theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations his Department has received on (a) progressive and (b) seasonal water metering tariffs. \p Emma Hardy: Ministers and officials have regular discussions with a range of stakeholders, and representatives, on various issues, including progressive and seasonal water metering tariffs.

We welcome companies’ willingness to trial innovative new approaches to charging customers, to achieve greater affordability and water efficiency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he had made of the potential impact of organophosphate exposure from sheep dip on the health of (a) farmers and (b) agricultural workers. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government has commissioned a considerable amount of research to investigate whether there is a link between the use of organophosphate sheep dips and chronic ill-health. The outcome of this research was provided to the independent Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment who have published two statements in 2009 and 2014. The independent scientific advice is that the research evidence does not support a link between the use of sheep dips and chronic ill-health.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of introducing compulsory water metering of homes paying water bills based on rateable value. \p Emma Hardy: Currently, individual water companies decide the best way to manage water demand issues, including their approach to metering. However, to inform their decisions, Defra issues guiding principles that set out our priorities, including our expectations of water companies to increase metering where appropriate. There are conditions that need to be met before a water company can compulsorily charge via a water meter. These conditions include a change of occupier, if the property is new, on the request of the householder and when the water company is in an area designated as under serious water stress.

Water companies in areas of serious water stress are already able to implement water metering programmes. Areas of “water stress” are outlined in the Environment Agency’s 2021 classification Water stressed areas – 2021 classification - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). These programmes must be justified by water companies and achieve customer support, striking the right balance between the need to protect water supplies and the importance of water companies reducing leakage before expanding the use of water meters.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing compensation to people affected by exposure to organophosphates in sheep dip. \p Daniel Zeichner: Whilst the Government is sympathetic to those who are ill, the Government is neutral on the issue of compensation claims between those who believe that their health has been affected by exposure to organophosphates and the manufacturers of those products.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make a comparative assessment of the number of houses built on functional floodplains in (a) the UK and (b) the G7 in the last decade. \p Emma Hardy: The Government has committed to ensure we are building more high-quality, well-designed and sustainable homes and creating places that increase climate resilience and promote nature recovery.

Flood risk is an important consideration in the planning system. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains. Where development is necessary, and where there are no suitable sites available in areas with a lower risk of flooding, local planning authorities and developers should ensure development is appropriately flood resilient and resistant, safe for its users for the development’s lifetime, will not increase flood risk overall and will provide wider sustainability benefits.

There are different approaches in defining and managing flood risk and floodplains, and in recording residential and non-residential developments between nations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce food waste. \p Mary Creagh: The UK is an international leader on tackling food waste. We are fully committed to meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target, which seeks to halve global food waste at consumer and retail levels by 2030. Through our new £15 million farm surplus fund, this Government is working with food producers and charities ensure more produce gets to those who need it most.

We know that action is required across the supply chain and in people’s homes. To tackle food waste, we fund the groundbreaking UK Food and Drink Pact, a voluntary agreement with industry managed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Action through the Pact includes working with businesses to identify and reduce food waste, as well as campaigns aimed at raising public awareness of food waste and the steps we can all take to help reduce it.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference oral contribution of 23 April 2025 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Official Report, columns 1136 and 1165, what proportion of the planned funding for the water system from the private sector had been secured by 23 April 2025. \p Emma Hardy: The price controls set as part of Price Review 2024 came into effect on 1st April 2025. In their Final Determinations, Ofwat set expenditure allowances which fund companies to meet their statutory and regulatory requirements and deliver their performance commitments over the 2025-30 period.

The £104 billion funding package is the highest level of investment in the water sector since privatisation and is set to be the second largest private sector investment programme for this Parliament, which will contribute to the delivery of key elements of the Government’s Plan for Change and Mission Objectives.

