theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will consider allowing Palestinian students starting studies at UK universities in 2025 to apply to bring dependent children to the UK. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: On 27 October, the Government updated our guidance on scholarships for students from Gaza to confirm that it was now also seeking to support the departure of the dependents of those students who are eligible under immigration rules. Full details can be found here (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-students-travelling-to-the-uk-from-gaza/scholarships-for-students-from-gaza).
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her joint letter with the Home Secretary to the Planning Inspectorate on the Chinese Embassy, dated 14 January 2025, what discussions her Department had with their Chinese counterparts on the planning application for the Chinese Embassy between 5 July 2024 and 14 January 2025. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to question 24158.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question HL10734 on USA: Diplomatic Service, whether the ongoing work involved expenditure whilst Lord Mandelson was Ambassador. \p Seema Malhotra: Refurbishment work at our Embassy in Washington DC began in June 2019. The majority of work was completed in 2023, with limited aspects ongoing.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 78429 on National Security: China, what information her Department holds on whether hostile activity by China is carried out from within the diplomatic buildings in the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: Upholding national security and keeping the public safe is the first duty of this Government. This principle underpins not only our relationship with China, but all our international relationships. However, it would not be appropriate to comment on any specific national security issue.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will set out her Department's plans for staffing reorganisation including (a) the number of staff in each of the next five years and (ii) total staffing costs in each of the next five financial years. \p Seema Malhotra: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is undertaking a phased restructure of its workforce in line with the Spending Review settlement. Further details will be set out in the usual way in due course.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to withdraw recognition of the State of Palestine in the event that Hamas break any conditions of that recognition. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 October to Question 83047.
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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help tackle the use of anti-personnel mines in international conflicts. \p Chris Elmore: The UK is a State Party to the Ottawa Treaty and our commitment to the Treaty is unwavering. The Treaty plays an important role in how we protect civilians, advance the security of our allies and our own national security. We nonetheless recognise the security concerns raised by Allies who have decided to withdraw, as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and acknowledge their sovereign right to do so. We have welcomed statements made by each withdrawing State to continue their national commitments for Humanitarian Mine Action, their commitment to International Humanitarian Law and the norms promoted by the Treaty and we continue to work closely with them to support the principles of the Treaty. We continue to support efforts to reduce the risks from landmines and the UK's Global Mine Action Programme (GMAP) will provide over £27 million this financial year (25/26 FY) on interventions in 12 countries.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 250 of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published on 23 October 2025, what is the (a) purpose and (b) function of the Gresham Estate contract. \p Anna Turley: The responsibility of the Gresham Estate was transferred to the Office of Government Property (OGP) in 2018. This is an annuity payment which dates back to an Act of Parliament in 1768, when Lord Gresham gave the site to the Crown to use. The Act said he would be paid £500 per annum, and this liability passed to the Gresham Trust when he died, and this is now managed by the Mercers’ Company.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office Annual report and accounts 2024-25, HC1372, and pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 73315, on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, on what (a) page and (b) paragraph are the costs relating to the (i) maintenance and (ii) use of Admiralty House. \p Anna Turley: All costs relating to the Cabinet Office's annual expenditure are outlined from page 165 onwards, which includes spending by the Government Property Agency as an agency of the Cabinet Office. The report does not enter into granular building level accounts, as has been the case under successive administrations.

I refer the Honourable Member to 73315 which has since been corrected.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 74185 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, whether his Department claimed single person discount for Admiralty House before August 2025. \p Anna Turley: Westminster City Council’s single person discount can only apply to residences that are your sole or main residence, therefore, the Admiralty House residences are currently ineligible for the discount and a discount was not claimed for or applied to the former DPM’s tenure.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 74185 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, on what date his Department informed Westminster City Council that the residence in Admiralty House was occupied as a secondary residence. \p Anna Turley: As the property was a second residence, the Government was responsible for paying the Council Tax on Admiralty House, not the former Deputy Prime Minister - in line with long-standing precedent under successive governments.

As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government Property Agency is responsible for liaising with Westminster City Council for matters concerning residency at Admiralty House.

