theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 34422 on Overseas Trade: Russia; if his Department will ban UK-Russian imports and exports that are not directly linked to (a) humanitarian organisations and (b) UK and Russian embassies. \p Stephen Doughty: Together with our international partners, we have unleashed the largest and most severe package of trade sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. As a result, Russian imports into the UK have fallen by more than 99 per cent, and UK exports to Russia are down by more than 75 per cent. Examples of unsanctioned goods include food and pharmaceutical items. UK sanctions provide for a range of exceptions and licensing grounds, including relating to humanitarian and diplomatic activity.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much his Department spent on promotion of freedom of religion or belief in the financial year 2024/25. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora, our bilateral work, and our programme funding, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) John Bunyan Fund (JBF), a designated programme for FoRB-focused overseas projects. The JBF has a budget allocation of £460,720 in FY24/25. The FCDO works to ensure that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance irrespective of race, religion, or ethnicity. This includes minority religious or belief communities, who are assessed by our partners when determining those most in need of protection and assistance.
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Monica Harding:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of official development assistance will be allocated to in-donor refugee costs in each fiscal year up to and including 2026/27. \p Stephen Doughty: The Home Secretary is committed to ensuring that asylum costs fall and has already acted. The Government has taken measures to reduce the asylum backlog, reform the asylum accommodation system to end the use of expensive accommodation in the next Spending Review period and increase detention capacity to facilitate more asylum removals.

Whilst there will always be volatility in asylum forecasts, we expect these decisions to drive down overall in-donor refugee costs over the next Spending Review and the Home Office are well incentivised to deliver this.

Detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.
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Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed reductions in official development assistance on the UK contribution to international climate finance. \p Stephen Doughty: The impact on international climate finance is being worked through following the decision to reduce UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 0.5 per cent of GNI today to 0.3 per cent in 2027. We will be taking a rigorous approach to ensure all ODA delivers value for money and will set out our spending plans following the completion of the Spending Review and departmental resource allocation process.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking ensure the (a) effectiveness and (b) adequacy of the delivery of international climate finance spending planned for the (i) final two years of the 2021-2026 funding period and (ii) other years. \p Stephen Doughty: To ensure the effectiveness and adequacy of the delivery of international climate finance (ICF) spending the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has robust delivery rules in place - these can be found here: FCDO Programme Operating Framework - GOV.UK. In addition, ICF programmes report progress against a set of Key Performance Indicators annually. These results are published to demonstrate the impact and effectiveness of ICF spending - the latest report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-international-climate-finance-results-2024
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's new policy on the Sustainable Farming Incentive, whether he has made an assessment of the availability of private funding to deliver public goods for nature. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is committed to significantly increasing private investment in nature’s recovery. This will not only help meet our environmental targets but will also create opportunities for farmers and land managers to diversify their business revenues through the sale of nature services.

Nature markets in the UK are small but growing. We will be consulting on what additional action is needed to strengthen these markets in the coming weeks. Alongside this, in the recent Land Use Framework publication, we announced a Call For Evidence which will seek views on how we can better incentivise private investment in nature from sectors who impact and depend upon our shared natural capital. This will be published later this year.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many trees he plans to plant in Bedfordshire as part of plans to increase woodland cover. \p Mary Creagh: Tree planting grant schemes are demand led so it is not generally possible to state where the trees will be newly planted, although a range of sensitivities will prevent permission to plant being granted in some locations. Additional planting will be dependent on future applications.

