theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to incentivise the owners of large (a) warehouse rooftops and (b) car parks to install solar panels. \p Michael Shanks: The deployment of solar panels on commercial rooftops is central to our Clean Energy mission.

Permitted development rights allow most rooftop projects to be installed without requiring an application for planning permission. This includes non-domestic rooftop projects of any size, and solar canopies in off-street, non-domestic car parks.

New building standards will be introduced to ensure that all newly built commercial buildings are fit for a net zero future. We expect these standards to encourage the installation of solar panels on commercial roofs.

Further measures to incentivise installations on commercial rooftops remain under active consideration, including a call for evidence about increasing solar generation in car parks.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, which Minister is responsible for the security of offshore energy infrastructure including (a) interconnectors and (b) wind turbines. \p Michael Shanks: Within DESNZ, I am responsible for the security of offshore energy infrastructure. DESNZ works closely with subsea and offshore owners, operators, regulators, and other stakeholders to ensure subsea and offshore energy infrastructure is proportionately protected against a range of threats. This includes working with industry to enhance the design of newbuild infrastructure, maintain the resilience of old infrastructure, and continue to develop the UK’s monitoring and detection capabilities. DESNZ has been working with the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) to enhance the security of subsea energy infrastructure.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with international counterparts on the security of offshore energy infrastructure. \p Michael Shanks: This Government takes the protection of offshore infrastructure seriously and is committed to working internationally to ensure it is protected against hazards or malicious threats. DESNZ is working closely with international partners on energy security and crisis management. This includes regular engagement with multilateral institutions such as NATO.

DESNZ continues to drive international initiatives, including the signing of the North Sea Joint Declaration of Cooperation and the formalisation of the North Sea Gas Security Group. Working through these partnerships support us to understand respective threats, share situational awareness and strengthen our collective response to incidents impacting shared infrastructure.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on preventing action by hostile actors on offshore infrastructure. \p Michael Shanks: The Government takes the protection of subsea seriously and is working across Government to ensure it is protected against hazards or malicious threats. DESNZ has been working with the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) since the Nord Stream incidents of 2022, to enhance the security of subsea energy infrastructure. The JMSC is providing Government with real-time monitoring capabilities around UK offshore and subsea energy infrastructure.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to mitigate the potential impact of (a) disruption to and (b) sabotage of interconnectors. \p Michael Shanks: The Government takes the protection of subsea seriously and is working across Whitehall to ensure it is protected against hazards or malicious threats.

Great Britain has a highly resilient and diverse energy network. We are confident that the gas and electricity system operators have the tools they need to effectively balance supply and demand in a wide range of scenarios.

This includes ensuring robust plans are in place to mitigate the impacts of a gas or electricity disruption as far as possible, in the event that they occur.
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Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment (a) his Department, (b) its arms-length bodies and (c) planning authorities have made of the potential impact of grid-scale battery energy storage solution systems on the safety of nearby residential units. \p Michael Shanks: Grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) are regulated by the Health and Safety Executive within a robust framework which requires BESS designers, installers, and operators to take the necessary measures to ensure health and safety throughout all stages of the system’s construction, operation, and decommissioning.

BESS projects are considered by the local planning regime in England. The government has updated planning practice guidance to encourage BESS developers to engage with local fire and rescue services, and for local planning authorities to refer to guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). The NFCC’s current guidance proposes a minimum distance of 25 metres between BESS and occupied buildings.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a national strategy to make properties built before 1920 more energy efficient. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The UK has the oldest housing stock in Europe and the government recognises that there is no “one-size-fits-all" approach to tackle the UK’s diverse building stock, and the need to ensure more historic buildings are able to achieve Net Zero. The Department commissioned research into complex to decarbonise homes and is currently considering the findings available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/defining-and-identifying-complex-to-decarbonise-homes.

Our Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock. We have committed £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency. Further details will be set out in due course.
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Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to promote the awareness of energy-saving benefits through regular energy examinations for (a) businesses and (b) households. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: Mandatory energy audits required under the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme provide large businesses with cost-effective ways to save energy and reduce bills. Our Business Energy Advice Service pilot in the West Midlands is also delivering subsidised energy assessments and grant funding for energy efficiency measures to SMEs in the region and we are currently considering options for support for SME decarbonisation across England.