Following the introduction of the second homes premium, this has been paid in full in a one-off full payment in July 2025. This payment was made on the date the invoice was received from Westminster City Council.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government Property Agency holds records on the costs of (a) works, (b) fittings and (c) fixtures to Ministerial residences in (i) Downing Street, (ii) Carlton Gardens and (iii) Admiralty House since 4 July 2024. \p Anna Turley: The Government Property Agency holds records on the costs of works, fittings and fixtures relating to ministerial residences of Admiralty House only.

I refer the Honourable Member to 73315 which has since been corrected.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 58 of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published on 23 October 2025, if he will set out the types of personal data reported to the Information Commissioner's Office in each of the eight incidents; and if he will set what types of data were compromised in the Capita cyber-attack. \p Dan Jarvis: Please see below the data items as recorded on the notification forms to the Information Commissioner’s Office for the eight incidents referred to on page 58 of the Cabinet Office annual reports and accounts 2024-25:

Incident 1 - Health, name, contact details, date of birth

Incident 2 - Name, account numbers and sort codes

Incident 3 - Names, addresses, dates of birth and medical information

Incident 4 - Name, date of birth, home address and brief medical history

Incident 5 - Names, work email addresses, job roles/grade

Incident 6 - Name, Address, National Insurance Number, economic and financial data

Incident 7 - Name, Address, National Insurance Number, economic and financial data

Incident 8 - Name, allegations of improper conduct

In the majority of the above reported incidents either individual or very small numbers of data subjects were affected by the breach.

Regarding the Capita incident, the types of personal data recorded in the Information Commissioner’s Office notification are as follows:

Name

Contact details

Account numbers and sort codes

Health data

Economic and financial data, e.g. credit card numbers, bank details

Copies of official documents, e.g. driving licences
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) CTC, (b) SC, (c) DV and (d) DV renewal cases are currently awaiting completion by UK Security Vetting. \p Dan Jarvis: United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) is currently meeting its agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across each product type. UKSV KPIs are set and regularly reviewed in consultation with customer groups to ensure that demand is balanced with maintaining assurance in national security safeguards.

In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how long it takes on average for a new member of UK Security Vetting staff to become fully accredited to handle (a) Counter Terrorist Check and Security Check and (b) Developed Vetting cases. \p Dan Jarvis: The training, learning and development needs of vetting officials within United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) is kept under regular review, in line with changes in policy, legislation or the external environment. This approach allows UKSV to maximise skills and meet resourcing requirements whilst ensuring that HMG risk appetite is underpinned by a National Security Vetting provision that is both rigorous and assured.

In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82339 on Ministers: Official Cars, whether departments are invoiced (a) by his Department for the use of Ministerial cars and (b) for the use of cars by officials; whether his Department invoices itself for car use; and whether invoicing is done by (i) month, (ii) quarter and (iii) year. \p Dan Jarvis: The Government Car Service (GCS) issues monthly invoices to each department for the use of its vehicles and drivers. Departments are responsible for determining the appropriate use of these vehicles, whether for Ministers or senior officials. Separate invoicing procedures are not applied for Ministers and officials.

GCS does not directly invoice the Cabinet Office for its services. These transactions are managed through internal budget transfers on a monthly basis.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister has had recent discussions with the Chinese government on the planning application for the Chinese Embassy in London. \p Dan Jarvis: The decision to call in the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy was made by the former Deputy Prime Minister, in line with current policy on call-in. This decision is subject to a quasi-judicial process and independent from the rest of government.
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Graham Stuart:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on the potential resilience of energy infrastructure designated as Critical National Infrastructure in the context of Ofgem’s proposed funding reductions in the RIIO-GT3 Draft Determination. \p Dan Jarvis: The Cabinet Office frequently engages with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) which is ultimately responsible for the resilience of the energy sector and assessment of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) against its criticality.

DESNZ works closely with industry counterparts to maintain energy security and ensure industry has the tools at their disposal to support security of supply. As the risk landscape continues to evolve, ensuring high standards of infrastructure resilience and security across the energy sector is a key priority for DESNZ and Ofgem.

