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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to provide financial incentives to farmers to ensure surplus food can be given to charities and food banks, as well as sent to anaerobic digestion plants.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

Since 2017, Defra has made a series of grants available to help the redistribution sector in their important work. Nearly £12 million has been awarded to over 250 large and small organisations across the country for the provision of, for example, warehousing, vehicles, fridges and freezers to get more surplus food to those who have a need. With the infrastructure support that has been provided, we believe these projects will continue to reduce food waste and deliver safe discounted food for many years to come.

Defra is committed to the WRAP-led Food Waste Reduction Roadmap which supports business to waste less through the Target, Measure and Act approach. By measuring and acting on waste more surplus will be redistributed.

Whatever preventative and reduction actions are taken, some food waste will arise. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the Government's preferred option for recycling food that eventually ends up in waste. We want to prioritise prevention of waste and therefore avoid financial incentives for farmers to send food to AD instead of redistribution. In most cases, AD plants charge a 'gate fee' to treat food waste used as a feedstock.

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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Food Foundation’s food insecurity data, published on 7 February; in particular, the finding that one million adults reported that they or someone in their household had to go a whole day without eating in the past month because they could not afford or access food; and what steps they intend to take in response to address food insecurity.

Answered by Lord Benyon

In December 2021, the Government published the first UK Food Security Report which included an assessment of household food security. Latest National statistics data from the Department of Work and Pension’s Family Resources Survey published in March 2021, shows that 92% of households were food secure. The Family Resources Survey is a continuous household survey which collects information on a representative sample of houses in the UK and has a large sample of 20,000 households. We continue to monitor all key indicators and engage with independent surveys including the Food Foundation on an ongoing basis. We are committed to continue to report on this in future food security reports.

Tackling poverty in all forms is a key priority for this Government. We know people are facing pressures with the increasing cost of living and recognise that some need extra support with essentials like food shopping and other day-to-day costs. We are taking action worth £12 billion to help them, including through the Household Support Fund to support low-income households in England with the cost of food, utilities and wider essentials this winter.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with social media companies about protecting the mental health of under-16s, especially girls, using their platforms.

Answered by Lord Markham

The Department met with TikTok and Meta in December 2022 and January 2023, to discuss the mental health of children and young people, including girls who are under 16 years old.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of psychedelics in the treatment of mental health; and what steps they are taking to support advanced research in this sector.

Answered by Lord Markham

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has conducted scientific advice meetings with research organisations developing drugs with psychedelic properties for the treatment of mental health conditions. The MHRA does not conduct research, however they enable clinical trials research to take place and have procedures in place to review marketing authorisation applications submitted to them, with regard to the drug’s quality, safety and effectiveness.

The Department of Health and Social Care commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which has invested £1.1 million in a randomised controlled trial to examine the feasibility, safety and efficacy of the use of psilocybin in people with treatment-resistant depression.

The NIHR also invests in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies through its infrastructure. For example, the Imperial Biomedical Research Centre aims to investigate the potential of treating psychiatric disorders with psychedelics. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies.

Found: Lord Lebedev is, among many things, a rara avis.

Found: hadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party on appointment of Lord

Found: with Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport , dated 29 March 2022 Appointment of Lord

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will publish a list of meetings he held with Dominic Cummings in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Since May 2010, the Government has published on gov.uk details of official government meetings with external organisations.

In 2011, this was extended to include details of meetings with senior media executives, covering official government, social and political meetings.

But otherwise, the Government does not record political meetings.

I would observe that since 2016, the Labour Party has stopped publishing its own meeting data on shadow frontbench meetings with senior media executives, breaking a commitment made by the then Labour Party leader (the Rt Hon Member for Doncaster North) during the Leveson Inquiry. The Hon. Member may recall how previous data illustrated his engagement with Evgeny Lebedev (now Lord Lebedev). As a shadow DCMS spokesman, the Hon. Member may wish to raise this subsequent shyness with his Opposition colleagues.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions the Prime Minister had with Lord Lebedev on 21 May 2022; where they met; whether (a) officials and (b) advisers were present; whether minutes were taken of the meeting; and whether his Department holds any other records about the meeting.

