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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evidential basis was used to underpin his Department's policy on Moorland grazing densities (grazing livestock units per hectare).

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

The Environmental Land Management scheme actions were designed and appraised using a variety of qualitative and quantitative data. Geomorphology, climate and historic management practices all combine to make each moorland unique. The offer therefore includes a range of actions that can be selected based on the needs of each moorland. This includes an annual moorland assessment to assess the habitats on each moorland and their condition to inform the choice of grazing actions.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with industry stakeholders on the remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022; and what further consultations he has planned.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Discussions on the remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 have focused on the Government’s intention to commence the provisions, and to hold public consultations. Stakeholders have also been asked to provide data on the cases affected.

A technical consultation on draft regulations to commence Sections 61 – 64 of the Act, dealing with certain Renewal agreements, was published on 7 May 2025.

The Government is considering the best approach to commencing Section 70, relating to complaints procedures.

The other outstanding provisions relate to court jurisdiction and unresponsive landowners. Work is underway to commence these provisions.

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 Table 10 of the technical annex entitled The combined environmental land management offer, published on 19 March 2024, whether graziers grazing (a) cattle, (b) ponies and (c) native breeds at risk on moorland with a grazing density higher than that of designated low grazing areas due to (i) their geomorphology, (ii) climate and (iii) historic management practices are eligible for payments for actions for moorland and upland peat through the Environmental Land Management scheme.

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

The publication cited has been superseded by the following:

• Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme: expanded offer for 2024 - GOV.UK
• Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier: get ready to apply - GOV.UK

The moorland offer is designed to help deliver our environmental objectives on moorland whilst supporting sustainable food production. Fundamental to sustainable grazing levels on moorland is the level of grazing pressure on that habitat over time. If this is right, then the grazing by preferential livestock (cattle and ponies) gives additional environmental outcomes.

The cattle and pony grazing supplemental actions in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier are designed to support this and provide tiered payments which reward their level of delivery. They are only eligible with the livestock grazing on moorland actions (UPL1-3) to ensure the benefits of grazing with preferential livestock are not lost. These actions specify a grazing livestock density that cannot be exceeded.

Supplemental actions supporting native breeds as risk on moorland aim to maintain or increase the number of rare native breed grazing livestock. These supplemental actions are only eligible with a base action. In SFI, applicants can choose to undertake a base action which does not limit grazing levels, for example Shepherding livestock on moorland actions (UPL7-UPL10).

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of GP surgeries have signposted patients to the Pharmacy First scheme.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Every month approximately 75% of general practices refer at least one patient to a pharmacy under Pharmacy First.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report by the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association entitled Unlocking our communities diagnostic potential: the case for supporting the adoption of community diagnostics for an NHS fit for the future, published on 1 April 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of appointing a national diagnostics director.

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

The Department regularly reflects on and reviews the most appropriate structure for senior civil servant roles, to ensure it aligns with Governments priorities, including the delivery of the three big shifts, such as moving from hospital to community services.

There currently exists a Director for Electives and Cancer in the Department, whose responsibility includes diagnostics, as well as a Director of Diagnostics and Transport in NHS England, and their respective teams work closely together. Ensuring the National Health Service can deliver the right amount of diagnostic care to deliver on the 18-week Referral to Treatment constitutional standard by March is a priority across both the Department and NHS England.

We have committed to develop a 10-Year Health Plan to deliver an NHS fit for the future. The plan will deliver three big shifts mentioned, including moving from hospital to community services. We will therefore see more tests and scans in the community, in high street settings, reducing the need for people to take multiple trips to hospitals to get diagnosed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 43103 on Livestock: Moorland, what sources of (a) qualitative and (b) quantitative data his Department considered when setting the tiers of grazing densities in the Low Grazing Moorland options of the Environmental Land Management schemes.

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

All prospective Environmental Land Management scheme offers have been assessed for their potential impact against a range of environmental and cultural services, including carbon sequestration and biodiversity indicators. These have included qualitative assessments, drawing upon expert opinion and evidence reviews, as well as quantitative assessments, drawing upon published datasets.

Trans+ History Week

Found: Q197 Steve Race: Thank you for your point around the economic impact of Cambridge.

Found: present: Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; Dr Allison Gardner; Tom Gordon; Kit Malthouse; Steve Race

Found: present: Chi Onwurah (Chair); Emily Darlington; Dr Allison Gardner; Tom Gordon; Kit Malthouse; Steve Race