Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether all the UK's marine protected areas are shown on maritime maps.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is responsible for producing the UK’s maritime navigation charts; the Office operates as an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Defence. The UKHO only charts UK’s marine protected areas where they have an influence on marine navigation and safety of life at sea.

However, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) independently undertakes marine offshore surveys, monitors marine species, and maps marine and seabed habitats in its advisory capacity for Marine Protected Areas in UK waters; the JNCC is a non-executive public body administered by DEFRA.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many ministers and civil servants attended the Palantir party held on 11 February in Mayfair, London, which departments the civil servants were from and how many of these were involved in the awarding of the contracts to Palantir.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Six civil servants from Defence Digital, a department within the Ministry of Defence, attended the event organised and hosted by Palantir, all of whose professional responsibilities relate to the recent contract awarded to Palantir in December 2025. No Ministry of Defence Ministers attended the event.

Defence does not hold information regarding which other Government Departments’ civil servants attended the event.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they were aware of the link between Peter Mandelson and Global Counsel when he was made Ambassador to the USA; and, if so, whether any advice was given to civil servants regarding that link and how to deal with any conflict of interest.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the Government's statement (Official Report, vol. 782, cols. 359-374) and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what date Shaft No.4 at the Queensbury Tunnel was last fully inspected by examiners using rope access.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

Examiners last inspected Shaft No.4 of the Queensbury Tunnel using rope access on 26 October 2015.

Shaft 4 has annual visual exams; the last one was carried out in September 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the recorded condition of Shaft No. 4 of the Queensbury Tunnel on the occasion of its last full inspection by examiners using rope access; and what assessment they have made of whether the low level of risk to surface properties has been appropriately communicated on the National Highways' Queensbury Tunnel project webpage.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The recorded condition of Shaft No.4 at the last inspection, which was carried out using rope access on 26 October 2015, was Fair (Fair is defined as having minor non-structural defects only). NH considers the risk of shaft 4 collapsing to be low at this stage and has continued to undertake visual examinations of Shaft 4.

National Highways (NH) is comfortable that the website appropriately articulates the level of risk to surface properties. NH continues to engage with owners of property above the tunnel to ensure any changes to the risk levels are clarified as soon as practicable.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the development and adoption of new technologies in agriculture to improve animal welfare outcomes.

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

Defra announced new opportunities for farmers to apply for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund at the NFU Conference on 24 February, with £50 million of funding allocated for 2026. Applications opened on 17 March; farmers can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 towards the cost of a list of equipment items that deliver improvements in the health and welfare of their animals. The list includes items specifically intended to increase adoption of new technology for health and welfare outcomes including automated welfare monitoring systems using remote devices, lameness and body condition scoring systems, and environmental monitoring and control systems for livestock housing.

The Government also supports the development of new technologies to improve animal welfare outcomes through its research programmes, including through funding directly from Defra and through UK Research and Innovation. Across species, some examples of funded projects include development of new methods for emergency killing of pigs; developing autonomous, non-invasive technologies to support welfare monitoring in aquaculture; and support to develop AI-driven tools to assess animal emotional wellbeing. The Farming Innovation Programme also supports research and development of agri-technology and innovative solutions for farmers and growers with multiple projects aiming to support animal welfare outcomes.