Answered by Jeremy Quin

Since July 2011, on the initiative of the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, the Government has published in its Ministerial transparency data details of meetings with senior media executives, including not only official meetings, but social and political meetings.

As outlined in the transparency return for the Q2 2022 period, this was a social meeting. The Government does not hold details of such informal, non-governmental meetings.

I would observe that since 2016, it is the Labour Party which has stopped publishing transparency data on frontbench meetings with senior media executives, breaking a commitment made during the Leveson Inquiry.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his evidence to the Liaison Committee on 6 July 2022 that he probably did meet The Lord Lebedev in Italy on 28 April 2018 without officials from his Department, whether he informed his personal protection team that he was attending that meeting; whether any security services attended that meeting; and whether he received any documents at that meeting.

Answered by Boris Johnson

I have committed to write to the Liaison Committee with further details. A copy of that letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Prime Minister, whether he met Alexander Lebedev in April 2018 in any capacity.

Answered by Michael Ellis

I refer the Rt hon. Member to my answer to PQ 139374 on 17 March.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will provide a timetable for the publication of the information detailed in the Humble Address motion tabled on 29 March 2022 regarding Lord Lebedev of Hampstead and Siberia.

Answered by Michael Ellis

Further to the passage of a Humble Address motion in the House of Commons on 29 March, the Government is carefully formulating its response to the request for information in relation to Lord Lebedev’s nomination to the House of Lords, and will respond in due course.

In doing so, the Government will give careful consideration to the public interest, including freedom of information principles and data protection legislation, in line with our response to previous Humble Address motions – and as laid out in March 2019 by the Government in its response to Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee's Fifteenth Report of session 2017–19, Status of the Resolutions of the House of Commons, HC 1587.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister has met Lord Lebedev of Hampton and Siberia in Downing Street.

Answered by Michael Ellis

I refer the Rt hon. Member to my answer to PQ 139374 on 17 March.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the last time was that each Minister in his Department met Lord Lebedev of Hampton and Siberia.

Answered by Michael Ellis

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations, including with newspaper and other media proprietors, editors and senior executives, are published on a quarterly basis and made available on GOV.UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Prime minister last met Lord Ledebev of Hampton and Siberia.

Answered by Michael Ellis

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations, including with newspaper and other media proprietors, editors and senior executives, are published on a quarterly basis and made available on GOV.UK.

Found: Commons Library Research Briefing, 6 January 2023 • an Opposition Day debate on the Appointment of Lord

Found: Advice relating to the appointment of Lord Lebedev

@PesticideCollab Just when theAlice in Wonderland thing that is the EU Retained Legislation Bill was finishing its surreal passage for the day, Lord Lebedev coming through the Chamber @UKHouseofLords and taking the oath of allegiance topped the whole thing off.

Silly me the editor of the BBC Today programme will shortly make a statement on an upcoming interview with Lord Lebedev!

If Amol Rajan can interview members of the House of Lords could we now hear him asking Lord Lebedev for his response to Norma Percy’s Putin expose? @BBCr4today

And just under a week later, I received this from the noble Lord Lebedev of Hampton and Siberia: https://t.co/0o5RnQu7Gd

Still no sign that Amol Rajan has persuaded Lord Lebedev to join him to discuss Ukraine & the Russian invasion! @BBCr4today

will Lord Brownlow or Lord Lebedev be picking up the bill ? https://t.co/OTO3kZnIwF

Has Amol Rajan spoken to Lord Lebedev yet about the Russian invasion of Ukraine? @BBCr4today

In line with a @UKLabour motion passed on 29th March, the Government should have presented all documents about the appointment of Lord Lebedev to the @UKHouseofLords by now. I asked @CommonsLeader why they haven't done so.

How long have I been taking an interest in lord Lebedev & why as a member of the House of Lords no one in the media ever seems to interview him?

Hiding in the shadows from the sunlight of scrutiny. Boris Johnson’s interference in the award of a seat at the heart of our Parliament - despite intelligence services concerns - to his friend Lord Lebedev risks our national security. The public have a right to the truth. https://t.co/a2I3hlgQom

@mongoose3228 @Keir_Starmer What is there to explain about Lord Lebedev? For about 120 years every newspaper proprietor who wanted it has been ennobled. The question would be if he hadn’t been given a peerage.

