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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle the octopus bloom in Cornwall following discussions on 20 May 2025.

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

Defra, Government scientists (Cefas), the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and local Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) met on 20 May to discuss this phenomenon, the evidence, the impacts on the crab and lobster stocks and potential actions.

Since this meeting Defra has commissioned a report from Cefas on the background, available stock science and potential causes of the bloom. The Devon and Severn IFCA have issued guidance on the regulations regarding fishing for octopus. A meeting with industry is due to take place on 6 June,

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Global Biodiversity Framework commitment to reduce excess nutrients lost to the environment by at least half by 2030, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of domestic targets (a) to reduce (i) nitrogen, (ii) phosphorous and (iii) sediment from agriculture by 40% and (ii) to reduce phosphorus loadings from treated wastewater by 80% by 2038.

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

The UK has published a full National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and UK National Targets that commit us to achieving all 23 targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at home, including Target 7 which features a pledge to reduce excess nutrients lost to the environment by at least half by 2030.

An assessment of progress toward achieving the UK National Targets and implementation of the GBF will be set out in the UK 7th National Report, due to be published in February 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to harmonise referral (a) rules and (b) procedures for mental health crisis support across regional NHS trusts; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of differences between those rules and procedures on the time taken for people living in South East Cornwall constituency to access mental health support.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We recognise the importance of ensuring equitable access to mental health crisis support across all regions, including in South East Cornwall. Substantial progress has been achieved in building more robust crisis care pathways across all ages and in all regions, towards ensuring that people in mental health crisis have access to timely and appropriate support.

For example, the Government has committed £26 million in capital investment to open new mental health crisis centres across England, which aim to provide accessible and responsive care for individuals in mental health crisis. In addition, we are piloting several neighbourhood mental health centres which provide support to individuals in crisis without needing to book an appointment. These centres operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

People of all ages in England experiencing a mental health crisis can speak to a trained National Health Service professional at any time of the day via the NHS 111 service. This service gives people the chance to be listened to by a trained member of staff who can help direct them to the right place.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce any (a) fiscal and (b) policy incentives to support longer-term leasing arrangements between (i) landowners and (ii) tenant farmers.

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

The Department recognises the benefits that longer-term tenancy agreements can provide for both tenants and landlords. The joint Defra-Industry Farm Tenancy Forum is working on guidance and best practice to encourage more landlords and tenants to enter into longer-term agreements. Alongside this we continually look at how fiscal and policy interventions across the Department may impact on landlord decisions to offer longer-term agreements. In addition, we are in the process of appointing a Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector to help embed fair practice across the sector.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage landowners to offer longer-term leases to tenant farmers.

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

The Department recognises the benefits that longer-term tenancy agreements can provide for both tenants and landlords. The joint Defra-Industry Farm Tenancy Forum is working on guidance and best practice to encourage more landlords and tenants to enter into longer-term agreements. Alongside this we continually look at how fiscal and policy interventions across the Department may impact on landlord decisions to offer longer-term agreements. In addition, we are in the process of appointing a Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector to help embed fair practice across the sector.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of mentoring schemes for service personnel transitioning out of the armed forces in South East Cornwall constituency.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Service personnel transitioning out of the military are entitled to support, including for two years post discharge, through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), delivered by Reed in Partnership since 1 October 2024. Under this contract, 94.3% of Service leavers who choose to transition to a new career have achieved that goal within six months of discharge.

Service leavers benefit from individual tailored programmes of support, dedicated expert consultancy and specialist advice, and an enhanced digital platform that provides greater and more flexible access to assistance regardless of where they are serving or where they choose to relocate. The CTP work with a supply chain of expert providers to ensure a holistic approach to resettlement, including the option of mentoring for those choosing to start their own business.

Within the South East Cornwall constituency, CTP hosted a successful regional Employment Fair at Home Park in Plymouth on 14 May 2025 which attracted over 200 Service personnel and 40 local and national employers, charities, and veteran groups. This event will now be held annually.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the type approval process for inshore vessel monitoring systems in 2021.

