Written questions by Hobhouse.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the introduction of mandatory food waste reporting.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. No recent discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State and Cabinet colleagues on the subject of mandatory food waste reporting. This Government has announced the development of a food strategy as well as its plans to publish a Circular Economy Strategy for England. Defra recognises the importance of reducing food waste in the supply chain and as this work is developed, the evidence for action will be considered as we evaluate what interventions may be needed, including the potential introduction of a mandatory food waste reporting requirement for large food businesses.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that YouTube is compliant with the Online Safety Act 2023.

The Online Safety Act gives online platforms new duties to put in place systems and processes to remove illegal content on their services, including extreme misogynistic content. Ofcom has a broad range of powers to assess and enforce compliance with the Act, including issuing fines to services that do not comply. Ensuring that women are safe online is a priority for this government, and we have committed to halving violence against women and girls in the next decade.

What his planned timetable is for the work his Department has commissioned on removing barriers to local supply faced by community energy schemes.

The Government recognises that local energy will play an important role in achieving the mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030, and some electricity suppliers are already working with community energy groups to support local supply. We published the summary of responses to the previous Call for Evidence on Barriers to Community Energy in March 2025 and officials in my department are currently undertaking research and engagement, including in the form of workshops with key stakeholders, to work through this complex issue and understand any unintended consequences to the wider system and bill payers from unlocking local supply. Further updates and outcomes from this work will be provided in due course.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has had recent discussions with YouTube on tackling extreme misogynistic content.

The Online Safety Act gives online platforms new duties to put in place systems and processes to remove illegal content on their services, including extreme misogynistic content. Ofcom has a broad range of powers to assess and enforce compliance with the Act, including issuing fines to services that do not comply. Ensuring that women are safe online is a priority for this government, and we have committed to halving violence against women and girls in the next decade.

What recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the lifting of tariffs on non-folding e-bikes from China.

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade took a decision on 6 February 2025 to extend the anti-dumping and countervailing measures on folding e-bikes only. This followed an evidence-based review led by the UK’s independent Trade Remedies Authority. No recent discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State for Transport and Chancellor of the Exchequer on this matter.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including renewable electricity supplied to EVs within the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.

I refer the Honourable Member to my answer given on 19 May to PQ UIN 52503.

Whether he has made an assessment of the resilience of the folding e-bike industry in the UK.

The Department engages with the folding e-bike industry as part of its broader support for UK manufacturing and innovation. Through the Government’s Industrial Strategy, targeting key growth levers such as boosting scaleups, revitalising high streets, improving access to finance, unlocking new markets, and strengthening business capabilities, the Department is helping to create a more competitive and resilient business environment. Notably, on 6 February 2025, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a recommendation from the Trade Remedies Authority, the UK’s independent body for investigating trade remedies, to maintain measures on folding e-bikes from China, in place since January 2024, providing continued protection for UK manufacturers.

What steps his Department is taking to maintain (a) optionality and (b) competition in the Clean Power Plan.

Table 1 of the Clean Power Action Plan sets out a range of potential installed capacity levels for different technologies in 2030. This reflects the Government’s commitment to maintaining optionality by supporting a diverse mix of technologies capable of delivering a clean power system. The Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme is the government’s main mechanism for supporting new low-carbon electricity generation projects in Great Britain. CfDs are awarded through regular, competitive auctions, with the lowest-priced bids successful. We have recently consulted on reforms to increase competition in the CfD scheme. We will publish a full government response to this consultation before Allocation Round 7 opens in the Summer.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of potential development sites for onshore wind which fall within the vicinity of the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array (ESA) in Scotland.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a statutory consultee in the UK planning systems to safeguard operational defence sites. As such, the MOD is consulted on all wind farm planning applications within 50km of the Eskdalemuir Seismological Array. The MOD cannot predict or estimate the number of wind farm applications that it may be consulted on. The MOD routinely responds to representations and will raise objections to any development that may adversely impact Defence activities.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of capacity allocation in the Clean Power Plan for Scottish onshore wind between 2031 and 2035.

The 2035 capacity number for Scotland is based on National Energy System Operator's Future Energy Scenarios, which present credible pathways to decarbonise our energy system as we strive towards the 2050 target. We therefore consider the capacity allocation planned for Scotland between 2030 and 2035 to be adequate and will continue to keep this under review, including considering updates to align with the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, to be published in 2026.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the size of vehicles on the uptake of active travel by (a) young and (b) other people.

There are no current plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of vehicle sizes on active travel uptake. Active Travel England is working with local authorities across England to support the development of safe and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure and funds various programmes to support the uptake of active travel in young people. Before a new vehicle is permitted to be sold in Great Britain it is subject to rigorous and comprehensive testing to ensure it meets high standards of passenger and pedestrian safety and complies with emission standards.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of removing the social housing obligation from future iterations of the Energy Company Obligation scheme on the retrofit measures provided to fuel poor households.

We are committed to meeting fuel poverty and Net Zero targets, and we are currently considering what policy mix will best achieve that, including what role energy company obligations should play post-2026.

For what reason The Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 do not include time limits on extended subsidies to Drax.