For households, the Government offers a digital service ‘Find Ways to Save Energy in your Home’ (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency) which provides tailored recommendations for home improvements to increase energy efficiency and clean heat. This service is complimented by our Energy Efficient Home website which supports consumers with wider information on energy saving tips and further investment (including grant opportunities) for energy efficient measures.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of tariffs with night-time low electricity pricing for people with (a) electric vehicles and (b) solar panels. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government is supportive of electricity suppliers offering tariffs which enable consumers, including electric vehicle owners and those using solar panels, to consume energy at off peak times. This benefits all consumers by reducing the need for additional grid capacity.

More generally, we want to see the market offering new, innovative products and services that will help enable consumers to lower their bills, get a better service and support the transition to net zero. The setting of these tariffs is a commercial matter for suppliers.
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Sojan Joseph:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of cadet forces on the (i) mental health and (ii) wellbeing of young people. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence has commissioned studies on the impact and value of the Cadet Forces to society and to schools. This independent research provides clear evidence that the cadet experience is not only engaging and fun but can, for some, be literally life changing.

We know that by participating in the cadets, young people can develop many important attributes and key life skills such as the ability to work well in a team, self-confidence, resilience and determination. All these contribute to positive health and wellbeing outcomes for the participants.

In fact, the research indicates that in terms of health and wellbeing alone participation in the Cadet Forces could yield significant annual returns on investment estimated as being in the region of £120 million each year. This being due to lifetime benefits accruing from increasing participation in further and higher education, fewer GP visits, and reductions in the use of mental health services.
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Sojan Joseph:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) support and (b) resources available to the (i) Sea Cadets, (ii) Volunteer Cadet Corps, (iii) Army Cadet Force, (iv) Air Training Corps and (v) Combined Cadet Force in (A) England and (B) Kent. \p Al Carns: We are committed to sustaining the Ministry of Defence Cadet Forces in Kent, in England, and across the UK.

And Kent, as with other counties, is very well served with numerous Sea Cadet units, Army Cadet detachments and Air Cadet squadrons in the community, and Combined Cadet Force contingents in schools.

We know that participation in the Cadet Forces provides the opportunity for young people to develop key attributes such as confidence, self-discipline, and resilience, and helps to increase their performance at school and improving employment and career prospects.

We know that if just 1% of cadets change their life outcomes each year – so that they take part in education or training or gain employment – then the annual cost of the Cadet Forces is covered.

We are proud that we already invest a significant amount each year in these excellent organisations, and I have directed that we review how we can improve the offer and size of the Cadet Forces.

The Government is convinced of the benefits that the Cadet Forces provide, not just for young people who participate, but also for the adult volunteers who deliver the cadet experience, and for society as a whole.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has discussed the proposed payment to leaseback the military base on Diego Garcia with the Office for Value for Money. \p Luke Pollard: We continue to work closely with HM Treasury on the agreement with Mauritius and will take this forward into the Spending Review. The Office for Value for Money has not been involved in these discussions to date.

Details of the Treaty agreed between the UK and Mauritius will come before Parliament for scrutiny in the usual manner following its signature.
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Brendan O'Hara:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met a General of the Israel Defense Forces. \p Luke Pollard: The Secretary of State for Defence last met with a General of the Israel Defense Forces on Friday 2 August 2024, during a visit to hold an introductory meeting with the Israeli Defence Minister, and discuss efforts to reduce the risk of escalation in the Middle East.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with veterans who were guarding the Qarmat Ali water treatment in Iraq in 2003 on their exposure to sodium dichromate. \p Al Carns: On 15 January I met with veterans who guarded the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant in Iraq in 2003. It was a positive meeting in which my priority was giving the veterans the space to be able to share their experiences and concerns.

I am committed to regularly engaging with veteran groups, and as a veteran myself, I would like to reassure you that the health and wellbeing of all our veterans is of the upmost importance. This Government is committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve, who have served and their families.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support people who came to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy. \p Luke Pollard: The UK has a moral obligation to assist our Afghan friends and allies who served for, with or alongside our Armed Forces in support of UK objectives in Afghanistan. We will honour that moral duty.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) offers a range of packages for those relocated under the ARAP upon their arrival. This includes transitional accommodation on the Defence Estate, orientation and cultural awareness briefings, safeguarding, and English language support, as well as help to register to access mainstream services (such as the NHS, education, employment, and universal credit). Working with Local Authorities and other Government Departments, the MOD has also supported families in moving into settled accommodation.

