Written questions by Wrigley.

Communities and Local Government, when the Minister for Housing and Planning will meet with the hon. Member for Newton Abbot.

My private office has contacted the hon. Member by email to offer a meeting.

Communities and Local Government, how new local authorities with overlapping national park authorities will (a) interact with each other, (b) have stakeholder obligations and (c) be statutory consultees to each other.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 32529 on 3 March 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reduction in the proportion of gross national income spent on overseas development assistance on the influence of Russia in the countries from which aid would be withdrawn.

The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security, and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments. This government remains fully committed to a significant role on development.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to meet the hon. Member for South Cotswolds to discuss legislative proposals on climate and nature.

I met with the honourable member for South Cotswolds in January this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to meet with campaigners involved with the Climate and Nature Bill.

We regularly meet with campaigners on a wide range of issues, including those who support the Climate and Nature Bill.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the costs to pet owners for (a) pet passports and (b) Animal Health Certificates for travel between the UK and the EU in the last ten years.

The Government does not collect data on the cost of pet passports or Animal Health Certificates. All fees are set by veterinary surgeons or veterinary practices and are a private matter between individual practices and their clients and neither the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the UK regulator of the veterinary profession, nor Defra intervene in the level of fees that are charged.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to provide compensation to poultry farmers who have had eggs destroyed as a result of Avian flu.

Compensation paid for birds culled by the Government for disease control purposes is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion of disease and is only payable for healthy birds as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, or for eggs or poultry meat. We have no plans to reconsider this policy at this time.

Whether her Department holds information on the proportion of Russian oil (a) imports and (b) exports insured by UK financial instruments.

The Oil Price Cap was designed to meet two core objectives: to bear down on Russian revenues that could otherwise be used to fund its illegal war, whilst also maintaining global energy security and flows of affordable oil to countries that need it. The measure has been effective partly thanks to the prevalence of highly sought after G7+ service providers, which means it is very difficult to make major oil trades or gain significant market share without using G7+ services at all. Where G7+ services are involved in the shipping of Russian oil and oil products to third countries, these trades must be conducted at or below the relevant price cap – constraining Putin’s ability to use inflated oil revenues to sustain his war machine. This is why the UK, alongside G7+ partners, has provided extensive guidance to industry to advise service providers, including insurers, on how they can move Russian oil in compliance with the price cap. While the cap allows UK service providers to continue to be involved in the shipping of Russian oil and oil products to third countries, it is important to note that since 5 December 2022 the UK has banned the import, acquisition, supply and delivery of Russian oil and oil products into the UK.

With reference to the policy paper entitled 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy, published on 11 December 2024, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new prison developments do not negatively impact local (a) air and (b) water quality; and whether she plans to put systems in place to monitor the environmental impact of those developments.

All new prison developments require the Ministry of Justice to submit a detailed Environment Impact Assessment. In addition, the Ministry of Justice applies the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) policy, which requires new builds, where technically feasible, to achieve the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ accreditation as a minimum with the ambition to achieve ‘Outstanding’, the highest rating achievable. BREEAM is a third-party certification process which assesses a project’s environmental, social and economic sustainability performance, including specific consideration of water course pollution, air quality and other environmental impacts. Once construction is complete, the Ministry of Justice is committed to monitoring the environmental impact of developments throughout their lifespan in accordance with BREEAM policy and in line with planning condition requirements.

Whether her Department is taking steps to support women impacted by changes to the State Pension age with top-up contributions.

The Government seeks to support people to help them to retain, return to or progress in work. That is why the Government is reforming employment support to ensure it supports people of all ages.For those people who are unable to work but who are not eligible for pensioner benefits because of their age, financial support is available through the welfare system.The new State Pension, introduced in 2016, addresses historically poorer outcomes for women. Since the introduction of the new State Pension, National Insurance Contributions and National Insurance Credits have equal value, providing access to the same level of entitlement for all. In addition, there is a comprehensive framework of National Insurance credits available when people are out of the workforce, maybe caring for children or elderly relatives.For people with gaps in their National Insurance record, they may want to consider voluntary contributions. Many can now use the Check your State Pension forecast service to buy voluntary National Insurance contributions online.

