theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Waste Hierachy to place Sustainable Aviation Fuel produced by waste-to-liquid above that produced by energy-from-waste. \p Mary Creagh: The waste hierarchy sets out a priority order in which waste should be managed (prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling, recovery, disposal). The process of converting waste (both biogenic and fossil fractions) into fuels/energy is a recovery operation for the purposes of the waste hierarchy. This is because once combusted, material is lost from the circular economy.

Whilst we have no plans to change the waste hierarchy, Defra’s position is that we welcome innovative and new measures to manage residual waste and that there is nothing to stop the production of fuel from residual waste if this is determined, by local authorities or other waste producers, to be the best overall environmental outcome for such waste.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Government response to the Office for Environmental Protection’s report on progress in improving the natural environment in England from January 2024, published on 14 January 2025, what progress the cross-Government working group to support effective implementation of the environmental principles policy statement has made. \p Mary Creagh: The Cross-Government working group to support the implementation of the Environmental Principles Policy Statement Duty (EPPS) has been actively coordinating efforts across various departments to ensure that the environmental principles are integrated into policy-making processes. The Office for Environmental Protection also published a report on the implementation of EPPS and the government will be responding to that report soon.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the overnight holding of perishable fruit consignments at borders on affected businesses; and what steps his Department plans to take to help minimise delays for just-in-time supply chains in the fresh produce sector. \p Daniel Zeichner: For Plants and Plant Products, APHA will aim to inspect consignments within four hours of them being presented for a physical inspection.

However, a small minority of fruit and vegetables are subject to 100% inspection due to the level of pest and disease risk and may be held in the event that the goods are not available for inspection.

The time taken to conduct checks is subject to a ‘Service Level Agreement’ (SLA), details of which are available on Gov.uk. Our teams have been working closely with traders to ensure checks are completed effectively and swiftly to avoid delays. We are confident BCP capacity, including staff resource, and opening times are sufficient for the current volume of checks. We continue to work with traders to ensure their documentation is accurately filled out before starting their journey and have published guidance to traders and drivers on the requirements of BCP inspections to help reduce waiting times.
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Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that importers of fresh fruit from outside the UK receive timely advance notification of border inspections. \p Daniel Zeichner: Businesses must notify the competent authorities in advance of a consignment arriving in GB when it contains High risk or Medium A risk plants and plant products as they are subject to phytosanitary controls. Upon completion of the notification an initial risk assessment is provided detailing whether an inspection is required. Drivers and notifiers are informed in one of two ways.
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to publish the revised Environmental Improvement Plan. \p Mary Creagh: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tamworth on 17 March 2025, UIN 37341.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support farmers to trade with other countries. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government is focused on supporting trade opportunities for the UK’s world class agri-food sector. We are working hard to secure new agreements, including an SPS agreement with the EU, and to resolve export barriers. Our network of 16 agri-food attaches resolve barriers around the world and support UK companies deliver growth and capitalise on strong global demand for UK products. We have secured access to the US market for UK beetroot growers and resuming pork exports to China for major UK producers, which industry estimates are worth £80million.
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Irene Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure that independent (a) environment experts, (b) health experts and (c) civil society groups are fully involved in the development of the National Food Strategy. \p Daniel Zeichner: We are forming a partnership between government and stakeholders from across the food system as we develop the food strategy. This partnership includes academics, charities, key thinkers, civil society organisations and consumer groups as well as industry representatives.

Health experts and civil society are represented in the membership of the Food Strategy Advisory Board announced in March, including Professor Chris Whitty as Chief Medical Officer for England at the Department for Health and Social Care, Professor Susan Jebb as Professor of Diet and Population Health at Oxford University, Anna Taylor of the Food Foundation and Ravi Gurumurthy of NESTA.

We will conduct a series of of targeted stakeholder engagements that will include civil society organisations, environmental non-Government organisations, and citizen groups alongside the farming and the food industry
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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on improving responsible access to nature in Greater Manchester. \p Mary Creagh: The Government recognises the importance of access to nature for health and wellbeing and is committed to ensuring it is safe, inclusive and appropriate. We are delivering on our ambitious manifesto commitments to create nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England while also developing wider policy to improve access to nature in collaboration with other departments and stakeholders.

We are already delivering several initiatives to expand access to green spaces and parks, such as the £16 million ‘Access for All’ programme, which supports inclusive access to protected landscapes, national trailsand green spaces.

