theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_210
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_210

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that the funding model for inner London boroughs meets local demand. \p Jim McMahon: The provisional Settlement for 2025-26 makes available £69 billion for local government, which is a 3.5% real terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. The final Settlement will increase further, to incorporate the £515 million of funding announced for National Insurance Contributions.

The Department works closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific demand and cost pressures facing local government on an ongoing basis. This involves looking at a range of cost and demand data, as well as regular engagement with local authorities.

The government is making good on the promise to reform the local government funding system. We are committed to pursuing a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to fix the foundations of local government, in partnership with the sector and on the principle of giving councils early certainty. From 2026-27, we want to fundamentally improve the way we fund councils and direct funding to where it is most needed through the first multi-year settlement in 10 years. We are inviting views on our principles and objectives for funding reform through a consultation (18 December – 12 February).
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_211
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_211

Mr Clive Betts:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what extra (a) powers and (b) responsibilities she plans to give unitary councils. \p Jim McMahon: As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, councils need to be empowered to take the right decisions to drive growth and improve services. This is an ongoing process but among our immediate steps to end micromanagement is working with the sector to review requirements for local authorities to seek Secretaries’ of State consents for the use of their powers and removing these requirements unless absolutely necessary. This will apply to all local authorities as we receive proposals from all two-tier areas for reorganisation, as set out in the White Paper.
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_212
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_212

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's policy is on (a) Ministerial and (b) official-level engagement with (i) the Muslim Association of Britain, (ii) Cage and (iii) MEND. \p Alex Norris: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 20228 on 24 December 2024.
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_213
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_213

Emily Thornberry:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many government procurement cards were held by staff within (a) her core Department and (b) executive agencies of her Department at the end of calendar years (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023. \p Alex Norris: As of 31 December 2022, 18 government procurement cards were held by staff within the core Department; 27 by staff at the Planning Inspectorate; 6 at the QEII Centre.

As of 31 December 2023, 25 government procurement cards were held by staff within the core Department; 28 by staff at the Planning Inspectorate; 6 at the QEII Centre.
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_214
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_214

Mr Clive Betts:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the responsibilities are of (a) unitary authorities and (b) mayoral combined authorities to deliver housing targets. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government have implemented a new mandatory standard method for assessing housing needs which aligns with our ambition to build 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament.

Delivering on that ambitious milestone requires local planning authorities to plan for sufficient homes, as well as commercial development and wider infrastructure, through local development plans.

Unitary authorities are local planning authorities for their area and therefore will need to take account of the standard method when updating their local plans.

Mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) are not local planning authorities. However, some MCAs currently have a duty to produce Spatial Development Strategies (SDS), which is a form of strategic level plan.

Further, through our English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December 2024 we were clear that in future, SDSs will be produced for all of England, and where there are MCAs, they will produce the SDS.

Therefore, MCAs will use the new standard method when producing their SDSs, which will set the housing requirement for each local planning authority within its area. Local Plans will then have to be in general conformity with the relevant SDS.
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_215
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_215

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has issued guidance on whether a returning officer may levy a prescribed fee for the supply of an electronic copy of an (a) election return and (b) declaration under section 89 of the Representation of the People Act 1983. \p Sir Jeremy Wright: The Electoral Commission provides guidance to support returning officers to deliver well-run elections that maintain public confidence, including on the inspection and supply of candidate spending returns and declaration.

The Commission’s guidance states that the prescribed fee for the supply of copies of a return, declaration or accompanying document is 20p. This fee is intended to cover the administrative costs associated with providing these documents.
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_216
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_216

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has issued guidance on whether the loan of accommodation to a Parliamentary candidate in the short campaign would be a declarable (a) notional expense and (b) donation under the Representation of the People Act 1983. \p Sir Jeremy Wright: The Electoral Commission’s guidance sets out the law, which states that the loan of accommodation to a Parliamentary candidate during the election campaign would typically be notional spending and a donation.

