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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the report Sustainable Alternatives to Culled Chicks as Captive Raptor and Reptile Feed published by the Vegetarian Society UK on 4 June 2026.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government will consider the Vegetarian Society UK’s report on alternative feed sources for raptors and reptiles as part of its work to work towards seeing an end the practice of culling male laying hen chicks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the size of the UK coach fleet.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There is no official estimate of the current coach fleet size. The Confederation of Passenger Transport published a report in 2020 which estimated that the UK coach fleet comprised around 27,500 vehicles.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how much funding was provided to the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) each year between 2020-2025; and what proportion of that funding was spent on activities intended to replace the use of animals in scientific procedures (as opposed to activities focused on refinement or reduction).

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NC3Rs receives funding from a number of sources. Its core funding is provided by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) which are part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Core funding for financial years:

2020/21: £9.35M

2021/22: £9.45M

2022/23: £10.20M

2023/24: £10.00M

2024/25: £10.10M

2025/26: £7.93M

Replacement of the use of animals is included in all NC3Rs programmes with the exception of its animal welfare projects. Between 2020/21 and 2024/25, more than 80% of grants awarded by the NC3Rs have been to replace the use of animals.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of prolonged periods of dry weather on the risk of surface water flooding when heavy rainfall occurs; and what steps she is taking to help prepare for that risk.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra keeps flood risks under continual review. The dry conditions of recent months have meant the ground is hard and compacted across the country, increasing the risk of localised surface water flooding in all areas following heavy rain or thunderstorms.

The Government is supporting improved surface water flood forecasting and risk mapping. The daily Flood Guidance Statement, produced by the Environment Agency and Met Office, provides regular assessments of the risk of surface water flooding. This helps lead local flood authorities, who manage local flood risks from surface water.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of replacement batteries for defibrillators.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has arrangements in place to help ensure the continuity of the supply of medical products, such as replacement batteries for defibrillators, including the National Supply Disruption Response service, which – in the event of a supply issue – can work with the medical supply industry, the health and care system, and our system partners to help minimise any impact on the provision of care.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the total amount of public funding allocated to the development, validation and uptake of human-specific research methods each year between 2020-2025.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invests in a range of human-specific research that does not rely on animal studies. Many studies developing and using human-specific and alternative methods are classified as basic research, so any funding values given would be an underestimate. Examples include the Medical Research Council’s Experimental Medicine programme, a £15 million UKRI, NC3Rs and Wellcome funding call for novel human in vitro models of complex disease, and an £18 million Experimental Medicine funding call on neurodegeneration. Between 2020 and 2025, UKRI also invested approximately £10 million annually in the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will provide the total number and the total value of successful claims by Network Rail to claim back from hauliers costs incurred by bridge strikes.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Network Rail's bridge strike data does not record whether an incident was caused by a haulier, bus operator or other heavy goods vehicle. Since the start of Control Period 7 (1 April 2024), Network Rail has recovered £16.28 million in costs arising from bridge strikes. During this period, Network Rail has pursued 3,162 recovery claims, of which 822 resulted in a financial recovery.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the professions of the members on DEFRA’s Infrastructure Board.

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

The Defra Infrastructure Board is an internal cross-government forum, with representation from a range of government departments and public bodies. It draws on expertise from across government, with relevant technical experts attending as required.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in each constituency in the East of England have been identified by HMRC as being owed pension tax relief as a result of not receiving the full tax relief available on pension contributions.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

HMRC do not hold information on owed pension tax relief by constituency.

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 introduce a national minimum urban tree canopy cover target for local authorities.

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

The Government is committed to meeting the statutory Environment Act target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover in England to at least 16.5% by 2050. We continue to support local authorities and partners to increase tree cover, including in towns and cities, through a range of tree planting and establishment programmes.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how much funding was provided to the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research in each year from 2020 to 2025; and what proportion of that funding was allocated to replacing the use of animals in scientific procedures.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 08 September 2026 to Question UIN 23681 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of public funding allocated to the development, validation and uptake of human-specific research methods in each year from 2020 to 2025.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 August 2026 to Question UIN 23680 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the impact of the rule that prohibits UK television broadcasters from showing live Premier League matches on Saturdays between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on (a) attendance of non premier league football games and (b) pirating of Premier League matches.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Article 48 of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Statutes, which facilitates the “3pm blackout” is voluntarily adopted by the Football Association (the FA) with the aim of protecting ticket sales for lower leagues in the football pyramid.

As the Minister stated on the floor of the House of Commons during Second Reading of the Sporting Events Bill on 3 September, this is “an issue for the Football Association, but we support the current situation, as we recognise the importance of this for the lower leagues'".

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department is taking steps to support the approval of air-to-air heat pumps for inclusion in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is taking steps to support the inclusion of air-to-air heat pumps in the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The necessary legislative changes have already been made and the scheme is ready to provide £2,500 grants for eligible installations.

It is also necessary to ensure that there are standards in place and installers are accredited to install air-to-air heat pumps. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is working closely with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme and Certification Bodies to deliver these.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to address the 38 per cent increase in non-human primates bred in Africa and used for the first time in scientific procedures in the UK in 2025.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is committed to ensuring that non-human primates used in scientific procedures are sourced responsibly and used only where no suitable alternative is available. In 2025, 1,845 non-human primates were used for the first time in scientific procedures in Great Britain. All marmosets, tamarins and rhesus monkeys were born at licensed establishments in the UK, while the majority of cynomolgus monkeys were born overseas, but were not sourced from the wild.