Boris Johnson has failed to comply with Parliament’s instruction to reveal his role in the Lord Lebedev affair. What’s he got to hide? The whole thing reeks of a cover-up by the Prime Minister. The public deserve answers on this whole murky business. https://t.co/Fi5dVecrY9

Weeks ago now MPs instructed the Prime Minister to publish the security advice relating to the appointment of Lord Lebedev within 28 days. Today his time has run out.⌛️ But he refuses to come clean.? As I said - it’s time to get to the bottom of this whole murky business. ?? https://t.co/QW6kOiseJ3

@UKHouseofLords @cabinetofficeuk @HouseofCommons Lord Bew tells us that Lord Lebedev is not the only nominee about which HOLAC warned No 10 that there were public perception issues with their appointment

@UKHouseofLords @cabinetofficeuk @HouseofCommons Lord Bew tells us that there was a period of some weeks in the consideration of Lord Lebedev where HOLAC sought further clarification on the reports they had received.

@UKHouseofLords @cabinetofficeuk Lord Bew tells us that there are documents at HOLAC that cover the appointment of Lord Lebedev relevant to the motion passed by @HouseofCommons. He further adds that they sought additional information from the security services, but that the assessment did not change at any point

@UKHouseofLords @cabinetofficeuk There is a written report to HOLAC where information is provided. In the case of Lord Lebedev, HOLAC members were not given oral evidence, but officials will have had conversations with the security services.

Really stunning to recall the lengths Johnson went to in order to place Lord Lebedev of Siberia into our legislature. The biggest danger is that public contempt for Johnson becomes so great that we stop being shocked. https://t.co/lqq50PyRuG

In this week's parliamentary update: ➡️ Appointment of Lord Lebedev ➡️ Cyber security strategy ➡️ Crony PPE contracts https://t.co/Ka0qPlpZOJ

Boris Johnson must come clean about his shady appointment of the Russian oligarch & son of an ex-KGB agent, Lord Lebedev. https://t.co/vdPUO5drmw

Did Boris Johnson disregard national security advice in appointing Lord Lebedev? If so, he's put his self-interest before his duty to the British public. We need answers. This Government’s dangerous links to Putin’s oligarchs are putting Britain at risk. https://t.co/xtm92PriK3

Did the Prime Minister disregard security advice in nominating Lord Lebedev for a peerage? The House of Commons passed Labour's binding motion requesting that all relevant documents be published. So, the Government must now do so. It's a matter of national security. https://t.co/B09PDRjoo5

Last night MPs from across parties backed our successful motion to require @BorisJohnson to publish the security advice relating to Lord Lebedev of Hampton and Siberia’s peerage. The Prime Minister now has 28 days to comply. The clock is ticking. ⌛️ https://t.co/kJ72PNOSKk

You can always tell if the government are going to be making a feeble and morally bankrupt argument because they call upon Michael Ellis to make it. Today's pile ? is defending the appointment of Lord Lebedev.

Opposition Day debates on a subject chosen by @UKLabour are taking place now: • Advice relating to the appointment of Lord Lebedev Watch: https://t.co/H4Agmimj5G https://t.co/P7HRD4fEuA

Not true & Lord Lebedev owner of the Evening Standard knows it’s true! https://t.co/rMneKAvitB

Each time I hear "Lord Lebedev of Hampton and Siberia" I have to pinch myself. It would be comical if it wasn't such a depressing indictment of what the Tories have done to our democracy #PMQs

⁦The best answer to @Ianblackford_MP⁩ would be for ⁦@BorisJohnson⁩ to create thirty new ⁦Tory⁩ peers. Lord Lebedev row: Lord Speaker calls for 'more robust' appointment process for peers after Ukraine war fallout | Politics News | Sky News https://t.co/r5OGhx8SzG

Lord Lebedev of Siberia should either resign from the House of Lords or be expelled, by statute if necessary His presence is a standing affront to the resistance to Putin

@JohnGPeet What exactly are you saying Lord Lebedev has done wrong? Thought so.