The National Planning Policy Framework stipulates planning policies to consider the need for open space and recreation facilities. We have also established the Parks Working Group to find practical solutions to improve the quality and sustainability of parks, with an emphasis on equitable access.

Through the £1.5 billion Plan for Neighbourhoods up to £20 million will support 75 communities across the UK over the next decade. This can include improving green spaces, with Chadderton, Ashton under Lyne and Farnworth already selected.

Finally, we own the Green Flag Award scheme, which sets national standards for green spaces. In 2024, 2,227 awards were given, including nine in Manchester.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 1991 Act of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants Convention (UPOV 91) on small farming businesses. \p Daniel Zeichner: The UK is a contracting party of the 1991 convention of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, known as UPOV.

Under UPOV 1991, the UK has an effective plant variety protection system in place providing intellectual property rights over plant varieties, known as plant breeders’ rights. Plant breeders’ rights are important in enabling breeders to control the use of protected material and collect royalties on varieties which can be re-invested into further innovation, critical in the face of climate change and food security. Royalties and limits on the use of seed and propagating material apply to protected varieties only.

In the UK, a grower or farmer may use seed that they have saved from a crop grown on their own holding for re-sowing on their own holding - this is known as Farm Saved Seed. All farmers must declare their use of Farm Saved Seed and pay equitable remuneration to the right holder. This provides farmers with a low-cost source of seed and allows control over seed quality, provenance, and treatment. Small farmers are exempt from this payment.

The UK is engaging with UPOV via the Working Group on Guidance concerning Smallholder Farmers in relation to private and non-commercial use, to better understand the impact of the 1991 convention on small holder farmers and subsistence farmers globally.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications to the Sustainable Farming Incentive were pending a decision on 11 March 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: As of 11 March, of the applications that had been submitted for the expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer, there were 4,225 that had not yet received an agreement offer.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Rural Payments Agency has a schedule for issuing payments to applicants with approved Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements submitted prior to 11 March 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme payment schedule is in line with the agreement start date. Agreement holders will normally receive payments quarterly, the first payment will be four months after their SFI agreement starts. After that, payments are scheduled to be paid every three months, to ensure there is a regular, reliable income.
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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 ensure that eligible application to the Sustainable Farming Incentive submitted before 11 March 2025 are (a) processed and (b) agreements offered in a timely manner. \p Daniel Zeichner: As of the 30 April 2025, of the 4225 submitted Sustainable Farming Incentive applications outstanding an offer on 1 March, there are 872 that have not yet received an agreement offer. The Rural Payments Agency are continuing to work at pace to assess the eligibility and process applications which were submitted prior the closure of the scheme and expect to have completed this for the majority of eligible applications by late June.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to communicate expected (a) processing and (b) payment timelines to applicants who submitted Sustainable Farming Incentive applications before 11 March 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is (a) working through and will communicate with applicants individually through the application process. The RPA expects to complete all required checks and activity for the majority of eligible applications by late June. (b) The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme payment schedule is in line with the agreement start date. Agreement holders will normally receive payments quarterly and the first payment will be four months after their SFI agreement starts
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Danny Beales:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will set a timeline for publishing a consultation on the introduction of licensing regulations for animal sanctuaries and rehoming organisations. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Department has initiated a series of meetings with key animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of an overarching approach to animal welfare. We will be outlining more detail of our plans in due course.
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Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle operators who do not dispose of waste appropriately despite holding valid waste licences; and whether he plans to take further steps to improve enforcement against licensed waste operators who breach environmental regulations. \p Mary Creagh: Waste sites in England are regulated by the Environment Agency (EA) under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 which include a range of penalties including fines and imprisonment for breaches of conditions. The EA also takes action against illegal operators who abuse and ignore the rules.

The Secretary of State has recently announced plans to tighten up the regulation of those who transport and manage waste services, moving them from a light-touch registration system into environmental permitting. Councils to seize and crush fly-tipping vehicles to clean up Britain - GOV.UK. This will give the EA a greater range of powers and more resources to be able to take action against those operating illegally.

Additionally, we will reform the waste permit exemptions regime by removing three exemptions and requiring those activities to be fully permitted and tightening the controls around 7 other exemptions. This will ensure greater oversight of activities which are being abused by waste criminals.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help reduce e-waste. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened a Circular Economy Taskforce to help us develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strategy will be supported by a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the government will make on a sector-by-sector basis, supporting government’s Missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower. We are considering the evidence for sector-specific interventions right across the economy, including in the electronics sector, as we develop our Strategy.

