theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 6.4 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, who the members of the working group with the Greater London Authority are. \p Jim McMahon: The working group is attended by senior officials from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Greater London Authority.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered the potential merits of increasing funding to local authorities to support higher hourly rates for care staff to (a) attract and (b)retain care workers from within the UK. \p Jim McMahon: We have delivered a Settlement that begins to fix the foundations of local government by providing significant investment redirecting funding towards the services and places that need it most. The Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, including making available up to £3.7 billion in additional funding for social care authorities.

The government has introduced legislation to establish the first-ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals to ensure care workers are fairly rewarded for the work they do. The Fair Pay Agreement aims to resolve the recruitment and retention crisis in the profession, alleviating pressures on public services in the longer term.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's transparency data entitled MHCLG: spending over £25,000, April 2025, published on 30 May 2025, if she will publish the specification of the research commissioned from Verian Group UK Limited for Research on Demolition and Planning Policy. \p Matthew Pennycook: The report for the research in question is being finalised. We intend to publish this in due course, in line with departmental policy, including details of the research objectives and methodology.
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Rebecca Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference chapter 2, section 9D of the Local Government Act 2000 of her Department’s English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, what powers a directly elected (a) mayor and (b) leader would have. \p Jim McMahon: The Functions and Responsibilities Regulations 2000, made under the Local Government Act 2000, set out which functions are not to be the responsibility of a council’s executive (mayor and cabinet, or leader and cabinet).

As we set out in the English Devolution White Paper, we will discontinue the individual local authority devolution model in its mayoral form. We will continue to expand the number of areas with a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering more than one local authority. We are giving those mayors strong new powers over housing, planning, transport, skills, employment support and more, backed up with integrated and consolidated funding.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to Question 47409 on Mayors: Taxation, whether the list of taxes is exhaustive. \p Jim McMahon: The government keeps all tax policy, including local taxes, under review.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the number of second home dwellings liable for the second homes council tax premium being flipped to holiday lets liable for business rates; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this on net revenues. \p Jim McMahon: The government is not aware of any substantial evidence which demonstrates a trend of second homes being converted into holiday lets. There is a clear set of criteria before a holiday let can be assessed for business rates. The property must have been available to let for at least 140 days in the last year and actually let for at least 70 days in the last year. The government keeps all taxes under review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Local government reorganisation: summary of feedback on interim plans, published on 3 June 2025, if she will publish each feedback letter sent to every council that submitted proposals for local government reorganisation. \p Jim McMahon: We have no plans to publish the feedback provided to individual areas. There will be a significant volume of correspondence with local authorities as part of the reorganisation programme and we do not consider it appropriate to publish all of that correspondence. We have been clear to councils that our feedback is shareable should they wish to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2025 to Question HL070 on Unitary Councils, what criteria her Department plans to use to determine when to make a request to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to (a) provide formal advice and (b) undertake a formal electoral review, in the context of Sections (i) 4 and (ii) 8 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. \p Jim McMahon: As set out in my answers to PQ 38625 and 34287, my department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) so that they are involved at the appropriate time.

The process set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 allows the Secretary of State to seek the advice of the LGBCE on any matter relating to a proposal that has been submitted in response to an invitation. No criteria have been set for seeking advice, which will depend on the proposals received, as appropriate at the time.

The LGBCE is responsible for its own work programme. It carries out electoral reviews for local government, reviewing wards, and setting the council size in terms of number of councillors.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2025 to Question 53289 on RAF Wyton: Housing, when she expects the trailblazer site at RAF Wyton to (a) start and (b) complete development. \p Matthew Pennycook: It is not yet possible to identify an exact date for when development would start on site because the site is unallocated within the Local Plan and a planning application has not been submitted.

The site has potential capacity for 4,500 homes and the timeframe for delivery of these will be determined when the development and planning application come forward.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of housing developers that deliver less affordable housing than initially promised when awarded contracts. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions, including section 106 planning obligations, to ensure that new developments provide appropriate affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.

We are also reviewing the planning practice guidance on viability to ensure that the viability system works to optimise developer contributions, allowing negotiation only where genuinely necessary. We intend to provide a further update before the end of the spring.