This Government is fully committed to delivering on the pledge to those in Afghanistan who are eligible to relocate and resettle, and we continue to welcome these Afghans and their families to the UK through our Afghan resettlement schemes. This is why, as announced by the Secretary of State for Defence on 18 December 2024, we are launching the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), which will draw together a single pipeline for Afghan resettlement, working cross-Government, to deliver greater efficiency and better outcomes.

Further information on the resettlement offer under the ARP can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-resettlement-programme
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2024, to Question 21064, on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether senior leaders who will have access to the helicopter service include (a) Ministers, (b) Members of the Royal Family and (c) senior officers. \p Maria Eagle: Under the Commercial Air Transport Contract, Ministry of Defence Ministers, senior Department officials and senior officers will have access to helicopter transport. The Royal Household make independent arrangements for Royal Helicopter transport.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 21064 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, what estimate he has made of the annual value of the rotary wing transport being provided under the Commercial Transport Contract; from which departmental budget it will be funded; and whether the existing budget is the same budget as for the previous contract. \p Maria Eagle: Ministry of Defence future use of the Commercial Air Transport Contract has been assessed and will be significantly cheaper than the cancelled Future Rotary Wing Command Support Air Transport contract. Individual user budgets will pay for use under the Ministerial Air Transport Office managed Commercial Air Transport Contract, as is normal for transportation costs; as a result it will not be from the same budget as the Command Support Air Transport contract.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the military homes his Department bought back in December 2024 are in Northern Ireland. \p Al Carns: No military homes in Northern Ireland were brought back from Annington Property Limited as part of the Annington Deal which was announced on 17 December 2024. Military housing in Scotland and Northern Ireland is predominantly owned directly by the Ministry of Defence.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to support minority groups serving in the armed forces in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence’s work to improve diversity and inclusion within the Armed Forces is conducted holistically and is not targeted within specific constituencies.

In a competitive age, our advantage derives from the talent and skills of our people, and our Armed Forces are at their best when they are diverse.

Defence is dedicated to recruiting and retaining the best talent, drawn from the broadest diversity of thought, skills, and background, to safeguard the security, stability and prosperity of our nation and better represent the nation we serve.

We are committed to making the step changes required to create a more inclusive environment, enabling everyone, irrespective of background, to deliver our Defence outputs, enhance our operational effectiveness and better defend and represent the nation we serve.

The Armed Forces continue to work hard to broaden the diversity of our workforce through actively engaging with our employees to drive an inclusive culture at work, attract the best talent and better reflect the society we serve.

We do not tolerate abuse, bullying or discrimination of any kind and encourage any personnel who believe they have experienced or witnessed unacceptable behaviour to report it.
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Alison Griffiths:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department offers protection to staff from unfair dismissal from their first working day. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence is compliant with the existing legislation which is set out in the Employment Rights Act 1996. This provides for protection against unfair dismissal for employees with at least two years of service. Employees with less than two years of service can claim unfair dismissal in certain circumstances, including for discrimination based on protected characteristics.
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Brian Leishman:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2024 to Question 23609 on Israel: F-35 Aircraft, how many components manufactured exclusively for Israel's F-35I Adir version of the F-35A fighter jet have been exported from the UK. \p Maria Eagle: None. UK suppliers have not manufactured nor exported components that are exclusively used on the Israeli variant of the F-35 aircraft.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons Type 23 Frigate HMS Sutherland has not returned to sea. \p Maria Eagle: HMS SUTHERLAND is reaching the end of her life extension refit. Once this is complete, she will undertake a period of force generation and assurance ahead of assuming readiness for routine and contingent tasking.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his department is taking to maintain UK shipbuilding (a) capacity and (b) skills, in the context of Harland & Wolff entering administration. \p Maria Eagle: The Government remains fully committed to delivering a thriving UK shipbuilding sector and recognises the vital role shipbuilding and its skilled workforce plays in the economic prosperity and growth of the UK.

Navantia's purchase of Harland and Wolff is a significant investment into the UK's industrial base and demonstrates Navantia UK's continuing commitment to the UK. The Government is confident that this market-led solution is positive for Harland and Wolff and the shipbuilding industry more broadly, and provides the best opportunity to sustain essential sovereign shipbuilding capacity and capability for future Naval work.