The Forestry Commission publishes statistics on new planting of woodland, and trees outside woodland, in England. These can be found in Forestry Commission Key Performance Indicators. These statistics are reported for each financial year in thousands of hectares. This government has not set specific targets for individual constituencies and the reporting statistic the hon. Member has requested is not currently available. The statistics are produced annually and show recorded new planting from administrative records and grant schemes with estimates for planting without grant aid.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to help grow the forestry sector in Bedfordshire. \p Mary Creagh: Defra is funding a significant package of grants and activity across England to increase tree coverage and support the forestry sector. This includes funding a national network of fifteen Community Forests. These Forests are planting thousands of hectares of new trees and woodland in and around our towns and cities providing social, economic and environmental transformation. The Forest of Marston Vale is one of this network with tree planting sites in Bedfordshire. On 27 February 2025 the Government also relaunched the Timber in Construction Roadmap. The Roadmap will boost the forestry sector across England by encouraging the use of sustainable, low carbon building materials, fulfilling Government’s commitment to 1.5million homes, creating a circular economy and accelerating economic growth. These actions will go alongside recommitting to existing plans such as promoting timber as a construction material, boosting skills and capacity across the supply chain and increasing the supply of sustainable timber products.
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Mr Gagan Mohindra:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of infrastructure developments on agricultural land. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government has launched a national conversation on land use in England. This includes the commitment to protect land with the greatest long-term potential for food production, whilst delivering on the potential of our landscapes to produce more energy and build 1.5 million homes. This will inform a Land Use Framework that is a win-win for development and nature.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to open capital grants in summer 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Environmental Land Management standalone Capital Grant will re-open in the summer. Other grant schemes, including Higher Tier Capital Grants and Protection and infrastructure grants are open now.
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Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help meet (a) climate and (b) nature targets. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is committed to delivering for nature and climate. We are taking action to meet our Environment Act targets, to restore and protect our natural world, and one of the government’s five missions is to make Britain a clean energy superpower, delivering clean power by 2030 and accelerating to net zero across the economy.

The Government has concluded a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23), including progress on Environment Act targets. The Government published a statement of the rapid review’s key findings on 30 January 2025, to be followed by publication of a revised EIP later this year. This will include delivery information about how we will meet our ambitious targets.

The Government will also publish an updated plan that will outline the policies and proposals across Defra sectors needed to deliver Carbon Budgets 4-6 and the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution on a pathway to net zero, in due course.

To support our climate and nature targets we have pledged up to £400 million for tree planting and peatland restoration over the current [2024/25] and next [2025/26] financial year.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will report on the (a) financial, (b) environmental and (c) social impact of coastal natural capital resources in Devon. \p Emma Hardy: Defra has not undertaken specific regional surveys on coastal natural capital resources and, therefore, does not hold information on the financial, environmental and social impacts specific to Devon. Defra’s £38 million marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme has explored the state of England’s marine and coastal natural capital resources and the environmental, societal, and economic value they hold. It has delivered evidence, tools and guidance to inform place-based and system-wide decision making. The programme completes at the end of March 2025, with data and reports available later this year.
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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect the River Wandle from pollution. \p Emma Hardy: The Wandle pollution incident on 18 February was unacceptable. I understand the Environment Agency is investigating.

The Government is going further to clean up our waterways, delivering the Water (Special Measures) Act, giving Ofwat powers to ban bonus payments for water bosses. It also increases the Environment Agency’s ability to bring criminal charges against water executives. We launched the largest review of the sector since privatisation. It aims to build consensus for a resilient and innovative water sector and robust wider regulatory framework.
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Caroline Voaden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has of the cost of the Extended producer responsibility scheme for small businesses. \p Mary Creagh: The aim of packaging extended producer responsibility is to ensure businesses - rather than taxpayers - are responsible for the cost of dealing with packaging when it becomes waste. These plans will encourage manufacturers to reduce the amount of packaging they use and increase recyclable and reusable alternatives.

Packaging extended producer responsibility cost obligations will only apply to large producers with a turnover over £2 million and who place more than 50 tonnes of packaging on the market. This threshold exempts around 70% of producers from paying these fees. Any large producers who supply the exempt producers with empty packaging will pay the fees associated with that packaging.

We have made a full assessment of the impacts that implementing packaging extended producer responsibility will have. This includes assessment of the impacts on small businesses, which can be found in Section 8 of the impact assessment: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization on measures to protect Atlantic salmon from industrial by-catch in the North Norwegian Sea. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra is working with the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) to better understand the risk of salmon bycatch in commercial pelagic fisheries, including the North Norwegian Sea.
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Graham Leadbitter:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the value of single malt Irish whisky produced in Northern Ireland to the economy. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Irish Whiskey Association, representing 95% of Irish Whiskey producers across the island of Ireland, report that Irish Whiskey exports exceeded €1billion in 2024 and reached 114 markets around the world.

