Written questions by McCarthy.

What the average time is to process a Personal Independence Payment appeal in Bristol East constituency.

The average time to process a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeal for all PIP appeals registered in the Bristol East constituency since PIP was introduced can be found below. Mean appeal processing time (weeks)Median appeal processing time (weeks)2521 Source: PIP Administrative Data Notes:The appeal processing time is calculated as the time between the date of appeal registration and date of appeal clearance.Times have been rounded to the nearest week.Figures include appeals related to initial decisions (including new claims and DLA reassessments), award reviews and changes of circumstance.Figures include time taken by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to clear the case.

What steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the disabled child addition to Universal Credit among eligible claimants.

DWP’s digital Universal Credit (UC) application pathway uses automated prompts to ask claimants proactively whether any children are disabled. Where this is confirmed, the system guides them through the relevant eligibility criteria, helping ensure the correct addition is applied at the point of claim. This is currently the primary mechanism to identify likely eligibility and raise claimant awareness at the point of claiming UC. Claimants are informed through routine DWP communications of the importance of reporting any changes of circumstances. This would include where a child becomes disabled after the initial claim or a disabled child joins the household. DWP maintains extensive internal and public‑facing guidance concerning the Disabled Child Addition. This guidance is refreshed and reviewed regularly and enables DWP Staff to answer customer queries, as well as customers to self-serve via gov.uk.

What the Government is doing to reduce non-commodity costs affecting energy bills for charities.

Our Clean Power 2030 mission is essential to cutting electricity prices for good. By accelerating the transition to clean, homegrown electricity, we are working to shield end-users from the volatility of fossil fuel prices and to deliver reliable, affordable energy to every part of the UK economy, including the third sector. We intend to consult on further steps to support the shift to cheaper, more secure power across the economy.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve the safety and availability of public access to waterways for recreation and wellbeing.

The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing and is working to ensure that this access is safe and appropriate. As part of this, Defra has committed in its new Environmental Improvement Plan to create 9 new National River Walks, one in every region of England. The Mersey Valley Way will be the first of those nine new walks. Public access onto around 3,400 miles of our regulated inland waterways, including several of the larger rivers, is available through the licensing regimes of the navigation authorities that own or manage them. Defra is considering its approach to improving access onto unregulated inland waterways and is committed to working with stakeholders as this develops. The Environment Agency has published advice on how to stay safe while visiting waterways.

Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department is working with other departments to coordinate delivery of the Government’s methane reduction commitments.

We are working closely with other departments to coordinate delivery of the Government’s methane reduction commitments. Alongside the Carbon Budget Growth Delivery Plan, we published our Methane Action Plan detailing historic progress on methane abatement and key abating policies, building on the £63 billion announced at the 2025 Spending Review for clean energy, climate and nature. Through these plans, we are working closely with DESNZ and are exploring ways to reduce livestock emissions including through methane suppressing feed products (MSFPs). Reducing methane emissions in the waste sector is also a key focus. As we move away from the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme, we will work with DESNZ to increase methane capture from landfill gas sites and are exploring a long-term methane capture scheme with a suitable transition plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects further policy measures to be introduced to prevent biodegradable waste from entering landfill.

Reducing the amount of biodegradable waste being sent to landfill has a key part to play in tackling climate change. In February 2025, Defra published a summary of responses to the call for evidence on the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028. We are developing options.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ensure that organic farming is appropriately supported within the relaunched Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, in the context of increasing trade balance for organic produce and levels of domestic organic production.

We recognise the importance of organic farming. The new SFI offer will continue to support sustainable farming by strengthening the environmental foundations of farm profitability. Healthy soil, clean water and thriving pollinators are essential to our long‑term food security. Farmers and food businesses will also have a stronger voice through the new Farming and Food Partnership Board, which will focus on removing barriers to investment, improving supply chains and supporting homegrown British produce. We have worked with Stakeholders to develop more detail on the new SFI offer, which will be announced at the NFU Conference in February, ahead of publishing full scheme details before the first application window opens in June.