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

Four devices were granted type-approval in 2021, based on evidence provided that devices met the I-VMS device specification of requirements, with the roll-out starting in 2022. Following feedback of quality assurance concerns, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) paused the roll-out and commissioned a third-party testing laboratory to undertake assurance testing of the four devices in 2022/23. Those devices were evaluated according to the I-VMS device specification of requirements. As a result of that testing, two devices passed and retained MMO type-approval status. The roll-out recommenced in 2023 with those two devices.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to improve the specialist support available to bereaved military families.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Defence provides active and comprehensive support to the families of those Service personnel who die in Service. We take a holistic, multi-agency approach to supporting the bereaved with assistance provided through the single Services, the Defence Bereaved Families Group (DBFG) and Veterans Services.

Defence has recently undertaken several initiatives to improve this support including working to ensure that the bereaved community are clearly recognised and referenced as distinctly separate to any other cohort, through changes to official communication and language.

Additionally, the Purple Book (a guide that supports those responsible for handling the affairs and arrangements following a Service persons death) has recently undergone a full review following stakeholder engagement and consultation with representatives of bereaved families, to ensure its content was appropriate, accurate and informative; this was subsequently endorsed by the DBFG.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure access to specialist support through partnerships with (a) SSAFA and (b) other organisations for military families with (i) adults and (ii) children with additional needs.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Ministry of Defence acknowledges the challenges faced by Armed Forces families with dependants who have additional needs or disabilities. That is why we have committed to put the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law. Defence also continues to work with various organisations like SSAFA and Carers UK to enhance support for these families through partnerships and shared experiences. Our collaboration extends to cross-Government efforts to improve support for Service families, focusing on areas like Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to increase support for veterans entering civilian life in South East Cornwall constituency.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country, no matter which community they are based in. I am working across Government and with civil society to ensure veterans, including those in the South East Cornwall constituency, have access to the health, housing, employment and other support they need.

In England, Op RESTORE provides specialist care to veterans who have physical health problems, and Op COURAGE, a mental health specialist service helps veterans and their families. Housing support is available across the United Kingdom via Op FORTITUDE, a single referral pathway to connect veterans with help and support. Veterans can also access a range of tailored employment support, including the Career Transition Partnership, the initial point of provision for those leaving military Service in search of new job opportunities, and Op ASCEND, the employment pathway for veterans.

We recently announced VALOUR, a new commitment to establish the first-ever UK-wide approach to veteran support, to ensure easier access to essential care and support for veterans across the UK. This regional approach, based on a network of VALOUR support centres, together with regional field officers, will ensure that services are designed to meet the needs of their local communities.

Further details on VALOUR will be announced in due course and more information can be found at the following link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/valour-information-and-next-steps

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will set out the role (a) seagrasses and (b) marine nature-based solutions will have in his Department's net zero plans.

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

The Government has set out a clear mission to make Britain a Clean Energy Superpower and accelerate progress towards Net Zero. Achieving this ambition within Defra sectors requires enhanced decarbonisation efforts alongside strengthened nature-based solutions.

The Net Zero pathway for Carbon Budgets 4-6 includes nature-based measures aimed at protecting existing ecosystems, restoring degraded landscapes, and creating or sustainably managing new ecosystems. Defra is actively exploring the role of marine nature-based solutions, such as seagrass and saltmarsh restoration, to deliver both carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits.

Through the UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership (UKBCEP) Defra is working with Devolved Governments and DESNZ to address key blue carbon research questions, including assessing their carbon storage potential. The UKBCEP has established a working group and earlier this year Defra published a roadmap to help to address the evidence gaps preventing the inclusion of coastal wetlands in the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of seagrass decline on (a) climate change, (b) fisheries and (c) the rate of coastal erosion.

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

Seagrass habitats offer a range of benefits to people and nature. They store and sequester carbon, support a variety of fish species and help prevent coastal erosion. These benefits would diminish were the habitats to decline in future.

To improve our understanding of the impact of climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems such as seagrass, Defra are supporting the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP). MCCIP synthesise the latest evidence on climate change impacts and predicted trends and publish evidence updates on topics including fisheries, coastal erosion and have previously published a report card specifically on seagrass habitats.

