theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement on Update on tackling intimidation in public life of 18 March 2024, HCWS348, what further steps her Department is taking to help tackle intimidation in (a) elections and (b) public life; and which policies from that Written Ministerial Statement she (i) plans and (ii) does not plan to implement. \p Dan Jarvis: In light of increasing levels of harassment and intimidation ahead of the General Election, the previous Government invested £31m into additional protective security measures such as expanding the police led operation BRIDGER, and the introduction of a Home Office run private security capability.

However, our approach needs to evolve with the threat and go further. Under the Defending Democracy Taskforce, the Government is actively reviewing its levers for preventing harassment and intimidation, identifying gaps and vulnerabilities, and developing recommendations to strengthen our response.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been allocated to community safety initiatives in (a) Greater Manchester and (b) Manchester Rusholme constituency in the 2024-25 financial year. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Home Office does not have a defined range of initiatives that fall under the umbrella term of ‘community safety’. Greater Manchester Police’s funding will be up to £871.2 million in 2025-26, an increase of up to £55.6 million when compared to the 2024-25 funding settlement.

It is for locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners, or in this case the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to make decisions on how they use their funding and deploy their resources using their knowledge of local need.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the Defence Planning Assumptions before the Defence Spending Review. \p Luke Pollard: Defence Planning Assumptions (DPAs) will be revised following the Strategic Defence Review. We remain committed to transparency and will release a public version of updated DPAs once this detailed work is complete and tested.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to replenish stocks of artillery ammunition following donation to Ukraine. \p Luke Pollard: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 April 2025 to Question 42022.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to end bursary schemes in the (a) Army, (b) RAF, (c) Royal Navy and (d) Royal Marines. \p Al Carns: Bursaries are available only for applicants wishing to join the Armed Forces and are not available to existing Service personnel or any others. They are offered to students in full-time education to attract high-calibre individuals to a career in Defence, aiming to mitigate future potential recruiting challenges. Responsibility for bursary schemes is delegated to the single Services and none have current plans to cancel any of the schemes or change the eligibility requirements.

The bursary schemes on offer across the Armed Forces are listed below by Service. As at 1 April 2025 there were 740 students in receipt of a bursary; we do not make estimates of how many students could be entitled to a bursary but do not choose to apply for one. The total cost of bursaries for the 2024-25 financial year was £5,641,350.50.

Army

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Standard Army Undergraduate Scheme

Enhanced Army Undergraduate Scheme

Scholarship Scheme

Royal Army Medical Services Scheme

Royal College for Army Music Scheme

Royal Air Force

University Air Squadron Bursary Scheme

Medical Cadetship Scheme

Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship (in partnership with the Defence Academy)

Royal Navy / Royal Marines

Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

RN Bursars (Legacy Bursary Scheme)

Defence STEM Undergraduate Scheme (in partnership with the Defence Academy)
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39047 on Armed Forces Covenant, if he will provide a summary of the meeting of 19 March 2025. \p Al Carns: The most recent Covenant Community Action Group meeting covered the following agenda:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39045 on Armed Forces Covenant: Business, what the requirements are to pass the Covenant Test. \p Al Carns: If an organisation is alleged to have failed to uphold the values they have agreed to, the Ministry of Defence has policy in place to assess their continued suitability, known as the ‘Covenant Test’.

The key question (the Covenant Test) to be answered is: “Do (or Have) the values, views, communications, or behaviour of an organisation indicate that they do not (or can no longer) uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, or effectively demonstrate their support for the Armed Forces Community?”.

Enquiries about covenant signatories can be directed to: xxx@xxx.xx
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support he provides for people with long term health conditions trying to access discounts on water charges when the supply is provided on behalf of his Department. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence does not provide additional support for people with long term health conditions to access discounts on water charges when the supply is provided on behalf of the Department.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Ofsted ratings are of each establishment providing care and welfare of armed forces initial training. \p Al Carns: The Ofsted ratings for each of the Armed Forces Apprenticeship programmes are as follows:

Royal Navy – OUTSTANDING, inspected 8 March 2018 (next inspection is due before the end of July 2025)

British Army – GOOD, inspected 25 October 2023

Royal Air Force – GOOD, inspected 9 July 2024

The Ofsted ratings for each of the Armed Forces Initial Training establishments in the 2023-24 Academic Year are as follows:

HMS Raleigh, Cornwall – GOOD

RAF Shawbury, Shropshire – GOOD

Aerial Erector School, RAF Digby, Lincolnshire – OUTSTANDING

Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Devon – GOOD

Defence Medical Academy, Staffordshire – REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

