Written questions by Champion.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2024 to Question 17817 on Slavery: Victims, whether all victims of modern slavery will be covered by the duty.

The duty to collaborate (“the Duty”) (sections 13-14 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024) will require collaboration in relation to the commissioning of services for victims of modern slavery where the crime amounts to serious violence. Section 13(8) of the 2024 Act will allow commissioners to determine what constitutes serious violence in their area. Modern slavery is a complex crime and the Duty does not encompass every situation where modern slavery occurs. It is expected that statutory guidance for the Duty (issued pursuant to section 15 of the 2024 Act) will point commissioners towards the Modern Slavery Statutory Guidance to increase local commissioners’ understanding and awareness of modern slavery when preparing local joint commissioning strategies. In practice, modern slavery victims can access support regardless of the exploitation type, which is currently delivered through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract. Further, the Duty does not preclude commissioners from collaborating in relation to other crime types when considering local need or arranging provision, if that would benefit a local area.

What the timetable is for the Animals in Science Committee to conclude its work on future options for the regulation of the use of decapod crustaceans in scientific research.

The Home Office will be guided by decisions made under the Animal Welfare Act regarding any consideration as to whether decapod crustaceans are regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procures) Act.The Home Office does not require additional advice from the Animals in Science Committee at this stage.

What steps she is taking to help raise awareness of her Department's pilot scheme to provide victims of rape and serious sexual offences with the opportunity to request a free copy of Judges’ sentencing remarks in Crown Court cases.

Sentencing is an important part of the criminal justice system for victims. However, we know the experience of attending court in person, including sentencing hearings, can be distressing. In May 2024, the Ministry of Justice launched a one-year pilot for victims of rape and sexual offences, whose cases were heard at the Crown Court, to request a copy of the judge’s sentencing remarks free of charge.We are actively working to promote the pilot to eligible victims. We have, for example, published a dedicated webpage on Gov.uk, shared information on the scheme with over 70 national and local stakeholders who work with or represent victims, and created social media posts on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and LinkedIn. We are also working with the Witness Service to ensure that they can provide information on the pilot to victims at court.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of anti-dumping measures on (a) electric and (b) pedal bikes from China on bicycle manufacturers in the UK.

The UK currently applies an anti-dumping measure on imports of Chinese bicycles and certain bicycle parts, and an anti-dumping and a countervailing measure on imports of Chinese e-bikes. All three measures are currently subject to review by the UK’s independent Trade Remedies Authority who will assess the impact of amending the measure on UK producers, importers and consumers. The Secretary of State will have the final decision on the measures, and he will weigh up all the evidence provided. Whilst these reviews remain an ongoing process I cannot comment further.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the definition of animals in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to include (a) decapod crustaceans and (b) cephalopod molluscs.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach to improve welfare standards for decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs. Defra seeks to commission research and expert opinion to inform any future policy decisions and welcomes the continued dialogue with stakeholders.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made in building an evidence base on the fur sector.

Defra is continuing to build the evidence base on the fur sector in Great Britain. This includes commissioning our expert Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) to produce a report on what constitutes responsible sourcing of fur. The AWC report will add to our understanding of the fur industry and help inform our next steps.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reduced glass import tariffs on UK glass manufacturers.

The Department for Business and Trade recently conducted an assessment to determine whether the current tariff rate for various glass products was appropriate. Having considered the predominance of imports from the EU or from countries with whom we have an FTA, and further analysis of specific imports from non-FTA partners, the evidence does not suggest that tariff liberalisation is materially affecting the interests of the sector, or the competitiveness of businesses.

What discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the effectiveness of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

The Government has noted the EU’s adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and has been in regular contact with the European Commission on this issue through the Trade Specialised Committee on Level Playing Field, which last met on 9th October 2024. The Directive will apply to UK companies with a turnover generated in the EU of more than €450 million. We will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the UK’s existing measures, alongside the impacts of new policy tools that are emerging to ensure we can best promote responsible business practices, and take action where appropriate.

Whether she has had discussions with the (a) Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology and (b) Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on (i) coordinated action to deliver the phase out of animal testing and (ii) the potential merits of establishing a cross-Government taskforce.