Natural England published their “Definition of Favourable Conservation Status for seagrass beds” in 2023. This report outlined seagrass habitat status accounting for historical decline, future pressures – including as a result of climate change – as well as listing beneficial functions seagrass beds provide including for a number of fish species.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has considered introducing (a) automatic awards and (b) simplified applications for people with confirmed records of dismissal for homosexuality; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on levels of bureaucracy for (i) elderly and (ii) unwell veterans.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

As of 9 June 2025, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) had received 1,067 applications and 44 Veterans had received payments. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved. We envisage the scheme speeding up once the most complex cases are delt with.

It is important to note that due to the individual nature of each case, we do not collect data on the average time between application and payment; this metric would not provide any meaningful insight into processing times, as it will vary considerably according to the specific circumstances of each Veteran’s application.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to supporting LGBT Veterans who may face reliving traumatic experiences during the FRS impact statement process. Assistance is available to Veterans via our partner charities, Royal British Legion and Fighting with Pride. Additional support is also available from the Veterans Welfare Service. Contact details can be found on the FRS’s gov.uk page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/veterans-of-the-lgbt-ban-financial-recognition-scheme/lgbt-financial-recognition-scheme-guide-how-to-apply-for-a-financial-recognition-payment

The FRS does not have an automated award system in place. To fairly assess if an application meets the eligibility criteria, applications must be processed fully in accordance with the Scheme Rules.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is providing psychological support to LGBT veterans who are asked to relive traumatic experiences as part of the impact statement process for financial reparations.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

As of 9 June 2025, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) had received 1,067 applications and 44 Veterans had received payments. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved. We envisage the scheme speeding up once the most complex cases are delt with.

It is important to note that due to the individual nature of each case, we do not collect data on the average time between application and payment; this metric would not provide any meaningful insight into processing times, as it will vary considerably according to the specific circumstances of each Veteran’s application.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to supporting LGBT Veterans who may face reliving traumatic experiences during the FRS impact statement process. Assistance is available to Veterans via our partner charities, Royal British Legion and Fighting with Pride. Additional support is also available from the Veterans Welfare Service. Contact details can be found on the FRS’s gov.uk page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/veterans-of-the-lgbt-ban-financial-recognition-scheme/lgbt-financial-recognition-scheme-guide-how-to-apply-for-a-financial-recognition-payment

The FRS does not have an automated award system in place. To fairly assess if an application meets the eligibility criteria, applications must be processed fully in accordance with the Scheme Rules.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average time is between application and payment under LGBT Veterans Independent Review reparation schemes.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

As of 9 June 2025, the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) had received 1,067 applications and 44 Veterans had received payments. We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved. We envisage the scheme speeding up once the most complex cases are delt with.

It is important to note that due to the individual nature of each case, we do not collect data on the average time between application and payment; this metric would not provide any meaningful insight into processing times, as it will vary considerably according to the specific circumstances of each Veteran’s application.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to supporting LGBT Veterans who may face reliving traumatic experiences during the FRS impact statement process. Assistance is available to Veterans via our partner charities, Royal British Legion and Fighting with Pride. Additional support is also available from the Veterans Welfare Service. Contact details can be found on the FRS’s gov.uk page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/veterans-of-the-lgbt-ban-financial-recognition-scheme/lgbt-financial-recognition-scheme-guide-how-to-apply-for-a-financial-recognition-payment

The FRS does not have an automated award system in place. To fairly assess if an application meets the eligibility criteria, applications must be processed fully in accordance with the Scheme Rules.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce speeding (a) on small rural roads and (b) through village centres.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government’s THINK! campaign aims to change attitudes and behaviours among a primary audience of young men aged 17-24 who are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on our roads than those over 25. From January - March 2025, THINK! ran a speeding campaign highlighting the risks of driving too fast for the conditions on rural roads, circumstances that contribute to high numbers of young driver casualties. The campaign featured advertising in cinemas, radio, digital audio and gaming environments, as well as working with content creators and influential platforms to tackle speeding via voices the young audience trust.

Decisions on making local speed limits on roads in England rest with traffic authorities who have responsibility for roads in local areas. The Department for Transport issues best practice guidance to assist authorities setting local speed limits, designed to make sure that speed limits are appropriately and consistently set while allowing for flexibility to deal with local circumstances.

