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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what engagement he has had with the Welsh Government to discuss the upcoming food strategy.

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

The UK’s food system is fully integrated across the four nations, though significant elements of food policy are devolved. Our strategy will therefore consider the food system across the whole of the UK, with the UK Government working closely with the Devolved Governments to ensure a coordinated approach, and where possible seek to ensure it complements devolved policy set at a national level.

Defra has already engaged with the Devolved Governments at both a ministerial and senior official level regarding the food strategy. Defra Secretary of State provided an update on the strategy to the EFRA Interministerial Group in January. There is ongoing engagement between officials.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on how many occasions has the Groceries Code Adjudicator imposed the maximum fine on a retailer for non-compliance since 2013.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Since 2013 the Groceries Code Adjudicator has not imposed a fine on a retailer for non-compliance.

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) has a number of levers to deal with non-compliance and resolve disputes. Following an investigation into a regulated retailer which has breached the Code, the Adjudicator can issue recommendations against a retailer, require retailers to publish details of a breach or fine retailers up to 1% of their annual turnover.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on permitting a vaccine for Bluetongue; and what discussions he has had with devolved Administrations on ensuring that vaccine is available across the United Kingdom.

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

Defra’s approach to bluetongue virus (BTV) considers the latest scientific evidence and veterinary advice and aims to limit the spread of infection through proportionate and evidence-based control measures.

Close collaborative working on bluetongue vaccination with Devolved Governments is facilitated through the bluetongue vaccine task force. The task force was established in April 2024 by Defra as a cross-government and industry task force to progress opportunities for bluetongue vaccination for BTV-3.

Supported by the work of the bluetongue vaccination taskforce, in the absence of UK authorised vaccines for BTV-3 following assessment by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) the Secretary of State in 2024 permitted the use of three unauthorised vaccines for emergency use in line with bluetongue legislation, in the UK subject to licence. A general licence permitting the use of these vaccines in England from 26 September 2024 has been published by Defra. The Welsh Government has also announced plans that a licence for the three BTV-3 vaccines for use in Wales from 1 March 2025 will be made available. Licences for Scotland and Northern Ireland are not currently available, but the use of BTV-3 vaccines in these areas remain under review. We advise animal keepers that are considering using the vaccine to speak to their private vet for advice.

Defra, in conjunction with the VMD will continue to monitor the development and availability of BTV vaccines as they are put forward for market authorisation by vaccine manufacturers.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Ofwat on ensuring that any fines placed on water companies are not passed onto customers in the form of higher bills.

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

The cost burden for water company fines is borne by their shareholders, not by customers.

Ofwat have been clear that when financial penalties are imposed on water companies, customers should not bear the costs and water companies cannot surcharge their customers to recover the funds.

During its first week in office, the Government announced that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. Ofwat will ensure that when money for investment is not spent, companies refund customers.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on reducing waiting times for NHS treatment.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

I regularly meet with the First Minister to discuss a wide range of matters, including health and NHS waiting lists in Wales. Our two Governments are working in a spirit of genuine collaboration.

In the Autumn Budget, we provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS. An extra £600 million in funding has now been announced by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26.

I welcome the news that waiting times in Wales are heading in the right direction. We will continue to support the Welsh Government to deliver improved public services for the people of Wales as we did with record funding in the Autumn Budget.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps she is taking to collaborate with the Welsh Government on cross-border healthcare.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

We are working in a spirit of genuine collaboration to do everything possible to cut waiting lists and build an NHS fit for the future. Our two Governments are already learning from best practice in areas such as the Welsh Government’s work on dentistry and GP practices, and in the UK Government’s plans to roll out extra elective capacity, including through new surgical hubs. We will continue to explore cross-border health arrangements where capacity allows.

In the Autumn Budget, we provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion to invest in public services like the NHS. An extra £600 million in funding has now been announced by the Welsh Government for health and social care in their Budget for 2025/26.

I welcome the news that waiting times in Wales are heading in the right direction. We will continue to support the Welsh Government to deliver improved public services for the people of Wales as we did with record funding in the Autumn Budget.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the Child Poverty Taskforce will interact with the Welsh Government.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Child Poverty Taskforce Ministers and Officials meet regularly with Ministers and Officials from the Devolved Governments. Working closely with partners across all UK nations and regions is a central part of our approach to developing the strategy, as set out in Tackling Child Poverty: Developing Our Strategy.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on securing an EU-UK veterinary agreement.

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

In line with our manifesto commitment, the Government is committed to resetting our EU relationship, including by seeking to negotiate a SPS agreement. We have been clear that an SPS agreement could boost trade and deliver significant benefits on both sides. We will not be providing a running commentary on discussions with the EU. We cannot provide further information at this stage whilst negotiations are continuing.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to work with the (a) CLA, (b) NFU, (c) FUW and (d) other industry bodies to protect working farms in the context of the proposed changes to APR and BPR.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As the Minister responsible for the UK tax system, I have participated in several meetings with agricultural organisations since Autumn Budget 2024 to listen to their views. Most recently, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs and I met with representatives from various agricultural organisations, including all those highlighted, on 18 February 2025.

As the Government has outlined, the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to support ongoing research into Alzeimher's.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government’s responsibility for delivering research into Alzheimer’s disease is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The NIHR is delivering a wide range of research initiatives into Alzheimer’s disease. For example, the NIHR is investing nearly £50 million over five years into the Dementia Trials Network, which seeks to significantly expand the United Kingdom’s early phase clinical trial capabilities for dementia.

The NIHR also invests significantly in building the next generation of dementia researchers, which includes partnering with Alzheimer’s Society to fund and support a cohort of post-doctoral health and care researchers.

UKRI funds research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, across a broad portfolio of investments, including research projects, fellowships, and programmes of work within our institutes. Key recent investments in neurodegeneration research include the Dementia Research Institute, use of the Science Technology and Facilities Council’s facilities in Alzheimer’s research, an Innovate UK contribution to the Longitude Prize on Dementia, and £10 million of funding through the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund for a Neurological and Psychiatric Imaging Research and Therapeutics Hub at Kings College London.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many staff work for the Groceries Code Adjudicator; and whether any of those staff are seconded from other Departments.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is funded by a levy on the fourteen regulated retailers covered by the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. It does not employ its own staff but may make arrangements for staff to be seconded from any other public authority. There are currently five employees from the Department for Business and Trade and four employees from other Departments that are seconded to the GCA.

Fibrenest and Persimmon homes

National Apprenticeships Week 2025

Refusal of Citizenship to refugees who have made irregular crossings

Cash acceptance

Covid-19 Day of Reflection 2025

Rail fare increase

Shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy

The Bereavement Journey programme

Regional Inequalities in energy pricing

Supporting British farmers

Blue Flag status for rivers

Found: Letter dated 05/02/2025 from Professor Sir Ian Diamond to David Chadwick MP in response to a Written

Submit Evidence (by 14 Apr 2025)

Wales has a long tradition of farming, and the sector is integral to the Welsh economy. In 2022, agriculture, fishing and forestry accounted for 1.8% of total employment in Wales and over 90% of the land area of Wales is utilised for farming. Our predecessor Committee reported that in 2020, the gross output of agriculture in Wales was worth £1.7 billion to the Welsh economy, with agriculture comprising 1% of the total Gross Value Added for Wales.