theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Windsor Framework on SMEs in Northern Ireland. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Windsor Framework established a broad set of arrangements to support businesses to move goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including to small- and medium- sized businesses based in Northern Ireland.

On 1 May 2025, we introduced under the Windsor Framework important new arrangements for freight and parcels movements to guarantee that goods can continue to move smoothly between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, ensuring that goods sent to or from consumers will not be subject to customs declarations or duty.

As set out in our Common Understanding, the Government will take forward a new UK-EU SPS Agreement, and this will further simplify the movement of agri-food goods within the United Kingdom. As a result, we expect there will no longer be a need for SPS paperwork when moving agrifood or plant products and the requirement to label goods ‘not for EU’ will diminish significantly.

The Government works closely with industry stakeholders and trade associations on the implementation of these arrangements and will continue to do so.
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Cat Eccles:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating DBS checks for people who wish to stand for election. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Government has no plans to introduce a requirement for candidates to undergo DBS checks before standing for elections. Candidate selection in elections is a matter for political parties.
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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to (a) reduce the number of empty retail units and (b) help regenerate high streets in (i) Eastbourne and (ii) other towns. \p Alex Norris: This government is taking several steps to reduce empty retail units and regenerate high streets in Eastbourne and other towns across the country. Eastbourne will benefit from up to £20 million over 10 years through the £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods programme announced in March, which aims to regenerate local areas, including high streets in deprived areas.

Additionally, the government is tackling vacancy with High Street Rental Auctions, giving local authorities the power to auction rental rights of persistently vacant commercial properties. We are also legislating through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill for a new Community Right to Buy, enabling communities to acquire valued assets. These measures will help revive footfall, boost local economies, and empower communities.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she is considering providing metro mayors with powers to levy tourist taxes in their areas. \p Jim McMahon: I have received representations on this issue from the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority and discuss funding matters with Mayors in the course of my work as the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution.

The government has no plans to introduce a tourist tax, but keeps all taxes under review.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the findings by Savills Research entitled Housing Completions Forecast for England: May 2025, published on 9 June 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government does not recognise the analysis presented in the Savills’ research in question. The housing completions forecast it contains does not take into account the supply impacts of the measures announced at Spending Review 2025 or the further reforms to the planning system that we are committed to enacting, including the measures contained in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the forthcoming set of national policies for decision making.
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David Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the funding commitments for social housing will be (a) allocated for and (b) accessed by (i) local authorities and (ii) developers. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

In awarding contracts under the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, Homes England and the GLA will assess the need for grant on the basis of bids from social housing providers, including local authorities, considering what is needed to make projects viable, and the overall value for money for the programme.
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Calum Miller:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken with Cabinet colleagues to ensure restrictive leasehold legislation is not a barrier to registered childminding businesses being able to run from their homes. \p Matthew Pennycook: The terms of a lease will set out whether individual leaseholders are able to start a childminding business in their home, and leaseholders should refer to their lease to determine whether any relevant restrictions apply.

Restrictive terms under the lease may be in place for a number of reasons in residential buildings, including to protect other residents’ rights. Landlords and residents may also be restricted from running businesses from their homes under insurance and mortgage conditions.

Leaseholders may be able to negotiate certain changes to the lease, by varying the lease agreement and they should speak with their landlord in the first instance. Leaseholders can also get free information and initial advice from the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE).
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the amount of capital funding that public sector bodies will spend on (a) building and (b) purchasing houses between July 2024 and July 2029. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local authority capital expenditure and financing estimates for the current financial year can be found on gov.uk here.

At the Spending Review, we announced £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

The government is also providing £950 million capital for the fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund - the largest round of the fund to date – to deliver up to 5,000 homes.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will publish the New Towns Taskforce recommendations before 23 July 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: The New Towns Taskforce will submit its final report this summer.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56032 on Housing: Costs, what steps she plans to take to incentivise developers to build at a level that reduces house prices. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million new homes in England in this Parliament.

We have already taken decisive action to increase housing supply, including overhauling the planning system and kickstarting a decade of social and affordable housing renewal.

In July 2024, the Home Builders Federation and supporting members issued a joint statement making clear that the housebuilding industry was committed to increase delivery of new homes year on year in this parliament. The statement can be found on the Home Builders Federation website here.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answers of 10 and 17 June 2025 to Questions 54888 and 57271 on Planning Permission, and Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if the designated Planning Minister will make it their policy to issue a direction under section 321 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to facilitate closed hearing planning representations during the their consideration of the Planning Inspectorate's report. \p Matthew Pennycook: An independent Inspector held a public inquiry between 11 and 28 February which heard a range of evidence for and against the proposals in question. The Inspector’s Report is now before the Department for consideration.

