theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_350
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_350

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what statutory instruments will be required to align UK Sanitary and Phytosanitary standards with those of the EU. \p Daniel Zeichner: We have agreed a commitment for the UK to dynamically align with the EU on specific SPS rules. Operating under the same regulatory framework will facilitate the removal of unnecessary barriers to trade. The UK and the EU are partners with similarly high standards for agrifood products.

The exact mechanism for agreeing and implementing new EU rules is subject to further negotiations, but there will be a role for Parliament. We look forward to bringing forward legislation to provide Parliament with an important opportunity to scrutinise new arrangements and to have its say.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_351
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_351

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of (a) trends in the population levels of horseflies in the UK and (b) the impact of these levels on (i) rural communities and (ii) livestock. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) does not do any systematic surveillance on horseflies in the UK or the impact they have and is not aware of any organisation that does.

Horseflies are mainly considered a biting nuisance rather than a biological vector of disease such as mosquitoes and ticks.

Defra has recently funded the Vector Borne Diseases Group at APHA to investigate potential arthropod vectors of disease such as horseflies with the Pirbright Institute that will involve field sampling so that we can start to address these questions as awareness of the threat of arthropod vectors increases.

All livestock are protected by comprehensive and robust animal health and welfare legislation with the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Farmers have a duty to care for the animals they keep which includes protecting them from pain, injury, suffering and disease, which includes taking appropriate precautions to prevent their animals from being irritated by flies during procedures such as ear-tagging. Suppliers of ear tags must provide instructions on insertion and best tagging practice.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_352
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_352

Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2025 to Question 64014 on Food Supply, by what metrics his Department (a) measures and (b) forecasts annual domestic food production. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra produces a comprehensive set of metrics to measure annual domestic food production but does not produce forecasts of domestic food production. These statistics cover a wide range of indicators, including:

These metrics are publicly available in either the annual publication "Agriculture in the United Kingdom" at Agriculture in the United Kingdom - GOV.UK or on the Food & Farming Statistics publication page at Food, Farming and Bio-security statistics - GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_353
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_353

Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of water lost due to leaking toilets in the UK; and if he will take steps to help reduce this. \p Emma Hardy: Waterwise, the lead environmental non-governmental organisation for water efficiency, estimates to 8% of toilets are leaking around 400 litres a day each.

The Government is committed to reducing leakage by 50% by 2050 as part of our legally binding target to reduce water use per person by 20% by 2038. This includes taking steps to reduce water wastage from toilets. Our recent update to our government response on a Call for Evidence on leaking toilets, conducted in 2022 outlined we are reviewing initial discussions with stakeholders as part of a ‘leaky loos taskforce’ to understand the steps needed to reduce toilet leakage.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_354
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_354

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to include (a) blue carbon habitats and (b) seabed sediments as designated features within existing Marine Protected Areas as part of the upcoming Marine Protected Area network review. \p Emma Hardy: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) protect a variety of habitats as designated features, including those that play a role in carbon capture and storage, such as maerl beds, saltmarsh and seagrass meadows. The MPA network review aims to identify approaches to improve climate change resilience across designated sites in English seas, including those protecting carbon-storing seabed sediments (e.g. sublittoral mud in North East of Farnes Deep Marine Conservation Zone).
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_355
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_355

Alice Macdonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the pressures on water resources in Norfolk; and what steps he is taking with local partners to reduce those pressures. \p Emma Hardy: The entire eastern England region is classified as seriously water stressed. Norfolk is one of the driest parts of the country with only 600mm rainfall per year which is two thirds of the national average. Norfolk supports some of England’s most precious and sensitive river and wetland habitats. Climate change is bringing more frequent extreme events such as droughts, floods and increasing pressure on the environment and water supplies. Rainfall this spring has been 40% of average, putting pressure on the environment and water supplies.

Natural England (NE) has an ongoing monitoring programme for protected sites identifying their condition and the pressures acting on them. NE is working in partnership with Defra bodies and stakeholders to protect and restore our water-dependent environment and develop sustainable resilient water supplies for the future.