Prior to new viability guidance being published, site specific viability assessment should not be used where development is subject to the ‘Golden Rules’ as set out in paragraph 156 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Environmental Statements under section 20(2)(a) and (3) of the Environment Act 2021, what the evidential basis is for the conclusion that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will not have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection provided for by any existing environmental law. \p Matthew Pennycook: Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill concerning development and nature recovery will not reduce overall levels of environmental protection.

Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) can only be put in place where the Secretary of State is satisfied the delivery of conservation measures are likely to outweigh the negative effects of development.

EDPs and the conservation measures they propose must be evidence-based and properly scrutinised before being put in place.

EDPs may include back-up measures that can be deployed if monitoring shows the environmental outcomes are not being achieved.

Natural England will be empowered and given the tools to deliver the conservation measures needed to secure the aims of the EDP.

The government is confident that this more strategic approach to the assessment of negative effects, and delivery of conservation measures, strikes the right balance and will result in better environmental outcomes that go further than simply offsetting harm as required under current legislation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 70 of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s publication entitled Economic and Fiscal Outlook of March 2025, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of the statement that much of the additional development in the next five years is assumed to take place on current green belt land. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to preserving Green Belts which have served England's towns and cities well over many decades, not least in terms of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas and preventing neighbouring towns merging into one another.

However, we know that there are simply not enough sites on brownfield land registers to deliver the volume of homes that the country needs each year, let alone enough that are viable and in the right location.

The government’s new approach to the Green Belt, including prioritising the release of lower quality grey belt land and introducing ‘golden rules’ to ensure development benefits communities and nature, is set out in the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December.

On 27 February, Planning Practice Guidance was published to assist local authorities and other decision-makers, and to support a consistent approach to determining whether land is grey belt. It can be found on gov.uk here. This new guidance will support authorities in producing Local Plans, while also making sure that planning applications and development on suitable grey belt land can proceed in the short-term in areas without an up-to-date plan.

The government has also provided 133 local planning authorities with £70,000 of pump priming funding each to contribute towards the costs of carrying out Green Belt reviews in their areas.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has provided guidance to local authorities on retaining Community Infrastructure Levy payments for the purpose of using the interest accrued on that funding for servicing spending from local authority General Fund Accounts. \p Matthew Pennycook: Community Infrastructure Levy receipts must be used for the purposes which are set out in section 216 of the Planning Act 2008 and Part 7 of the CIL Regulations.

The Department has not provided guidance to local authorities on retaining Community Infrastructure Levy payments for the purpose of using the interest accrued on that funding for servicing spending from local authority General Fund Accounts.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to commence the remaining provisions of the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government intends to commence the temporary possession provisions in the Neighbourhood Planning Act (NPA 2017).

To pave the way for this, we are taking forward a measure in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to amend the NPA 2017 temporary possession powers to disapply them to Transport and Works Act Orders, Development Consent Orders and Infrastructure Consent Orders. This will allow the NPA 2017 provisions to be commenced for taking temporary possession of land in respect of compulsory purchase orders made under regimes such as the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 without impacting the delivery of critical infrastructure.

Following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and before commencing the amended NPA 2017 temporary possession power provisions, we will need to consult on regulations relating to the reinstatement of land subject to a period of temporary possession.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 2 June 2025 entitled Planning reform and housing delivery, HCWS673, who will be responsible for determining whether planning applications will fall into tier (a) A and (b) B. \p Matthew Pennycook: Through regulations we will set out which planning applications should be delegated to planning officers and which could go to a planning committee, if the Chair of the committee and chief planning officer (or equivalent officer in local planning authorities without a chief planning officer) agree that committee consideration is warranted.

Further details are set out in the technical consultation on the implementation of our proposals to modernise planning committees that the government published on 28 May. It can be found on gov.uk here.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to increase the time for which affordable housing associations are required to help with repair costs. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognise the considerable financial strain that rising services charges are placing on leaseholders and tenants of social housing.

The level of service charge that leaseholders and tenants pay depends on many factors and what those service charges cover will be set out in the terms of the lease and the tenancy agreement.

For tenants, service charges typically cover services, with the costs of repairs and maintenance paid for through the rental income social housing providers receive. Government regulates the maximum rent that Registered Providers of social housing can charge for their Social Rent and Affordable Rent homes.

