Written questions by Lam.

Hat assessment she has made of the potential impact of Government intervention on food prices on farmers.

Awaiting answer.

For what reason HMRC does not collect data on the number of wine producers claiming Small Producers Relief; and whether the Department plans to begin collecting such data to inform the evaluation of the 2023 alcohol duty reforms.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) holds data on the volume of products on which Small Producer Relief (SPR) is claimed, however it is not possible to accurately attribute this amount to a specific number of producers.HMRC does not approve producers for SPR as both eligibility and rates can vary annually, depending on production levels. Instead, producers self- assess their eligibility and calculate the correct rate, meaning there is no central record of SPR claimants.In some cases, the duty is paid by someone other than the producer. For example, goods may move in duty suspension from the producer to an excise warehouse, which pays the duty. In other cases large producers may conduct processes, such as bottling, on behalf of several smaller producers and account for the duty on behalf of their customers when the goods are released.These arrangements reduce burdens on small producers while accommodating common commercial practices. Although HMRC cannot determine a definitive number of producers claiming SPR, it assesses that very few wine producers will have claimed the relief due to the 8.5% ABV eligibility limit.HMRC will evaluate the 2023 duty reforms using several data sources, including SPR clearance volumes. For the reasons stated there are no plans to collect additional data on the number of producers claiming SPR.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of business rate increases on the rural economy.

At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This has led to increases in rateable values for some properties, as current values are based on pandemic-era valuations in recognition of the impact of the revaluation on bills. To respond to those who are seeing large increases, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion, to protect against ratepayers seeing large overnight increases in bills. Rural Rate Relief also continues to be available for key amenities and community assets in rural areas. It provides 100% rate relief for properties that are based in eligible rural areas with populations below 3,000.

What recent steps she has taken to disrupt organised crime groups engaged in the supply of illicit tobacco products.

The actions we are taking to tackle illicit tobacco are set out in the illicit tobacco strategy. Our recent results can be found here, including criminal and civil sanctions as well as seizures.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential link between (a) organised crime groups facilitating illegal migration across the Channel, (b) organised crime groups engaged in the UK's illegal drug trade, and (c) organised crime groups engaged in the UK’s illicit tobacco trade.

Organised Immigration Crime differs from other forms of organised crime as we often see loose affiliations of criminal networks, sometimes working together when it suits, enabling various stages of people’s journeys.The National Crime Agency’s (NCA) 2025 National Strategic Assessment does note that a core characteristic of Serious Organised Crime (SOC) in 2024 was the continued diversification of criminal activity beyond previous understandings of the SOC threat. This is the result of the emergence of new groups of offenders with a broader range of motivations, diversification of methodologies, and more crossovers between different SOC threats.A key trend in 2024 was for offenders to broaden their criminal activity across multiple threat areas, enabled by online connectivity, use of new technology, and reliance on the specialist services offered by ‘crime as a service’ providers. It is becoming increasingly easier for SOC offenders to connect with other offenders or to enter new criminal marketplaces.The NCA continues to lead the UK law enforcement system to tackle the harms posed by serious and organised crime and protect the public.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities in effectively managing (a) waste disposal, (b) water pollution and (c) other environmental and public safety issues arising from traveller sites.

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, which can be found on gov.uk here, makes clear that local authorities should ensure that traveller sites are sustainable economically, socially and environmentally. In doing so, authorities should ensure their policies provide for proper consideration of the effect of local environmental quality on the health and well-being of any travellers that may locate there.

How many (a) arm’s-length bodies, (b) Government Departments, (c) agencies and (d) public bodies (i) have been assessed as redundant and (ii) are being prioritised for (A) merging and (B) closure.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all UK government ALBs on April 6, 2025. This review is ongoing, with outcomes to be announced in due course.The UK government announced on 21st July 2025 that Ofwat would be abolished and replaced by a new, single, more powerful regulator, combining the water-related functions of several agencies. Additionally, on 20th August 2025, the UK government announced that the UK Space Agency will be absorbed into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by April 2026.

From which countries his Department has sourced (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

Of the Department’s ICT contracts, 83% are with UK registered companies equating to 85 out of 103 contracts. The department has a corporate contract with a UK registered company for stationery (including printing materials). The majority of office furniture in buildings occupied by the Department is procured by the Government Property Agency (GPA).We do not hold information on the country of manufacture of ICT, stationery or office furniture commodities.The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services. The Procurement Act 2023 contains numerous provisions to support UK businesses win public contracts and the Cabinet Office is currently consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

How many an what proportion of his Department’s (a) ICT (b) stationery and (c) office furniture suppliers are (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK.