The Environment Agency (EA) is working with Water Resources East, public water companies, agriculture, and other sectors to ensure water abstractions are environmentally sustainable. In Norfolk, abstraction licences were last reviewed and re-issued in 2017/18 and are due for review in 2029/30. The EA closely monitors water resources and advises abstractors on water availability via the Water Abstraction Alerts service. Due to continuing hot and dry conditions Norfolk will move into Prolonged Dry Weather on 21 July.

The EA has, in partnership with NE, Cambridge Water, Essex & Suffolk Water, Affinity Water, and Anglian Water, published a guide on Shared Standards in Water Efficiency for Local Plans. It supports Local Planning Authorities in delivering sustainable growth across East Anglia, highlighting the region’s serious water stress. The guide promotes clean, sustainable water supply as essential for growth and nature recovery.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_356
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_356

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the UK is taking steps to align its domestic circular economy strategy with the Global Plastics Treaty's likely obligations including (a) packaging reform and (b) waste reduction targets. \p Mary Creagh: The Government has set its plan for providing the direction and certainty for businesses to plan and spearhead the nation’s transition to a truly circular and future-proof economy. The first six priority sectors that the Circular Economy Taskforce will focus on have been confirmed – with chemicals & plastics one of the six.

Global action is critical for our domestic and international ambitions which is why at inc 5.2, we will continue to push for ambitious measures across the whole lifecycle of the treaty. After negotiations conclude we will reflect on what this means for our domestic policy to ensure the UK continues to show leadership domestically and on the international stage.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_357
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_357

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve navigation assets along the non-tidal Thames. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) maintains its non-tidal Thames Navigation assets through the combination of a capital investment programme to deliver major refurbishment projects, and a revenue maintenance programme which sustains the safe day-day operations of these assets.

During 2025/26 the EA are investing £16.3 million on the highest priority lock refurbishment projects to benefit their Navigation customers and will support the vital retention of the River Thames water resource through the refurbishment of specific weirs.

The EA’s future investment programme has identified approximately £18 million of investment need over the next 5 years to progress more lock and weir refurbishments. This programme also focuses on the operational reliability of the Navigation assets and is planning to upgrade 22 lock operation systems, which are the main source of temporary lock breakdowns. The EA will bid for the identified funding as part of the government’s spending review process.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_358
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_358

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the sources of PFAS pollution in UK rivers. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) has been co-ordinating a programme of work to better understand the presence of PFAS in the environment and develop a risk-based approach to manage identified risks.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_359
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_359

Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether rare livestock breeders based in Northern Ireland are eligible to (a) contribute to and (b) benefit from UK-wide genetic preservation schemes for (i) heritage and (ii) exotic breeds. \p Daniel Zeichner: The UK Genetics for Livestock and Equines Committee (UKGLE) provides independent advice to Defra and the Devolved Governments on native breed issues, particularly their conservation and sustainable use.

Beneficial activities to protect and conserve UK livestock genetic resources include encouraging sustainable breeding programmes through Zootechnical legislation, monitoring populations of pedigree livestock including native breeds which are published in an annual UK National Breed inventory, maintaining at risk lists (and their equivalents), and protecting eligible native breeds at risk from culling during notifiable disease outbreaks.

Regarding zootechnical regulation, NI breed societies would be regulated by DAERA (as the competent authority) under the UK-wide assimilated 2016/1012. Breeding programmes in Northern Ireland, including those aimed at the preservation of breeds, are approved by DAERA although these programmes may link with breeding programmes approved by competent authorities for other parts of the UK.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_360
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_360

Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle fly-tipping. \p Mary Creagh: This Government will crack down on fly-tipping by supporting councils to seize and crush more vehicles of fly-tippers, forcing fly-tippers to clean up their mess and bringing in new prison sentences for those transporting waste illegally. We also taking steps to develop statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance to support councils to consistently and effectively exercise their various enforcement powers.

