Written questions by Jones.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of recycling precious metals found in (a) smartphones, (b) laptops and (c) other devices on the economy.

Defra has not made the assessment requested. However, the industry group Material Focus, a not-for-profit organisation funded through industry compliance fee monies raised under the UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations has undertaken two related studies. Contributing towards a circular economy utilising Critical Raw Materials from waste electricals and Copper Crunch Report – Future challenges of copper consumption. The Secretary of State has convened a Small Ministerial Group on Circular Economy and asked his Department to work with experts from industry, academia, civil society, and the civil service to develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England and a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the Government will make on a sector-by-sector basis. We will consider the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluate what further interventions may be needed in the electricals sector as we develop the Circular Economy Strategy.

With reference to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's report on women’s State Pension age changes, published on 21 March 2024, if she will publish the related departmental submissions to the Ombudsman.

We will not publish the Departmental submissions to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. The Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman’s investigations are conducted in private as set out in section 7(2) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967.

With reference to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's report on women’s State Pension age changes, published on 21 March 2024, if she will publish related (a) impact assessments and (b) financial modelling for a compensation scheme.

We will consider what to publish when we announce our decision on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make a comparative estimate of the UK's total electronic waste compared to the rest of the world.

The Environment Agency regularly publishes data on the volumes of waste electricals collected. Currently we do not compare this figure to that of other countries or the rest of the world.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage people to (a) repair and (b) refurbish more (i) household appliances and (ii) electronic waste.

There is currently an existing right-to-repair scheme for a range of industrial and domestic energy-related products. Further policy development for waste electricals including on right-to-repair and ecodesign will be guided by the Government’s work to transition to a circular economy.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make a comparative estimate of the volume of electronics (a) repaired and (b) refurbished before being fed back into the circular economy compared to the rest of the world.

Currently we do not collect separate data on reuse activities for electrical items and electronic equipment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what sectors his Department has considered within scope for interventions in the context of his planned circular economy strategy.

Defra will work with experts from industry, academia, civil society, and other government departments to prepare for the transition to a circular economy. This will include consideration of the evidence for sectoral interventions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the development of a UK-wide strategy on the circular economy.

The Secretary of State has asked his department to convene a taskforce of experts to develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The taskforce will consider the evidence for action right across the economy, and as such will evaluate what interventions may be needed. This will support the Government’s Missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower and deliver net zero. I will continue to discuss the work of this department with the three devolved Governments, including learning from their experience, as the work progresses.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of tech manufacturers building barriers into their device systems to stop repairing by independent technicians on recent trends in the volume of electronic waste.

We have not made this assessment. Further policy development around promoting greater circularity for electricals, including right-to-repair, will be guided by the government’s work to transition to a circular economy.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) discounts, (b) vouchers, (c) other financial incentives and (d) deposit-return schemes to recycle small consumer electronics that no longer (i) work and (ii) are used.

We have not made an assessment of introducing these measures to recycle small consumer electronics. Future policy related to waste electricals will be guided by the government’s work to transition to a circular economy.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to amend the right to repair requirements within the Ecodesign for Energy-related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021.

Policy development for waste electricals including right-to-repair and ecodesign will be guided by the Government’s work to transition to a circular economy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help secure the release of Ahmadiyya Muslims detained under blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

The UK condemns the persecution of religious minorities and marginalised religious communities in Pakistan. We work to protect and promote human rights in Pakistan through our diplomatic engagement and programme funding. This includes regularly raising concerns about the misuse of blasphemy laws against religious minorities, including the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, both in principle and in relation to specific cases. I underlined the importance of promoting religious tolerance and harmony when I met with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Azam Tarar on 19 November. On 20 November, I attended a meeting with Pakistan's Minister of Interior Mosin Naqvi, where the British High Commissioner and I raised concerns about threats of violence directed towards Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with international organisations on potential steps to support Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan.

The UK condemns the persecution of religious minorities and marginalised religious communities in Pakistan. We work alongside the wider international community, including foreign governments and civil society organisations to promote human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief, in partnership with Pakistan. I outlined the importance of protecting the rights of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Pakistan when I met with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Azam Tarar on 19 November. On 20 November, I attended a meeting with Pakistan's Minister of Interior Mosin Naqvi, where the British High Commissioner and I raised concerns about threats of violence directed towards Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan. Officials regularly meet with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community both in the UK and Pakistan to listen to their concerns and inform our policy.

Media and Sport, when the next meeting of the Heritage Council will be.

The next meeting will be organised soon, when we look forward to taking forward a series of important measures with the heritage sector and listening to people’s concerns and ideas for the future.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress he has made on providing support to the Hazara Muslim community in Afghanistan.

The Government continues to call for the human rights of all Afghans to be protected, including those of Hazara communities, most recently in our statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 27 September. We condemn recent attacks against Hazaras. In line with The Hazara Inquiry report's recommendations, we continue to monitor and document discrimination and abuses against Hazaras, including through our support for the UN Special Rapporteur. Officials from the UK Mission to Afghanistan regularly press the Taliban on human rights abuses and the rights of minorities in Afghanistan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to prevent the destruction of Ahmadiyya Muslim places of worship in the Punjab region of Pakistan.

We are aware of reports of the desecration of Ahmadi mosques and graves in Pakistan. The UK strongly condemns all instances of hate or violence directed towards Ahmadiyya Muslims and other marginalised religious communities in Pakistan. I [Minister Falconer] underlined the importance of promoting religious tolerance and harmony when I met with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Azam Tarar on 4 September. The British High Commissioner to Pakistan raised concerns about threats of violence directed towards Ahmadi Muslims with Minister Tarar on 6 November and with the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif on 28 October. We continue to support projects promoting the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan, including facilitating interfaith dialogue and protecting marginalised communities from hate speech online.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support businesses to transition away from plastic.

Stakeholder engagement continues to be at the core of our packaging reforms, and we continue to engage with all sectors in bringing this policy into place. Additionally, Defra has updated guidance on all single-use plastic regulations to improve clarity on single-use plastic bans and restrictions. Defra continues to engage with and support industry through the UK Plastics Pact to tackle plastic waste and pollution. The pact's membership represents two-thirds of all consumer packaging in the UK. Members have reduced their problematic and unnecessary plastic items by 84% since 2018.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government plans to take at COP29 to help mitigate the impact of climate change on global religious minorities.

Representing over 80% of the world's population, faith and spiritual groups have an important perspective on climate change. We are committed to supporting vulnerable and marginalised groups who are experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis, including religious minorities, women and girls, disabled people and indigenous peoples.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to publish a schedule of plastic bans.

The Government is currently considering the actions that can be taken to address the challenges associated with single-use plastic products and is committed to moving to a circular economy. As a part of this transition, managing and reducing plastic waste and following the principles of the waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle, will be crucial.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastic (a) products and (b) packaging on human health.

Defra has been working with other government Departments and researchers to address evidence gaps and to inform potential action relating to the risks from endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Regulatory action can and has been taken to address these risks, including those associated with plastics and packaging.