Written questions by Gelderd.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prepare for the UK-China Environment Dialogue in 2025.

Defra is working with China’s Ministry of Ecology and the Environment to agree the timing and scope of an Environmental Dialogue, in line with our commitment to do so within 12 months of the signing of the Environment Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two parties in October 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on the implementation of 10 Point Plan for financing biodiversity; and if he plans to publish an update on implementation before the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 30) in November 2025.

The 10 Point Plan (10PP) for Financing Biodiversity was launched in December 2022 by the former government and preceded agreement of the comprehensive Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). This government is committed to delivering on all the KMGBF targets, including those related to the mobilisation of finance for biodiversity. Most recently at the 16th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD CoP16) we published the Biodiversity Trends Dashboard to help track progress towards meeting nature finance targets. We expect to update this prior to UNFCCC COP30. We also secured the new Cali Fund which will help ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic information derived from nature - directly supporting Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The UK government also co-sponsored the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB), alongside France, helping to deliver a Framework for High Integrity Biodiversity Credit Markets. Our seventh UK national report under the CBD will provide an update on our progress in delivering the KMGBF targets. This is due by February 2026.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list the (a) title (b) location and (c) value of projects funded by the Green Climate Fund as part of the International Climate Finance spend on nature and biodiversity.

Details, including title, location, and value, of all projects funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) are available on the Fund's website: [https://www.greenclimate.fund/countries]. The GCF's Open Data Library, is also available via the website.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing Schedule 17 of the Environment Act before the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties to UNFCCC (COP 30) in November 2025.

The UK strongly supports global efforts to protect forests, including advocating for the international commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, while supporting livelihoods and economic development. We will set out our approach to addressing deforestation in the UK’s supply chains in due course.

What discussions he has had with energy suppliers on support for consumers that (a) are not connected to the gas grid and (b) rely on alternative costly fuels in (i) South East Cornwall and (ii) other rural and coastal areas.

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently, including those who are not on the gas grid. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past. We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we are delivering the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households this winter. In February, we published a consultation on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would bring around 2.7 million households into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The consultation has now closed and the Department is evaluating the responses. I have been clear with suppliers that they should do all they can to support their customers who are struggling with their bills. I recommend that any consumers who are struggling with their bills should contact their supplier, local authority, or Citizens Advice to see what support they may be able to receive.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the European Chemical Agency's decision to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

We actively monitor measures being considered in other jurisdictions to inform possible approaches in the UK, including the European Chemical Agency’s proposals for PFAS restrictions. The Health and Safety Executive is due to publish its dossier investigating whether to restrict the use, manufacture and sale of PFAS in fire fighting foams soon, for a six-month consultation. This dossier has included extensive analysis of risks and hazards of PFAS that are relevant to other uses and sets a firm foundation for further investigation of PFAS risks in Great Britain. Other work is continuing across Government to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform future measures.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list the project (a) title, (b) code, (c) Overseas Development Assistance value and (d) International Climate Finance value of all Blue Belt Programme expenditure in the (i) 2021-22, (ii) 2022-23, (iii) 2023-24 and (iv) 2024-25 financial years.

From Financial Year (FY) 21/22 to FY 24/25, the Blue Belt Programme was funded through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's International Programme. For each of these FYs, the budget for the Programme was £8 million, of which £2 million was Overseas Development Assistance. Annual reports, which set out the main activities conducted through the programme, are available on the GOV.UK Blue Belt Programme webpage, with the 24/25 report due to be published in the summer. The Blue Belt Programme does not receive funding from International Climate Finance.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterparts on UK-China efforts to halt global deforestation.

The recent visit by the Secretary of State gave the opportunity to discuss issues that matter to the UK with senior levels of the Chinese government, including areas such as forests, NDCs and multilateral negotiations.The UK and China have agreed to hold a UK-China Climate Dialogue and a UK-China Environment Dialogue later this year to accelerate action to tackle the global climate and biodiversity crises. The details of the Dialogues will be confirmed in due course. The UK remains committed to working with all international partners to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation.