We have also introduced a ban on the sale and supply of Single-Use Vapes from 1 June 2025 meaning that from this date wasteful single-use vape products will no longer be available on the UK market. Later this year we will also introduce legislation to ensure online marketplaces and vape producers are paying their fair share towards recycling costs of their products when they become waste.
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Yasmin Qureshi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ban the use of cages for (a) pheasants and (b) partridges for breeding. \p Daniel Zeichner: We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards.

The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals, including for gamebirds, is an issue which we are currently considering very carefully.

Defra’s Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes provides keepers with guidance on how to meet the welfare needs of their gamebirds as required by the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It recommends that barren cages for breeding pheasants and small barren cages for breeding partridges should not be used, and that any system should be appropriately enriched.
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Yasmin Qureshi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many animal welfare inspections of game bird farms were undertaken in (a) England and (b) Wales in (i) 2022, (ii) 2023 and (iii) 2024; how many and what proportion of those visits identified the use of barren cages for breeding birds; and whether follow up inspections were carried out in those circumstances. \p Daniel Zeichner: The total number of inspections carried out in gamebirds premises are included in the table below; of those, a total of 5 inspections disclosed non-compliances with welfare legislation however none of the non-compliances identified were due to the use of barren cages for breeding birds. There have been no gamebird inspections in Wales according to the data extrapolated for the years 2023 and 2024.

Country

Year

Total

Compliant with AW legislation

England

2022

9

8

2023

12

10

2024

17

15

Wales

2022

3

3
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Brian Mathew:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK Forest Risk Commodities regulations on low-income smallholder farmers in the Global South who are selling into in-scope UK supply chains. \p Mary Creagh: We recognise that action to prevent UK consumption of forest risk commodities driving deforestation should minimise the impacts on low-income smallholder farmers in the Global South.

We will set out our approach to addressing deforestation in the UK’s supply chains in due course.

The UK Government works with smallholder farmers to improve sustainable practices and encourage forest-friendly businesses. For example, the Official Development Assistance funded ‘Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use’ programme supports the development of new business models which provide jobs and livelihoods, while protecting and restoring forests.

The UK also funds and co-chairs the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade Dialogue with a specific working group focused on smallholder support, facilitating government to government dialogue to build collaboration to reduce risks of smallholder exclusion from sustainable supply chains.
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Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help increase local authority capacity to recycle plastics. \p Mary Creagh: Defra officials have engaged extensively with local authorities and representative bodies such as the Local Government Association and the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee on the introduction of the Simpler Recycling reforms to both workplaces and households. Through Simpler Recycling, every household and workplace across England will be able to recycle the same materials in the following core waste streams: metal, glass, plastic, paper and card, food waste, and garden waste (for households only). This includes some items which are not currently widely collected for recycling, such as cartons. From 31 March 2027, this will also include kerbside plastic film collections.

Alongside Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging and a Deposit Return Scheme, these reforms should guarantee a consistent supply of recyclable materials. This should provide certainty, increasing investor confidence and unlocking investment in waste infrastructure.

We are working with the waste management sector to explore opportunities for infrastructure development and how we support them to create these conditions. We recently published a Recycling Infrastructure Capacity Analysis in partnership with WRAP, setting out the size of the investment opportunity. Those looking to invest in waste management infrastructure are encouraged to engage with the National Wealth Fund.
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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of EU Commission proposals to phase out (a) enriched cages and (b) farrowing crates on UK-EU trade of agricultural goods. \p Daniel Zeichner: We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which we are currently considering very carefully.

All agri-food products must comply with our import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market and we work with our trade partners to achieve that in the least trade restrictive way possible. This includes ensuring imported meat products have been slaughtered to animal welfare standards equivalent to our domestic standards. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to support economic growth and promote the highest standards of food production.
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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed Nature Restoration Fund will (a) supersede and (b) compliment the existing biodiversity net gain obligations for new developments under the Environment Act 2021. \p Mary Creagh: The Nature Restoration Fund will not supersede existing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) obligations for new developments.

