theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_125
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_125

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure mobile network operators cannot invoke the all reasonable efforts clause to avoid penalties under the Shared Rural Network agreement in (a) remote and (b) total not-spot areas. \p Chris Bryant: The Shared Rural Network programme is underpinned by licence obligations enforced by Ofcom. Under the licences, the mobile network operators can only invoke the reasonable endeavours clauses under specific circumstances, by providing evidence to Ofcom, and would do so at their own discretion. Ofcom will make any assessment of whether any such claims are valid at a key delivery deadline of January 2027. This is an independent process facilitated by Ofcom and it would not be appropriate for the Department to intervene and take steps to stop the operators invoking the reasonable endeavours clauses.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_126
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_126

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2025 to Question 59177 on Broadband: Coastal Areas and Rural Areas, whether the reported 95 percent coverage achieved by the Shared Rural Network will be reviewed using Ofcom’s forthcoming reporting methodology based on a 5 Mbps threshold. \p Chris Bryant: The previously agreed coverage thresholds for the Shared Rural Network were designed to reflect the level of service required to make calls and access online services in areas that previously had little to no service. This remains the baseline for the programme. We will continue to work with the mobile network operators to ensure that the improved connectivity we are putting in place meets the needs of rural communities.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_127
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_127

Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions (a) his Department and (b) Ofcom have had with international counterparts on international satellite regulations to increase the availability of satellite broadband in the UK. \p Chris Bryant: As set out in the Industrial Strategy, which closely aligns to the objectives of the UK Space Strategy and C-LEO programme, DSIT is committed to ensuring appropriate spectrum availability to support Advanced Connectivity Technologies (ACT), including satellite broadband.   DSIT will continue working closely with Ofcom and international counterparts ahead of the World Radio Conference 2027, as well as collaborating with Ofcom domestically to promote efficient, innovative spectrum allocation and regulation that supports the development and deployment of ACT.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_128
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_128

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress he has made on the review into legal frameworks governing subsea telecommunications cables. \p Chris Bryant: I refer the Honourable Member for West Dorset to the answer given on 17 July 2025 to Question 66484. The review into the UK’s legal frameworks governing subsea telecommunications cables is still ongoing. If the Government decides that changes to legislation are necessary, then Parliament will be informed in the usual manner.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_129
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_129

Apsana Begum:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has had recent discussions with (a) Tiktok and (b) other social media platforms on taking steps to help reduce incidents of fraud where people develop fake romantic relationships and manipulate victims into transferring large sums of money. \p Feryal Clark: Fraud is a priority offence under the Online Safety Act. This means that since the illegal harms duties came into force in March, user-to-user services, including TikTok, must take proactive steps to prevent users from encountering fraudulent content on their platforms and swiftly remove it where it does. These duties apply to a range of fraud types, including romance scams, and are enforceable by Ofcom.

Ministers and officials in DSIT have regular discussions with in-scope platforms on the implementation of the Online Safety Act and their broader efforts to tackle fraud.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_130
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_130

Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of recent developments in organ-on-chip technology on the generation of data on how organs react to potential new medicines. \p Feryal Clark: The Government is committed to non-animal alternatives and will publish a strategy to support their development, validation and adoption later this year. While it is not yet possible to replace all animal use, we support approaches that replace, reduce and refine animal use in research, including organ-on-chip technologies. Data from alternative methods can support medicine development as part of clinical trial applications. The impact of individual technical advancements are however a matter for individual regulators to consider, and the Government strategy will help facilitate the inclusion and adoption of alternative methods in these regulatory contexts.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_131
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_131

Fred Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many PIP assessments were conducted (a) face-to-face and (b) by phone in each of the last two years. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments carried out by (a) face-to-face and (b) telephone in the last two calendar years are readily available on tab T2_32_Assessment_by_Channel, in Tables 2.32a and 2.32b of Pathways to Work: Evidence pack: Chapter 2 reforming the structure.

In addition to face-to-face and telephone, PIP assessments have also been conducted via paper-based and video assessments during the time period requested. These assessment channels are also shown in the tables contained in the evidence pack.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_132
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_132

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of passengers with a London Freedom Pass being able to travel for free in areas where the eligibility for free travel is set at an older age. \p Simon Lightwood: The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently 66. In London, the Older Person's Freedom Pass is eligible to all London residents over the age of 66, which is the statutory eligibility for the ENCTS as set out in legislation. This therefore means that there would be no instance where a passholder of London's Older Person Freedom Pass would be using their pass in an area where the eligibility for free travel is set at a higher age.