It is for local authorities to decide where reduced speed limits will be effective on the roads they manage, and consultation and community support should be at the heart of the process.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding is available to local authorities to improve road safety in villages.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. To this end, my Department is developing its Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.

The Department for Transport makes highways and local transport funding available to local transport authorities, who decide how to use the funding to support local priorities. Local authorities have the responsibility of making decisions about the roads under their care, based on their knowledge of the area and taking into account local needs and considerations. This includes setting local speed limits and introducing traffic calming measures.

Local authorities are best placed to decide on delivery of road safety initiatives, because of their knowledge of the roads for which they are responsible. We aid local authorities by providing guidance and initiatives such as our flagship road safety campaign, THINK!

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of fly-tipping incidents in South East Cornwall constituency.

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

Fly-tipping is a serious crime which blights local communities and the environment, and we appreciate the difficulty and cost that it poses to landowners.

Local councils are usually best placed to tackle fly-tipping in their areas, and they have a range of enforcement powers to help them do so. These include fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, seizing and crushing of vehicles and prosecution action. We encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers and are taking steps to develop new enforcement guidance. We have also announced a review of council powers to seize and crush vehicles of fly-tippers, to identify how we could help them make better use of this tool.

In our manifesto we committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess that they have created as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. We will provide further details on this commitment in due course.

In the meantime, Defra continue to chair the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group through which we work with a wide range of stakeholders, such as local authorities and the National Farmers Union, to share good practice on preventing fly-tipping, including on private land. Various practical tools are available from their webpage which is available here.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will set out how the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan will take into account the distribution of (a) seagrasses and (b) other blue carbon stores when determining the (i) optimal locations, (ii) quantities, and (iii) types of energy infrastructure at sea.

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

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will treat blue carbon stores, such as seagrass beds, saltmarshes and subtidal/intertidal biogenic reefs, as environmental constraints in its spatial evaluation framework. It will draw on datasets such as NIRAS’s MPA Risk Layers and The Crown Estate’s Marine Irreplaceable Habitats. The SSEP will be updated every 3 years, and as more data becomes available on blue carbon stores it will be considered in future iterations of the SSEP.

Found: of 21 (85.7%) Barry Gardiner (Labour, Brent West) (added 28 Oct 2024) 16 of 21 (76.2%) Anna Gelderd

Found: Shrewsbury) Ellie Chowns (Green Party; North Herefordshire) Barry Gardiner (Labour; Brent West) Anna Gelderd

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Toby Perkins (Chair); Julia Buckley; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Toby Perkins (Chair); Julia Buckley; Barry Gardiner; Anna Gelderd

Found: Susan Murray Clive Jones Adrian Ramsay Adam Jogee Dr Simon Opher Jodie Gosling Kim Leadbeater Anna Gelderd

Found: Cooper Ruth Cadbury Tom Gordon Dr Al Pinkerton Susan Murray Clive Jones Dr Simon Opher Anna Gelderd

Found: Cooper Ruth Cadbury Tom Gordon Dr Al Pinkerton Susan Murray Clive Jones Dr Simon Opher Anna Gelderd

Found: Cooper Ruth Cadbury Tom Gordon Dr Al Pinkerton Susan Murray Clive Jones Dr Simon Opher Anna Gelderd

Found: Cooper Ruth Cadbury Tom Gordon Dr Al Pinkerton Susan Murray Clive Jones Dr Simon Opher Anna Gelderd

Found: Cooper Ruth Cadbury Tom Gordon Dr Al Pinkerton Susan Murray Clive Jones Dr Simon Opher Anna Gelderd

Found: Victoria Collins Steve Race Tom Gordon Dr Al Pinkerton Susan Murray Clive Jones Dr Simon Opher Anna Gelderd

Tennis APPG
Tuesday 10th June 2025

Found: Public Policy Manager Members Alex Barros-Curtis MP Alex Sobel Alison Griffiths MP Anna Gelderd

Climate Change APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Johanna Baxter MP, Lord McConnell, Richard Baker MP, Manuela Perteghella MP, Anna Gelderd

Global Education APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Sightsavers The Steve Sinnott Foundation UCU War Child For enquiries about this report contact: Anna Gelderd