In the meantime, Defra will continue to work with stakeholders through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group, such as the National Farmers Union, local authorities and police, to promote and disseminate good practice on tackling fly-tipping.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_361
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_361

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) population status and (b) ecological role of curlews. \p Mary Creagh: The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the main scheme for assessing the population changes of the UK’s breeding birds. This publication presents trends for breeding bird populations in the UK and for each UK country, showing population changes. The latest Breeding Bird Survey (BTO-JNCC-RSPB BBS Report 2024) shows a 51% decline in the UK’s curlew breeding population between 1995 and 2023.

The latest review of Birds of Conservation Concern (bocc-5-a5-4pp-single-pages.pdf) assessed those bird species that breed or overwinter in the UK. This review, compiled by a coalition of the UK’s leading bird conservation and monitoring organisations, placed the curlew on the red list due to severe population declines.

Curlew fulfil several ecological roles, to include biodiversity indicator, invertebrate control, and ecosystem engineer. Beyond their ecological importance, curlew are also an important part of the cultural landscape of the UK.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_362
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_362

Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the devolved Administrations on coordinated approaches to monitoring curlew populations. \p Mary Creagh: The Secretary of State has not had discussions with the Devolved Administrations on a coordinated approach to monitor curlew populations.

The UK curlew population is monitored under the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), an annual monitoring scheme jointly funded by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, BTO and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Population trends for curlew are generated at UK, country and regional levels and shared publicly in an annual report.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_363
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_363

Susan Murray:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) devolved authorities and (b) regulatory bodies on the cross-border movement of industrial waste for land reclamation purposes. \p Mary Creagh: Defra officials continue to engage with their counterparts in the devolved authorities on matters including the movement of waste. I recently met with Gillian Martain MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy in the Scottish Government to discuss reports suggesting waste sent to landfill in Scotland may be diverted to landfill in England.

There are no additional controls on the movement of waste between England and the devolved nations, to those that apply to movements within the individual nations. In England and Wales, waste must be managed in accordance with the Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice. Similar Codes of Practice apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Waste can only be transferred to a site that has the appropriate authorisation (eg. permit or exemption) to receive, treat or dispose of the waste.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_364
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_364

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources available to local authorities to enforce waste disposal regulations. \p Mary Creagh: This question has been interpreted as relating to whether an assessment has been made regarding adequate infrastructure availability for local authorities to meet their Simpler Recycling requirements.

We are working with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and waste industry representatives to support readiness for the Simpler Recycling requirements. Specifically, we have engaged with Materials Recycling Facilities (MRF) operators and local authorities to identify challenges with MRF capacity, investment and upgrade timelines, and to work with the sector to identify interventions to support MRFs as they prepare for Simpler Recycling. Those engaged with us are aware of their obligations and are working hard to upgrade their facilities to ensure they can separate the target materials as required by Simpler Recycling.

Further workstreams have included engagement with the organics processing sector who are also clear of the obligations on them and the increase in food waste material which will be generated in the coming years.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_365
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_365

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential environmental and economic impact of a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty on the UK. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is committed to reaching agreement on an ambitious and effective treaty to end plastic pollution when negotiations resume in August 2025 and will be working closely with countries both within the High Ambition Coalition and outside it to achieve this.

Plastic pollution can negatively impact coastal areas, industries, and ecosystems. The UK is calling for global legally binding rules that will tackle the full life cycle of plastics and promote a circular economy, working to prevent and reduce plastic pollution. We have called for specific measures to address plastic pollution from fishing and aquaculture gear and plastic pellets, two forms of plastic pollution that particularly affect coastal communities and cause harm to coastal ecosystems.

Whilst a full assessment of the impacts can only be made once negotiations are complete, global and regional analysis by the OECD suggests an ambitious and effective global plastic pollution treaty could benefit the UK, including coastal areas such as West Dorset, by creating a level playing field for UK businesses and driving a global systems change towards a more circular economy for plastics.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_366
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_366

Chris Coghlan:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if the Government will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Supreme Court judgment in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025 on trans people with Gender Recognition Certificates. \p Dame Nia Griffith: A Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) allows a trans person to change their legal sex to align with their acquired gender. Those with a GRC are recognised in their acquired sex and gender unless specific exceptions apply. The Supreme Court ruling clarified that the Equality Act is one such exception; it is important to note that the ruling also emphasised that trans people remain protected from harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender reassignment in the Equality Act 2010.