This Government is committed to working with the whole shipbuilding industry, Navantia UK included, in supporting jobs and sustaining and growing our shipbuilding sector across the UK.
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Johanna Baxter:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on the HMNB Clyde Infrastructure programme. \p Maria Eagle: As part of the Government's Major Project Portfolio, details on the Clyde Infrastructure programme are routinely released as part of this Government's annual transparency return to Parliament.
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Johanna Baxter:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on the E7 Wedgetail programme. \p Maria Eagle: The Wedgetail programme has seen the first aircraft complete three test flights, be painted in the markings of 8 Squadron and continues with the installation of mission equipment at STS Aviation at Birmingham Airport, before entering the test and evaluation phase later this year. Aircraft two and three are progressing with integrating their modifications as planned.

The infrastructure programme at RAF Lossiemouth has delivered the combined Poseidon and Wedgetail engineering line facility, as well as 8 Squadron headquarters office accommodation, with the final elements of the technical facility expected to be handed over in March 2025.
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Johanna Baxter:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on the Spearcap 3 programme. \p Maria Eagle: The programme achieved a significant milestone with the successful first SPEAR guided firing conducted at the end of 2024, demonstrating progress despite the challenges outlined in the Infrastructure and Project Authority's Annual Report 2023-24, which remain ongoing. Since the report, the programme has faced additional challenges stemming from interdependencies with international partners, requiring significant adjustments to maintain progress. The SRO, in collaboration with Defence Equipment and Support and Industry, is prioritising the development of a revised and viable baseline, which is planned to be finalised in Quarter two of financial year 2025-26.
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Johanna Baxter:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on the Protector programme. \p Maria Eagle: Protector training has now transferred to the UK having completed four aircrew basic qualification courses in the United States. Further, four Protector Air Vehicles have now been delivered to RAF Waddington, where they are being maintained by 31 Squadron engineers. The required Test and Evaluation activity and UK training is underway, ahead of the planned platform in-service declaration later in 2025.

From a broader perspective, the UK is leading the MQ-9 International Cooperation Support Partnership which now has seven participant members (UK, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain) and five observer nations (Greece, Lithuania, Norway, Qatar, Sweden), with an expectation of further growth. The UK is working closely with the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force to scope options to provide Protector in support of operations in the Northern Atlantic and Arctic regions. Opportunities for NATO investment in RAF Waddington to support growth are also progressing.
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Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not offer paternity leave to employees as a day one right. To qualify for paternity leave, MOD Civilian staff must have completed 26 weeks of continuous service, extending into the 15th week before the baby is due. In addition, an individual’s average weekly earnings must be at or above the lower earnings limit for National Insurance purposes.
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Dame Harriett Baldwin:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether their Department offers its staff shared parental leave from their first working day. \p Al Carns: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not offer Shared Parental Leave (SPL) to employees as a day one right.

To be eligible for SPL, a MOD Civilian employee (or their partner) must be entitled to Maternity/Adoption Leave or Pay (or Maternity Allowance), and must share the main responsibility for caring for the child with their partner.

One parent must have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks, 15 weeks before the child is due. They should also still be employed in the first week that Shared Parental Leave is to be taken. In addition, the other parent must have worked for 26 weeks in the 66 weeks leading up to the due date.
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Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many working dogs the Army had in each year since 2010; and what the requirement was in each of those years. \p Maria Eagle: As at 23 January 2025, there were 113 trained Military Working Dogs (MWD) in the British Army.

Determining whether an annual breakdown of MWD in the Army could be provided for each year since 2010 could only be achieved at a disproportionate cost due to information being held in different formats.

We would not routinely release the requirement for Military Working Animals due to reasons of operational security.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with US counterparts regarding the Chagos Islands since President Trump took office. \p Luke Pollard: The Senate confirmation process is still ongoing for members of President Trump's Administration cabinet. The Government looks forward to working with US Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth following his confirmation by the Senate and the Administration in the months and years ahead once all relevant officials are in place.
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Brendan O'Hara:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when a General of the Israel Defense Forces last visited his Department. \p Luke Pollard: The last visit to the Ministry of Defence by a General of the Israel Defense Forces took place on Wednesday 22 January 2024, by Major General Oded Basyuk.
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Derek Twigg:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of officer cadets entering Sandhurst since 2015 attended a (a) state and (b) private school. \p Luke Pollard: The table below shows the proportion of officer cadets entering Sandhurst in the last 10 years who attended independent and state schools.

This data has been provided from a Single Service source rather than official statistics produced by Defence Statistics as the latter do not collate this information.

