Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adopting minimum recycled content requirements for (a) new infrastructure projects and (b) finished steels.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government works with the Green Construction Board, part of the Construction Leadership Council, to reduce levels of waste within the industry, increase recycling, and support the transition to a circular economy. The Green Construction Board published its Zero Avoidable Waste Routemap in 2022, which covers issues such as designing out waste, encouraging refurbishment over demolition, reducing waste going to landfill and the recycling and reuse of energy intensive materials such as concrete and steel.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the Office for National Statistics was of (a) designing, (b) building and (c) running the winter covid infection survey in (i) 2022-23 and (ii) 2023-24.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon lady’s Parliamentary Question of 1st April is attached.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with the Office for National Statistics on the potential merits of consulting (a) patients, (b) carers, (c) academics, (d) clinicians and (e) devolved Administrations on the design of long covid survey questions.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

No. The design of surveys is the responsibility of the ONS which is operationally independent and accountable to Parliament.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with the Office for National Statistics on designing a standard set of long covid survey questions.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

No. The design of surveys is the responsibility of the ONS which is operationally independent and accountable to Parliament.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the amount of scrap metal produced in the UK, (b) the maximum demand for scrap metal that can be used in the UK and (c) the impact that a ban on scrap metal exports would have on the UK economy and metals recycling sector.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

My department funded a Warwick University report entitled ‘Domestic Scrap Steel Recycling – Economic, Environmental and Social Opportunities’, published February 2021, which shows that UK produces around 11.3mn tonnes of steel scrap and 1.1mn tonnes of aluminium per year. The Government has not conducted research into the volume of other types of metal scrap.

The same report highlighted that in the years leading up to 2020, the UK’s demand for steel scrap was around 2.6mn tonnes and 800k tonnes for aluminium.

My department is in close discussion with steel and aluminium producers and metal recyclers on a range of options to improve the supply of scrap, including export controls.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria his Department uses to determine which countries are monitored for violations of freedom of religion or belief.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora including the UN and Article 18 Alliance, our bilateral work, working collaboratively with the Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith and our programme funding.

Our network of diplomatic posts around the world monitor and report on human rights, including FoRB. We also draw on other information sources including the regular reports of the United Nations Special Rapporteur for FoRB.

Found: Simon Hoare (Conservative; North Dorset) Sir Bernard Jenkin (Conservative; Harwich and North Essex) Ruth Jones

Found: Yours sincerely, Ruth Jones MP Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Ruth Jones (Chair); Ann Davies; Simon Hoare; Claire Hughes; Llinos

Found: Darlington Torcuil Crichton Helen Hayes Richard Baker Chris Kane Antonia Bance Alison Taylor Ruth Jones

Found: Darlington Torcuil Crichton Helen Hayes Richard Baker Chris Kane Antonia Bance Alison Taylor Ruth Jones

Found: Darlington Torcuil Crichton Helen Hayes Richard Baker Chris Kane Antonia Bance Alison Taylor Ruth Jones

Found: Darlington Torcuil Crichton Helen Hayes Richard Baker Chris Kane Antonia Bance Alison Taylor Ruth Jones

Found: Darlington Torcuil Crichton Helen Hayes Richard Baker Chris Kane Antonia Bance Alison Taylor Ruth Jones

Found: Darlington Torcuil Crichton Helen Hayes Richard Baker Chris Kane Antonia Bance Alison Taylor Ruth Jones

Found: Darlington Torcuil Crichton Helen Hayes Richard Baker Chris Kane Antonia Bance Alison Taylor Ruth Jones

Found: Darlington Torcuil Crichton Helen Hayes Richard Baker Chris Kane Antonia Bance Alison Taylor Ruth Jones

Found: Darlington Torcuil Crichton Helen Hayes Richard Baker Chris Kane Antonia Bance Alison Taylor Ruth Jones

Found: management plans | Enabling a natural capital approach | Catchment data explorer Contact: Ruth Jones