Irish Whiskey produced in Northern Ireland is an important part of that economic impact. The oldest Irish Whiskey distillery in NI, Bushmills, reported a 9.7% rise in volume sales in 2022, reaching 1 million nine-litre cases for the first time. In 2024 the newest Irish Whiskey distillery in NI, McConnell’s, opened its £12m distillery in Belfast which is expected to produce half a million litres of alcohol and attract 100,000 visitors annually.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of all meat (a) produced and (b) consumed in the UK that is Halal meat. \p Daniel Zeichner: Of the 1.035 billion animals processed in English and Welsh slaughterhouses in 2024, an estimated 214.6 million animals (20.7%) were slaughtered to produce halal meat of which an estimated 27.0 million animals (2.6% of all animals processed) were slaughtered for halal meat without being stunned. These figures are calculated using data from a survey carried out at all slaughterhouses operating in England and Wales during the period 12 February to 18 February 2024, under the last Government.

We do not hold data that would allow us to accurately estimate the quantity of halal meat that was consumed in 2024.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage the use of nature-based solutions to help tackle the effects of climate change. \p Mary Creagh: When designed well, Nature-based solutions (NbS) can deliver multiple benefits for climate and biodiversity whilst helping communities adapt to climate change risks – for example through natural flood management and urban cooling.

NbS, such as restoring peat and planting trees, are key to tackling climate change and averting its impacts, as well as providing habitats which support our native species and functioning ecosystems.

Defra has pledged up to £400 million for tree planting and peatland restoration in England over the current and next financial year and we are working towards our statutory target to reach 16.5% tree canopy cover in England by 2050. We also have ambitions to restore hundreds of thousands of hectares of peat across England.

We are also actively pursuing the role of NbS to enhance habitats such as seagrass and saltmarsh to deliver blue carbon and biodiversity benefits.

We are supporting organisations to develop investment-ready nature projects that use private sector investment to benefit the environment and tackle climate change through the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund. We have backed 127 pioneering projects to develop new business models that generate revenue from nature recovery, through carbon storage, cleaner water or enhanced biodiversity.
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Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to establish a fully (a) funded, (b) staffed and (c) equipped national Asian Hornet Task Force to tackle the threat posed by the Asian Hornet Wasp. \p Mary Creagh: The response to Yellow-legged hornet (YLH) also known as Asian hornet, is carried out by the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) National Bee Unit (NBU). The NBU has been taking action against YLH since 2016 and has developed a fine-tuned response. In 2024, 24 nests were located and destroyed, compared to 72 nests in 2023. They frequently find a nest within a day of an initial sighting being reported.

The NBU are able to draw on further resources from wider APHA to manage the impact on other areas of NBU work including taking action on notifiable bee diseases, while continuing to provide an effective response to YLH.

Genetic analysis of hornet samples, conducted by Fera Science Ltd., also aids the response. Results from the analyses of nests destroyed in 2024, have been used to identify areas where there is a higher risk of hornets overwintering. In 2025, spring trapping will be carried out by the NBU in these areas. Although evidence was found that hornets had overwintered in 2023 this is not considered to be strong evidence of an established YLH population.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support (a) prevention and (b) recovery efforts by local flood action groups. \p Emma Hardy: The Government’s new Flood Resilience Taskforce brings together representatives from national, regional and local government, the emergency services, and the third sector to improve co-ordination between organisations working on floods resilience so they can put in the support that the public needs and bolsters the nation’s floods resilience. The National Flood Forum, who support many local flood action groups, are a key member of our Flood Resilience Taskforce.

