theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_574
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_574

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking steps to ensure that vehicles sold in the UK will have automatic headlamp levelling systems by 2027. \p Lilian Greenwood: Recognising the global nature of the automotive industry, the detailed technical requirements for new vehicles are typically developed within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in which the UK is an active member. The UNECE amended its regulations in 2023 to include requirements for automatic headlamp levelling. Vehicle manufacturers can already approve vehicles to this latest regulation, but the transitional provisions covering these requirements run from September 2027 to September 2030 and it would breach our international treaty obligations to mandate these provisions for all vehicles sold during this period.

The domestic vehicle type-approval regulation sets the minimum standards to be met by vehicles before entering service in Great Britain, and is kept under constant review. A decision on automatic headlamp levelling will be taken in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans she has to (a) bring forward legislative and (b) amend existing legislation to tackle noise pollution caused by (i) motorcycles and (ii) modified vehicle exhaust systems. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department does not have plans to amend existing vehicle noise legislation.

The Department takes the impact of noise pollution on health, wellbeing and the natural environment seriously. Strict noise regulations for motorcycles are harmonised at an international level and require vehicles to demonstrate compliance before being placed on the market. Replacement exhaust systems that are to be used on the road must also meet strict noise limits that are aligned with those of the original vehicle.

The police have powers to deal with noisy vehicles on an ongoing basis. Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 they can take action if they suspect a vehicle is being driven in a manner that makes excessive noise which is avoidable through reasonable driver care. In the same Regulations, vehicle exhaust systems are required to be maintained in good working order and not altered so as to increase noise.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_576
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's reports entitled Roadside Vehicle Noise Measurement - Phase 2 Final Report, published August 2021, and Work Order T0218 Roadside Vehicle Noise Measurement – Phase 3 Parts A to C, published March 2024, what assessment she has made of noise camera trials in (a) controlled and (b) real-world conditions in (i) detecting and (ii) identifying excessively noisy vehicles. \p Lilian Greenwood: The Department conducted controlled and real-world trials of noise camera technology between April 2022 and February 2023. Reports of these trials, including detailed assessment of the technology’s performance and potential merits, were published on 17 March 2024.

Overall, the trials demonstrated that noise cameras currently have the potential to detect and identify excessively noisy vehicles, but only when accompanied by human review of the recorded evidence, which is likely to lower the cost effectiveness of deploying the technology in many circumstances.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_577
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Preet Kaur Gill:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a dedicated Road Safety Investigation Branch to (a) investigate road deaths and incidents and (b) recommend necessary improvements. \p Lilian Greenwood: Improving road safety is a key priority. Injuries and fatalities from road collisions caused by driving are unacceptable, and this Government is working hard to prevent these tragedies for all road users.

The Department is continuing to review potential future road safety interventions and available options to increase the overall safety of our roads.

We are committed to delivering a new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade - and will set out next steps on this in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_578

Adam Thompson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) help tackle the issue of dangerous dog breeds and (b) encourage responsible dog ownership. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra is continuing to work with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to explore measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect British (a) farmers and (b) produce from the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in (i) Hungary and (ii) Slovakia. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government has stepped up measures to protect the UK from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) following recent outbreaks in Central Europe and Germany. This includes a ban on imports of live animals and certain animal products to Great Britain from Hungary, Slovakia and Austria. We have also imposed an equivalent ban from the region of Germany that experienced an FMD outbreak in January.

From 12 April 2025 we have also extended restrictions on personal imports. Travellers are no longer permitted to bring meat or dairy products from cattle, sheep, goats, or pigs into Great Britain from any EU country for personal use.

Together Government, travellers, animal keepers and the livestock industry must do everything we can to keep FMD out and protect animal health and welfare. We urge livestock keepers to be extra vigilant and report any suspicion of FMD or other notifiable disease immediately.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to support English and Welsh farmers when the Fruit and Vegetable Aid scheme ends on the 31st December 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: Responsibility for horticulture is a devolved matter and, as such, is a matter for the Welsh Government to consider in Wales.

We recognise the importance of our domestic growers who play a vital role in our food security, economy and rural communities. In England our approach to future funding for horticulture will be considered alongside Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and nature.

Horticulture will also be considered within our new food strategy, which will make our food system one we can be proud of, that protects our strong British traditions, helps to grow the economy and improves people’s health.

