Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
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 on UK agricultural innovation and environmental protection of the closure of the Silsoe Spray Applications Unit.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the role that Silsoe Spray Applications Unit (SSAU) has played in supporting precision agriculture and innovation to the UK’s agri-food sector. Whilst the closure of SSAU reduces capability in the UK, alternative facilities with comparable infrastructure are available internationally to the UK pesticides sector.
The Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy commits over £200 million to the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) up to 2030, with over £180m so far awarded to projects to support Agri-Technology research and innovation. The current round of the FIP Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) fund is currently open and closes 3rd June 2026 with further rounds opening from 4th June.
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential (a) economic and (b) employment impact of Natural England’s current approach to licensing gamebird releases in Special Protected Areas.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A post-implementation review was conducted in 2024. It recommended that the Order should remain in force. This is until Defra can conclude that unregulated gamebird release does not have a significant effect on the conservation objectives of a European site. Alternatively, it would remain in force until viable options for monitoring and regulating gamebird release are identified.
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to assess the potential (a) employment, (b) tourism, (c) wider supply chains and (d) other (i) economic and (ii) conservation losses for rural economies of any proposed licensing conditions for recreational gamebird shooting.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra officials will begin with evidence gathering and any proposed changes will be subject to public consultation. Defra is committed to working with the sector and other stakeholder groups as this work progresses.
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for (a) evidence gathering and (b) consultation around licensing for gamebird release; and what steps the Department plans to take ensure that the process is reflective of views across the (i) shooting and (ii) conservation sectors.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra officials will begin with evidence gathering and any proposed changes will be subject to public consultation. Defra is committed to working with the sector and other stakeholder groups as this work progresses.
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department had with (a) rural groups and (b) the shooting sector ahead of announcing her intention to explore licensing for gamebird shoots in England.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra officials will begin with evidence gathering and any proposed changes will be subject to public consultation. Defra is committed to working with the sector and other stakeholder groups as this work progresses.
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Government policies on the economy in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s economy is one of the strongest in the UK and is a growing leader in Fintech, Cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing.
This Government is providing support through a record funding settlement, and significant investment in the four City and Growth Deals, £150 million for a new Enhanced Investment Zone, and new trade agreements that will create jobs and opportunities, including with the European Union.
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria HMCTS applies when determining whether to approve or refuse bulk or systematic access to court transcripts following notification by a transcription provider; and who within HMCTS is responsible for making such decisions.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
HMCTS applies clear contractual and governance criteria when considering whether to approve or refuse bulk or systematic access to court transcripts.
Under HMCTS transcription contracts, suppliers must not provide transcripts or grant access to transcripts to third parties on a bulk or standing or systematic basis without the prior approval of HMCTS.
Responsibility for these decisions lies with HMCTS, acting through its designated contract management and operational teams with specialist advice sought as necessary. Approval of requests are based on the following:
Legal compliance
Security and information assurance requirements
Operational and reputational risk
Lawful, proportionate and consistent with the original purpose
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many notifications transcription providers have made to HMCTS in each of the last five years under the bulk or systematic request provisions of the HMCTS transcription contracts; and what data HMCTS holds on the total number of transcript requests received by providers each year.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Transcription service providers are required, under the terms of their contracts to notify HMCTS where they receive bulk or systematic requests for transcripts and seek approval before continuing such supply. These notifications are made on a case-by-case as they arise.
HM Courts and Tribunal Service does not hold a centrally collated record of the total number of such notifications made by providers in each of the last five years.
Transcription requests are placed directly with providers by a range of customers, including HMCTS, other public bodies, legal representatives and members of the public. While providers are required to supply management information to HMCTS for contract assurance and performance monitoring purposes, HMCTS does not hold a record of the total number of transcript requests received by providers in each year.
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, following notifications by transcription providers of bulk or systematic requests for court transcripts, which individuals or organisations have been (a) approved and (b) refused permission to continue receiving transcripts on that basis; and what reasons were given for any refusals.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Under the terms of HMCTS transcription contracts, transcription providers are required to notify HMCTS where they receive bulk or systematic requests for court transcripts and seek approval before continuing such supply. Any consideration of such notifications is undertaken on a case-by-case basis.
HMCTS does not hold a centrally collated record of the individuals or organisations that have been approved or refused permission to continue receiving transcripts following such notifications.
Decisions are taken having regard to the specific circumstances of each request, including compliance with reporting restrictions, data protection and security requirements. HMCTS does not record reasons for refusal.
Asked by: Robbie Moore (Conservative - Keighley and Ilkley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she intervened in negotiations between Northern Trains and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers on (a) a driver open conductor close procedure and (b) other matters.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Negotiations take place between train operating companies and trade unions on a range of matters, including working practices, within mandates issued by the Department for Transport. The Secretary of State has not intervened in Northern’s door operation negotiations.