Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to develop a strategy for (a) preventing and (b) responding to wildfires.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Prime Minister announced in February 2025 that the Home Office’s fire functions would move to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) from the 1 April 2025 under a machinery of government (MOG) change. This included its responsibilities as lead government department for wildfire.

In the Third National Adaptation Plan (2023) the previous government committed to scoping a wildfire strategy and action plan. Prior to the MOG the Home Office convened a number of stakeholder workshops with the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra), its’ agencies, and other stakeholders to identify policy options for addressing wildfire risk. The outcomes of this work are currently being considered.

Since 2024 the government has funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor to assess what additional national capabilities might be needed in the fire sector to increase resilience to wildfire risk. In addition to ensuring the effective coordination of approaches across the sector, MHCLG has also been working with other departments, stakeholders and partners to identify further research opportunities to enhance our understanding of wildfire risk.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department will introduce statutory guidance for the implementation of Simpler Recycling.

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

We have published non-statutory guidance to assist local authorities, other waste collectors and workplaces implement the Simpler Recycling requirements. This includes guidance on:

• Simpler recycling: household recycling in England
• Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England
• Collecting paper and card with other dry recyclable materials: written assessments
• Ensuring good waste collection services for households

We welcome stakeholder feedback, and we are working with our networks of local authority and waste collector stakeholders to identify and develop additional guidance where appropriate.

We are also working collaboratively with sector experts, Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), to provide further tools and guidance to support the implementation of Simpler Recycling.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has considered introducing (a) performance standards and (b) other mandatory requirements for material recovery facilities to sort materials collected at kerbside under the Simpler Recycling in England policy.

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

Defra is working with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and waste industry representatives to support MRF (Material Recovery Facility) readiness for the Simpler Recycling requirements.

We have engaged with MRF operators and local authorities through WRAP’s MRF Forum to identify challenges with MRF capacity, investment, upgrade timelines, and to work with the sector to identify interventions to support MRFs as they prepare for Simpler Recycling.

The MRF operators who are engaged with us are aware of their obligations and are working hard to upgrade their facilities to ensure they can separate the target materials as required by Simpler Recycling.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to introduce a target for the recycling of fibre-based composite packaging.

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

The Government continues to keep the need and timing for the introduction of a separate FBC targets under review. We will consider further once we have improved data on the tonnages of FBC placed on the marked, and the tonnage currently recycled, to establish appropriate targets.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what proportion of vehicles rented by his Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In FY24-25, DESNZ had 149 hires, including 6 electric vehicles. The data for FY25-26 to date is not yet available.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero was formed in February 2023, therefore there is no data for DESNZ prior to that date. Additionally, for FY23-24 the car hire contract used was still under DESNZ’s predecessor department, Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and all bookings were assigned to BEIS cost centres. It is not possible to determine which of these hires related to DESNZ.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of land-based fish farms which use indoor tanks instead of ocean- or lake-based pens on animal welfare.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Current legislation already provides protection for farmed fish kept for the production of meat or other products whilst on farm. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any protected animal, including fish, or to fail to provide for the welfare needs of a protected animal, for which that person is responsible. The Farm Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish was also published in 2014.

The potential impact of land-based recirculating aquaculture systems on fish welfare is an issue we are considering.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, what proportion of vehicles rented by her Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The Attorney General’s Office does not rent vehicles. Vehicles used by the department are owned by the Government.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of vehicles rented by his Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

None of the 14 vehicles hired by the Department during the 2023/24 financial year were fully electric. The Department is setting up a vehicle hire contract with a new supplier that will increase the availability of electric hire vehicles for staff.

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 impact of EU Commission proposals to phase out (a) enriched cages and (b) farrowing crates on UK-EU trade of agricultural goods.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which we are currently considering very carefully.

All agri-food products must comply with our import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market and we work with our trade partners to achieve that in the least trade restrictive way possible. This includes ensuring imported meat products have been slaughtered to animal welfare standards equivalent to our domestic standards. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to support economic growth and promote the highest standards of food production.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed Nature Restoration Fund will (a) supersede and (b) compliment the existing biodiversity net gain obligations for new developments under the Environment Act 2021.