Ministers are able to issue a direction under section 321 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 on an application where required. There is no section 321 direction in force and no requests have been received in respect of this case.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of paragraph 129 of the First Report of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee of Session 2021-22 entitled The Future of the Planning System, HC 38 on creating an allowance of 18 months within which development work should begin on a site after planning permission has been obtained. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 63881 on 7 July 2025.
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Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support local authorities to ensure Travellers are not able to access public green spaces. \p Matthew Pennycook: It is the responsibility of local authorities (LPAs) to assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in their area and then plan to meet that need, in the same way that they plan for all forms of housing.

In doing so, LPAs should promote peaceful and integrated co-existence between the site and the local community, and aim to reduce the number of unauthorised developments and encampments.

In relation to local planning authority enforcement powers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46336 on 30 April 2025.
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Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of replacing the role of local authorities with committees in planning decision on local representation in those decisions. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a regulation-making power to issue statutory guidance on a national scheme of delegation.

On 28 May 2025, my Department published a technical consultation on proposals for reform of planning committees. It can be found on gov.uk here.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of funding for the new Affordable Housing Programme will finance (a) additional, purpose-built new-build homes on land acquired for that purpose, (b) the acquisition of unsold new-build homes, (c) the purchase of homes from developers provided under section 106 agreements and (d) (i) remodelling and (ii) improving existing housing stock. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that Homes England will take a strategic approach to affordable rural housing delivery by embedding the needs of the countryside at all levels of the agency. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Members to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July (HCWS771).

We are giving further consideration to how policy can better promote rural affordable housing as part of our work to produce a set of national policies for decision making this year.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has published guidance to local authorities on transferring internal council (a) personal data and (b) papers to political parties where such information is not already available in the public domain. \p Jim McMahon: MHCLG has not published guidance of this nature. Local authorities must comply with the FOI Act in relation to access to information held by public bodies, with GDPR guidelines in relation to personal data, and with Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) statutory codes and guidance.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to provide provide financial support for communities seeking to bring disused pubs back into use. \p James Murray: The Government recognises the important role pubs play on our high streets and in community spaces and we want to see them thrive.

That is why we have funded a wide range of community assets, including pubs, through the Community Ownership Fund. On 23 December 2024, this Government announced the outcome of Round 4 of the Community Ownership Fund, the largest ever round to date which approved funds for 6 community pub projects.

Through The Hospitality Support Scheme, we are working with Pub is the Hub and providing funds to help community pubs adapt to changing local needs, ensuring these vital social hubs continue delivering for their communities.

As part of the English Devolution Bill, the Government will legislate to introduce a strong new ‘right to buy’ for valued community assets, such as empty shops, pubs and community spaces. This will empower local people to bring community spaces back into community ownership and end the blight of empty premises on our high streets. More details will be announced in due course.

In addition, we will soon be publishing our Small Business Strategy, which will announce further measures to support small businesses in the pub and hospitality sector which will help revitalise high streets.
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many small and medium-sized enterprises in Northern Ireland have used the Trader Support Service; and what proportion of the service’s costs have supported those businesses. \p James Murray: The Trader Support Service (TSS) is available to businesses of all sizes to support them with moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is not possible to specify the numbers of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that use the TSS, and therefore not possible to disaggregate the costs of provision of support to those SMEs from the overall support the TSS provides to business.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress she has made on the reform of business rates. \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.

At Autumn Budget 2024, we took the first step with the announcement of permanently lower tax rates for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27.

Ahead of these changes being made, the Government recognises that businesses will need support in 2025-26. As such, we have prevented the current RHL relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and we have frozen the small business multiplier.

The Budget announcements reflect the Government’s first steps to support the high street. We want to go further to modernise the system, and so, we have published a Discussion Paper setting out priority areas for reform.

In summer, the Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Autumn Budget 2025.
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Richard Fuller:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the ongoing review of the customs treatment of low-value imports on tax revenue. \p James Murray: On 23rd April, the Government announced a review of the customs treatment for low value imports. Under our current low value import arrangements, consignments valued below £135 from any overseas retailer can be imported into the UK without incurring customs duty. VAT is due on all imports into the UK.