However, if the accommodation provided is an individual’s main residence and it is made available free of charge, this is exempt and would not need to be reported as election spending.
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_217
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_217

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many and what proportion of local authority returning officers have sent to the Electoral Commission copies of Parliamentary candidates’ election expense returns from the 2024 general election under section 87A of the Representation of the People Act 1983. \p Sir Jeremy Wright: The Electoral Commission has received candidate spending returns from returning officers for all 650 constituencies contested at the 2024 UK parliamentary general election. To support transparency, the Commission plans to publish headline spending and donations totals from the most recent general election in due course.

The Commission has a legal remit to secure compliance with the rules on candidates’ spending and donations, but has no role or sanctioning powers in respect of breaches. Enforcing the Representation of the People Act 1983 is the responsibility of the police.
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_218
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_218

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has provided on the use of single notional invoices in candidate returns made under the Representation of the People Act 1983 where multiple (a) elections are held concurrently and (b) candidates in different constituencies and council areas split their costs. \p Sir Jeremy Wright: The Electoral Commission provides guidance to support candidates to understand the law and their reporting obligations.

The guidance states that where candidates have split costs for an item of spending, each candidate must report the proportion of the costs that are attributable to their election campaign. Where multiple elections are held concurrently, candidates should make an honest assessment of the costs that are attributable to their campaign.

If a candidate has paid over £20 for the item, the invoice is required. If a candidate has received the item for free, this is likely to be notional spending, and the law does not require an invoice.
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_219
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_219

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the role of energy storage and back-up systems in managing the intermittency of wind and solar power generation. \p Michael Shanks: The Government recognises the vital role of energy storage and back-up systems in delivering clean power. As set out in our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, we are committed to developing a flexible energy system that ensures security of supply through long term storage technologies which could include pumped hydro storage, CCUS, hydrogen to power, or liquid air energy storage.
wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_220
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-08 conversation_220

Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to investigate the business practices of rent-a-roof companies under the (a) Feed-In-Tariff and (b) Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Department is aware of allegations that have been made about the business practices of some companies that operated rent-a-roof or leasing models in the Feed-in Tariff and Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive schemes. Ofgem is currently looking into these allegations.

If Ofgem finds evidence of wrongdoing, then the Department will support Ofgem in using the full extent of its powers to address the issue.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_1

Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve water quality at (a) the River Teme and (b) other bathing sites. \p Emma Hardy: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.

The Water (Special Measures) Bill will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector. It will also give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to crack down on water companies not delivering for customers and the environment.

The Water Industry National Environment Programme and the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan will reduce water industry impacts on bathing waters in England. As part of the Plan, water companies will have improved all storm overflows discharging near every designated bathing water by 2035.

On 12th November 2024, Defra, jointly with the Welsh Government, announced a consultation on a package of potential reforms to The Bathing Water Regulations 2013. We are currently analysing responses to the Consultation and will publish a response in due course.

The Environment Agency has developed an Action Improvement Plan for the Shropshire bathing water sites to identify actions needed to improve them, as well as trialling novel monitoring approaches on the River Teme at Ludlow to provide greater insight into bathing water quality.

Upstream of Ludlow, the Environment Agency has completed over 80 farm inspections over the last 2 years, ensuring compliance with agricultural regulations and providing advice to reduce farming impacts on our waterways.

Tree planting along rivers can help improve water quality, such as by trapping and removing pollutants from agricultural runoff water before it reaches the river. The England Woodland Creation Offer provides financial support for tree planting and incentivises woodland creation that improves water quality through supplementary payments.

The ‘Woodlands for Water’ project, supported by Defra, has been providing targeted facilitation to support landowners to access tree planting grants to support the creation of riparian woodland corridors, including in the River Teme catchment.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_2

George Freeman:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to fully enact the provisions of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023. \p Daniel Zeichner: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The Secretary of State has recently announced that the secondary legislation necessary to implement the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for plants and derived food and feed in England will be laid by the end of March.

Policy development for the implementation of the Act for animals is ongoing.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_3

Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle fly-tipping in rural areas. \p Mary Creagh: This Government understands the difficulty that fly-tipping poses to all landowners. We have committed to forcing fly-tippers and vandals to clean up the mess that they have created and will provide further details on this in due course.