BNG is a requirement which applies to most new development across England, aiming to leave habitats in a measurably better state than they were beforehand by delivering a 10% net gain for biodiversity. It came into effect in February 2024. The 10% net gain can be delivered through on-site habitat enhancements, off-site through the new market for biodiversity units, or by purchasing statutory biodiversity credits from the government, as a last resort.

The Nature Restoration Fund will focus on enabling development in areas where that has stalled due to specific environmental obligations relating to impacts on protected sites and species in those areas. Developers would be able to discharge these obligations, such as those related to the Habitats Regulations, through a payment into a fund, where this can both streamline development and allow for more strategic and effective measures for nature protection.

BNG and the Nature Restoration Fund are intended to be complementary policies. We will ensure that developers receive a user-friendly experience and that BNG credit and the Nature Restoration Fund revenue is deployed in a joined-up manner to maximise environmental outcomes.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 38211, tabled on 13 March 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: Question 38211 was answered on 8 April 2025.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of overcrowding in prisons. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: This Government inherited a prisons system in crisis and took immediate action to ensure it did not collapse. However, SDS40 was not a long term solution and we are once again at over 99% capacity. Recently, we only had 732 places left across the whole of the adult male estate.

Figures and analysis relating to the level of crowding in prisons is published annually in the HMPPS Digest.

This document states that in the 12-months to March 2024, the crowding rate at establishments across England and Wales was 23.6%, up from 22.9% in the previous 12-month period. Table 2, accompanying the Digest, provides a time series of crowding information back to 1999. The 2024/25 Digest will be published on 31 July 2025.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to improve the provision of criminal legal aid to people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire. \p Alex Davies-Jones: Criminal legal aid, where needed, is essential to support those accused of a crime to defend themselves and to uphold their right to a fair trial.

This Government inherited a justice system in crisis, with a legal aid system that is creaking and on the point of collapse. We have already taken steps to start rebuilding that system and we are committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the legal aid sector.

As an important first step, in November 2024, we announced our response to the Crime Lower consultation, confirming an uplift to the lowest police station fees, introducing a new Youth Court fee scheme, and paying for travel time in certain circumstances. Together, these changes amount to a £24 million investment for criminal legal aid providers.

Furthermore, in December 2024, we announced that criminal legal aid solicitors will receive up to £92 million more a year to support the sustainability of the criminal legal aid market. This latest commitment reflects the vital work that is undertaken by those who provide criminal legal aid and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to access to justice. We are also committed to continuing to work with the criminal legal aid profession, including the Bar, on further opportunities for reform this Parliament and to support the overall sustainability, diversity, and efficiency of the system.

The Legal Aid Agency is responsible for commissioning legal aid services in England and Wales. Procurement for legal aid contracts is now operated under the ‘always on principle’ so that the procurement remains open during the life of the contract. This is a significant change from the previous approach where firms could only bid to join at the initial tender of what typically was a five-year contract term. This new approach enables new entrants to apply for a contract at any time and for existing providers to expand their services. It is a more flexible approach, removing hard deadlines and maximising the available supply of services.
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Sarah Olney:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of expanding the pilot programme to provide to victims of rape and sexual offences on request a free copy of judges’ sentencing remarks to all victims of crime. \p Alex Davies-Jones: In May 2024, the Ministry of Justice launched a pilot to enable victims of rape and sexual offences, whose cases are heard at the Crown Court, to request a copy of the judge’s sentencing remarks for free. Between May 2024 and 25 April 2025, HM Courts & Tribunals Service received 498 applications under the pilot. The pilot is due to conclude at the end of May 2025.

We recognise the value that transcripts can have for victims of crime. Victims of rape and sexual offences were chosen for the pilot due to the particular difficulties they face when attending court. We are actively exploring opportunities to use technology to reduce the cost of transcripts of hearings in the criminal courts in future, but maintaining a high degree of accuracy will always be of paramount importance.

We are currently assessing the pilot’s uptake and impact and will be able to say more on our plans for future provision in due course.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to improve relationships between courts and local police. \p Alex Davies-Jones: Close working between partners is vital to the smooth running of the Criminal Justice System. At a local level, the 41 Local Criminal Justice Boards across England and Wales bring together partners from across the Criminal Justice System, including courts and local police. We support these boards in a number of ways, including through the provision of guidance and facilitating engagement between boards.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 46825 on Electronic Tagging: Standards, how Serco has performed against the 14 key performance indicators at the most recent performance review. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Serco has failed to meet its target performance on 11 of 14 of its KPIs. The Department continues to hold Serco to account for its failings and will not hesitate to levy contractual penalties for underperformance.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support the deployment of rooftop and carport solar on commercial buildings through guaranteed minimum export values. \p Michael Shanks: The Government continues to support solar deployment on commercial rooftops and car parks through the Smart Export Guarantee. This ensures that businesses receive income for excess electricity exported to the grid.