A GRC still allows trans people to legally change their sex for a range of reasons that matter in their lives – birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates, for example.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_367
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_367

Edward Morello:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57646 on Children in Care: Discrimination, if she will make caring a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. \p Dame Nia Griffith: There are currently no plans to make caring a legally protected characteristic. Carers are likely to be already protected from less favourable treatment under the Equality Act 2010, under the “discrimination by association” provisions, which require employers to treat employees with caring responsibilities fairly and not to discriminate directly against them because they are looking after a young, old or disabled relative.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_368
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_368

Dr Andrew Murrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the King's Gurkha Artillery will recruit female Nepali citizens. \p Luke Pollard: Gurkhas have made an outstanding contribution to the UK through their years of dedicated service to the Crown and are held in high esteem by the British Army and public alike.

The number of recruits required for the Brigade of Gurkhas is managed on an annual basis and depends on factors such as retirements, transfers and any changes in unit Order of Battles. Therefore, the Army cannot provide confirmation on the likely number of Gurkha recruits for each of the next five years.

The British Army’s wish to recruit women has been communicated to the Government of Nepal and we will continue to engage them on this subject.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_369
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_369

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to improve the mine hunting capabilities of the Royal Navy. \p Maria Eagle: The Mine Hunting Capability Programme is delivering a rolling programme of unmanned surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles into Royal Navy service for use by frontline Mine Warfare specialists. These autonomous mine hunting systems are in regular use by the Mine Threat Exploitation Group, both for training and operations.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_370
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_370

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using drones for defence missions. \p Maria Eagle: The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets a new vision for how our Armed Forces should be conceived. This envisages a combination of conventional and digital warfighters; the power of drones, AI, and autonomy complementing the 'heavy metal' of tanks and artillery. It identifies that an immediate priority for force transformation should be a shift towards greater use of autonomy and Artificial Intelligence within the UK's conventional forces. As in Ukraine, this would provide greater accuracy, lethality, and cheaper capabilities-changing the economics of Defence. To support this shift towards autonomy, the Government has already announced an additional £2 billion this parliament on autonomy, making total spend on autonomy £4bn, including establishing a new Drone Centre.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_371
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_371

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with his European counterparts on cooperation on aircraft development. \p Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Defence has continuous discussions with several European counterparts related to common platforms, such as A400M and Typhoon, and future capabilities. This includes continuous engagement with Italy as part of the delivery of our joint Global Combat Air Programme. We also have regular engagement with France and Germany to look to deliver interoperability in the development of our respective future combat air systems.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_372
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_372

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much additional funding his Department plans to provide for space technology within the remit of the National Armaments Director. \p Maria Eagle: The Strategic Defence Review published earlier this year has recommended that Defence must urgently develop the resilience of its military space systems.

The new Defence Investment Plan, which will be published in Autumn, will set out how we will deliver the Strategic Defence Review's vision and will be both deliverable and affordable.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_373
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_373

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 9 of section 7.5 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 2 June 2025, what his planned timetable is for the Cabinet sub-Committee or equivalent Ministerial group to meet. \p Luke Pollard: I welcome the hon. Gentleman’s interest in space. The Ministry of Defence along with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and other departments, is coordinating space activities across government. Ministers from across government met on the 22 April to discuss space and, since the publication of the Strategic Defence Review, Ministers met on 7 July to follow up on our approach to space. We remain committed to establishing and evolving the right space governance structure to ensure that activities are effectively coordinated across all relevant departments.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_374
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_374

Kevin McKenna:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to introduce a (a) formal and (b) accessible complaints system for veterans when public bodies fail to meet their obligations under the Armed Forces Covenant. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) remains committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community under the Armed Forces Covenant. Work is currently underway to put the Covenant fully into law, meaning that the Legal Duty will apply across a broad range of policy areas and to Central Government, Devolved Governments and at a local level.

