Written questions by Barclay.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will introduce a legally binding food security target.

Food security is national security. A resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British farmers is a key element of our national food security. That is why this Government will introduce a new deal for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen Britain's food security. We will: cut energy bills by switching on GB Energy; protect farmers from being undercut in trade deals; and use the Government’s own purchasing power to back British produce. Food security is not a binary issue but consists of complex and dynamic interactions. The Government will publish the triennial UK Food Security Report this year which will measure trends across the five categories of food security.

How many non-executive directors have had their contract of employment terminated since 5 July 2024.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster appoints Non-Executive Board Members to the Cabinet Office Board and most Non-Executive Directors to the Boards of its Arm’s Length Bodies in compliance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. Non-Executives are not employees and therefore contracts of employment are not issued, Non-Executives receive terms of agreement for their roles instead.Since 5 July 2024, seven Cabinet Office Non-Executive Board Members have been provided with one month’s written notice for the termination of their appointments before the end of the fixed period as set out in their terms of agreement.It is normal practice for incoming Ministers to make decisions on their own departmental boards, including the skills and experience that membership brings.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to increase support for farmers to mitigate the impacts of crops (a) lost and (b) not planted due to wet weather.

The Farming Recovery Fund is a contribution towards uninsured costs that have likely been incurred in re-establishing productive, farmable land in areas significantly damaged by water, caused by flooding from Storms Babet and Henk or exceptional rainfall during October 2023 to March 2024. In May Defra introduced a package of temporary adjustments and easements within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), SFI Pilot, Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship to support farmers and land managers dealing with the impacts of severe wet weather in England. [Essentially, if bad weather has caused disruptions to farming activities or affected a farmer’s ability to meet the mandatory requirements set out in live agreements, the adjustments allow more time to establish or defer some activity to later in the year.] A full list of these adjustments can be found on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wet-weather-temporary-support-for-farmers-in-2024 .

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to continue the annual farm to fork summit.

Confidence among farmers is at an all time low. We need a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British Farmers. The only way to do this effectively is to listen to farmers and others with a stake in our food system, countryside and nature. This Government will introduce a new deal for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen Britain's food security. We will: cut energy bills by switching on GB Energy; protect farmers from being undercut in trade deals; and use the Government’s own purchasing power to back British produce.

What the Government's policy was on external by default for recruitment to senior civil service roles by (a) department and (b) organisation on (i) 30 May 2024 and (ii) 23 July 2024.

The Civil Service advertises all SCS vacancies on the principle of External by Default. External by Default means that vacancies will be open to external candidates outside the Civil Service, as well as existing civil servants, unless an exception applies. Use of exemptions for any post must be approved by the Departmental Minister or Permanent Secretary in Non-Ministerial Departments. This policy applies to all Ministerial departments, Non-Ministerial departments, Executive Agencies and Crown Non-Departmental Public Bodies. This policy was applicable on 30 May 2024 and 23 July 2024. On the 30 May 2024, in accordance with the General Election Guidance 2024, any appointments that required approval by the Prime Minister, and other Civil Service and public appointments likely to prove sensitive (including those where Ministers have delegated decisions to officials or other authorities) were frozen until after the election, except in exceptional circumstances (General Election Guidance, Section H, para 1-4). Where an appointment was required to be made, because the role was urgent or critical, and including where necessary sensitive SCS positions, the role could be filled on a temporary basis by exception. The principle of external by default for all SCS recruitment was maintained during the pre-election period. Any temporary appointments were subject to approval via the exemption process (Civil Service Recruitment Framework 2022). During the pre-election period, approval for urgent exemptions to external by default could be made by Permanent Secretaries where Ministerial availability was limited.Responsibility for adhering to pre-election guidance in relation to recruitment sat with the hiring department.

To provide a breakdown by (a) department and (b) job title of senior civil service jobs (i) offered and (ii) appointed since 30 May 2024.

