Written questions by Dyke.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with major online marketplace operators regarding their responsibilities in preventing the sale of copied or infringing products to UK consumers.

Awaiting answer.

If he will undertake a review of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellations and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 in relation to the requirement for retailers to refund delivery charges for goods returned within the 14-day cancellation period.

Awaiting answer.

What discussions he has had with local police forces on ensuring that goods sold by pedlars comply with safety standards, including requirements for CE and UKCA marking.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that online marketplaces selling into the UK are held accountable for listings that may infringe upon intellectual property rights of UK based manufacturing businesses.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the financial impact of mandatory outbound delivery refunds costs under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 on small businesses.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration they have made to adding exemption guidance to farmed reindeer in the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice 2027.

The Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain, published in May 2025, apply to all zoos in Great Britain licensed under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (the 1981 Act). The 1981 Act provides for exemptions or dispensations for small collections depending on the number and types of animals kept. A collection consisting of just a small number of reindeer (no more than 50) can already apply for a dispensation which can help reduce zoo licensing inspection costs.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many flooded homes there were in the last year by region.

The table below represents properties flooded in Environment Agency (EA) Operational Areas from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. This information has been collated by EA Area teams and is based on information received from the public, flood partners and EA staff during national flood events. All figures are estimates and are subject to change as information is collated and updated, and records may differ from previously reported totals. Further impacts can sometimes be reported through recovery work with communities. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government may hold further detail about properties flooded during this time from Lead Local Flood Authorities. EA Operational AreaProperties Flooded 1 April 2025– 31 March 2026Cumbria and Lancashire24Devon, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly122East Anglia (Cambridgeshire & Bedfordshire)2East Anglia (Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk)5East Midlands3Greater Manchester Merseyside1Hertfordshire & North London1Kent & South London23Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire North East Solent and South Downs17Thames9West Midlands (Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire)22West Midlands (Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Mids)10Wessex279Yorkshire (YOR)22Total   540

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of the classification of farmed reindeers as zoo animals.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance and reassurance they have offered to local authorities in interpreting the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice 2027 in regard to farmed reindeers.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in interpretation by local authorities of requirements for farmed reindeer licensing on farm business viability.

Licences for reindeer in England may be required where they are exhibited to the public. The type of licence needed will depend on the nature of the display (permanent or temporary) and whether the reindeer are being exhibited as part of a business. There are also licensing requirements for keeping certain species of reindeer regarded as dangerous, where they are kept outside of a licensed zoo or pet shop. Licensing decisions are a matter for each local authority, who can decide on the most appropriate type of licence or licences depending on the circumstances of each individual collection.

Food and Rural Affairs, what conversations they have had with local authorities on the interpretation of the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice 2027.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the supply of British grown cauliflower and other brassicas in spring 2026.

The UK’s food security is built on supply from diverse sources including strong domestic production and imports through stable trade routes. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors and assess UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments. This includes consideration of the adequacy of the supply of both domestically grown cauliflower and brassicas, and where necessary, imports.

Whether she has had discussions with the travel agent sector on the processing of refunds where an airline has cancelled a flight and confirmed that passengers are entitled to a refund without a penalty fee.

The Department has had discussions with travel agents and airlines on a range of issues. In the UK, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (“Regulation 261”) sets out the rights of passengers in the event of flight cancellations. Where UK law applies, if a flight is cancelled by the airline, passengers are entitled to a choice between a full refund or re-routing. Where a flight booking has been made through a travel agent, passengers should, in the first instance, contact the agent in cases such as flight cancellations. The Department’s Air Passenger Travel Guide provides passengers with information on their rights and responsibilities when travelling by air, including a dedicated section on cancellations.

Whether her Department has issued guidance on the application of the ‘Act of War’ clause for customers of travel agents and airlines; and whether there are regulatory protections in place to ensure passengers receive appropriate refunds.

In the UK, Regulation 261/2004 sets out the rights of passengers in the event of cancellations, long delays and denied boarding. Where UK law applies, if a flight is cancelled by the airline, then passengers would be entitled to a choice between a full refund or to be re-routed. These rights would apply if disruption were linked to war. Information on air passenger rights is already available in the Department’s Air Passenger Travel Guide, and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently provided specific advice to passengers in response to the Middle East disruption.

How many new defence procurement contracts have been awarded to domestic manufacturing companies so far Parliament; and what percentage have been outsourced to companies overseas.

The Department can confirm that a total of 4,130 new defence procurement contracts, with start dates on or after 5 July 2024, have been awarded. Of these, 3,680 contracts (89%) were awarded to companies located or headquartered in the UK, while 450 contracts (11%) went to companies based outside the UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Iran conflict on the supply of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.

Some of the UK’s trade partners import fertilisers from the Middle East, either for onward shipment to the UK or for production inputs, creating indirect dependencies. Defra is in close contact with domestic fertiliser suppliers and is monitoring overall supply to the UK.There is no immediate risk to UK supply. However, the fertiliser market is a global market, and the market price in the UK is strongly influenced by international prices for fertiliser and by the value of the pound. The Government is aware of the current price increase for fertiliser and remains ready to support businesses as effectively as possible in these challenging times.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the number of days of supply of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser available based on storage levels and usage rates.

The UK is not facing an immediate fertiliser supply issue, but price rises have been felt immediately. The UK imported below 1% of its fertilisers directly from the Gulf region in 2025 and so direct imports from the region are negligible. Fertiliser delivery by suppliers is based on orders placed by farmers according to the crops planned to be grown, with typically no long-term storage of fertiliser. Defra is in contact with domestic fertiliser suppliers and is monitoring overall supply to the UK. Through its close relationships with industry, the Government remains ready to support businesses as effectively as possible in these challenging times.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the volume of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser held in storage in the UK.

The UK is not facing an immediate fertiliser supply issue, but price rises have been felt immediately. The UK imported below 1% of its fertilisers directly from the Gulf region in 2025 and so direct imports from the region are negligible. Fertiliser delivery by suppliers is based on orders placed by farmers according to the crops planned to be grown, with typically no long-term storage of fertiliser. Defra is in contact with domestic fertiliser suppliers and is monitoring overall supply to the UK. Through its close relationships with industry, the Government remains ready to support businesses as effectively as possible in these challenging times.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of days of supply of red diesel available based on storage levels and usage rates.

Data on monthly red diesel stocks and demand are published in Energy Trends Tables 3.11 and 3.13, respectively: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/oil-and-oil-products-section-3-energy-trends. The Department does not publish estimates of days consumption.

What estimate his Department has made of the volume of red diesel held in storage in the UK.

Data on oil stocks are published monthly in Energy Trends Table 3.11: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/oil-and-oil-products-section-3-energy-trends.