The £104 billion expenditure planned over the next 5 years comes from expenditure by the water companies, which are required to maintain, improve and build new infrastructure like pipes and treatment plants. Customers pay for the reasonable costs of these investments through their water bills but over a long period of time, not as the costs arise. As the money to meet these costs is collected over time, water companies need to raise the finance to pay for the investment upfront. This finance comes from investors in the form of debt and equity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the time period between the introduction of the (a) Extended Producer Responsibility and (b) Deposit Return scheme on levels of glass usage in packaging. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has worked closely with industry, including the glass sector, throughout the development of the scheme. In October 2024 the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers. This assessment factored in the introduction of DRS in 2027.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce sewage discharges at Shaldon. \p Emma Hardy: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.

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

The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. A public Call for Evidence closed on 23 April, with all interested parties invited to share their views. The review's final recommendations will be published and shared with the UK and Welsh Governments this summer.

As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record levels of investment. This includes South West Water delivering £764 million of investment to reduce storm overflow spills, including improvements at 10 storm overflows in Dawlish Town and Dawlish Coryton Cove and 5 storm overflows in Shaldon which are being improved to the maximum 2 spills per season standard.

We encourage the public to report pollution via our incident hotline, by calling xx-xxxx-xxxx at any time.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to enable (a) local authorities and (b) the police to effectively (i) target and (ii) prosecute (A) individuals and (B) businesses engaged in illegal fly-tipping on (1) private and (2) public land. \p Mary Creagh: Local councils are responsible for taking enforcement action in most fly-tipping incidents. Their powers include issuing fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, prosecution action and seizing vehicles. We encourage councils to make good use of their powers, and we are taking steps to develop statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance. We have also announced a review of local authority powers to seize and crush the vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool.

We also committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess that they have created as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. We will provide further details on this commitment in due course.

Defra continues to chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders such as local authorities and the National Police Chiefs Council to promote good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping, including on private land. Various practical tools, such as a guidance on how local authorities can present robust cases to court, are available from their webpage at: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group#.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of making employers of gamekeepers vicariously liable for their actions. \p Mary Creagh: The introduction of new regulation, such as vicarious liability, requires evidence that it will be effective. Vicarious liability occurs where one person can be held liable for the actions of another person. With regards to gamekeepers, this could mean a manager or employer would be held criminally liable for an unlawful act perpetrated by their gamekeeper, for example the unlawful killing of birds of prey. Vicarious liability for such acts has been introduced in Scotland but so far there is no compelling evidence to show that its introduction has had a significant deterrent effect on those who persecute wildlife.

We will continue to monitor the situation in Scotland to consider whether vicarious liability is a necessary and proportionate approach in tackling crime in England.
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Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he would make it his policy to create exemptions for Extender Producer Responsibility depending on (a) a producer’s sustainability and (b) B-Corp status. \p Mary Creagh: There are no exemptions planned for producers with B-Corp status. While private ESG schemes like B-Corp certification can play an important role in driving sustainability, they are complementary to, rather than a replacement for regulatory measures like pEPR.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent eutrophication in waterways. \p Emma Hardy: Eutrophication from excess nutrient pollution is a key pressure affecting our rivers, lakes, and seas.

As part of Price Review 24 final determinations, Ofwat has allowed £4.795 billion of investment to improve water quality by reducing phosphorus pollution in England and Wales. We will also require water companies to upgrade 440 wastewater treatment works by 2030, to meet strict phosphorus targets, reducing harmful nutrient pollution from treated wastewater.

We have committed to a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan which will set out how Defra will deliver our legally binding targets.

