Written questions by Ramsay.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department to ensure the humane slaughter of farmed fish.

Since publication of the Animal Welfare Committee’s updated Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing a GB-wide joint government-industry working group on farmed trout has been examining the issues raised in the report. This co-design work has made good progress on exploring potential options for more detailed welfare at killing requirements. We are now exploring all the potential next steps, including options for creating detailed guidance and new legislation.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce species-specific slaughter legislation for farmed fish.

Since publication of the Animal Welfare Committee’s updated Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing a GB-wide joint government-industry working group on farmed trout has been examining the issues raised in the report. This co-design work has made good progress on exploring potential options for more detailed welfare at killing requirements. We are now exploring all the potential next steps, including options for creating detailed guidance and new legislation.

What steps his Department is taking during the transition to the NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board to ensure that the level of the dental workforce meets any change in demand in the East of England.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a critical role to play in the future as strategic commissioners, and this is going to be central to realising the ambitions that have been set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. Any proposed changes to the ICBs in the east of England will not impact the requirement for ICBs to commission dentistry services that meet the needs of their population.The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care for patients, when they need it.We recently held a full public consultation on a package of changes to improve access to, and the quality of, NHS dentistry, which will deliver better care for the diverse oral health needs of people across England. The Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation and will publish a response in due course.

What steps he took to consider climate change tipping points when preparing the update to the National Risk Register in January 2025.

The UK is facing an ever-changing and growing set of risks. The National Risk Register focuses on the reasonable worst case ‘acute’ risks, which are discrete events requiring an emergency response and likely to occur over the next two-five years. All risks in the National Risk Register are kept under review to ensure that they are the most appropriate scenarios to inform emergency preparedness and resilience activity. Part of that process is considering the chronic, longer term risks and trends which could change the likelihood and impact of the risks set out in the Register. The January 2025 National Risk Register recognises climate change and biodiversity loss as drivers of chronic risk. For example, climate change can lead to an increase in the frequency and severity of weather conditions that cause floods and wildfires, biodiversity loss and global instability. During every update, policy makers are encouraged to consider the potential implications of these chronic risks on their policy areas, including how it might interact with acute risks. The Government published its first bespoke Chronic Risks Analysis (CRA) in July 2025 to enable the resilience community, businesses and organisations more broadly to consider these long-term challenges in their planning.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to delay any local elections as a result of the new local government structures proposed in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

No.

How much was spent on primary care NHS dental services net of patient charge revenue in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each financial year since 2010-11.

The table attached shows the total spend on primary care National Health Service dental services net of patient charge revenue in cash and real terms in each financial year since 2010/11. Data for 2024/25 is not published yet.

If he will review his Department's conversion factors for GHG reporting for (a) bioenergy and (b) WTT bioenergy in the light of the most recent remote sensing data from independent system(s) of Earth Observation measurements.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given on 4 September to Question UIN 69532 which describes the review process used to update conversion factors. This includes for the conversion factors for bioenergy and well-to-tank bioenergy. The UK is one of only a handful of countries currently reporting the validation of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions based on atmospheric measurements. The National Inventory Steering Committee considers this information, alongside international review recommendations, emerging science, and external quality assurance of the inventory, when deciding priority areas of improvement to the inventory and, where relevant, resultant conversion factors.

If he will set out the (a) review process and (b) changes for the greenhouse gas conversion factors for (i) bioenergy (ii) well-to-tank bioenergy each year since 2015.

A proportionate risk-based approach is taken to reviewing and updating conversion factors, considering size of UK emission among other factors. As part of the annual peer review process, priority improvements for each year are advised by a Steering Group, consisting of Government officials, consultants and other key data providers. The Steering Group collate feedback and identify potential improvements from regular users of Conversion Factors from across industry and academia. The conversion factors for fuels and well-to-tank fuels have been reviewed since 2015. All changes to direct and well-to-tank conversion factors for fuels and bioenergy in each year are available from the collection webpage. Conversion factors for natural gas, diesel, petrol and coal are updated regularly, including in the 2024 publication.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Waveney Valley of 21 July 2025, Official Report, col 579, on what evidential basis his Department has estimated the cost of bringing water companies into public ownership.

Defra has estimated that nationalising the water industry would cost approximately £100 billion. This is based on the sector’s Regulatory Capital Value (RCV), which was £99.3 billion in 2024 and £106.7 billion in 2025. It reflects the cost of purchasing equity in all water companies as well as the cost of assuming their existing debt liabilities. For more information on the approach taken by Defra to reach its estimate, please see: Nationalising the water sector: how we assessed the cost - GOV.UK.

With reference to the research entitled Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2024, published on 8 July 2024, how the conversion factors for (a) bioenergy and (b) well-to-tank bioenergy were developed.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publish Government Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Conversion Factors for Company Reporting annually. Their scope is defined to be relevant to Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations, following GHG Protocol guidance. The conversion factors for direct emissions from fuels and biofuels are based on the most recent data from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Well-to-tank factors are based on external studies as updated by recent available data. Further details on how direct and well-to-tank conversion factors for fuels and bioenergy are estimated and updated can be found in the annual methodology report.