Residents who live in a London borough and are aged 60 or over are eligible for the 60+ London Oyster photocard. This concession enables passholders to travel for free on Transport for London (TfL) services and cannot be used to board services outside of London, with the exception of a small number of National Rail services connecting into London. This is an additional concession, funded and delivered at the discretion of TfL.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_133
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_133

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to review the range of season and flexible ticket options available to commuters when rail services are brought into public ownership, to better accommodate hybrid working patterns. \p Simon Lightwood: We are overhauling the complex fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare, with the move to Great British Railways (GBR) enabling passengers to receive a more consistent offer across the network.

We need to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers as we reform fares and deliver GBR, ensuring everyone gets a fair deal. Delivering better quality services, and increased reliability of trains, alongside a clearer fares offer will ensure an enhanced passenger experience.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_134
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_134

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report entitled Annual Shared Micromobility Report 2024 published by CoMoUK. \p Simon Lightwood: We are committed to growing shared micromobility in Great Britain. The Government continues to trial rental e-scooters so we can learn what works, and on 21 July I announced these trials will be extended to May 2028, and for the first time since the trials began, I am offering new towns and cities the opportunity to join.

Cycle sharing is already here and growing, as highlighted by this report. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill introduced on 10 July included a measure to regulate on-street micromobility services which will give our local leaders the powers to regulate shared micromobility so they can shape these schemes around their needs, connect people to public transport, and ensure they are used safely and responsibly.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_135
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_135

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to establish Great British Railways, following the disbandment of the Great British Railways Transition Team in March 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act was the first step towards fixing our railways, enabling the majority of services to be owned by and run for the public, but we need further fundamental reform to fix the underlying structural problems and put passengers and customers back at the heart of the railway.

Great British Railways (GBR) is set to be the ‘directing mind’ for the rail industry, bringing together the management of the network and the delivery of passenger services into a single public body. A design programme for GBR is underway, which is jointly run by the Department for Transport, DfT Operator and Network Rail.

We anticipate that GBR is to be set up over the following 12 months after the Railways Bill receives Royal Assent. The Bill is expected to be introduced later in this session.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_136
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_136

Dan Carden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to take steps to ensure that new tramway schemes use domestically produced tramway rails. \p Simon Lightwood: The responsibility for light rail and tramways is devolved, where each local authority owns and is responsible for the development and delivery of their own system. Therefore, it would be for local authorities to specify criteria for any future tram scheme, or tram extension, ensuring to adhere to the relevant procurement regulations when running their procurement competitions.

In addition, under the Government’s Social Value policy, public contracting authorities, such as local authorities, can set rigorous environmental and social standards, and other criteria that play to the strengths of local supply chains who can meet those standards. This is also subject to the requirement not to discriminate directly or indirectly against tenderers on grounds of nationality.
wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_137
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-25 conversation_137

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what role Network Rail's System Operator has in the establishment of Great British Railways; and whether any staff have been moved to the System Operator since March 2025. \p Simon Lightwood: Teams from the System Operator contribute to elements of the Great British Railways (GBR) design programme, where their expertise is relevant. They do this alongside other teams from across the industry with the design programme deliberately set up to draw on relevant capabilities from all parts of the railway. In addition, the Department for Transport has asked Network Rail’s System Operator to engage the railway industry in preparatory work on the anticipated changes to access and use of the railway network.

Some staff have been moved into the System Operator since March 2025 following the shut down of the previous government’s Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT].
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_1

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 88109 on Bathing Water Regulations 2013, what her planned timetable is for that policy development and research. \p Emma Hardy: DEFRA is engaged in a programme of work to ensure the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 can be implemented effectively, including feasibility studies to support Core Reform 2 and a pre-implementation research project on Core Reform 3. In addition, the Department is exploring how any evidence to support the delivery of wider reforms, including expanding the definition of bathers to include other water users and introducing multiple monitoring points at sites, might be developed. The timeline for detailed policy development and research will depend on the outcome of initial scoping work. DEFRA will engage with local and national stakeholders as this work progresses.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_2

