theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2025, to Question 30652, on Local Government: Disclosure of Information, if she will undertake an audit of the local government transparency data published by local authorities to ascertain whether data is (a) accessible, (b) published in open reuse formats and (c) published in a timely manner. \p Jim McMahon: The purpose of the Transparency Code is to make it easier for the public to directly hold their councils to account. Councils are independent of central government and expected to meet the Code’s requirements, and to take account of recommendations in the document, including to publish data in a format that allows open reuse. It is for councils to ensure that they are complying with legal duties and government does not monitor or micromanage how such requirements or recommended best practice are being met, including compliance with the Code.

If members of the public have concerns about a local authority’s compliance with the Code, then they should raise this with the authority in question.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department has provided to help support the operation of mayoral combined authorities in each of the last five years. \p Jim McMahon: Details of funding provided to Mayoral Combined Authorities is published each year in annual devolution reports and can be accessed on gov.uk.
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Katie Lam:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much agricultural land her Department plans to compulsorily purchase in (a) Kent and (b) Weald of Kent constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department has no plans to compulsorily purchase land in Kent or in the Weald of Kent constituency.
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Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential reasons for housing associations selling homes previously let out for social rent. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) publishes annual statistics relating to the social housing stock owned and managed by Private Registered Providers in England, including information on stock lost from the sector. Sales for non-social use in 2023/24 were recorded as 4,341 homes. Further information can be found on gov.uk here.

RSH’s analysis suggests that providers are undertaking fixed asset sales for a variety of reasons. These include stock rationalisation and disposal of uneconomic properties, as well as generating receipts to support reinvestment in new and existing stock.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Imran Hussain:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps through the next Spending Review to increase the level of funding for the provision of social housing for homeless people. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 30393 on 24 February 2025 for more detail on the steps we have already taken to increase social and affordable housebuilding.

We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.
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Katie White:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for social housing in Leeds North West constituency. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 30393 on 24 February 2025 for more detail on the steps we have already taken to increase social and affordable housebuilding.

We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 24223 on Freedom of Expression, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of introducing a definition of Islamophobia on legal rights to freedom of expression relating to blasphemy. \p Alex Norris: The Government has established a new working group to provide government with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, advising government and other bodies on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims. The group’s proposed definition must be compatible with the unchanging right of British citizens to exercise freedom of speech and expression. The Government has been clear that there is no blasphemy law in England, and we will not introduce one.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of modern dehumidifying technologies can play on tackling damp and mould in the social and private rented housing sectors. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has published consolidated guidance for social and private landlords relating to the health impacts of damp and mould and what actions they should consider when responding to reports of it.

Whether or not dehumidifiers form part of the way damp and mould is addressed is a decision for landlords to make. However, the guidance is clear that it is the responsibility of landlords to identify the underlying causes of damp and mould, including structural issues or inadequate ventilation, and to find long-term solutions.

A range of experts in damp and mould and related areas were engaged with and contributed to the guidance in question which can be found on gov.uk here.
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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has plans to increase the number of additional planning officers. \p Matthew Pennycook: MHCLG does not hold detailed data on the number of planning officers recruited by individual local authorities.

In 2023, the Department commissioned a nationwide survey to improve understanding of the capacity and capability issues reported in local planning authorities. The findings of the local authority planning capacity and skills survey have been used to guide support and monitor investment impacts. We are currently analysing the results of the 2025 pulse survey, which will update key metrics and compare them to the 2023 baseline.

Our manifesto committed us to appointing 300 new planning officers into local planning authorities. We are on track to meet that commitment through two routes, namely graduate recruitment through the Pathways to Planning scheme run by the Local Government Association and mid-career recruitment through Public Practice.

On 27 February, the government announced funding to support salaries and complement graduate bursaries. Further information can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 27 February 2025 (HCWS480).

The government has also increased planning fees for householder and other applications from 1 April 2025, which will provide much-needed additional resources for hard-pressed local planning authorities. The government is also taking forward measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that will enable local planning authorities to set their own planning fees to cover their costs.