Following advice from the Animals in Science Committee, the Home Office strengthened its sourcing requirements from 1 August 2025 so that non-human primates should come from established captive-breeding populations rather than being sourced from the wild. These requirements are supported by a time-limited transitional arrangement and a commitment to review their operation.

The Government supports the use of UK-bred non-human primates where suitable animals are available. However, sourcing decisions must take account of scientific requirements, animal welfare, biosecurity and the availability of appropriate breeding populations. The Home Office will continue to monitor sourcing data and the effect of the strengthened requirements.

The Government is also investing £75 million through its strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal use.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the use of non-human primates in scientific procedures.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is committed to ensuring that non-human primates used in scientific procedures are sourced responsibly and used only where no suitable alternative is available. In 2025, 1,845 non-human primates were used for the first time in scientific procedures in Great Britain. All marmosets, tamarins and rhesus monkeys were born at licensed establishments in the UK, while the majority of cynomolgus monkeys were born overseas, but were not sourced from the wild.

Following advice from the Animals in Science Committee, the Home Office strengthened its sourcing requirements from 1 August 2025 so that non-human primates should come from established captive-breeding populations rather than being sourced from the wild. These requirements are supported by a time-limited transitional arrangement and a commitment to review their operation.

The Government supports the use of UK-bred non-human primates where suitable animals are available. However, sourcing decisions must take account of scientific requirements, animal welfare, biosecurity and the availability of appropriate breeding populations. The Home Office will continue to monitor sourcing data and the effect of the strengthened requirements.

The Government is also investing £75 million through its strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal use.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to increase the proportion of non-human primates used in scientific procedures that are bred in the UK.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is committed to ensuring that non-human primates used in scientific procedures are sourced responsibly and used only where no suitable alternative is available. In 2025, 1,845 non-human primates were used for the first time in scientific procedures in Great Britain. All marmosets, tamarins and rhesus monkeys were born at licensed establishments in the UK, while the majority of cynomolgus monkeys were born overseas, but were not sourced from the wild.

Following advice from the Animals in Science Committee, the Home Office strengthened its sourcing requirements from 1 August 2025 so that non-human primates should come from established captive-breeding populations rather than being sourced from the wild. These requirements are supported by a time-limited transitional arrangement and a commitment to review their operation.

The Government supports the use of UK-bred non-human primates where suitable animals are available. However, sourcing decisions must take account of scientific requirements, animal welfare, biosecurity and the availability of appropriate breeding populations. The Home Office will continue to monitor sourcing data and the effect of the strengthened requirements.

The Government is also investing £75 million through its strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternatives to animal use.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the use of animals in scientific procedures undertaken to meet regulatory requirements outside the UK and EU.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are supporting the development, validation and international acceptance of alternative methods, including through the forthcoming UK Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (UKCVAM), engagement with international regulators and participation in OECD test guideline programmes. We are also strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships to support the global uptake of validated alternatives, helping to reduce reliance on animal testing while maintaining high standards of human, animal and environmental safety.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals, Great Britain 2025, published in July 2026, what assessment she has made of the use of 11,213 mice in procedures reported under the LD50 and LC50 test.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

All procedures using protected animals, including the LD50 and LC50 tests, are subject to strict regulation under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). No project licence can be granted unless a Home Office inspector has completed a harm-benefit analysis and concluded that the likely benefits justify the harms to the animals.

As part of that assessment, inspectors consider the scientific rationale, whether the proposed method is appropriate to achieve the stated benefits, and whether suitable non-animal alternatives are available. The use of animals is authorised only where those tests are judged necessary, justified and proportionate.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support fire services across the East of England to tackle wildfires.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Fire and rescue services have been responding to an exceptionally challenging period of wildfire activity, with multiple significant incidents being managed simultaneously across England and Wales.

Measures have already been utilised to assist with the response to emergencies such as the ban on the disposable BBQs introduced on 14 August as well as use of the emergency alert system across the East of England and other parts of the UK. These are options that will assist emergency services going forward.

This year, we have made available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power to standalone fire and rescue authorities in England (excluding York & North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester) through the Local Government Finance Settlement. It is for each fire and rescue authority to decide how best to use that funding, including for wildfire training, preparation and prevention, based on local risk.

Found: of Committee’s meeting on 8 September 2026 The Committee met in private and heard ideas from Alex Mayer

Found: present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Jacob Collier; Daniel Francis; Alex Mayer

Found: present: Ruth Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Jacob Collier; Daniel Francis; Alex Mayer

Found: Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Jacob Collier; Daniel Francis; Olly Glover; Alex Mayer

Found: Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Jacob Collier; Daniel Francis; Olly Glover; Alex Mayer

Found: Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Jacob Collier; Daniel Francis; Olly Glover; Alex Mayer

Found: Cadbury (Chair); Steff Aquarone; Dr Scott Arthur; Jacob Collier; Daniel Francis; Olly Glover; Alex Mayer

Submit Evidence (by 13 Nov 2026)

The Transport Committee is exploring Government interventions in public transport fares, pricing and ticketing.