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in the cost of glass packaging products on their levels of usage. \p Mary Creagh: In autumn last year my department published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on packaging producers as a whole, when the regulations were laid in parliament. This does not include an assessment of the impact on specific materials or sectors; however, Defra has engaged extensively with the glass manufacturing sector to understand the impacts on them. Through modulation, more recyclable materials, such as glass, will benefit from discounted fees, from Year 2 of pEPR (2026/2027).
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_3

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that small producers are not placed at a cash flow disadvantage compared with larger producers under the payment structures of the extended producer responsibility scheme. \p Mary Creagh: pEPR in the UK has some of the most generous support measures for small businesses across any packaging scheme globally. These are exemptions from disposal fee and recycling obligations for producers with an annual turnover below £2 million and packaging tonnage below 50 tonnes; and an exemption from data collection and reporting obligations for small businesses with turnover below £1 million and packaging tonnage below 25 tonnes. These exemptions apply to approximately 70% of businesses supplying packaging in the UK. To support businesses that are subject to disposal fee obligations we have also provided flexible payment arrangements to help obligated businesses manage cashflow, by paying fees in quarterly instalments. Where producers are a liable and struggle to meet payment plans outlined in the regulations, further options are available on request.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_4

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of negotiating regulatory alignment with the European Chemicals Agency on economic growth. \p Emma Hardy: We have reset our relations with our European partners, and we now need to use our strengthened relations to deliver a long-term UK-EU strategic partnership. We are committed to continue ongoing dialogue.

As set out in our Rationale for UK REACH Priorities statement, we aim for new protections from chemicals risks to be applied more quickly, more efficiently, and in a way which is more aligned with our closest trading partners. In doing so we can reduce business complexity and trade barriers and provide industry with the certainty they need to grow and invest, whilst continuing to protect people and the environment in the right way.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_5

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase the number of prosecutions for sewage dumping. \p Emma Hardy: The Water (Special Measures) Act provides the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade, giving regulators the teeth they need to take tougher action against water companies. The Act ensures courts can include imprisonment for any individual in cases where the regulators’ investigations have been obstructed.

The Environment Agency already has powers to prosecute company directors and other senior officers under Regulation 41 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, whilst courts have powers to fine individuals within companies who are convicted of polluting our waterways.

The Environment Agency has also increased water company inspections to 10,000 per year from April 2025, as part of the government’s wider focus to hold companies to account and improve our water environment.

Since July 2024, the Environment Agency has launched 87 investigations and 6 prosecutions against water companies, with fines totalling over £2 million. It has also accepted 24 Enforcement Undertakings since the election, with financial contributions totalling over £8.5 million.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_6

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data her Department holds on the number of cases of illegal dumping of waste in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last five years. \p Mary Creagh: Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement action to Defra, which the department have published annually since 2012, at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england. This data is not available at a constituency level and excludes the majority of private-land incidents. Data for the 2024/25 reporting year is still being collected.

The Environment Agency (EA) investigates fly tipping where the waste is more than 20 tonnes, a specified amount of hazardous waste, or is suspected to be linked to organised crime. From quarter 1 of 2020/21 to present there have been 9 cases of Illegal dumping which fall under the EA’s remit in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire Constituency Area.

For each year, they are as follows:

Please note that these reports of illegal waste dumping exclude those which may be reported to the EA but fall within the remit of local authorities (East Cambridgeshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council). Those are deemed as local cases of ‘fly-tipping’.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_7

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of how water (a) supply and (b) drainage vulnerabilities will evolve in the next decade in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency. \p Emma Hardy: Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers and set out how they plan to continue to supply water to their customers through statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). These plans must demonstrate how they will achieve a secure supply of water whilst protecting the environment over a minimum 25-year period. The Environment Agency (EA) assesses how companies perform against their published plans annually in July and advises the Secretary of State. Water companies must also produce Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMP), setting out how they will ensure robust drainage and sewerage services over a 25-year period.

The WRMPs and DWMPs will demonstrate where and when investment will be needed to support the Government’s growth agenda and to ensure infrastructure is fit for purpose now and in the future.