The levels of nitrogen losses from agriculture are unacceptable. That is why we are focused on working with farmers across the country to reduce pollution and clean up our waters. Regulations are in place to address nitrogen and wider pollution from agriculture and the Environment Agency conducts over 4,000 inspections nationally each year to support farmers to comply.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to seek an exemption in any veterinary agreement negotiated with the EU that would ensure the UK's ability to ban the import and sale of fur products. \p Daniel Zeichner: We have reset our relations with European partners. We have been clear that an SPS agreement could boost trade and deliver significant benefits on both sides, and will be careful to ensure proposals are consistent with our manifesto and does not cross our red lines. It’s too early to discuss specific areas in detail and we will not be providing a running commentary on discussions with the EU.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has taken the cropping year into consideration when making arrangements to launch the updated Sustainable Farming Incentive. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra will be working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. This future SFI offer will build on what has made SFI effective so far. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced following the spending review in summer 2025. This will include an indication of when we expect to open for applications.
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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to implement a national soil health monitoring programme. \p Mary Creagh: Yes, national soil monitoring began in October 2023 under the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme. This 5-year survey will deliver a baseline of soil health in England, with Analysis Ready Data from earlier years of the sample being released from December 2025. This data will enable us to understand how well our soils are functioning and inform efforts to improve soil health.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment he has made of the potential impact of extended producer responsibility schemes on the finances of pubs in (a) the UK and (b) other European countries with similar schemes. \p Mary Creagh: In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not compare the impact of fees to international schemes. Illustrative base fee estimates for the UK are in the same order of magnitude of other countries’ fees. However, comparisons are not straightforward because of differences in waste infrastructure and waste management approaches.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England, published on 29 November 2024, whether (a) waste collection businesses, (b) local authorities and (c) businesses will be fined if recyclable material is (i) intentionally and (ii) unintentionally placed in residual waste office bins. \p Mary Creagh: The Environment Agency (EA) is the regulator for Simpler Recycling for Non-Household waste and are committed to supporting businesses – both waste producers and collectors – in understanding their duties. As a Regulator they are required to have regard to the Regulator’s Code which requires them to support growth, engage with business, take a risk-based and proportionate approach to regulation, and to help those they regulate get it right.

Where contamination is identified, the EA will take a pragmatic and proportionate approach to enforcement, providing advice and guidance in the first instance. To take enforcement action (in accordance with their enforcement and sanction policy) the EA would need to be satisfied that an offence had been committed. Where this is identified, a compliance notice would be served and further non-compliance could be pursued as a criminal offence through the courts. The EA does not have power to serve a fixed penalty notice (i.e. civil sanctions).
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 32576 on Fires: Air Pollution, whether WRAP has made an assessment of the potential impact of the burning of household rubbish in the gardens of residential properties on air pollution. \p Mary Creagh: WRAP has not made an assessment of the potential impact of the burning of household rubbish in the gardens of residential properties on air pollution. However, the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) includes estimates of existing emissions from burning household waste and garden waste outdoors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of plastic recycling facilities that have closed since 2010. \p Mary Creagh: There is no historical record of closures of plastics recycling facilities

However the National Packaging Waste Database which is held by the Environment Agency provides a Public Register of Accredited Reprocessors and Exporters - including those handling plastic - across each nation, that can be tracked back to 2013.
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Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has undertaken a risk analysis of the potential impact of the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility on glass manufacturers. \p Mary Creagh: The UK’s packaging Extended Producer Responsibility policy has been in development since 2019. This is underpinned by extensive consultation and engagement with industry stakeholders, including the glass manufacturing sector, to provide businesses with a clear indication of the scheme’s design and implementation.

Consultations were held in 2019 and 2021, concluding with a final consultation on reforms to the Packaging Recovery Note system in 2022. In 2023, the four nations of the UK jointly consulted on the operability of the draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. Feedback from stakeholders during this process directly informed a number of amendments made prior to final regulations.

Throughout this period, Defra officials engaged closely with industry experts, including the glass industry. This collaboration has helped to ensure that the modelling of local authority costs used in the scheme reflects the practical realities of waste management operations.

We have made a full assessment of the expected business impacts of the policy on the packaging sector as a whole. This is detailed in the official impact assessment for the Producer Responsibility Obligations (packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, which remains publicly available here.