DESNZ will continue engaging with Ofgem to ensure RIIO-GT3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security and resilience through the price control period.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to page 35 of the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published on 23 October 2025, if he will list each (a) Minister and (b) senior official who made use of the Government Car Service; and what were the greenhouse gas emissions reported for 2024-25. \p Dan Jarvis: The Government Car Service (GCS) provides vehicles to departments as a shared resource and does not record the use of the vehicle on an individual basis. In relation to the specific greenhouse gas emissions of GCS reported for 2024-25, GCS was transferred from the Department for Transport to the Cabinet Office in April 2025. The Cabinet Office does not, therefore, hold information on GCS prior to this date.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 74666,on Intelligence Services: Unpaid Work, which internship schemes with the security services are white British people eligible to apply to. \p Dan Jarvis: In recent years, the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) has run a number of internships and placement schemes. They are designed to provide insight about what it is like to work in UKIC to individuals who have particular skills and experience, want to work in a particular area and/or are from demographics and backgrounds under-represented across Government.

The eligibility criteria for specific internship schemes in UKIC are made publicly available on agency websites at the time when they are advertised.
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James Wild:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to provide an answer to Question 82727 on National Security Adviser: China, tabled on 16 October 2025. \p Dan Jarvis: A response has been issued here.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he his Department applies nationality criteria to contractors who work on Government IT programmes. \p Dan Jarvis: All contractors working in central government will go through National Security Vetting at a level that is appropriate for the work they are expected to deliver, as decided by the relevant departmental body.

As a minimum, all government contractors will be cleared at Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) level. This vetting includes identity checks, employment history, unspent criminal convictions, and the right to work in the UK. If the role is deemed to require additional security clearances, such vetting will be undertaken.

The government will engage the best qualified individual for the role regardless of nationality, as long as they have the appropriate security clearance deemed necessary for the role (including the right to work in the UK).
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, HC1372, was published in October. \p Chris Ward: The Cabinet Office Annual Report and Account 2024-25 was laid on 23 October 2025. Departments seek to lay their 2024-25 annual reports as soon as they are able to do so before the statutory deadline of 31 January 2026.

This publication is in line with those of previous years, and comes earlier than the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Account 2023-24, published in December 2024.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 82673 on Government Departments: Social Media, how much has been spent on the two agencies for influencer work since July 2024. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: There are no plans to publish specific financial details in the public domain.
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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) stopping and (b) reducing monthly support payments for people accepting one-off compensation payments from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority on people dependent on ongoing support for daily (i) living, (ii) medical and (iii) care costs. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme includes Care and Financial Loss awards, which recognise the past and future care needs and associated costs for infected people.

All support scheme beneficiaries, when undergoing their compensation assessment from IBCA, can choose between the ‘core’ and ‘adjusted’ route. Choosing the core route would mean accepting their compensation as a lump sum, or periodic installments. Choosing the adjusted route, would mean a smaller lump sum, and continuing to receive support payments for life.

If someone chooses to continue receiving support scheme payments, their Care and Financial Loss awards (under the core route) will be offset against their support scheme payments.

This means that regardless of which option an infected person chooses, they will receive a form of payment that recognises their increased living, medical, and care costs, associated with their infection.

Those currently on the Infected Blood Support Schemes will continue to be able to apply for discretionary payments until they receive a compensation offer from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2025, to Question 52869 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, if he will provide a breakdown of the costs on (a) refurbishment and (b) fixtures and fittings for each of the three flats since 4 July 2024. \p Anna Turley: Costs relating to the Government Property Agency are included in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts. A detailed breakdown of refurbishment, fixtures and fittings relating to the Former Deputy Prime Minister’s residence in Admiralty House has been provided in response to FOI2025/12565, which is in the public domain. I will arrange for a copy of this response to be deposited in the Commons Library.
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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what does she plan to set the spending cap at for the relaunched 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that will better target the SFI in an orderly way towards our priorities for food, farming and nature. Information and plans for the next iteration of the scheme will be published in due course.
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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Autumn Budget 2024 on the (a) physical and (b) mental health of (i) farmers and (ii) the agricultural sector. \p Dame Angela Eagle: We regularly liaise with farming welfare charities and industry stakeholder groups to understand the issues affecting farmers mental health and any impacts resulting from poor mental health.