Since the announcement, Ministers and officials have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on the impact and operation of these arrangements to support our review. The outcomes of the engagement will help inform our next steps.
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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential fiscal impact of introducing an exit tax payable upon persons ending their UK tax residency. \p James Murray: HMRC publishes regular estimates of the direct impacts of illustrative tax changes in its Direct effects of illustrative tax changes publication. However, the Government does not routinely publish costings for hypothetical tax changes outside of this.
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the Trader Support Service’s costs are spent on (a) administrative and (b) operational overheads. \p James Murray: It is not possible to disaggregate the costs of administrative and operational overheads for the Trader Support Service.
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the value for money of the Trader Support Service for business support outcomes in Northern Ireland. \p James Murray: The Government considers the Trader Support Service a vital element of support to help traders moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland access the benefits of the Windsor Framework.
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has allocated funding to continue the Trader Support Service beyond 2025-26. \p James Murray: The Government is committed to ongoing support to businesses moving goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and published details of the procurement opportunity for the next phase of the Trader Support Service from January 2026 onwards on 17 February 2025.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in her Department have permission to work remotely outside the UK; and in which countries those staff are based. \p James Murray: HM Treasury's international remote working policy permits certain staff to work remotely overseas in order to accompany a partner posted abroad on HMG business. There are two members of staff who each have permission to work remotely from a European country. For UK GDPR purposes we are not able to share the countries where staff are located since they are there for personal circumstances.
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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total cost to the public purse is for the Trader Support Service since 11 June 2020, broken down by financial year. \p James Murray: The costs of the Trader Support Service by financial year are set out below.

Financial Year

Costs

2020/21

£100.62m

2021/22

£148.80m

2022/23

£114.68m

2023/24

£105.19m

2024/25

£88.15m
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July to Question 62703 on Defence: Finance, what the total financial quantum was of the elements of the single intelligence account which will be included in the Ministry of Defence budget from 2027. \p Darren Jones: The Single Intelligence Account plays a vital role in our national defence, hence it has received an increase of funding in the Spending Review, and it will make a greater contribution to the UK’s total NATO qualifying defence spending from 2027.

This does not mean that the intelligence and security services will be added to the MOD budget; they remain distinct budgets reflecting spend on different departments.

NATO qualifying defence spending has always included elements beyond the MOD TDEL budget.
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Ann Davies:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the Soft Drinks Industry Levy thresholds on consumers. \p James Murray: An assessment of impacts – including health impacts for consumers – is enclosed within the ‘Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy’ consultation document. This is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-the-soft-drinks-industry-levy.

The government welcomes feedback on the proposed changes as part of the consultation, which is open until 21 July 2025 and will inform decisions at a future Budget. If the government decides to make changes to the levy, it will publish a tax information and impact note (TIIN) to give account of the confirmed policy’s impacts.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information her Department holds on the number of banks that have removed access to ATM’s from rural communities in each of the last five years. \p Emma Reynolds: The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 granted the FCA the responsibility and powers to seek to ensure the reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities. In September 2024, the FCA introduced regulatory rules for access to cash. Its rules require the reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities, including free services for personal current accounts.

In the UK, LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network, has committed to protect the broad geographic spread of ATMs. Data on UK ATM coverage can be found on its website.

Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment to LINK. In circumstances where LINK considers that a community requires additional cash services, the financial services sector will provide a suitable shared solution, such as an ATM, cash deposit service, or shared Banking Hub, for cash users in that community. Further information about submitting a cash access request can be found on LINK’s website.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she is taking steps to help ensure that SME firms with defence contracts are not de-banked by financial institutions. \p Emma Reynolds: The government recognises that access to banking services is vital for people and businesses across the UK. It is this government's firm position that no firm should be denied access to banking services solely on the grounds they work in defence. The upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will have SMEs at its heart, and will lay out the steps we are taking as government to support defence SMEs.

The government has already legislated to strengthen protections for customers. From April 2026, banks and other providers will be required to give customers a longer notice period of at least 90 days and to provide customers with a sufficiently detailed and specific explanation before they terminate services. This will give people and businesses the time and information they need to challenge decisions or find an alternative provider.

We continue to monitor wider access to bank account provision but recognise this is largely a commercial matter. Firms have strict obligations to ensure the legitimacy of a business and protect against financial crime.
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will instruct the Financial Conduct Authority to investigate pricing in the insurance market. \p Emma Reynolds: Insurers make commercial decisions about the price and terms of cover they offer based on their assessment of the relevant risks.

However, the Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules. The FCA requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive).

