theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2025 to Question 38049 on non-departmental public bodies, if he will list the 249 non-departmental public bodies operating as of September 2025. \p Georgia Gould: A list of non-departmental public bodies can be found on the ALB Landscape Analysis 2023/24. This dataset includes information on Arm's Length Bodies (ALBs) that were sponsored by the UK Government during the 2023/24 Financial Year. This dataset is published annually a year in arrears.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many suppliers were invited to bid for contract CCZZ24A18 under the Dynamic Purchasing System; how many bids were submitted; and for what reason the University of Birmingham was selected. \p Georgia Gould: Contract CCZZ24A18 was awarded following a competition run under the Crown Commercial Service Research & Insights Dynamic Purchasing System (RM6126) agreement. A total of 453 suppliers were invited to bid and two bids were submitted. In accordance with the evaluation criteria, the University of Birmingham achieved the highest overall score on quality and price and was therefore awarded the contract.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question HL9068 on Civil Servants: London, if he will list the 11 buildings he plans to close by 2030. \p Georgia Gould: In addition to the buildings named in the announcement on Places for Growth dated 14 May 2025 (102 Petty France, 39 Victoria Street and Caxton House), a further 8 buildings will close by 2030. Details will be announced following the conclusion of ongoing commercial discussions. This represents value for money for the taxpayer, delivering £94m in savings per annum whilst ensuring that London continues to be a vibrant place for Civil Servants to work.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 43120, tabled on 1 April 2025, on Honours: Forfeiture. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The answer to question 43120 was published on 1 September 2025.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 68482 on House of Lords Composition, how the Select Committee on the composition of the House of Lords will be selected; what will be the political balance; and whether it will be a Joint Committee with this representation from the House of Commons. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: As stated in the Answer of 24 July, the Government intends to propose the establishment of a House of Lords Select Committee to look at how best to implement the manifesto commitments on a retirement age and participation requirement. The details of the Select Committee, including its proposed chair, membership and timescales of reporting, will be put to the House of Lords for agreement after the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill receives Royal Assent.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason page 38 of the document entitled Government Function: People, Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework, updated on 30 June 2025, refers to gender rather than sex. \p Georgia Gould: The document entitled Government Function: People, Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework uses the term gender on the basis that this refers to the legally required business publication of Gender Pay Gap reporting as per the Equality Act 2010.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, over what timeframe his Department plans to evaluate the outcomes of the Summer Internship Programme for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. \p Georgia Gould: Our first cohort of interns will be joining in Summer 2026 so we anticipate impacts will begin to be visible on the Autumn 2027 Fast Stream intake as participating students graduate from university and seek to join the programme. We will continue to publish Fast Stream recruitment data on an annual basis.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question HL6565 on Senior Civil Servants and Special Advisers: Pay, what is the (a) salary level and (b) grade of seniority at which there is a policy of public disclosure on an individual public servant’s remuneration in response to a Freedom of Information Act requests. \p Georgia Gould: Departments publish salary information for all their Senior Civil Service (SCS) roles in quarterly organograms on data.gov.uk and for all SCS operating at Board level in their Annual Accounts. The Cabinet Office will publish a new 2025 'high earner' list for senior public officials, linked to the Treasury's senior pay control threshold (published in guidance here), in due course.

The Cabinet Office routinely publishes the salaries of those special advisers earning equivalent to senior civil servants in the Annual Report on Special Advisers which is available on gov.uk.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department’s definition of a working person is for the purposes of policy development in the context of civil service internship schemes. \p Georgia Gould: The refocused Fast Stream Summer Internship scheme will give talented undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds the opportunity to see what a career in the Civil Service is like. We will assess eligibility for the summer internship scheme based on parental occupation at the age of 14. The Social Mobility Commission (SMC) identifies this as the most accurate measure of socio-economic background.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the Terms of Reference for the (a) Civil Service Muslim Network and (b) Civil Service Race Forum. \p Georgia Gould: Staff networks are volunteer networks, organised by employees within various Civil Service Departments. As the Terms of Reference are internal documents of volunteer-led networks, there are no current plans to publish them. All network activity must align with the values and standards set out in the Civil Service Code.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff work in the New Media Unit; and what the annual budget for that unit is. \p Georgia Gould: The New Media Unit currently has 19 FTE, of which 17 are permanent and 2 are loanees. Assuming the NMU is fully staffed with a consistent grade mix, throughout the financial year the annual salary costs currently would be circa £1.28 million.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average annual value of London weighting for civil servants in his Department was in the latest period for which data is available. \p Georgia Gould: The Cabinet Office does not have a London Weighting Allowance. There are separate London and National pay ranges. An individual’s pay, paid as a salary, is determined by the location of their designated office, as set out in their contract.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the estimated average salary of a civil servant in the Government Communications Service, in the most recent period for which data is available; and what is the estimated monetary value of the employer contribution to their Civil Service pension. \p Georgia Gould: Government Communication Service does not set the salaries of Government Communicators. Government Communications salaries are aligned with Civil Service pay bands. Salaries vary according to grade, location, and departmental pay arrangements, and are consistent with the broader Civil Service structures.

