theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will commission a review into the prevalence of fox hunting across England and Wales. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has no current plans to commission a review into the prevalence of foxhunting. The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions in the Act. The full details of the Hunting Act 2004 exemptions are available online at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/37/schedule/1.

Those found guilty under the Act are subject to the full force of the law. Enforcement of the Hunting Act is an operational matter for the police.
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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Government-funded tree planting schemes are avoiding planting sycamore trees adjacent to, or near to, known equine grazing areas, in the context of the causative link between exposure to sycamore trees and seeds and (a) equine atypical myopathy and (b) hypoglycin A toxicity. \p Mary Creagh: Defra seeks to ensure all Government-funded tree planting schemes plant the right trees in the right place. Trees, forests, and woodlands can bring different benefits to different individuals, communities, and sectors. All woodland creation proposals considered by the Forestry Commission are assessed according to the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS), which sets out the government’s approach to sustainable forestry. The UKFS is explicit on the importance of tree species selection ensuring a diverse composition which is site appropriate, with the potential to mitigate the risks posed by climate change, pests and diseases.

In November 2024 a Tree Species Guide for UK Agroforestry Systems was launched. Developed by Forest Research and the University of Reading, this is designed to inform farmers about the different tree species which could be used in agroforestry systems, and highlights potential risks associated with individual species.

Landowners are encouraged to engage with neighbours and stakeholders when designing their woodland creation proposals, to discuss the proposal, including species selection. All woodland creation and most felling proposals are listed on the Forestry Commissions Consultation Public Register.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Land Use in England published on 31 January 2025, what the process is for (a) designating and (b) creating new (i) national river walks and (b) national forests. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is progressing plans to designate nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature. This is a priority for us and we are currently considering several delivery options, as well as reviewing where existing river walks are in place. Further details will be provided in due course.

Defra is running a competitive two-stage process to select the first new national forest. This process is in the final stages and further details will be provided in due course. Alongside this competition we are considering plans for other national forests.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of (a) the inequality of access to nature in England and (b) that a fifth of English constituencies have no Right to Roam at all. \p Mary Creagh: The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing and are working to ensure this is safe and appropriate. We also recognise that access to nature is currently inequitable across England, with some groups such as those from lower socio-economic backgrounds particularly disadvantaged. This is why we committed in our Environmental Improvement Plan to work across government to help ensure that everyone lives within 15 minutes’ walk of a green or blue space, and to reduce barriers to access. We are already taking forward initiatives to help us deliver this, including new initiatives such as the river walks and national forests manifesto commitments and existing initiatives such as completing the King Charles III England Coast Path and upgrading the Coast to Coast trail across the north of England.

The last Labour Government introduced the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which provides the public a right of access to large parts of the English countryside. The 8% figure of publicly accessible land does not include the thousands of green spaces (e.g. parks) that are available to the public. Most of the Public Forest Estate (around 258,000 hectares) in England Nation’s Forests managed by Forestry England, has been dedicated as open access land.
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the Rural England Prosperity Fund has been reduced for the year 2025-2026. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra announced on 4 March that it would be providing an additional £33 million for the Rural England Prosperity Fund in financial year 2025-26. This announcement continues funding beyond the lifetime of the original scheme providing new money for new projects in rural areas.