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

The Nature Restoration Fund will not supersede existing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) obligations for new developments.

BNG is a requirement which applies to most new development across England, aiming to leave habitats in a measurably better state than they were beforehand by delivering a 10% net gain for biodiversity. It came into effect in February 2024. The 10% net gain can be delivered through on-site habitat enhancements, off-site through the new market for biodiversity units, or by purchasing statutory biodiversity credits from the government, as a last resort.

The Nature Restoration Fund will focus on enabling development in areas where that has stalled due to specific environmental obligations relating to impacts on protected sites and species in those areas. Developers would be able to discharge these obligations, such as those related to the Habitats Regulations, through a payment into a fund, where this can both streamline development and allow for more strategic and effective measures for nature protection.

BNG and the Nature Restoration Fund are intended to be complementary policies. We will ensure that developers receive a user-friendly experience and that BNG credit and the Nature Restoration Fund revenue is deployed in a joined-up manner to maximise environmental outcomes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the harmonisation in the upcoming Trade Strategy of animal welfare standards between domestically-produced goods and imported goods.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues.

The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare. We will promote robust standards nationally and internationally and will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage.

The Government recognises farmers’ concerns about imports produced using methods not permitted in the UK. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to support economic growth and promote the highest standards of food production.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of vehicles rented by her Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Carbon emission details, including vehicles rented, will be published later this year within in the Sustainability Report section of HM Treasury 2024-25 Annual Report and Accounts. This will be published at the following link.

HMT annual report and accounts - GOV.UK

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 potential merits of phasing out the use of (a) enriched cages and (b) farrowing crates on English farms.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We remain firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which we are currently considering very carefully.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will consult on introducing animal welfare standards for farmed fish.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for North Herefordshire, Ellie Chowns, on 6 March 2025, PQ 34489.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of vehicles rented by her Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

For security reasons, specific details in relation to the use of official cars, including the make and model of vehicles, are not released.

Guidance relating to the use of official cars in the Government Car Service is set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what proportion of vehicles rented by his Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department has a contract with Enterprise for car hire. In the 2024/25 financial year there were 672 rentals, of which 4 were electric vehicle (EV) rentals (0.61%). All vehicle types were rented for 1672 days in total, of which 7 were EV rental days (0.42%).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of vehicles rented by her Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

This information is not centrally collected, and could only be obtained for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what proportion of vehicles rented by his Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department does not hold this information.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of vehicles rented by her Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

In March 2025, out of a total of 1023 vehicles hired, 68 were hybrid electric vehicles, 1 was a purely electric vehicle. A percentage of 6.7% of the vehicles hired were either electric or electric-capable, with only one being fully electric.

DWP is committed to transitioning towards full electrification of the DWP fleet vehicles in line with the Government Greening Commitment 2027. This includes replacing Petrol and Diesel vehicles with Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) where operationally viable. In addition, DWP is committed to ensuring the maximum use of Battery Electrical Vehicles during short term car hire where operationally viable and through seeking to ensure the increasing availability of those vehicles in the new Hire car contract.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of vehicles rented by her Department are electric vehicles.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Under the previous contract, which ended on 31 March 2025, the contract’s Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) did not differentiate between Electric Vehicle or Internal Combustion Engine hires so the Department for Transport does not hold the requested information.

However, the Department for Transport has recently started a new 3 year vehicle hire contract as of 1 April 2025. Within this contract it is mandated that EV provision is available to all hirers and the related data will be available quarterly going into the future.

Negotiating rights for police officers

School minibus safety

Found: Q594 Josh Newbury: We would like to return to this discussion around KKR.

Found: Q286 Josh Newbury: It could be used.

Submit Evidence (by 18 Jun 2025)

Much of the UK economy is still linear, based on the principles of using and disposing of products and the resources used to make them. This wastage leads to widespread environmental pollution and the continual and unsustainable need to extract finite resources.