All Government Communications civil servants are members of the Civil Service pension schemes and receive employer contributions in line with standard Civil Service pension arrangements. The employer contribution rates are determined by the scheme actuaries and apply uniformly across the Civil Service.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the estimated (a) mean and (b) median salary of a civil servant in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26, and what is the estimated monetary value of the employer contribution to their Civil Service pensions. \p Georgia Gould: The most recent data on mean and median salaries for the Civil Service can be found in the Civil Service Statistics publication. The latest data published as at 31st March 2025 can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-service-statistics-2025. Data is not yet available for 2025-26.

The estimated employer contribution for a Civil Servant to the Civil Service Pension Scheme is £6.6bn for 2024-25. The estimated employer contributions for 2025-26 is not currently known.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6761a6d6d20fc50099e1904e/E03252376_-_HC_481_Civil_Superannuation_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_23-24_Web_Accessible.pdf)
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's news story entitled Appointment to Cabinet Office Board, published on 19 August 2025, for what reason Greg Jackson’s appointment was announced after his term started. \p Georgia Gould: Greg Jackson was appointed before the Summer Recess on 21 July to allow for the onboarding process, including conducting security checks, to be completed over the recess period. The announcement was made on 19 August, following fact checking and clearances as part of the onboarding process.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 63327 on Cabinet Office: Directors, if he has considered making the Government Lead Non Executive a member of his Department's board. \p Georgia Gould: A model has been established whereby Baroness Casey, who was appointed as Government Lead Non-Executive on 3 January 2025, will not sit on the Cabinet Office Board. Instead, she will maintain a roving brief across government supporting ministerial priorities and non-executive board members.
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority's Annual Report 2024–25, published on 11 August 2025, for what reason no evaluation was completed for the Rosa renewal project. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Rosa Renewal Project was subject to the appropriate National Infrastructure Service Transformation Authority oversight, with the project coming to a formal close in March 2025. The project achieved a GREEN Delivery Confidence Assessment as part of its final Gate 5 assessment. Delivery of the specific products set out in the business case was achieved and, therefore, has now formally closed but evaluation and lessons learned activity continue under the Rosa Service Organisation’s business as usual governance.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54270 on Government Departments: Directors, and with reference to the guidance entitled Non-Executive Board Member declaration of interests process, published on 28 November 2024, whether the threshold for declaring political activity as a Board Member is (a) the same and (b) different from that set out when applying for a public appointment in the Governance Code on Public Appointments; and whether previous political activity needs to be declared as a Board Member. \p Georgia Gould: The guidance for declaring Non-Executive Board Member interests, with a particular reference to declaring political activity, differs from the Governance Code on Public Appointments as its scope is limited to current interests an individual holds.

The guidance published on 28 November 2024 requires Non-Executive Board Members to declare any current political activity. There are strict rules in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies about political activity (sections 3.11 - 3.15). As stated in the code of conduct, any breaches are also considered a breach of the terms of appointment.

Declarations of previous political activity is a requirement during the Public Appointment process so that advisory assessment panels can assess whether the activity should be taken into account when determining a candidate’s suitability for the role.
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Katie Lam:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many open (a) processes and (b) applications there are for the creation of new (i) arm’s-length bodies, (ii) Government Departments, (iii) agencies and (iv) public bodies. \p Georgia Gould: On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all UK government arm’s length bodies, and proposals for new bodies, in order to return policy decisions to Ministers, reduce duplication and improve efficiency and transparency. The review is ongoing and outcomes will be announced in due course.

Information about the creation of other types of public bodies is not held centrally.

