Written questions by Hollinrake.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of imports of bright steel bar on (a) the viability of UK bright drawing businesses and (b) levels of (i) business closures, (ii) administrations, (iii) deactivation of production and (iv) production in the sector since 2021.

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation. The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers. The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The sector is facing a challenging and uncertain global landscape due to significant steel overcapacity. We are therefore developing robust new measures in light of the steel safeguard expiring at the end of June 2026.

What assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of import penetration in the UK bright steel bar market since the removal of safeguarding measures in 2021.

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation. The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers. The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The sector is facing a challenging and uncertain global landscape due to significant steel overcapacity. We are therefore developing robust new measures in light of the steel safeguard expiring at the end of June 2026.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that revised steel safeguard measures applying from June 2026 maintain access to steel feedstock covered by categories 1A, 12A, 12B and 16, in cases where UK steel mills may produce steel within the same HS codes but not to a quality suitable for bright drawing applications.

The Government continues to closely monitor market trends, including for categories 1A, 12A, 12B and 16, to ensure UK manufacturers retain reliable access to appropriate feedstock. We are exploring a range of options to support the UK steel industry and ensure security of supply beyond the expiry of the Safeguard in June this year. We will share more information in due course.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed 15-year qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the earned settlement model on the retention of migrant meat hygiene inspectors currently employed on Skilled Worker visas.

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, will raise the standard qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years.We are proposing a series of tests that will measure a person’s contribution to this country and either reduce or increase the amount of time to settlement. This will include work undertaken by the individual. This earned settlement model and the tests which measure contribution are currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.The consultation also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework, published on 16 December 2025, what guidance his Department intends to provide to local planning authorities on how to consider (a) retrospective planning applications and (b) planning enforcement appeals by travellers on (i) Green Belt land and (ii) open countryside.

The government will consider whether any new guidance is required following consideration of responses received to the consultation process. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

If she will make it her policy to allow a reduction in the Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifying period for Meat Hygiene Inspectors who are qualified veterinary surgeons from overseas but unable to register as Official Veterinarians due to Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons accreditation requirements.

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, will raise the standard qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years.We are proposing a series of tests that will measure a person’s contribution to this country and either reduce or increase the amount of time to settlement. This will include work undertaken by the individual. This earned settlement model and the tests which measure contribution are currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.The consultation also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.

What estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of visa renewal costs and salary thresholds for migrant Meat Hygiene Inspectors under the proposed earned settlement model on food price inflation.

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, will raise the standard qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years.We are proposing a series of tests that will measure a person’s contribution to this country and either reduce or increase the amount of time to settlement. This will include work undertaken by the individual. This earned settlement model and the tests which measure contribution are currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.The consultation also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.

Whether her Department plans to introduce transitional arrangements to exempt existing Skilled Worker visa holders in (a) meat hygiene inspector roles and (b) other skilled roles from the retrospective application of the extended Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifying periods.

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, will raise the standard qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years.We are proposing a series of tests that will measure a person’s contribution to this country and either reduce or increase the amount of time to settlement. This will include work undertaken by the individual. This earned settlement model and the tests which measure contribution are currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.The consultation also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed retrospective changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifying periods on (a) the number of migrant meat hygiene inspectors working in the Food Standards Agency and (b) food safety and export standards.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) does not have directly employed staff who are subject to skilled worker visas.The FSA recruits and trains domestic Official Auxiliaries, Meat Hygiene Inspectors, twice a year in line with the Government strategy of placing a strong emphasis on developing a sustainable, United Kingdom-based workforce. The FSA is also supporting its delivery partners in the development of domestic recruitment and training capabilities and plans to align with this strategy.

What steps his Department is taking to help increase the number of meat hygiene Inspectors.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) does not have directly employed staff who are subject to skilled worker visas.The FSA recruits and trains domestic Official Auxiliaries, Meat Hygiene Inspectors, twice a year in line with the Government strategy of placing a strong emphasis on developing a sustainable, United Kingdom-based workforce. The FSA is also supporting its delivery partners in the development of domestic recruitment and training capabilities and plans to align with this strategy.

Whether his Department requires solar developers to restore land to its original condition following the removal of solar infrastructure.