11 Royal School of Signals Regiment, Dorset – GOOD

HMNB Clyde, Argyll, Scotland – GOOD

University Officer Training Corps, nationwide – GOOD

Defence School of Policing and Guarding, Hampshire – GOOD

Army Foundation College (Harrogate), North Yorkshire – OUTSTANDING

Defence Animal Training Centre, Leicestershire – OUTSTANDING

Britannia Royal Naval College, Devon – GOOD

All reports are publicly available via Ofsted on the gov.uk website: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 39502 on Armed Forces: Childcare, which defence sites provide opportunities for local childcare. \p Al Carns: Defence recognises that access to appropriate childcare can be an enabler to ensure our Serving personnel are able to fully perform their duties. While it is not a core output of Defence to provide childcare, in some areas where the local provision cannot meet the demand, childcare providers make use of buildings on the Defence Estate.

The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Sir Iain Duncan Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department plan to visit the official memorial in Girne in Northern Cyprus. \p Al Carns: While recognising the sacrifice of UK Service personnel who gave their lives during the ‘Cyprus Emergency’, Parliamentary and Ministerial commitments mean there are no plans to visit the memorial at The Old British Cemetery at Girne. However, when Parliamentary and Ministerial calendars allow, a Minister would be happy to visit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Minister in his Department is responsible for providing formal instructions to the Government Legal Department on legal requests for medical records from nuclear veterans and their representatives. \p Al Carns: As I stated in my Answer on 12 December 2024 to Question 17507 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-03/17507 I have asked Ministry of Defence officials to undertake a comprehensive exercise to better understand what information the Department holds in relation to the medical testing of Service personnel who took part in the UK nuclear weapons tests.

MOD officials instruct the Government Legal Department on behalf of MOD Ministers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Dr Andrew Murrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how his Department has discharged its duty of care to service (a) personnel and (b) families for potential contamination by toxic chemicals in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina between 1953 and 1987. \p Al Carns: We take the safety of our personnel very seriously and any veteran that may have served at Camp Lejeune during this period and believes that their health was affected can apply for compensation under the War Pension Scheme. It is also worth noting that the US compensation scheme had been running for almost two years at the point it was raised on 30 July 2024 to the new Ministerial team.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information on British personnel affected by water contamination at US Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987; however, we are making every effort to ensure Serving personnel and veterans are aware of their rights moving forward. On notification, I immediately instructed the Ministry of Defence to issue communications to encourage those who think they may have been affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to contact the department. On 2 August 2024 the Department released an article on Gov.uk explaining how to check eligibility and claim before the deadline. This was also followed up by posts on the Department’s social media accounts and internally through Veterans UK and all three Services.

I continue to encourage anyone who was based at Camp Lejeune between 1 August 1953 and 31 December 1987 to write to the MOD so that we may provide them with advice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the use of AI in their Department on security. \p Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Defence takes all aspects of security very seriously, and our AI and Security teams are working closely to ensure that the impact of AI on our work is positive and does not adversely affect security. We do not comment on details of security.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Written Ministerial Statement of 1 April 2025 on Defence Reform, HCWS 573, what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing his proposed reforms. \p Maria Eagle: Defence Reform is delivering meaningful change through a phased approach over the course of this Parliament to reform Defence. However, it is too early to capture the required level of investment in this programme of work, which we expect will deliver net benefits through changes such as more efficient procurement processes, including a reduction in waste.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 38604 on Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of farmers whose applications were ready for submission but missed out due to the short notice about the scheme's closure. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government inherited an uncapped scheme aimed at mass participation of farm businesses, despite a finite farming budget. In order to ensure we acted in a financially responsible way we took the decision to stop accepting new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) applications. We needed to ensure fair access to the scheme and avoid creating a sudden increase in the level of demand.

This Government’s commitment to farmers and the vital role they play to feed our nation remains steadfast.  Since we launched the SFI in 2022 Defra have worked closely with the farming sector to develop the SFI and we will continue to do so for the reformed the SFI offer, which we expect to publish more information about in summer 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with farmers in (a) Yeovil constituency and (b) south Somerset on the closure of the Sustainable Farming Initiative. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra ministers are engaging with farmers and stakeholders regarding the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). On the SFI, Ministers have met specifically with the NFU, National Beef Association, British Poultry Council, Soil Association, Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, National Pig Association, National Sheep Association, British Egg Industry Council, National Federation of Young Farmers, British Free Range Egg Producers Association, LAA, Tenant Farmers Association and Country, Land and Business Association.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the the European Commission announcement entitled Vision for Agriculture and Food, published on 19 February 2025, if he will hold discussions with animal welfare organisations on the potential merits of implementing the same regulations as proposed in the EU on (a) phasing out the use of cages for farmed animals and (b) introducing animal welfare labelling. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Department is engaging with key animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of our overarching approach to animal welfare.

