Written questions by Farron.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, in which year the South East non-agglomeration zone is expected to become compliant.

Predicting when locations will comply with the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide is inherently uncertain. Our current estimates reflect the impact of agreed local Clean Air Plans and are based on 2023 data from Defra’s national monitoring networks and national modelling, as well as local authority-owned air quality monitoring and modelling. 2023 is the most recent year of fully ratified monitoring data available. As additional years of data become available or where additional measures are agreed some of these predictions are likely to change. Current estimates for when the following reporting zones will become compliant are: West Midlands Urban Area2032Bristol Urban Area2031Sheffield Urban Area2031The Potteries2032South East2028West Yorkshire Urban Area2029Coventry and Bedworth2026Liverpool Urban Area2029Greater London Urban Area2024Greater Manchester Urban Area2026Nottingham Urban Area2024Portsmouth Urban Area2026Reading and Wokingham Urban Area2024

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support brewers meet the costs of the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme.

The government has worked closely with industry, including the brewing and hospitality sectors, throughout development of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR). This is a major reform that will be iterated over several years to incentivise packaging producers to reduce their material footprint and use more sustainable packaging. Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the brewing and hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward and on assessing the tonnages of packaging any amendment might affect in the hospitality sector and in other sectors. We are planning next steps as a priority and will share more information soon.

What progress she has made on implementing (a) the draft RSHE curriculum and (b) the suicide prevention content in that curriculum.

The government is clear that children’s wellbeing must be at the heart of statutory guidance on teaching relationships, sex and health education and, as such, the department is looking carefully at responses to the public consultation conducted last year, considering the relevant evidence and discussing with stakeholders before setting out next steps to make sure the guidance draws from the best available evidence.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015 to change the target for official development assistance to 0.5 percent of gross national income.

There are no plans to amend the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015 to change the target for Official Development Assistance (ODA) to 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI).The Government is committed to returning to spending 0.7 per cent of GNI on ODA as soon as fiscal circumstances allow.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of The Environmental Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) (England) Regulations 2023 in achieving reductions in concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in ambient air.

The revised Environmental Improvement Plan is due to include further details on fine particulate matter targets set under the Environment Act 2021.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the budget is for the Farming and Countryside Programme for 2025-26 by category in Annex 1 of the Farming and Countryside Programme annual report 2023 to 2024, published on 10 September 2024.

The farming blog published on Wednesday 12th March set out Defra’s spend for 24/25 and 25/26 split across the Farming and Countryside Programme schemes. Defra manages the farming budget flexibly to respond to demand, and achieve our intended outcomes for farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare. In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applicants there were to the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme in (i) 2023 and (ii) each year since its creation.

The Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme (FVAS) runs from 01 January – 31 December. In relation to the 2023 scheme year, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received 32 successful applications by recognised Producer Organisations (POs). There were no unsuccessful applications during the same period. The scheme was first introduced in 1996 and the number of UK-recognised Producer Organisations (POs) has varied overtime, but now there are 32 F&V POs across the UK. Each recognized PO will submit an application for an operational programme (OP) or amendment to that OP each year.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide the 2024-25 spend figures to date for the Farming and Countryside Programme to match the categories set out in Annex 1 of the Farming and Countryside Programme annual report 2023 to 2024.

The farming blog published on Wednesday 12 March set out Defra’s spend for 24/25 and 25/26 split across the Farming and Countryside Programme schemes. Defra manages the farming budget flexibly to respond to demand, and achieve our intended outcomes for farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare. In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Metropolitan Police on arrests made in a Quaker meeting house in March 2025.

The police are operationally independent of the government and make decisions on specific incidents based on their intelligence and judgment. The Home Office does not have the power to direct them to make any operational decisions. However, the Home Secretary has regular meetings with all policing leaders, including the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), covering a range of matters.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has allocated to the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme in each year since its inception; and how much and what proportion of that funding was spent.

Prior to 2021 the scheme was EU funded. The Secretary of State did not allocate any direct funding to The Fruit & Vegetable Aid Scheme started in 2021 governed by EU rules before this time. Since then, £117,794,154.23 has been spent The breakdown of actual UK funding spent on the scheme post EU exit is as follows: 2021 - £39,056,567.83 (£35,999,480.17 England only)2022 - £40,110,883.98 (£34,460,975.86 England only)2023 - £38,626,702.42 (£35,393,728.71 England only)2024 - claims still being assessed.

Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support he is providing to low carbon farming.

Our Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs), funded by a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, are paying farmers to take up land management practices that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Government has also spent £51.8 million through the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), with a further £98 million committed to ongoing projects in support of Agri-technology research and innovation. FIP competitions for 2025/26 will include up to £12.5 million for the Net Zero Farming thematic competition. Since 2021, Defra’s Farming Investment Fund awarded more than 11,000 grants worth over £130 million to farmers, growers and foresters to invest in technology, equipment and infrastructure, much of which supports low carbon farming practices. Of this, £107 million was through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF). The next window of FETF will launch in Spring 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the emissions reductions required in (a) agriculture, (b) land use and (c) waste to deliver the sixth carbon budget.

The extent of emissions reductions required by Defra sectors in order to deliver the Government’s overall Carbon Budgets is determined by a cross-Government decision making process led by DESNZ. Underpinning this is the UKTM (UK Times Model). This takes assumptions on the ‘baseline’ trajectory for emissions informed by the annual Emissions and Energy Projections and seeks to determine what interventions can achieve the lowest cost pathway to achieving Net Zero, accounting for the Government’s energy and growth plans. The Carbon Budget Delivery Plan provides the specific estimates on the extent of emissions reductions required in Defra sectors.

What steps she is taking to support local authorities to provide housing for people seeking asylum.

The Home Office is working closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while reducing the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.A more proactive approach is being taken, placing greater emphasis on collaboration with local authorities and other key stakeholders, and building on lessons learned.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of local authorities providing housing for people seeking asylum.

The Home Office is working closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while reducing the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.A more proactive approach is being taken, placing greater emphasis on collaboration with local authorities and other key stakeholders, and building on lessons learned.

For what reason the NHS was preparing for AI auto contouring funding in September 2024; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of not providing this funding on planning by radiotherapy departments.

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services, and will support the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. While no assessment has been made, we will continue to monitor developments and any potential impacts on waiting times.All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.We will be spending £70 million on new radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to patients who need it.The Department will continue to look at opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to diagnostic performance and ultimately bring down waiting times.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of AI auto contouring funding on NHS waiting times for radiotherapy treatment.

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services, and will support the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. While no assessment has been made, we will continue to monitor developments and any potential impacts on waiting times.All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.We will be spending £70 million on new radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to patients who need it.The Department will continue to look at opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to diagnostic performance and ultimately bring down waiting times.

Whether the NHS was instructed to proceed with engagement on AI auto contouring funding in 2024 following the previous Government's funding announcement.

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services, and will support the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. While no assessment has been made, we will continue to monitor developments and any potential impacts on waiting times.All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.We will be spending £70 million on new radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to patients who need it.The Department will continue to look at opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to diagnostic performance and ultimately bring down waiting times.

What (a) webinars, (b) meetings and (c) other engagements NHS England undertook with radiotherapy networks on access to the AI auto contouring funding announced on 21 May 2024; and whether alternative funding will be made available to support AI use in radiotherapy.

The information requested is not held by the Department, but we are seeking advice from NHS England on the impact of these webinars and subsequent engagement that they have undertaken.All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.The Department supports the National Health Service in reviewing opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to transform performance, bring down waiting times, and support staff with their workload. We expect that radiotherapy treatment centres will use all appropriate technology for treating patients, to ensure that they receive the best possible care. This includes the use of artificial intelligence where available.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the webinars held by NHS England with hospital staff on AI auto contouring funding in September 2024 on staff expectations for that technology.

The information requested is not held by the Department, but we are seeking advice from NHS England on the impact of these webinars and subsequent engagement that they have undertaken.All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.The Department supports the National Health Service in reviewing opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to transform performance, bring down waiting times, and support staff with their workload. We expect that radiotherapy treatment centres will use all appropriate technology for treating patients, to ensure that they receive the best possible care. This includes the use of artificial intelligence where available.

If his Department will publish all correspondence between the NHS, his Department and Ministers on AI auto contouring funding in 2024.

The Department does not plan to publish correspondence between the National Health Service and Ministers on this topic from 2024.