Training Year

Independent Schools %

State Schools %

2015-16

40

60

2016-17

42

58

2017-18

43

57

2018-19

48

52

2019-20

43

57

2020-21

44

56

2021-22

43

57

2022-23

41

59

2023-24

39

61

2024-25

39

61

Note:

Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number for presentational purposes.
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Michelle Welsh:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of border checks on the cut flower industry. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government is committed to protecting our biosecurity and we are using a risk-based approach to maintain the appropriate level of controls.

Defra will continue to monitor for new and emerging risks and review the border control checks introduced under the Border Target Operating Model.

GB plant health services have increased the number of plant health inspection staff to service the demand for import checks in England and Wales of EU plants and plant products.

Inspector levels are being monitored to ensure these meet demand and deliver checks in line with set Service Level Agreements and ensure minimal trade disruption.

Certain EU Medium Risk cut flowers have been subject to pre-notification since 1 January 2022. EU Medium Risk cut flowers have required a Phytosanitary Certificate since 31 January 2024, but there are now inspections for EU Medium Risk goods at the border since 30 April 2024.

To reduce and prevent the introduction and establishment of invasive non-native species (INNS) we have prioritised horticulture as one of the top 5 pathways of introduction. We have developed a Horticulture Pathway Action Plan, available here: https://www.nonnativespecies.org/biosecurity/pathway-action-plans/horticulture-pap-for-great-britain/ which aims to address the most likely routes by which INNS can get into the country.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce mandatory labelling on animal products. \p Daniel Zeichner: The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels, whether that be mandatory or voluntary, so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. All food sold on the UK market must comply with food labelling rules.

A public consultation on fairer food labelling was undertaken last year by the previous government. This sought views on proposals to improve and extend current mandatory method of production labelling for certain pork, chicken and egg products. The consultation also sought views on whether new rules should be introduced on country-of-origin labelling. We are now carefully considering all responses before deciding on next steps and will respond to this consultation in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_130

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will introduce a ban on the imports of dogs with cropped ears as soon as possible. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government recently announced its support for the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by the hon. Member for Winchester. The Bill will give the Government powers to prevent the supply of low-welfare pets to the United Kingdom. We will use these powers to prohibit the bringing into Great Britain of dogs with non-exempted mutilations such as cropped ears.

We are fully supportive of this Bill and would like to see it pass through both Houses as soon as parliamentary time allows.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_131
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_131

Steve Witherden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the UK's carbon footprint including emissions from imported goods is since 2010. \p Emma Hardy: Information about the Carbon footprint for the UK is published here : Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2021 - GOV.UK

Data are available up to 2021.

The total carbon footprint now includes the seven main Greenhouse Gases comprising: CO2, Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydro-flourocarbons (HFC), Perflurocarbons (PFC), Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

We do not hold information on total UK emissions but can provide those associated with consumption. UK consumption emission figures, including those from imported goods, are provided in the table below.

Table 1: Greenhouse gas emissions associated with UK consumption, million tonnes CO2 equivalent, UK, 2010-2021

Year

GHG from UK produced goods and services consumed by UK residents

GHG embedded in imported goods and services to UK

UK Households heating emissions arising from the use of fossil fuels

UK Transport emissions generated directly by UK households

Total

2010

310

336

91

66

804

2011

292

347

74

66

778

2012

305

360

80

66

811

2013

295

358

82

67

801

2014

283

366

69

67

784

2015

275

362

72

68

777

2016

236

320

73

69

698

2017

211

321

71

70

673

2018

213

342

74

70

699

2019

208

336

71

70

685

2020

176

311

71

54

613

2021

189

381

76

59

705
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_132
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_132

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of placing a levy on pesticides. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is not currently considering a levy on pesticides products.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_133
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_133

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of placing a levy for the cost of disposing pesticide products. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is not currently considering a levy for the safe and legal disposal of pesticide products.

All pesticide users should follow good practice in the use, storage and disposal of pesticide products, and work to reduce the amount of waste they produce, as set out in the Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_134
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_134

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 19116 on Trees: Planning Permission, if he will publish the review. \p Mary Creagh: The review of the implementation of the National Planning Policy Framework with regards to Ancient and Veteran trees was published on the 14 November 2024 on the Science Search website.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_135
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_135

Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will require landowners to remove invasive plant species including those listed under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 from their land. \p Mary Creagh: The Government takes invasive species seriously and has legislated to tackle the spread of invasive plants.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 does not impose an explicit obligation for landowners to manage plant species listed under Schedule 9 not introduced onto their land by their own actions. However, they should prevent them from spreading off their land.