Of the Department’s ICT contracts, 83% are with UK registered companies equating to 85 out of 103 contracts. The department has a corporate contract with a UK registered company for stationery (including printing materials). The majority of office furniture in buildings occupied by the Department is procured by the Government Property Agency (GPA).We do not hold information on the country of manufacture of ICT, stationery or office furniture commodities.The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services. The Procurement Act 2023 contains numerous provisions to support UK businesses win public contracts and the Cabinet Office is currently consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

What steps his Department has taken to encourage the procurement of British-made office products and stationery by (a) his Department and (b) its arms-length bodies.

The Department for Business and Trade and its arms-length bodies do not have any policies to specifically encourage procurement of British made office products and stationery. However, the Government is committed to supporting British businesses, ensuring they have opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.Cabinet Office is consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement regulation to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

What steps his Department is taking to encourage the procurement of British-made office products and stationery by (a) his Department and (b) its arms-length bodies.

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services. The Cabinet Office are consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy. The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards (GBS). e.g. Furniture, Office ICT, and Paper & paper products

How many and what proportion of her Department’s (a) ICT (b) stationery and (c) office furniture suppliers are (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK.

The Government is committed to supporting British business and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.Cabinet Office is consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories on spend and are set out by the Government Buying Standards.The Ministry of Justice holds one contract for stationary provisions, with the awarded supplier of Banner (UK based), and two contracts for furniture provision, with the awarded supplier of both contracts, Senator International Limited (UK Based).The Department has 181 unique suppliers of ICT services. 165 of these suppliers are registered as UK based.The information requested on what proportion is manufactured in the UK is not held centrally.

From which countries his Department has sourced (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services. Cabinet Office are consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy. The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards, including for Paper & paper products. Furthermore, the Government has also implemented a Timber Procurement Policy to ensure that only timber and wood-derived products (including paper) originating from an independently verifiable Legal and Sustainable source will be used on the Government estate.

What proportion of his Department's (a) ICT (b) stationery and (c) office furniture suppliers are (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK.

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services. The Cabinet Office are consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy. The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards (GBS). e.g. Furniture, Office ICT, and Paper & paper products

From which countries her Department has sourced (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.Cabinet Office is consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards, including for paper & paper products. Furthermore, the Government has also implemented a Timber Procurement Policy to ensure that only timber and wood-derived products (including paper) originating from an independently verifiable Legal and Sustainable source will be used on the Government estate.

From which countries her Department has sourced (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

The Home Office does not collect data at this level of granularity and the information would only be available at disproportionate cost.

How many and what proportion of her Department’s (a) ICT (b) stationery and (c) office furniture suppliers are (i) supplied by UK businesses and (ii) manufactured in the UK.

The Home Office does not collect data at this level of granularity and the information would only be available at disproportionate cost.

What steps her Department is taking to to encourage the procurement of British-made office products and stationery by (a) her Department and (b) its arms-length bodies.

Contracts for office products and materials are awarded in compliance with the relevant public procurement regulations to ensure value for money, utilising Crown Commercial Service framework agreements. Details of government contracts above £12,000 (inc. VAT) are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder) and, if procured under the Procurement Act 2023, on the Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender service). This includes a note of winning suppliers. (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search(opens in a new tab)).

What steps her Department is taking to encourage the procurement of British-made office products and stationery by (a) her Department and (b) its arms-length bodies.

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and the products they produce, ensuring they have the best opportunities to win UK public contracts and deliver high-quality goods and services.Cabinet Office is consulting on a package of further reforms to public procurement to support the Government’s Industrial Strategy.The Government maintains robust standards across a range of categories of spend, these are set out by the Government Buying Standards, including for paper & paper products. Furthermore, the Government has also implemented a Timber Procurement Policy to ensure that only timber and wood-derived products (including paper) originating from an independently verifiable Legal and Sustainable source will be used on the Government estate.

From which countries her Department has sourced (a) pulp and (b) finished paper for (i) official stationery and (ii) other printed materials.

Contracts for office products and materials are awarded in compliance with the relevant public procurement regulations to ensure value for money, utilising Crown Commercial Service framework agreements. Details of government contracts above £12,000 (inc. VAT) are published on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder) and, if procured under the Procurement Act 2023, on the Central Digital Platform (Find a Tender service). This includes a note of winning suppliers. (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search(opens in a new tab)).