I recently met with the Chair and CEO of the National Flood Forum. We explored how their work to establish and support local flood action groups can be further promoted via the Taskforce.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish a timeline for the (a) planning and (b) development of the nine new national river walks. \p Mary Creagh: Officials are continuing to scope out the delivery of the nine new national river walks manifesto commitment. Further details will be published in due course.
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Linsey Farnsworth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his EU counterparts on streamlining the import process for flowers. \p Daniel Zeichner: Plant health import requirements are kept under continuous review, through the UK Plant Health Risk Group. Following such a review, most imports of cut flowers into GB from the EU no longer require an accompanying phytosanitary certificate and notification by importers.

Where phytosanitary certificates are still required, we are transitioning to digital certification via the IPPC ePhyto solution, which is a faster, safer and more cost-effective option. Defra has prioritised securing ePhyto agreements with EU countries, with arrangements now agreed for a range of plant products, including cut flowers, from: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden. Several other EU countries are due to have the capacity to export using ePhyto rolled out during 2025.

The Trade Specialised Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, set up under the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, provides a platform for information sharing and discussion on each of the Parties’ import requirements and processes. It is at this forum that the UK has discussed with the European Union the development of the UK’s IPPC ePhyto solution.

Defra is also seeking to negotiate a SPS agreement to help boost trade and deliver benefits to businesses and consumers in the UK and the EU.

The UK and EU are like-minded partners with similarly high standards. We have been clear that a SPS agreement could boost trade and deliver significant benefits on both sides. A SPS agreement could reduce trade friction and deliver significant benefits to the EU and the UK, but delivering new agreements will take time.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to (a) support recycling efforts and (b) develop recycling infrastructure in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Mary Creagh: We are improving recycling services across England through our upcoming Simpler Recycling reforms, which 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, paper and card, food waste, and garden waste (for households only).

Regarding recycling infrastructure, the Collection and Packaging Reforms – Simpler Recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) and a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) – should guarantee a consistent supply of recyclable materials and increased income streams from pEPR. This should provide certainty, increasing investor confidence and unlocking investment in waste infrastructure.

Defra is currently strengthening the evidence base regarding waste and recycling infrastructure needs and we will continue to work closely with key stakeholders including local authorities and waste management companies on this.
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Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what weighting the Land Use Framework will have in planning decision making. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is currently consulting on land use in England, the outcome of which will inform the publication of a Land Use Framework, planned for later this year. The Government is committed to building 1.5 million homes and the new infrastructure needed to deliver resilient and sustainable growth and clean energy; the Land Use Framework will play in a key role in delivering these commitments.

The Land Use Framework will provide the principles, advanced data and tools required to support national and local government, landowners, businesses, farmers, and nature groups in making the right decisions to meet the demands on their land.

By law, planning applications are determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. What constitutes a material consideration is broadly defined and is for the decision-maker to determine based on the circumstances of the case, as is the weight to give to each material consideration.
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Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has commissioned research into the potential impact of mandatory food waste reporting on (a) access to healthy foods, (b) sustainability targets, (c) expenditure by businesses and (d) access to healthier food distribution organisations. \p Mary Creagh: The consultation stage Impact Assessment considered the potential impacts of mandatory food waste reporting on large food businesses. Furthermore, when businesses reduce their food waste, we expect to see progress towards sustainability targets and increases in surplus food redistribution, but these has not been quantified, and these benefits are indirect because they are not realised from measurement and reporting alone, they require action to be taken. No assessment has been made of the potential of reporting to increase access to healthy foods.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of pausing the Sustainable Farming Incentive for new applications for farms in South Suffolk constituency. \p Daniel Zeichner: We don’t produce constituency level assessments. We publish regular statistics on Farm Business Income broken down in various ways. Farming evidence packs have been recently updated including key statistics and farm performance. These set out an extensive range of data to provide an overview of agriculture in the UK. We will continue to carry out appropriate and timely assessments of our interventions to inform policy development.

On the 11th of March 2025 we published forecasts which suggest that average Farm Business Income has risen in 2024/25 across all farm types with the exception of cereal farms. This follows a fall in income for most farm types in 2023/24, after some exceptional highs in the two preceding years. For all farm types, except for Cereals, expected reductions in Direct Payments have been completely offset by projected increases in other Farm Business Income components in 2024/25.