The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which we are considering very carefully.   A public consultation on proposals to improve and extend current mandatory method of production labelling was undertaken last year by the previous Government. We are now carefully considering all responses before deciding on next steps and will respond to this consultation in due course.

We await the EU Commission proposals on phasing out the use of cages for farmed animals and animal welfare labelling with interest.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of 16-week old puppies brought into the UK for animal testing purposes in the latest period for which data is available. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra does not hold the data requested. Imports data drawn down from the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) does not record the age of the animal.

The Home Office assures that, in every research proposal, animals are replaced with non-animal alternatives wherever possible, the number of animals are reduced to the minimum necessary to achieve the result sought, and that, for those animals which must be used, procedures are refined as much as possible to minimise their suffering.

Dogs are a specially protected species under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The Home Office will only grant a project licence for a programme of work using dogs where the purpose of the programme of work specified in the licence can only be achieved by their use, or where it is not practicable to obtain other suitable animals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will strengthen legal protections for farmed fish. \p Daniel Zeichner: I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for North Herefordshire, Ellie Chowns, on 6 March 2025, PQ 34489.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle horse smuggling. \p Daniel Zeichner: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 9 September 2024 to PQ 2709.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Steve Barclay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times his Department has met representatives of (a) Greenpeace, (b) Just Stop Oil and (c) Extinction Rebellion since 4 July 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: Ministers have met with Greenpeace and discussions continue at an official level. There have not been any meetings with Just Stop Oil or Extinction Rebellion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Josh Fenton-Glynn:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many social media accounts his Department operates; and how much his Department spent on social media (a) subscriptions and (b) advertisements on each social media platform in each of the last three years. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government communicates across a range of media channels in order to reach its target audience effectively. Channels are selected based on whether they will reach the intended audience on a specific issue to have the most impact. Social media is an essential part of government communications and is used to inform the public directly about matters which may affect their lives or interests. Defra currently operates 18 accounts across its policy areas and functions. To our knowledge, Defra does not have regular social media subscriptions. Departmental marketing spend for the last 3 years on social advertisements is detailed below:

DEFRA Social Investment by year (H1/H2)

2021

LinkedIn

META

Twitter

Next Door

Total

H1 Jan-Jun

£24,047

£127,757

£1,088

£152,892

H2 Jul-Dec

£66,756

£66,756

2022

LinkedIn

META

Twitter

Next Door

Total

H1 Jan-Jun

£7,045

£176,713

£183,758

H2 Jul-Dec

£44,114

£44,114

2023

LinkedIn

META

Twitter

Next Door

Total

H1 Jan-Jun

£94,121

£94,121

H2 Jul-Dec

£3,570

£125,930

£129,500

2024

LinkedIn

META

Twitter

Next Door

Total

H1 Jan-Jun

£174,872

£11,785

£186,657

H2 Jul-Dec

£60,320

£60,320
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 41232 on Internal Drainage Boards: Cambridgeshire, from where is capital funding sourced to (a) repair and (b) replace pumping infrastructure. \p Emma Hardy: Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) are Risk Management Authorities. Expenses are primarily funded by local beneficiaries through drainage rates, special levies on authorities, and contributions from the Environment Agency.

Each IDB sets an annual budget for planned work and future investments, governed by Section 36 of the Land Drainage Act 1991. In addition, IDBs are eligible to bid for and receive allocations of FCRM Grant in Aid (GiA) funding for capital projects.

The Environment Agency administer the allocation of Government GiA funding. There are more projects than funding available, therefore schemes are prioritised in accordance with government policy.

IDBs have also been able to bid into the £91 million IDB Fund during 2024/25 for delivery by March 2026, which is funded by Defra.

IDBs can also apply for loans via the Public Works Loan Board operated by the UK Debt Management Office.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of providing additional funding to Internal Drainage Boards. \p Emma Hardy: The Government fully supports the important work internal drainage boards (IDBs) do in managing water and flood risk, benefiting communities, businesses and the environment.