Underlining this commitment to our growers, we have provided a five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route, giving farms certainty to grow their businesses. In the last month, we have also announced new grants within the Farming Innovation Programme, worth a combined £45.6 million, to support projects across the research and development (R&D) lifecycle. Horticulture has been in scope of this Programme with over £40 million awarded to the sector to date.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers affected by flooding. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra’s Farming Recovery Fund (FRF) scheme has paid out over £59.1 million to over 12,500 farm businesses affected by flooding and extreme wet weather during the period October 2023 to March 2024.

On 31st March 2025 the government announced an additional £16 million boost to the internal drainage board (IDB) Fund to support greater flood resilience for farmers and rural communities. The Fund has increased from £75 million to £91 million to provide opportunities to modernise and upgrade IDB assets. More than 400,000 hectares of agricultural land and around 91,000 homes and businesses across England are expected to benefit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help provide (a) support and (b) resources to farmers to protect their livestock from dog attacks. \p Daniel Zeichner: This government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers.

This Government is supporting a Private Members’ Bill which will amend and update the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953. The Bill will modernise definitions and scope, strengthen police powers and increase the maximum penalty from a fine of £1,000 to an “unlimited” fine to act as a deterrent.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the spread of tuberculosis in cattle on Exmoor. \p Daniel Zeichner: Our Bovine TB Strategy is underpinned by robust routine and targeted testing of all cattle herds in England, restricting cattle movements from infected premises and detecting and removing all test positive cattle. This strategy is enhanced by statutory pre-and post-movement testing of cattle and slaughterhouse surveillance.

APHA produce regular analysis of the results of bovine TB epidemiology and surveillance in Great Britain in 2023, including those counties in the High Risk, Edge and Low Risk Area of England. This includes Devon and Somerset, in which Exmoor is located: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-epidemiology-and-surveillance-in-great-britain-2023

We have started work on a comprehensive new bovine TB eradication strategy to drive down TB rates to improve cattle and farmers’ livelihoods and to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament. Working closely alongside farmers, vets, scientists and conservationists to rapidly strengthen and deploy a range of disease control measures, we have also begun developing a new national wildlife surveillance programme. This will unlock a data-driven approach to inform how and where TB vaccines and other eradication measures are deployed.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications have been received from commercial laying hen and pullet keepers for the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant in England. \p Daniel Zeichner: The deadline for online applications was the 18 September 2024. The Rural Payments Agency received 103 applications. The deadline for full applications is 28 April 2026. As of 22 April 25, one full application has been received. Checks to confirm eligibility against the requirements of the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant will be completed as part of full application process.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 43886 on Sustainable Farming Incentive, what his planned timetable is for the (a) launch date, (b) details, (c) application period, (d) determination and (e) awarding of funding for the replacement scheme. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra will be working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. This future SFI offer will build on what has made SFI effective so far. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced following the spending review in summer 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to designate food security a critical national priority. \p Daniel Zeichner: Food security is national security. We need a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British farmers, fishers and food producers. Our Plan for Change sets out how we are focused on supporting our farmers, supporting rural economic growth and boosting Britain’s food security.

Food supply is one of the UK's 14 Critical National Infrastructure sectors. Defra and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are joint Lead Government Departments (LGDs), with Defra leading on supply and the FSA on food safety. We work closely with the Cabinet Office and other LGDs to ensure food supply is fully incorporated as part of emergency preparedness, including consideration of dependencies on other sectors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ban the sale of electronic training devices for dogs. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation and will bring forward plans in due course. Ministers will be considering available evidence around the use of hand-controlled e-collars and their effects on the welfare of animals.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) banning the use of Bovaer and (b) allowing the use of Kelp. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Food Standards Agency has advised milk from cows given Bovaer is safe to drink. Bovaer has undergone a rigorous safety assessment and is approved for use in Great Britain.

Regulation of feed additives and materials, such as Kelp, is the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency. Both synthetic and natural feed products must be demonstrated as safe for use to be added to the GB Register of Feed Materials.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to introduce a ban on personal meat imports, in the context of recent confirmed cases of Foot and Mouth in Europe. \p Daniel Zeichner: On 12 April 2025, the Government banned personal imports of meat and dairy products from foot and mouth disease (FMD) susceptible animals from the European single market area, to protect our farmers from FMD. The Government had already banned personal imports of these commodities from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria in response to confirmed outbreaks of FMD in those countries.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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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 the implementation of crayfish barriers in (a) brooks and (b) streams to help prevent the non-anthropogenic spread of established invasive crayfish populations. \p Daniel Zeichner: The use of barriers as a strategic means of managing crayfish spread is currently not promoted by the Environment Agency (EA). This is because such barriers also impact migratory fish and macroinvertebrates.