The overarching National Policy Statements for Energy (EN-1) and Renewable Energy (EN-3) provide decommissioning guidance for projects deploying under the Nationally Significant Project Regime. EN-3 sets out the expectation that generally solar panel arrays and structures will be decommissioned, and underground cabling removed so prior use of the site can continue. Infrastructure may remain in place if considered less harmful for the ecology of the site, or if there may be socio-economic benefits in retaining after operational life. Developers are required to set out in their planning applications, plans for decommissioning the project and restoring the land to a suitable use.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of changes to soil quality.

The Government is working towards improving soil health across England by measuring and monitoring the national condition of soil. Establishing a baseline is essential for evaluating change and identifying improvements or declines in soil health. National soil monitoring began in October 2023 under the England Ecosystem Survey, part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme. This five-year survey will provide a baseline of soil health in England, with Analysis Ready Data from earlier years published in December 2025: https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5610689568440320. This data will feed into a Soil Health Indicator being developed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. A national soil health baseline will be published by 2030.

Pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 97528 on Electronic Cigarettes: Public Houses, whether a pub vaping ban would constitute a material change of circumstances for the purposes of the Valuation Office Agency’s valuation of pubs.

A vaping ban in pubs would not constitute a material change of circumstance that would impact the rating assessment of a property. Section 14 of the Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023 in England, and in Wales, The Valuation for Rating (Prescribed Assumptions) (Wales) Regulations 2023, determined that any subsequent changes to legislation, government advice or policy could not be taken into account when determining the rateable value of a property.

What is the mean Rateable Value of a public house in (a) 2025-26 under the current Rating List and (b) 2026-27 under the draft Rating List in each billing authority in England.

The Valuation Office Agency published data relating to your request which can be found here.

Communities and Local Government, whether land previously used for solar farms is classified as brownfield following decommissioning.

Brownfield land, also known as previously developed land, is defined in the glossary of the National Planning Policy Framework which can be found on gov.uk here. It is for those making decisions on specific planning proposals to determine whether a site constitutes brownfield land given the particular circumstances of the case, taking into account any requirements for site restoration.

What guidance his Department has issued on the decommissioning of large-scale solar installations at the end of their operational life.

The department has not published any separate guidance on the decommissioning of solar farms. However, as set out in the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) and the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy (EN-3), developers must set out in their planning applications arrangements for decommissioning projects. It is typically a condition of planning consent that the site should be returned to its previous use after decommissioning.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance he has issued to local planning authorities on enforcing land restoration following the removal of solar developments.

The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on renewable and low carbon energy sets out that solar farms are normally temporary structures and that planning conditions can be used to ensure that installations are removed when no longer in use and the land restored. Local planning authorities have powers to take enforcement action against any breach of planning requirements. The PPG on renewable and low carbon energy can be viewed here and guidance on planning enforcement can be found on gov.uk here. The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes policy on the decommissioning of renewable and low carbon energy development and site restoration. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance the (a) Government and (b) Planning Inspectorate has given to local planning authorities and inspectors on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the planning policy in relation to (i) retrospective planning applications and (ii) unauthorised development.

Neither the government nor the Planning Inspectorate has issued guidance to local planning authorities on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in relation to retrospective planning applications and unauthorised development.

Whether he has made an assessment of whether solar panels, mounting systems and associated infrastructure can be removed without causing damage to agricultural land.

Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) and the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy (EN-3) provide decommissioning guidance for large scale projects deploying under the Nationally Significant Project Regime. EN-3 states that solar panels can be decommissioned relatively easily and cheaply, although the extent of decommissioning a site goes through can vary. Where projects are sited on agricultural land, developers are encouraged to develop and implement a Soil Resources and Management Plan to protect and preserve soil health and ensure the land remains productive for farming after the solar farm is decommissioned.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2025 to Question 94722 on Public Spaces: Political Activities, whether local authorities may charge more than cost recovery when levying such fees for political street stalls in public places.

When setting fees local authorities are encouraged to be mindful of their legislative requirements and any guidance issued to them. The Local Government Association has published guidance on locally set licensing fees here which sets out the reasonable costs of administering, processing and enforcing a licensing regime.