On 31st March the Government announced an additional £16 million boost to the IDB Fund to support greater flood resilience for farmers and rural communities. The Fund has increased from £75 million to £91 million to provide opportunities to modernise and upgrade assets. More than 400,000 hectares of agricultural land and around 91,000 homes and businesses across England are expected to benefit.

In addition, IDBs, as risk management authorities, are eligible for the government’s flood investment programme. The government is investing a record £2.65 billion over two years in building, maintaining and repairing flood defences, better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_86

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations his Department has received from shooting organisations on restrictions on the acquisition, storage, and use of lead shot. \p Emma Hardy: Defra has received representations from a variety of stakeholders, including shooting organisations, setting out a diverse range of views on this issue. The main shooting organisations that have made representations have been: The British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Aim to Sustain, and the Gun Trade Association.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of restricting the acquisition, storage, and usage of lead shot on elite shooting athletes. \p Emma Hardy: The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) final Opinion on their restriction proposal for lead in ammunition, informed by information from public consultations as well as independent scientific advice, included consideration of the use of lead shot by athletes. In their final Opinion, HSE set out their assessment and this included a proposed exemption for competitive athletes. Now Defra has received HSE’s final Opinion on the proposed restriction, we are assessing their proposals. A decision will follow in due course, which will be taken with consent from the Devolved Governments of Scotland and Wales.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had with the Health and Safety Executive on its proposed restriction on the acquisition, storage, and use of lead shot. \p Emma Hardy: In Spring 2021, Defra asked the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA) to prepare a restriction dossier for lead ammunition in all habitats. The HSE and the EA have considered the evidence of risk posed by lead in ammunition to human health and the environment, as well as the socio-economic impacts of their proposed restriction. They also considered the effectiveness, practicality, monitorability and enforceability of their suggested restriction.

HSE have now published a final Opinion on their restriction proposal for lead in ammunition (including lead shot), informed by feedback from public consultations as well as independent scientific advice. As part of their Opinion, HSE have considered the socio-economic impacts of their proposed restriction in GB. Defra has received HSE’s final Opinion and are assessing their proposals. A decision will follow, which will be taken with the consent of the Devolved Governments of Scotland and Wales.

Since the final Opinion was published, Defra Officials have been in contact with the HSE to discuss and further understand their recommendation in detail.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's timetable is for publishing the Fens 2100+ plan. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency is leading the Fens 2100+ programme, working with farmers, land managers, water companies, internal drainage boards and other partners to develop a long-term plan for managing future flood risk in the Fens.

It aims to publish its Case for Change document in autumn 2025. This is in line its measure in the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England (2020) and will set out a strategic case for continued and enhanced investment in flood risk management to ensure we have a vibrant and sustainable future Fens.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Richard Foord:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding South West Water was required to contribute to infrastructure to meet (a) environmental and (b) water quality standards between 2013 and 2025. \p Emma Hardy: Since 2015 Ofwat has set total expenditure allowances which allow for companies to meet their obligations under the environment and water quality programmes. Based on data provided by Ofwat, the figures for South West Water are set out below.

South West Water expenditure on the environment and water quality programmes since 2015

2023-24 prices:

2015-20

2020-24

Environment programme

£75.0 million

£174.2 million

Water quality

£45.8 million

£107.4 million

Total

£402.4 million

Between 2015 and 2024 the environment programme allowance for South West Water was £249.2 million and the water quality allowance was £153.2 million.

Due to figures being unable to be split between two price control periods, figures for 2013-15 cannot be provided.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Water investment to unlock growth in East of England, published on 13 March 2025, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of a Bedford to Milton Keynes waterway on (a) local and (b) national economic growth. \p Emma Hardy: The Government recognises the wide range of benefits brought by our inland waterways and is supportive in general of projects to restore and develop them, including where they form part of wider growth plans.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of nitrogen leaching from agriculture on (a) water quality and (b) biodiversity in West Dorset constituency. \p Emma Hardy: The levels of nitrogen losses from agriculture are unacceptable. That is why we are focused on working with farmers across the country to reduce pollution and clean up our waters. Regulations are in place to address nitrogen and wider pollution from agriculture and the Environment Agency (EA) continue to conduct over 4,000 inspections nationally each year to support farmers to comply.

The EA has also worked closely with farmers and land managers to implement a bespoke, target-led approach across the Poole Harbour catchment, support by an innovative voluntary farmer-led scheme, to improve farm practices, reduce nutrient losses and enable ecological recovery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve the (a) transparency and (b) public accessibility of water quality data for (i) rivers and (ii) lakes. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency’s Water Hub is a dedicated, easily accessible space bringing together publicly available guidance, data and news relating to water. The Environment Agency processes and publishes vast amounts of data, including bathing water data, storm overflows, catchment data, water quality data, which can be accessed via the Water Data Explorer.

