Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Mayor of London on potential use of the £2.2billion provided in the latest multi-year settlement offer.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and TfL, and decisions on capital spend and investment are for him to make, including the almost £2.2bn of funding awarded for TfL through the Government’s Spending Review. My Department and I have regular discussions about transport interests in London.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had discussions with the Mayor of London on proposed costs for upgrades to the Central Line's fleet of trains.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and TfL, and decisions on capital spend and investment are for him to make, including the almost £2.2bn of funding awarded for TfL through the Government’s Spending Review. My Department and I have regular discussions about transport interests in London.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the National Audit Office’s report entitled Resilience to animal diseases, published on 4 June 2025, what assessment his Department has made of failing to implement the statutory digital equine ID system on the risk of (a) disease preparedness, (b) livestock traceability and (c) biosecurity measures at the border.

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

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra recognises the importance of a robust equine identification and traceability regime. The current paper-based system supports disease outbreak management, public health and biosecurity. Biosecurity is also protected by the UK’s imports requirements and imports health certificates for equines.

Defra has no current plans to implement statutory digital equine identification.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on when the full redevelopment of the Animal and Plant Health Agency headquarters in Weybridge will be completed.

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

Defra is making good progress with the redevelopment of the APHA Weybridge site. Planning consent is in place, construction of interim science facilities is underway, work is proceeding on the design of the main National Biosecurity Centre and with the appointment of construction partners. The main construction works are expected to begin in 2027, be completed by 2032 with licensing and commission complete by 2034.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report by the National Audit Office entitled Resilience to Animal Diseases, published on 4 June 2025, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK's preparedness to respond to a major animal disease outbreak.

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

Defra and APHA actively assisted the National Audit Office in the collation of the data and information used to inform their report and will carefully work through the findings and recommendations to inform a plan for improvement. The National Audit Office will monitor progress against the recommendations at approximately 6 monthly intervals and we look forward to working with them on this. We are committed to improving biosecurity and resilience to animal diseases.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on when the rebuilding of (a) Whipps Cross Hospital and (b) Princess Alexandra Hospital will be completed.

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

As set out in the New Hospital Programme Plan for Implementation, the new hospital schemes for Whipps Cross Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital are in Wave 2 and are expected to commence construction between 2032 and 2034. Completion dates for all schemes will be confirmed following the approval of a Full Business Case, as set out in HM Treasury Green Book and as is usual for large infrastructure projects. Further information on the New Hospital Programme Plan for Implementation is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-plan-for-implementation

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 8 and 10 of the National Audit Office’s report entitled Resilience to animal diseases, published on 4 June 2025, what plans his Department has to (a) deliver an effective digital identification system for horses, (b) enforce the Equine Identification (England) Regulations 2018 and (c) upgrade the Central Equine Database.

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

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The Government recognises the importance of the equine sector to the UK economy and of improving equine identification and traceability.

The SPS agreement, outlined at the UK-EU Leader’s Summit on 19 May 2025, will establish a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area, aimed at facilitating the safe and efficient movement of trade. The SPS Agreement will cover sanitary rules and the regulation of live animals, including animal health conditions governing the movement and importation of Equidae.

Enforcement of Equine Identification (England) Regulations 2018 lies with within the responsibilities of the Local Authorities.

Three Dads Walking

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increases to employers’ National Insurance contributions on the defence industry.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Dr Neil Hudson) to Question 38688 on 20 March 2025.

Found: Malthouse Rebecca Smith David Baines Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst Alison Griffiths Gregory Stafford Dr Neil Hudson

Found: Malthouse Rebecca Smith David Baines Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst Alison Griffiths Gregory Stafford Dr Neil Hudson

Found: Holden Rebecca Smith David Baines Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst Alison Griffiths Gregory Stafford Dr Neil Hudson

Found: Holden Rebecca Smith David Baines Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst Alison Griffiths Gregory Stafford Dr Neil Hudson

Found: Holden Rebecca Smith David Baines Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst Alison Griffiths Gregory Stafford Dr Neil Hudson

Found: Holden Rebecca Smith David Baines Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst Alison Griffiths Gregory Stafford Dr Neil Hudson

Found: Holden Rebecca Smith David Baines Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst Alison Griffiths Gregory Stafford Dr Neil Hudson