Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what powers they have to alter the minimum mandated energy standards for the private rented sector.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Energy Act 2011 is the primary legislation which gives government the powers to amend the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015, which set minimum energy efficiency standards for the private rented sector. Government has launched a consultation on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector on 7^th February 2025.

Found: I know that the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, and Baroness Hayman have led that group well and it

Found: Baroness Hayman of Ullock Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Seacole Building 2 Marsham Street

Found: Correspondence between the Chair and Baroness Hayman re.

Found: I am copying this letter to Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; Baroness Hayman

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 25 March (HL5539), how many people will be employed at ports in Great Britain to facilitate non-commercial pet movements under the Northern Ireland pet travel scheme, and what estimate they have made of the cost.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

UK authorities will be available to support and assist those travelling under the Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme. The scheme will enable travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with a simple lifelong pet travel document. We expect that the vast majority of people will comply, and the Government will be providing comprehensive support to those travelling with their pets to ensure they can do so. In line with the commitments we have made under the Windsor Framework, the UK authorities will be undertaking checks to ensure that GB pet owners hold a valid pet travel document and that their pet is microchipped to mitigate against abuse of the scheme and disease risks.

In order not to undermine that approach, as is the case across the UK, we do not disclose the specific number of staff undertaking, or the nature of, interventions made by UK authorities. Facilitating these activities, including staffing, equipment and infrastructure, will cost an estimated £3.4 million over financial years 25/26 to 26/27 inclusive.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 25 February, what steps they are taking to ensure unfettered access of chemical products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK Government underlines its commitment to ensure the smooth flow of chemical products from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. This includes applying a consistent approach to the regulation of chemical products across the whole of the UK where it is necessary to do so.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to remarks by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 29 January (HL Deb col 251), what is the breakdown of the £150 million in fines issued to water companies since 2015.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency prosecutes Water and Sewerage Companies (and the courts hand down fines) for environmental offences under the Environmental Permitting Regulations and other offences including polluting discharges to water and land, breaches of environmental permit conditions and obstruction of investigations.

Below is a breakdown of the 150 million in fines issued to water companies since 2015, as mentioned in Baroness Hayman of Ullock’s remarks on 29 January.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 18 February (HL4686), whether they will now answer the question put, namely how many miles of the King Charles III England Coast Path (1) have been, and (2) are still to be, completed.

Answered by Baroness Hayman

The Government is continuing to make progress on the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP), with over 51% of the path completed and now open for public use.

Of the remaining 1,270 miles, establishment works are underway on 976 miles, with less than 300 miles still to be approved. The entire project is set to be completed by Spring 2026, and when finished, the KCIIIECP will become the longest waymarked and managed coastal walking route in the world.

Found: First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government and Baroness Hayman

Found: on Persistent Organic Pollutants (recast) ("the POPs Regulations”) agreement was sought by The Baroness Hayman