Written questions by Munt.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2026 to Question 111, on what date, and at whose instruction, were any of the other documents relating to the Chinook ZD576 first closed to the public.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many aluminium cans were exported from the UK for recycling via the Packaging Export Recovery Note system in each year from 2023 to 2025.

In 2023 there were 109,638 tonnes of waste packaging aluminium reported to the Environment Agency as being exported from England via the Packaging Export Recovery Note system. In 2024 there were 105,821 tonnes reported, in 2025 there were 103,888 tonnes reported. This total includes waste packaging aluminium, as opposed to just aluminium cans, as figures are recorded by material rather than packaging types.

On what date, and at whose instruction, were the documents relating to the Chinook ZD576 sealed for 100-years.

Extracts DEFE 71/1616/1 and DEFE 25/1073/3 were closed to the public on 18 November 2019 and 9 November 2020. The decision was taken following a sensitivity review undertaken by specialist Ministry of Defence (MOD) Records Review officials acting on behalf of the MOD Departmental Records Officer who, in compliance with the Public Records Act 1958, are responsible for reviewing MOD records prior to transfer to The National Archives (TNA). The closure was also approved by the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives (ACNRA). For personal information and information linked to identifiable living individuals, TNA and the ACNRA advocate a closure period of the ‘lifetime’ of the data subject. This assumes a lifetime of 100 years but will be graduated down from the age or assumed age of the youngest individual in the record.

Further to the response to Question UIN 123625 of the 13th April 2026, (a) which businesses from the aluminium industry have shared information with his department regarding the challenges faced by the aluminium trade and (b) what steps his department is taking to protect the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy, in particular through safeguarding the domestic recycling of aluminium.

The Department continues to engage closely with businesses and representative bodies across the aluminium sector, which provide insight into the challenges facing the industry. As is standard practice, we do not publish details of individual companies involved.The UK Critical Minerals Strategy focuses on strengthening domestic capability and resilient supply chains for key materials, including aluminium. The Government recognises the importance of domestic recycling of aluminium and will consider industry recommendations for government action through the newly formed Metals Circularity Group.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many felling licences Forestry Commission England has granted for clearfelling operations within a) ancient semi-natural woodlands and b) plantation on ancient woodland sites in each of the last 5 years.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many felling licences Forestry Commission England has granted on a) ancient semi-natural woodland sites and b) plantation on ancient woodland sites in each of the last 5 years.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, further to her response of 12th February 2026 to question UIN 113530, how many of the 16 receiving sites that had failed to provide post-shipment Annex VII information have subsequently provided information on some consignments.

The Environment Agency (EA) is working through a significant submission of data from exporters and will be able to confirm the position by 2 April 2026. Thus far, the EA is not aware of any additional information relating to any of the 16 sites.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her response of 25 February 2026 to question UIN 113530, what assessment she has made of the reasons that issues with Indian Customs and transport have disproportionately affected 16 of the 50 approved sites for receiving end-of-life tyres.

The Environment Agency (EA) is thoroughly reviewing why there is post-shipment information outstanding beyond the eight-week deadline from 16 of the 50 approved sites. Their assessment of information from overseas partners, operators and the World Customs Organization suggest that, while an eight‑week timeframe is sometimes achievable, it does not reflect current global logistics timelines. The EA’s is satisfied that extending the deadline from eight to sixteen weeks is reasonable based on the available data. This is because it continues to strengthen traceability and compliance, and provides better protection for legitimate operators, without undermining its work to ensure that waste tyres are managed appropriately.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many Annex VII documents relating to consignments of end-of-life tyres were submitted to the Environment Agency’s enhanced verification procedure between 2nd February 2026 and 2nd March 2026.

Between 2 February 2026 and 2 March 2026 the Environment Agency received 1301 Annex VII pre-shipment submissions relating to the export of waste tyres/rubber to India.

Food and Rural Affairs, further to her response to Question UIN 106503 on 22nd January 2026, whether the regulations to remove the T8 exemption for the treatment of waste tyres have now been drafted and if she will provide an update on her timetable for laying those regulations.

Work continues on the drafting of the legislation which covers the whole package of waste exemption reforms, including the removal of the T8 exemption, and the timing remains subject to Parliamentary time. When the Regulations come into force the published transition periods will begin. For the T8 exemption this is 3 months.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her answer of 12th February 2026 to Question UIN 111664, how many of the 3,281 documents for which an Annex VII was submitted between 28th October 2025 and 2nd February 2026 have (a) have now passed the revised sixteen week deadline and (b) of that number how many have not supplied sufficient geo-tagged photographic information within 16 weeks.

Following a reconciliation process, the Environment Agency confirms that 3,277 Annex VII forms were submitted at least 3 days prior to shipment between 28 October 2025 and 2 February 2026. This minor amendment results from shipments being initially reported which were out of scope. Of the 3,277 shipments, 1,398 exceeded the 16-week deadline (30 March 2026) to provide post-shipment information.Of these 1398 shipments, the Environment Agency has: received 820 post-shipment Annex VII forms that consist of: 287 complete post-shipment Annex VII forms with geotagged evidence demonstrating the shipment arrived at the intended recovery facility in India533 post-shipment Annex VII forms that are considered non-compliant to varying extents because of missing, incomplete or incorrect information including issues with geotagging. The Environment Agency has followed up on each of these with further compliance and enforcement activity followed up on all of the 548 shipments that still have information pending after the 16-week deadline. This can include serving prohibition notice, issuing a warning or requesting further information.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Iran conflict on the a) UK aluminium import and export markets and b) aims of the Critical Minerals Strategy.