As part of Government efforts to prevent the spread of Signal Crayfish, they are listed as a ‘Species of Special Concern’ and is subject to the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019. This means that live specimens cannot be brought into Great Britain, kept, bred, transported, sold, used or exchanged, allowed to reproduce, grown or cultivated, or released into the environment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the condition of the hundred foot washes of the River Great Ouse. \p Emma Hardy: The Ouse Washes are a crucial component of the long-term adaptive plan for flood infrastructure in the Fens. The 'Fens 2100+’ Programme is a £9.8 million initiative aimed at developing a comprehensive flood resilience investment strategy for the Fens, ensuring long-term value for money and generating both regional and national benefits.

The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for assessing the condition and adequacy of its infrastructure. A Reservoir Engineer conducts annual inspections of the Ouse Washes Flood Storage Reservoir banks. Additionally, EA teams annually assess the remaining banks following winter. EA teams perform regular maintenance to ensure the integrity of these assets. Recently, the EA completed a bank raising project on the Middle Level Barrier Bank, one of the reservoir’s embankments.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure wastewater capacity assessments by (a) Thames water and (b) other water companies account for local environmental pressures. \p Emma Hardy: As set out in Paragraph 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of homes, commercial development and supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.

The Government is clear that housing must come with appropriate infrastructure, including appropriate water infrastructure. Water and wastewater capacity issues are best dealt with at a strategic level through the plan-making process, rather than through individual planning applications. Taking a strategic approach to drainage and wastewater management, will help to identify and mitigate issues related to insufficient network capacity or damaged infrastructure.

A key planning function is to guide development to the most suitable and sustainable locations and to ensure that the associated infrastructure requirements are addressed. Effective co-operation early in the plan-making process is essential. The NPPF makes it clear that local planning authorities should collaborate with each other and with other public bodies, including infrastructure providers, to identify relevant strategic matters to be addressed, including providing for sustainable water supplies.

The Government recognises the importance of having a robust drainage and wastewater system both now and for future demand. Water companies in England are under a statutory duty to provide new water and sewerage connections to residential properties, as well as planning to meet the needs of growth as part of water resource management plans (WRMPs), and drainage and wastewater management plans (DWMPs).

DWMPs set out how a water company intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances. These plans will help sewerage companies to fully assess the capacity of the drainage and wastewater network and develop collaborative solutions to current problems and future issues. The plans will bring together various stakeholders including local authorities and industry regulators.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_593

Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) Thames Water and (b) other water companies provide (i) accurate and (ii) locally verified assessments of (A) wastewater and (B) drainage capacity for major planning applications. \p Emma Hardy: As set out in Paragraph 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of homes, commercial development and supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner.

The Government is clear that housing must come with appropriate infrastructure, including appropriate water infrastructure. Water and wastewater capacity issues are best dealt with at a strategic level through the plan-making process, rather than through individual planning applications. Taking a strategic approach to drainage and wastewater management, will help to identify and mitigate issues related to insufficient network capacity or damaged infrastructure.

A key planning function is to guide development to the most suitable and sustainable locations and to ensure that the associated infrastructure requirements are addressed. Effective co-operation early in the plan-making process is essential. The NPPF makes it clear that local planning authorities should collaborate with each other and with other public bodies, including infrastructure providers, to identify relevant strategic matters to be addressed, including providing for sustainable water supplies.

The Government recognises the importance of having a robust drainage and wastewater system both now and for future demand. Water companies in England are under a statutory duty to provide new water and sewerage connections to residential properties, as well as planning to meet the needs of growth as part of water resource management plans (WRMPs), and drainage and wastewater management plans (DWMPs).

DWMPs set out how a water company intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances. These plans will help sewerage companies to fully assess the capacity of the drainage and wastewater network and develop collaborative solutions to current problems and future issues. The plans will bring together various stakeholders including local authorities and industry regulators.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_594
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_594

Johanna Baxter:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many permits were issued for cheetah trophies in the 2024-25 financial year. \p Mary Creagh: The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is responsible for releasing data on hunting trophy import permits. APHA has not yet released its data on permits issued for hunting trophies in the 2024-25 financial year. This information will be published on the CITES trade database later this year. Available here.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Johanna Baxter:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to ban the import of cheetah trophies. \p Mary Creagh: The Government committed to a ban on the import of hunting trophies of endangered animals in its manifesto and will deliver on this. Defra is currently engaging with a range of stakeholders in order to decide on the most effective approach.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support he is providing to low carbon farming. \p Daniel Zeichner: Our Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs), funded by a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, are paying farmers to take up land management practices that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Government has also spent £51.8 million through the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), with a further £98 million committed to ongoing projects in support of Agri-technology research and innovation. FIP competitions for 2025/26 will include up to £12.5 million for the Net Zero Farming thematic competition.