The Government remains committed to ongoing engagement with manufacturers and other stakeholders to support the successful and fair implementation of the scheme.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps with the Secretary of State for (a) the Home Department and (b) Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure a consistent approach to preventing fixed penalty notices being issued by companies to generate (i) revenue and (ii) profit. \p Mary Creagh: Existing guidance on enforcement of environmental offences for local councils makes clear that private firms should not be able to receive greater revenue or profits just from increasing the volume of penalties. This enforcement guidance, attached to the code of practice on litter and refuse, enforcement guidance is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6683d9b24e8630de328546a1/Code_of_practice_for_litter_and_refuse__Part_1A.pdf

Local councils remain responsible for the whole enforcement process. Councils that outsource any area of environmental enforcement to private companies should ensure that the contractor fulfils all the requirements set down for the council itself.

Defra is currently considering whether to place this guidance on a statutory footing and is working with other government departments as needed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Adam Thompson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) social enterprises and (b) commercial organisations to (i) respond to the challenge of food surplus and waste and (ii) contribute to a circular economy. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives. The Government is currently considering the actions that can be taken to address the challenges with food surplus and waste and make sure food is put on the plates of those in the greatest need. As we develop our Circular Economy Strategy for England, we will consider the evidence for action from right across the economy and evaluate what interventions may be needed.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled England’s non-woodland trees freely mapped for first time, published on 5 April 2025, whether his Department plans to use this mapping to identify trees which are not currently protected by tree protection orders. \p Mary Creagh: The Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme’s Trees outside Woodlands (ToW) map identifies the location, distribution and cover of trees, small groups of trees and small woodlands (less than 0.5 hectares) in England, and enables citizens, communities and local authorities to identify trees outside woodland in their local area for the first time.

Local authorities hold information on the Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) in their area and can choose how this information is disseminated, of which some choose to do so through mapping. Members of the public can contact their local authority to check the TPOs in their local area. Local authorities are responsible for TPOs and may use the ToW map as a tool to cross-reference with their records.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether their Department plans to amend its policies on access to (a) toilets, (b) changing facilities and (c) other single-sex spaces in (i) Departmental buildings and (ii) other buildings within their Department’s remit following the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Providers should note and follow the ruling.

It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling.

The Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers. Ministers will consider the EHRC’s updated draft once they have submitted it following further work in light of this ruling.

The Government is considering the implications of the Court’s judgment, including what this means for Government buildings.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to implement penalties for dog attacks on livestock; and when those penalties will be enforced. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers. All reported crimes should be taken seriously, investigated and, where appropriate, taken through the courts and met with appropriate penalties.

The Government is supporting a Private Members’ Bill which will introduce new measures to tackle the serious issue of livestock worrying. The Bill will modernise definitions and scope, strengthen police powers, and increase the maximum penalty from a fine of £1,000 to an “unlimited” fine to act as a deterrent.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of Gladis' Law. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Countryside Code already provides comprehensive guidance for dog walkers and highlights that it is best practice to keep dogs on a lead around livestock. Although it is not mandatory under The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 for a dog to be kept on a lead around livestock, a person will be committing an offence under the Act if a dog attacks or worries livestock on agricultural land.

The Government is supporting a Private Members’ Bill which will introduce new measures to tackle the serious issue of livestock worrying in England and Wales. The Bill will modernise definitions and scope, strengthen police powers, and increase the maximum penalty from a fine of £1,000 to an “unlimited” fine to act as a deterrent.
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Alex Easton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many lorries transporting goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland have been turned away at points of entry in the last 12 months due to (a) incorrect or (b) incomplete paperwork under the provisions of the Windsor Framework. \p Daniel Zeichner: I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given the hon. Member for North Down, Alex Easton, on 13 November, PQ UIN 12673.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2087 on Horse: Smuggling, what estimate his Department has made of the number of horses smuggled from the United Kingdom at (a) Dover and (b) other ports for which the latest data is available. \p Daniel Zeichner: APHA defines a smuggled animal as one that is illegally exported: it is one that is not travelling on appropriate paperwork, has not been declared and/or is concealed. This means that robust data on the numbers of horses and ponies illegally smuggled out of the United Kingdom in the last 5 years is not readily available, as APHA can only report on inspected animals; those that are presented or intercepted.

APHA holds data for the period September 2023 to date for Dover only. We have previously provided the data from September 2023 to 30 July 2024.