Through our funding of the Planning Advisory Service, support is also being provided to local planning authorities and their staff (including ecologists) in relation to the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to assist the continued freedom of movement of BN(O) visa holders whose passports have been cancelled by Hong Kong authorities. \p Seema Malhotra: Following introduction of the National Security Law, the Hong Kong authorities have cancelled the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports of some British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)), including some currently residing in the UK. Where such individuals have a BN(O) passport, they can generally use that for travel. However, those whose sole passport is a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport, which has been cancelled, may face travel restrictions.

In those circumstances, individuals may be eligible to apply for a Home Office travel document. This is available, in some cases, for individuals who do not hold British nationality, but are residing in the UK, have permission to stay and who cannot use or get a passport from their country’s national authorities.

A Home Office travel document enables a person to travel, subject to any conditions that may be required. The onus is on the individual applying for a Home Office travel document to demonstrate they are eligible, in line with the published guidance. Further information on Home Office travel documents can be found at: Apply for a Home Office travel document: Overview - GOV.UK.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of restrictions on right to work on the health and safety of people seeking asylum. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Impacts on vulnerable individuals and equalities considerations are at the front and centre of our work. As required through the Public Sector Equality Duty, we have continuously considered equality implications throughout the policy development process.

Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can apply for permission to work. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List.

Whilst we keep all policies under review, there are no immediate plans to change the existing policy. It is important that we distinguish between individuals who need protection and those seeking to work here who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. Asylum seekers do not need to make perilous journeys in order to seek employment in the UK.

The Government is determined to restore order to the asylum system after it has been put under unprecedented pressure. We will ensure that the system operates fairly and with quicker processing of claims. This will ensure that genuine refugees can access the labour market faster rather than waiting for extended periods on the outcome of their claim.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons will the renaming of civil injunctions as housing injunctions help housing associations tackle anti-social behaviour. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.

We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by bringing forward new Respect Orders, which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders. These were introduced as part of the Crime and Policing Bill on 25 February.

The Respect Order partially replaces the existing Civil Injunction power for the most persistent and serious adult ASB offenders, carrying with it a power of arrest and sentencing in the criminal courts for breach. It is a broad power for use in situations where behaviour had caused or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Practitioners who use the Civil Injunction for housing-related ASB have told us the power works well for those purposes. The element of the Civil Injunction that pertains to housing related ASB will therefore be retained, and re-named the 'housing injunction' for clarity, to distinguish it from the Respect Order and the Youth Injunction. The legal test for this is behaviour causing, or capable of causing, housing-related nuisance or annoyance. If agencies consider that ASB committed in the context of neighbour disputes meets the legal test for a Respect Order (behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress), they may determine a Respect Order is the most appropriate option instead.
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Leigh Ingham:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle drug related crime in Stafford constituency. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government recognises the considerable impact of drug use and dealing on individuals, families and communities. Tackling this is a vital part of our missions to deliver safer streets, improve health outcomes and contribute to opportunities. That is why we are taking a collaborative, cross-government approach to drugs at a national level.

This Government is dedicated to reducing drug-related harms through prevention and treatment, while acting quickly and decisively to stop the criminals peddling these harmful substances. We also expect the police to intervene to tackle illicit drug use, recognising the significant harms it causes.

Delivery focused local drugs partnerships across England provide a whole-system, multi-agency response from police, probation, public health, the NHS and other local partners. The partnership in Staffordshire, led by the Police and Crime Commissioner, has recognised and responded to the impact locally of the illicit supply and misuse of synthetic cathinones, sometimes referred to as ‘monkey dust’.

It is also crucial that the Government tackles the gangs that lure children and young people into crime and run county lines through violence and exploitation. County Lines are the most violent model of drug supply and a harmful form of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we will continue to target exploitative drug dealing gangs and break the organised crime groups behind the trade. Since July 2024, policing activity delivered through the County Lines Programme has resulted in over 400 deal lines being closed, the arrest and charge of over 200 deal line holders, 500 arrests and 800 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people.

Also, by disrupting drug supply chains, increasing treatment access, and targeting organised crime, we can reduce anti-social behaviour, knife crime, and the exploitation of young people through county lines.