What assessment her Department has made of the environmental and health impacts of their School Food guidance in the context of the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission; and how she plans to respond to the Commission’s Planetary Health Diet recommendations.

The department is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever and encourages schools to have a whole school approach to healthy eating. We are continuing our work to revise the School Food Standards and are engaging experts across the sector, including academics and nutrition professionals. We are also taking account of the emerging themes from recent research and papers as we progress the review. We are also working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to support on the outcomes of their government Food Strategy. Additionally, schools can voluntarily follow the government buying standards

When he will publish the results of the Department's consultation on the Voluntary Carbon and Nature Markets: raising integrity.

The Government welcomes the many responses to the Voluntary Carbon and Nature Markets consultation. Officials are undertaking analysis of the responses received and the Government intends to publish its response in the first half of this year.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure coherence between the Soft Drinks Industry Levy and other Government frameworks, including nutrient profiling, dietary guidance and restrictions on foods high in fat, sugar and salt.

When considering the reforms to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) announced at Budget 2025, HM Treasury worked closely with the Department for Health and Social Care throughout the process, including to consider whether the SDIL minimum sugar content threshold could, and should, align with the nutrient profiling model (NPM). However, it would be complex to align the SDIL, which applies only to drinks and is based on sugar content alone, with the NPM, which determines what are ‘less healthy’ foods and drinks by balancing a range of beneficial and less beneficial nutrients. The government judges that the new SDIL threshold of 4.5g total sugar per 100ml strikes a fair balance between delivering on the SDIL’s health objectives and supporting producers with the process of reformulation. Given the government recognises that these reforms ask soft drink producers to adapt and invest in further reformulation, and that certainty is required to support this process, the Chancellor has committed to not make any further changes to the design of the SDIL this Parliament.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential benefits to children’s health and inclusion of expanding the School Milk Scheme to include fortified plant-based alternatives.

This is a devolved matter, and this response applies to England only. Defra regularly reviews the administration and outcomes associated with the School Milk Subsidy Scheme, most recently following the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s assessment report of health benefits and risks of consuming plant-based drinks published in July 2025. Only milk and relevant dairy products are currently eligible for subsidy in the School Milk Subsidy Scheme and there are no plans to extend the scheme to include fortified plant-based alternatives. The Government recognises that some children with clinical and dietary needs are unable to consume milk and expects schools to make reasonable adjustments for those with specific needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will review current guidance under the school milk scheme to ensure consistency with NHS Eatwell guidance, which includes fortified dairy alternatives such as plant-based milks as part of a balanced diet.

This is a devolved matter, and this response applies to England only. Milk and relevant dairy products only are eligible under the School Milk Subsidy Scheme. There are no plans to amend the scheme requirements to include non-dairy drinks or associated products. The Government recognises that some children with clinical and dietary needs are unable to consume milk and expects schools to make reasonable adjustments for those with such specific needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will introduce legislation to prohibit (a) octopus farming in the UK and (b) imports of commercially-farmed octopus.

The Government have no current plans to prevent the import of farmed octopus products to the UK. Defra is not aware of any plans to establish octopus farming in the UK. Any such plans would be subject to relevant existing regulatory regimes.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2025 to question 85098, when she will bring forward due diligence measures on forest-risk commodities.

The UK recognises the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is carefully considering the best regulatory approach to address deforestation in UK supply chains; we will set out this approach in due course. We need to balance a range of factors, including the broader policy landscape and relevant international frameworks.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she will publish in full the Global Ecosystem Assessment report.

Defra routinely conducts and updates assessments on a range of threats. The Government publishes assessments in the National Risk Register and Chronic Risks Analysis, including on biodiversity loss and its interactions with ecosystems, on GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025 to question 91282, what assessment she has made of the relative merits of (a) the forest-risk commodities regime and b) the approach of the EU Deforestation Regulations.

