Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities including (a) Thurrock, (b) Basildon, and (c) Essex councils on bringing wildlife restoration projects into suburban and rural communities.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Essex has a wealth of wildlife and holds a wide variety of nature-rich habitats, including some that are unique to this part of England.
As one of 48 Responsible Authorities appointed by the Secretary of State, Essex County Council published its Local Nature Recovery Strategy in July 2025. These strategies propose actions to improve, expand and connect nature, in both rural and urban areas. Natural England has a statutory role, providing bespoke advice and quality assurance to each LNRS, and continues to support Essex County Council as this strategy now moves into a planning and delivery phase.
The proposed actions and priorities for improving and connecting nature and greenspace in urban areas, both for the benefit of wildlife and for communities, are set out in chapters 6 and 9 of the Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
The development of Essex’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy has been supported by 14 Borough and District Councils which have contributed local data and expertise, including local wildlife site data and species records. These Supporting Authorities include Thurrock Council, Basildon Borough Council, Southend-on-Sea, Chelmsford and Colchester.
In the Thurrock area Natural England has been advising and engaging with a number of stakeholders including Thurrock Council, major infrastructure projects and other developers on how to secure long-term thriving nature alongside economic growth opportunities.
Natural England’s Sustainable Development leads are advising 14 local authorities across Essex on nature and green space through the Local Plan process, including both Basildon and Thurrock. Essex County Council has developed a Green Infrastructure Strategy which provides guidance for Planning Authorities within the county. Colchester and Southend-on-Sea are both prioritising Green Infrastructure within their Local Plans. Green Infrastructure is the term for multi-functional green spaces such as parks, gardens, wildlife areas, waterways and drainage systems which can deliver benefits for nature, for people and economic prosperity.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her comments to the BBC on 11 August 2025, whether her Department presented information to the courts during legal proceedings relating to the proscription of Palestine Action on people who are objecting to that proscription because they don't know the full nature of the organisation as a result of court restrictions on reporting while serious prosecutions are under way; and if she will publish this information.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The material relied upon by the Court in its decision making is referenced throughout the judgment which is publicly available here: R (Ammori) v SSHD OPEN Judgment (final)
The open material referred to during the proceedings can be requested from the court in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules on Court documents see: PART 5 – COURT DOCUMENTS – Civil Procedure Rules – Justice UK. Any material submitted in closed proceedings is protected by the Justice and Security Act 2013 and will not be disclosed for reasons of national security. It would not be appropriate to comment further during ongoing legal proceedings.
The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation has access to secret and sensitive national security information in order to carry out his role. He routinely publishes his findings in reports that are available on his website: https://terrorismlegislationreviewer.independent.gov.uk/
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the role of sport in health outcomes for young people with Down's syndrome in Surrey.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No discussions have taken place between the Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Culture, Media and Sport about young people with Down syndrome in Surrey and the role of sport in health outcomes.
The UK Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines for disabled young people sets out the benefits of movement and strength activities, which includes helping to support disabled young people’s well-being, mood, development of healthy muscles, balance, and motor skills.
Through our 10-Year Health Plan, Government departments are working together to break down the barriers people face and help get more people moving. This includes development of a national plan for physical activity and a new way to deliver physical education, sport, and physical activity in schools. This work provides us with opportunities to improve ways for disabled young people to enjoy and benefit from sport, play and physical activity, whether in school, through local sports clubs, or in leisure centres and play spaces, making use of parks and nature.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of the implementation of Public Space Protection Orders in specific areas to prevent wildlife from being harmed by catapults.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is clear that catapults should not be used to cause harm to wildlife, people, or property.
There are a wide range of laws in place to punish those who misuse catapults. For example, under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, if a person carries an offensive weapon in a public place or threatens a person with an offensive weapon, they may face up to 4 years in prison. An offensive weapon is defined as any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person or intended by the person having it with him for such use by him or by another person. The definition may include a catapult depending on the circumstances and facts of the case.