The Government will set out its approach to drugs in more detail later this year.
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Matt Turmaine:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward further regulation of the sale of (a) crossbows and (b) crossbow arrow heads. \p Dame Diana Johnson: We are actively considering the introduction of further controls around crossbows and broadhead arrows. This follows a call for evidence on strengthening controls on crossbows on public safety grounds which ran from 14 February to 9 April 2024.

It tested ideas for whether there should be some form of licensing regime that would provide further controls on the use, ownership and supply of crossbows as well as whether there should be a prohibition on broadhead arrows. The responses have been reviewed and we will publish the Government’s response to the call for evidence, which will include what action we intend to take alongside a summary of the responses received, shortly.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to with retailers in Essex to increase (a) the provision of security personnel and (b) local police presence in stores to help deter (i) violence and (ii) abuse against staff. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Shop theft continues to increase at an unacceptable level, with more and more offenders using violence and abuse against shopworkers. We will not stand for this.

This Government is committed to effectively tackling retail crime. In the Crime and Policing Bill, introduced to Parliament on 25 February, we brought a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores. We are also repealing legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.

There were 44,048 shoplifting offences recorded by the police in the East of England region in the year ending September 2024, a 19% increase on the previous year (37,166 offences). This was a 41% increase when compared with the year ending March 2010 (31,154 offences).

There were 13,266 shoplifting offences recorded by Essex police in the year ending September 2024, a 20% increase on the previous year (11,101 offences). This was a 44% increase when compared with the year ending March 2010 (9,190 offences).

We will provide £100,000 additional funding next financial year for the National Police Chiefs' Council to give further training to police and retailers on prevention tactics, as well as investing £2 million over the next three years in the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), which provides a resource for both police and businesses to learn, share and support each other.

I chair the Retail Crime Forum to ensure we understand the needs of all retailers and to promote collaboration between the retail sector, security providers and law enforcement.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of recent trends in the level of underage drug use across the UK. \p Dame Diana Johnson: There are several surveys estimating the number of young drug users in the UK: According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, in the year ending March 2024, 16.5% of people aged 16-24 in England and Wales reported using a drug in the last 12 months (approximately 971,000 people). This is a reduction from 17.6% of people aged 16-24 in the year ending March 2023 (approximately 1,035,000 people).

According to the Scottish Health Survey 2023, 26% of people aged 16-24 in Scotland reported using a drug in the last 12 months. This is an increase from 22% in 2021.

According to the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England survey, in 2023, 9% of children aged 11-15 in England reported taking a drug in the last year. This is a reduction from 12% of children aged 11-15 in 2021.

This Government is committed to tackling these numbers head on. I know the most sustainable approach to reducing drug use across society in the long term is through preventing use among children and young people, and work continues across Government to proactively support this cohort by building their long-term resilience and intervening early to stop them from being drawn into crime and a range of wider risky behaviours.

This Government is also committed to tackling county lines and drugs supply. County Lines are the most violent model of drug supply and a harmful form of child criminal exploitation. Through the County Lines Programme, we will continue to target exploitative drug dealing gangs and break the organised crime groups behind the trade.

Since July 2024, policing activity delivered through the County Lines Programme has resulted in over 400 deal lines being closed, the arrest and charge of over 200 deal line holders, 500 arrests and 800 safeguarding referrals of children and vulnerable people. Over 260 children and young people have also received dedicated specialist support through our county lines support service since July.

Developing the evidence base on what works to facilitate behaviour change and prevent escalation to more harmful use and or dependency is an important part of that. I look forward to receiving the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ report which will provide insights into effective whole-system approaches to prevention of drug use in children and young people.
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Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff their Department has seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office does not have any seconded staff from this organisation.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 29614 on Fire and Rescue Services: Police, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support (a) joint working between emergency services, (b) tri-service working between the three emergency services and (c) joint working between the police and fire service. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Government is committed to seeing more and better collaboration between emergency services to increase efficiency and public safety outcomes. The Policing and Crime Act 2017 sets out a statutory duty for ambulance trusts, fire and rescue bodies and police bodies in England to keep collaboration opportunities under review and, where it is in the interests of their efficiency or effectiveness, to put those collaboration opportunities into practice. It is for local fire and rescue services, working with emergency services counterparts, to decide what collaborative activities will be best to take forward.