By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Should leaseholders and tenants of private registered providers of social housing wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges, they may make an application to the appropriate tribunal.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 includes measures designed to drive up the transparency of service charges to make them more easily challengeable if leaseholders consider them to be unreasonable. Once commenced, these will ensure all leaseholders receive minimum key financial and non-financial information on a regular basis, including introducing a standardised service charge demand form and an annual report.

The government is committed to acting quickly to implement the provisions of the Act. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on Thursday 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).

My Department does not collect data on the number of times that maintenance payments have resulted in people moving out of affordable housing. However, it does collect data on the number of households evicted from local authority owned dwellings due to rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, both or neither (information can be found at MHCLG Live Table 603 here). Furthermore, the Regulator of Social Housing collects data on the number of households evicted by private registered providers of social housing due to rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, both or neither (information can be found in additional Table 3.12 on gov.uk here.

Social housing tenants and shared owners struggling with rent and service charge costs may be able to receive support through Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit.

Under the new model lease, shared owners benefit from a 10 year ‘Initial Repair Period’ where their landlord contributes towards essential repairs. This does not cover service charges but does protect shared owners from unexpected repair costs.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the guidance document entitled Guidance on planning propriety: planning casework decisions, paragraph 19, updated 16 December 2021, whether substantive representations can be made to the Secretary of State on a (a) called-in planning application and (b) recovered appeal after the planning inspectorate has submitted their report. \p Matthew Pennycook: Yes, they can. Representations made to the Secretary of State on called in planning applications and recovered appeals planning applications after the Planning Inspectorate has submitted their report are dealt with in accordance with paragraph 19 of the published propriety guidance on planning casework decisions which can be found here.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she can publish what planning rules have been made by the Planning Inspectorate in relation to asylum hotel accommodation in the last 12 months. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Planning Inspectorate has not issued any rules specifically concerning the use of hotels for asylum accommodation.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Annex 10 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, in which financial year the 374,000 annual new additions in England will be first achieved. \p Matthew Pennycook: The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a new Standard Method for assessing housing needs that is aligned to our Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England by the end of this Parliament. The new Standard Method sets a local housing need for England of 370,408. Detail on how individual local planning authorities should plan to meet this updated housing need, including transitional arrangements, is set out in the Framework.

Paragraphs 85 to 87 in the summary Impact Assessment for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (and paragraphs 44 to 45 of Annex 10) explain the housing trajectory used and the assumptions underpinning this.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Annex 7 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Impact assessment, published in May 2025, how many (a) consents, (b) permissions and (c) permits will be required to place an electric vehicle charge point on (i) a public highway and (ii) private land. \p Matthew Pennycook: Whether a chargepoint requires planning permission, a Section 50 licence, or a permit depends on factors such as size, location, and context.

In general, home, workplace, and smaller low-powered installations in off-street parking areas qualify as permitted development and do not require a planning application. However, permission may still be needed for certain existing properties particularly where issues like height, siting, or proximity to listed buildings arise and for larger rapid charging hubs that include electrical cabinets.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces a measure to replace Section 50s with permits which would make it more efficient and cost-effective for chargepoint operators to install infrastructure. Additionally, to streamline development we have expanded permitted development rights and have launched a call for evidence to explore further improvements.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51397 on Permitted Development Rights, whether there is guidance to local authorities in addition to the document entitled Guidance: Publish your Article 4 direction data, published on 21 May 2025. \p Matthew Pennycook: There is no additional guidance to local authorities on publishing data beyond the document entitled ‘Guidance: Publish your Article 4 direction data’
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits for farmers of being part of a National Landscape area. \p Daniel Zeichner: England's National Landscapes are some of our most iconic and inspiring places. The specific merits for farmers will vary due to the unique local contexts. However, benefits range from additional support from National Landscapes teams, the ability to leverage a nationally recognised status, the public goods that come from a greater focus on nature in these areas, and opportunities arising from regenerative tourism.

Farmers in National Landscapes also have access to our Farming in Protected Landscapes programme. This provides funding for farmers and land managers to work in partnership with National Park and National Landscape teams in England to deliver projects that achieve climate, nature, people and place outcomes. In the first three years of the programme, it engaged more than 7,000 farmers and land managers. As of April 2024, More than 5,500 projects have been approved across England’s 44 Protected Landscapes, with over £91 million provided in grant funding to farmers and land managers.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43334 on WRAP: Publications, what the (a) title and (b) date of publication is of each publication produced by the Waste and Resources Action Programme through funding from his Department. \p Mary Creagh: A list of Defra funded WRAP publications for the last 3 years, including the title and date of publication is attached.