We also intend to support commercial rooftop deployment through other measures, including permitted development rights, and new building standards for newly built commercial buildings. As set out in the Clean Power Action Plan, we have published a call for evidence about solar canopies in car parks.

Solar on car parks and electric vehicle charging - GOV.UK
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the grid connections between the proposed new town at Tempsford and the Eaton Socon sub-station to facilitate a new town. \p Michael Shanks: Ofgem regulates the network companies to ensure they are investing to operate, maintain and upgrade electricity infrastructure. For the next transmission and distribution network price controls, Ofgem has identified the need for significant investment in new capacity to transform Great Britain’s electricity networks to support clean power and economic growth. Ofgem published their Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) policy framework decision on 2 April and RESPs will feed into planning by Distribution Network Operators to guide network planning decisions and ensure strategic investment in capacity for local areas, like Tempsford.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help develop manufacturing capacity in the offshore renewables sector. \p Michael Shanks: Last week, the Prime Minister announced an initial £300 million investment through Great British Energy to accelerate domestic offshore wind supply chains to boost domestic jobs, mobilise private investment, and secure manufacturing facilities for critical clean energy supply chains.

The Government’s Clean Industry Bonus rewards fixed and floating offshore wind developers who choose to invest in the UK’s poorest communities, or in cleaner manufacturing.

The Government will be publishing its Industrial Strategy in spring and will set out its approach to driving investment and growth in the highest potential sectors, including Clean Energy Industries, creating good jobs.
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Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of UK energy security. \p Michael Shanks: Great Britain’s energy system is diverse and reliable, with the annual Statutory Security of Supply Report 2024 assessing that GB is expected to have sufficient supplies of electricity and gas to meet consumers’ demands over the short and long-term. However, our dependence on fossil fuels has left us vulnerable to global supply shocks and unstable energy prices. The Government's Clean Energy Superpower Mission, supported by the largest investment in home-grown clean energy in British history, will enhance energy security by boosting our energy independence, protecting billpayers, and reducing exposure to global supply shocks.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_294

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to introduce regulatory measures to ensure rooftop solar is financially viable compared to utility-scale solar projects. \p Michael Shanks: Deploying rooftop solar remains a key priority for the Government, and it continues to be one of the most popular and easily deployed renewable energy sources. The Government continues to support the installation of rooftop solar in various ways, including through tax relief, energy efficiency schemes and the Smart Export Guarantee. The Solar Roadmap will shortly be published, setting out actions for the Government and industry to remove barriers to further deployment. Officials are also exploring the potential of various measures to support a range of green retrofit improvements as part of the Warm Homes Plan.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_295

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department plans to provide further information on its long-term plans for the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund. \p Sarah Jones: The Government is making long-term plans to enable UK industry to decarbonize and reach Net Zero. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will update stakeholders as soon as possible on Funds that will be available to industry after the upcoming Spending Review, which will conclude in late spring.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_296

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the challenges faced by the Ukrainian community in securing employment opportunities as a result of their immigration status. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office will continue engaging with our stakeholders and partners to ensure employers are fully informed and can continue to support Ukrainians. We have also updated the online guidance for employers with details of the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme, which is available on Gov.uk.

UPE provides the same rights and entitlements to access work as well as benefits, healthcare and education as the current Ukraine schemes. Where an in-time UPE application is made and the application is not decided before the person’s existing leave expires, section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 extends the person’s existing leave, together with any existing rights (including a right to work), until the application has been determined.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_297

Liz Saville Roberts:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of visa uncertainty on employment opportunities for Ukrainians in the UK. \p Seema Malhotra: We keep the Ukraine schemes under continuous review in line with the ongoing conflict and the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine. This is why the Ukraine Schemes are temporary and do not lead to settlement in the UK. It is important our approach respects these wishes.

The Ukraine Permission Extension scheme provides the same rights and entitlements to access work, benefits, healthcare and education as the current Ukraine schemes.