It is also an offence to intentionally cultivate, or release plants listed under the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019. This means landowners cannot intentionally plant listed species or intentionally cause existing listed plants to spread. Landowners should treat or dispose of listed plants where possible.

The Government is not currently considering adding additional requirements for landowners, but funding is available for invasive plant species control and management through Defra’s Environmental Land Management (ELM) Countryside Stewardship scheme.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_136
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_136

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is committed to improving access to nature and is currently considering how best to continue to drive forward our goals in this area. There are no plans to undertake an assessment to consider the merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails at this time.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_137
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_137

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the contribution of national trails to biodiversity gain. \p Mary Creagh: We are aware of the wider benefits that national trails can bring for nature recovery and biodiversity gain.

The Coast to Coast National Trail was the first to include wider benefits in the National Trail proposal. This resulted in funding being allocated to nature recovery projects from the start of the establishment phase. We are mapping biodiversity projects associated with the trails and encouraging Local Nature Recovery Statements to consider the potential of National Trails.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_138
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_138

Alex McIntyre:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle (a) fly tipping and (b) littering in Gloucester. \p Mary Creagh: Local councils are usually best placed to respond to littering and fly-tipping problems, in a way tailored to the community in which they occur. They have a range of enforcement tools at their disposal including fixed penalty notices and prosecution. We are reviewing how we can further support local authorities to tackle these issues.

We are also considering how to most effectively deliver our manifesto commitment to force fly-tippers and vandals to clean up the mess that they have created. We will provide further details in due course.

In the meantime, Defra will continue to chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders such as local authorities, the Environment Agency and National Police Chiefs Council, to promote and disseminate good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_139
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_139

Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department (a) monitors and (b) tracks sewage discharge into (i) rivers and (ii) seas by (A) location and (B) water company. \p Emma Hardy: Since 01 January 2025, water companies are required to publish data related to discharges from all storm overflows within one hour of the discharge beginning (under section 141DA of the Water Industry Act 1991 as inserted by section 81 of the Environment Act 2021).

Data must be published in a way that is accessible to the public and in a form that allows the public readily to understand it. This includes providing information on the location and operating water company of each storm overflow. To support this, Water UK have launched a central hub that provides discharge data of every storm overflow in England on a single website.

This has created an unprecedented level of transparency, enabling the public and regulators to see where, and how often, overflows are discharging, and to hold water companies to account.

In addition to this, the Water (Special Measures) Bill will introduce a duty for water companies to publish data related to discharges from all emergency overflows within one hour of the discharge beginning. This will ensure that every sewage discharge outlet is monitored.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_140
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_140

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure water companies prioritise investment in upgrading sewage treatment infrastructure in areas with high ecological sensitivity. \p Emma Hardy: Ofwat published their final determinations for Price Review 2024 (PR24) on 19 December, which included a confirmed £104 billion of water company expenditure between 2025 and 2030 to deliver substantial, lasting, improvements for customers and the environment.

During this period, around £12 billion will be invested in improving almost 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales. This investment will be prioritised at storm overflows affecting the most sensitive sites for ecological and human health in line with the targets in the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan. The Plan requires that by 2050, water companies will only discharge from storm overflows where they can demonstrate that there is no adverse local ecological impact.

Nutrient pollution from wastewater is another key pressure affecting the condition of our protected sites. This is why in areas where protected sites are particularly affected by nutrient pollution, over 140 wastewater treatment works must be upgraded by water companies to meet stringent nutrient removal levels in PR24.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_141
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_141

Sir Alec Shelbrooke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of incinerators to public health. \p Emma Hardy: In England, waste incinerators cannot operate unless issued with an environmental permit by the Environment Agency (EA). The EA assesses the emissions from new incinerators as part of its permitting process and consults the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on every application received. The UKHSA’s position is that modern, well-run and regulated municipal waste incinerators are not a significant risk to public health. This view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on health and on the fact that these incinerators make only a very small contribution to local and national concentrations of air pollutants.
wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_142
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-01-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-01-28 conversation_142

Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what methods for public recourse are available when a council authority is unable to fulfil their statutory duties on flood prevention. \p Emma Hardy: Protecting all communities around the country from flooding is one of the Secretary of State’s five core priorities.

Lead local flood authorities (unitary and county authorities) are required to manage local flood risks from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. Local flood risks should be identified and managed as part of a local flood risk management strategy. Local authorities receive revenue funding for local flood risk management through the Local Government Finance Settlement.

The Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) looks at complaints about councils and some other authorities and organisations. The service is free, independent and impartial.