List of Defra-funded WRAP pubs (xlsx, 17.5KB)
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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a system for regulating the land market along the lines of the French Société d’Aménagement Foncier et d’Etablissement Rural. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has made no such assessment. The Land Use Consultation explored the functions of land markets in England and the case for new incentives, including regulation to support the Government’s growth, environmental, and food production objectives. The responses to the consultation will inform a Land Use Framework that will be published later this year. The Farming Roadmap will include a vision for our farming sector and set the direction for how we get there, with a focus on delivering our food security and environmental objectives and supporting farms to be resilient and profitable.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to reduce (a) sewage and (b) microplastic pollution from overflows in (i) Greater Manchester and (ii) Lake Windemere. \p Emma Hardy: Tackling marine litter and plastic pollution is a priority for the UK Government, which is why we are working domestically and internationally to implement measures that will prevent macro-sized plastic litter which are sources of microplastics from reaching rivers, seas and the ocean in the first place.

As part of a historic £104 billion of investment by water companies in England and Wales in Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, United Utilities is required to improve sewage discharges within the Lake Windermere catchment. This includes reducing how often storm overflows discharge from Ambleside Waste water Treatment Works (WwTW), Elterwater Pumping Station (PS), Hawkshead PS and Near Sawrey WwTW. United Utilities will also be improving over 100 storm overflows across the river catchments of the Tame, Mersey, Roch, Croal, Irwell, Glaze and Douglas within Greater Manchester as progress towards meeting environmental targets, including those of the Environment Act 2021.

These improvements will help to reduce discharges of raw sewage which can contain organic pollutants, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, nutrients, and heavy metals, as well as visible litter that is flushed down toilets.

We are also taking forward investigations through the water industry’s Chemical Investigations Programme, to understand how we can reduce the levels of microplastics entering the water environment through treated wastewater. Microplastics have been recognised as a significant standalone issue and the water industry are funding six further investigations between 2025 and 2030.
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Patrick Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce inland flooding. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) has a strategic overview role for all sources of flooding and works closely with local authorities to reduce flood risk and provide advice and guidance to support communities to be better equipped and prepared for flooding.

Between 2024 and 2026 the Government is investing £2.65 billion to build and maintain flood and coastal erosion risk management defences. Delivered schemes will better protect around 52,000 properties from flooding and coastal erosion, with maintenance activities benefiting a further 14,500 properties.

The EA also provides the Check for flooding service, giving information on flood alerts and warnings as well as a 5-day forecast. Its flood warning system directly alerts 1.6 million properties in England who are registered to receive flood warnings.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken towards achieving good (a) ecological and (b) chemical status in water bodies within Gorton and Denton constituency. \p Emma Hardy: In his first week, the Secretary of State announced a series of initial steps, which will improve environmental management and protections, also introducing the Water Act 2025 and launching the Independent Water Commision already producing its interim findings to help restore our rivers, lakes and seas to good health.

Within the Gorton and Denton constituency there are five surface water bodies. The main pressures to achieving good status are urbanisation, sewage discharge, industrial or transport discharge, and physical modification of the channel. Specific chemical pollutants such as mercury, PBDEs and the “forever chemical” PFOS are also key concerns.

In accordance with the Water Framework Directive, all five water bodies have mitigation measures to improve their ecological and chemical status and address specific chemical pollutants.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what long term plans his Department has to develop nature-friendly farming policies. \p Daniel Zeichner: We recognise the huge importance of nature friendly farming, and we will look to maintain momentum in the coming years.

Our farming roadmap ‘Farming 2050: Growing England’s Future’ will involve government working with farmers and farming and environmental organisation representatives to set the course of farming over the next 25 years. It will provide a vision for our farming sector and set the direction for how we get there, with a focus on delivering our food security and environmental objectives and supporting farms to be resilient and profitable. Publication is planned later this year.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in levels of reports of waste crime in the East of England in the last two years. \p Mary Creagh: The Environment Agency (EA) recently published new heatmaps showing the densest areas of waste crime reports in England. Through our Plan for Change, this Government will crack down on the waste cowboys, seize and crush fly-tippers’ vans, and clean up Britain.

