Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will have conversations with animal welfare charities about the possible number of dog owners who may seek withdrawal of their certificate of exemption because they do not believe that their dog is an XL Bully type.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra have continued to engage with animal welfare charities, including on the withdrawal of certificates of exemption.
Defra are still working to develop this process, so that owners who no longer believe that their dog meets the legal definition of an XL Bully type can apply to have their certificate of exemption withdrawn. Further details will be shared once the process has been finalised.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 she has had with dog welfare charities on issues for dog owners seeking a withdrawal of a certificate of exemption.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra have continued to engage with animal welfare charities, including on the withdrawal of certificates of exemption.
Defra are still working to develop this process, so that owners who no longer believe that their dog meets the legal definition of an XL Bully type can apply to have their certificate of exemption withdrawn. Further details will be shared once the process has been finalised.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to WPQ 21883 answered on 7 September 2026 about Fruit Horticulture, will she hold imminent discussions with the British Berry Growers Association to discuss [i] the challenges faced by the drought of Summer 2026 and [ii] the current challenges faced by growers in irrigating their crops.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has frequent engagement with key horticulture stakeholders including berry growers on the range of matters impacting the horticulture sector. Additionally, through the National Drought Group, ministers engage specifically with the National Farmers' Union and Horticulture Trades Association to assess drought impacts and to coordinate action across all sectors, helping to inform planning, response and resilience measures. This engagement informed the Government’s package of support for farmers affected by drought, announced in August.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
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 she has had with the farming community on the prospect of higher inheritance tax bills if a farm invests in a new farm reservoir or an irrigation system.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives of the farming sector, to discuss a range of issues.
The Government is taking action to make it easier to build reservoirs. This includes reducing unnecessary barriers, updating planning guidance, and funding up to £15 million to build on-farm reservoirs, helping farmers store water and become more resilient to future droughts.
The Government continues to provide very significant relief from inheritance tax for agricultural and business assets. A couple are able to pass on up to £5 million of such assets tax-free between them, on top of the existing allowances such as the nil-rate band.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Policy Paper dated 31 July 2026, Rewiring the State- Cabinet Statement, what recent discussions has she had about the role for Members of Parliament in local accountability, working with mayors and councillors.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Rewiring the State Cabinet Statement committed to ensuring there is a clear role for Members of Parliament in local accountability, working with mayors and local councillors. As part of the development of the Devolution White Paper, Ministers and officials are engaging with a range of stakeholders, including mayors and local government representatives on the co-design and implementation of these reforms. Further details will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made about whether 'local scrutiny committees' will be a future component of local government reform following the review of the local government reorganisation programme announced on 7 September 2026?.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act establishes Local Scrutiny Committees, which are intended to strengthen oversight of Mayors and Strategic Authorities and improve accountability for decision-making and the use of public funds. Local Scrutiny Committees will be responsible for scrutinising value for money and reviewing the exercise of devolved powers by the Mayor and their Strategic Authority, rather than spending and decision making in their constituent authorities.
These committees will not apply to existing two-tier authorities, nor will they apply to unitary authorities formed through the process of local government reorganisation. Instead, they will apply to Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities from 2027 and be extended to all Mayoral Strategic Authorities from 2028.Constituent authorities will continue to operate their own Overview and Scrutiny Committees following local government reorganisation.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Policy Paper dated 31 July 2026, Rewiring the State- Cabinet Statement, whether recent discussions about the role for Members of Parliament in local accountability could include the shaping of transport, housing, economic development, skills and budget decisions.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Rewiring the State Cabinet Statement committed to ensuring there is a clear role for Members of Parliament in local accountability, working with mayors and local councillors. Mayors are responsible for the areas of competence set out in the devolution framework and will have the autonomy to decide how funding is used to deliver for local residents in these areas. While Mayors will be accountable at the local level, as part of the Devolution White Paper, the Government is considering how MPs can engage with strengthened local accountability arrangements in relation to these responsibilities. Further details will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to WPQ 26637 answered on 7 September 2026 about Chagos Islands Sovereignty, what assessment has he made about the US Government's position towards the UK Government's costs arising from the Chagos Treaty.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer of 7 September to Question 26637.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he intends to raise the issue of the UK Government's costs arising from the Chagos Treaty in discussions with the US Government.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer of 7 September to Question 26637.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to WPQ 26637 answered on 7 September 2026 about Chagos Islands Sovereignty, whether he intends to raise the issue of the UK Government's costs arising from the Chagos Treaty in further discussions with the US Government.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer of 7 September to Question 26637.