Where a catapult is used to harm a person, under the Offences against the Person Act 1861, it could be charged as assault occasioning actual bodily harm which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment, However, depending on the gravity of the attack and the seriousness of the injury caused by the catapult, the offence of wounding or causing grievous bodily harm with intent could be committed, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police, local authorities, and other local agencies with a range of flexible tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to anti-social behaviour, including where appropriate, the misuse of catapults. This includes Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) which councils can issue to stop people committing anti-social behaviour in a public space.
The Home Office has not made an assessment on the potential merits of using PSPOs to prevent catapult use against wildlife. The powers in the 2014 Act are deliberately flexible in nature, and it is for local agencies to determine whether their use is appropriate in the specific circumstances of each individual case.
We do, however, recognise that the misuse of catapults is causing great concern to some local communities and the Home Office and Defra are working to find solutions to this problem with an aim of increasing protection to our wildlife from crimes involving these weapons.
Asked by: Lee Dillon (Liberal Democrat - Newbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to accelerate WINEP/AMP upgrades for chalk stream catchments given their protected status.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Chalk streams are incredible source of national pride. As one of Britain’s most nature-rich habitats, they support some of our rarest wildlife.
Water companies will invest £2 billion over the next 5 years to deliver more than 1,000 targeted actions for chalk stream restoration through the Price Review 24 (PR24) Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP).
Additionally, chalk streams will be prioritised as part of the record £10.2 billion of investment to improve over 2,500 storm overflows in England.
Asked by: Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat - Newton Abbot)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of stewardship payments in delivering measurable biodiversity outcomes on upland commons.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Stewardship payments through Environmental and Countryside Stewardship help support restoration of nature and ensure habitats are resilient including on upland commons. Through the recently published Environmental Improvement Plan, the Government is committed to improving these sites with a target that by December 2030 50% of Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) features have actions on track to achieve favourable condition.
Defra’s Agri-Environment Evidence Programme conducts research that improves our schemes with targeted projects to explore Agri-environment scheme (AES) impacts over an ecologically meaningful timescale. One recent study of AES impact on SSSI upland dwarf heath sites identified that two primary factors affecting condition are burning frequency and stock management. AES are crucial to supporting farmers and land managers in taking action to improve the condition of SSSIs, such as addressing water pollution, changing grazing regimes and tackling invasive species.
Asked by: Gurinder Singh Josan (Labour - Smethwick)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people in England and Wales would have a previous caution or conviction disclosed in a standard DBS check.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) does not hold information about how many people overall in England and Wales have a previous caution or conviction nor the specific nature of those offences which would determine whether they would be disclosed on Standard DBS checks.
Only upon receipt of an eligible DBS application does the DBS access an extract of the Police National Computer (PNC) and establish whether conviction or caution information is relevant and requires disclosure in line with the relevant rules on disclosure.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of RAF Fairford by the United States Air Force to launch offensive military action on UK security.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The United States requested permission to use British bases for the limited, defensive purpose of preventing Iranian missiles from killing civilians, British nationals, or our allies in countries that played no part in the initial strike. Permissions to utilise UK military bases are considered on a case-by-case basis and the decision to grant permission is dependant on the nature and purpose of their activity.
Asked by: Baroness Buscombe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what role the National Security Adviser has had in UK Government engagement with the government of the United States of America since 20 January 2026.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The National Security Adviser engages with a range of states and organisations as part of his role providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on national security matters, including the United States which remains our most important security partner. Such meetings are often sensitive in nature, and the Government does not routinely comment on them or their content.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of staff in his Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Due to the operational nature of the department, a significant proportion of DWP roles — particularly customer-facing and telephony positions—are required to be carried out from the office to ensure customers receive consistent and timely support.
Hybrid working is available only to colleagues whose job roles are able to support it and is offered on a noncontractual basis. Eligible staff are expected to spend at least 60% of their working time in the office, supporting effective teamwork, leadership visibility and high quality service delivery.
In line with Cabinet Office guidance, contractual homeworking is usually restricted to disabled employees for whom it is a reasonable adjustment, which the Equality Act 2010 obliges us to implement. As of 31 January 2026, 1.8% of paid staff are designated as Contracted Homeworkers.