The Government agreed Heads of Terms with Drax for short-term support from 2027-2031 to ensure UK security of security, as outlined in the ministerial statement in February. This represents a step-change in arrangements and Drax will provide power only when the system, and consumers really need it. This halves the level of consumer subsidies compared to existing arrangements, saving nearly £6 per household in annual bills. The referenced statutory instrument makes amendments to the definition of an eligible generator to facilitate support for large scale biomass generators. It does not specify the terms of contracts for difference for individual companies, including time limits.

Whether he is taking steps to develop a strategic framework to enable the integration of hydrogen into future net zero energy systems.

Hydrogen will be key in reaching net zero, helping decarbonise industrial processes and heavy transport where it’s harder or more expensive to electrify, complementing wider electrification efforts. Hydrogen to power was identified in our December Clean Power Action plan as a key technology providing low carbon dispatchable generation at a range of scales, benefiting from the UK’s abundance of offshore wind and supporting a decarbonised power system. We have a comprehensive framework of investible business models to support infrastructure deployment, supporting projects that create real jobs and growth. An update on our hydrogen strategy will be provided later this year.Hydrogen will be key in reaching net zero, helping decarbonise industrial processes and heavy transport where it’s harder or more expensive to electrify, complementing wider electrification efforts. Hydrogen to power was identified in our December Clean Power Action plan as a key technology providing low carbon dispatchable generation at a range of scales, benefiting from the UK’s abundance of offshore wind and supporting a decarbonised power system. We have a comprehensive framework of investible business models to support infrastructure deployment, supporting projects that create real jobs and growth. An update on our hydrogen strategy will be provided later this year.

What steps his Department is taking to support interconnector infrastructure.

Interconnector development is a developer-led process in GB. Projects are given regulatory approval through Ofgem, a process with no formal role for Government. We welcome Ofgem’s decision to approve five new interconnector projects, including two Offshore Hybrid Assets, in November 2024. The Department is in regular communication with interconnector projects at all stages of development and we of course look to support their development where appropriate.

With reference to the letter from Lord Sharpe of Epsom responding to the Animals in Science Committee forced swim test report, published on 5 March 2024, what the deadline is for ending the use of forced swim tests.

The Home Office wrote to the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the UKRI in February 2024 to consider the recommendation to request further research into non-animal methods to replace the Forced Swim Test (FST).The Home Office Regulator has since reviewed all licences authorising the use of the FST under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and fully implemented the recommendations of the Animals in Science Committee.The number of project licences that authorises the forced swim test in Great Britain has decreased from nine on the 1 March 2024, to a current total of only four licences. All of these licences are due to expire by 2028.This Government has set a manifesto commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing” and will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods to animal testing later this year. This strategy supports the current scientific direction on reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of the FST (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230021001434).

How many active licences there are for the authorised use of the forced swim test.

The Home Office wrote to the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the UKRI in February 2024 to consider the recommendation to request further research into non-animal methods to replace the Forced Swim Test (FST).The Home Office Regulator has since reviewed all licences authorising the use of the FST under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and fully implemented the recommendations of the Animals in Science Committee.The number of project licences that authorises the forced swim test in Great Britain has decreased from nine on the 1 March 2024, to a current total of only four licences. All of these licences are due to expire by 2028.This Government has set a manifesto commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing” and will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods to animal testing later this year. This strategy supports the current scientific direction on reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of the FST (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230021001434).

What progress she has made on ending the use of forced swim tests since writing to the (a) Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and (b) UKRI requesting expedited research to find validated replacements.

The Home Office wrote to the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the UKRI in February 2024 to consider the recommendation to request further research into non-animal methods to replace the Forced Swim Test (FST).The Home Office Regulator has since reviewed all licences authorising the use of the FST under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and fully implemented the recommendations of the Animals in Science Committee.The number of project licences that authorises the forced swim test in Great Britain has decreased from nine on the 1 March 2024, to a current total of only four licences. All of these licences are due to expire by 2028.This Government has set a manifesto commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing” and will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods to animal testing later this year. This strategy supports the current scientific direction on reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of the FST (www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230021001434).

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the accurate recording of deaths related to eating disorders; and what steps he is taking with the (a) National Medical Examiner, (b) Office for National Statistics and (c) Coroners' Society of England and Wales to increase understanding of how eating disorders contribute to deaths.

It is important that all deaths are recorded accurately, and it is right that the extent to which eating disorders and other factors have caused or contributed to deaths should be explored further, in collaboration with stakeholders including the National Medical Examiner, the Office for National Statistics, and the Coroners' Society of England and Wales.The National Medical Examiner’s Good Practice Series No. 7 on mental health and eating disorders, published in June 2022, makes it clear to medical examiners how mental health conditions, including eating disorders, should be recorded on the medical certificate of cause of death. The Good Practice Series No. 7 is available at the following link:https://www.rcpath.org/resourceLibrary/good-practice-series---mental-health-and-eating-disorders.html

What estimate he has made of the reduction of the funding for home energy upgrades in the Warm Homes Local Grant compared to the Home Upgrade Grant 2 for Bristol City Council; and whether this represents a reallocation of resources in the Warm Homes Plan.

Bristol City Council’s consortium was awarded £13,458,463 under Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG), which is ~£2m more than the £11,393,650 awarded under Home Upgrade Grant 2 (HUG2). Whilst HUG2 was allocated £700m in 2021 by the previous government compared to WH:LG’s £500m in autumn 2024, this does not represent a resource reallocation under the Warm Homes Plan as these schemes are not comparable.