Reports of waste crime to the EA for their East Anglia area over the last 2 years are shown in the table below.

Quarter

Number of suspected waste crime reports for East Anglia EA area

2023/Q1

182

2023/Q2

205

2023/Q3

251

2023/Q4

216

2024/Q1

247

2024/Q2

187

2024/Q3

213

2024/Q4

177

Total

1678
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle trophy hunting imports. \p Mary Creagh: The Government committed to banning the import of hunting trophies in its manifesto and we will deliver on this. Defra continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can deliver a ban on the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern in the most effective way.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's report entitled Delivering economic growth and nature recovery: an independent review of Defra’s regulatory landscape, published on 2 April 2025, whether he directed Dan Corry to consider the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in that report. \p Emma Hardy: Dan Corry’s review of Defra’s regulatory landscape focussed on developing recommendations to ensure that the Department is driving economic growth while protecting the environment. As mentioned in the introduction to the review, Dan Corry was aware of several other strands of work in government that were relevant, including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, so sought to complement this work and avoid duplication.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he intends to authorise changes to the Hunting Act 2004. \p Mary Creagh: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans in a generation to improve animal welfare and that is exactly what we will do.

The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs, except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions in the Act and completely bans hare coursing. Those found guilty under the Act are subject to the full force of the law.

The Government has committed to a ban on trail hunting. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and further announcements will be made in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of Ofwat’s regulatory powers to hold water companies to account for repeated pollution incidents. \p Emma Hardy: The Government remains clear that regulators must be empowered to hold water companies to account, which is why the Water Special Measures Act delivers on our commitment to put water companies under special measures by strengthening regulation to clean up our waters. The Act will turn around the performance of water companies and ensure they are held to account where they do not deliver for customers and the environment.

As a result, companies are now not permitted to pay bonuses to water bosses that oversee poor environmental and customer outcomes. In May, we also announced a record 81 criminal investigations have been launched into water companies. This is the toughest crackdown on water companies in history.

In addition to the Water Special Measures Act, the Government established the Independent Water Commission to support a wider reset of the sector, including looking at regulators and their powers. The interim report was published on 3 June, and a final report is due this summer. The Government will then the Commission’s recommendations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_291

Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Scottish Government’s decision to use Ultra High Frequency electronic identification technology for animals on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. \p Daniel Zeichner: Farming policy is a devolved matter. The Government has not conducted a formal assessment on the impact of the Scottish Government’s decision. Defra officials are working closely with the devolved Governments to ensure compliance with the UK internal markets Act (2020).

In the recent UK-EU joint statement, the government committed to building on the stable foundation of the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to further reduce barriers to trade.

Moving goods between GB and NI will be easier, reducing the need for paperwork and checks due to the removal of SPS and other requirements.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_292

Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to engage with rural communities in the development of nationwide policies. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government believes that it is important that rural communities have the opportunity to help shape decisions that affect them. As rural affairs lead, Defra continues to encourage all Government Departments to rural proof their policies, including engaging rural stakeholders in their public consultations and engagement processes. Defra also facilitates engagement with rural people and businesses via its Rural Insights Forum - a group of stakeholders that represent rural communities. Rural representatives and sector specific experts are also engaged with Defra’s Rural Taskforce, which will consider the value and contribution of rural communities and businesses in achieving the Government’s priorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_293

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to review the (a) proportionality and (b) cost-effectiveness of the Environment Agency’s (i) licensing and (ii) inspection processes for small-scale community energy providers. \p Emma Hardy: The Government makes full use of the comprehensive and wide ranging environmental regulatory framework in England. Defra and the Environment Agency have contributed to HMT’s Regulatory Action Plan and other recent reviews into regulatory effectiveness, including the review led by Dan Corry.

