Written questions by Ramsay.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to publish (a) the Elephant Welfare Group's report, (b) the Government's response to the Elephant Welfare Group's report; and what his Department's policy is on the future of elephants in UK zoos.

The Government’s policy on the keeping of elephants in zoos will be set out with the publication of the new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain. The new Standards, which will replace the current Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice, will be published shortly.

Food and Rural Affairs, which organisations will be consulted as part of the development of the Government's Food Strategy; and whether the expert panel will include representatives from the (a) sustainable food and (b) farming sectors.

As part of the development of the food strategy there will be multiple routes for stakeholders to share ideas and input into the strategy. The Food Strategy Advisory Board represents the first step in a wider stakeholder engagement plan which will continue to ensure and demonstrate the joined-up and systems-wide approach for the food strategy. The membership of the Food Strategy Advisory board was published on gov.uk on 21 March 2025 (Leading food experts join Government food strategy to restore pride in British food - GOV.UK).

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will implement an immediate moratorium on import permits for hunting trophies of (a) polar bears and (b) other endangered species.

We committed to a ban on the import of hunting trophies of endangered animals in our manifesto and we will deliver on this. We are currently engaging with a range of stakeholders in order to decide on the most effective approach.

Media and Sport, whether funding for the Scouts will be extended beyond March 2025.

DCMS is committed to continued funding for Uniformed Youth Organisations in 2025/26. Funding allocations for specific programmes will be communicated in due course.

How many women born (a) on or (b) after April 6 1950 have been impacted by the changes to pension age in Waveney Valley constituency.

As of the 2021 census, there were approximately 33,700 women who were born in 1950 or later, in the Waveney Valley constituency. Of these, approximately 6,900 were born in the 1950s. It is not possible to accurately calculate the exact number of women born after April 6, 1950.

How many people have registered for Pension Credit since the announcement of changes to the eligibility requirements for the Winter Fuel Payment in Waveney Valley constituency.

The latest statistics on Pension Credit application volumes were published on 27 February 2025. This provides an update to the Applications and Awards data, including those awarded and not awarded and also statistics on the number of outstanding Pension Credit applications. The statistics provide weekly information for the period 3 April 2023 up to 23 February 2025. Pension Credit applications and awards: February 2025 - GOV.UK. We do not hold data at regional or constituency level for applications made.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the development of a national methane action plan.

We do not believe we need a methane action plan, as it is already covered in our existing delivery Plan for Carbon Budgets. We will publish an updated Plan that will outline the policies and proposals needed to meet Carbon Budgets 4-6 and the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution on a pathway to net zero in due course. This will include key methane policies covering the period up to 2030 that will contribute towards the Global Methane Pledge. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero work closely together on common climate change and environmental issues including around methane.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on President Trump's proposals for the US to (a) takeover and (b) own Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary had a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 27 January, prior to President Trump's comments on Gaza. The readout is available on gov.uk. We will continue to engage with the US Administration across the spectrum of foreign policy issues, including the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Our priority in Gaza remains sustaining the fragile ceasefire, ensuring that all the hostages are released, increasing the supply of aid, and breaking the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a permanent, sustainable peace

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of comments made by US President Trump about Gaza on the current schedule for the release of hostages under the Gaza ceasefire.

The new US administration played an integral role in negotiating the ceasefire agreement, alongside Qatar and Egypt. The Prime Minister reiterated his thanks for these efforts in his call with President Trump on 26 January. The government will continue to work with the US to sustain the fragile ceasefire, ensure that all the hostages are released, increase the supply of aid, and break the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a permanent, sustainable peace. As the Foreign Secretary has emphasised, we continue to call for the immediate release of all hostages

What notice general dental practice contract holders will receive on changes to the new patient premium; and what the Government's policy is on notifying contract holders of changes to their contractual arrangements.

Any changes made to the New Patient Premium will require directions from my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. If any changes are agreed, contract holders will be notified by integrated care boards via NHS England.

Whether he plans to extend the New Patient Premium scheme.

The Government has no plans to extend the New Patient Premium scheme. The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment (a) his Department and (b) its arms length bodies have made of the potential impact of the Water Industry National Environment Programme on carbon emissions.

Ofwat published their final determinations for Price Review 2024 (PR24) on 19 December, which included a confirmed £104 billion of water company expenditure between 2025 and 2030. £24 billion will be invested to improve the environment and Ofwat have confirmed this will put the sector on track to meet net zero targets by 2050. For the period between 2025-2030, Ofwat have provided percentage estimates of the emissions reductions water companies are expected to deliver. These can be found within Ofwat's publicly available PR24 company specific documents available on their website: Final determinations in the 2024 price review - Ofwat. Water companies will report on the emission reductions from schemes, using real time data to demonstrate the impact. Ofwat have also introduced price control deliverables (PCDs) for PR24 – a financial incentive mechanism to incentivise companies to deliver projects on time, and if projects are not delivered, funding is returned to customers. This includes a PCD on climate change resilience to incentivise delivery by companies.

