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 20 January 2026 (HL13504), why a farmer or landowner is required to bear the cost of the unlawful dumping of waste by an unidentified third party on their land.

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

We recognise the financial burden that clearing fly-tipped waste places on landowners. However, central Government generally does not compensate victims of non-violent crime. It is important not to create a perverse incentive for some people to dump, or facilitate the dumping of, waste.

However, where there is sufficient evidence, fly-tippers can be prosecuted and, on conviction, a cost order can be made by the court so that a landowner’s costs can be recovered from the perpetrator.

We are working with a wide range of interested parties through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group, such as the National Farmers Union (NFU), to promote and disseminate good practice, including how to prevent fly-tipping on private land.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that local authorities pay compensation to motorists whose vehicles are damaged by potholes.

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

Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 places a statutory duty on highway authorities to maintain public highways.

Dealing with compensation claims due to defects such as potholes on the highway network is entirely the responsibility of the relevant highway authority.

The Department cannot comment on individual claims for vehicle damages arising from alleged defects on the highway. Such matters are for resolution between the claimant and the relevant highway authority.

Where parties cannot agree, it is for the court to determine whether the local highway authority has met its duty under Section 41 and exercised reasonable care in maintaining the highway.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to limit commercial fishing for mackerel any further.

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

Negotiations among coastal States on a Total Allowable Catch of mackerel are ongoing for 2026. The UK has set an interim quota of 47,523 tonnes to allow fishing on the stock. Defra expects to review the quota later in the year to take into account the conclusion of the negotiations.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of trains on Network Rail were cancelled or arrived at their final destination more than 10 minutes late in the last year for which information is available; and what the principal reasons for those cancellations and delays were.

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

For the period 2 February 2025 – 31 January 2026, 8.8 per cent of trains planned in Great Britain were either cancelled, part cancelled or arrived at their destination at least ten minutes late.

The two main causes for cancellations using established industry categories for delays and cancellations were fleet (21 per cent) and traincrew (20 per cent).

Non-Track Assets (e.g. signal failures, points failures, overhead line problems) and Network Management and other (e.g. unexplained delays, Network Rail operations, vegetation management) each caused 17 per cent of the delays, with fleet accounting for another 16 per cent.

Below is a table showing the percentages of the causes of delay and cancellations:

Note: all figures rounded to 1 decimal place and may not add up to exactly 100% as a result.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which public positions and roles cannot be filled by Roman Catholics, Jews and those not in communion with the Church of England; and what constraints are placed on the authority of a Prime Minister or Lord Chancellor who is a practicing Roman Catholic or Jew.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government recognises that there are historical restrictions in statute on Roman Catholic and Jewish people making and advising the Crown on Church appointments. In practice, this affects those holding the offices of Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor. This does not prevent those professing the Roman Catholic or Jewish faith from holding these roles and in such cases the Government would make alternative arrangements for advising the Crown about Church appointments. The Government keeps this matter under review, but, given other pressing issues, this is not a current priority.

As the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the Sovereign must be in communion with the Anglican Communion. Individuals practising other faiths therefore cannot become Sovereign, Regent or a Counsellor of State.

Found: Musicians' Union; Equity; Bectu To discuss issues facing independent musicians Lisa Nandy 2025-11-04 Lord Birt

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