With reference to his Department's document entitled Dentistry Cost Survey published on 13 May 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of incorporating the results of the cost of dental services survey into (a) reform of the NHS dental contract and (b) trends in the level of funding for dentistry.

The Government is conducting a research project to better understand the costs and pressures associated with running a dental practice in England. The aim is to support ambitions on dental reform by ensuring that the Government has an objective and accurate understanding to inform policy development. It will also improve understanding around the sustainability of the current system. As part of this research, a survey was launched on 13 May 2025 and closed 16 June 2025. We are currently reviewing and analysing the responses to understand the findings.The results of the Dentistry Cost Survey will enhance the information and data we currently have to inform and support effective future policy measures, including dental reform.The Government’s ambition is to deliver fundamental contract reform before the end of this Parliament.

With reference to the research entitled Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2024, published on 8 July 2024, how the conversion factors for (a) fuels and (b) well-to-tank fuels were developed.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publish Government Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Conversion Factors for Company Reporting annually. Their scope is defined to be relevant to Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations, following GHG Protocol guidance. The conversion factors for direct emissions from fuels and biofuels are based on the most recent data from the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Well-to-tank factors are based on external studies as updated by recent available data. Further details on how direct and well-to-tank conversion factors for fuels and bioenergy are estimated and updated can be found in the annual methodology report.

With reference to the research entitled Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2024, published on 8 July 2024, if he will review his Department's conversion factors for (a) fuels and (b) well-to-tank fuels.

A proportionate risk-based approach is taken to reviewing and updating conversion factors, considering size of UK emission among other factors. As part of the annual peer review process, priority improvements for each year are advised by a Steering Group, consisting of Government officials, consultants and other key data providers. The Steering Group collate feedback and identify potential improvements from regular users of Conversion Factors from across industry and academia. The conversion factors for fuels and well-to-tank fuels have been reviewed since 2015. All changes to direct and well-to-tank conversion factors for fuels and bioenergy in each year are available from the collection webpage. Conversion factors for natural gas, diesel, petrol and coal are updated regularly, including in the 2024 publication.

With reference to the research entitled Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2024, published on 8 July 2024, whether the conversion factors for (a) fuels and (b) well-to-tank fuels have been reviewed since 2015.

A proportionate risk-based approach is taken to reviewing and updating conversion factors, considering size of UK emission among other factors. As part of the annual peer review process, priority improvements for each year are advised by a Steering Group, consisting of Government officials, consultants and other key data providers. The Steering Group collate feedback and identify potential improvements from regular users of Conversion Factors from across industry and academia. The conversion factors for fuels and well-to-tank fuels have been reviewed since 2015. All changes to direct and well-to-tank conversion factors for fuels and bioenergy in each year are available from the collection webpage. Conversion factors for natural gas, diesel, petrol and coal are updated regularly, including in the 2024 publication.

Communities and Local Government, whether local council elections postponed in 2025 will take place in 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 65017 on 14 July 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of capital spending on flooding will be allocated to (a) hard infrastructure and (b) nature-based solutions.

At the Spending Review on 11 June the Government announced a record £4.2 billion investment over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) to improve flood resilience by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. The list of projects to receive government funding will be agreed in the usual way, on an annual basis, through Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, with local representation. Future flood investment schemes will also be subject to our currently open consultation on proposals to reform the way we fund flood and coastal defences. This new approach will make it easier to invest in natural flood management schemes that also boost nature, water resources and fight climate change.

Food and Rural Affairs, when the (a) Landscape Recovery and (b) Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship schemes will be re-opened for applications.

A) The Government reconfirmed its commitment to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes in the recent Spending Review.  Landscape Recovery projects that were awarded funding in rounds one and two are continuing, and we are moving into the delivery phase with the first round of projects. Plans for a third round of Landscape Recovery will be confirmed in due course. B) Defra is rolling out the improved Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme this year. We have invited farmers and land managers to begin the pre-application process. There will be opportunities for other farmers and land managers to access CSHT in the future. More details on the timing and approach to widening applications will be published later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's planned timetable is for publishing a consultation on banning farrowing crates.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 April 2025 to the hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield, PQ UIN 41698.

What proportion of the additional NHS revenue funding allocated in the Spending Review will go to NHS dentistry.

The details of budget allocations within departments are still being determined. The Department of Health and Social Care is working to provide the detail and certainty needed on future funding and spending plans, including for National Health Service dentistry.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of securing new Marine Protected Areas around Antarctica.

The UK remains committed to establishing a representative network of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) around Antarctica. The UK-led proposal for the South Orkney Islands Southern Shelf MPA was agreed in 2009. The UK also strongly supported the designation of the Ross Sea Region MPA agreed in 2016. The UK is co-proponent to MPA proposals for the Weddell Sea and East Antarctica and is engaging in negotiations on balancing fishing activity and marine protection around the Antarctic Peninsula. Climate change presents a real and immediate threat to Antarctic marine life and the UK will continue to advocate for the importance of ensuring there is robust protection in place to enhance ecosystem resilience.The UK has been a vocal advocate for conservation and marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Southern Ocean since the inception of the Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources inception in 1982. As a world-leading Antarctic science nation producing impactful science through institutions such as the British Antarctic Survey the UK is active in calling for additional marine protection in the Southern Ocean.