We continue to work with stakeholders, such as the National Farmers Union and local authorities, through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group to share good practice, including how to prevent fly-tipping on private land. Various practical tools, including case studies and ‘how to’ guides on key issues such as setting up effective local partnerships, are available from their webpage at: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_4

Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to improve the enforcement of anti-fly tipping rules. \p Mary Creagh: This Government has committed to forcing fly-tippers and vandals to clean up the mess that they have created. This will build on the sanctions already available for fly-tipping which include fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, seizing of vehicles and prosecution through the courts which can lead to a significant fine, a community sentence or even imprisonment. Sentencing is a matter for the independent courts.

We encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers, and we are considering if further guidance is needed.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_5

Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people were prosecuted for illegal fly tipping in 2023-24. \p Mary Creagh: Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement actions, such as prosecutions, to Defra, which are published annually at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england.

Data for the 2023/24 reporting year will be published on the 26 February 2025.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_6

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to recommendation 13 in the Fifth Special Report of the Environmental Audit Committee of Session 2023-24 entitled The UK’s contribution to tackling global deforestation: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report, HC  669, what steps he has taken to ensure that the statutory evaluation of the Schedule 17 due diligence system addresses whether the due diligence system has effectively supported the human rights of indigenous peoples to land, territories and resources. \p Mary Creagh: We recognise the need to take action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation and we will set out our approach to addressing this in due course.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_7

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what purposes the Environment Agency has used artificial intelligence in the last 12 months. \p Emma Hardy: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

The Environment Agency uses artificial intelligence for a number of purposes:

We draw from a range of existing government guidance to inform our usage and development of AI solutions. This includes the AI playbook for UK Government, Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework, the Data Ethics Framework, the AI Opportunities Action Plan and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.

We also have access to the Government Digital Service, part of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, for expert advice.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_8

Dr Ben Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility to people who are digitally excluded of the consultation on Land use in England. \p Mary Creagh: The Land Use Consultation will run for 12 weeks, closing on the 25th of April with the Government aiming to publish the final Land Use Framework later this year.

The consultation is the start of a national conversation on how we best use our land, this will involve regional workshops as well as roundtables with key stakeholder groups. These activities will shape the future Land Use Framework, alongside the responses to the consultation which can be sent in writing to the following address:

Land Use Consultation

Third Floor, Mallard House,

Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green,

York,

YO1 7PX
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_9

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle the persecution of birds of prey. \p Mary Creagh: Bird of prey persecution is a national wildlife crime priority and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against birds of prey and other wildlife. Where any wild bird of prey is killed illegally the full force of the law should apply to proven perpetrators of the crime.

Defra supports the work of the national Bird of Prey Crime Priority Delivery Group, which brings together police, the Government and stakeholders from conservation and country sports organisations to tackle bird of prey persecution.

Furthermore, Defra is a principal funder of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), which helps prevent and detect wildlife crime (including bird of prey crime) by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights local or national threats and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations. Defra is providing £424,000 funding for NWCU in 2024-2025.

Anyone who commits an offence against a bird of prey under existing legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 could face up to a six-month custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_10

Rebecca Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to reduce the time taken for planning applications to commence for developments for which biodiversity net gain credits are required. \p Mary Creagh: Biodiversity net gain is a post-permission matter, meaning a Biodiversity gain plan needs to be submitted and approved once planning permission has been granted and before the commencement of development.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_11

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to stop the accidental poisoning of wildlife. \p Mary Creagh: Defra itself is a principal funder of the National Wildlife Crime Unit which helps prevent and detect unlawful poisoning. Defra also provides funding for England’s Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme which determines the underlying cause of death of wildlife where illegal use of rodenticides is suspected.

To help ensure wildlife is not accidentally poisoned, Defra would advise anyone managing rodents to consider a range of effective, alternative methods to rodenticides including elimination of harbourage, food and water. Spring traps and live capture traps are also inexpensive, reusable and widely available.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_12

Jayne Kirkham:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether Natural England plans to reintroduce beavers into the wild in 2025. \p Mary Creagh: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra are continuing to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions and management in England. Further information on this will be published in due course.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_13

Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Government to crack down on waste incinerators with stricter standards for new builds, published on 30 December 2024, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the new local and environmental conditions to apply to all future incinerators. \p Mary Creagh: Over the last 14 years, England has seen recycling rates stall, meaning too much waste is dealt with through incineration or thrown in landfill.