The MOD is considering its plans for implementation of the extended Duty, and this could include how the bodies subject to it are informed about their responsibilities and encouraged to comply.

Enquiries or complaints about Covenant signatories can be directed to the MOD via xxx@xxx.xx, and organisations failing to meet their pledge may have their Covenant status reviewed. The MOD will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure these processes remain accessible and effective in holding public bodies accountable.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_375
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_375

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65665 on Project ASGARD, what his planned timetable is for delivery of capability through Project ASGARD. \p Maria Eagle: ASGARD is working to deliver a step change in lethality for land forces through a software-defined, network enabled, targeting web that will directly link into the Defence Targeting web, driving targeting at a rate unmatched through traditional processes.

ASGARD is the British Army's flagship Transformative Capability Initiative. Elements of a prototype software defined deep recce strike complex were tested in May this year. The next iteration of ASGARD, focused at Corps level operations, will be tested in Quarter 2 2026.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_376
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_376

Alex Sobel:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the proposed requirement that trans people be excluded from (i) services and (ii) facilities that are designated single sex and (b) other proposals in the recent EHRC Draft Code of Practice to the Equality Act on the (A) financial and (B) operational readiness impacts of (1) his Department and (2) the armed forces. \p Al Carns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 July 2025 to Question 65333 to the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Dr Caroline Johnson).

Armed Forces: Gender (docx, 16.0KB)
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_377
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_377

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what security measures are in place to vet contractors and suppliers involved in sensitive defence infrastructure projects. \p Luke Pollard: Defence has a range of mandatory physical, personnel and cyber security controls that are applied to contractor personnel, facilities and systems. These are all scalable to the sensitivity of projects being worked on and the classification of information being processed. If there is a particular risk the hon. Member is concerned about, I would be grateful if he could write to me about it.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_378
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_378

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to recognise the service of people killed in the Battle of Arnhem. \p Al Carns: The war dead of the Battle of Arnhem are commemorated in perpetuity, predominantly at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, which is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). Over 1,700 casualties of the Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden are buried there, with over 240 being unidentified. The majority of those commemorated at Arnhem Oosterbeek are British servicemen, but the cemetery also contains Polish, Dutch and German casualties from the Battle of Arnhem.

To this day, visiting veterans of the battle are greeted by crowds of appreciative Arnhem citizens who attend annual ceremonies, showing their gratitude for the efforts made by the Allies to liberate their city. Additionally, just under 40 CWGC World War Two graves are located in Arnhem (Moscowa) General Cemetery, which is Arnhem’s civilian cemetery. A single burial also lies in Arnhem Jewish Cemetery.

The 80th anniversary of Operation MARKET GARDEN was commemorated last year, with a number of events attended by senior representatives from across Defence and Government, including the Minister for the Armed Forces in the House of Lords (Lord Coaker), the Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories (Stephen Doughty MP), and senior military representatives. This year, like every other year, we commemorate all who have served and their sacrifice as part of the national act of remembrance.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_379
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_379

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that the training received by combat medical technicians who are not qualified paramedics is recognised by civilian health care employers. \p Al Carns: The training Combat Medical Technicians (CMTs) receive leads to Higher or Advanced Apprenticeship qualifications which are recognised by civilian healthcare employers.

Initially, CMTs undertake a Foundation Medic course, followed by a Level 3 qualification as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker. Further to this CMTs are able to access Level 3 and 4 Pre-Hospital Emergency Care and First Response Emergency Care Apprenticeships and can continue to a Level 5 Diploma in Emergency and Urgent Care. In some instances, CMTs can also progress and complete a degree in Paramedic Science.

Further to this, those employed in Public Health settings also have the opportunity to access courses and qualifications in specialist areas such as audiometry, phlebotomy and the delivery of vaccinations; again these qualifications are nationally recognised.

