Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students starting an undergraduate degree course in 2025 at each Russell Group University had achieved a) 3 or more A Levels and b) a T Level and c) a BTEC; and what was this as a proportion of the number of students passing those qualifications in 2025.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is responsible for collecting and publishing data on the UK higher education (HE) sector. These data are shared with the department and includes information on the qualifications held by students on entry to their course at a UK HE provider. The latest student data held by the department refers to the 2024/25 academic year and covers students starting degree courses in 2024.

The number of English-domiciled entrants to undergraduate courses in each Russell Group university in the 2024/25 academic year reported by HESA to have achieved either three or more A Levels, a T Level, or a BTEC, can be found in the attached spreadsheet.

The spreadsheet also presents the undergraduate entrant figures as a proportion of the total number of pupils in England achieving three or more A Levels, a T Level, or a BTEC in the 2023/24 academic year. Caution is advised when interpreting the data in this spreadsheet due to low and inconsistent reporting rates for HE entry qualifications. Counts in the spreadsheet have been rounded to the nearest 5.

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 encourage industry to stop the practice of culling male laying hen chicks.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what projects have been funded and for what amount since 1 January 2024 under a) the Darwin Plus Local, b) Darwin Plus Main and c) Darwin Plus Strategic funding schemes.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Since 1 January 2024, the Darwin Plus programme had awarded nearly 130 projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories with a lifetime value of over £20 million across its four funding schemes. The full details of funded Darwin Plus projects can be found on the programme website at www.darwinplus.org.uk.

At the Joint Ministerial Council in November, the UK Government reaffirmed its joint ambition with the UK Overseas Territories to protect their ecosystems and address the climate and nature crises. The new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy marks a new era of collaboration and communication between the UK and Territory governments, united for nature.

Defra has now confirmed internal business planning allocations to its programmes leading to March 2029. The Darwin Plus programme’s plan for spending its allocation is currently progressing through Defra’s internal assurance processes before it is approved. This plan includes spending both for projects and to support the implementation of the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy and reflects the reduction in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget as a result of the necessary increase in defence spending last year.

Applications for Darwin Plus Local Round 6 are currently being reviewed internally and applicants will be kept informed of developments. No date has yet been confirmed for the next funding round of Darwin Plus. Defra will provide an update in due course, and information will be published on the Darwin Plus website once future rounds are scheduled to open.

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 of the reduction in Overseas Development Assistance funding on the allocation of funding for Darwin Plus in 2026.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Since 1 January 2024, the Darwin Plus programme had awarded nearly 130 projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories with a lifetime value of over £20 million across its four funding schemes. The full details of funded Darwin Plus projects can be found on the programme website at www.darwinplus.org.uk.

At the Joint Ministerial Council in November, the UK Government reaffirmed its joint ambition with the UK Overseas Territories to protect their ecosystems and address the climate and nature crises. The new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy marks a new era of collaboration and communication between the UK and Territory governments, united for nature.

Defra has now confirmed internal business planning allocations to its programmes leading to March 2029. The Darwin Plus programme’s plan for spending its allocation is currently progressing through Defra’s internal assurance processes before it is approved. This plan includes spending both for projects and to support the implementation of the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy and reflects the reduction in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget as a result of the necessary increase in defence spending last year.

Applications for Darwin Plus Local Round 6 are currently being reviewed internally and applicants will be kept informed of developments. No date has yet been confirmed for the next funding round of Darwin Plus. Defra will provide an update in due course, and information will be published on the Darwin Plus website once future rounds are scheduled to open.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to help deliver the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Since 1 January 2024, the Darwin Plus programme had awarded nearly 130 projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories with a lifetime value of over £20 million across its four funding schemes. The full details of funded Darwin Plus projects can be found on the programme website at www.darwinplus.org.uk.

At the Joint Ministerial Council in November, the UK Government reaffirmed its joint ambition with the UK Overseas Territories to protect their ecosystems and address the climate and nature crises. The new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy marks a new era of collaboration and communication between the UK and Territory governments, united for nature.

Defra has now confirmed internal business planning allocations to its programmes leading to March 2029. The Darwin Plus programme’s plan for spending its allocation is currently progressing through Defra’s internal assurance processes before it is approved. This plan includes spending both for projects and to support the implementation of the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy and reflects the reduction in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget as a result of the necessary increase in defence spending last year.

