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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact the EU’s bans on certain pesticides and fungicides taking effect and the UK’s planned alignment in June 2027 on British farmers.

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

The Government has agreed with the EU to establish a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) area, by way of an SPS Agreement. Plant protection products like pesticides and fungicides are in scope of that Agreement. Defra’s assessment of the potential impact is ongoing and considers a range of scenarios. The department understands the complexity of alignment in some areas, including for plant protection products. The Government is working closely with affected sectors, including farming, to incorporate their on-the-ground knowledge and analysis in planning for implementation.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she will take to assess passenger affordability when setting rail fares.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Passenger affordability is a top priority for this Government when setting rail fares. That is why this year we have taken the historic step of freezing regulated rail fares for the first time in 30 years, putting money back in hard working people’s pockets and delivering savings for passengers across billions of journeys.

It is important that we strike the right balance between affordability for passengers and reducing the burden on taxpayers. As set out in the Government’s response to the consultation on the Railways Bill, future fares policy under Great British Railways (GBR) will be guided by strategic parameters and guardrails, set by the Secretary of State and aligned to GBR’s financial settlement, providing GBR with greater autonomy and flexibility compared to today. These will reassure passengers that their fares will remain affordable, while ensuring sustainable use of taxpayer money on the network.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Railways Bill will set out the duties of the Great British Railways.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Railways Bill includes a range of duties which will apply across the activities of GBR. Clause 18 sets the general duties which will apply to GBR, the ORR, the Secretary of State for Transport, and Scottish and Welsh Ministers.

The general duties include promoting the interests of passengers, and promoting high standards of rail service performance. They set the foundation for how GBR will operate, guided by the public interest, and empowered to deliver a railway that works for its users, taxpayers and the wider public.

The Government has published a collection of fact sheets relating to the Railways Bill which can be found on the Gov.uk website. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/railways-bill

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the Railways Bill will support improved connectivity for communities currently without such links.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Railways Bill will streamline the current fragmented system by establishing Great British Railways (GBR) as a new ‘directing mind’ for the industry, unifying track and train under one public body to deliver better services for passengers and customers, and better value for money for taxpayers.

GBR will work collaboratively with devolved leaders and local stakeholders to support local rail needs and improved integration with other modes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to help protect farmers from fluctuations in milk prices following the removal of the Basic Payment Scheme.

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

The UK dairy industry is a resilient and dynamic sector which operates in an open market where the value of dairy commodities, including farmgate milk prices, is established by those in supply chains including farmers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. Price fluctuations are a normal part of how the dairy market operates as it seeks to balance supply with demand.

The Government paid more than £2.6 billion to British farmers in 2024-25, the most funding in a single financial year since we left the EU. This included funding toward Environmental Land Management schemes, improving animal health and welfare on farm and grants to drive innovation in agriculture and food production across England.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the Railways Bill will ensure that access rights to the network are fair, transparent and enforceable, particularly where Great British Rail will both manage infrastructure and operate services.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The new access framework within the Railways Bill will ensure that GBR will determine the best use of the network capacity for all operators in accordance with its statutory duties. New legislation will include key safeguards for third party operators, ensuring that GBR’s decisions on network access are fair and transparent with a strong route of appeal to the ORR. GBR will be required to design and consult with industry on its access and use policy which will set out the processes and criteria on how it will take access and capacity allocation decisions, and on which the ORR will be a statutory consultee.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take steps to ensure that Metro Mayors retain roles in heavy rail governance under the provisions of the Railways Bill.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Great British Railways (GBR) will work in partnership with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, underpinned by statutory roles outlined in the Railways Bill. The Railways Bill enables cooperation between GBR and Mayoral Strategic Authorities, allowing for information sharing and the ability to enter into arrangements regarding railway functions.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, when the Church will be opening the Church of England Redress Scheme to applications.

Answered by Marsha De Cordova

Following the Abuse Redress Measure receiving Royal Assent on the 18th December 2025, the National Church Institutions (NCIs) are finalising the technical operational details before the scheme launches. The NCIs are working with a multi-stakeholder Steering Board, survivors and the scheme’s administrator to put the operational arrangements for the scheme in place, including building and testing the application process and preparing support systems and communications.

The NCIs are working to ensure the scheme launches in 2026 and will provide as much notice as possible via the scheme’s website, where any interested party may register for updates: www.redresscofe.org/w/webpage/registration.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when veterans with more complex circumstances can expect to receive their Remediable Service Statements under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2015 remedy.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

While there is currently no specific date for the completion of these cases, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is working through them as quickly as possible and is monitoring progress with the contractor on a weekly basis.

The outstanding cases are inherently complex and are being prioritised to ensure they are resolved as swiftly as possible. Work is underway to develop a completion schedule, aligned with the implementation of an updated commercial framework.

The MOD is committed to providing further updates and clarity on timelines as soon as possible. Information was published earlier this month on GOV.UK under 'Remediable Service Statement Delivery Update', and a further update will be made available in April.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans#remediable-service-statement-delivery-update

New US sanctions on Cuba

Marking the 60th anniversary of the University of the Air White Paper

Found: membership Mr Toby Perkins (Labour; Chesterfield) (Chair) Olivia Blake (Labour; Sheffield Hallam) Julia Buckley

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Olivia Blake; Julia Buckley; Jonathan Davies

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Mr Toby Perkins (Chair); Olivia Blake; Julia Buckley; Jonathan Davies

Submit Evidence (by 6 Apr 2026)

Data centres are regarded by ministers as being central to UK economic growth and were designated critical national infrastructure (CNI) in September 2024, offering them more legal protections. But their electricity consumption is expected to quadruple by 2030, according to the National Energy System Operator, raising concerns about their sustainability