The FCA monitors firms to ensure they provide products that offer fair value and has robust powers to act against firms that fail to comply with its rules.
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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the fiscal impact of introducing a wealth tax. \p James Murray: The Government is committed to making sure the wealthiest in our society pay their fair share of tax. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at Autumn Budget 2024 to help fix the public finances in as fair a way as possible.  These and other decisions announced at the Budget will help repair the public finances and fund public services such as the NHS and education.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the year-on-year spending associated with the Chagos Islands deal will be funded. \p Darren Jones: Any financial obligations arising from the UK-Mauritius agreement on the Chagos Archipelago, including departmental budgetary responsibilities, will be managed responsibly within the government’s fiscal framework and reported in annual accounts in the usual way. Obligations within MOD and FCDO budgets have been agreed through the recently published Spending Review. No payments will be made until the treaty is legally binding.
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Tom Hayes:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Institute for Fiscal Studies report entitled, The short- and medium-term effects of Sure Start on children’s outcomes, published in May 2025, what assessment she has made of the impact of Sure Start children's centres on long term potential earnings. \p Darren Jones: The Government shares the IFS’s assessment that Sure Start made a positive impact on children’s outcomes. To this end, the government recently announced over £500 million investment by the end of 2028 to roll out Family Hubs to every local authority in England over the Spending Review period. The programme aims to reach children in the most disadvantaged areas and draws on the legacy of Sure Start to ensure all children have the best start in life.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the cumulative impact of changes to (a) business rates and (b) employer National Insurance contributions on the financial viability of (i) pubs and (ii) breweries. \p James Murray: From 2026-27, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Eligibility for the new RHL multipliers is intended to broadly reflect the scope of the existing RHL relief scheme, and will be set out in legislation later this year.

Until these new tax rates are introduced, in 2025-26, RHL businesses will receive a 40 per cent relief on their eligible properties up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business. Under the previous Government, RHL relief was due to end entirely in April 2025. By extending the relief, the Government has saved the average pub, with a ratable value of £16,800, over £3,300.

Tax policy and legislation is not subject to the Better Regulation Framework Guidance, which requires an Impact Assessment to accompany policy decisions. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

Regarding National Insurance contributions, a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) was published alongside the introduction of the Bill containing the changes to employer NICs. The TIIN sets out the impact of the policy on the Exchequer, the economic impacts of the policy, and the impacts on individuals, businesses, and civil society organisations, as well as an overview of the equality impacts.
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Cat Eccles:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to help end discrimination against the trans community. \p Dame Nia Griffith: It is crucial that LGBT+ people are safe, included and protected from discrimination. To achieve this we must end the recent politics of division. Trans people are protected from harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender reassignment in the Equality Act 2010.

Work is already underway to fulfil the commitments set out in the Government’s manifesto, advancing the rights and protections afforded to trans people including: delivering a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices; ensuring that all trans people receive appropriate and high-quality health care; and equalising all existing strands of hate crime to make transphobic hate crime an aggravated offence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

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Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assurance mechanisms his Department has implemented to help ensure the accuracy of AI-derived data that forms part of the new UK peat map. \p Mary Creagh: The England Peat Map, produced by Natural England as part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme, went through a rigorous science assurance process across Natural England, Defra and external peer reviewers. This science assurance covered the scientific design of the map’s production, the collection of the field data used to drive the model and testing the final modelled analysis which produced the map.

The AI-derived data was reviewed and refined through checking in the field, using field survey data, and the methods by which this was done were reviewed by independent Defra group technical experts and external academics. This included reviewing the data inputted into the models, the models’ training and validation, the models’ application, the models’ outputs, and covered all the map layers produced including peat depth, extent and vegetation layers. Beta testing of outputs across Defra group users was initiated a year prior to release and feedback was used to refine the models.

Limitations and precautions associated with the use of AI in the project are discussed in the England Peat Map final report, available on Natural England’s Access to Evidence website.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_269

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62667 on Animal and Plant Health Agency, whether those investments include (a) biosecurity and (b) the redevelopment of the Animal and Plant Health Agency headquarters. \p Daniel Zeichner: We are making a record investment into the nation’s biosecurity capabilities, and in turn our national security. In June the Government announced over £1 billion in funding for biosecurity over the current parliament from the Spending Review. This includes the necessary funding to make progress with building the National Biosecurity Centre at the Animal & Plant Health Agency’s Weybridge site.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_270

Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to lay the Activity Regulations required to give effect to the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023; and which activities he plans to prioritise. \p Daniel Zeichner: We continue to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to take forward changes to low-welfare activities abroad.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_271

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37521 on Import controls, on what date the border control posts will become operational. \p Daniel Zeichner: In line with the commitments we have made under the Windsor Framework, SPS inspection facilities are already operational in Northern Ireland at the ports of Foyle (18 April 25) and Warrenpoint (20 June 25). Construction and preparation of the new facilities are well underway at Belfast and Larne, and they are scheduled to be operationally ready at the end of July 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_272

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37521 on Import Controls, when was construction of the border control posts completed; and what was the total construction costs of those posts. \p Daniel Zeichner: In line with the commitments we have made under the Windsor Framework, SPS inspection facilities are already operational in Northern Ireland at the ports of Foyle (18 April 25) and Warrenpoint (20 June 25). Construction and preparation of the new facilities are well underway at Belfast and Larne, and they are scheduled to be operationally ready at the end of July 2025.