Applications for Darwin Plus Local Round 6 are currently being reviewed internally and applicants will be kept informed of developments. No date has yet been confirmed for the next funding round of Darwin Plus. Defra will provide an update in due course, and information will be published on the Darwin Plus website once future rounds are scheduled to open.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total budget for Darwin Plus dedicated to the UK Overseas Territories will be in 2026.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Since 1 January 2024, the Darwin Plus programme had awarded nearly 130 projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories with a lifetime value of over £20 million across its four funding schemes. The full details of funded Darwin Plus projects can be found on the programme website at www.darwinplus.org.uk.

At the Joint Ministerial Council in November, the UK Government reaffirmed its joint ambition with the UK Overseas Territories to protect their ecosystems and address the climate and nature crises. The new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy marks a new era of collaboration and communication between the UK and Territory governments, united for nature.

Defra has now confirmed internal business planning allocations to its programmes leading to March 2029. The Darwin Plus programme’s plan for spending its allocation is currently progressing through Defra’s internal assurance processes before it is approved. This plan includes spending both for projects and to support the implementation of the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy and reflects the reduction in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget as a result of the necessary increase in defence spending last year.

Applications for Darwin Plus Local Round 6 are currently being reviewed internally and applicants will be kept informed of developments. No date has yet been confirmed for the next funding round of Darwin Plus. Defra will provide an update in due course, and information will be published on the Darwin Plus website once future rounds are scheduled to open.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when applications will be open for the 2026 round of Darwin Plus Main and Darwin Plus Strategic funds.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Since 1 January 2024, the Darwin Plus programme had awarded nearly 130 projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories with a lifetime value of over £20 million across its four funding schemes. The full details of funded Darwin Plus projects can be found on the programme website at www.darwinplus.org.uk.

At the Joint Ministerial Council in November, the UK Government reaffirmed its joint ambition with the UK Overseas Territories to protect their ecosystems and address the climate and nature crises. The new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy marks a new era of collaboration and communication between the UK and Territory governments, united for nature.

Defra has now confirmed internal business planning allocations to its programmes leading to March 2029. The Darwin Plus programme’s plan for spending its allocation is currently progressing through Defra’s internal assurance processes before it is approved. This plan includes spending both for projects and to support the implementation of the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy and reflects the reduction in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget as a result of the necessary increase in defence spending last year.

Applications for Darwin Plus Local Round 6 are currently being reviewed internally and applicants will be kept informed of developments. No date has yet been confirmed for the next funding round of Darwin Plus. Defra will provide an update in due course, and information will be published on the Darwin Plus website once future rounds are scheduled to open.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the completion rate of apprenticeships since the introduction of end point assessment.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The apprenticeship ‘National achievement rate tables’ are published in the Apprenticeships statistics publications.

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 Government's document entitled Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security, published on 20 January 2026, which teams a) produced the key judgements listed on page 2, b) produced the assessments outlined on pages 9 and 10 and c) conducted the literature review and workshops mentioned on page 12.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government published the Nature Security Assessment on 20 January. It is a cross-government strategic analysis and was not produced by any single department. The assessment brings together expertise from teams across the Government, combining scientific evidence, policy analysis and national security judgment to inform long-term resilience and security planning.

This assessment builds on existing cross-government work to strengthen understanding of how biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation can affect national and global stability. It forms part of routine cross-government resilience planning and complements the National Security Strategy, National Risk Register, and Chronic Risks Analysis.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which Departments commissioned the Government's document entitled Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security, published on 20 January 2026.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government published the Nature Security Assessment on 20 January. It is a cross-government strategic analysis and was not produced by any single department. The assessment brings together expertise from teams across the Government, combining scientific evidence, policy analysis and national security judgment to inform long-term resilience and security planning.

This assessment builds on existing cross-government work to strengthen understanding of how biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation can affect national and global stability. It forms part of routine cross-government resilience planning and complements the National Security Strategy, National Risk Register, and Chronic Risks Analysis.

100th anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

National Supported Internship Day 2026

Women and heart disease

Back-to-back Masters champion, Grand Slam winner and six time Major champion

St George’s Day 2026

Found: Carmichael MP in his role as Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, and Toby Perkins

Found: 5000 Dearden@businessandtrade.gov.uk www.gov.uk 31 March 2026 Toby Perkins

Found: T: +44 (0) 3459 335577 E: correspondence.section@defra.gov.uk W: gov.uk/defra Toby Perkins

Found: am placing a copy of this letter in the House libraries and have written on similar terms to Toby Perkins

Submit Evidence (by 21 May 2026)

The Environmental Audit Committee is examining the role of HM Treasury in shaping the UK’s response to climate change, nature loss and wider environmental sustainability. The Government’s economic policy objective includes a commitment to “accelerate the transition to a climate resilient, nature positive and net zero economy”.[1]