replace EU provisions within domestic law following EU exit. This will ensure we retain the highest standards for animal protection. At this time, there are no further changes planned to ASPA, but this legislation is kept under review.

In 2023, the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) undertook a comprehensive exercise to review its operating model and organisational design which identified where changes could be made to enhance its regulatory effectiveness. On 14 October 2024, the Government announced via written ministerial statement that ASRU would make reforms to its organisational design to most effectively deliver its purpose of protecting animals through maintaining compliance with ASPA.
wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_191
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_191

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many dinghies used to smuggle people across the English Channel have been destroyed by the (a) Border Force and (b) French authorities in each of the last five years. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum seekers in receipt of support, by support type and by local authority, is published in table Asy_D11 of the ‘Asylum support detailed datasets’.

Individuals receiving Section 4 support have had their asylum claim refused but they are destitute and there are reasons that temporarily prevent them from leaving the UK. Please note that Section 95 support data includes some failed asylum seekers who had children in their household when their appeal rights were exhausted.

The latest data relates to as at 30 June 2025. Data for as at 30 September 2025 will be published on 27 November 2025. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-23 conversation_192

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with her European counterparts on removing requirements for (a) proof of accommodation, (b) evidence of sufficient funds, (c) proof of medical insurance and (d) proof of a return ticket from the EU's Entry-Exit System for UK based travellers. \p Mike Tapp: The government will continue to engage the European Commission and member states on their plans to implement the Entry/Exit System.

Questions asked to passengers as part of the new system are ultimately operational matters for the Commission and member states.