Since 2021, Defra’s Farming Investment Fund awarded more than 11,000 grants worth over £130 million to farmers, growers and foresters to invest in technology, equipment and infrastructure, much of which supports low carbon farming practices. Of this, £107 million was through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF). The next window of FETF will launch in Spring 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Caroline Voaden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2025 to Question 44061 on Water Restoration Fund, how environmental (a) fines and (b) penalties collected from (i) water and (ii) sewerage companies since November 2023 will be used. \p Emma Hardy: The Water Restoration Fund, which launched in April last year, is reinvesting funding based on water company environmental fines and penalties into projects to improve the water environment. The Water Restoration Fund funding is based on water company fines and penalties from April 2022 until October 2023.

Up to £11m of funding was made available on a competitive basis to support a range of water restoration projects.

Following a rigorous assessment process, I am pleased to say that current applicants to the Water Restoration Fund have been contacted regarding the outcome of their application. Further details regarding which projects have been successful will be shared in due course once funding agreements have been finalised.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase the use of nature-based solutions to climate change. \p Emma Hardy: Defra recognises the critical benefits nature-based solutions can provide for tackling climate change and averting its impacts – delivering multiple benefits for climate, biodiversity, and people. Nature’s recovery is one of the five top priorities for this Department.

We are taking active steps to achieve Net Zero and mitigate climate change by expanding nature-based solutions in England, driving forward our commitments to restore 280,000 hectares of peatland and increase tree canopy cover to 16.5% of land area, both by 2050. This Government remains firmly committed to the environmental land management (ELM) schemes that deliver these solutions and will continue supporting farmers and landowners in their low-carbon practices.

Defra has secured a farm support budget of £2.4 billion for the next financial year. This means we can maintain the momentum of our ELM schemes, which will rise to the highest funding levels ever by 2025/26. Through this investment, we’re helping to secure a healthy and resilient future for English farming and restore our natural landscapes for generations to come whilst continuing to support farmers and landowners in their low-carbon, nature friendly practices.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has held with the Food and Agriculture Organisation on fisheries data collection in the South Atlantic since 5 July 2025. \p Emma Hardy: Since July 2024 Defra Officials have provided relevant input to the development of the Agenda for the FAO sub-committee on fisheries management, through our regional representative. Furthermore, as previously set out in the response to PQ 43781 and 43782, Defra officials raised this issue at the UN General Assembly in November 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) leadership and (b) management of the Rural Payments Agency. \p Daniel Zeichner: Ministers meet with the leadership and management of the Rural Payments Agency regularly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to Question 34414 on Climate and Nature Bill, tabled by the hon. Member for Newton Abbot on 27 February 2025. \p Mary Creagh: Question 34414 was answered on 3 April 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Phil Brickell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of inland waters that have a statutory right of access for recreational users. \p Emma Hardy: Current estimates are that around 4%, or 1,400 miles, of rivers in England and Wales have a public right of navigation. There are around 3,500 miles of canal and river navigations that have a public right of access through the licensing regimes operated by the navigation authorities that own them.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ban the use of lead shot and large calibre bullets for game shooting. \p Emma Hardy: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has formed a final Opinion on their restriction proposal, including for live quarry shooting, informed by information from public consultations as well as independent scientific advice. Now Defra has received HSE’s final Opinion on their proposed restriction, we are assessing their proposals. A decision will follow in due course, which will be taken with consent from the Devolved Governments of Scotland and Wales.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) fly-tipping and (b) uncollected household rubbish on the environment; and whether the Environment Agency has had discussions with Birmingham City Council on (i) fly-tipping and (ii) uncollected household rubbish. \p Mary Creagh: A multi-agency coordinating group was established in response to the declaration of a major incident by Birmingham City Council due to the buildup of waste in Birmingham. The Environment Agency is supporting Birmingham City Council who have led on producing risk assessments and plans as part of the multiagency response.