The decision to create or close Government Departments is the responsibility of the Prime Minister. There are no active processes underway to create or close any departments.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64569 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the (a) provisional and (b) final cost of the works has been agreed. \p Georgia Gould: The (a) provisional cost of works has been approved, but the (b) invoice for the works has not yet been submitted. The final cost of works will be included in the Cabinet Office spend transparency reporting once invoiced by the supplier.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will provide guidance on how Parliamentarians may scrutinise the visit of the National Security Advisor to Beijing, in the context of his decision not to give evidence to Parliamentary Committees. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Government has confirmed that the National Security Adviser will attend a private session with the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy in Parliament.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister authorised the National Security Advisor to meet with the Chinese Foreign Minister in Beijing on 14 July 2025. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The National Security Adviser discusses a wide range of national security matters with the Prime Minister. The Government does not routinely comment on the meetings of the National Security Adviser, which are often sensitive in nature.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a summary of the discussions held by the National Security Advisor and Chinese Foreign Minister in Beijing on 14 July 2025. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The Government does not routinely comment on the meetings of the National Security Adviser, which are often sensitive in nature.
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Alison Bennett:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to ask the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals to review the range of honours awarded. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: Every five years, a review is carried out of how honours are distributed across the different categories of activity in UK life and is reviewed by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) before it is sent to The Sovereign for approval. This Quinquennial Review is guided both by priorities set by the Prime Minister and also changes to the population and sizes of workforces in each sector of the economy.

The most recent Quinquennial Review set out recommendations for the period of the Birthday Honours 2023 List to the Birthday Honours 2028 List (inclusive). The next review period will begin in 2026/27 for implementation in the New Year Honours 2029 List. The scope of this review has not yet been agreed but will be approved by the HD Committee in due course.
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Shaun Davies:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average earnings in the UK were by income decile in each of the last three years. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 18th July is attached.

Letter from the National Statistician (pdf, 140.5KB)
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of drought on farmers in the South West; and what steps he is taking to help mitigate that impact. \p Daniel Zeichner: Drought has led to an early harvest with a reduction in crop quality and yields. Livestock farmers are facing a growing risk with forage, winter feed supplies and consequently buying additional food or selling animals to reduce pressure on supplies.

Measures to support farmers include:

An updated prospect report will be published this autumn to inform farmers of the water resources situation in order to improve resilience and planning for next year.
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Tom Rutland:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that car tyres which are exported to be recycled (a) arrive at the intended destination, (b) are not used in illegal pyrolysis and (c) are processed in manner which does not harm the environment. \p Mary Creagh: The Environment Agency (EA) has recently completed a review into its approach for regulating the export of waste tyres. As a result of this, the EA will launch enhanced verification checks for all waste tyres exported to India to ensure they are handled in an environmentally sound manner.

The export of waste tyres is subject to strict controls set out in existing UK legislation. Businesses involved in the export of waste from the UK are required to take all necessary steps to ensure that the waste they export is managed in an environmentally sound manner. Any UK operators found to be illegally exporting waste can face a two-year jail term and an unlimited fine.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement of environmental protections on Sites of Special Scientific Interest in rural coastal areas; and what steps he is taking to help ensure timely investigation of alleged breaches of statutory protections on such sites. \p Mary Creagh: Natural England works with Defra to highlight any gaps in the regulatory and enforcement regime for protected sites.

Natural England has a suite of regulatory remedies and enforcement sanctions (including civil and criminal) to address issues on protected sites. The aim is always to seek the prevention or remedy of harm and to ensure future compliance. This means that Natural England often seeks to achieve a voluntary agreement but where that cannot be achieved, or where the harm is very significant, Natural England acts swiftly using its regulatory or enforcement powers to remedy the situation.

The Corry Review of Defra’s regulatory landscape (April 2025) identified challenges in the effectiveness and consistency of environmental enforcement. Defra has committed to a programme of reforms to strengthen compliance and improve outcomes on the ground.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to amend waste regulations to impose stricter controls on the (a) destinations and (b) environmental standards of aluminium scrap exports. \p Mary Creagh: The Government takes the control of waste exports and our international obligations very seriously. The export of aluminium scrap is subject to strict controls and exporters are required to ensure that the waste they ship is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout shipment and recycling. The Government has not issued any specific proposals to amend existing waste regulations relating to aluminium scrap.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many used beverage cans were exported outside of Europe under the Packaging Waste Export Recycling Note system in 2024-25. \p Mary Creagh: Under the Producer Responsibility Regulations, waste exporters are accredited by packaging material, not by format, so it is not possible to provide an exact tonnage of beverage cans exported for recycling.