What steps he is taking to ensure that (a) hospitals and (b) other publicly owned healthcare settings are compliant with the UK Health Security Agency guidance entitled Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace, updated on 10 June 2022.

Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice on the Prevention and Control of Infections, NHS England health and social care providers are required to implement measures that protect patients, residents, and staff while providing assurance to trust boards regarding infection risks and outcomes. This obligation extends to the application of national pathogen-specific guidance, including the UK Health Security Agency’s Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/reducing-the-spread-of-respiratory-infections-including-covid-19-in-the-workplaceThe Code of practice outlines 10 criteria used to assess how registered providers meet regulatory requirements for infection prevention and control, including cleanliness.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to roll out mandatory water efficiency labelling.

On 5 September 2024, the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Government’s intention to rollout a Mandatory Water Efficiency Label (MWEL). We will introduce the MWEL in the UK via Secondary Legislation under Section 52 and Schedule 6 of the Environment Act 2021. We are working with the Environment Agency to engage manufacturers and other stakeholders to keep them informed about the regulations as they develop. As this is a devolved matter, we are also working closely with colleagues in the devolved governments to deliver the legislation.

Communities and Local Government, if she will include in the National Planning Policy Framework requirements for local authorities to make an assessment of the potential impact of proposed housing developments on the sustainability of local (a) water services and (b) sewerage systems.

Water companies are under a statutory duty to provide new water and sewage connections to residential properties, as well as planning to meet the needs of growth as part of Water Resource Management Plans and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans.The way that water resources are planned for is being considered as part of a commission reviewing the Water Sector Regulatory System, as recently announced by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps under the National Planning Policy Framework to increase protections for (a) chalk streams and (b) ancient woodlands.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, which can include ancient woodland and chalk streams, should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists.

Whether, under amendments to the Government’s business models for the (a) Net Zero Teesside Power (NZT) and (b) Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) projects, money has been (i) ringfenced for and (ii) committed to compensation for losses that might be incurred by (A) the National Wealth Fund, (B) lending banks, (C) BP, (D) Equinor, (E) TotalEnergies and (F) other investors or equity holders arising from the Judicial Review challenging the lawfulness of the decision by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to grant approval for the joint Development Consent Order underpinning NZT and NEP.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has not ringfenced or committed any funds for compensation related to the entities or matters outlined in the question.Net Zero Teesside’s Development Consent Order (DCO), determined in February 2024, remains in force. Considering the ongoing legal proceedings, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

What progress he has made on outlining the clinical scope of the (a) role and (b) duties undertaken by (i) physician and (ii) anaesthesia associates.

On 20 November 2024, the Government announced that it had commissioned an independent review of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs), led by Professor Gillian Leng CBE. The review will consider the safety of the roles, and their contribution to multidisciplinary healthcare teams.As set out in the published Terms of Reference, the review will be an end-to-end review of the PA and AA professions, covering selection and recruitment, training, day to day work, scope of practice, oversight, supervision, and professional regulation. The review will report in spring 2025.NHS England has issued guidance on the deployment of PAs and AAs in the National Health Service, which describes the expectations of how organisations providing NHS care should deploy them, so that they can contribute to the delivery of safe and effective healthcare in a supportive environment. This guidance remains in place whilst the review is ongoing, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/summary-of-existing-guidance-on-the-deployment-of-medical-associate-professions-in-nhs-healthcare-settings/In the meantime, regulation with the General Medical Council has begun, and will help to ensure patient safety and professional accountability.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to update the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016.

Work is underway across Defra and the Drinking Water Inspectorate to consider potential updates to the Schedules in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 to ensure drinking water quality in England continues to remain exceptionally high. This includes working with a range of external experts to inform and develop the Government’s thinking on these matters.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to consult on Part G of the building regulations to improve water efficiency standards.

The Government is committed to enabling homes to be water efficient as part of the statutory Water Demand Target under the Environment Act 2021, to reduce the use of public water supply by 20% by 2037/38. The target is underpinned by a commitment to lower water usage in homes, to achieve a usage of at least 122 litres per person per day by 2038, on a trajectory to 110 litres per person per day by 2050. Defra is working closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to explore whether the Building Regulations 2010 could be amended to tighten water efficiency standards, enable consumers to use less water and save on their water and energy bills. Policy options on amendments to the Building Regulations have been collated into a draft consultation, and we are now working through steps to proceed to consultation.