The Environment Agency’s remit is to investigate fly tipping or illegal dumping where there is a single waste deposit of more than 20 cubic metres, more than 5 cubic metres of fibrous asbestos, or 75 litres of potentially hazardous waste in drums or containers. If the offending is believed to be linked to criminal business activity or organised crime, then this may fall to the Environment Agency to investigate and will seek to work jointly with the Local Authority and other partner agencies to resolve the issue. Local Authorities are responsible for assessing, removing and disposing of all fly-tipped waste if it’s on relevant land, which includes land under their direct control and is publicly accessible.

The Environment Agency regulates waste-permitted sites to ensure compliance with the conditions of their Environmental Permits and has proactively inspected permitted sites in Birmingham to ensure they are compliant with their permits and no issues arise from the ongoing clean up in the city.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Air Quality Standard Regulations 2010 in achieving reductions in nitrogen dioxide levels in ambient air. \p Emma Hardy: There are currently no plans to assess the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010. We assess the effectiveness of schemes to reduce nitrogen dioxide through the NO2 Programme’s evaluation programme. In addition, the revised Environmental Improvement Plan, due to be published later this year will review and clarify targets set under the Environment Act 2021.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_606
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_606

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, in which year he estimates that the (a) West Yorkshire urban area; (b) Coventry and Bedworth, (c) Liverpool urban area, (d) Great London urban area, (e) Greater Manchester urban area, (f) Nottingham urban area, (g) Portsmouth urban area and (h) Reading and Wokingham urban area will become compliant. \p Emma Hardy: Predicting when locations will comply with the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide is inherently uncertain. Our current estimates reflect the impact of agreed local Clean Air Plans and are based on 2023 data from Defra’s national monitoring networks and national modelling, as well as local authority-owned air quality monitoring and modelling. 2023 is the most recent year of fully ratified monitoring data available. As additional years of data become available or where additional measures are agreed some of these predictions are likely to change. Current estimates for when the following reporting zones will become compliant are:

West Midlands Urban Area

2032

Bristol Urban Area

2031

Sheffield Urban Area

2031

The Potteries

2032

South East

2028

West Yorkshire Urban Area

2029

Coventry and Bedworth

2026

Liverpool Urban Area

2029

Greater London Urban Area

2024

Greater Manchester Urban Area

2026

Nottingham Urban Area

2024

Portsmouth Urban Area

2026

Reading and Wokingham Urban Area

2024
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_607
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_607

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, which road links within 10 miles of Heathrow Airport are expected to exceed the nitrogen dioxide limit value in each of the last five calendar years of their non-compliance period. \p Emma Hardy: The most recent national compliance assessment for 2023 did not report any road links within 10 miles of Heathrow Airport to be in exceedance of the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide.

Local monitoring as part of the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) process shows a small number of measurements in 2023 above 40µg/m3 at sites within a 10-mile radius of Heathrow Airport. There were single measurement sites above 40µg/m3 in the London Boroughs of Brent (A404), Wandsworth (A3), Richmond (A205), Merton (A219) and Kensington & Chelsea (A3220), and three measurement sites in Ealing (A4020, A40 and A406). National Highways’ assessments also indicated concentrations above 40µg/m3 at four road links on the Strategic Road Network (SRN). These are in the London Boroughs of Hounslow (two road links on the M4), Hillingdon (M4), and Spelthorne (A316). Air quality assessments under LAQM are assessed differently to the national assessment as they are focused on targeting local pollution hotspots which may occur in locations that don’t meet the data quality requirements for the national assessment.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_608
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_608

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, which road links within 10 miles of Gatwick airport are expected to exceed the nitrogen dioxide limit value in each of the last five calendar years of their non-compliance period. \p Emma Hardy: The most recent national compliance assessment for 2023 did not report any road links within 10 miles of Gatwick Airport to be in exceedance of the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide. There were also no exceedances reported through the Local Air Quality Management process in 2023.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_609
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_609

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, whether he has held discussions with the Office for Environmental Protection on the timescales for expected compliance of each reporting zone. \p Emma Hardy: There have been no discussions with the Office for Environmental Protection on this topic.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_610
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_610

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Forestry Commission has offered apprenticeships since 2010. \p Mary Creagh: The Government is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.

Forestry Commission developed the degree Level 6 Professional Forester Apprenticeship with University of Cumbria and Institute of Chartered Foresters which now has 74 students including 30 from the private or third sectors. The first cohort will finish their apprenticeship in September 2025.

Forestry England run a Level 3 in-house apprenticeship (formerly a Level 2) which has had 112 delegates since 2013. An additional 16 delegates have undertaken non-forestry skills apprenticeships including mechanical engineering, finance, HR, visitor services and business support.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_611
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_611

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether OFWAT has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010. \p Emma Hardy: The Civil Service is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.