The Government has committed to a maximum funding envelope of £192.3 million for all the facilities at each of the 4 ports. Of this envelope, Defra has spent £111.3 million up to the 30 June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_273

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of the cost of introducing a not for EU labelling scheme for agri-food businesses in Fylde constituency. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra has published an impact assessment which sets out the likely costs to businesses. Due to the scope of products that need to be labelled from 1 July, and uncertainty as to the extent to which these products may be removed from sale in Northern Ireland and hence the scale of any requirement in Great Britain, it includes a ‘range’ for the potential cost to businesses.

As is set out in the Impact Assessment, the indicative cost to business of applying ‘not for EU’ labelling to a subset of product lines is significantly less than the whole scope and will vary depending on the product. We made the decision to introduce a targeted power, as opposed to a mandatory requirement for all goods, in order to prevent some of these costs to businesses.

Moreover, the non-monetised benefits - particularly safeguarding food security in Northern Ireland - will be a crucial part of maintaining a strong economy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_274

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing stronger penalties for owners involved with dangerous dog incidents. \p Daniel Zeichner: Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, any dog that is dangerously out of control can be euthanised and their owners put in prison for up to 14 years and banned from ever owning a dog.

Defra is working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to explore measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership. We have reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce and look forward to receiving their findings and recommendations in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_275

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the licensing and regulation of animal rescue and rehoming centres. \p Daniel Zeichner: Animal welfare is a devolved matter in the UK. This means that responsibility for animal welfare policy in the individual nations is the responsibility of the relevant nations’ Ministers.

However, Defra works closely with the devolved Governments on a range of shared priorities and will discuss any relevant matters as necessary.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_276

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has considered reforming the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals Regulations 2018 to introduce a tiered system that distinguishes between (a) low and (b) high volume breeders. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 require anyone in the business of breeding and selling dogs and/or who breeds three or more litters in a twelve-month period to hold a valid licence.

Defra has completed a post-implementation review of the Regulations which can be found here. The Government is considering the findings and will be outlining more detail on next steps in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_277

Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will allow exhibition poultry from Northern Ireland to return from short-term events in Great Britain under general licence subject to veterinary certification. \p Daniel Zeichner: Poultry can move from Northern Ireland to England under the general licence published on GOV.UK. Under the Windsor Framework, poultry moving from England to Northern Ireland are subject to the import rules in Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Bird gatherings, including shows and exhibitions, are not permitted within a disease control zone. Outside of these areas, bird gatherings are only permitted if licensed. Bird gatherings general licences have been made available by Defra and the devolved governments permitting certain bird gatherings, provided that the gathering has been notified to the Animal and Plant Health Agency in Great Britain and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland at least 7 days before the event and it meets all the requirements of the relevant general licence. Disease control is a devolved matter, and it is for the devolved governments to assess their disease risks and respond accordingly. Whist poultry (Galliforme or Anseriforme birds) gatherings are permitted in Northern Ireland, due to the heightened risk of avian influenza in Great Britain poultry gatherings remain prohibited in England, Wales and Scotland.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_278

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2025 to Question 63361 on Floods: Huntingdon; what works the Environment Agency will undertake on the St Ives Staunch Sluice in the next two years. \p Emma Hardy: A project is currently underway to ensure that the Environment Agency (EA) is able to maintain river levels for navigation. There is £2 million available for this work across two financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27. The full scope of the works has yet to be determined but the EA will continue to provide updates via their website, here: St Ives and Brownshill Staunch Sluices Information Page - Environment Agency - Citizen Space.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_279

Kirith Entwistle:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement of orders requiring dogs to be muzzled in public. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra is working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to encourage responsible dog ownership, to ensure dog control issues are addressed before they escalate and to make sure the full force of the law is applied. As part of this work, we have reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce to explore measures to promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. This includes consideration of enforcement. We look forward to receiving the findings and recommendations from the taskforce in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-10 conversation_280

Kirith Entwistle:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of penalties in place for dog-on-dog attacks involving service dogs. \p Daniel Zeichner: It is an offence under section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to allow a dog to attack an assistance dog. The maximum penalty for such an offence is three years imprisonment or an unlimited fine, or both.

Defra is working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to explore measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership. We have reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce and look forward to receiving their findings and recommendations in due course.