The EA has strengthened its water industry regulation with new dedicated regulation and enforcement teams. The EA has increased inspections of water company wastewater assets and completed over 4,600 last year and is on track to deliver 10,000 this year. The EA’s Thames and East Anglia Areas have completed over 1500 inspections since April 2025.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_8

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the numbers of (a) grey squirrels and (b) red squirrels in England. \p Mary Creagh: A 2018 report by the Mammal Society estimates there are 1.94million grey squirrels and 38,900 red squirrels in England.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_9

Barry Gardiner:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether in implementing Schedule 17 of the Environment Act 2021 the government can strengthen the provisions of the Act to include an absolute standard of deforestation rather than focussing on producer country legality and whether this can be done in secondary legislation or would require an amendment to the Act itself. \p Mary Creagh: The forest risk commodities regime in the Environment Act 2021 extends only to commodities that are illegally produced.

The Government recognises the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is actively considering the best regulatory approach to address deforestation in UK supply chains; we will set out this approach in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_10

Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support new farming entrants in England. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Our young farmers are vital to the future of UK farming, and we work closely with the National Federation of Young Farmers to consider how best to support them.

To secure that future for young farmers, we are investing £2.7 billion annually and developing a 25-year roadmap to boost profitability.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_11

Anneliese Midgley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made with the the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of the potential merits of allowing unredeemed deposits within the Deposit Return Scheme to be retained by the Deposit Management Organisation to fund (a) infrastructure and (b) consumer engagement. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is committed to ensuring that the deposit return schemes operate effectively and that VAT is not a barrier on industry or UK DMO. VAT is a decision for HMRC Ministers. Defra continue to work with HMRC and will set out more detail regarding VAT treatment within DRS in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_12

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support a reduction of incidents of fly-tipping in (a) Yeovil constituency and (b) South Somerset. \p Mary Creagh: Local councils are responsible for tackling fly-tipping in their area and have a range of enforcement powers to help them do so. These include fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, seizing and crushing of vehicles and prosecution action. We encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers and are taking steps to develop statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance to support councils to consistently, appropriately and effectively exercise these existing powers.  We are also conducting a review of council powers to seize and crush vehicles of fly-tippers, to identify how we could help them make better use of this tool.

In our manifesto we committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess that they have created. We will provide further details on this commitment in due course.

In the meantime, Defra continues to chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders, such as local authorities, National Farmers Union and the Environment Agency, to share good practice on preventing fly-tipping, including on private land. Various practical tools are available from their webpage at: https://nftpg.com/
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_13

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce waste crime in Yeovil constituency. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to tackling waste crime from the fly-tippers who blight our towns and villages to the serious and organised crime groups who are exploiting the waste sector. We are making policy and regulatory reforms to close loopholes exploited by criminals and have increased the Environment Agency’s (EA’s) budget for waste crime enforcement by over 50% this year to £15.6m.

The EA focuses on tackling large-scale waste crime, often linked to organised criminal activity. While fly-tipping is managed by local authorities, the EA works proactively with partners including the police, HMRC, DVSA, Local authorities and National Farmers Union through intelligence-led “days of action” at locations such as Cartgate roundabout near Yeovil. These operations target unregistered waste carriers and ensure compliance with licensing requirements and robust enforcement for non-compliance.

Representatives from the EA sit on the Avon and Somerset Rural Affairs Forum which is a partnership to address rural crime including waste crime. The Agency is also part of the South-West Regional Organised Crime Unit, which focuses on serious and organised waste crime. This unit assesses reports of illegal waste activity, undertaking triage and determining the response, based on a range of risk and public interest factors.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_14

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help maintain the Fens. \p Mary Creagh: Over 600,000 people live in the Fens, the region generates over £58 billion of benefits. Sustaining the system is getting more challenging in the face of a changing climate.

Through Fens 2100+ the Environment Agency (EA) aims to transform how it maintains its assets and invest in flood and coastal resilience.

The EA has invested £7.6m million in asset maintenance in 25-26 but is aware that a long-term investment plan is needed to ensure the Fens continues to thrive.

In Spring 2026, Fens 2100+ will be launching a strategic case and 15-point Partnership action plan for continued investment and maintenance in the Fens.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_15

Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support Eastbourne residents with food prices. \p Dame Angela Eagle: ONS September 2025 CPI food price inflation was 4.5%, down from 5.1% in August. This was the first reduction in the annual rate since March 2025.

We continue to monitor all key agricultural commodities and work with the food industry. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments. The Government monitors consumer food prices using the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).

Consumer food prices depend on a range of factors including agri-food import prices, domestic agricultural prices, domestic labour and manufacturing costs, and Sterling exchange rates. Some of these factors are influenced by our trading arrangements with other countries. Change in food prices are dependent on changes in one or more of these factors.

