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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to consult horticultural businesses in the design and testing of new digital systems and processes for the movement of plants and plant products before those systems become mandatory.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government remains committed to delivering for traders and removing unnecessary trade barriers. The Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement will mean most movements of plants and plant products between Great Britain and the European Union being undertaken without the certificates or SPS border controls that are currently required.

Defra is engaging with key stakeholders to understand business needs ahead of the implementation of the SPS Agreement. This includes plans to work with sector stakeholders on how best to support businesses with preparing for and transitioning to new digital systems and processes under the SPS agreement.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of school attendance policies and attendance reward schemes on pupils with serious or chronic health conditions, including those undergoing treatment for cancer.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Our ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance recognises that pupils with additional needs, including serious or chronic health conditions, may face complex barriers to attendance. Schools should take a sensitive, ‘support first’ approach.

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​Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 requires maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units to support pupils with medical conditions. The ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions’ statutory guidance makes clear that pupils should be properly supported and not penalised for absences related to their condition, such as hospital appointments. Schools should work with families to understand barriers and provide appropriate support or reasonable adjustments.

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​The department does not prescribe how attendance rewards or incentives should operate. Where schools link attendance to activities, we expect them to act carefully, proportionately and without discrimination, ensuring schemes are inclusive and appropriate for all pupils, including those with disabilities or long-term health conditions.

Found: Current membership Alberto Costa (Conservative; South Leicestershire) (Chair) James Asser (Labour; West