Written questions by Niblett.

What plans she has to include education on suicide and suicide prevention as a mandatory topic within the national curriculum.

The statutory guidance relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education already applies to all schools, including academies and independent schools. The updated guidance, published on 15 July 2025, will be implemented in schools from September 2026. This can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.The guidance strengthens content on mental health and wellbeing, and requires that all secondary schools should consider how to safely teach about suicide prevention.We have been clear that schools should consult mental health professionals and put in place high quality, evidence-based staff training before addressing suicide directly with secondary aged pupils, to ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to do it safely.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that farmers are protected from the monopsony sugar beet processor.

The Government recognises the importance of sugar beet farmers and their vital contribution to UK sugar production. Also, that sugar beet itself, used in crop rotations, is beneficial to soil and crop health and allows arable farms a season of “rest” from cereal production.We are committed to promoting fairness across the food supply chain. That includes seeing a price agreed for sugar beet that benefits both growers and processors, in the context of the global market.   There is a well-established process in place to agree the domestic sugar beet price; designed to be independent between both parties.While this process has been effective over many years, we continue to keep it and the regulatory framework under review.

Communities and Local Government, what (a) planning policy and (b) precedent prevents (i) land promoters and (ii) developers from materially altering an agreed development layout at a site allocated within a Local Plan review following Regulation (A) 18 and (B) 19 consultations.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that site allocation policies should be deliverable over the plan period. Planning practice guidance states that where sites are proposed for allocation, sufficient detail should be given to provide clarity to developers, local communities and other interested parties about the nature and scale of development. Such details may include policies on site layouts for allocations and would routinely be consulted on as part of the pre-submission consultation (Regulation 19). They may also be consulted on at an earlier stage (Regulation 18). Any alterations to policies made before a plan is submitted for examination may only be made by the relevant local planning authority. Alterations to policies would only be made during the examination of the plan if the independent local plan examiner deems it appropriate, to ensure the plan meets the tests of soundness or to ensure legal compliance.

How much his Department has spent on software licenses from Microsoft in the last 12 months; and what proportion this represents of his Department’s total technology spend.

In the last 12 months, the Ministry of Justice has spent £68 million on software licenses from Microsoft. This represents approximately 11% of the Department’s total technology spend.

How much his Department has spent on software licences from Microsoft in the last 12 months; and what proportion this represents of his Department’s total technology spend.

The Department for Business and Trade has spent £4.8m on software licences from Microsoft in the last 12 months, December 2024 to November 2025. This represents 5% of the Department's total Digital, Data & Technology spend.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the value achieved through recent contract negotiations with Microsoft; and what assurances are in place regarding future pricing.

The government holds a number of contracts with resellers of Microsoft products, which includes Office tools, Copilot and Azure.Value for money is typically assessed through the Department’s internal governance processes for awarding a new contract. The Department utilises the Strategic Partnership Arrangement 2024 (SPA24) MOU which was negotiated between Crown Commercial Services (CCS) and Microsoft. SPA24 provides discounts and favourable terms to UK public sector customers.

How much his Department has spent on software licences from Microsoft in the last 12 months; and what proportion this represents of his Department’s total technology spend.

For the period 4 December 2024 to 5 December 2025, the Department spent £4.8 million on Microsoft Software licenses and services. During this period this spend accounted for 25.2% of the overall internal technology spend.

Innovation and Technology, how much her Department has spent on software licences from Microsoft in the last 12 months; and what proportion this represents of her Department’s total technology spend.

DSIT spend of £3,044,084.14 for DSIT Microsoft Licences in the last 12 months. We have not provided the proportion of the total technology spend as it is not a separate reporting category within Annual Report and Accounts (ARA).

Food and Rural Affairs, how much new burdens funding she plans to allocate for food waste collections; and if she will (a) allocate that funding based on costs incurred by WCAs and (b) apply the New Burdens Doctrine in full.

We have invested over £340 million to support waste collection authorities on weekly food collections. While local authorities will have the flexibility to deliver these reforms in the best way for their council areas and residents, we still expect them to take all reasonable steps to meet their statutory obligations. Previous capital and transitional funding were allocated and published by Defra. As confirmed in the outcome of the Spending Review 2025, ongoing resource funding for food waste services from 1 April 2026 will be included in the Local Government Finance Settlement, rather than as a separate new burdens grant.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure imported eggs are (a) salmonella free and (b) raised to the same standards as UK produced eggs.

The UK has detailed legislation on marketing standards for eggs, which also covers imported eggs, to protect our food standards.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact on sugar beet producers in England due to the decision to extend tariff-free access for raw cane sugar.

The UK relies on some imported refined sugar to meet demand, and the Government’s assessment concluded that any additional volume of raw cane imports would largely displace that imported refined sugar rather than impacting domestic production. The increase in the ATQ volume is therefore not expected to impact UK sugar beet producers and the Government continues to work closely with stakeholders to ensure policy making finely balances all considerations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to help ensure farmers are not out of pocket for costs incurred under AB12 supplementary feeding for farmland birds.