Whether her Department made an environmental impact assessment prior to the commencement of expansion works at HMP Channings Wood; and whether baseline data on (a) air and (b) noise pollution was collected to measure the potential impact of increased traffic on local residents.

Under the previous Government, ahead of delivery at HMP Channings Wood, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening template was completed by our delivery partner (Cushman & Wakefield) and submitted to the council. Using this template and supporting technical assessments, the Local Planning Authority decided that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not required. The Local Planning Authority did not consider the expansion to have significant environmental effects and therefore would not require an EIA. An Air Quality Assessment was undertaken in support of the original planning application. The baseline assessment used published data (Teignbridge Council’s 2020 Annual Status Report (TDC 2021)) to consider the impacts of the proposed development and identify the future air quality conditions that occupants will experience. The assessment was based on measurements made during 2019 (i.e. pre-pandemic activity) to ensure worse case assessment. The future air quality conditions of the proposed development are acceptable with concentrations well below air quality objectives throughout the site. Additional traffic generated by the proposed development will be below published thresholds. Alongside this, a Baseline Assessment of Noise was carried out on 14 October 2024 (daytime) and 15 October 2024 (nighttime) to assess ambient and background noise levels in a number of locations across the prison estate nearest to sensitive noise receptors. This has given us baseline data for noise levels from the prison.

For what reason his Department has issued licenses for the export to Russia of (a) medicinal and pharmaceutical products, (b) beverages and tobacco, (c) organic chemicals, (d) cars, (e) toilet and cleansing preparations, (f) travel services, (g) insurance and pension products, (h) other business services, (i) financial services and (j) telecoms, computer and information services since September 2024.

Applications for licences to export goods and services to Russia otherwise covered by sanctions are assessed on a case-by-case basis, in line with the objectives of our sanctions regime, our wider international obligations, and the specific context of each application, including humanitarian considerations.Considerations for granting a licence include, but are not limited to, goods and services being provided for medical and pharmaceutical purposes for the benefit of the civilian population, or activities to support the divestment of assets with Russia, and the production or distribution of food for the benefit of the civilian population. Section 3 of the Statutory Guidance for Russia Sanctions: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russia-sanctions-guidance provides further information.

If he will take steps to prevent oil produced in the UK arriving in Russia.

The export of oil from the UK to Russia is prohibited. Non-compliance with the UK's tough sanctions is a serious offence and punishable through large financial penalties or criminal prosecution. According to HMRC data, the UK did not export oil (HS 2709 and 2710) to Russia in 2023 or 2024.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it her policy to use frozen Russian assets to provide compensation for Ukrainian (a) war survivors and (b) victims of (i) economic crime and (ii) human rights violations.

This Government is clear that Russia must be held responsible for its illegal war. Working with allies, we remain committed to considering all lawful means by which Russia is made to pay for the damage it has caused Ukraine. Our agreement with G7 partners to provide approximately $50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine, repaid by the profits generated on sanctioned Russian sovereign assets, is an important step in this regard. The UK will make a £2.26 billion contribution, earmarked for military spending.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using (a) alternatives to traditional construction methods in the construction of prisons and (b) modular and rapid deployment cells to meet long-term capacity needs; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of these proposals on the environment.

Our new prisons are being delivered through Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) which use a standardised design, allowing us to build faster and more effectively. MMC describes contemporary innovations in construction, including new technologies (such as digital tools and techniques), offsite manufacture and use of efficient processes to deliver productive, sustainable and better outcomes. Because of this, we are now delivering almost 22% faster than traditional construction methods. Additionally, these developments are required to deliver through the application of the Ministry of Justice’s sustainable construction policies, including BREEAM, which holds relevant new prison developments to the highest environmental standards. As outlined in the 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy, published in December 2024, we are using Rapid Deployment Cells (RDCs) to deliver temporary accommodation at pace, with c.770 already delivered across 14 sites. These are modular, self-contained units with a warranty of 15 years, helping to provide an innovative solution to address the need for additional capacity. Given their temporary nature, RDCs do not apply BREEAM regulations, however, we mitigate against environmental impacts where possible, including through compliance with local planning policy and nutrient neutrality requirements. Additionally, RDCs are fully electric and meet energy efficiency targets for insulation, heating systems and general energy performance.

