Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many companies with a primary Standard Industrial Classification of 08 (other mining and quarrying) entered insolvency in the United Kingdom in each year since 2018.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Numbers of companies with the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 08 (other mining and quarrying) that entered insolvency in the UK in each year since 2018 are presented in the table below.
Year | Total | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
2018 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
2019 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
2020 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
2021 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
2022 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
2023 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
2024 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
2025 | 15 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
2026 [note 1] | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
Note 1: these numbers represent company insolvencies registered on or before 31 August 2026.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) the April 2022 changes to rebated diesel entitlement and (b) the oil price since March 2026 on the viability of quarrying businesses.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
As the Government announced in May, as part of a £600 million package, there will be no rise in fuel duty this year. This means the temporary 5p cut will be extended until the end of the year, providing certainty to motorists and businesses – including quarries.
Restricting the use of red diesel helps ensure the tax system incentivises users of polluting fuels like diesel to improve the energy efficiency of their vehicles and machinery, invest in cleaner alternatives, or use less fuel.
The activities which remain eligible to use red diesel are set out in HMRC Excise Notice 75.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of Capita's compliance with National Minimum Wage requirements when awarding it contracts.
Answered by Sally Jameson - Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Public Procurement Regulations require compliance with statutory National Minimum Wage standards to be evaluated during tender assessments. Bids that fail to demonstrate compliance are rejected.
Capita warrants in existing contracts let under Public Contracts Regulations 2015, that its execution, delivery and performance of its obligations will not constitute a breach of any law or obligation applicable to it and will not cause or result in a default under any agreement by which it is bound. For future contracts the Procurement Act 2023 requires all suppliers bidding for Cabinet Office contracts to comply fully with applicable UK employment legislation.
There is robust contract management undertaken on the contracts in line with Cabinet Office policy and part of this management includes obligation management on Capita. Obligation management forms part of a regime of post-award compliance monitoring and ongoing management.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way the Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on breeding will inform the assessment of targets and timescales on a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government will draw upon the wide-ranging advice within the Animal Welfare Committee’s recent report on livestock breeding in all upcoming work. The report did not however provide an in-depth assessment of the welfare status of fast-growing breeds of meat chickens.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets and timescales her Department plans to use to assess progress towards a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As stated in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government supports voluntary efforts to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds. Whilst no specific timescale has been set, the Government aims to progress the commitments in the Strategy by 2030.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider introducing mandatory restrictions if voluntary measures to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds do not deliver adequate improvements in animal welfare.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government will continue supporting voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds and is not currently considering a ban on these breeds.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department’s planned timetable is for introducing multi-use pet passports for travel from Great Britain to the EU.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area, which will mean pet owners will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU.
Discussions on the SPS agreement are progressing, and Defra has committed, with the EU, to conclude negotiations before the next UK-EU Summit. Whilst negotiations are ongoing, we are unable to provide further details on delivery timelines for multiuse pet passports.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the non-technical summaries of project licences granted in 2025, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of beagles authorised for use in scientific procedures.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government remains committed to reducing and replacing the use of animals in science, including dogs. Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 the statutory principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement require animals to be used only where there is no scientifically satisfactory alternative, in the minimum numbers necessary, and with procedures refined to minimise suffering. Through the Replacing Animals in Science strategy, we are accelerating the development, validation and regulatory uptake of alternative methods, supported by investment, regulatory reform and strengthened delivery oversight. The strategy sets out a long-term vision to eliminate animal use in science wherever possible.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will make it his policy to introduce a statutory timetable, as proposed by Herbie’s Law, for replacing the use of beagles for use in scientific procedures where validated non-animal methods are available.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Member for Falkirk to the answer provided on 17 July 2026 in response to UIN 18685.
Asked by: Euan Stainbank (Labour - Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to inform the public about (a) the risks posed by climate change and (b) steps that people and communities can take to reduce emissions and limit its effects.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
On 13 July, the Government delivered its second annual statement to Parliament on the state of climate and nature, which highlighted the latest evidence on climate change and nature loss.
Our Energising Britain plan sets out our role in providing trusted, impartial advice. A Clean Energy Mission website on GOV.UK provides households with clear, accessible and impartial information about the everyday actions people can take to cut bills, reduce emissions, and protect the environment. An enhanced service, to be launched in Autumn this year, will provide tailored guidance and support, including information on measures such as heat pumps, solar panels and batteries, available funding and support schemes, accredited installers, and green finance options, all in one place.
This summer, the first annual Energising Britain events were hosted by Government and the Local Net Zero Hubs in Bradford, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and London, to celebrate and highlight community-led climate and nature action.
After this Summer’s unprecedented heatwaves, public concern has understandably risen. The Prime Minister will be hosting a Wildfire Summit and we are working with our Climate and Nature Security Taskforce on our resilience to a changing climate.