The Autumn Statement on 30 October confirmed Defra’s budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26. Funding allocations for individual programmes have been determined through the departments business planning exercise. Future funding decisions remain subject to the Government spending review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 24365, on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: WRAP,  what guidance (a) his Department and its agencies and (b) WRAP, funded by his Department has produced on the no side waste rubbish and recycling policies for household waste collection. \p Mary Creagh: Under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, waste collection authorities may require householders to place waste for collection in receptacles of a kind and number specified. If householders do not follow waste collections rules, there is guidance on circumstances in which a waste collection authority can issue a fixed penalty notice or penalty charge available here: Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties - GOV.UK. Additionally, Defra recently published guidance on ensuring good waste collection services for households: Ensuring good waste collection services for households - GOV.UK. Waste is a devolved policy, and the devolved administrations have their own arrangements for household and business recycling and waste collections.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had on the adequacy of the (a) training, (b) registration and (c) regulation of dog (i) trainers and (ii) behaviourists. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra is working hand in hand with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to encourage responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog, including considering the role of education and training (for both dogs and their owners).
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Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in glass volumes reported through the Extended Producer Responsibility data portal in the first six months of 2024. \p Mary Creagh: The glass volume data reported through the Extended Producer Responsibility data portal in the first six months of 2024 does not cover a long enough period for trends to be identifiable. An assessment of the trends in glass volumes will be made once sufficient data has been gathered and this assessment will be based both on the data from the portal and other reliable sources we may identify.
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Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's timetable is for publishing the final Extended Producer Responsibility fees. \p Mary Creagh: Pending satisfactory regulatory checks, the confirmed, final base fees that will be used to invoice businesses (producers) will be available in June 2025, once the full year of packaging tonnage data has been reported on the Report Packaging Data (RPD) system by April 2025 and verified by the regulators.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage (a) repair, (b) reuse and (c) other waste reduction measures. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened a Circular Economy Taskforce, comprising experts from industry, academia, and civil society, to help develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strategy will map our transition to a circular economy, supported by a series of roadmaps that detail the interventions that the government and others will make on a sector-by-sector basis.

Defra recognises that reuse and repair are fundamental tenets of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to eliminate waste and promote sustainability through reuse and resource efficiency. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Strategy.
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Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will conduct a review of the statutory framework for biodiversity net gain; and if he will take steps with environmental horticulture experts to include cultivated plant diversity in its metrics. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is working with stakeholders, including the horticulture sector, to monitor the implementation of biodiversity net gain to make sure it is working as intended.
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Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for publishing the welfare standards and guidance to accompany the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024; and which stakeholders he plans to consult on the guidance before it is published. \p Daniel Zeichner: The accompanying guidance to the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations 2024 has been developed taking into account views from the consultation undertaken in 2023 and relevant experts. The guidance will be published shortly.
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Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for reviewing the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee Opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices, published in December 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government welcomes the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices. We are carefully considering the Committee’s recommendations.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Border Inspection Post at Stansted Airport on the British horseracing industry; and whether he plans to take steps to ensure that horses are able to continue travelling to and from the UK by air. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra is aware that Stansted has signalled an intention to relocate its Border Inspection Post to another site and that the timing of this remains uncertain. This is a commercial decision for the airport’s owners. No application to de-designate the existing site or designate a new site has been received. The Department stands ready to help progress such applications when received.
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Grahame Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to improve the traceability of horses in Great Britain. \p Daniel Zeichner: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The Government recognises the importance of the equine sector to the UK economy and of improving equine traceability. Defra is engaging with industry stakeholders to consider improvements to the current regime.

Defra also regularly engages with officials in the devolved governments to discuss matters of equine identification and traceability. Officials also share data on equines located in the UK with the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and with the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the Republic of Ireland. The majority of equine movements into and out of GB take place between the island of Ireland and GB.
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Alice Macdonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) encourage people to access nature and (b) ensure visitors to the countryside are informed about the statutory guidance entitled The Countryside Code: advice for countryside visitors, last updated 26 May 2023. \p Mary Creagh: The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing and is working to ensure this is safe and appropriate. This is why we have set out our ambitious manifesto commitments to create nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England, expanding access to the great outdoors. We will make further announcements on plans to develop policy on access to nature in due course.

The Government is also already delivering several policies to increase access to nature including:

The Countryside Code was refreshed and relaunched in 2021 and a long-term campaign to promote the messages of the code began. In 2023, we also released a version of the Code for land managers. The Code sets out the rules that we all must follow to enjoy visits to the countryside safely and responsibly.
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Ruth Jones:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs are registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs by (a) breed and (b) type. \p Daniel Zeichner: As of the 12 March 2025, the total number of dogs registered on the Dangerous Dogs Index, broken down by breed type, is as follows. This excludes dogs that have died, destroyed or have been exported.