What information his Department holds on oil exports to Russia which are (a) processed, (b) traded, (c) refined and (d) financially insured in the UK.

The UK did not export oil (HS 2709 and 2710) to Russia in 2023 or 2024.The department does not hold specific information on financial insurance services. However, the export of - and technical assistance, financial and brokering services related to - a petroleum oil, including crude, as well as oil refining goods and technology are prohibited to Russia under UK sanctions. Failure to comply with our sanctions is a serious offence and punishable through large financial penalties or criminal prosecution.

Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the transfer of intellectual property for projects for which a catapult grant has been awarded to that catapult grant on (a) small businesses, (b) start-up businesses and (c) entrepreneurs.

The intellectual property (IP) associated with any grants from Innovate UK is owned by the project participants. The sharing of IP between project participants in a collaborative R&D project is established through a collaboration agreement for that consortium. Innovate UK does not dictate the terms of those collaboration agreements. When a Catapult, which are set up as private businesses, is one of the collaborators they are subject to the same approach. Agreement would be reached across the consortium, and while a Catapult might take an IP stake it would only do so where this supported delivery of its strategic objectives to support innovation and the translation of R&D.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the proportion of eligible children who claim their entitlement to a free school meal; and if she will take steps to (a) reduce the complexity of application forms, (b) provide forms in multiple languages, (c) increase awareness of the free school meal entitlement and (d) help tackle stigmas associated with claiming free school meals.

There are currently around 2.1 million pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals (FSM). The department recognises the vital role played by FSM and strongly encourages schools and local authorities to support eligible families take this entitlement up.To make claiming free meals as easy possible, we have developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to sign up for FSM, which is available in the department’s published guidance.The department also provides the Eligibility Checking System, which allows local authorities to quickly verify eligibility for FSM. Improvements to this system will be rolled out nationally by March 2026, to allow parents and schools to check eligibility for free meals independently from their local authorities, which has the potential to make claiming FSM easier.Further to this, the department is aware of a range of measures aimed at supporting take-up of FSM, including through approaches being trialled by local authorities. We welcome local authorities taking action to ensure government support reaches families, subject to them meeting legal requirements, including those on data protection.We continue to engage with stakeholders and other government departments to better understand potential barriers to claiming free meals, including stigma. We will consider whether further work to improve enrolment for free meals is needed through the work of the child poverty taskforce.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a new forum to bring together (a) his Department, (b) the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, (c) the hon. Member for South Cotswolds, (d) campaign groups, (e) NGOs and (f) youth groups to help improve collaboration on climate and nature issues as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan review process.

The Government has already ensured a wide range of stakeholders play an integral role in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) review process, on which we will continue to build. We have, for example, established a new Cross-Sector Stakeholder Advisory Group including NGOs, which informed a rapid review of existing action and will continue to support the development of a revised EIP this year. Alongside government’s Policy Lab we are running an online ‘Collective Intelligence’ debate in March to consider the perspectives of hundreds of wider stakeholders, including youth groups. We will continue to engage across government, including with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, recognising climate and nature’s fundamental role in economic growth and to each of the missions that define this government. We also welcome the vital role that Parliamentarians play in informing and scrutinising our plans, informed by the efforts of the Zero Hour campaign, led by the hon. Member for South Cotswolds. We have agreed with the Bill’s sponsors to take forward a number of actions including making an annual climate and nature statement to parliament and the country, and greater public participation on these issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to end all (a) non-humanitarian aid, (b) trade, (c) financial services and (d) exports to Russia.

In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UK has put in place an unprecedented package of sanctions.The UK has locked most of the Russian banking sector out of the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), frozen Russia's sovereign assets and adopted a wide range of trade and financial sanctions measures, covering most areas of the Russian economy with the exception of trade in humanitarian goods such as food and medicine.We will continue to bear down on Russia, ratcheting up economic pressure until it ends its brutal invasion of Ukraine.