This government believes that it is important that we invest in the most appropriate type of monitors to ensure we gain valuable information on sewage discharges.

Since 1 January 2025, water companies have been required to publish data related to discharges from all storm overflows within one hour of the discharge beginning. The Secretary of State has authorised Ofwat to carry out enforcement action for this duty, in accordance with the powers conferred under sections 18 and 141DA (4) of the Water Industry Act 1991. Ofwat’s enforcement powers provide for a wide range of enforcement activity, including substantial penalties.

Ofwat is monitoring compliance with the duty to report relevant data in real time. Where it detects non-compliance, it will take appropriate enforcement action. In addition to this, the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 has introduced an equivalent duty for water companies to publish data related to discharges from all emergency overflows within one hour of the discharge beginning. Once commenced, this duty will be enforced in the same way.

During the bathing water season, 451 designated bathing waters benefit from water quality monitoring by the Environment Agency (EA) – enabling the public to make informed decisions about where to swim. This data is published on the EA’s Swimfo bathing waters website so that the public can make an informed decision before swimming here.

The Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment programme (NCEA) is producing a statistically robust baseline assessment of the health of England’s rivers and lakes. The baseline data and outputs will be made publicly accessible, enabling the private sector, central and local governments, and third sectors to use these products to understand the condition of our ecosystems and put nature at the heart of decision-making.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Patrick Spencer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's Review of affordability and availability of flood insurance to help evaluate the effectiveness of FloodRe, published in October 2022, if he will publish the raw data of the BMG quantitative survey of households. \p Emma Hardy: The department has no plans to publish this data.

Conclusions, research methodology and materials for the 2022 review of affordability and availability of flood insurance can be found here.

Conclusions, research methodology and materials for the Independent review of flood insurance in Doncaster can be found here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Tracy Gilbert:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she plans to take to ensure the availability of single-sex services for women. \p Dame Nia Griffith: This Government is steadfast in its dedication to protecting women and fostering a society in which they feel respected and empowered. We will uphold the Equality Act and continue to support the use of its single-sex exceptions. We will explore the best ways in which we can give service providers assurance about the rights afforded by the Act and how to lawfully apply its single-sex exceptions.

It is vitally important that service providers have clear guidance about the Equality Act 2010 and its single-sex service exceptions. We will bring forward guidance in due course that will give service providers assurance about the rights afforded by the Act and how to lawfully apply its single-sex exceptions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Andrew Ranger:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve social mobility. \p Dame Nia Griffith: We are committed to delivering better life chances for all - breaking the link between background and success.

Through the Opportunity Mission, this Government is working to ensure all children and young people can access opportunities and that every child thrives in education and achieves their ambitions in work and later life, no matter their background.

Work is underway to deliver our manifesto commitment to commence the socio-economic duty in England. The duty will require specified public bodies to actively consider how their strategic decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question HL4540 on Local Government: Equality, whether (a) the Cabinet Office, (b) the Office for Women and Equality and (c) the Equality and Human Rights Commission consider that being gender fluid or gender neutral constitutes the protected characteristic of gender reassignment. \p Dame Nia Griffith: The Equality Act defines the protected characteristic of gender reassignment as a person that is proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process (or part of a process) for the purpose of gender reassignment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Marsha De Cordova:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of assessing employers' compliance with the (a) recruitment and (b) employment of disabled people duties of the Equality Act 2010. \p Dame Nia Griffith: The Government is fully committed to the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), which protects disabled people from discrimination in the workplace. The Act prohibits direct and indirect disability discrimination and requires employers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees and applicants/candidates, to ensure that they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to their non-disabled colleagues. This could include improving access to premises for wheelchair users, through installing ramps or other auxiliary aids or services.

The failure of an employer to make reasonable adjustments could amount to direct disability discrimination. However, the Act also recognises the need to strike a balance between the needs of disabled employees and the circumstances of their employers. What is ‘reasonable’ will therefore depend on the circumstances of each case.

Strong legal remedies are available to employees and applicants who feel that they have experienced disability discrimination by an employer. Guidance and codes of practice have been published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Acas, to help employers follow the law and employees and applicants understand their rights.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Olly Glover:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish rates of sectioning under the Mental Health Act 1983 by diagnosis of (a) bipolar and (b) other mental health conditions for each of the last five years. \p Stephen Kinnock: An individual is detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 if they pose a serious risk to themselves or others and they require care in a hospital setting. Detentions are not made based on diagnoses of severe mental health conditions.