Under the Environmental Land Management Capital Grants scheme, AB12 aims to provide bird feed during the winter period when other food sources are scarce. It pays £732 per tonne for every 2 hectares (ha) of winter bird food and is available under Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier. Feed can be purchased from a number of suppliers across the UK. The department regularly reviews payment rates.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department issues guidance to local planning authorities on ensuring that public consultation and plan-making processes do not appear (a) biased and (b) predetermined.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local development plans should be shaped by early, proportionate, and effective engagement between plan-makers and communities, local organisations, and businesses.Regulations under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 require a minimum of two separate public consultations on a local plan. Local planning authorities, as public bodies, should conduct these consultations in an open way, without having a pre-determined view on the outcome. They are legally obliged to have regard to representations received and the Planning Inspectorate independently examines plans before they can be adopted.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to protect green spaces and parks as part of the local government review.

Parks and urban green spaces are important for community cohesion, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and civic pride. Responsibility for funding, managing and maintaining them lies mainly with local authorities. The government is committed to supporting Local Authorities in developing best practice to look after parks and green spaces. The cornerstone of our support for communities is the government’s Pride in Place Programme, providing up to £5 billion funding and support over 10 years to 244 places. This flagship offer will help build strong, resilient and integrated communities in areas that experience the most entrenched social and economic challenges. This includes opportunities for communities to invest in their local parks and green spaces. We are also committed to maintaining the quality of parks and green spaces through the MHCLG-owned Green Flag Award, which sets the national quality standard. The scheme has helped to transform thousands of parks and green spaces across the country. The government's statutory guidance on local government reorganisation requires that unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens and that unitary structures should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment, including parks and green spaces. The government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is also clear that planning policies should set out an overall strategy for the pattern, scale and design quality of places and make sufficient provision for the conservation and enhancement of the natural, built and historic environment, including green infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of parks and green spaces on communities.

Parks and urban green spaces are important for community cohesion, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and civic pride. Responsibility for funding, managing and maintaining them lies mainly with local authorities. The government is committed to supporting Local Authorities in developing best practice to look after parks and green spaces. The cornerstone of our support for communities is the government’s Pride in Place Programme, providing up to £5 billion funding and support over 10 years to 244 places. This flagship offer will help build strong, resilient and integrated communities in areas that experience the most entrenched social and economic challenges. This includes opportunities for communities to invest in their local parks and green spaces. We are also committed to maintaining the quality of parks and green spaces through the MHCLG-owned Green Flag Award, which sets the national quality standard. The scheme has helped to transform thousands of parks and green spaces across the country. The government's statutory guidance on local government reorganisation requires that unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens and that unitary structures should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment, including parks and green spaces. The government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is also clear that planning policies should set out an overall strategy for the pattern, scale and design quality of places and make sufficient provision for the conservation and enhancement of the natural, built and historic environment, including green infrastructure.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support jobs in the environmental sector, particularly horticulture.

The Government is committed to working in partnership with local authorities, industry, further education institutions, and training providers to strengthen skills and support jobs across the farming sector, including the horticulture sector, ensuring businesses and local authorities have the expertise needed to manage and develop green spaces. In collaboration with the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture we are also helping to promote the wide range of exciting opportunities the sector offers. The Spending Review 2025 provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure adequate skills in local authorities to develop horticulture and parks.

The Government is committed to working in partnership with local authorities, industry, further education institutions, and training providers to strengthen skills and support jobs across the farming sector, including the horticulture sector, ensuring businesses and local authorities have the expertise needed to manage and develop green spaces. In collaboration with the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture we are also helping to promote the wide range of exciting opportunities the sector offers. The Spending Review 2025 provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced, recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities.

What steps she is taking to ensure that spousal visa applications are processed in line with equality standards, especially where one party has (a) a learning disability and (b) Down's Syndrome.

The partner route under Appendix FM includes different requirements for those who have a disability in recognition of the Home Office’s equality obligations. For example, where the sponsor is claiming certain health disability allowances the family must meet the adequate maintenance test rather than the minimum income requirement and applicants are exempt from meeting English language requirements if they have a disability which prevents them learning English.All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and where there are vulnerabilities, the caseworker will take this into consideration. Equality Impact Assessments are kept under review and updated as necessary.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to issue updated guidance on pet passports.

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area, which will mean taking pets on holiday into the EU will become easier and cheaper. Instead of getting an animal health certificate each time you travel, owners will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU. We have begun negotiations with the EU on the SPS agreement, however we are not going to give a running commentary of talks. In the meantime, owners will still need an Animal Health Certificate for their dog, cat or ferret if they are travelling from Great Britain to an EU country.

Innovation and Technology, what actions she will take to address restrictive software licensing practices by dominant cloud providers, as identified by the CMA, to ensure fair competition in the cloud services market.

The Government is committed to supporting a competitive and innovative digital economy. This is why we prioritised the commencement of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (the CMA) new powers in digital markets. The CMA is independent of Government, and any decisions on which markets it investigates is for their Board.