See PQ 45796 for the most recent data on recorded exports.

Between 31 July 2024 to present, APHA Dover inspected 197 horses/ponies being exported into mainland Europe, including those originating from Ireland and transiting through Great Britain. Of these, 65 were found to be non-compliant due to contraventions of official controls related to animal health and the welfare of animals in transport.
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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the amount of funding that farmers receive for school (a) visits and (b) education. \p Daniel Zeichner: Educational access features as part of the wider Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes.

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme (FiPL) provides grant funding for farmers and land managers to work in partnership with National Parks and National Landscape bodies in England to deliver projects achieving positive outcomes for climate, nature, people, and place. Between July 2021 and March 2024, the programme delivered over 3,400 educational access visits and engaged over 600 schools to create more opportunities for diverse audiences to explore, enjoy and understand farming in these unique landscapes.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will review the criteria required to be met for the proposed introduction of banking hubs. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government continues to work closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 220 hubs have been announced so far.

Any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK, the financial services sector, and the Financial Conduct Authority, which oversees the access to cash regime.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to prevent companies from de-listing from the London Stock Exchange.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ \p Emma Reynolds: The government is committed to reinvigorating our capital markets to deliver growth, supporting firms to start, scale, list and stay in the UK.
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Claire Hanna:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether there will be a Barnett consequential for Northern Ireland following the roll out of free breakfast clubs in England. \p Darren Jones: At Phase 1 of the 2025 Spending Review, over £30 million was allocated to the Department for Education to fund breakfast clubs in 2025-26. The Barnett formula was applied in the usual way to changes in the Department for Education’s Delegated Expenditure Limit (DEL) budget.

The resulting Barnett consequentials were included in the Northern Ireland Executive’s £18.2 billion settlement for 2025-26, which includes an additional £1.5 billion through the operation of the Barnett formula.

This is the largest spending review settlement in real terms since devolution and ensures that the Northern Ireland Executive continues to receive over 24% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK, including the 2024 restoration financial package.

The Block Grant Transparency publication breaks down all changes in the devolved governments’ block grant funding from the 2015 Spending Review up to and including Main Estimates 2023-24. The most recent report was published in July 2023. An update to Block Grant Transparency to include Autumn Budget 2024 changes will be published in due course:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-july-2023
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Edward Morello:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department plans to extend the deadline for voluntary National Insurance contributions. \p James Murray: Individuals can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for up to six years in arrears to fill gaps in their National Insurance record.

Transitional arrangements to the new State Pension introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in 2013 entitled men born after 5 April 1951 and women born after 5 April 1953 to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for older years (back to the tax year 2006-2007) by 5 April 2025.

The 5 April 2025 deadline has been implemented, though individuals who were unable to pay contributions before that date were able to register for a call back from DWP after the deadline.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the VAT registration threshold on levels of growth of small and medium-sized businesses. \p James Murray: At £90,000, the UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD. This keeps the majority of businesses out of the VAT regime altogether.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the CBI Economics' report entitled The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Changes to BPR and APR, published in March 2025, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the report’s finding on the impact of changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief on (a) trends in level of economic growth and (b) fiscal policy. \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 in a fair way. 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 reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief are forecast to raise a combined £520 million in 2029-30. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) certified this costing at Autumn Budget 2024 and it does not expect the reforms to have a significant macroeconomic impact. The OBR published information about the costing in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook on 30 October 2024. The OBR published more detail on the costings on 22 January 2025. This material is all available on the OBR’s website.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of business rates on retail unit closures in Great Yarmouth town centre between 2018 and 2024. \p James Murray: The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.