The information held by the Cabinet Office relating to the Senior Civil Service shows there have been 43 offers made and 41 candidates posted/taken up duty since 30th May 2024. Recruitment data from some departments is collected on a biannual basis by the Cabinet Office. Please see the full breakdown of the data held centrally on the below table. DepartmentVacancyTitleGradeNumber of vacanciesNumber of jobsOffer ReachedCandidates PostedDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsDG Food Biosecurity and TradeSCS 31110Department of Health and Social CareDG NHS Ten Year PlanSCS 31111Department for Science, Innovation and TechnologyDG Digital CentreSCS 31111Maritime and Coastguard AgencyDirector of People & SafetySCS Pay Band 11111Department for TransportDeputy Director Strategy and Programme, Euston Directorate (Maternity contract)SCS Pay Band 11111Department for Business and TradeDirector, Consumer and Competition PolicySCS Pay Band 21111Department for TransportDeputy Director – Policy Sponsorship (Roads investment Strategy)SCS Pay Band 11111Department for Business and TradeDirector, Grants DeliverySCS Pay Band 21111Cabinet OfficeSCS2 Director Digital Service Owner (Infected Blood Compensation Authority) - EOI (6-9 months initially)SCS Pay Band 21111HM TreasuryDeputy Director - Government Financial Reporting (12 Month Fixed Term Appointment)SCS Pay Band 11111Department of Health and Social CareHead of Statistics and Data Science team- Closing date extended to 28th May 23:55SCS Pay Band 11111Department for Energy Security & Net ZeroDeputy Director Energy Security and Resilience Analysis Team (ESRA)SCS Pay Band 11111Department for Business and TradeDeputy Director - Futures and Green Strategy UnitSCS Pay Band 11111Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture ScienceSenior Responsible Owner – Cefas Future Delivery at SeaSCS Pay Band 11111Cabinet OfficeDeputy Director Counter-Terrorism and Serious Organised CrimeSCS Pay Band 11111Cabinet OfficeDeputy Director, Public ServicesSCS Pay Band 11111Cabinet OfficeDeputy Director, DefenceSCS Pay Band 11111Cabinet OfficeSCS1 Deputy Director Middle East Strategy Cell, National Security Secretariat - EOI (6 months)SCS Pay Band 11111Cabinet OfficeSCS2 Director Communications (Infected Blood Compensation Authority) - EOI (6-9 months initially)SCS Pay Band 21111Cabinet OfficeDeputy Director, i.AI Strategy and Business EngagementSCS Pay Band 11111Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Internal)Deputy Director, Legal Counsellor, Joint Head Sanctions and Asia Pacific TeamSCS Pay Band 11111Department for Energy Security & Net ZeroDeputy Director for Operating Model & Organisational Capability ProgrammesSCS Pay Band 11222Department for Work and PensionsDeputy Director Talent and Apprenticeships (Part-Time)?SCS Pay Band 11111Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture ScienceDirector of Strategy and DeliverySCS Pay Band 11111Department for Energy Security & Net ZeroDeputy Director, Net Zero Strategy DirectorateSCS Pay Band 11144HM TreasuryDeputy Director, Financial Services StrategySCS Pay Band 11111Department for Work and PensionsDeputy Director, Group Strategy and CoordinationSCS Pay Band 11111National Crime AgencyDeputy Director HR Delivery ServicesSCS Pay Band 11111Department for Business and TradeSenior Investment Partner, Office for InvestmentSCS Pay Band 11111Cabinet OfficeSCS2 Director Operations (Infected Blood Compensation Authority) - EOI (6-9 months initially)SCS Pay Band 21111Department for Energy Security & Net ZeroDeputy Director for Shared Services,SCS Pay Band 11111Department for Business and TradeUK Pavilion Director – Osaka World Expo 2025SCS Pay Band 11111Department for Energy Security & Net ZeroDeputy Director, Smart Metering Implementation Programme, Stewardship TeamSCS Pay Band 11111Department for Culture, Media and SportDeputy Director, BBC PolicySCS Pay Band 11122Department for Science, Innovation and TechnologyDeputy Director, Head of Office for Quantum TechnologiesSCS Pay Band 11111HM TreasuryDeputy Director, Education & SkillsSCS Pay Band 11111Cabinet OfficeDeputy Director National Security CommunicationsSCS Pay Band 11121

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the compatability of mandating a minimum quota of domestic products in public procurement contracts for food with Britain's membership of the World Trade Organisation.

The Government has ambition to source half of all food served in public sector settings from local producers or that has been produced by growers certified to higher environmental standards, where possible. We want to use the purchasing power of the public sector food supply chain to lead the way, setting the tone in delivering our wider ambitions on sustainability, animal welfare, economic growth, nutrition and health. We are exploring innovative ways of achieving this policy aim that will help develop and support local economies and be compatible with our obligations under the World Trade Organisation Government Procurement Agreement and domestic procurement rules.

Food and Rural Affairs, by what date he expects to have ceased badger culling.

This government will respect the advice of the widest range of expert advisers when considering the end of the badger cull. There has not been a major bovine TB strategy review in nearly six years. The last was commissioned by the then Secretary of State Michael Gove and was carried out by Professor Sir Charles Godfray. It informs our starting point as we increase the effort to achieve bovine TB free status by 2038.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has commissioned an impact assessment on the proposed ending of the badger cull.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the reply I gave to PQ 1263.