We remain committed to upholding high environmental standards to protect our natural environment and local communities when supporting new infrastructure and development.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_294

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent engagement he has had with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. \p Daniel Zeichner: Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Defra Animal Welfare Minister, periodically meets with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). Most recently the Minister met both the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) at a visit to Chester Zoo on 22 May 2025, ahead of the launch of the new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain and also hosted an Animal Welfare Strategy development roundtable, which BIAZA attended. Defra officials also have regular meetings with BIAZA.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_295

Patrick Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the risk of river bank failure in cases of heavy rainfall. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) maintains a wide range of flood and coastal risk management (FCRM) assets, which reduce the risk of flooding to people and property. These assets include embankments, pumping stations and flood gates.

The EA inspects and reports on the condition of flood risk management assets in England. This includes our own and third-party assets that work together to protect people and property. Where assets are below required condition then the EA assesses their structural integrity and if there is concern, they make plans to repair those assets. Occasionally the EA is required to exercise their emergency powers to undertake urgent work to repair failing or failed assets that pose a risk to serious flooding.

This year, approximately £200 million is allocated for asset management, with an additional £72 million repurposed to support the maintenance and repair of our most critical assets. Together, these measures significantly enhance our ability to manage flood risks and ensure public safety.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_296

Patrick Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Flood Risk Activity Permits were issued in 2024. \p Emma Hardy: Flood Risk Activity Permits are issued under the Environmental Permitting for work:

In 2024, the Environment Agency received 2191 permit applications for Flood Risk Activities. Approximately 3% of these met the threshold to qualify for a Standard Rules Permit and 97% required a Bespoke Permit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_297

Patrick Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support landowners with riparian rights. \p Emma Hardy: Working with partners and stakeholders, the Environment Agency (EA) published new guidance for riparian landowners in 2024 on Your Watercourse: rights and roles.

This new, easily accessible guidance aims to increase riparian landowners understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The guidance is assisting local teams in raising public awareness at events and during in person conversations with riparian owners. Information is also available on GOV.UK on both riparian ownership, maintenance and permitting.

The EA has also delivered learning sessions with regional advisors from the National Farmers Union and Country Land and Business Association, allowing them to better advise their members on riparian responsibilities.

Some works by riparian owners may require a formal permission from the relevant authority before they can be carried out. This is to ensure that impacts on flood risk, land drainage and the environment can be managed. Information about this is also available on GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_298

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support households impacted by drought. \p Emma Hardy: Defra requires water companies to have robust plans to manage droughts and protect customer supplies. This includes early actions such as enhanced leakage management, appropriate balancing of supplies, and effective communications to enable customers to use water wisely.

In the event of temporary use bans, known as hosepipe bans, being required, Defra expect water companies to protect vulnerable customers and include exceptions for certain customers groups including those on the priority services register or blue badge holders. Water companies must set out exceptions in their drought plans and should demonstrate how they will balance the need for water savings against adverse effects on customers.

Defra and the Environment Agency (EA) check water companies follow these plans appropriately when activated. Water companies must undertake an annual drought health check. During the current drier conditions, more frequent reporting is required, including through the national drought group and sub-groups convened by Defra and the EA. This helps drive active monitoring and early action to protect households from drought risks.

Defra requires water companies, through water resources management plans, to increase drought resilience and ensure resilience to 1 in 500 year drought events by 2040 without the need for emergency drought orders, including standpipes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_299

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43345 on WRAP: Finance, if he will itemise the work programme for which WRAP received the grant in 2025-26. \p Mary Creagh: The itemised work programme for which WRAP has received DEFRA funding (now finalised at £5,949,500) is summarised below:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_300

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the Environment Agency in (a) investigating and (b) prosecuting incidents of large-scale waste crime. \p Mary Creagh: The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for disrupting and stopping illegal activity through tough enforcement action and prosecution. Defra works closely with the EA to ensure it is equipped to carry out its functions effectively and deliver for the public and the environment. The EA’s total budget for 2025-26 financial year has increased to £2,274 million. This includes £10 million for waste crime enforcement, and for this financial year an additional £5.6 million to tackle waste crime.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-10 conversation_301

Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will appoint an expert in animal welfare to the Food Strategy board. \p Daniel Zeichner: Members of the Food Strategy Advisory Board were selected as senior leaders who have a broad range of experience across the food system and reflect the diversity of the sector. Membership has been finalised. We are not looking to expand it at this time.

The Board represents just one aspect of our engagement with stakeholders across the food supply system. The food strategy will articulate the outcomes required to deliver food system change.