This Government has made a commitment to the development of alternative methodologies to the use of animals in science and Lord Hanson has held discussions on the delivery of that commitment with Ministers for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The plan we develop will maintain the UK’s place at the forefront of science development and innovation.In the limited circumstances where there is no animal alternative and procedures are required to deliver important benefits to people, the environment, and other animals then we deliver robust, rigorous and trustworthy regulation of those procedures.The Home Office assures that, in every research proposal: animals are replaced with non-animal alternatives wherever possible; that experiments are appropriate designed and analysed experiments that are robust, reproducible, and add to the knowledge base; and that we assure the methodologies use the latest technologies to minimise pain, suffering and distress and improve understanding of the impact of welfare on scientific outcomes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of progress made towards tackling desertification at the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification.

COP16 was the biggest and most inclusive Desertification COP to date. It marked a significant milestone, raising global ambition and mobilising finance to strengthen drought resilience, restore degraded land and combat desertification: issues critically interlinked with the UK's international development, climate and nature goals. We welcome the leadership the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia COP16 Presidency has shown in elevating these critical issues. Many important outcomes were achieved at UNCCD COP16, including over $12 billion announced to support UNCCD issues over the next decade, and the launch of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership to scale support for vulnerable countries. There is further to go, including reaching an agreed global approach on drought resilience, that drives ambition, progress and delivery.The UK is committed to supporting vulnerable countries to build resilience and scale action on drought, desertification, water security, and land degradation. Our £11.6 billion International Climate Finance commitment includes £1.5 billion for adaptation in 2025 - a tripling from 2019 levels. This includes an initial investment in the Resilience and Adaptation Fund, which will help hundreds of thousands of vulnerable families across the world secure better access to food, water and productive land.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question 16151 on Energy: Supply Chains, whether his Department is taking steps to include (a) trade unions and (b) civil society in the solar taskforce.

The Solar Taskforce is working towards the publication of the Solar Roadmap in Spring 2025. This will outline the actions required to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative, and free from forced labour.Solar Energy UK, the solar industry trade association that co-chairs the Taskforce, is leading the industry response on this matter by developing and launching the Solar Stewardship Initiative, in partnership with Solar Power Europe.As part of this work, members of the Taskforce are engaging with relevant civil society groups and trade unions.

With reference to the BBC Eye Investigation televised on 2 December 2024, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Tesco, (b) Waitrose, (c) Asda and (b) Morrisons on product labelling.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for general product labelling on food products and the Department for Business and Trade works closely with them on this issue.The Government has high standards regarding the information provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food they buy. No company in the UK should have forced labour in its supply chain. The Government expects businesses to respect human rights and the environment throughout their supply chain in line with the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct, the UN Guiding Principles, and the Modern Slavery Act 2015.I have written to the supermarkets concerned to request a full account of the allegations raised in the BBC Panorama documentary and the steps they are taking to investigate.

With reference to the oral contribution of the then Minister of State in her Department during the Ninth sitting of the Public Bill Committee on the Victims and Prisoners Bill on 4 July 2023, Official Report column 310, and to correspondence on the timetable for implementation of the duty on public authorities to collaborate under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, published on 5 November 2024, whether (a) the guidance to be developed under this implementation process will clarify that modern slavery victims (i) can and (ii) are likely to be covered by the duty and (b) stakeholders involved in supporting victims of modern slavery will be included in the consultation process.

The duty to collaborate, as set out in sections 13-14 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, will, once in force, require local policing bodies, local authorities and integrated care boards to collaborate when commissioning services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and serious violence in England.Collaboration in relation to the commissioning of services for victims of modern slavery will be required under the duty where the crime amounts to serious violence, including the threat of violence and violence against property (see section 13(7) of the 2024 Act).The statutory guidance on the duty issued pursuant to section 15 will make this clear and will be consulted on in early 2025, in accordance with section 15(2). The Ministry of Justice has engaged with stakeholders involved in supporting victims of modern slavery during the development of the draft guidance and will continue to do so during consultation.