Since 2024, Defra has funded the Farmer Welfare Grant, which supports projects that improve the mental health and wellbeing of farming people in England. The projects are all designed to offer tailored support to farmers and their families as well as prevent further cases of poor mental health by helping to build resilience within farming communities.
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Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help tackle fly-tipping in Huddersfield constituency. \p Mary Creagh: Local councils are usually best placed to tackle fly-tipping in their areas, and they have a range of enforcement powers to help them do so. These include fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, seizing and crushing of vehicles and prosecution action. We encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers and are taking steps to develop statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance to support councils to consistently, appropriately and effectively exercise these existing powers. We have also announced a review of council powers to seize and crush vehicles of fly-tippers, to identify how we could help them make better use of this tool.

In our manifesto we committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess that they have created. We will provide further details on this commitment in due course.

In the meantime, Defra continue to chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders, such as local authorities and the National Farmers Union, to share good practice on preventing fly-tipping, including on private land. Various practical tools are available from their webpage which is available at: https://nftpg.com/.
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Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department plans to take to maintain animal welfare standards in the context of negotiations with the EU on a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The EU has accepted there will need to be a number of areas where we need to retain our own rules. It is too soon to discuss the details of the SPS agreement, which is subject to negotiation. We have been clear with the EU about the importance of establishing arrangements which enable us to maintain high animal welfare standards.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for the reintroduction of the pet passport. \p Dame Angela Eagle: As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Area, which will mean taking pets on holiday into the EU will be easier and cheaper. Instead of getting an Animal Health Certificate each time they travel, pet owners will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU.

We are expecting to start negotiations later this autumn, once the EU has confirmed their mandate.

In the meantime, and until an agreement is reached, owners will still need an Animal Health Certificate for their dog, cat or ferret(s) if they’re travelling from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to an EU country.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme’s glass packaging fees on the competitiveness of small and medium-sized beverage producers that rely predominantly on glass. \p Mary Creagh: In autumn last year my department published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on packaging producers as a whole, when the regulations were laid in parliament. This impact assessment includes an analysis of the impact of pEPR on competition but does not include an assessment of the impact on specific materials or sectors.

pEPR in the UK has some of the most generous support measures for small businesses across any packaging scheme globally. These are exemptions from disposal fee and recycling (PRN) obligations for producers with an annual turnover below £2 million and packaging tonnage below 50 tonnes; and an exemption from data collection and reporting obligations for small businesses with turnover below £1 million and packaging tonnage below 25 tonnes. These exemptions apply to approximately 70% of businesses supplying packaging in the UK.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of delaying the full implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme to review its impact on small producers of glass-packaged beverages to ensure the scheme does not undermine the (a) environmental and (b) economic sustainability of the sector. \p Mary Creagh: Packaging extended producer responsibility is an important part of government’s wider commitment to transition to a circular economy. It is the cornerstone of the packaging reforms and delivers a £1.4 billion investment to local councils to deliver better recycling services to households across the UK. Together, the leaders of the UK’s largest waste management companies have said that these reforms unlock a £10 billion investment in the UK’s recycling capacity, creating 25,000 jobs.

pEPR in the UK has some of the most generous support measures for small businesses across any packaging scheme globally. These are exemptions from disposal fee and recycling (PRN) obligations for producers with an annual turnover below £2 million and packaging tonnage below 50 tonnes; and an exemption from data collection and reporting obligations for small businesses with turnover below £1 million and packaging tonnage below 25 tonnes. These exemptions apply to approximately 70% of businesses supplying packaging in the UK.

The Government is committed to the delivery of these important reforms.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20th October 2025 to Question 79746 on Food: Public Sector, by when will the Government complete its assessment of what food the public sector buys and where it comes from. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Work to assess the food bought by public bodies and where it comes from is underway. When the results of this work become available, they will help inform Government’s approach on public sector food procurement.
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Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cases of illegal waste dumping have been recorded in the last (a) five years and (b) ten years in (i) Hexham constituency, (ii) Northumberland, (iii) Newcastle, (iv) the North East and (v) England. \p Mary Creagh: Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement action to Defra, which the department have published annually since 2012, here. This data isn't available at a constituency level and excludes the majority of private-land incidents. Data for the 2024/25 reporting year is still being collected.