As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable values below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

During the interim period, for 2025-26, RHL properties will receive a 40% relief on business rates bills up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. To protect the smallest properties from inflationary increases, the small business multiplier paid by properties with RVs below £51,000 has also been frozen for a further year.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure that creditors and debt collection agencies respond to customer enquiries and amend credit files in a timely manner. \p Emma Reynolds: Under data protection laws, the information on a person’s credit file must accurately reflect their credit history. If an individual believes that an organisation, such as a creditor or a debt collection agency, has not corrected inaccurate information reported to credit reference agencies, they can submit a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The ICO is responsible for upholding information rights and enforcing data protection legislation. If the ICO finds that the organisation has indeed failed to make the necessary corrections, it may take enforcement action.
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John Glen:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of EU green finance regulations on levels of investment from Europe into UK defence (a) firms and (b) shares. \p Emma Reynolds: This Government does not see a conflict in green and sustainable investment contributing to our world-leading defence sector. There is considerable work to support the sector ongoing across government, including through the Chancellor’s growth mission and in the development of a new Defence Industrial Strategy.

In a time of increasing geopolitical instability, maintaining a robust and thriving defence sector is essential to our national security. The government is committed to supporting the defence sector and supporting investment opportunities in it. Private investment in the defence sector is crucial for fostering innovation, boosting economic growth and enhancing national security.
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Harriet Cross:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to employers' National Insurance contributions on (a) small and mid-sized quoted companies and (b) the (i) staffing costs and (ii) long-term investment decisions made by those companies. \p Emma Reynolds: The Chancellor and I regularly meet and engage with senior figures from across the financial services sector and have, in recent months, hosted a series of forums, including with small to mid-sized quoted companies, as the government works towards developing the first Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, which forms part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy.

Through the British Business Bank and its programmes, the government is investing over £1 billion into UK small and medium sized companies in 2025-26; these programmes are expected to crowd-in as much from private sector investors. The BBB is also delivering the British Growth Partnership, a novel initiative to crowd-in pension investment in UK VC and innovative companies.

The government is protecting the smallest businesses from changes to Employer NICs by increasing the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that in 2025-26, 865,000 employers (43%) will pay no NICs at all, more than half of employers see no change or gain overall from this package and employers can employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage and pay no employer NICs.
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Tessa Munt:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding was received by listed places of worship in the (a) Wells and Mendip constituency and (b) the Wells constituency prior to boundary changes in each year since 2001. \p Sir Chris Bryant: We are unable to provide data going back to 2001, as the Department only has reliable data from August 2022. Data ranging from 2014 to 2022 was collated by the previous grant administrator and is less reliable, though work has been undertaken by DCMS to improve its quality. Data prior to 2014 is no longer available.

Systems have been updated to reflect the new constituency boundaries and we are now unable to provide annual data for the Wells Constituency.

Since August of 2022, a total of £391,543.99 worth of funding has been received by listed places of worship in the Wells and Mendip constituency.

From August of 2022 to the end of December 2022 £28,277.74 was received.

From January 2023 to December 2023 £79,368.98 was received.

From January 2024 to December 2024 £36,815.43 was received.

From January 2025 to the end of April 2025, £102,619.69 has been received.
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Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in her Department; and what the salary band is for each post. \p Stephanie Peacock: In the central Department for Culture, Media & Sport communications team, there are a total of 43.54 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 13 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from June 2024.
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Mr James Frith:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to take steps to modernise (a) heritage and (b) community protection schemes to support (i) nightclubs, (ii) grassroots music venues and (iii) other contemporary cultural venues. \p Sir Chris Bryant: The Government is working closely with the music and nightclub sectors, to strengthen the sustainability of the entire music ecosystem. Cultural venues, like nightclubs and music venues, provide enjoyment to many thousands of people as the opportunity to hear live music up close is an essential part of our cultural life.

We are continuing to support Arts Council England’s (ACE’s) Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26. This provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music.

Earlier this year we announced the Arts Everywhere Fund, a £270 million investment for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector, including the £85m Creative Foundations Fund. This fund will support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. Not-for-profit and grassroots music venues will be eligible, and Arts Council England will release more details in due course. We expect the fund may be over-subscribed, so are not intending to extend its scope.

Buildings that are nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces may already be considered for designation as Listed Buildings, where they meet eligibility criteria for special architectural or historic interest. Applications for listing specific nightclubs, music venues or other contemporary cultural spaces can be made to the Secretary of State via Historic England.