Written questions by Berry.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many air pollution alerts were issued between March 2024 and March 2025 by his Department's UK-AIR alerts when thresholds within Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010) were exceeded; on which dates; and how many unique visitors accessed the Daily Air Quality Index forecast webpage during that period.

Air pollution alerts are issued when thresholds within the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010) for Ozone, Sulphur Dioxide or Nitrogen Dioxide are exceeded. The last time one of these alerts was issued was September 2023. ~ 2000 unique visitors accessed the DAQI during that alert. Visitors to UK Air can also sign up to receive email bulletins providing a summary of the last hour or 24 hour’s air quality measurement data; daily updated forecasts of UK air pollution concentrations and notifications if the Alert Threshold in an Air Quality Daughter Directive is exceeded.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39813 on Air Pollution, whether the discussions his Department is having with the Met Office on areas for improvement includes the Air Quality Information Systems Review recommendation to review, update and expand the existing alert systems.

The department is engaging with the Met Office to deliver improvements to the pollution forecasts and alerts service.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many people in the UK have signed up to receive air pollution alerts from UK-AIR; and what mechanisms he is using to monitor the effectiveness of the air quality alert system at (a) reaching the intended audience and (b) meeting its other goals.

450 people are currently signed up to receive air pollution alerts from UK Air. Metrics to monitor the effectiveness of the new system are being considered as part of the design process.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will include PM2.5 in the UK Air quality alerts.

PM2.5 is one of the pollutants already included in the Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI). The department is currently in the process of making improvements to our air quality alert system to more closely align to the DAQI

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people who do not (a) sign up to receive alerts and (b) actively check the UK-AIR website are alerted to high air pollution events.

The department has begun work to develop, test and launch a new air quality alert system which will make it easier for the public to sign up to receive alerts when high levels of pollution are expected.

What information her Department holds on the cost to the public purse of gifts given by (a) the King and (b) other members of the Royal Family in their official roles since 2020.

The public cost of gifts made by His Majesty The King and other members of the Royal Family in their official roles is covered by the Sovereign Grant, with the cost of any gifts made in relation to official international engagements recharged to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and appropriate assurance arrangements are in place. The Royal Household is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of The Sovereign Grant, and therefore the Treasury does not hold information requested. The Sovereign Grant is audited by the Independent National Audit Office as part of its audit of the Sovereign Grant annual report and accounts.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) powers and (b) funding available to local authorities to enforce smoke control areas.

Defra continues to support local authorities who have declared or are exploring declaring smoke control areas.

Whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of legislation relating to peaceful protest.

Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and this government keeps protest legislation under review.Expedited post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act 2023 began last month, and we are also carefully considering the Court of Appeal judgment in relation to Serious Disruption Regulations.

Media and Sport, if she will hold discussions with the Royal Collection Trust on the potential merits of publishing a list of items which are held in right of the Crown.

We have no plans to do so, nor are Ministers in discussions with the Royal Collection Trust, which is an independent charity, with control over its own collections, policies and management. The public can enjoy the Royal Collection across official royal residences, former royal residences, and through an extensive lending and touring exhibitions programme. Over 280,000 object records in the Collection can be accessed via the Royal Collection Trust website.

Media and Sport, if she will hold discussions with the Royal Collection Trust on the ownership of the Royal Stamp Collection.

We have no plans to do so, nor are Ministers in discussions with the Royal Collection Trust, which is an independent charity, with control over its own collections, policies and management. The public can enjoy the Royal Collection across official royal residences, former royal residences, and through an extensive lending and touring exhibitions programme. Over 280,000 object records in the Collection can be accessed via the Royal Collection Trust website.

What plans the Government has for departmental funding arrangements for the recruitment of 8,500 additional mental health workers.

To reform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future, we will publish a 10-Year Health Plan as part of the Government’s five long-term missions. We are listening to and co-designing the plan with the public and health and care staff. A central part of the 10-Year Health Plan will be our workforce and how we ensure we train and provide the staff, technology and infrastructure the NHS needs to care for patients across our communities.Our mission is to improve mental health care across the spectrum of need which fluctuates across the life course from poor wellbeing to common mental health disorders to severe mental illness. Therefore, we are focusing on ensuring the NHS is providing the right support to the right people at the right time.The NHS has funding to pay for staff recruited in 2025/26 because the Government has maintained the Mental Health Investment Standard. Future funding for the NHS, including mental health services, will be determined by my Rt. Hon. friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the Spending Review for 2026/27 and beyond.

What assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the report entitled Social insecurity: the devastating human rights impact of social security system failures in the UK by Amnesty International, published on 25 April 2025.

The UK Government takes its international obligations seriously and values the insights provided by Amnesty International and notes their recommendations. The UK Government is committed to tackling poverty across the UK. Good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty so this will be the foundation of our approach. The proposals in our plan for Making Work Pay and our Get Britain Working White Paper and our urgent work to bring forward our Child Poverty Strategy reflect our commitment to delivering lasting change. Alongside this as announced in our Pathways to Work Green Paper we will establish a new guarantee of support for all disabled people and people with health conditions claiming out of work benefits who want help to get into or return to work.

What the (a) start and (b) finish date was of each overseas trips taken by Prince Andrew in his role as a trade envoy.

I understand that the Duke of York visited multiple overseas states in his role as a Special Representative. To note the Duke of York was the Special Representative for UK Trade and Investment and not a Trade Envoy. 2002 - 20044-9 Feb 0218-21 Mar 022-10 May 0225-26 Jun 0229-30 Jan 0312-13 Feb 039-13 Sept 0323-27 Sept 0319-26 Oct 0327 Nov-8 Dec 0309-Jan-0408-Mar-042004/0526 Mar-4 Apr 0419-25 Apr 0424-26 May 0407-Sep-0425-27 Oct 043-9 Oct 0424 Nov-5 Dec 0422-23 Nov 0412-27 Feb 052005/064-5 Apr 0518-25 Apr 0517-18 May 0511-14 Oct 0528-30 Nov 0513-17 Nov 0503-Mar-0514-Mar-0530-Mar-0521-25 Jan 0614-Feb-062006/0725 Mar-2 Apr 063-7 Jun 063-7 Jul 0625-30 Sept 0629 Oct-4 Nov 0623-24 Nov 0611-Oct-0624-May-0615-May-0607-Nov-0608-Nov-0625-27 Jan 0705-Feb-0712-13 Feb 0726-27 Feb 0728 Feb-13 Mar 072007/0811-18 Apr 0728 May-1 Jun 0707-Jun-0727-29 Aug 0703-Sep-071-4 Oct 0723-26 Oct 071-10 Nov 0724-Apr-0714-May-0725-Jun-0715-Oct-0722-Oct-0713-15 Jan 0820-22 Jan 0823-25 Jan 085-16 Feb 082-7 Mar 089-15 Mar 082008/0930 Mar-3 Apr 0813-May-0818-20 May 0803-Jun-0830 Jun-1 Jul 0816-Jul-085-12 Sept 0828 Sept-3 Oct 0829 Oct-7 Nov 0810-Dec-0828-30 Jan 0902-Feb-0917-18 Feb 0913-Mar-0914-20 Mar 092009/1018-21 May 091-4 Jun 0922-24 Jun 0922-24 Sept 0929 Sept-8 Oct 0919-Oct-0924 Oct-4 Nov 0914-16 Dec 0927-29 Jan 107-12 Feb 108-13 Mar 1023-26 Mar 1026-28 Mar 102010/1113-14 April 1016-22 April 103-11 May 1016-20 May 1018-May-108-10 June 1007-Jul-106-11 Sept 108-20 Oct 1012-16 Jan 1126-28 Jan 116-16 Feb 112011/124-8 Apr 1116-19 May 1114-Sep-1118-23 Sept 1126 Sept-2 Oct 1106-Oct-1123-28 Oct 1130 Oct-1 Nov 1120-23 Nov 1126-28 Jan 1227 Feb-3 Mar 12

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Building Regulation Approved Document T: Toilet Accommodation, last updated on 1 October 2024, if she will take legislative steps to (a) ensure that new buildings include the provision of universal toilets and (b) permit universal toilets in addition to or in place of single-sex provision.

Requirement T1 of the Building Regulations calls for universal toilets to be provided where space allows and is also clear that universal toilets may be provided in addition to single-sex toilets. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) have a duty under the Building Safety Act 2022 to keep the safety and standard of buildings under review. The BSR continually reviews the suite of Approved Documents to ensure the statutory guidance remains relevant, as well as advising government on the safety and standards of all buildings. This Government is always keen to receive feedback on the real-world application of the Building Regulations and will consider comments received, monitor stakeholder experience, and keep the new Approved Document T under review.

