Written questions by Riddell-Carpenter.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of water shortages on food security.

Drought has caused an early harvest with reduced crop quality and yields. Livestock farmers face risks with forage and winter feed supplies. The Environment Agency’s (EA) measures to support farmers include: Improving water access outside of licenced conditionsSupporting Water Abstractor Groups to enable water rights and infrastructure sharingLocal Resource Option studies driving scheme collaboration. The EA’s upcoming Autumn prospects report will help inform farmers, improve resilience and planning for next year. Defra assesses the potential impacts of water shortages on food supply as part of the National Risk Register (NRR) cycle. We work closely with Defra Water colleagues, the Cabinet Office (which leads on the NRR) and with the wider resilience and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) community across Government to ensure that risks to food supply are fully considered in national risk assessments and contingency planning.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to (a) improve the welfare of farmed animals and (b) restrict the use of cages.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.

When the consultation on the renewable liquid heating fuel obligation will be launched.

The Government recognises that renewable liquid heating fuels (RLHF) could play a role in heating. As it is a limited resource, the Government expect sustainable biomass to be prioritised where there are limited alternatives for decarbonisation. RLHFs are also much more expensive to use than other heating solutions. Before taking decisions on whether to support the use of RLHFs, including the introduction of any obligation, the Government would require stronger evidence on their affordability for consumers, and the availability of sustainable feedstocks.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) improve support for Blue Badge holders and (b) ensure that applications are processed without delay across local authorities.

Whilst the Department for Transport (DfT) is responsible for the legislation that sets out the Blue Badge scheme framework, it is local authorities who are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the scheme. This includes implementing assessment and enforcement procedures which they believe are in accordance with the governing legislation. The DfT cannot intervene in the case of individual applications or eligibility decisions. The DfT works closely with the organisations responsible for the delivery of the Blue Badge Digital Service (BBDS) and the Blue Badge printing facility to ensure local authorities have the support they need to process applications and ensure swift production of the Blue Badge once the assessment process is complete.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of regulations on dog breeding; and what steps she is taking to tackle illegal puppy farming.

Defra undertook a post-implementation review of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, which was published in December 2024. The Government is considering the findings, as well, as the recommendations in the EFRA select committee’s report into pet welfare and abuse and the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on canine breeding. As outlined in our manifesto, the Government will bring an end to puppy farming. We are considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course.

What steps he is taking to help protect consumers from exploitative practices in the (a) holiday park and (b) static caravan sector.

Consumers who purchase holiday and static caravans, often for significant sums, are protected under consumer legislation such as the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 strengthens consumer law enforcement by giving the CMA new administrative powers, and the CMA and courts the ability to impose significant monetary penalties.It is crucial that consumers seek appropriate legal advice to clearly understand the terms and conditions of any caravan purchase, so they can make a fully informed decision.My department is also engaging with enforcement bodies to understand more about exploitative practices taking place in the sector and how they can be tackled.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to require local planning authorities to consider the financial viability and track record of developers as part of the planning process.

On 25 May, the government published a Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out (which can be found on gov.uk here) which included proposals to implement a new power for authorities to decline to determine planning applications made by developers who fail to build out at a reasonable rate. The consultation closed on 7 July and we are currently considering all feedback received.It would not be appropriate for local planning authorities to be required to assess the financial viability of a developer when determining a planning application. This is not a planning matter and would place undue burden on both applicant and local planning authority.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that social workers receive specialist training to recognise signs of child sexual abuse connected to the production of online child pornography.

It is vitally important that all professionals working with children, including social workers, can recognise and respond quickly to the signs of child sexual abuse.While local authorities and other employers are responsible for the professional development of their workforces, we are supporting them to ensure that social workers are equipped to recognise and respond to signs of child sexual abuse, including those connected to online pornography.The government recently launched a consultation on a new post-qualifying standards and training programme for child and family social workers, and we will be publishing our response shortly. This will support social workers new to the profession, including developing the knowledge and skills required to respond to cases of sexual abuse and exploitation.In the future, we will expand on these post-qualifying standards to include those for advanced practice, which will look to increase social work expertise and leadership in child protection, including in relation to sexual abuse and exploitation.The government has also committed, in the Home Office’s Progress Update on tackling child sexual abuse, to develop specialist child sexual abuse and exploitation training for all key members of the children’s services.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the highest welfare standards for greyhounds (a) during racing careers and (b) after retirement.