The HMICFRS framework considers collaboration as part of its inspections, and we continue to work with the sector to learn more about good examples that can be shared.
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Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce a nationwide policing strategy to prevent the theft of materials from charging stations. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Theft, including the theft of cables is a serious issue. This Government recognises the distress and disruption that theft and vandalism can cause, not only to businesses, but also to local communities and critical infrastructure.

The Home Office provided initial funding to establish the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership. The Partnership ensures national co-ordination of policing and law enforcement partners to tackle metal theft. It also provides training to police officers to help with tackling metal theft, and facilitates data and intelligence sharing to partners to target offenders and implement crime prevention measures.

The Home Office will also continue to support the extensive work undertaken by the British Transport Police in partnership with organisations such as Network Rail to further improve the enforcement response to metal theft. This includes supporting the Metal Crime Steering Group led by the National Police Chiefs Council lead for metal theft, Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle, whose aim is to disrupt those involved in this area of crime.

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 was introduced to reduce metal theft by strengthening regulation of the scrap metal industry. Enforcement of the Act is key to reducing metal theft. Following the introduction of the Act, there was an overall downward trend in metal-related theft offences. The latest figures for the year ending March 2024 are 64% lower than in the previous year.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the no recourse to public funds policy on people with long-term (a) conditions and (b) disabilities. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders, including groups representing people with long-term conditions and disabilities.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many British citizens held dual citizenship in each of the last five years. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office does not hold the requested data.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of British citizens who hold more than two passports. \p Seema Malhotra: The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Dr Rupa Huq:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the period of duration for spousal visas. \p Seema Malhotra: A partner or spouse coming to or staying in the UK with their British or settled relative is granted permission for 33 or 30 months respectively. The temporary grant of permission allows the Home Office to confirm the relationship is ongoing and subsisting before an extension of permission to stay or settlement as a partner/spouse.

The Government will set out its approach to future policy on a range of immigration policy areas in the upcoming Immigration White Paper which will be published later this year.
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Chris Law:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority inspections on farms employing workers on the Seasonal Worker visa were carried out in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, and (d) Northern Ireland. \p Jess Phillips: The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) can deploy their officers to any part of the country when there is capacity and a need to do so. The GLAA have employed the following number of compliance officers and enforcement officers over the last five years:

2020 - 13 Compliance Officers, 38 Enforcement Officers

2021 - 13 Compliance Officers, 43 Enforcement Officers

2022 - 14 Compliance Officers, 40 Enforcement Officers

2023 - 13 Compliance Officers, 39 Enforcement Officers

2024 - 13 Compliance Officers, 35 Enforcement Officers

2025 - 13 Compliance Officers, 34 Enforcement Officers

The GLAA does not hold the specific data requested on the number of farms they have inspected that employ workers on a Seasonal Worker visa.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many sandwiches have been delivered through her Department's contract entitled Catering - CIU, procurement reference CF-0360600D58000000L5A4EAK. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The contracts maintained are designed to provide basic nutrition to arriving individuals in need, including children. The amounts of food provided across the two sites will vary according to need.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department have made an assessment of the efficacy of the Government’s illegal migration returns agreement with Albania. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK and Albania have established a close and productive relationship on irregular migration and returns over recent years. 2024 saw 616 Albanian nationals arrive in the UK from Albania by small boat, a reduction from 12,658 in 2022. In the same year, 5,294 Albanian nationals were returned, an increase from 2,035 in 2022.
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Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether money spent on the UK and Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership has been distributed to M23 militias in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Under the previous government’s Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) with Rwanda, an Economic Transformation and Integration Fund was agreed to support the Government of Rwanda to achieve its Vision 2050 and National Strategy for Transformation 1 development strategies, which are intended to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth within Rwanda and improve the conditions of the existing refugee population and host communities, including in areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and job creation.

Further costs relating to the MEDP have been published here: Breakdown of Home Office costs associated with the MEDP with Rwanda and the Illegal Migration Act 2023 - GOV.UK.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many animals were housed in UK (a) laboratories, (b) breeding centres and (c) universities but not used in scientific procedures in 2023; and how many animals were not used in scientific procedures and euthanised in 2023. \p Dan Jarvis: The available data in this area was most recently set out in Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 2023, published on 11 September 2024. The statistics provide full details on the number of licensed procedures carried out, the species of animals and the purposes for which the procedures have been undertaken. The 2023 Annual Statistics show that 2.68 million scientific procedures involving living animals were carried out in Great Britain in 2023; this is a decrease of 3% on last year and the lowest number since 2001.

Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures  - 2023 (xlsx, 335.3KB)

Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures  - 2023 (xlsx, 335.3KB)
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Edward Morello:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on improving the accessibility of air travel for people with disabilities. \p Sir Stephen Timms: Aviation needs to be accessible so everyone can travel with dignity and ease. The Department for Transport’s Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group was launched in November. I look forward to seeing its recommendations for improving aviation accessibility.
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Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of classifying care experience as a protected characteristic. \p Dame Nia Griffith: The Government is delivering for care leavers by taking practical action. As announced by the Prime Minister on 24 September 2024, care leavers under age 25 will be exempt from rules which require a connection to a local area before accessing social housing. We have also established a care leaver Ministerial Board, which brings together Ministers from key Departments, to improve support for care leavers across Government.

The Equality Act 2010 already protects many care leavers under the indirect discrimination provisions, because a disproportionately high number are likely to be from particular protected characteristics.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help women re-enter the workforce. \p Bridget Phillipson: The Government is committed to tackling the challenges women face in the labour market, whether they want to find a job, return to work, or progress in-work. We are driving this forward through the support measures in the Employment Rights Bill, Make Work Pay and the Get Britain Working White Paper. We are making flexible learning a Day One right, opening up access to childcare with £8 billion investment to roll out further free hours, and tackling the gender pay gap to ensure women are paid fairly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Elaine Stewart:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to promote equality as part of the Government mission entitled Break Down Barriers to Opportunity. \p Bridget Phillipson: Through the Opportunity Mission, we’re creating a fairer Britain, giving every child the best start in life and building the skills to drive economic growth and open up opportunities for all. We’re already making progress to ensure where you're from doesn't determine where you end up in life. For example, we have named the first 750 schools introducing free breakfast clubs, helping 180,000 children start the day ready to learn, including 67,000 children in deprived areas.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_235

Adam Thompson:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to help end discrimination against LGBT+ people. \p Dame Nia Griffith: The Government is committed to ensuring LGBT+ people feel safe, included and are protected from discrimination.

Work is underway to fulfil the commitments set out in the Government’s manifesto, including the trans–inclusive ban on conversion practices and equalising all existing strands of hate crime.

DHSC also delivered legislation to end discrimination in fertility services for LGBT+ families, by removing additional screening costs for female same-sex couples undertaking reciprocal motherhood, and lifting the ban on people with HIV donating gametes.

Moving forward, we will continue to develop policies and initiatives that enhance the lives of LGBT+ people.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_236

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the Forest of Marston Vale community forest to the south. \p Mary Creagh: Any assessment of the potential merits of expanding the Forest of Marston Vale would be made by the Forest of Marston Vale Trust and its local partners. This is one of a national network of fifteen Community Forests funded by Defra to plant thousands of hectares of new trees and woodland. Suitable sites for woodland creation are identified within agreed boundaries that encompass 61 square miles between Bedford and Milton Keynes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_237

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of operating a carding system to (a) warn and (b) sanction states which (i) export seafood to the UK and (ii) do not cooperate with efforts to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. \p Daniel Zeichner: The UK, after leaving the European Union, retained the powers originally set out in the EU’s Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Regulation (1005/2008) to ban imports from countries that do not cooperate with efforts to tackle IUU fishing. Import bans are currently in place on seafood from Cambodia, Comoros and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The UK’s legislative framework also requires the banning of imports and landings of seafood from fishing vessels that are included on the UK’s IUU vessel list as having been identified as engaging in IUU fishing. Other control measures are also in place to manage imports of seafood into the UK from other countries. Such measures include the operation of a catch documentation scheme to ensure seafood imported into the UK is caught in line with national and international regulations on fisheries conservation and sustainable management. Defra will continue to keep under active review steps to combat IUU fishing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_238