What recent discussions he has had with his Brazilian counterpart on UK-Brazil efforts to halt global deforestation.

As the world’s largest rainforest country, Brazil is an important partner to the UK on driving action to tackle deforestation. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero engages regularly with Brazilian counterparts. He was fortunate enough to visit the Brazilian Amazon last summer, to see how the UK has worked in partnership with Brazil to support local communities in combating climate change and securing sustainable livelihoods. Securing a sustainable future for rainforests will help to protect British citizens from climate change and to maintain secure supply chains for food and other essentials.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of welfare reforms on (a) unpaid carers and (b) their access to (i) respite and (ii) support services.

The Government is committed to supporting unpaid carers, who provide invaluable support to elderly or disabled people.In the recent Pathways to Work Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, we announced a broad package of reforms to the health and disability benefit and support system, including changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). For those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including for linked entitlements such as Carer’s Allowance, we are consulting on how best to support this group, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.The Government will consider the impacts on benefits for unpaid carers as part of its wider consideration of responses to the consultation as it develops its detailed proposals for change. Through the Green Paper we are consulting on the support needed for those who may lose any entitlements as a result of receiving PIP daily living and what this support could look like. The Department for Work and Pensions will also work closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and others on how the health and eligible care needs of those who would lose entitlement to PIP could be met outside the benefits system.Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services.The Better Care Fund includes funding that can be used for unpaid carer support, including short breaks and respite services for carers.

What steps she is taking to ensure that (a) coastal and (b) rural areas are not disproportionately impacted by housing insecurity as a result of welfare policy changes.

The Government is providing £1 billion, including Barnett impact, to extend the Household Support Fund in England and Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) in England and Wales in 2025-2026. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or UC who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and DHP funding includes over £1m ring-fenced for the most rural LAs in England and Wales.Alongside delivering on our Get Britain Working White Paper to support people into good jobs and make everyone better off, we’re increasing the Living Wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit (UC) deductions to help low-income households.Our reforms will ensure we can always protect people who need it. But, for those that can, we know that work is the best route out of poverty. Many sick and disabled people want to work and have been denied the opportunity. They deserve the same chances and choices to work as everyone else, and our £1 billion employment support package will start to provide that across the country, including in coastal and rural areas.

Whether she plans to review legislation on (a) aiding and (b) abetting suicide through the (i) online promotion and (ii) sale of lethal substances.

It is already an offence to do an act capable of encouraging or assisting suicide under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 where that act is intended to encourage or assist suicide or attempted suicide.The Government has no plans to review that offence. There are also a number of criminal offences relating to the supply of regulated poisons to the public under the Poisons Act 1972. In addition, the Online Safety Act 2023 requires in-scope services to have proportionate systems and processes in place to prevent users from encountering illegal content via their service. This includes the online sale and promotion of lethal substances and illegal suicide and self-harm content.

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of proposed reforms to the Personal Independence Payment.

The reforms to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility criteria will be brought forward via Primary Legislation, so that Parliament can fully consider, debate and vote on these changes. We have and will continue to consider the potential impacts of our reforms, including through engagement with other departments. That is why, for those who are affected by the new PIP eligibility changes, we are consulting on how best to support this group. We will also work closely with the DHSC and others on how the health and eligible care needs of those who would lose entitlement to PIP could be met outside the benefits system. We also intend to launch a wider review of the PIP assessment which I will lead. We will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review. We will provide further details as plans progress.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of welfare changes on the mental health of claimants in (a) South East Cornwall constituency, (b) rural areas and (c) coastal areas.

No assessment has been made. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the capacity of Jobcentre Plus to support claimants in South East Cornwall constituency.