The Home Office continues to engage with our stakeholders and partners to ensure employers are fully informed and can continue to support Ukrainians. We have also updated the online guidance for employers with details of the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, which is available on GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_298

Lizzi Collinge:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to resume processing indefinite leave to remain applications from Syrian nationals that have been paused. \p Seema Malhotra: Following the fall of the Assad regime, the Home Office withdrew the Country Policy Information Notes and guidance relating to Syria and has temporarily paused all asylum interviews and decisions.

Settlement Protection applications from Syrian nationals who are trying to obtain indefinite leave to remain in the UK are also subject to the pause.

The decision to pause was, and remains, a necessary step. As long as there is no stable, objective information on which to base an accurate assessment of a claimant’s risk on return to Syria, we are unable to make robust, reliable decisions on claims for international protection.

Settlement in the UK is a privilege, not an automatic right. Given the need for protection may be temporary, a safe return review is carried out on every application for settlement on a protection route to determine and confirm the need for protection is continuing.

We will keep this pause under constant review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_299

Naushabah Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applicants are waiting for their applications to be processed on the Homes for Ukraine scheme. \p Seema Malhotra: Data on outstanding applications are not routinely published by the Home Office. However, the Hon Member can be assured that ordinary applications made under the Homes for Ukraine scheme are currently being processed within the published service standards, which can be found here:

Ukraine: customer service standards - GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_300

Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of updating the published criteria for exceptional circumstances in leave to remain decisions to include (a) exceptional community work and (b) acknowledgement or honours from the British Government recognising community contribution. \p Seema Malhotra: The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_301

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of dog bites have been recorded in the most recent 12 month period for which data is available. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The latest available data for the year ending December 2024 showed that there were 31,345 offences of an “Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in any place in England or Wales (whether or not a public place) injuring any person or assistance dog” or of an "Owner or person in charge allowing a dog to enter a non-public place and injure any person" recorded by the police in England and Wales.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_302

Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of town-wide safety campaigns in reducing crime in (a) Huddersfield and (b) other urban centres. \p Dame Diana Johnson: This Government wants town centres to be vibrant, welcoming places where businesses thrive and people feel safe and come to shop, socialise and live.

To that end we are working with Police and Crime Commissioners, and essential local partners such as councils, schools, health services, business, transport and community organisations in launching a new programme of work focussed on Keeping Town Centres Safe this Summer, with the aim of driving down street crime, shop theft and anti-social behaviour in town centres. This will help us build on existing data and evidence of what works locally to tackle these issues.

The Home Office has not assessed the effectiveness of town-wide safety campaigns in reducing crime. However, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, and to support making the country’s streets safer for 2025/26 £66.3 million Hotspot Action funding has been awarded to all 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales. As part of the Hotspot Action Fund, West Yorkshire will be in receipt of £ 2,476,420.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_303

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department (a) issues guidance and (b) requires mandatory training for police officers on the link between violence against (i) women and girls and (b) animals. \p Jess Phillips: Domestic abuse can affect all parts of a victim’s life and relationships including, for example, through threats and harm to pets as a means of control. The Domestic Abuse Statutory Guidance that accompanies the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 provides an explanation of the different characteristics of domestic abuse and includes reference to how pets can be used by perpetrators.

We are working with the new National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Public Protection to build on and enhance police training in tackling VAWG, including ensuring it is up to date to equip officers with knowledge on emerging issues and using the latest research to improve how it is delivered. This will mean training is strengthened at each level, from the front line to senior leadership.

The new National Centre, in which we are investing £13.1 million, will help deliver our manifesto commitment for strengthened specialist training for officers across the country ensuring they offer consistent protection for victims and relentlessly pursue perpetrators.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_304

Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she has made on ending the use of forced swim tests since writing to the (a) Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and (b) UKRI requesting expedited research to find validated replacements. \p Dan Jarvis: The Home Office wrote to the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the UKRI in February 2024 to consider the recommendation to request further research into non-animal methods to replace the Forced Swim Test (FST).

The Home Office Regulator has since reviewed all licences authorising the use of the FST under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and fully implemented the recommendations of the Animals in Science Committee.

The number of project licences that authorises the forced swim test in Great Britain has decreased from nine on the 1 March 2024, to a current total of only four licences. All of these licences are due to expire by 2028.

This Government has set a manifesto commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing” and will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods to animal testing later this year. This strategy supports the current scientific direction on reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of the FST (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230021001434).