The UK and the EU share the common commitment to tackle deforestation in supply chains. The UK is continuing to monitor and engage with international frameworks on deforestation, including measures such as the EU Deforestation Regulation, and their impact on global supply chains which will inform any UK measure. We recognise the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is currently considering its approach to forest risk commodities and will set out plans in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact global deforestation and desertification on the UK’s national food security, supply chains and food prices.

The UK imports 40% of its food and is therefore exposed to supply chain risks such as deforestation and desertification via food security and price impacts associated with food imports. Defra routinely conducts and updates assessments on a range of threats. HMG pub-lishes assessments in the National Risk Register and Chronic Risks Analysis, includ-ing on biodiversity loss and its interactions with ecosystems, on gov.uk. The Government is committed to supporting sustainable production, trade and use of deforestation linked products. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, sponsored by Defra, have created the Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption indicator, an indicator which includes analysis of the impact of forest risk commodities in global supply chains. The indicator estimates that UK consumption drove 29,300 hectares of deforestation in 2023.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the decision by Israel to recognise Somaliland and the implications for the UK's own policy on recognition.

It is the UK's long-standing position that the settlement of Somaliland's status is an issue for authorities in Mogadishu and Hargeisa to decide through a consultative process and dialogue, in line with the principles of the UN charter.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the closure of the EU legacy Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme on UK growers, fresh food supply chains and consumers; and what plans she has to support the fresh food sector after that scheme ends.

The Government is committed to our horticulture sector and its role in providing fresh home-grown produce that helps to feed the nation. The EU Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme was limited to Producer Organisations, with only about 20% of the sector benefitting. Future support for the sector will include Defra’s work to rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver maximum benefit for food security and the taxpayer.   Significant investment is already underway – of the £200 million allocated to The Farming Innovation Programme through to 2030, nearly £40 million—- 26% of total awards—has funded research projects helping fruit and vegetable businesses become more profitable, resilient, and sustainable. Government has also put in place a five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route, providing stability for growers, and an extension of easements on import checks for medium-risk produce ahead of the new SPS agreement with the EU.

How many women in the Bristol East constituency have been affected by faulty PIP breast implants.

The role of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is to monitor all incidents that are reported to us, making sure that these incidents are investigated fully and that any necessary action is taken. The poly implant prothèse (PIP) issue was a result of the use of a non-approved silicone in the production of the breast implants and fragile shells. Not all PIP implants manufactured during the affected period used industrial-grade silicone or had more fragile shells. As a result, rupture rates vary depending on the batch received and early rupture typically occurs within the first five to 10 years. Due to the overall fraudulent activity, we do not know how many fall into this category.We worked with the National Health Service and other health partners to ensure the issue was properly investigated. It is important to note that while PIP implants are associated with a higher risk of rupture, leading to symptoms such as tenderness or swollen lymph glands, there is no evidence linking ruptured PIP implants to serious long-term health issues. The PIP breast implants were withdrawn from the United Kingdom in 2010, and two independent reviews have identified lessons learned, the Howe Review (2012) and the Keogh Review (2013), with further information available on both, respectively, at the following two links:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/216537/dh_134043.pdfhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-regulation-of-cosmetic-interventionsOne of the concerning issues for women with breast implants at the time of PIP was that women didn’t know they had PIP breast implants. It is estimated that approximately 47,000 British women had PIP implants fitted. We are unable to provide the granularity for individual constituencies, although further information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pip-implants/However, please note that any PIP implants still in place have now exceeded 15 years in situ, which is the upper end of the 10 to 15 year typical life expectancy of a breast implant. As with any medical device reaching the end of its expected lifespan, clinical decisions regarding removal or replacement should be made on an individual basis in discussion between the doctor and the individual involved.The health system has enacted important changes since the publication of reviews focused on PIP implants. As a result of the Keogh Review, since 2016 the Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry collects data on all types of breast implant and removal surgery in England and Scotland, which aims to help detect emerging safety issues and trace patients if necessary.As part of MHRA’s regulatory reform program, we are intending to also improve the traceability of medical devices through the introduction of Unique Device Identifiers (UDI) which will help identify individual medical devices and who manufactured the device or placed it on the market.