Type of Dog

Number on Dangerous Dogs Index

Dogo Argentino

24

Japanese Tosa

4

Pitbull Terrier

2,698

XL Bully

56,469
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the upcoming negotiation with the European Union on Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary arrangements will include zoo breeding programmes. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government is committed to resetting our EU relationship, including by seeking to negotiate a SPS agreement. We have been clear that an SPS agreement could boost trade and deliver significant benefits on both sides. It’s too early to discuss any specific areas in detail and we will not be providing a running commentary on discussions with the EU.
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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of (a) veterinarians, (b) veterinary technicians and (c) other veterinary experts to manage potential future outbreaks of foot and mouth disease. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra and APHA appreciates the incredibly valuable work completed by veterinarians, technicians, and support staff, recognising their essential roles in achieving our ambitious goals of upholding high standards of animal welfare, supporting trade, and safeguarding public health and food security. The Government acknowledges the high demand for veterinary services and is working collaboratively across departments and with the profession to explore additional measures that will ensure sufficient staffing levels to support and sustain the sector effectively during times of disease outbreaks.
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John Lamont:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of Scottish Government research on Ultra High Frequency electronic identification technology in livestock. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government has yet to make a decision on which technology to adopt for electronic identification (EID) in cattle in England. To inform decision making, Defra is reviewing, testing and seeking feedback on the different EID technologies, including through examining Scottish Government research.

In collaboration with the Welsh Government, we commissioned Harper Adams University to study the relative strengths and potential weaknesses of the two technologies under consideration. The findings of this study have now been published and can be found on Defra Science Search pages.

As we develop our thinking, Defra has also been in close touch with industry through an independent group of 25 industry, government and academic specialists from across the livestock, equine and meat industry.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how his department plans to ensure the forthcoming review of the English Marine Protected Area (MPA) network will deliver stronger protections for vulnerable marine habitats; and how it relates to the ongoing process to manage the impacts of fishing activities such as bottom-trawling on English offshore MPAs. \p Emma Hardy: Our MPAs represent our most precious marine resources. However, the MPA network is under pressure from a range of sources. The review which we announced in January will consider ways to future proof the network, for example in terms of climate change adaptation and mitigation, while allowing us to still meet our international commitment to effectively protect 30% of our seas by 2030.

In the meantime, the Government remains committed to making continued progress on effective management We are considering next steps to manage bottom trawling, along with other fishing methods, where this might damage marine protected area features or benthic habitats, in the context of our domestic and international nature conservation obligations. We are keen to continue to work closely with fisheries and marine stakeholders as we develop our plans for future fisheries and marine management.
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Richard Foord:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to resolve technical issues within the Rural Payments Agency that prevent common landowners applying for the Sustainable Farming Incentive due to incorrect mapping data and the lack of an offline application process. \p Daniel Zeichner: 68% of common land is currently taking part in our agri-environment schemes. Defra will continue to work with our delivery partners to ensure future schemes will be accessible to managers of common land.
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John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he made an assessment of the adequacy of the Rural England Prosperity Fund before reducing the level of funding to be provided through that scheme in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Department announced on 4th March that it would be providing an additional £33 million for the Rural England Prosperity Fund in financial year 2025-26. This announcement continues funding beyond the lifetime of the original scheme providing new money for new projects in rural areas.

The Autumn Statement on 30 October confirmed Defra’s budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26. Funding allocations for individual programmes have been determined through the departments business planning exercise. Future funding decisions remain subject to the government spending review.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how the level of funding for the Rural England Prosperity Fund was decided for 2025-26. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Department announced on 4th March that it would be providing an additional £33 million for the Rural England Prosperity Fund in financial year 2025-26. This announcement continues funding beyond the lifetime of the original scheme providing new money for new projects in rural areas.

The Autumn Statement on 30 October confirmed Defra’s budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26. Funding allocations for individual programmes have been determined through the departments business planning exercise. Future funding decisions remain subject to the government spending review.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland on the preservation of biodiversity in Northern Ireland. \p Mary Creagh: The UK’s National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP) was discussed with Minister Muir, as well as other devolved government ministers, at the Inter-Ministerial Group for EFRA held on 16 September. The UK has published the full NBSAP during the resumed COP16 that commits us to achieving all 23 targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework at home. The four governments, and relevant Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have worked collaboratively to develop the NBSAP and now we need to work together to deliver it.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the reduction of the Rural England Prosperity Fund in the 2025-26 financial year on rural areas. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Department announced on 4th March that it would be providing an additional £33 million for the Rural England Prosperity Fund in financial year 2025-26. This announcement continues funding beyond the lifetime of the original scheme providing new money for new projects in rural areas.