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the written statement of 25 February 2025 entitled NFU conference: Boosting farm profitability, HCWS469, what his definition is of high welfare products in the context of Government catering contracts; and what farmed animal species will be covered by this policy. \p Daniel Zeichner: The National Procurement Policy Statement underscores the Government's commitment to increasing the procurement of food that meets higher environmental standards, supporting local suppliers and upholding ethical sourcing practises across public sector contracts. This includes sourcing products from all farmed animals which have been raised to high UK welfare standards as defined in current animal welfare legislation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_239

Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the guidance entitled Single-use vapes ban, published on 20 January 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) relevant enforcement authorities and (b) Trading Standards are informed of changes to the MHRA notified products list. \p Mary Creagh: We are working closely with regulators and enforcing authorities, including trading standards, to ensure that they are prepared for the introduction of the single-use vapes ban on 1 June 2025 and to ensure that relevant information is shared.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_240

Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's guidance on the single-use vapes ban, published on 20 January 2025, how the Department plans to enforce this guidance; and if he will consider placing it on a statutory footing through secondary legislation. \p Mary Creagh: Trading standards will be responsible for enforcing the single-use vapes ban. The published guidance provides businesses with the information they need to know to ensure that they are complying with the requirements laid out in The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024 legislation. It is already a legal requirement that this legislation is complied with and the current business guidance covers these new legal responsibilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_241

Andrew George:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to conclude the Environmental Improvement Plan rapid review. \p Mary Creagh: The Government concluded a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23), publishing a statement of its key findings on 30 January 2025. The revised EIP will be published later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_242

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has taken steps to promote material substitution, in the context of (a) recent trends in the level of  Extended Producer Responsibility Fees and (b) the introduction of a deposit return scheme for other drink materials from 2027. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. The packaging reforms increase producers’ roles in supporting this transition. Packaging EPR will make producers, rather than taxpayers, responsible for the costs of managing their packaging, reducing the amount of packaging used by producers and incentivising recyclable and reusable alternatives.

In line with previous consultations, and the regulations, Packaging EPR base fees in year 1 are designed to reflect the cost of managing packaging waste. From year 2 fees will include modulation to incentivise more environmentally sustainable packaging, initially focussing on recyclability. I

DRS in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland will include single-use drinks containers from 150ml to 3 litres. Materials included are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, steel, and aluminium drink containers. A DRS will create a separate cleaner, closed-loop waste stream which will mean plastic and metal drinks containers can be turned back into new drinks containers, reducing the reliance on virgin materials. The scheme has not been designed to encourage material switching.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_243

Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a minimum-distance rule for gill nets. \p Daniel Zeichner: Decisions on an assessment 0-6 nautical miles from the shore would be for individual Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities, with measures beyond six nautical miles falling to the Marine Management Organisation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_244

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government on the potential merits of requiring arboricultural (a) reports and (b) impact assessments for all major developments. \p Mary Creagh: We are using the evidence from this Review (Review of the implementation of the NPPF para 186 (c) in applications and appeals in or within 15 metres of ancient woodlands or near ancient and veteran trees), and subsequent engagement with stakeholders, to explore what options are available to improve the implementation of the NPPF regarding ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_245

Sarah Edwards:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure hospitality businesses are not double charged for the handling of their waste, in the context of the introduction of extended producer responsibility for packaging. \p Mary Creagh: Under packaging extended producer responsibility, packaging producers are only liable for fees that cover the management of packaging waste collected from households. The regulations therefore make a distinction as to what is "household packaging" and what is not, so as to attribute those costs to producers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_246

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has plans to support endangered species breeding programmes in (a) zoos and (b) aquariums. \p Mary Creagh: Defra recognises the work modern zoos and aquariums do in promoting conservation and biodiversity, including participating in breeding programmes for endangered species. Under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, all licensed zoos in Great Britain must undertake conservation measures. These measures could include the breeding of wild animals in captivity, or the repopulation of an area with, or the reintroduction into the wild of, wild animals. Defra works with other countries and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) to enable movements of endangered species where there are breeding concerns.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_247

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to publish a consultation on access reform. \p Mary Creagh: We are currently developing policy to improve access to nature, working closely with other Government departments and key stakeholders, and further information will be available in due course.