In terms of total tonnages, in 2024, and as part of the PRN/PERN system, 157,049 tonnes of aluminium packaging waste was recycled, of which 51,690 tonnes (33%) was exported outside of the EU for recycling.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to amend the (a) Commons Act 2006 and (b) related legislation to (i) introduce a mandatory requirement for formal public consultation on proposals to undertake works on common land, (ii) require the provision of equivalent exchange land when common land is deregistered and (iii) review restrictions in section 16 of the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 on the right to register land as a (A) town and (B) village green. \p Mary Creagh: The Department currently has no plans to amend the Commons Act 2006 or related legislation.

A requirement for formal public consultation on proposals to carry out works on common land is already in place. Under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006, consent is required for any works that would impede access or alter the character of common land. Applicants are expected to consult interested parties—including landowners, commoners, parish and district councils, Natural England, and the Open Spaces Society—and to publish notices both locally and on site. The requirement to provide equivalent exchange land when common land is deregistered is also well established. Section 16 of the Commons Act 2006 requires applicants to offer suitable exchange land where the deregistered area exceeds 200 square metres.

We have no plans to review the restrictions introduced by section 16 of the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013.

Further information on carrying out works on common land is available here on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/carrying-out-works-on-common-land.
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Katie White:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way he plans to help tackle the environmental impact of vapes. \p Mary Creagh: On 1 June 2025 we banned the sale and supply of single-use vapes due to the harm that they cause to the environment, with over 5 million of these products being thrown away each week in 2023. This will help to prevent the environmental harms caused by vapes, including littering, the leaching of harmful chemicals into the soil and the risk of fires.

In addition, on the 12th of August we introduced legislation to create a new category under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations specifically for vapes (including reusable vapes). This will ensure that the costs of collection and treatment fall fairly on vape producers.

We will continue to monitor the impact of these changes to ensure that they have the desired positive environmental impact and will not hesitate to act further to tackle the environmental impact of vapes if needed.
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Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve air quality. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is developing a series of interventions to reduce emissions so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced. This includes action to reduce harmful emissions from domestic burning and reforms to the industrial permitting regime. We remain committed to working closely with local authorities, industry, and the public to shape practical, proportionate policies that deliver cleaner air and improve public health.
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Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the Jubilee Flood Alleviation Channel. \p Emma Hardy: The Jubilee Flood Alleviation Channel is part of the Maidenhead, Windsor, and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme, protecting over 3000 properties in those areas. Since opening in 2002 it has successfully protected local communities from flooding on multiple occasions. The scheme also provides valuable local amenity and recreation benefit.

The Environment Agency is currently undertaking mechanical & electrical refurbishment work to the structures which control the flow of water into the relief channel. This will ensure that the asset continues to provide protection to communities this winter and into the future.

Additionally, they are carrying out repairs to a section of riverbank which was damaged during high flows in 2024 and supporting Buckinghamshire County Council with their removal of a timber footbridge which collapsed into the channel earlier this summer.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed deposit return scheme will include (a) drink bottles and (b) food containers. \p Mary Creagh: The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland will include single-use drinks containers from 150ml to 3 litres. Materials included are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, steel, and aluminium drink containers.

All other packaging including food containers are included in the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the volume of textile waste generated from fast fashion annually. \p Mary Creagh: While we do not hold any internal estimates on fast fashion waste volumes in the UK, industry partners provide some insight. WRAP estimates that the UK generated approximately 1.45 million tonnes of post-consumer textiles in 2022, which includes clothing, household linens and more. WRAP does not isolate a proportion of this as fast fashion. However, they note that low-quality textile goods are saturating secondary markets, with the average person in the UK throwing 35 items of unwanted textiles straight into the general waste each year, demonstrating the fast turnover of clothing. Meanwhile, figures from BusinessWaste indicate that 300,000 tonnes of clothing waste enter household bins annually in the UK, with much of this likely being fast fashion.
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Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of light pollution on biodiversity. \p Mary Creagh: Defra has supported international assessments of drivers of change on insects and wider biodiversity such as the global IPBES Assessment Report on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production (2016), which notes that the effect of light on nocturnal insects may be growing and identifies the need for further study.