Defra regularly engages with supermarkets and producers on a range of food supply matters. However, it is not for the Government to set retail food prices nor to comment on day-to-day commercial decisions taken by businesses.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_16

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to help improve mental health support for farmers. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Secretary of State regularly holds confidential discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, including improving mental health support for farmers.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_17

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help support dairy farmers in North Shropshire constituency. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK dairy sector is highly resilient and adaptable and continues to supply healthy and affordable products in spite of the many challenges it has faced in re-cent years.

This Government recognises that food security is national security, and that it requires a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports farmers. That is why we are introducing new deals for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen food security.

Ensuring fairness in supply chains is key for UK dairy farmers and supporting the sustainability of the sector. The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024, which fully came into force on 9 July 2025, improve fairness and transparency, requiring dairy contracts to include clear terms on pricing, termination, and prohibiting unilateral changes.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_18

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help support the financial viability of farming businesses in North Shropshire constituency. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Supporting farmers in North Shropshire and across the country is a key priority for the Government.

We have allocated a record £11.8bn to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. We are targeting public money where it delivers most value, including actions that support nature to produce good food, and providing grants to help the sector access cutting-edge technology and techniques.

We have started to make the supply chain fairer, so farmers are protected in contracts with supermarkets, and are unlocking new markets for British produce to fuel growth.

We will continue our work to make farming and food production more profitable in the decades to come. We are working with farmers, farming and environmental organisations to develop the Farming Roadmap, which will set the course of farming in England for the next 25 years.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_19

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of her Department's progress on improving agricultural grant funding to help support fruit and vegetable growers. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government is steadfastly committed to our excellent horticulture sector and the vital role that it plays in strengthening food security by ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of fresh home-grown produce. Both Defra ministers and officials host regular discussions with a range of farming stakeholders, including growers, to understand the challenges that they face and how we can best support them.

Legislation introduced in July 2023 effectively closed the EU legacy Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme in England by preventing submission of new operational programmes and the extension of existing programmes which would end on or after 1 January 2026. The sector has been aware of its closure since that time and there has been extensive engagement with officials. The scheme was designed to help fresh fruit and vegetable growers increase their power in the supply chain, but it was only available to Producer Organisations, with around just over 20% of the sector accessing it and the vast majority not benefitting. Future support for the sector will be considered alongside Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and value for money for the taxpayer.

Moreover, of at least £200 million allocated to The Farming Innovation Programme through to 2030, to date nearly £40 million—representing 26% of total awards—has been granted to research projects benefiting the horticulture sector offering targeted opportunities for fruit and vegetable businesses to become more profitable, resilient, and sustainable. Wider Government support that we are providing for horticulture includes: our five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route, providing much needed stability and certainty to businesses; as well as extending the easement on import checks on medium risk fruit and vegetables ahead of the new SPS agreement deal with the EU.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_20

Sarah Olney:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ending the use of (a) cages for hens and (b) farrowing crates for pigs. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 April 2025 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 47556
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_21

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance has her Department been to local highways authorities on the use of pesticides to ensure that pavements are safe and accessible for pedestrians. \p Emma Hardy: There is a legal requirement to minimise the use of pesticides along roads and in areas used by the public. It is for each Local Authority to decide the best way of delivering cost-effective weed control in its operations while protecting people and the environment.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_22

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on which local authorities have introduced (a) three-weekly and (b) monthly residual household rubbish collections. \p Mary Creagh: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East, Joe Robertson, on 20 December 2024, PQ UIN 19914.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_23

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has issued guidance on council farms. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra recently published the 74th annual report to Parliament on smallholdings in England. The report indicated that council farms continue to play an important role in the tenanted agricultural sector across England.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_24

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect UK food security. \p Dame Angela Eagle: We need a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British farmers, fishers and food producers.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Change we are delivering on the Government’s New Deal for Farmers which includes a raft of new policies and major investment to boost profits for farmers.

We've allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_25

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of trends in the level of global milk demand. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Uk Agricultural Market Monitoring Group which was established by Defra and the Devolved Governments under the Devolution Framework is responsible for the oversight and monitoring of the UK agriculture market. This includes a review of prices, production, inputs and trade covering an assessment of current and future global demand for dairy products. The current position indicates broadly stable demand for dairy across the world alongside continued rising supply and falling prices.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_26

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve mental health awareness training for the agricultural sector. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Defra funds the Farmer Welfare Grant that includes a recipient consortium led by The Farmer Network that is delivering mental health first aid training to those who interact with farmers. Participants reported an almost 100% increase in their knowledge and confidence in discussing mental health. Another recipient, the Lincolnshire Rural Support Network are also delivering farmer specific mental health awareness and first aid sessions to the sector.

