Written questions by Robertson.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 53757 on Beverage Containers: Recycling, whether UK-based beverage manufacturers can accept used recyclable containers of (a) their own products and (b) other manufacturers' products to offset their Extended Producer Responsibility levy.

The packaging EPR Regulations allow, in some circumstances, packaging collected by producers from consumers, and subsequently recycled, to be offset against their disposal fee obligations. These are currently limited to hard to recycle packaging (e.g. plastic film take back) which is not collected in local authority household waste kerbside collection.

What information her Department holds on the number of people who held a provisional moped licence in (a) London and (b) Great Britain in each year since 2019.

The table below provides the requested information as of 4 June 2025. Historical information is not available.LocationNumber of drivers with provisional moped entitlement (categories AM, P and Q)a) London this includes postcodes E, EC, N, NW, SE, SW, W, WC1,451,610b) Great Britain9,769,881

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43343 on Domestic Waste: Recycling and Waste Disposal, if he will publish that guidance.

WRAP, supported by Defra, and with input from local authorities, recently published Good Practice Guidance to help local authorities deliver quality waste and recycling services to citizens in England. Further guidance topics, including on residual waste collection, are intended to be published shortly.

What steps he is taking to reduce the number of people with (a) a learning disability and (b) autism in mental health hospitals.

The latest National Health Service planning guidance, from 30 January 2025, includes a focus on improving mental health and learning disability care and contains the objective to deliver a minimum 10% reduction in the use of mental health inpatient care for people with a learning disability and autistic people in 2025/26.For 2025/26, there is continued funding within integrated care board (ICB) baselines for support for people with a learning disability and autistic people. ICBs should prioritise continuing to invest in reducing reliance on inpatient care for people with a learning disability and autistic people, in line with the 2025/26 NHS operating planning guidance.The Mental Health Bill has reached Committee stage in the House of Commons, following its recent passage through the House of Lords. Through the bill, we propose taking forward a package of measures to improve care and keep people out of hospitals. Subject to parliamentary agreement, statutory Dynamic Support Registers, Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews, and new duties on commissioners will help to ensure appropriate community support in the future.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility measures in relation to glass on the cost of a (a) bottled beer and (b) pint of beer in a pub.

In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector. On 20 December 2024 Defra published the third version of pEPR illustrative base fees for year 1 ahead of PackUK releasing formal communications in June 2025. Base fees, to invoice producers from October 2025, are expected to be calculated in June 2025 using data reported by producers for the full year of 2024. Fees will apply to bottled beer, but not a pint of beer served in a pub as this is served without packaging. The Government has worked closely with industry, including the glass sector, throughout development of pEPR and developing the methodology for base fees. Feedback from stakeholders was factored into finalising the regulations, including formally consulting stakeholders on a draft of the pEPR regulations in 2023.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many Environment Agency staff worked on compliance with requirements for office workplace recycling in the most recent period for which data is available.

The corporate estate of the Environment Agency (EA), including offices and depots, is centrally managed by Defra. Many of the EA’s workplaces are shared spaces across the Defra group as a result. Defra group Facilities Management are specifically responsible for all workplace services across the group, which includes workplace recycling.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43334 on WRAP: Publications, what the (a) title and (b) date of publication is of each publication produced by the Waste and Resources Action Programme through funding from his Department.

A list of Defra funded WRAP publications for the last 3 years, including the title and date of publication is attached.

Which third party companies based on the Isle of Wight her Department has awarded funding to in the last three years; and which projects they have supported.

In the last three years the Department has provided maritime funding, via the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE), five Isle of Wight based companies.Ad Hoc Marine Designs Ltd for the project “Marine to Electric Power – SeNZe-Tech™ the Smart Way to Clear The Hurdles”Aluminium Marine Consultants Limited for the projects “HyCap Drive” and “Safer, Smarter Ships – Strategies and innovations for vessels using low flash point fuels”Carisbrooke Shipping Limited for the projects “Double efficient pilot fuel free ceramic hydrogen combustion engine technology for marine applications”, “Carnot High Efficiency Hydrogen Combustion Engine Demonstrator”, “Shoreside Power from Optimised Hydrogen Lifecycle”, “Novel High-Efficiency Ammonia engine Technology for Heavy Duty marine applications”, “AirWing Maximised Thrust Wind Propulsion Demonstration” and “Self-Learning Wing Trim Optimisation for AirWing Wind Propulsion System”Cowes Harbour Commission for the project “Clean Hybrid Alternative Marine Powertrain 2” andWight Shipyard Company Limited for the projects “Zero Emission Cross River Ferry” and “Zero-emission Electric Freight Vessel & Charging Infrastructure” This is separate to any funding provided directly to the Isle of Wight, by the Department, for other transport related matters.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43345 on WRAP: Finance, if he will itemise the work programme for which WRAP received the grant in 2025-26.