The Autumn Statement on 30 October confirmed Defra’s budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26. Funding allocations for individual programmes have been determined through the departments business planning exercise. Future funding decisions remain subject to the government spending review.
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to assess lead levels in food produced near to abandoned lead mining sites. \p Daniel Zeichner: Lead is naturally present in the environment, making it impossible to eliminate completely from food. Maximum levels are set to be as low as reasonably achievable, and enforcement action can be taken if food safety concerns arise whether or not maximum levels are specified.

Risk-based checks on lead in food by food businesses and local authorities ensure food safety. Lead is also included under the Veterinary Medicines Directorate surveillance plan. The Animal and Plant Health Agency investigates farms where animals may have been exposed to lead, providing advice to farmers as well as a reminder of their responsibilities to protect the food chain and comply with maximum levels.
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Jon Trickett:To ask the Solicitor General, how many staff her Department has seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024. \p Lucy Rigby: Secondments are one way of bringing talent and experience into the Civil Service for short periods of time and has been used by successive governments.

Secondments are arranged at a business unit level and data is held at business unit Level.

Since July 2024, the Attorney General’s Office has not seconded any staff from Hakluyt.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8807 on Government Departments: Written Questions, whether her policy on Freedom of Information requests also applies to Environmental Information Regulation requests \p Lucy Powell: The Government’s policy on answers to Written Parliamentary Questions and Questions for Written Answer is set out in the Guide to Parliamentary Work (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-parliamentary-work). The guidance contains no reference to Environmental Information Regulation requests. The Information Commissioner's Office provides guidance and resources for public authorities and the public about the Freedom of Information Act and the Environment Information Regulations, available online at ico.org.uk.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the Data Communications Company expand smart meter network coverage in the context of the Radio Teleswitch switch off. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Department and Ofgem have been clear that they expect energy suppliers to promptly arrange suitable replacement metering solutions for their remaining RTS customers.

The Data Communications Company (DCC) is examining options for premises not currently able to get smart metering network coverage as part of its Future Connectivity strategy, which includes a range of technical solutions.

Where an RTS household does not currently receive coverage, energy suppliers can provide pre-configured smart meters, which operate like analogue meters, until a WAN connection can be established.
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Gareth Snell:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to prioritise financial support for the energy costs of ceramic manufacturers. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy with less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030.

Companies in the ceramics sector are eligible to apply to the British Industry Supercharger scheme, which has provided energy bill support to hundreds of firms in energy intensive sectors. Financial relief to support energy intensive industries with electricity costs is worth £470 million per year through a mixture of spending and bill discounts.

I understand that Minister Jones is due to meet with representatives of the ceramics sector later this month to discuss challenges faced by manufacturers, including high energy costs. Government is committed to continuing to listen and engage with the sector.
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Patrick Hurley:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions his Department has had with the utility companies on the ability of people living in (a) flats and (b) houses in multiple occupation to take advantage of reduced tariffs for off-peak electricity due to (i) the conditions of their tenancy agreement (ii) the potential impact on their neighbours. \p Miatta Fahnbulleh: The only way to accurately reflect the individual usage of each tenant in a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) would be if they each had a submeter. This would mean that their energy usage would be reflected in how much they pay the landlord for their energy. If an individual wishes to have this implemented, they should speak to their landlord to see if this is an option for them.

In order to protect consumers in HMOs, there is legislation which sets a maximum price that can be charged for electricity and gas which has already been bought from a licensed supplier. The maximum resale price guidance is available on Ofgem’s website and if a tenant upon reviewing this guidance believes their landlord to be in contravention of it, they should raise it with them.

Ofgem is exploring options for easier routes to access support where non-compliance with the guidance has taken place. Ofgem continues to work to have vulnerable consumers added to the Priority Services Register in order that they can more easily access support where needed.