NHS England is currently exploring a methodology to analyse diagnoses of individuals detained under the Mental Health Act and initial results are expected to be published in May 2025. Therefore, the information requested is not available for the last five years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Olly Glover:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what training is provided to early intervention in psychosis teams on (a) recognising and (b) supporting people with bipolar. \p Stephen Kinnock: We recognise how important it is for individuals with bipolar to get the right care and support they need. NHS England commissions training for staff working in early intervention in psychosis services to deliver cognitive behavioural therapy for both psychosis and bipolar disorder.

Mental health professionals are required to complete core training as part of their roles, which includes information on awareness of bipolar disorder and how it presents. The comprehensive assessment of at-risk mental states is an assessment tool used by mental health professionals and researchers to identify individuals who are at high risk of developing psychosis.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Sonia Kumar:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has considered increasing the threshold from which people must pay for their own care. \p Stephen Kinnock: The capital limits and the social care allowance rates are reviewed annually and the rates for 2025/26 were published in the Local Authority Circular in February 2025.

We are launching an independent commission into adult social care later this month as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. It will lead a national conversation to build consensus on what adult social care should achieve, address systemic challenges comprehensively, and chart a clear path toward practical and impactful reform.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of dementia care in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Stephen Kinnock: Provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

NHS Frimley ICB has been working with Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) and Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP) to ensure that FHFT geriatricians can refer patients directly into Surrey Heath memory clinics within SABP rather than necessarily having to go through general practitioners to request referrals. This process should bring about more rapid assessments and diagnoses for those patients suspected of having dementia. The Standard Operating Procedures of the Surrey Health Older Adults Mental Health Service, which includes the Memory Clinics, have also been reviewed and found to meet the requirements of facilitating appropriate referral routes and service inclusion criteria.

Improvement work is also in progress to enhance dementia training and access to specialist support for staff on the SABP older adult mental health ward dealing with dementia at The Meadows Unit.

In addition, NHS Frimley has a contract in place with Younger People with Dementia, a charity established to provide support services throughout the working week to people diagnosed with dementia under 65 years old. Though the Surrey Heath Better Care Fund, NHS Frimley ICB has also continued to provide dementia advisors, via the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Advisor Service, for all those who have been diagnosed with dementia.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the National Health Service in helping local authorities to improve the social care sector. \p Stephen Kinnock: The National Health Service plays an important role by working collaboratively with local authorities to deliver social care.

Integrated care partnerships bring integrated care boards and partner local authorities together, alongside wider system partners, to agree priorities and take collaborative action to address cross-system challenges, improve outcomes, and reduce inequalities.

The Better Care Fund (BCF) is a framework for integrated care boards and local authorities to make joint plans and pool budgets for the purposes of delivering better joined-up care. The NHS makes a minimum contribution of approximately £5.6 billion to the BCF, which includes funding for social care. This supports local authorities to provide timely and joined-up support for people with more complex health and care needs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_104

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of adults with eating disorders that are waiting for treatment from community mental health services; and what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times. \p Stephen Kinnock: NHS England recently published data on adult community mental health waiting times, which includes adult community eating disorder services. Services are working throughout 2024/25 to improve the data quality for these metrics, to be more accurate from 2025/26.

At the end of January 2025, 206,603 referrals to community mental health services for adults and older adults with serious mental illness were waiting for a second contact. The median waiting time was 93 days, and the 90th percentile was 263 days.

As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government will recruit 8,500 mental health workers to help ease pressure on busy mental health services.

We are working with NHS England to consider options to deliver this commitment alongside the refresh of the Long Term Workforce Plan. This will focus on the three shifts to deliver our 10 Year Plan: moving care from hospitals to care in communities; making better use of technology in health and care; and focusing on preventing sickness, not just treating it.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_105

Perran Moon:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of improving (a) the funding of and (b) support for NHS dentistry services in rural areas. \p Stephen Kinnock: The National Health Service in England invests £3 billion in dentistry every year. NHS planning guidance is now published for 2025/26 and confirms that dental budgets are ringfenced. Planning guidance also confirms that improving access to urgent dental appointments is a key national priority.

We are aware of the challenges faced in accessing a dentist, particularly in rural areas. The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the ICBs across England. For the Camborne and Redruth constituency, this is the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB.