Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the creation of the Western Forest.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In March 2025, the Government launched the first new National Forest in 30 years, the Western Forest. The forest will see 20 million trees planted across the West of England and create at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland, bringing nature closer to people, helping to prevent flooding, supporting wildlife, and contribute to our nature and legal environment targets.
As the accountable body for the Western Forest, the Forest of Avon Trust is working with the National Forest Company and regional partners, recruiting a strong team to mobilise the project, scoping the most suitable sites for the creation of the forest’s foundations, and raising awareness of the project across the region.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to provide exemptions to Developing Countries Trading Scheme countries for Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK has no current plans for an exemption from the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for least developed countries (LDCs). UK imports from LDCs make up a very small proportion of total CBAM imports, approximately 0.03% (HMRC origin data 2023). Using a range of sources the Government estimates that, on average, less than 1% of LDCs’ total exports of goods from CBAM sectors are exported to the UK.
The UK will continue to engage with its trade partners, including LDCs, ahead of the introduction of the CBAM.
Asked by: David Taylor (Labour - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) the International Finance Facility for Education and (b) other innovative finance models on delivering value for money in education spending.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is too early to assess the impact of the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) which was established only in 2024. The first investment cases will be approved by IFFEd's Board at the end of 2025 and projects will then begin implementation by the Asian Development Bank. An evaluation of IFFEd will take place over the next three years to understand impact.
The value for money assessments of our Results-Based Finance pilots through the Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) in Ghana and Sierra Leone are ongoing. Early analysis suggests the approach, which pays only for results achieved, leads to greater impact on children's learning outcomes. The final analysis will be available in 2026.
The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Multiplier was externally evaluated in 2023. The Multiplier was found to be an effective mechanism for unlocking additional education finance, including from new philanthropic and private sector sources, of which 30% has been non-Official Development Assistance.