We will continue to engage with stakeholders and consider whether any further actions are required.
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Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the anticipated impact of the growth in artificial intelligence and sovereign compute infrastructure on national energy demand; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the UK's energy security strategy addresses the power requirements of advanced computing and AI workloads. \p Michael Shanks: Embracing the opportunities that AI can provide to drive growth and productivity in the economy is a government objective. Supporting the development of AI data centres through policies such as AI Growth Zones is a key part of that. The Department is working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in setting up the AI Energy Council that will have senior representatives from both the energy industry and the AI industry to look at where best to locate AI data centres and proactively manage the energy requirements of AI. Building the low carbon economy of the future will lead to significant increases in electricity demand across many sectors. These projected increases were a key part of the analysis that underpinned the department’s Clean Power Action Plan. This set out how, by unlocking new low carbon electricity generation, improving access to the electricity grid and efficient use and operation of the energy system - which can be supported by new technologies such as AI - we will achieve Clean Power by 2030 and maintain secure, resilient energy supplies.
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Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by Oxfam entitled Fast, Fair, Funded and Feminist: A pathway to a just and transformative climate transition within and beyond the UK, published on 10 March; and whether he plans to implement the recommendations on supporting lower-income countries in publicly funded energy transitions. \p Kerry McCarthy: The government’s approach to this transition is built on the principle of fairness – ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the transition and reap the benefits – and is core to the UK’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver jobs, growth and prosperity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 35839 on Infrastructure: Land, what is the largest quantity of best and most versatile land used for a nationally significant energy development infrastructure project that has been consented. \p Michael Shanks: Further detail on individual projects can be found on PINS.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/planning-inspectorate
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_283

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of minimum energy efficiency standards on the commercial viability of shops in (a) high street and (b) town centre locations. \p Sarah Jones: The energy shock of recent years has highlighted the urgent importance of improving energy efficiency in non-domestic buildings. For shops in high street and town centres, improving energy efficiency can be one of the most cost-effective mechanisms for businesses to reduce their energy bills, while also reducing their carbon emissions. Minimum energy efficiency standards help unlock energy efficiency upgrades in rented buildings where landlords and tenants often do not have aligned incentives to improve the performance of the building.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_284

Jon Trickett:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many staff their Department has seconded from Hakluyt since July 2024. \p Michael Shanks: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has not seconded any staff from Hakluyt since July 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_285

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the sale of fossil fuels in international energy markets on his Department’s support for North Sea oil operations. \p Michael Shanks: Oil and gas is traded on international markets, therefore domestically produced oil and gas does not mean cheaper prices and leaves British consumers exposed to unstable fossil fuel markets. On 5 March the Government launched a consultation that progresses the commitment to not issue new licences to explore new oil and gas fields while managing existing fields for their lifespan. It also sets out the next steps to make the North Sea a world leading example of an offshore clean energy industry, which is vital for delivering the best outcomes for workers and communities, energy security, and sustainable economic growth.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_286

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning the (a) import and (b) use of Chinese photovoltaic panels manufactured using forced Labour. \p Michael Shanks: The Government is determined to eradicate forced labour in global supply chains, including in the manufacture of solar panels.

Legislation and guidance are already in place to help businesses take action against modern slavery. However, we are working across government to see where we can go further, keeping all potential policy options under review.

We are monitoring closely the industry-led supply chain assurance scheme, the Solar Stewardship Initiative. Further information on the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient and free from forced labour will be set out in the Solar Roadmap, to be published in Spring 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_287

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many land transactions for nationally significant projects were via compulsory purchase order since 4 July 2024. \p Michael Shanks: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero does not hold statistics on whether land has been acquired via compulsory acquisition.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_288

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of raising the threshold to qualify as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project in line with technological progress. \p Michael Shanks: The Government has now introduced legislation to re-introduce onshore wind into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime for projects over 100MW and raise the existing solar threshold from 50MW to 100MW.

This ensures onshore wind projects are treated in the same way and can access the same planning regimes as other types of critical energy infrastructure, such as offshore wind or nuclear power stations.

Setting 100MW thresholds for onshore wind and solar also reflects their technological advancements, ensuring that only the largest and most nationally significant projects enter the NSIP regime.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_289

Gideon Amos:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what his Department's timetable is for publishing a consultation on the placement of solar canopies on outdoor carparks. \p Michael Shanks: The Government will this year be publishing a Call for Evidence on the potential to drive solar canopies on carparks over a certain size, as announced in the Clean Power Action Plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_290

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fast charging points for electric vehicles are operational in West Dorset constituency. \p Lilian Greenwood: Data on the number of public electric vehicle charging devices in the West Dorset constituency, provided by the electric vehicle charging platform Zapmap as of 1 January 2025, are given in the table below, categorised by standard speed groupings. Higher power devices can deliver charging at quicker speeds.