The National Planning Policy Framework, updated in 2024, sets out how the possible ecological impacts of artificial light should be considered in the planning system. It includes a specific requirement to limit the impact of light pollution on nature conservation. Defra has also contributed to associated guidance published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
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Luke Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to phase out the use of high concentration carbon dioxide gas for the stunning of livestock in abattoirs. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter. We understand that there is a pressing need to address the welfare concerns associated with this method of stunning pigs.

The Animal Welfare Committee has carried out an up-to-date and comprehensive animal welfare assessment of the evidence on high concentration carbon dioxide stunning of pigs and alternative pig stunning methods. The Committee carefully considered the evidence and provided their report to the UK Government, and Scottish and Welsh Governments, in July which we are now considering.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_151

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Vet Times's article entitled Animal beating reported ‘once every 15 minutes’ – RSPCA, published on 22 August 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: Cruelty to animals is unacceptable. The Government keeps animal welfare policy under review and is committed to ensuring that animals are protected from unnecessary suffering.

Enforcement of animal welfare standards is primarily delivered through the powers available under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which makes it an offence to cause any animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare.

The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 amended the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to increase the sentences available to our courts for the most serious cases of animal cruelty. Anyone who is cruel to an animal faces being sent to prison for up to five years, or receiving an unlimited fine, or both.
wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_152
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_152

Catherine Fookes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what actions he is taking to mitigate the potential impact of the built environment on bat populations. \p Mary Creagh: All bats, including their breeding sites and resting places, are protected under UK and international law.

This strict legal protection makes it an offence to deliberately capture, injure, or kill bats; to damage or destroy a breeding or resting place; or to obstruct access to a resting or sheltering place. Local Planning Authorities require a bat survey to be completed if a proposed development is likely to negatively affect bats or their habitats. Appropriate measures must be taken by developers to avoid, mitigate and, as a last resort, compensate for any negative effects on bats that could be caused by any proposed development. An example of a compensatory measure could be the erection of a bat box, whilst a mitigation measure could include carrying out works to a summer roost site in the winter when bats are not present.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework we published in December expects developments to minimise impacts on and provide net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures and through incorporating features that support priority or threatened species such as bats.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_153

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with (a) Buckinghamshire Council and (b) Thames Valley Police to help reduce incidents of fly-tipping. \p Mary Creagh: Local authorities are usually best placed to respond to fly-tipping problems in their area. Defra chairs the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG), through which we work with a wide range of interested parties, including local authorities and National Police Chiefs Council, to share good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping. The NFTPG has developed various practical tools including a guide on how councils and others can set up and run effective local partnerships to tackle fly-tipping. These are available at: https://nftpg.com/.

We also encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers. We are seeking powers in the Crime and Policing Bill to provide statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance to support councils to consistently, appropriately and effectively exercise their existing powers. We have also announced a review of council powers to seize and crush vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool.
wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_154
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_154

Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to help tackle animal beatings in Cambridgeshire. \p Daniel Zeichner: Enforcement of animal welfare standards is primarily delivered through the powers available under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which makes it an offence to cause any animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare.

The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 amended the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to increase the sentences available to our courts for the most serious cases of animal cruelty. Anyone who is cruel to an animal face being sent to prison for up to five years, or receiving an unlimited fine, or both.

Local authorities have powers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to intervene where an animal is suspected to be suffering on any land, public or private.
wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_155
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_155

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support responsible dog ownership. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra is working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to encourage responsible dog ownership, to ensure dog control issues are addressed before they escalate and to make sure the full force of the law is applied. As part of this work, we have reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce to explore measures to promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. The taskforce is considering four themes: education, training for both dogs and their owners, enforcement, and improving data on dog attacks. We look forward to receiving the findings and recommendations from the taskforce in due course.
wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_156
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_156

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding is available for residents to plant trees in urban areas. \p Mary Creagh: Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund provides support for urban trees through grants including the Community Forest’s Trees for Climate programme and also the Trees Outside Woodland Fund.

The Trees Outside Woodland Fund launched in June 2025, administered by the Tree Council and funded by Defra. It offered grants between £10,000 and £40,000 to support tree planting in urban and peri-urban areas across England. The fund was open to local authorities and registered charities with a turnover exceeding £100,000, and projects must be completed by 2 March 2026. Applications were open from 10 June to 31 October 2025. The funds are now fully allocated for this financial year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_157

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce extended producer responsibility regulations for fashion retailers. \p Mary Creagh: The Government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which it plans to publish for consultation in the coming autumn.