The Environment Agency investigates fly tipping where the waste is more than 20 tonnes, a specified amount of hazardous waste, or is suspected to be linked to organised crime. The Environment Agency confirmed the following data on cases where at least one of these conditions were met:

5 Years

10 Years

Hexham

0

1

Northumberland

4

6

Newcastle

1

2

North East

25

51

England

507

1510
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Fruit and Vegetable Scheme on producers in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government is committed to our horticulture sector and the vital role it plays in strengthening food security by ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of fresh home-grown produce. The Fruit and Vegetable Scheme Aid Scheme is an EU legacy scheme, and we will not be continuing that model of support in England when it ends on 31 December 2025.

Future funding for the sector will be considered alongside Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and nature.

The Good Food Cycle, published as part of our food strategy gives the food sector a blueprint for an economically successful and innovative domestic food sector, including horticulture. It will work alongside the Farming Roadmap, the Land Use Framework, the Circular Economy Strategy and the Environmental Improvement Plan to deliver a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports farmers, growers and food producers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Tristan Osborne:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the destruction of (a) textiles and (b) footwear. \p Mary Creagh: The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to support us in developing proposals to transition to a Circular Economy. As we develop those proposals, we will assess what further interventions may be needed across the textiles sector, including any interventions on environmental impact labelling and banning the destruction of textiles and footwear.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of implementing the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement with the EU on (a) the economy and (b) economic growth in (i) Northern Ireland, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) England. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The information requested is available in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Methodology Note: Assessing the long-run growth impact of a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement. This is available here

This analysis found that UK GDP is estimated to increase by up to 0.14% in the long run (compared to the baseline of no SPS agreement). This increase is equivalent of up to £5.1 billion per year when compared to projected UK GDP levels in 2040.

The Government is committed to representing devolved Government interests in the EU negotiations so that there are benefits for the whole of the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to expand the use of new (a) tracking and (b) monitoring technologies to improve the effectiveness of the National Bee Unit’s work to (i) locate and (ii) eradicate yellow-legged Asian hornet nests. \p Mary Creagh: Since 2016 the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) have responded to incursions of Yellow Legged Hornet (YLH) into Great Britain. The NBU has developed a fine-tuned and effective response which allows them to find and destroy nests to prevent YLH establishing. During 2025 the NBU has drawn on support from other members of staff within APHA and used new technology to deliver the response. For tracking, the inspectors have been trialling Robor Nature Units which use a handheld device to add tiny trackers to hornets. The tracker is then used to follow the hornet and find the nest so it can be destroyed and removed. For monitoring, field tests have been carried out using VespAI, a visual monitoring system developed by the University of Exeter which uses artificial intelligence to carry out surveillance for YLH. As of 23 October 2025, the NBU have found and destroyed a total of 155 Yellow Legged Hornet nests.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing the model of improving public awareness of the rules on importing products of animal origin that is used in Australia. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra is mindful of international examples, such as models used in Australia, when considering approaches for improving public awareness of rules for importing products of animal origin. Defra has worked in partnership with other government departments, ports, airports and international travel operators to improve public awareness of the rules. Defra has issued public communications about the rules via press release, social media and GOV.UK, and published posters for operational partners to display.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to eradicate the Yellow-legged Asian hornet. \p Mary Creagh: Defra is continuing to follow an eradication strategy against Yellow Legged Hornet (also known as Asian Hornet) to prevent this invasive non-native species from establishing in GB. Contingency action is delivered by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). As of 23 October 2025, the APHA have found and destroyed a total of 155 Yellow Legged Hornet nests.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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John Whitby:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department plans to issue to Material Recovery Facilities to ensure consistent sorting standards. \p Mary Creagh: Defra does not plan to issue specific guidance on sorting requirements for Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).

We are working with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and waste industry representatives to support MRF readiness for the Simpler Recycling requirements. We have engaged with MRF operators and local authorities through WRAP’s MRF Forum to identify challenges with MRF capacity, investment and upgrade timelines, and to work with the sector to identify interventions to support MRFs as they prepare for Simpler Recycling. WRAP is developing interventions to support local authorities with the procurement of new MRF contracts, determine the potential future composition of dry mixed recyclable waste streams and the associated financial implications.

