Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report by R.E. Green, M.A. Taggart and D.J. Pain et al. entitled Outcomes from monitoring the fourth year of a five-year voluntary transition from hunting with lead to non-lead shotgun ammunition in Britain, Conservation Evidence Journal (2024) 21, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the findings in that report on the proportion of game birds that were shot with lead in 2023; and whether she plans to take steps to ban the use of lead shot in hunting.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The use of lead shot in England and Wales is already prohibited in specific circumstances by existing legislation – including on all foreshores, and in or over specified sites of special scientific interest, predominantly wetlands.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently finalising its UK REACH opinion on further action to restrict the use of lead in ammunition. This work has included looking at information submitted to them with regard to possible options to control the use of lead ammunition. The previous study from the paper cited (also known as the SHOT-SWITCH study) has been considered and is referenced in the background document of evidence and opinion with respect to what can be inferred on a voluntary transition from lead shot to alternatives.
HSE expects to issue its final restriction opinions in autumn 2024. The decision to apply any UK REACH restrictions as a further regulatory measure, or not to do so, will subsequently be made by the DEFRA Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2024 to Question 971 on Household Support Fund, what criteria she is using for her review of that Fund; and when she plans to (a) complete that review and (b) announce whether that Fund will continue beyond 30 September 2024.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP is conducting an evaluation of the fourth iteration of the Household Support Fund. This includes research with a selection of representative Local Authority case study areas, consisting of interviews with Local Authority officials and their delivery partners, and surveys and interviews with recipients of the HSF. This evaluation will provide key evidence on how Local Authorities are delivering the scheme, and their experiences of doing so, as well as the effectiveness of the funding for recipients.
The Government has announced funding to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) for a further 6 months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025.
An additional £500 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF, including funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.
As with previous HSF schemes, the Fund will be made available to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England to provide discretionary support to those most in need.
The HSF scheme guidance and individual Local Authority funding allocations for the forthcoming extension will be announced as soon as possible ahead of the scheme beginning on 1 October 2024.