3kW up to 8kW

8kW to 49kW

50kW to 149kW

150kW and above

West Dorset constituency

30

47

28

2

Data on charging devices not available to the public installed under government grants are not available at parliamentary constituency level and so are excluded from this table.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_291

Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) monitoring and (b) removal of litter and detritus from the junctions, embankments, central reservations, verges and hard shoulders along (i) the M60 and (ii) the M67 in Greater Manchester. \p Lilian Greenwood: National Highways undertakes weekly safety inspections on the M60 and M67, litter is identified and reported on in accordance with the Defra Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse.

National Highways programme of cyclic maintenance involves litter collections on the M60 and the M67 annually. In addition to those routine litter picks, National Highways will arrange for reactive litter picking where any section of the Strategic Road Network has been identified as reaching Grade C or D according to the Code. In these cases, litter picking is carried out within 28 and 7 days respectively, depending on the grading recorded and any road space or traffic management constraints.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_292

Wendy Chamberlain:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving licenses have been revoked in each month since January 2024. \p Lilian Greenwood: The table below provides the number of drivers who have been revoked in each month since January 2024.

Volumes

Month

Drivers revoked under the New Drivers Act 1995

Group 1

(car & motorcycle) drivers revoked on medical grounds

Group 2

(bus and lorry) drivers revoked on medical grounds

Jan-24

1,173

3,226

341

Feb-24

1,121

3,214

322

Mar-24

1,160

3,164

342

Apr-24

1,148

3,094

248

May-24

1,201

3,099

260

Jun-24

1,125

2,616

294

Jul-24

1,223

3,603

424

Aug-24

1,091

3,298

359

Sep-24

1,106

3,345

342

Oct-24

1,112

3,410

390

Nov-24

1,111

3,109

331

Dec-24

1,048

2,503

301

Jan-25

1,083

3,056

415

Feb-25

N/A

3,032

353

Total

14,702

43,769

4,722

Group 1 and 2 revocations should not be added together as there will be an element of double accounting. The medical standards for Group 2 driving are higher than Group1 and Group 2 drivers may lose just their Group 2 entitlement or may lose both Group 1 and 2 entitlement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_293

Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to review her Department's decision to reduce the maximum weight limits for volumetric concrete mobile plants; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of this policy on (a) the number of skilled jobs in the construction industry, (b) the size of the construction sector and (c) the environment. \p Lilian Greenwood: The outcome of my Department’s review into volumetric concrete mixers was published on 18 March. This can be accessed at the following link:

gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/volumetric-concrete-mixers-review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_294

Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will communicate directly with (a) residents and (b) businesses in (i) Camelford and (ii) surrounding areas on plans for the proposed A39 bypass. \p Lilian Greenwood: The government currently is undertaking a multi-year spending review.  Until the outcome of this is known, I am unable to provide any assurances on Departmental funding for the A39 Camelford bypass scheme which is being promoted by Cornwall Council as part of the Department’s Major Road Networks/ Large Local Majors programme.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_295

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce the cost of rail services in Fylde constituency. \p Simon Lightwood: Most regulated rail fares increased by 4.6 per cent on 2 March 2025. This was the lowest absolute increase in three years and delivers a fair balance between taxpayers and passengers. This increase will support the Government’s long-term plans to achieve financial sustainability of the railway. Whilst it is our ambition through railway reform to deliver a more affordable railway, any long-term changes or concessions made to rail fares policy require balancing against the potential impacts on passengers, taxpayers and the railway.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-19)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-19 conversation_296

Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when Transport Focus last published minutes of meetings of its Board. \p Simon Lightwood: Transport Focus is currently in the process of updating numerous sections of its website. This includes records such as the board minutes, and the board committee terms of reference. Transport Focus is committed to upholding the principles of transparency and accountability and will prioritise the publication of historic minutes as soon as possible.

The most current iteration of board meeting minutes available on the Transport Focus website are those from the November 2021 board meeting. Recordings of public board meetings are available on the website, with the most recent being from May 2024: https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/about/transparency-and-accountability/board-meetings/

In the interim, if there are any minutes/events of particular interest, Transport Focus will be more than happy to make these available upon request: https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/contact-form.