Those MRF operators engaged with us are aware of their obligations and are working hard to upgrade their facilities to ensure they can separate the target materials as required by Simpler Recycling.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to promote domestic recycling. \p Mary Creagh: The Simpler Recycling reforms will ensure that across England, people will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school.

Every household and workplace (businesses and relevant non-domestic premises like schools and hospitals) across England will be able to recycle the same materials in the following core waste streams: metal, glass, plastic (including cartons), paper and card, food waste, and garden waste (for households only).

These reforms will make recycling easier and ensure there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England. This will reduce confusion with recycling to improve recycling rates, ensuring there is more recycled material in the products we buy, and that the UK recycling industry will grow.

By 31 March 2026, local authorities will be required to collect the core recyclable waste streams from all households in England. This includes introducing weekly food waste collections for all homes, unless a transitional arrangement applies (a transitional arrangement is where a local authority has agreed a later implementation date set in regulations).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 62320 on Farm: Domestic Visits, if he will provide an aggregate and anonymised number of farm visits since 4 July 2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra ministers regularly visit farms in a range of counties and meet with farmers and the wider industry.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the availability of seasonal labour for the apple and pear industry. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Seasonal Worker visa route is hugely important for the horticulture sector, including the apple and pear industry. Government made a total of 43,000 seasonal worker visas available for horticulture in 2025.  The Government has also announced a 5-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route to provide stability and certainty to the horticulture sector, and we can confirm that 41,000 visas will be available for 2026 for the horticulture sector.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including protections against unfair supermarket practices in the Farming Profitability Review. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Baroness Minette Batters was appointed to complete a review into barriers to profitability in English farming and present her report to the Defra Secretary of State.

The review has examined how farmers can embrace innovation, improve productivity and market access, how the supply chain can support a more profitable farming sector through greater transparency, collaboration and a fairer distribution of risk, rewards and responsibility.

As set out in the Terms of Reference, the recommendations of the Farming Profitability Review will inform Defra policy including the Farming Roadmap, Food Strategy and Land-use Framework.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Emma Lewell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the issue of non-stun slaughter will be included in the animal welfare strategy. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year. We will set out our priorities for animal welfare in the strategy upon publication.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department has issued on compensation for farmers for (a) crop loss, (b) soil compaction and (c) business interruption caused by (i) leaks and (ii) repair works on water undertakers’ apparatus on private farmland; and whether she plans to review those arrangements. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Under the Water Industry Act 1991, Section 181, Ofwat has powers to determine particular customer disputes about how companies go about undertaking work on their assets in private land.

Ofwat can determine compensation of up to £5,000 in relation to:

Furthermore, this Government took decisive action to increase customer protections by updating the Guaranteed Standards Scheme which came into force 2 July 2025, increasing customer compensation by more than double when they have been failed by water companies.

The standards, outlined in the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, set out a baseline for customer service in the water sector. They include providing timely restoration of water supply following an interruption, responding to written complaints and managing the risk of sewer flooding.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether Ofwat records non-operational land assets held by water companies. \p Emma Hardy: Information on water companies non-operational land assets is held by water companies themselves.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 75189 on Pigs: Animal Welfare, how many prosecutions for illegal pig thumping brought by local authorities are being supported by the Animal and Planet Health Agency. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) take all complaints of illegal slaughter, and serious breaches of animal welfare, seriously. On receipt of a complaint, APHA will triage the details provided to determine the action required. The number of  complaints is not publicly available.

Local authorities lead on enforcement and prosecutions with support from APHA where needed to provide veterinary expertise and evidence. Any successful prosecution for welfare offences taken by a local authority is published in the annual Section 80 report under the Animal Health Act 1981 which is laid in Parliament. The data for this report is held and provided by the local authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-05)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department holds information on the amount spent by Harrow Council on (a) No spitting signage and (b) related Public Space Protection Order enforcement campaigns since January 2024. \p Alison McGovern: Local councils are responsible for their own spending. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.