How much was spent on (a) transport, (b) hotels, (c) official gifts and (d) other costs for overseas trips taken by Prince Andrew in his role as a trade envoy.

The Duke of York was the Special Representative for UK Trade and Investment and not a Trade Envoy.The Department for Business and Trade does not hold details of the specific costs for the Duke of York’s (a) transport, (b) hotels, (c) official gifts and (d) other costs for overseas trips taken in his capacity as a Trade Representative.

With reference to paragraphs 139 and 140 of her Department's publication entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, what evidence base was used to determined that claimants who score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity have higher needs.

PIP provides a contribution to extra costs, but, over recent years, claims have increased significantly, outstripping the growth in disability prevalence. Changes are needed to put benefit spending on a sustainable footing so it can be there for people who need it in the future, while continuing to support those people with higher needs relating to their long-term health condition or disability. Some people get PIP from scoring 1, 2 or 3 points, arising from needs which could individually be managed with small interventions or the addition of an aid or appliance. Focusing PIP on those with a higher level of functional need in at least one activity - people who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them – will ensure that PIP is sustainable now and into the future. Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. For those already on PIP, the changes to PIP eligibility will only apply at their next award review.   We are also consulting on how best to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met. Alongside the introduction of this new requirement, in the Green Paper, we promised to review the PIP assessment by working with disabled people, disabled people’s organisations, and other experts. As announced by the Secretary of State in the House of Commons on 12 May, we have started the first phase of the review. I will be meeting with stakeholders to develop the scope and terms of reference of the review and will keep the House updated as this work progresses. On decision making more broadly, we ensure a high standard is maintained for PIP assessments through having an Independent Audit function that continually monitors the performance of assessment providers. At the decision-making stage, we have a multi-tiered Quality Assurance Framework to ensure decisions are legal and payments are accurate.

With reference to paragraph 21 of her Department's publication entitled Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, whether her Department conducted an internal audit of Personal Independence Payment decisions during the development of the proposal to require four points to be scored in at least one daily living activity.

PIP provides a contribution to extra costs, but, over recent years, claims have increased significantly, outstripping the growth in disability prevalence. Changes are needed to put benefit spending on a sustainable footing so it can be there for people who need it in the future, while continuing to support those people with higher needs relating to their long-term health condition or disability. Some people get PIP from scoring 1, 2 or 3 points, arising from needs which could individually be managed with small interventions or the addition of an aid or appliance. Focusing PIP on those with a higher level of functional need in at least one activity - people who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them – will ensure that PIP is sustainable now and into the future. Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. For those already on PIP, the changes to PIP eligibility will only apply at their next award review.   We are also consulting on how best to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met. Alongside the introduction of this new requirement, in the Green Paper, we promised to review the PIP assessment by working with disabled people, disabled people’s organisations, and other experts. As announced by the Secretary of State in the House of Commons on 12 May, we have started the first phase of the review. I will be meeting with stakeholders to develop the scope and terms of reference of the review and will keep the House updated as this work progresses. On decision making more broadly, we ensure a high standard is maintained for PIP assessments through having an Independent Audit function that continually monitors the performance of assessment providers. At the decision-making stage, we have a multi-tiered Quality Assurance Framework to ensure decisions are legal and payments are accurate.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 33251 on Domestic Abuse: Parents, when she plans to publish the Government response to the consultation on the definition of child-to-parent abuse.

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this Government.A consultation into the definition of child to parent abuse was launched by the previous government but never responded to. This Government is looking afresh at theresponses and will provide an update in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29617 on Heathrow Airport, if she will update her Department's Appraisal of sustainability for the proposed Airports National Policy Statement, published 5 June 2018, as part of her review of the Airports National Policy Statement.

The Secretary of State will determine the scope of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement. She will comply with any statutory requirements relating to carrying out an appraisal of sustainability of an amended National Policy Statement set out in the Planning Act 2008.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to monitor the effective implementation of Government consultation principles on the needs of people affected by air pollution.

Defra seeks to align its consultations with the Cabinet Office consultations principles, published in 2018, to ensure our consultations are accessible to a wide variety of stakeholders and gather the best possible information to assist with policy development.