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade is closely monitoring the potential impact of the disruption to trade and supply chains on the UK economy as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. Businesses impacted such as those in the aluminium industry, are encouraged to continue sharing intelligence regarding the ongoing challenges to help inform the Government's response.Any impact strengthens the imperative of the UK Critical Minerals Strategy, with its key objectives of optimising domestic production while building resilient UK and global supply networks across critical minerals, including aluminium.

If he has made an assessment of the potential impact the European Commission’s plan to introduce new EU export trade measures on the UK’s aluminium recycling industry; and if he is seeking an exemption from those new regulations.

The Department for Business and Trade has not made a formal assessment of the potential impact of these EU measures on the UK's aluminium recycling industry. We are closely monitoring this through ongoing industry engagement and expect to consider this further through the Business Secretary’s Industry Engagement Forum and the scrap metal working group announced in the Steel Strategy, which will also cover aluminium.The EU is not currently enforcing aluminium export restrictions. The proposed new measures focus on restricting the export of aluminium scrap, rather than primary aluminium, with the aim of supporting domestic industry, decarbonisation, and circular‑economy objectives.

If he will list the countries who have agreed to receive nationals who have been convicted of an offence in the UK; and what the arrangements are with each of those countries on prisoners serving the full term of the sentence handed down by the UK courts.

The removal of Foreign National Offenders with no right to stay in the UK to serve their sentences in their home countries is established Government policy. Prisoner transfers operate under binding legal multilateral or bilateral frameworks, known as Prisoner Transfer Agreements (PTAs), which set out robust obligations for recognising and enforcing UK sentences in accordance with the terms agreed. Of the countries the UK has a PTA with (listed in PQ tabled 3 March 2026 with Unique Identifying Number 117419), the UK has utilised the respective PTA arrangements to transfer individuals to the following countries:Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United States of America, and Vietnam.Under a PTA, the receiving State is required to recognise the sentence imposed by the UK courts and to enforce the full sentence, in line with the terms of the agreement and with its own domestic legal framework.Generally, the receiving State would only adapt the sentence if it is more than the maximum sentence in that State. As part of the transfer application process, partner countries provide details of their proposed release arrangements, which are assessed carefully before approval. The UK only agrees to a transfer when satisfied that the receiving State will enforce the sentence appropriately.

How many metric tonnes of processed aluminium were imported into the UK in each of last recorded five years; from which countries and in what quantities that processed aluminium was imported; and what information her Department holds on (a) how much was spent on purchasing and (b) which companies and government departments were the primary purchasers of processed aluminium in each of the last five years.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as an Accredited National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. You can build tables, using the commodity codes published in the UK Trade Tariff. Aluminium is classified in Chapter 76 of the tariff. The website will give information on value, amounts and the countries involved. However, it will not identify imports by individual importers, whether by companies or government department. This would be in conflict with Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA). CRCA restricts the information that HMRC may disclose publicly on persons making imports and exports. HMRC do publish a database of UK traders. This provides registered business names and addresses and when they have traded in specific goods with EU and non-EU countries. You can use this to look for traders who have imported aluminium, where they have permitted HMRC to publish their details. If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

In the context of the development of the Circular Economy Growth Plan, whether her Department holds data on (a) how many metric tonnes of recycled aluminium were imported into the UK in each of the last recorded five years;(b) from which countries did the UK import that recycled aluminium; and (c) what was the financial cost of purchasing that recycled aluminium in each of the last recorded five years.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as an Accredited National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. You can build tables, using the commodity codes published in the UK Trade Tariff. Aluminium is classified in Chapter 76 of the tariff.The website will give information on value, amounts and the countries involved, however recycled aluminium does not have a dedicated commodity code.If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

In the context of the development of the Circular Economy Growth Plan, whether her Department holds data on (a) how many metric tonnes of waste aluminium were exported from the UK for recycling in each of the last recorded five years; (b) to which countries was that waste aluminium exported and in what quantities; (c) how much revenue was generated from the sale of that waste aluminium in each of the last recorded five years.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as an Accredited National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. You can build tables, using the commodity codes published in the UK Trade Tariff. Waste aluminium is classified in section 7602 of the tariff. The website will give information on value, amounts and the countries where the aluminium was sent. HMRC do not record the reason for export. If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

How many metric tonnes of aluminium were exported from the UK for recycling in each of the last five years; to which countries was that aluminium exported; in what quantities was it exported; and how much income to the Exchequer was generated from the sale of that aluminium in each of the last five years.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as an Accredited National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. You can build tables, using the commodity codes published in the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. Aluminium is classified in Chapter 76 of the tariff.The website will give information on value, amounts and the countries where the aluminium was sent. HMRC do not record the reason for export. Any applicable duties for the relevant commodity codes can also be found in the tariff. If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

What clinical criteria are under consideration for determining eligibility for any nationally prescribed specialised service for severe or very severe ME.

The myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), final delivery plan, published on 22 July 2025, includes an action for the Department and NHS England to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for very severe ME/CFS. Officials from the Department have commenced discussions with NHS England on how best to take forward this action.Three factors determine whether a service is a prescribed specialised service. These are: the number of individuals who require the service; the cost of providing the service or facility; and the number of people able to provide the service or facility.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 12 February to Question 111664, how many individual receiving sites that have failed to supply the post-shipment Annex VII information required have been suspended from receiving future consignments.

The Environment Agency (EA) is yet to remove sites from its acknowledged list to prevent them from receiving future consignments. At this point there is no evidence to show that any receiving sites are deliberately not supplying the information needed to exporter which would be grounds for their removal. The Waste Shipment Regulations put legal duties on the exporter. The EA will therefore focus its regulatory efforts on the exporter rather than the receiving site.