OFWAT has made use of apprentices in its workforce since 2014 and recruitment data, where available, has been provided below:

Employed as Degree Apprentices:

Quantity

Apprenticeship

Start date

End Date

Training provider

2

Operations (Technology & Infrastructure)

Dec 2014

Dec 2015

South and City College

1

Professional economist (integrated degree), Level: 6

Sep 2024

Sep 2028

The University of Kent

2

Project manager (integrated degree), Level: 6

Oct 2024

Sep 2027

University of Exeter

2

Solicitor, Level: 7

Mar 2025

Feb 2027

DAMAR Ltd

1

Professional economist (integrated degree), Level: 6

Sep 2024

Sep 2028

The University of Kent

Ofwat Employees who joined Apprenticeship Programmes:

1

Solicitor, Level: 7

Sep 2024

Aug 2027

DAMAR Ltd

1

Assistant accountant, Level: 3 (Standard)

Sep 2019

Sep 2020

Solihull College and University Centre

1

Professional accounting or taxation technician, Level: 4 (Standard)

Dec 2020

Mar 2022

Solihull College and University Centre

1

Business Administrator, Level: 3 (Standard)

Jun 2019

Sep 2020

QA Ltd

1

Coaching professional, Level: 5

Feb 2022

Aug 2022

HTP Apprenticeship College Ltd

In addition, OFWAT is recruiting for a September 2025 Degree Apprenticeship intake: 2 x Economist, 1 x Chartered Manager, 2 x L7 Solicitor Apprentices
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_612
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_612

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme on tourism. \p Seema Malhotra: Electronic travel authorisations (ETAs) have been introduced to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream and stop those who pose a threat from travelling to the UK. ETAs will help deliver a more streamlined, digital immigration system which will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the UK border each year.

The Home Office published an initial impact assessment on the introduction of ETAs, and a further Impact Assessment published alongside the Fee Regulations in March that increased the chargeable ETA fee (alongside other fees) - The Immigration, Nationality and Passport (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025.

The experience of other countries with similar schemes in operation shows that genuine visitors are unlikely to be deterred by the small additional cost. For example, the USA (which operates the ESTA scheme) has seen continued growth in overseas visitor volumes since the introduction of the ESTA in 2010.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_613
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_613

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2025 to Question 32890 on Homes for Ukraine Scheme, whether her Department plans to publish eligibility criteria for Ukrainian nationals resident in the UK wishing to transition to alternative routes to settlement after the expiry of the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the absence of a bespoke long-term route on Ukrainians in the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine. It is important our approach respects these wishes.

This is why our offer of temporary sanctuary under the Ukraine Schemes does not lead to settlement in the UK. Similarly, time spent in the UK with permission granted under the Ukraine Schemes cannot be relied upon towards the continuous qualifying period for the purposes of a Long Residence application.

Those granted permission under one of the Ukraine Schemes, which provide full rights to work and study, can apply to switch into other visa routes for which they qualify even if their visa does not normally allow them to do so. The link to the page providing further guidance for Ukrainian nationals who are in the UK with a visa is here: Ukrainian nationals in the UK: visa support - GOV.UK.

We keep the Ukraine schemes under continuous review in line with the ongoing conflict.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_614
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_614

Mr Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering an official apology to Ali Kololo. \p Dan Jarvis: The operationally independent Metropolitan Police continue to progress matters relating to Mr. Kololo’s case. It would not be appropriate for Home Office Ministers to comment on any discussions concerning the individual.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_615
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_615

Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the auditing process in place for animal testing facilities. \p Dan Jarvis: All establishments licensed to breed or supply animals, or to carry out regulated procedures on animals under ASPA in Great Britain, are subject to the full requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).

To provide assurance of compliance with the Regulations, the Regulator provides clear and accessible guidance and conducts regular on-site audits.

The published framework for audit is based on clear benchmarks and assessing compliance through organisational governance to encourage greater commitment to compliance. Both announced and unannounced site visits are undertaken within a risk- based framework to assure compliance and inspect the welfare, health, and environment of animals at any establishment.

Through a current regulatory reform programme, the Regulator is presently recruiting to have more Inspectors for audit related activities.
wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_616
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-28 conversation_616

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many regulatory tests were carried out on animals where non-animal methods were available in 2024. \p Dan Jarvis: The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) protects animals in scientific research by prohibiting their use if there is a practicable and validated non-animal alternative that would achieve the scientific outcome(s) sought.