Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme does not discourage investment in manufacturing.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The scheme treats domestic manufacturing and import equally, with all packaging and packaged products, whether manufactured and supplied domestically or imported into UK, subject to the obligations in the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations.
Similarly, any packaging or packaged goods manufactured in the UK and exported will not be in scope of the UK Regulations but may be in scope of the Extended Producer Responsibility regime in the country the packaging or packaged goods are being exported to.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the brewing industry and (b) other sectors on the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has worked closely with industry, including the brewing sector, throughout development of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging. Feedback from stakeholders has been factored into finalising the regulations, including consulting stakeholders on a draft of the pEPR regulation in 2023. Defra regularly holds stakeholders’ forums which are well attended by stakeholders across the drinks' value chain, and these are used to provide updates and capture feedback from impacted stakeholders. Since August 2024 we have worked closely with packaging producers to refine the approach to modelling fees and ensure they more accurately reflect the price drivers for local authority collection costs. My officials recently attended events organised by industry, and on 18 March attended a conference held by the National Association of Cider Maker’s to discuss the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and respond to concerns raised by their members.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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 healthcare apprenticeships on the availability of Advanced Clinical Practitioners in the NHS.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is committed to spreading opportunities and economic growth, supported by a strong skills system.
This government has an extremely challenging fiscal inheritance. There are tough choices that need to be taken on how funding should be prioritised in order to generate opportunities for young people that enable them to make a start in good, fulfilling careers, and the department will therefore be asking more employers to step forward and fund a significant number of level 7 apprenticeships themselves outside of the levy-funded Growth and Skills offer.
The department has received a wide range of representations, which it is currently considering. These have been received directly and via Skills England, which has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on this matter and has shared its findings with the department.
The department recognises the importance of providing clarity as soon as possible on future funding for level 7 apprenticeships and will communicate next steps in due course.
The department also continues to work across government to tackle the skills needs of different sectors, including addressing the skills gaps in the health and social care industry which were identified in Skills England’s first report on driving growth and widening opportunities.