The Government has set a long-term ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate, building on our plan for growth. The Get Britain Working White Paper sets out the fundamental reforms needed to realise our ambitions, including the vision to reform Jobcentres - to a new Jobs and Careers Service to meet the needs of local labour markets, people and employers. Across Great Britain, the new service will enable everyone to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them to progress in work, including through an enhanced focus on skills and careers. Central to the new service will be our use of technology, enabling us to reinvest time in supporting people more effectively. We are starting a test and learn approach to develop the new service. We are currently running two large-scale tests testing reducing the frequency of engagement with customers and the mode of mandatory engagement for Universal Credit claimants that are looking for work or are in lower paid jobs. These will help us to better understand what will work best for the individual.   Residents of Southeast Cornwall are served by Liskeard, Launceston and Devonport Job Centres who are responsible for ensuring residents of Southeast Cornwall can access the Jobcentre offer and a wide range of programmes with partner organisations. This includes the Work Well Pilot, delivering a range of tailored work and health support, the YEP! Programme (SPF), the People Hub working with people who are unemployed or under employed with a range of training and pre-employability help and the Restart Programme. Area specific needs are met by a range of Jobcentre and partner bespoke offers, which includes Disability Employer Advisor outreach in GP surgeries, working with refugees in Torpoint and Saltash, and the IPS programme delivering support to those with addiction and Mental Health issues. Recent Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) have assisted residents of Southeast Cornwall into security, retail and care work.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of online forums on the purchase of (a) sodium nitrate and (b) other substances for the purpose of suicide by vulnerable individuals; and what steps she is taking to (i) identify and (ii) remove harmful online content.

Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services, regardless of their size, must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide content, and children from harmful suicide content. On 9 April, Ofcom launched an investigation into whether the provider of a pro-suicide forum failed to comply with its duties under the Act. This first enforcement action taken by Ofcom demonstrates that harmful suicide forums are a high priority for enforcement.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment has he made of the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act in tackling forums and websites that promote suicide methods.

Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services, regardless of their size, must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide content, and children from harmful suicide content. On 9 April, Ofcom launched an investigation into whether the provider of a pro-suicide forum failed to comply with its duties under the Act. This first enforcement action taken by Ofcom demonstrates that harmful suicide forums are a high priority for enforcement.

What steps she is taking to ensure that welfare changes do not disproportionately impact (a) disabled people and (b) people with mental health conditions in South East Cornwall constituency.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper set out our plans to reform the health and disability and employment support system. As we bring forward changes, we will ensure that the most vulnerable and severely disabled people everywhere are protected, so that they can live with dignity and security. We are taking steps to make sure that people, across the country, are supported. For those affected by the changes to PIP eligibility, we are consulting on how best to support this group, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met. For new claimants on the Universal Credit health element after April 2026, we are proposing that those with the most severe, life-long health conditions, who will never be able to work, will see their incomes protected. We hope that a wide range of voices, including from your constituency, will respond to our consultation and as we develop detailed proposals for change, we will continue to consider the potential impacts of reforms.

What steps his Department is taking to support veterans to mentor young people in (a) conservation, (b) rural training initiatives and (c) general.

This Government is determined to ensure that the value veterans bring to civil society and UK businesses across all sectors is fully recognised, and that industries make the most of the talents they have to offer. This includes the opportunity for veterans to share the experiences, and the skills developed throughout their Armed Forces service, with young people. The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is the Ministry of Defence's official resettlement programme and provides employment advice and support for those leaving military service, during the 'transition' phase, up to two years before and after leaving service. CTP also supports employers looking to recruit Armed Forces Service leavers into their organisations. We have recently expanded the employment support available for veterans under Op ASCEND, which is run by the Forces Employment Charity. This service will align more closely with CTP and will provide access to specialised pathways for veterans and their families into nationally significant sectors of societal and economic value. The Great Place to Work for Veterans Scheme encourages and supports veterans seeking opportunities within the Civil Service, including in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. All civil service employees, including veterans, have access to a broad learning and development offer and mentoring initiatives.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of employment programmes on rates of poverty resulting from changes to Personal Independence Payment.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.