Across England, 50,000 farm businesses are already in agri-environmental schemes. We will open up initial applications for CS Higher tier and a revised ELM capital grants offer later in the Summer.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers following the end of the Sustainable Farming Incentive in South Suffolk constituency. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a 2-year period.

Defra has closed the Sustainable Farming Incentive for the submission of new applications, existing agreements will continue. Every penny in all existing SFI agreements will be paid to farmers, and outstanding eligible applications that have been submitted will be processed.

We will provide further details about the reformed SFI offer once the Spending Review has been completed.

SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package. We recognise farmers need clarity and certainty and we remain committed to investing in agri-environment schemes, and to supporting the farming sector, including those in the South Suffolk constituency.

We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; and we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome.

The budget for future years will be set in phase 2 of the SR.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers to plan the long-term sustainability of their farms in South Suffolk constituency. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a 2-year period.

Defra has closed the Sustainable Farming Incentive for the submission of new applications, existing agreements will continue. Every penny in all existing SFI agreements will be paid to farmers, and outstanding eligible applications that have been submitted will be processed.

We will provide further details about the reformed SFI offer once the Spending Review has been completed.

SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package. We recognise farmers need clarity and certainty and we remain committed to investing in agri-environment schemes, and to supporting the farming sector, including those in the South Suffolk constituency.

We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; and we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome.

The budget for future years will be set in phase 2 of the SR.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to assist farmers to mitigate the impact of the loss of Sustainable Farming Incentive payments in South Suffolk constituency. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a 2-year period.

Defra has closed the Sustainable Farming Incentive for the submission of new applications, existing agreements will continue. Every penny in all existing SFI agreements will be paid to farmers, and outstanding eligible applications that have been submitted will be processed.

We will provide further details about the reformed SFI offer once the Spending Review has been completed.

SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package. We recognise farmers need clarity and certainty and we remain committed to investing in agri-environment schemes, and to supporting the farming sector, including those in the South Suffolk constituency.

We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; and we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome.

The budget for future years will be set in phase 2 of the SR.
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Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where in Northern Ireland border control posts have (a) been and (b) are being constructed for the purpose of complying with the Windsor Framework. \p Daniel Zeichner: In line with the commitments we have made under the Windsor Framework, SPS inspection facilities are under construction in Northern Ireland at the ports of Belfast, Larne, Foyle and Warrenpoint. Preparations are well underway, and they will be operationally ready by July 2025.

The Government has committed to a maximum funding envelope of £192.3 million. Of this envelope, Defra has spent £70.7 million up to the 28 February 2025, the latest data currently available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the last time was that Animal and Plant Health Agency IT systems were upgraded. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has a wide range of applications and IT systems all of which require maintenance, update, and refresh

As these activities are regular and carried out independently per system, each year work is continually undertaken to assess and then either remediate, modernise or replace IT systems

The level of development undertaken depends on several factors including government investment during a Spending Review period, evidence from formal IT Health Checks and an assessment of the level of risk held within the IT estate

Defra has different programmes underway which invest in the APHA's IT estate, including the Legacy Application Programme and the APHA's Delivering Sustainable Futures programme. The Delivering Sustainable Futures programme seeks to enhance the APHA's IT estate by developing modern, stable, lower cost and more interoperable IT architecture.
wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_237
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_237

Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the illegal importation of meat from regions affected by (a) African swine fever and (b) foot and mouth disease on risks to the UK agricultural sector. \p Daniel Zeichner: Whilst we have never had an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the UK, it remains a key priority in terms of exotic notifiable disease preparedness. The overall risk of an incursion is currently assessed to be medium, and we continue to prepare for a possible outbreak. To safeguard the UK’s pork and pig industries, Defra, Devolved Governments, together with the pig industry and veterinary bodies have been working together to raise awareness of the risks of the introduction of ASF to the UK. Defra announced further controls in September 2024, restricting the movement of pork and pork products into Great Britain.