Under new plans, published alongside Defra’s Residual Waste Infrastructure Capacity Note, the government makes clear it will only back new waste infrastructure projects if they meet strict local and environmental conditions. Projects will need to maximise efficiency and support the delivery of economic growth, net zero and the move to a circular economy. We will be bringing forward planning reforms so that planning authorities consider these conditions in future applications.

Those developing energy recovery facilities (at all stages in the process) are encouraged to consider forecast changes to future capacity, demand, and the Government's circular economy opportunities, in light of the evidence published in the Capacity Note.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_14
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_14

Abtisam Mohamed:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to review the maximum penalties for committing wildlife offences. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has no current plans to review the maximum penalties for committing wildlife offences.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_15
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_15

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what additional non-statutory guidance his Department is working on with the Waste and Resources Action Programme. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is expected to produce Statutory and Non-Statutory Guidance to support the primary legislation in place under the Environment Act. WRAP was requested to help pull together good practice information to support Defra deliver its set of Non-Statutory Guidance to support primary legislation in place including engagement with Local Authorities.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_16
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_16

Steve Barclay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect (a) the Cambridgeshire Fens and (b) the UK from Chinese mitten crabs. \p Mary Creagh: The Government takes invasive species seriously and has legislated to prevent the further introduction and spread of Chinese mitten crab. As a ‘Species of Special Concern’ it is subject to the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019, which means that it cannot be brought into Great Britain, kept, bred, transported, sold, used or exchanged, allowed to reproduce, grown or cultivated, or released into the environment. Defra funds the Fish Heath Inspectorate to carry out work to prevent the illegal sale and spread of this species.

Defra and the Environment Agency will continue to look for ways to manage this species but are currently not aware of any cost-effective or proven control methods, and there is limited scientific evidence on potential management approaches and its impacts.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_17
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_17

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the (a) framework and (b) criteria for beaver releases into the wild. \p Mary Creagh: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra are continuing to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions and management in England. This includes the development of a framework and criteria to enable the wild release of beavers in England. Further information on this will be published in due course.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_18
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_18

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an estimate of the number of (a) ancient and (b) veteran trees not covered by Tree Protection Orders in Bedfordshire. \p Mary Creagh: Defra recognises the importance of ancient and veteran trees, which provide irreplaceable habitats and a wide range of social, environmental and economic benefits to communities across the country. The value of ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees is recognised through the National Planning Policy Framework where these habitats are identified as irreplaceable. We do not have the data to estimate of the number of these trees not covered by Tree Protection Orders in Bedfordshire.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_19
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_19

Alex McIntyre:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to establish the (a) nine new river walks and (b) three new national forests. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is continuing to progress plans to designate nine new National River Walks across England and is considering delivery options to ensure the new river walks will have the most benefits for local communities. Further details will be provided in due course.

The Government is committed to the establishment of three new forests. Good progress is being made towards establishing the first of these forests as part of our wider work to fulfil this commitment.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_20
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_20

Olly Glover:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there is adequate competition in the domestic veterinary care insurance sector. \p Daniel Zeichner: Pet insurance providers are private businesses and are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_21
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_21

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of tracing of movement of animals, animal products and vehicles to the UK, in the context of the Foot and Mouth outbreak in Germany. \p Daniel Zeichner: Whilst we have never had an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the UK, it remains a key priority in terms of exotic notifiable disease preparedness. The overall risk of an incursion is currently assessed to be medium, and we continue to prepare for a possible outbreak. To safeguard the UK’s pork and pig industries, Defra, Devolved Governments, together with the pig industry and veterinary bodies have been working together to raise awareness of the risks of the introduction of ASF to the UK. Defra announced further controls in September 2024, restricting the movement of pork and pork products into Great Britain.

The risk of incursion of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) to Great Britain was increased to medium following the confirmation of disease in Germany on the 10 January 2025. The Government has taken decisive and rapid action to protect the UK by suspending the commercial import of susceptible animals from Germany and restricting personal imports of animal products from across the EU. The UK has robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease as set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain(opens in a new tab) supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England(opens in a new tab).
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_22

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what purposes (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have used AI in the last 12 months. \p Daniel Zeichner: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the heart of the new Government’s plan to kickstart an era of economic growth, transform how we deliver public services, and boost living standards for working people across the country.