CMTs work in the NHS whilst on Clinical Placements in both Secondary Healthcare and Ambulance Trusts with many delivering Emergency Care to the general populous.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_380
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_380

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the assumptions used to generate the figure of a 5.5 to 6 billion lifetime cost of the Afghan re-settlement schemes. \p Luke Pollard: Yes, the lifetime cost quoted of the Afghan resettlement schemes includes family members coming to the UK.

Projected costs are based on per person costs used for planning purposes, and estimated numbers of future arrivals. The estimate is based on costs incurred including: relocation and transitional accommodation costs; Local Authority tariffs and the Local Authority Housing Fund; legal fees; and staffing costs (e.g. case workers). The cost estimates also factor in assumptions on numbers of outstanding ARAP applications expected to be made eligible, family sizes and length of stay in transitional accommodation.

HM Treasury included the cost of all Afghan resettlement schemes in the spending audit in July 2024. HMT has fully funded all future costs of resettlement schemes as part of the Spending Review in June.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_381
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_381

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the timeliness of payments of compensation to the victims of infected blood. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Government is committed to ensuring that all those eligible to receive compensation receive an award as quickly as possible. As of 15 July, the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) has contacted 2,215 people to begin their claim for compensation, with 1,934 having started the claim process. 808 offers of compensation have been made, with a total value of over £602 million. 587 people have accepted their offer and received payment, with over £411 million paid in compensation. This means approximately 60% of infected people registered with a support scheme have been contacted to begin their claim.

For other groups, IBCA will continue their test and learn approach, bringing different people in at different stages to start their compensation claim. They set out further details of this in their community update on 21st July.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_382
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_382

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if his Department will take steps to re-establish the Church of Ireland as the established church of Northern Ireland. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The United Kingdom has two established churches, the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. The church was disestablished in Ireland in 1871 and in Wales in 1920. There are no plans to change the current arrangements.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_383
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_383

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2025 to Question 62990 on House of Lords Appointments Commission, what the Government’s policy is on the number of Non-Party Political Life Peers proposed by HOLAC who will be created each individual year of this Parliament. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Prime Minister will continue to invite nominations from HOLAC, and future appointments will be announced in the usual way.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_384
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_384

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Number 10 has an operational Bloomberg terminal. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: HMT has Bloomberg terminals and subscriptions to support the provision of economic advice to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_385
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_385

Paula Barker:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to help resolve the industrial dispute at pension administrator MyCSP. \p Georgia Gould: The Government does not provide a running commentary on ongoing disputes.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_386
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_386

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2025 to Question HL8019 on Admiralty House: Council tax, what the cash terms monetary value of the council tax bill issued on each of the three residences was in 2025-26. \p Georgia Gould: All information relating to the value of council tax bills for Westminster are published on Westminster City Council’s Website at https://www.westminster.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-bands-and-charges.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_387
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_387

Alex Mayer:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many arm’s-length bodies provided funding to Understanding Animal Research in the 2024–25 financial year, broken down by the amount of funding provided by each body. \p Georgia Gould: Information on how issued funding is spent by arms length bodies, including any membership of third party organisations, is not gathered centrally.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_388
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_388

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to review (a) government contracts with and (b) the Business Appointments Rules for Former Crown Servants in relation to the Boston Consulting Group. \p Georgia Gould: Government contracts are awarded in line with procurement regulations as set out in the Procurement Act 2023. Each contracting authority is responsible for monitoring supplier performance in accordance with the contract.

Contracting authorities may exclude suppliers for a range of mandatory and discretionary measures under the exclusion regime in the Procurement Act, which came into force in February 2025. Those suppliers may also be added to a central debarment list by the Cabinet Office.

