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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government has made in its target to deliver half of the food in the public sector from local and sustainable sources.

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

The Government remains committed to ensuring that at least half of public sector food is locally sourced or meets higher environmental standards within legal constraints. There is limited existing data about the origin and sustainability of food in the public sector supply chain and the data landscape is complex and fragmented. Defra has therefore begun data collection, which will provide us with detailed insights on the extent to which public sector settings are serving food from local and sustainable sources, and what more can be done.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the risks that private prosecutions in the United Kingdom may be used by well‑resourced organisations to (a) target and (b) intimidate individuals associated with pro‑Palestinian advocacy.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

Any individual or organisation in England and Wales has the right to bring a private prosecution where a criminal offence has been committed.

The Government expects all organisations that bring private prosecutions to do so where there is sufficient evidence that the defendant has committed an offence, and where the prosecution is in the public interest.

The Ministry of Justice held a consultation on the regulation of private prosecutors – to ensure consistency, accountability, and transparency in private prosecutions – last year and the Government will set out its next steps shortly.

Found: ) Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat; Witney) Mr Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat; Maidenhead) Matt Western

Found: Matt Western made representations.

Found: Yours sincerely, Matt Western MP Chair, Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy

Found: evidence: Defending democracy Monday 9 February 2026 4.30 pm Watch the meeting Members present: Matt Western

Found: Warwickshire West Midlands Rachel Taylor Woodloes Primary School CV34 5DF Warwickshire West Midlands Matt Western

Found: Warwickshire West Midlands Rachel Taylor Woodloes Primary School CV34 5DF Warwickshire West Midlands Matt Western

Submit Evidence (by 10 Apr 2026)

In this inquiry, the Business and Trade Committee will scrutinise the Government’s approach to economic engagement with China. In particular, it will assess the potential net benefits to the UK of deeper economic integration with China, and how these benefits compare to the risks that closer ties with China may bring.

Submit Evidence (by 12 Apr 2026)

Demand for critical minerals has grown rapidly in recent years. New technologies, including turbines and data centres, require more minerals than the older systems they replace. At the same time, global trade in these materials has become more fractured and competitive.

Submit Evidence (by 3 Apr 2026)

The Business and Trade Committee is launching an inquiry into Artificial Intelligence (AI) in order to better understand the opportunities and costs for businesses and the workforce, and to make recommendations on Government priorities.