Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Mauritian counterpart on the future of the .io country code top-level domain.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with his Mauritian counterpart on the future of the .io country code top-level domain. The Government does not have any role in the management of the .io country code top-level domain. Decisions regarding the management of country code top-level domains are a matter for the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 7092 on Heathrow Airport: Railways, when her Department intends to publish a plan for future rail investment.

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

We have announced our intention to conduct a thorough review of the previous government's transport plans to ensure that our transport infrastructure portfolio drives economic growth and delivers value for money for taxpayers. Decisions about individual projects will be informed by the review process and confirmed in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding he plans to allocate to the Sevington border control post in each of the next five financial years.

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

Operating costs for the Government-run Sevington border control post are designed to be recovered by the Common User Charge (CUC)

The Government will keep the CUC rates under review and will continue to consider the impact of the charge on businesses of all sizes across all sectors. Regular reviews will be undertaken to monitor levels of payment compliance and import flows through the short straits.

Further information on the charge and the operating costs at Sevington will be made available in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport in response to the question from the hon. Member for Wokingham of 10 October 2024, Official Report, column 441, when further information in writing will be provided.

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

Given the complex issues, my officials have worked closely with Network Rail to ensure a clear and helpful response, which I understand has been sent to the Hon. member today.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of maintaining regulatory alignment with the European Union.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government continues to follow EU regulatory developments with interest and engages regularly with the EU on key regulatory developments, including through TCA structures such as the Trade Specialised Committees. I can confirm that my officials will consider the impact of UK regulatory changes through impact assessments or proportionate analysis.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to make the strengthening of UK climate commitments a priority during the negotiation of free trade agreements.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

This Government is committed to being an international leader on environmental issues, including tackling climate change, achieving net zero and delivering growth.

The FTAs with Australia, New Zealand and CPTPP include binding commitments such as non-derogation from their environmental laws, and affirm international environment and climate commitments including the Paris Agreement. The UK is committed to promoting high environmental standards and deepening cooperation with trade partners on climate and environment issues.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make it her policy to align the UK Emissions Trading System with the EU Emissions Trading System.

Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport contributes towards policy development on the UK Emissions Trading Scheme on transport related matters. Under the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the UK Government and EU agreed to consider linking our respective carbon pricing schemes and to cooperate on carbon pricing.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2024 to Question 8571 on Trade Agreements: Parliamentary Scrutiny, what options he is considering for wider scrutiny arrangements for trade agreements.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is considering all aspects of this issue. All arrangements must be proportionate and in line with the UK’s overarching constitutional framework. We need to balance effective parliamentary scrutiny whilst still ensuring the Government can negotiate effectively in the UK’s best interest.

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 launch a consultation on phasing out cages for layer hens.

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

We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards.

The use of enriched ‘colony’ cages for laying hens is an issue we will want to fully consider in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 7096 on Local Plans, for what reason she chose the local authorities to which she has written to ask for Local Growth Plans.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has been clear that, as local leaders who know their areas best, Mayors are key partners in delivering the national growth mission. That is why we are committed to transferring power out of Westminster and into local communities, devolving powers to local leaders. Local Growth Plans will be central to putting this new partnership into action.

We recognise there are growth opportunities across the country and the new Industrial Strategy will unleash the full potential of our cities and regions, concentrating efforts on places with the greatest potential for our growth sectors: city regions, high-potential clusters, and strategic industrial sites.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of introducing the third stage of the Border Target Operating Model on 31 January 2025.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government announced on 7th October that under the third stage of the Border Target Operating Model, Safety and Security declarations will be required for EU imports from 31 January 2025. Businesses who already complete Safety and Security import declarations do not need to make any changes to their existing systems or procedures, and businesses who will be required to complete Safety and Security declarations for the first time will only need to provide data deemed most critical to security.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU on farmers.

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

Data relating to farmers are regularly published. Agriculture in the UK 2023 was published in June 2024. Farming evidence packs have been recently updated including key statistics and farm performance Farming statistics evidence packs - GOV.UK. These set out an extensive range of data to provide an overview of agriculture in the UK, and the contribution of Direct Payments to farm incomes, including analysis by sector, location in England and type of land tenure.

We publish regular statistics on farm income, agricultural productivity and food production, including data earlier this year looking at how farm business income has changed since the start of the agricultural transition.

Monitoring the agricultural transition period in England, 2022/23 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We will continue to carry out appropriate and timely assessments of our interventions to inform policy development.

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 legislate to ensure that imported egg products meet welfare standards equivalent to the UK.

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

The Government recognises farmers’ concerns about imports produced using methods not permitted in the UK. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to promote the highest food production standards.

Scrutiny of Gulf Cooperation Council trade with Russia

Social care workers and National Insurance

Frozen pensions for UK citizens overseas

Prevention of cyber-crime

FareShare’s 30th anniversary

Rural Crime Action Week 2024

Veterans and the Winter Fuel Payment

Israeli Knesset decision to ban UNRWA

World Mental Health Day 2024

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 consult on phasing out the use of cages for layer hens in England.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for Wokingham, Clive Jones, on 31 October 2024, PQ UIN 11121 .