Ministers and Crown servants at all levels, including all civil servants, special advisers, members of the armed forces and diplomats, are subject to the business appointment rules when accepting new appointments after Crown service.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_389
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_389

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the UN report entitled A/HRC/59/23: From economy of occupation to economy of genocide - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, published on 16 June 2025, what steps he is taking to raise concerns on the accusations contained within the report with (a) UK-based companies and (b) companies with UK government contracts listed in the report. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: It is the long-standing policy of successive British Governments that judgement as to whether genocide has occurred is for a competent national or international court. Genocide is a crime and whether it has occurred should be decided after consideration of all the evidence available in the context of a credible judicial process.

The UK Government is committed to upholding international law and promoting human rights in all its operations, including procurement. We expect all suppliers to uphold the highest of ethical standards and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Public sector procurement is subject to a legal framework set out by the Procurement Act 2023 which came into force in February 2025. Individual contracting authorities are responsible for their own procurement and contract award decisions under the Act.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_390
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_390

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government Property Agency has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Georgia Gould: The Government Property Agency uses the Cabinet Office's policy on Office Workstation Safety which includes the purchase of equipment for working at home. We do not have any formal home working contracts at the GPA.

IT equipment is purchased for the Government Property Agency (GPA) via Cabinet Office IT and recharged annually. However, to extract the relevant information would incur disproportionate costs.

Heads of departments have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_391
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_391

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Crown Commercial Service has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Georgia Gould: The provision of equipment by Crown Commercial Service (CCS) for staff to use when working at home is made in line with Health and Safety legislation and workplace adjustment requirements.

Information on how much has been spent specifically to facilitate home working could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_392
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_392

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the UK Statistics Authority has spent on equipment to enable staff to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 8th July is attached.

Letter from the National Statistician (pdf, 132.6KB)
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_393
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_393

James Naish:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the removal of potential bias relating to (a) class, (b) race and (c) disability in civil service recruitment. \p Georgia Gould: The Civil Service People Plan 2024 - 2027 outlines our commitment to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds. Appointment to the Civil Service must be based on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

To support this, and reduce the potential for bias in the recruitment process, the Cabinet Office uses name-blind recruitment where applications are anonymised during sifting. Information on candidates' socio-economic background and race is collected for monitoring and reporting purposes, but hiring managers are not provided with access to this information for individual candidates.

The Cabinet Office also uses the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), ensuring disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a role are given a fair opportunity to demonstrate their skills at interview.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_394
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_394

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of the attendees at the Plan for Change launch event on 5 December 2024 were invited by the Government. \p Ellie Reeves: All invitations were sent by the Government.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_395
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_395

Tom Morrison:To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of trends in the level of racism faced by hon. Members during the 2024 election. \p Sir Jeremy Wright: The Electoral Commission’s report on the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election found that during the campaign many candidates, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds, experienced unacceptable levels of intimidation and harassment. The Commission’s research showed that 34% of candidates from an ethnic minority background reported having a serious problem with intimidation compared to 14% of candidates overall. The Commission did not collect data on this issue prior to 2024 so has not made an assessment of trends in the data.

The Commission has welcomed the first report from the Speaker’s Conference on the impact of abuse and intimidation. The Commission is considering how it can support implementation of the report’s proposals for all candidates, including those from an ethnic minority background, ahead of the elections in May 2026.
wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_396
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-23)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-23 conversation_396

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 59783 on Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru: Elections, if the Electoral Commission will take steps to require the devolved administrations to ensure that political parties have (a) advance notice of and (b) clarity on the spending limits before of the election’s regulated period. \p Sir Jeremy Wright: The Commission encourages the UK’s governments to ensure that changes to electoral legislation are clear at least six months before voters, campaigners, or electoral administrators are expected to comply with them. This helps to ensure all stakeholders, including political parties, have sufficient notice and clarity on any subsequent changes.

The Electoral Commission provides updated guidance, support and advice for political parties and candidates to help them comply with political finance laws.

The spending limits for Scottish Parliament elections have not changed ahead of the 2026 elections. Ahead of these elections, the Commission has already published its guidance for parties, and plans to publish its guidance for candidates and agents in September.

The Welsh Government has introduced new spending limits for the Senedd elections, which were agreed by the Senedd in July. The Commission will publish its guidance for parties, candidates and agents in September.