Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure animal shelters are (a) appropriately registered and (b) operating ethically.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Rescue and rehoming establishments in England must comply with statutory welfare requirements set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Defra engages regularly with stakeholders across the animal welfare sector, including on issues relating to rescue and rehoming practices.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) schools and (b) trusts to (i) establish and (ii) expand sixth forms offering academic qualifications in (A) areas with unmet demand and (B) other areas.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
New or expanded school sixth form provision needs to improve choice and attainment for all pupils. Academies wishing to add sixth form places can do so by applying to the department to make a significant change, demonstrating a clear need for additional places in the area. Maintained schools must follow the statutory process for making prescribed alterations.
In the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June 2025, the government announced a further £375 million of capital investment between 2026/27 and 2029/30 to support post-16 capacity to accommodate additional learners entering the system. Further details on this funding will be announced in due course.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure pupils do not have to travel out of their area to access suitable sixth-form options.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Proposed changes to mainstream sixth form provision need to improve choice and attainment for all pupils. Academies wishing to make changes to their sixth forms can do so by applying to the department to make a significant change. The distance that pupils must travel to attend sixth form as a result of any change is considered as part of that decision making process. Maintained schools must follow the statutory process for making prescribed alterations.
In the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June, the government announced a further £375 million of capital investment in 2026/27 and 2029/30 to support post-16 capacity to accommodate additional learners entering the system. Further details on this funding will be announced in due course.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the extent of potential regional disparities in academic post-16 provision.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department publishes annually the attainment of students at the end of their 16 to 18 study in England, including for A levels and other academic level 3 qualifications. Key headline statistics are broken down by geographical areas based on school and college location.
The government is committed to ensuring that the further education (FE) sector and schools are supported to achieve continuous improvement and improved outcomes for learners. The department operates a structured model of oversight and support for FE colleges, sixth form colleges and Designated Institutions, including a range of help and support available from the Further Education Commissioner.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 adequacy of regulations on dog breeding licenses.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We know climate change presents challenges to the agricultural sector. The government is offering a New Deal for Farmers to help address this.
We are providing farmers and land managers with the support needed to help restore nature, which is vital to safeguard our long-term food security and build resilience to climate change. In the recent spending review we committed to carrying on the transition towards paying to deliver public goods for the environment, with over £7 billion directed into nature’s recovery between 2026 and 2029. This includes environmental farming schemes (£5.9 billion), tree planting (£816 million) and peatland restoration (£85 million).
To address the impacts of flooding on farmers and rural communities, we will be investing £4.2 billion over three years in flood defences across the country – an average of £1.4bn each year and a 5% increase compared to the current spending review period
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating a registration system for pet dogs.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have no plans currently to introduce a registration system for pet dogs. Since 2016, all dogs over eight weeks old must be microchipped and registered with a compliant database. A separate registration system for pet dogs is therefore not necessary.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that dogs being cared for by (a) charity and (b) rescue centres are (i) spayed, (ii) neutered and (iii) microchipped.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra engages regularly with a range of stakeholders across the animal welfare and charity sectors, including on issues relating to rescue and rehoming practices.
Under the Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023, it is a requirement for all dogs to be microchipped by the time they are eight weeks old.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of custodial sentences for perpetrators of (a) animal abuse and (b) animal neglect.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra regularly meets the RSPCA and other stakeholders to discuss animal welfare issues affecting the sector including any trends in animal welfare offences.
Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is an offence under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In 2021, the maximum sentence for this offence was increased to five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
Sentencing decisions in individual cases are entirely a matter for our independent courts. The Sentencing Council have issued guidelines on animal cruelty which are available on its website at: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/animal-cruelty/.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of animal (a) abuse and (b) neglect.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra regularly meets the RSPCA and other stakeholders to discuss animal welfare issues affecting the sector including any trends in animal welfare offences.
Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is an offence under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In 2021, the maximum sentence for this offence was increased to five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
Sentencing decisions in individual cases are entirely a matter for our independent courts. The Sentencing Council have issued guidelines on animal cruelty which are available on its website at: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/crown-court/item/animal-cruelty/.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Reform UK - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether local elections will take place in Essex in 2026.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Yes. Local elections in Essex will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026.