The itemised work programme for which WRAP has received DEFRA funding (now finalised at £5,949,500) is summarised below: Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility Project: Ensure Local Authority payments reflect efficient packaging waste management under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.Circular Economy Strategy: Support Defra by evaluating feedback from UK Plastics Pact, Food & Drink Pact, and Textiles 2030; provide evidence-based insights.Simpler Recycling Project: Deliver technical support and interventions, procurement support, modelling, guidance implementation planning to Local Authorities and Material Facilities Collectors.Food Waste Collections Workstream: Assist the Regulator in approving household food waste collection and bulking systems through design of interventions.Organics Sector Engagement Workstream: Assess impacts on gate fees and processing capacity based on sector feedback.Net Zero Tools Programme Provide advice, manage the Local Authority Portal, and update datasets.Recycle Now Campaign: Deliver a national citizen-facing recycling awareness campaign.Data & Insights: Support Defra with Greenhouse Gas emission factors, Recycling Tracker analysis, and publication.Voluntary Agreements: Govern the Plastics Pact, Courtauld Commitment, and Textiles 2030.Food Waste Reduction: Influence retail practices and support household food waste reduction through engagement and interventions.Food Strategy: Finalise and promote Scope 3 Protocols; support the Food Data Transparency Partnership.Water Roadmap: Coordinate governance and delivery of the UK Food & Drink Pact Water Roadmap.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43345 on WRAP: Finance, if he will provide the hyperlink to the grant agreement .

The grant agreement contains commercially sensitive information and will not be published. Details of the grant will be published on the Grants register held at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-grants-data-and-statistics. This information is published retrospectively with data for the 2024/25 grant published later this year. Details of the 2025/26 grant will be published in 2026.

How many and what proportion of (a) moped and (b) motorcycle riders with provisional licences who have been convicted of (i) road traffic offences, (ii) robbery and (iii) drug trafficking in each of the past 5 years.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will be able to provide the information in relation to road traffic offences, but this requires a scan of the driver database. Officials will write to the Honourable Member as soon as the information is available. Information about robbery and drug trafficking offences is not recorded by the DVLA.

Communities and Local Government, what her Department's policy is on the personal use of IT equipment to access the internet through (a) desktops and (b) wifi by (i) staff and (ii) Ministers.

MHCLG do not provide desktop computers. However all corporate devices are covered by the same policy and terms and conditions.WiFi is provided by the GovWiFi service, which is covered by the GovWiFi Terms and Conditions (Terms and conditions - GovWifi) in conjunction with MHCLG acceptable usage policy, which is available to all staff on the Intranet. The policy allows for ‘limited personal use of MHCLG IT is acceptable as long as it does not cause a problem with your work or that of your colleagues’.

Food and Rural Affairs, what research his Department has commissioned on the potential role of insect protein in (a) animal and (b) human diets in the last ten years.

Defra’s scientific research is exploring ways to reduce environmental impacts of livestock production, including research to better understand the role of insect protein in pig and poultry feed (not human diets) in addressing this aim. Examples include a scientific review of the opportunities for the inclusion of insect protein in pig and poultry feed within the UK (2021). Research also considered insect-based proteins (for food and feed), as part of a wider review of alternative proteins (2022). A life-cycle assessment of UK insect protein production compared the environmental impacts of insect, soy and fishmeal protein production for animal feeds in the UK (2023). Defra has also committed funding via the Farming Innovation Programme and Farming Innovation Pathways for projects looking at insect protein in animal feed, including a themed competition addressing on farm protein. The FSA report on the ‘The Future of Animal Feed’ was published in April 2023. The report analysed the production and supply of protein for the global livestock sector, focusing on the potential opportunities, and threats, of alternative feeds. Under food law, it is the responsibility of food businesses to ensure food is safe. Edible insects, as novel foods, need authorisation from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), which requires provision of a safety case. Food businesses wanting an authorisation will develop the research and evidence to demonstrate the food is safe for consumption.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Extended Producer Responsibility is a tax.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) decides the classification of taxes, while the Office of Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) determines how they are treated in fiscal forecasts. In earlier fiscal events OBR have treated pEPR fees as adjustment to departmental budgets as “there was previously not enough detail on the fees for this to be reflected as a tax in our receipts forecast”. The OBR determination is a technical classification that has no effect on pEPR policy. This technical classification does not affect the distribution of revenue to local authorities. Revenue from pEPR will be distributed directly by PackUK, the scheme administrator, to local authorities.

