Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for the Joint Expeditionary Force to secure the safe operation of undersea cables and pipelines in the Atlantic and North Sea.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) remains a key element of His Majesty’s Government’s approach to enhancing security and resilience across the North Atlantic and North Sea regions. The JEF, comprising the United Kingdom and nine like-minded Northern European nations, is designed to respond rapidly to a range of contingencies, including the protection of critical infrastructure such as undersea cables and pipelines, complementary to NATO.

Securing the safe operation of undersea cables and pipelines is a priority given their vital role in national security, economic stability, and communications. The Ministry of Defence, in close coordination with the JEF partner nations, is developing and refining operational concepts that include maritime domain awareness, intelligence sharing, and rapid deployment capabilities to deter and respond to threats against these assets.

In January 2025, following reported damage to a major undersea cable in the Baltic Sea, the JEF activated an advanced UK-led reaction system, known as Nordic Warden, to track potential threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor the Russian shadow fleet. This was subsequently handed over to NATO under their Baltic Sentry initiative.

The Government remains committed to enhancing the JEF’s capabilities to meet emerging challenges in its area of interest, including the protection of undersea infrastructure in the Atlantic and North Sea.

In summary, while the JEF is not solely dedicated to undersea cable and pipeline security, it forms a component of the UK’s broader strategy to safeguard these essential assets through multinational cooperation, rapid response, and integrated maritime security operations in support of NATO.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many on-farm reservoirs have been built in each of the past five years.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Approximately 34 newly built Large Raised Reservoirs (reservoirs with an above ground capacity of more than 25,000 cubic metres of water) have been built on farms in England in the last five years.

Note: the final certificate is the document that marks the end of the ‘under construction’ phase for a reservoir under the Reservoirs Act 1975.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received regarding the costs and regulatory burdens of environmental permitting regulations for farm practices; and how they intend to address these concerns.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra engages a range of representations relating to the costs and regulatory burdens of different aspects of the environmental permitting regulations on farming. The Environment Agency designs permit charges to be fair and proportionate, consulting widely on proposed changes and mitigating impacts where possible.

Found: Grayling MP, The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, The Baroness Henig CBE, Mr Darren Jones MP, The Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

This short inquiry will consider pet parasite medication (PPM), with a focus on treatments containing pesticides of concern such as fipronil and imidacloprid. The inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways, and the impact of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and pet owners of alternative medications or application practices.