As of January 2025, officials are exploring AI tools in a number of areas, although this work is still a proof-of-concept and not a live system.

Officials are also exploring deep learning for peatland mapping to aid CO2 reduction and machine learning to automate marine species identification.

We draw on a range of resources, published on GOV.UK, to inform our AI usage. For example, Generative AI Framework, Data Ethics Framework, AI Opportunities Action Plan and the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_23

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has plans to expand the Government Buying Standards across the wider public sector. \p Mary Creagh: Defra already encourages the wider public sector to use the Government Buying Standards. Using these standards provides one way of tenders achieving value for money and environmental policy priorities, and this will be further supported later this month by the more flexible approach to assessing public procurement introduced by the new Procurement Act.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_24

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether funds given to the proposed national Nature Restoration Fund will be allocated to the county where the development they are offsetting takes place. \p Mary Creagh: The details of how the Nature Restoration Fund will operate are being worked through in preparation for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Our working paper on development and nature recovery was published last December. This noted that in addressing environmental impacts from development more strategically, and at an appropriate geographic scale, we also needed to recognise the importance of protecting local communities’ access to nature and green space.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_25

Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the continuation of Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain for new developments. \p Mary Creagh: As Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has recently passed the one year anniversary since it went live for most major development in England, I can confirm that this Government is fully committed to making BNG work effectively to protect our natural world.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_26

Rebecca Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support developers to comply with biodiversity net gain policy for large housing developments when credits (a) are and (b) are not available. \p Mary Creagh: The Government has published extensive guidance on biodiversity net gain (BNG), alongside the statutory biodiversity metric tool, which supports developers in calculating the biodiversity value of their developments.

Defra are also funding the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) to support LPAs administer biodiversity net gain in their areas and support the development of local biodiversity markets. The biodiversity gain sites register operated by Natural England at a national level and allows developers to record off-site gains and evidence that they will achieve BNG.

Where developers are not able to achieve BNG on the development site, or through the purchase of off-site habitat enhancements, the statutory biodiversity credits scheme, also operated by Natural England, is available. The intention is for statutory credits to be a last resort, enabling developers to meet their biodiversity net gain if other options are not possible. Revenue generated from statutory credits will be used to support habitat creation in England.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_27

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) 60mm and (b) 81mm mortar smoke rounds have been procured for Ukraine since 5 July 2024. \p Luke Pollard: Since 2022, we have provided over 12,000 mortar rounds to Ukraine across various calibres. The hon. Member will be aware that for operational security reasons I am unable to provide more detailed procurement and delivery schedules.

This Government is steadfast in our commitment to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_28

Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to ensure that vulnerable Afghan family members are included in any new resettlement scheme. \p Luke Pollard: The Government announced in December 2024 the launch of the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), a cross-Government programme that will bring existing Afghan resettlement schemes into one single pipeline. Whilst this is not a new resettlement scheme, it will ensure we support those eligible Afghans and their family members, including those who are vulnerable, to rebuild their lives in the UK.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_29

Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will establish a statutory timeframe for communicating decisions on applications submitted under the (a) Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and (b) Afghan Family Members policy. \p Luke Pollard: Every application submitted under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme is considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account the evidence available. Whilst every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible, some complex cases can take longer to process so that the appropriate decision is reached in each case. Due to this individual approach, a statutory timeframe would not be suitable.

I am paying close attention to this issue and have asked officials to make every effort to ensure decision-making is accelerated wherever possible, in particular for cases that have been awaiting an answer for some time.

This approach remains unchanged following the announcement of the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), which draws Afghan resettlement into a single delivery pipeline whilst retaining the current eligibility criteria of individual schemes such as ARAP.