The Circular Economy Taskforce will initially focus on six sectors that have the greatest potential to grow the economy, one of which is Textiles. The Circular Economy Taskforce recognises the importance of an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles. As we develop the strategy, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what interventions may be needed, including but not limited to EPR.
wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_158
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_158

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department has provided to small and medium-sized food producers to help manage the costs of the extended producer responsibility scheme. \p Mary Creagh: The Government has provided a comprehensive package of support to small and medium-sized food producers to manage costs under the extended producer responsibility for packaging scheme (pEPR). A de-minimis threshold exempts producers with turnover below £2 million and placing less than 50 tonnes of packaging on the market from cost obligations, thereby shielding around 70 per cent of small producers from pEPR fees.

Practical support is delivered via a monthly Business Readiness Forum, sector-specific events and a regular newsletter, while collaboration with the Environment Agency also provides guidance and support. The Department continues to encourage small producers to reduce packaging use and adopt reusable systems to further lower pEPR-related costs.
wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_159
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_159

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve the welfare of farm animals transported within the UK. \p Daniel Zeichner: All farm animals transported in the UK are protected by comprehensive legal requirements aimed at protecting their welfare. These include the provision of sufficient space, feed and water, ensuring that vehicles used are fit for purpose and secure and that all drivers/attendants are appropriately trained to maintain the welfare of animals in their care. Animals must be fit for transport, and all transporters are required to ensure that, when transporting animals, they do so in a way that avoids causing pain, suffering or distress. The legislation is supplemented by guidance on GOV.UK, including specific advice on transporting animals in extreme weather.
wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_160
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_160

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will confirm whether it plans to maintain the Smaller Abattoir Fund. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra recognises the vital role smaller abattoirs play in supporting local livestock producers and maintaining a resilient and competitive food supply chain.

The Government will continue to work to simplify and rationalise our grant funding from 2026 onwards following the Spending Review and subsequent business planning to ensure our grants are targeted towards those who need them most and where they can deliver the most benefit for food security and nature.
wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_161
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_161

Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to add (a) bale breakers, (b) handheld (i) pH and (ii) EC meters, (c) in situ soil sensors, (d) wireless data loggers and (e) fogging units for in-house propagation with (A) irrigation and (B) nutrition feeding capabilities to the future of farming equipment list. \p Daniel Zeichner: The latest round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund closed for applications on 10/07/25. We are continuing to work to simplify and rationalise our grant funding from 2026 onwards following the Spending Review and ensuing business planning to ensure our grants are targeted towards those who need them most and where they can deliver the most benefit for food security and nature.
wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_162
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_162

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether systems are in place to (a) record and (b) monitor the (i) tonnage, (ii) quality and (iii) composition of post-consumer textile exports from the UK to Ghana; and what evidence exporters are required to submit on (A) sorting, (B) reuse and (C) disposal practices in destination countries. \p Mary Creagh: Exporters of waste textiles must provide information on where the waste is being exported to, and the operation the waste will be subject to at its final destination.

UK legislation requires that those involved in the shipments of textile waste take all necessary steps to ensure that it is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout its shipment and in its country of destination. Exporters operating in contravention of the requirements of the UK’s legislation can face a two-year jail term and an unlimited fine. The four UK regulators for waste exports conduct proactive, risk based and intelligence-led interventions and compliance activities to prevent illegal waste shipments before they leave the UK.
wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_163
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-03 conversation_163

Samantha Niblett:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to use technology to apprehend (a) fly tippers and (b) other people dropping litter across the countryside. \p Mary Creagh: Local authorities are usually best placed to respond to fly-tipping and littering problems in their area, and we encourage them to make good use of the enforcement powers at their disposal. We are conducting a review of their powers to seize and crush vehicles of suspected fly-tippers to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool, such as by using innovative techniques like drones and mobile CCTV cameras.

Defra also chairs the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG), through which we work with a wide range of interested parties, including local authorities, to share good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping, including on private land. The NFTPG has developed various practical tools including best practice case studies highlighting the use of technology such as CCTV to tackle fly-tipping. These are available at: https://nftpg.com/.