The welfare of racing greyhounds in England is covered by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010. The 2006 Act allows action to be taken where there is evidence of cruelty to an animal or a failure to provide for that animal’s welfare needs. This includes during greyhounds’ racing careers and after they have retired. Specific welfare standards at all greyhound racing tracks in England are also required by the 2010 Regulations, including having a vet present while dogs are running (with all greyhounds inspected by the vet before being allowed to run). In addition to these statutory protections, the sport’s main regulatory body, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), enforces welfare standards (including those in the 2010 Regulations) at GBGB affiliated tracks, as well as at GBGB licensed trainers’ kennels. Independent, external oversight of GBGB’s regulatory work at tracks and trainers’ kennels is provided by the UK’s National Accreditation Body, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The GBGB has also undertaken a number of welfare reforms, including publishing a long term, national welfare strategy – ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound’. The strategy focuses not only on reducing risks of injury but also developing and implementing new management practices to improve the welfare of greyhounds throughout their lives, including after they have retired. The Government is monitoring GBGB’s progress in delivering the strategy and should further measures be required the Government will consider options which are targeted, effective, and proportionate.

What support is available to small businesses affected by changes in Small Business Rate Relief.

Every three years, all commercial properties are revalued by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). The 2026 revaluation, which will take effect from April 2026, will update RVs and may, therefore, affect businesses’ eligibility for SBRR. The revaluation process is ongoing and the VOA are required to publish a draft of all properties’ new RVs this year. Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to businesses with a single property below a set rateable value. Eligible properties under £12,000 will receive 100 per cent relief, which means over a third of properties in England (more than 700,000) pay no business rates at all. There is also tapered support available to properties valued between £12,000 and £15,000, benefitting an additional c.60,000 properties. The government is committed to retaining SBRR, which is a permanent relief set down in legislation. As highlighted in the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper, the Government is interested in hearing stakeholders’ views on the extent to which the current system acts as a barrier to investment and specifically, whether the current eligibility criteria for SBRR impacts businesses' incentives to invest and expand into a second property. The Government will publish an interim report that sets out a clear direction of travel for the business rates system, with further policy detail to follow at Budget 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timeline is for introducing legislation to prohibit the import of hunting trophies.

The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once there is sufficient clarity on the Parliamentary timetable.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish draft legislative proposals to ban trail hunting.

Work is ongoing to determine the best approach to deliver the manifesto commitment to ban trail hunting. We have committed to running a consultation to ensure those with an interest can input. We will share further details in due course.

Whether she plans to review existing workplace temperature guidance; and if she will take legislative steps to set a maximum working temperature to protect employees’ (a) health and (b) safety.

The Government is committed to ensuring workplaces are safe in the modern world and in our Next Steps to Make Work Pay publication, we committed to look at how to modernise health and safety guidance for extreme temperatures. As part of this, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reviewing the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 to ensure it is fit for purpose for a modern workplace. HSE will be consulting on review of the ACOP and there will be an opportunity to respond in due course.

When his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: 2025 update, published on 7 February 2025.

The Government’s recent consultation on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector closed on 2nd May and we are currently analysing responses. A Government response will be published in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities are correctly implementing the council tax premium on second homes.

The second homes council tax premiums is not a mandatory requirement, and it is for individual councils to decide whether to make use of a premium. However, where councils apply a premium, they are required to implement this in line with the relevant regulations. Furthermore, the government has published guidance for councils on the implementation of premiums and exceptions. Councils must have due regard for this guidance when considering application of the premium. Where a household believes their council has incorrectly applied the premium, they may be able to appeal this to the Valuation Tribunal in certain circumstances.

Whether her Department plans to review the range of season and flexible ticket options available to commuters when rail services are brought into public ownership, to better accommodate hybrid working patterns.

We are overhauling the complex fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticket and getting the best fare, with the move to Great British Railways (GBR) enabling passengers to receive a more consistent offer across the network. We need to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers as we reform fares and deliver GBR, ensuring everyone gets a fair deal. Delivering better quality services, and increased reliability of trains, alongside a clearer fares offer will ensure an enhanced passenger experience.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect nature in the design of new build housing developments.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear about the importance of conserving and enhancing the natural environment. Planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by minimising impacts on and providing net gains for biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures and incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats, and hedgehogs.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of taking steps to grant local authorities greater flexibility in setting school term dates.

Local authorities already have responsibility for setting term dates for schools where they are the employer, including community schools, community special schools, voluntary controlled schools, pupil referral units and maintained nursery schools. These will be set in line with the requirements set out in the Education (School Day and School Year) (England) Regulations 1999.

What steps he is taking to tackle the challenges that medical graduates face in securing positions within medical specialty training programmes.

We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure that patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it.We will ensure that the number of medical specialty training places meets the demands of the National Health Service in the future. NHS England will work with stakeholders to ensure that any growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where need is greatest.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timeline is for the roll-out of the new pet passport scheme.

We have agreed to establish a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Zone, which will mean taking pets on holiday into the EU will be easier and cheaper. Instead of getting an animal health certificate each time you travel, you will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU. It’s important that we get the right agreement for the UK, so we’re not putting an arbitrary deadline on negotiations. We will provide more information on pet passports valid for travel to the EU in due course.