Innovation and Technology, what his Department's policy is on the personal use of IT equipment to access the internet through (a) desktops and (b) wifi by (i) staff and (ii) Ministers.

All users within the department must adhere to our IT Acceptable Use Policy which details how departmental IT should be used. Departmental provided internet access, corporate IT and email services are intended for business use. Limited personal use is permitted where this is not detrimental to the department. All staff and ministers are accountable for their actions while using departmental IT.

What funding her Department has awarded to Artemis Technologies in each of the past three years, broken down by project supported.

In financial year 2024/2025, no funding was awarded to Artemis Technologies.In financial year 2023/24 the Department for Transport provided funding, via the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) R&D Programme, to Artemis Technologies totalling £4,091,119. This was made up of:£69,782 to project 10077453 (Retrofit 20m Mercurio CTV - 100% Electric), and£4,021,337 to project 10077769 (Electric Orkney).In financial year 2022/23 the Department for Transport provided funding, via the UK SHORE, to Artemis Technologies totalling £9,901,637. This was made up of:£204,021 to project 10041953 (eFoiler-Pilot Feasibility Study),£840,612 to project 10040815 (eFoiler-CTV Detailed Design),£1,675,591 to project 10041047 (Hydrogen Fuel Cell Range Extender),£2,323,895 to project 10059256 (Demonstration of 12pax fully-electric hydrofoiling Crew Transfer Vessel), and£4,857,518 to project 10060022 (Multipurpose eFoiler Platform).Artemis Technologies partner with others to deliver their projects. This includes subcontracting work out to others, which the funding ultimately covers. Funds are paid to Artemis once evidence of the costs being incurred and defrayed have been provided.Artemis have are also involved in a range of projects, and this is taken into account when projects bid for funding. As part of the bidding process, application assessments include scrutiny of the project's ability to deliver, including 'team and resources' requirements. Assessments are conducted by independent assessors. For ZEVI and CMDC3 (which Artemis successfully applied for), there was an additional interview stage ahead of projects being awarded funding where the interview panel questioned all projects on their ability to deliver during the project timeframe, especially those organisations that potentially would be involved in multiple projects at the same time.More information on these, and other projects funded through the UK SHORE programme, can be found at https://iuk-business- connect.org.uk/programme/uk-shipping-office-for-reducing-emissions/

What funding applications her Department has received from Artemis Technologies in each of the last three years; and which of those projects (a) have not been supported and (b) are being considered by her Department.

In financial year 2024/25 the Department for Transport received no funding applications from Artemis Technologies. In financial year 2023/24 the Department for Transport received six Artemis Technologies applications to the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) R&D Programme. Of these, three have been accepted whilst three were rejected. One of the accepted projects was subsequently withdrawn during project setup. In financial year 2022/23 the Department for Transport received six funding applications, via the UK SHORE from Artemis Technologies. Of these, five were accepted and one was rejected.

Communities and Local Government, what progress her Department has made on the long-term housing strategy.

The government intends to publish a long-term housing strategy later this year.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to enable social landlords to gain access to building safety remediation funding.

Across England, social landlords can apply to government remediation funds (Building Safety Fund and Cladding Safety Scheme). They can apply for funding equivalent to (1) the amount which the social landlord would otherwise be entitled to pass on to leaseholders; or (2) the full cost of remedial works where paying those costs would render the social landlord financially unviable. As of 30 April 2025, government has committed £606m to support remediation of social housing through government schemes. Social landlords face barriers to accelerating remediation, including access to upfront capital. From April 2025, we have increased funding for social landlords applying for government remediation funding so that remedial works can start sooner and we will this year announce a long-term strategy for accelerating social housing remediation.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that UK Deposit Management Organisation Ltd includes representation from (a) small businesses and (b) the wider beverage industry.

Small businesses, including small producers and retailers, are key to the success of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers. During the development of DRS policy and legislation, the Government worked closely with small businesses and their trade associations through dedicated sub-groups. The appointment of UK Deposit Management Organisation Limited (UK DMO) has been made by government, effective from 2nd May 2025 as the operator of the DRS for single-use plastic and metal drinks containers across England and Northern Ireland. UK DMO are continuing the engagement with small business and wider beverage industry representatives via their Advisory Group and their views must be taken into account as delivery of the DRS progresses. UK DMO itself is an organisation that represents a significant portion of the UK drinks and retail sectors. The DMO application process has ensured that there is a wide representation of industry needs on the DMO Board. UK DMO also has an Advisory Group, which will include small businesses representation.