Furthermore, the department is also increasing awareness of mental health training opportunities by signposting resources to our customers and supporting the rollout of training for our staff who directly engage with individuals in the sector.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_27

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the EU on the movement of veterinary medicines between Great Britain and Northern Ireland after 1 January 2026; and when she plans to communicate relevant decisions to veterinary practices. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government continues to engage with the EU on a range of issues relating to the Windsor Framework, including veterinary medicines.

We continue to engage extensively with industry including veterinary bodies and other veterinary experts and will use this information to inform and calibrate the guidance and measures we are taking.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_28

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that food labelling schemes used by UK retailers provide consumers with (a) clear and (b) accurate information on (i) environmental and (ii) animal welfare standards, in the context of the Advertising Standards Authority ruling on Red Tractor. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government supports the objective of preventing misleading labelling. The fundamental principle of food labelling rules is that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable consumers to make informed decisions. The rules also specify what particular information must be provided and how it must be presented.

The Government cooperates with a number of food assurance schemes, which help provide UK consumers and businesses with information about the food they buy. Whilst assurance schemes operate independently of Government, the Food Standards Agency and the Competition and Markets Authority maintain close contact with these organisations and monitors whether communications and claims made by them are accurate.

To further support transparency and prevent misleading claims, the Competition and Markets Authority has issued the Green Claims Code. This guidance is particularly relevant for businesses that make environmental claims or rely on certifications and accreditations.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_29

Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential for economic growth in rural areas. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Delivering secure, strong and sustainable growth to boost prosperity and living standards across the UK is the Government’s priority mission, as set out in the Plan for Change. Forecasting the economy is the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which published its latest forecast on 26 March 2025. The next OBR forecast is due to be published on 26 November.

We know that rural areas offer significant potential for growth. In 2023, rural areas contributed £259 billion to England’s Gross Value Added (GVA), representing 12.2% of the total GVA for England. However, at the same time overall productivity in the most rural areas is typically lower than urban areas and is only 82% of the average for England excluding London.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_30

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Key findings, Statistical Digest of Rural England, updated on 15 October 2025, if she will request a formal assessment of the statistics by the Office for Statistics Regulation. \p Dame Angela Eagle: In producing the Statistical Digest of Rural England (the Digest) Defra takes the approach of voluntary application of the Code of Practice for Statistics. The Digest is a compendium publication based on secondary analysis of statistical products produced by other Government departments, most of which are already accredited official statistics that have already been assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation. Formal accreditation is therefore not needed for the Digest, and Defra will not be requesting a formal assessment from the Office for Statistics Regulation.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_31

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's press notice entitled Government steps in to build first major reservoirs in 30 years, published on 29 May 2025. what progress she has made on building (a) nine new reservoirs and (b) upgrading water infrastructure to reduce leakage. \p Emma Hardy: The Price Review 2024 will deliver substantial, lasting, improvements through a £104bn upgrade for the water sector. The highest level of investment in the water sector since privatisation, this investment will be crucial to deliver the improvements required.

The Government’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working across Government, the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) and water industry stakeholders to deliver planned water infrastructure that is essential to growth.

Water companies are aiming to deliver approximately 10.4 million smart meters over 2025-30. The rollout will enable water companies to reduce leakage, helping them meet their commitment to deliver a 50% reduction in leakage from 2017-2018 levels by 2050 and reduce overall water consumption.
wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-20 conversation_32

Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is having discussions with counterparts in the devolved Administrations on the circular economy strategy. \p Mary Creagh: Yes. This government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. This systemic change, with investment in green jobs and vital infrastructure, builds a path to economic growth, progress towards Net Zero, restoration of nature, and a more resilient economy.

The Government convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help map that transition; in the new year we will publish a Circular Economy Growth Plan that sets out how government will deliver a more circular and more prosperous economy.

The Government will maintain this collaborative approach as the Circular Economy Growth Plan is finalised, with further joint working and mutual learning scheduled to ensure coherence across the United Kingdom.