The risk of incursion of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) to Great Britain was increased to medium following the confirmation of disease in Germany on the 10 January 202 and then Hungary on 6 March 2025. The Government has taken decisive and rapid action to protect the UK by suspending the commercial import of susceptible animals from Germany and restricting personal imports of animal products from across the EU. The UK has robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease as set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain  supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_239

Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that gambling harms charities are funded from the end of the voluntary levy period until the introduction of the statutory levy. \p Stephanie Peacock: It is a priority that in this crucial transition period, the valuable experience and services in the current system are protected. We are clear that operators must continue to provide financial contributions at their current levels until the levy is in force, and have received reassurances from the industry that this will be delivered. The levy will come into force in April this year with funding flowing for research, prevention and treatment as soon as possible. We are clear that levy funding will be directed to ensure the third sector continues to play a key role across the future system.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_240

Mr Louie French:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the National Physical Activity Taskforce (a) last met and (b) next plans to meet; and whether she plans to update the terms of reference of that taskforce. \p Stephanie Peacock: This Government has set out a bold and ambitious agenda for change and sport has an important role to play in delivering this. Sport and physical activity are central to delivering the Government's health mission as being physically active is good for both our physical and mental health.

The National Physical Activity Taskforce (NPAT) was established under the previous government. The NPAT last met on Wednesday 25 March 2024 and we have no plans to reconvene that group.

Instead, as a mission led Government we intend to work through the Health Mission Board to bring together a range of Departments to tackle fundamental issues including high levels of inactivity; and with the sector to secure their support. We will be setting out our holistic approach as part of the Spending Review process.
wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_241
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_241

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Park Tennis Court project on encouraging more people to take up tennis. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities. We recognise that everyone should have access to high quality facilities and opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity.

The previous Government commissioned an independent impact evaluation assessment of the Park Tennis Court Programme in August 2023, with a key focus being the impact of the programme on participation. We expect the full evaluation impact report to be published during April 2026.
wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_242
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_242

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the progress of the Gambling Commission’s investigation on allegations under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 relating to bets placed on the date of the 2024 General Election; and what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the timely conclusion of this investigation. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Gambling Commission is continuing its investigation into potential criminal offences of cheating under section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 in relation to bets placed on the timing of the 2024 General Election. It would be inappropriate to comment whilst this investigation is ongoing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_243

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to renew funding for the Park Tennis Courts programme. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

All future funding of sports facilities will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_244

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to improve the (a) availability and (b) accessibility of SEND sports camps in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is dedicated to making sport in this country accessible and inclusive for everyone. The holiday activities and food programme provides healthy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning. The holiday activities and food programme funding is primarily for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits-related free school meals. Local authorities have discretion to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children, who are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, but who the local authority believe could benefit from holiday activities and food programme provision.

The Department for Education encourages local authorities to engage with local and national organisations, including special schools with expertise in working with children with SEND or additional needs. Local authorities are obligated to include the numbers of children with SEND or additional needs who have participated in their programme in their post provision reporting to the department.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_245

Jas Athwal:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help protect grassroots sports venues in London. \p Stephanie Peacock: This Government recognises that grassroots sports facilities are important to communities up and down the country. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, should have access to high quality facilities and opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity. Sport England’s site Buddle provides free learning and support resources to inspire and strengthen clubs and community organisations offering sport and physical activity.

The Government has committed to continued funding for grassroots facilities. £123 million is being invested UK-wide via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme throughout 2024/25, including support for 20 projects in London.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_246

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the potential cost to the public purse for setting up an independent football regulator. \p Stephanie Peacock: All relevant costs relating to the creation of the Independent Football Regulator will be recovered from clubs via a levy, ensuring that there is nil cost to the public purse.
wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_247
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-20 conversation_247

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing funding for the provision of padel courts. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

Sport England provides long term investment to the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for padel tennis in Britain, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives that will benefit everyone.

All future funding of sports facilities will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.