We inherited a considerable backlog in applications to process as the new Government and I am aware that people have been waiting longer than I would want for an outcome of an application. Therefore, I have directed officials to ensure that this backlog is cleared at pace whilst ensuring every case is processed correctly.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_30

Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applications for additional family members seeking to resettle in the UK to join a principal who has already been resettled via the (a) Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and (b) ex-Gratia scheme for Afghan interpreters are under consideration; and what proportion of these have been pending for more than six months. \p Luke Pollard: As of 12 February 2025, there are 1,062 outstanding Additional Family Member (AFM) applications from individuals who have already been resettled under the current and previous Afghan resettlement schemes administered by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Of these, 502 have been pending for more than six months.

Whilst every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible, each application is considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account the evidence available. The MOD has received over 170,000 separate ARAP applications, some of which are duplicates or erroneous, but all require individual deliberation. Within this, certain cases are particularly complex and can take longer to process in order to reach the appropriate outcome.

We inherited a considerable backlog in applications to process as the new Government and I am aware that people have been waiting longer than I would want for an outcome of an application. Therefore, I have directed officials to ensure that this backlog is cleared at pace whilst ensuring every case is processed correctly.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_31

Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many requests for a review of negative decisions on Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy applications are awaiting resolution; and what proportion of these have been under review for more than six months. \p Luke Pollard: As of 12 February 2025, there are 3,467 outstanding requests for a review of a negative decision on an Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) principal or Additional Family Member (AFM) application. Of these, 1,604 have been pending for more than six months.

Whilst every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible, each application is considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account the evidence available. The Ministry of Defence has received over 170,000 separate ARAP applications, some of which are duplicates or erroneous, but all require individual deliberation. Within this, certain cases are particularly complex and can take longer to process in order to reach the appropriate outcome.

We inherited a considerable backlog in applications to process as the new Government and I am aware that people have been waiting longer than I would want for an outcome of an application. Therefore, I have directed officials to ensure that this backlog is cleared at pace whilst ensuring every case is processed correctly.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_32

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many 3M Combat Arms Earplugs V2 his Department purchased between 2003 and 2015. \p Maria Eagle: 3M Combat Arms Ear Plugs V2 were purchased by the Ministry of Defence during this period, however records of the quantities purchased are no longer held.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_33

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Social Security Act 1973 on veterans who served before 6 April 1975 but did not meet the qualifying service threshold. \p Al Carns: This Government will always stand up for those who have served our country, and I am leading work across Government and with civil society to look at the best ways to ensure all veterans get access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve. This year, we will set out our plans for veterans in our updated Veterans’ Strategy.

It is a principle of public service pensions policy, and one that has been upheld by successive Governments, that improvements to pension schemes are not made retrospective. The legacy issues of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 are replicated in other public sector schemes in existence prior to the Social Security Act 1973. Accordingly, a retrospective change implemented for the Armed Forces would certainly result in pressure from other public sector schemes for similar treatment. Although no specific estimate has been made, resolving legacy issues across the board would cost the tax-payer billions of pounds and render future meaningful improvements to pension schemes for current employees unaffordable.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_34

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to consult with (a) veteran communities and (b) service organisations to inform the (i) design, (ii) implementation, (iii) data security, (iv) data governance and (v) access requirements for the Digital Veteran Card. \p Al Carns: To ensure the privacy and protection of Veteran's personal information, the implementation of the Digital Veteran Card system will be developed in collaboration with Government Digital Services and Office for Veterans’ Affairs. It will comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Secure by Design Principles and other applicable data protection legislation. As with the current physical cards, the digital cards will not hold or present detailed or sensitive Service information.

The Project is working in close collaboration with the Office of Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) to engage and consult with veterans throughout the development and delivery of the Virtual Veterans Card. This is completed via user research with veterans and charities to understand their needs to ensure the Ministry of Defence provides a high-quality user-centred service.
wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-18 conversation_35

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the number of former armed forces personnel residing in Bromsgrove constituency. \p Al Carns: The House of Commons library has an online data dashboard for constituencies which includes data on veterans taken from the most recent censuses in Great Britain. This is available here:

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-data-uk-armed-forces-veterans-2021-census/

England and Wales Census 2021 data showed that 3,066 people in Bromsgrove constituency reported that they had previously served in the UK Armed Forces. This represents 3.8% of the population in this constituency aged 16 and over. This compares with 3.5% of the population in the West Midlands region and 3.8% in Great Britain.