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 transparency in the (a) calculation and (b) use of extended producer responsibility fees.

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

The Local Authority Packaging Cost and Performance Model (LAPCAP), alongside the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 will provide transparency on fee calculations and how the fees are used by Local Authorities. PackUK, the scheme administrator for pEPR, is required to publish information explaining how it has assessed Local Authority payments for the Operational Year.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the EU Green Taxonomy regulations apply to Northern Ireland.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The EU Taxonomy Regulation, which is part of the EU's sustainable finance framework, does not directly apply in Northern Ireland.

There are some circumstances where a UK company may be subject to the EU Taxonomy reporting requirements because of its operations in the EU. This could apply to relevant companies in Northern Ireland, just as elsewhere in the UK.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of divestment in the UK defence industry as a consequence of (a) the Paris Climate Agreement and (b) UK Climate Transition Benchmarks.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We have not carried out an assessment into the impacts of divestment in the UK’s Defence Industry due to (a) the Paris Climate Agreement and (b) UK Climate Transition Benchmarks. This is because we see no conflict between investment in Defence and sustainable investment. The Defence Industrial Strategy - Statement of Intent, published in December 2024, identified the mobilisation of additional private sector investment as essential to the Government’s agenda to strengthen our nation’s defences and grow our economy.

Reducing the carbon footprint of Defence is not differentiated from this investment. Accelerating the development and adoption of dual use energy and circular economy technologies can deliver operational advantage and resilience while reducing emissions. For example, trials integrating alternative fuel sources and renewable energy technology can further unlock an ability to operate for longer periods without resupply and at greater reach across a dispersed battlefield.

Our ambition is for a better, more integrated, more innovative and more resilient defence industry and we will be publishing a Defence Industrial Strategy aligned to this ambition.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Annex 2 of the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1816, whether Trident renewal is classified as a controversial weapon for the purposes of (a) environmental, social, and governance and (b) ethical investments.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK Benchmarks Regulation sets out the requirements for UK Climate Transition Benchmarks and UK Paris-aligned Benchmarks. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) monitor and supervise benchmark administrators according to the Benchmarks Regulation to ensure that benchmarks are produced robustly and with due transparency. The FCA published a statement regarding their position on sustainability regulations and UK defence investment on 11 March 2025.

It is for benchmark administrators to decide if they wish to provide UK Climate Transition Benchmarks and UK Paris-aligned benchmarks under the Benchmarks Regulation, including by paying due regard to the relevant FCA guidance, and which companies to include in their benchmarks. It is then up to firms and investors to choose whether to use these benchmarks.

This Government does not see a conflict between sustainable investment and investment in our world-leading defence sector.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 202, to Question 33375 on Environment Protection: Finance, whether (a) UK Paris-aligned Benchmarks and (b) UK Climate Transition Benchmarks require investment in firms which support the renewal of Trident nuclear deterrent to be excluded.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK Benchmarks Regulation sets out the requirements for UK Climate Transition Benchmarks and UK Paris-aligned Benchmarks. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) monitor and supervise benchmark administrators according to the Benchmarks Regulation to ensure that benchmarks are produced robustly and with due transparency. The FCA published a statement regarding their position on sustainability regulations and UK defence investment on 11 March 2025.

It is for benchmark administrators to decide if they wish to provide UK Climate Transition Benchmarks and UK Paris-aligned benchmarks under the Benchmarks Regulation, including by paying due regard to the relevant FCA guidance, and which companies to include in their benchmarks. It is then up to firms and investors to choose whether to use these benchmarks.

This Government does not see a conflict between sustainable investment and investment in our world-leading defence sector.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reductions in funding for level seven apprenticeships on the availability of Chartered Town Planners in local government.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Salisbury to the answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23140.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to publish guidance on how businesses should report extended producer responsibility-related costs in their financial accounts.

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

It is not for the Government to provide guidance on how, or when to account for pEPR fees and we would encourage producers to engage with their respective audit firms where required. Further context on intended application of Regulation 60 Liability of producers to pay annual disposal and administration fees was issued in January, which is sufficient for respective audit firms to advise where required.

Found: Phil Brickell Sarah Olney Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Chris Vince Clive Efford Michelle Welsh John Glen

Found: Q229 John Glen: Chancellor, can I turn to the issue of tariffs?

Found: Q120 John Glen: Could we turn to tariffs?

Found: Q9 John Glen: Could I ask a follow-up on that specific point?

Found: Shah Antonia Bance Jess Asato Kirsteen Sullivan John Grady Bradley Thomas Sir Desmond Swayne John Glen

Found: Shah Antonia Bance Jess Asato Kirsteen Sullivan John Grady Bradley Thomas Sir Desmond Swayne John Glen

Found: Shah Antonia Bance Jess Asato Kirsteen Sullivan John Grady Bradley Thomas Sir Desmond Swayne John Glen

Found: Shah Antonia Bance Jess Asato Kirsteen Sullivan John Grady Bradley Thomas Sir Desmond Swayne John Glen

Found: Shah Antonia Bance Jess Asato Kirsteen Sullivan John Grady Bradley Thomas Sir Desmond Swayne John Glen

Found: Shah Antonia Bance Jess Asato Kirsteen Sullivan John Grady Bradley Thomas Sir Desmond Swayne John Glen

Found: since written to the Rt Hon Dr Thérèse Coffey MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the John Glen

Found: John Glen MP, expressing disappointment that the budgetary processes of the Senedd were not taken into