@juanincognito @GeorgePeretzQC I thought I’d blocked you ages ago. I’m just too easy-going. You’re incognito so you may be more willing to formulate the accusation of wrong-doing you imply against Lord Lebedev. What has he done wrong?

@GeorgePeretzQC Serious lawyers would be able to formulate the accusation they want to make against Lord Lebedev.

@GeorgePeretzQC What accusation are you making against Lord Lebedev?

Lord Lebedev of Siberia should either resign from the House of Lords or be expelled, by statute if necessary His presence is a standing affront to the resistance to Putin.

Lord Lebedev of Siberia should either resign from the House of Lords or be expelled, by statute if necessary His presence is a standing affront to the resistance to Putin

Amol Rajan recalling his earlier career @BBCr4today is he the same journalist who worked closely with Lord Lebedev of Hampton & Siberia?

After my long running campaign on Lord Lebedev & his reluctance to speak out in Parliament I am intrigued as details emerge of his close connections with Boris Johnson! @thesundaytimes

@UKHouseofLords shows that there is no voting record for Lord Lebedev. But to be fair, he has spoken once!

I wonder whether Lord Lebedev of Siberia will be participating in the consideration of the Economic Crime Bill by the House of Lords this week. He might have significant insights to offer

Have I missed media interviews with Lord Lebedev of Hampton & Siberia? Asking for a friend obviously! @bbcnickrobinson @bbclaurak

Why will Lord Lebedev not condemn Putin’s invasion of Ukraine? And if he won’t, why is he remaining as a Boris Johnson appointee in the House of Lords?

@drjennings @simonjhix No, what you said about Lord Lebedev is defamatory. I’m just pointing out the evil reasoning that you imply.

“We are seriously missing the presence of our colleague Lord Lebedev of Siberia. He could have given us such insights into the mind of President Putin,” says one peer acidy in today’s debate on Ukraine

Boris Johnson getting increasingly desperate week on week. Now saying that the Labour party's biggest donor is the Chinese Communist Party. Obviously a complete and utter lie. Meanwhile many of his MPs are directly funded by Russian oligarchs and he ennobled Lord Lebedev #PMQs

Surely we will now hear comment on Russian crisis from Lord Lebedev or is there a secret deal that we haven’t been informed of?

Are we going to hear Michael Heseltine interviewed @BBCr4today this morning or is he too hot to handle like Lord Lebedev?

At a time when our relationship with Russia is critical why are we not hearing from Lord Lebedev of Moscow who is it not only a member of our Upper House but also owns a British newspaper?

Amok Rajan used to work closely with Lord Lebedev can’t he help his Editor Owenna Griffiths get his Lordship on to enlighten us all on Russian influence in London? @BBCr4today

Suspect Russian money been flooding into London for years! @BBCr4today with no action from Johnson Government! Now the time to hear from Lord Lebedev on this allegation?

Why can’t we have Lord Lebedev on? Didn’t one of the BBC team recently work closely with him? @BBCr4today

Dramatic events as Russian belligerence grows perfect time for comment from Lord Lebedev who knows Putin well why does media refuse to interview him? @BBCr4today

How curious that the operation to save Boris Johnson is named ‘operation save big dog’. Boris is the name of Lord Lebedev of Siberia’s pet dog-wolf. As @carolecadwalla pointed out previously, note the tight leash. https://t.co/pCoRamAbxb

Putin now seeks to rewrite Russian history as he silences the charity which tells the truth about the years of terror under Joseph Stalin will Lord Lebedev now speak out on this outrage? @BBCr4today

If they’ve managed to get Lord Lamont on can we now anticipate an early interview with Lord Lebedev on Russia & the massing of troops on Ukraine’s border? @BBCr4today

@carolecadwalla @BBCr4today Very good question! Perhaps ask Lord Lebedev of Siberia?

Found: Humble Address motion of the House of Commons passed on 29 March 2022, in respect of the appointment of Lord

Found: This is in respect of the appointment of Lord Lebedev to the House of Lords.