Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the status and timetable is of his Department's review of the legal framework of protections for public recreational space announced by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage during the passage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Open and green spaces are an essential part of local social infrastructure and must be protected for future generations.
The review of existing protections will examine the fragmented and outdated nature of current legislative protections for public recreational green spaces; assess how these protections complement those in the planning system; and consider the lack of central records on protected land.
Further details and a timetable will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is she taking to improve marine conservation efforts.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to strengthening marine conservation both at home and overseas.
The UK’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) commits the UK, in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, to effectively conserving and managing at least 30% of our seas by 2030. In England, we have a comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering 40% of our waters, and we are focusing on making sure they are effectively managed. We are delivering the UK Marine Strategy to restore marine ecosystems and support the recovery of habitats and species.
Internationally, the UK plays a leading role in marine conservation efforts by working with international partners to address marine pollution, protect vulnerable ecosystems, and promote sustainable ocean governance, delivering commitments under the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We are completely committed to ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, and we are a contracting party to the Oslo and Paris Convention for the Protection of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR).
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 28 January (HL14077), whether they will publish the changes they plan to make to the hiring criteria for senior civil servants, as set out in the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Our approach to hiring for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) is changing to place greater value on frontline delivery, innovation, and private sector experience. Departments and agencies have authority to determine their practices and procedures for the recruitment of staff to the Civil Service, including the Senior Civil Service.
In accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, departments must provide all potential applicants with information about the nature and level of each role, criteria against which they will be assessed, and details of the selection process and the total remuneration available. However, there are no plans to publish internal-facing guidance to the public domain, as it constitutes HR-to-HR guidance designed for departments to integrate into their respective policies and processes.
Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department is working with other departments to coordinate delivery of the Government’s methane reduction commitments.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are working closely with other departments to coordinate delivery of the Government’s methane reduction commitments. Alongside the Carbon Budget Growth Delivery Plan, we published our Methane Action Plan detailing historic progress on methane abatement and key abating policies, building on the £63 billion announced at the 2025 Spending Review for clean energy, climate and nature.
Through these plans, we are working closely with DESNZ and are exploring ways to reduce livestock emissions including through methane suppressing feed products (MSFPs). Reducing methane emissions in the waste sector is also a key focus. As we move away from the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme, we will work with DESNZ to increase methane capture from landfill gas sites and are exploring a long-term methane capture scheme with a suitable transition plan.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she will take steps to investigate the nature of flights into and out of UK airports allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the number of flights into and out of Stansted Airport allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein; and if she will take steps to establish the nature of those flights, including the passengers on board.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department for Transport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment has she made of the benefits of a complete ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Bottom trawling in our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) needs to be managed appropriately due to the significant damage it can have on protected seabed habitats. Fisheries regulators make detailed assessments of the impact of all fishing activities on the protected species and habitats in our MPAs, based on advice from the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies. Regulators then develop byelaws to restrict fishing when it has been assessed as damaging. Some MPAs, such as those designated for highly mobile species, may not need protection from bottom trawling.
A consultation on the latest round of proposed fisheries byelaws, which proposes further restrictions on bottom trawling, closed on 29 September 2025. The Marine Management Organisation is now carefully considering all responses received, and decisions will be made in due course.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is she taking to reduce the harmful impacts of long lining.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Longlining is a method of fishing used in parts of the UK. It is recognised that bycatch can occur in this fishery.
To address this, Defra funds the Clean Catch programme, a research programme dedicated to better monitoring and reducing bycatch of sensitive species in the UK, and the Bycatch Monitoring Programme (along with Scottish Government, given the devolved nature of fisheries management). Defra also commissioned the ongoing Bycatch Risk Prioritisation Framework, which assesses species vulnerability to bycatch in all fisheries in England and the UK.
The Department also plays a role internationally, for example, in tabling a proposal to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to recommend the use of hook-shielding devices to reduce seabird bycatch in longline fisheries to help protect albatrosses and petrels in the South Atlantic and securing agreement at ICCAT to prohibit the retention of several vulnerable shark species.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 is taking to support farming in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has allocated £11.8 billion this parliament to sustainable farming and food production, targeting public money where it delivers most value, which will include support in Surrey.
As an example, Defra recently announced the extension of the Farming in Protected Landscape (FiPL) programme until March 2029. This supports farmers and land managers in National Parks and National Landscapes, including Surrey Hills National Landscape, deliver projects that achieve climate, nature, people and place outcomes. In 25/26 alone, Defra has allocated more than £580,000 to benefit farmers and land managers in the Surrey Hills National Landscape.
Asked by: Lord Kamall (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review policy and legislation to ensure that healthcare mutuals have access to the same opportunities for growth, investment and regulatory support as mutuals in the financial sector.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
DBT, as part of the 2025 Autumn Budget announcements, launched a Call for Evidence on Business Support for Co-operatives and Mutuals. This was open across Great Britain for 12 weeks and closed on 18th February. DBT is now analysing responses and these responses will inform any potential business support policy for the co-operative and mutual businesses.
DBT ensured that for Financial Year 25/26 Growth Hubs in England offer support to businesses with alternative business models – including Co-operatives and Mutuals, as a condition of funding, and included more information on Co-operatives and Mutuals through the highly successful Help to Grow Management programme.
The Law Commission reviews are considering ways to update and modernise the legislation for co-operatives, community benefit societies, and friendly societies, ensuring that it fits the nature and needs of these societies as well as ensuring that regulation is proportionate and effective. The government will carefully consider the recommendations to understand whether reform is needed to ensure these businesses are supported to grow and succeed into the future.