With refence to the oral contribution of 6 November 2024 by the Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security, Official Report column 70WH, how the solar stewardship initiative will support the delivery of the solar roadmap.

The Solar Roadmap will set out the Government’s solar deployment ambitions as part of its mission to achieve Clean Power by 2030. It will outline the actions required to develop resilient, sustainable, innovative, and free from forced labour supply chains. The UK’s main solar industry trade association – Solar Energy UK, who co-chair the Solar Taskforce - is leading the industry’s response on this matter by developing and launching the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), in partnership with Solar Power Europe. Members of the SSI have committed to applying its traceability standards and audits, while encouraging its adoption throughout their supply chain.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending food labelling legislation so that sourcing information of ingredients is required on pre-packed food and drink products.

The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The fundamental principle of food labelling rules is that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable consumers to make informed decisions. Country of origin information is required for fresh and frozen meat of beef cattle, sheep, goat, pigs and poultry, as well as uncut fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, wine and some fish products. It is also required for all prepacked food where its omission would be misleading to consumers. Additional labelling rules apply for foods with primary ingredients. For processed food, where the origin of the primary ingredient is different to that of the food itself and the origin of the food is given, an indication that the origin of the primary ingredient is different must also be provided, for example 'British cheese made with milk from Ireland.’ In any case, where an origin or provenance is given or indicated including when provided voluntarily this must always be accurate.

By what process the percentage of 0.5 of Gross National Income for Official Development Assistance was decided.

The Government remains committed to restoring ODA spending to 0.7% of GNI as soon as fiscal circumstances allow, but the latest OBR forecasts show that ODA fiscal tests which determine a return to 0.7% are not due to be met within this Parliament. HMT has therefore set departmental ODA budgets which enable the UK to spend 0.5% of GNI in calendar years 2024 and 2025. On current forecasts, this will mean spending £13.7 billion on ODA in 2024. These plans strike an appropriate balance between fiscal responsibility at home and our responsibility to support the most vulnerable, using ODA resources to save lives whilst tackling key global challenges such as climate change, conflict, and epidemics.  The UK will remain one of the most generous development assistance donors amongst the G7.

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on potential steps to ensure UK energy supply chains are free from Uyghur forced labour.

The Government opposes all forms of forced labour, including the use of Uyghur forced labour, and is determined to ensure that all UK business do everything in their power to remove any instances of it from their supply chains. Through the reconvened Solar Taskforce, the Government is working widely across Whitehall and closely with industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative, and free from forced labour. These actions will be set out in the Solar Roadmap, which is expected to be published in Spring 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with which Cabinet colleagues he has had discussions as part of the China audit.

The UK Government is carrying out an audit to examine the UK's interests with respect to China to improve our ability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. The audit is being conducted as a cross-government exercise, led by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Foreign Secretary has discussed the China audit with Ministerial colleagues representing the full range of the Government's interests, and the FCDO will continue engaging with all relevant government departments.

What steps his Department is taking to support the implementation of electronic prescribing across all NHS settings.

The Frontline Digitisation programme in NHS England is supporting National Health Service trusts to reach a core level of digitisation, as set out in our minimum digital foundations.83% of all NHS trusts have stated that they have electronic prescribing capabilities in place, largely as part of their core Electronic Patient Record. NHS England's Transformation Directorate is supporting the remaining NHS trusts to achieve this as part of their core level of digitisation over the next financial year.In primary care, 95% of all prescriptions are produced electronically via the national Electronic Prescription Service (EPS). The EPS is not strictly mandated, but it is strongly recommended for use by prescribing and dispensing services in NHS settings.

Whether the 10 Year Health Plan will help tackle specific health challenges faced by women; and whether gender-specific health interventions such as menstruation will be included in its long-term goals.

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we reform the National Health Service, and women’s equality will be at the heart of our missions. We are considering how to take forward the Women’s Health Strategy, by aligning it to the Government’s missions and forthcoming 10-Year Health Plan.The 10-Year Plan will ensure a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area. We will carefully be considering policies with input from the public, patients, health and care staff, and our partners as we develop the plan.