Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help protect (a) farming and (b) food production sites from illegal drone flying by vegan activists.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office, working closely with policing, has built a national counter-drone capability to equip police with the capabilities they need to detect and mitigate the illegal or malicious use of drones. These capabilities comprise a range of specialist equipment, vehicles, and personnel to ensure a flexible and effective response across UK policing to any potential drone-related incident.

The public should report any suspicious drone activity by calling 101. They should explain the situation to the call handler, identifying the time and location of the drone. In an emergency, the public should call 999.

Flying a drone safely and within regulations by an appropriately registered pilot is legal in the UK. The Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which gives guidance on the circumstances in which drone flying is and is not illegal, is available from the Civil Aviation Authority’s website.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether existing Personal Independence Payment claimants of pension age who request a change of circumstances review from November 2026 will be required to score at least four points in one daily living activity in order to (a) maintain and (b) increase the daily living element of the benefit.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In the Pathways to Work Green Paper we announced that we will introduce a new eligibility requirement to ensure that only those who score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity will be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This requirement will need to be met in addition to the existing PIP eligibility criteria.

Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.

In keeping with existing policy, people of state pension age are not routinely fully reviewed and will not be affected by these changes.

All claimants are required to notify the Department of any change to their circumstance, be that an improvement or deterioration in their needs. Upon notification of a change, a Case Manager will consider what further action might be required to ensure the claimant is receiving the correct level of support.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether existing Personal Independence Payment claimants of pension age with a planned award review from November 2026 will be required to score at least four points in one daily living activity in order to maintain their award.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In the Pathways to Work Green Paper we announced that we will introduce a new eligibility requirement to ensure that only those who score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity will be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This requirement will need to be met in addition to the existing PIP eligibility criteria.

Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.

In keeping with existing policy, people of state pension age are not routinely fully reviewed and will not be affected by these changes.

All claimants are required to notify the Department of any change to their circumstance, be that an improvement or deterioration in their needs. Upon notification of a change, a Case Manager will consider what further action might be required to ensure the claimant is receiving the correct level of support.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to prevent the Rural Payments Agency's planned cancellation of payments under the SAM3: herbal leys scheme .

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) have identified that a number of customers have included actions within their Sustainable Farming Incentive agreement that may not be allowed under the scheme rules and as clearly set out in the customer guidance. These cases have been identified through eligibility checks carried out and the RPA are working through these.

The RPA is conscious of the impact delay to payments may have and are contacting affected customers as required to resolve this and ensure any payments due can be made as soon as possible.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of ending payments from the SAM3: herbal leys scheme on farmers.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) have identified that a number of customers have included actions within their Sustainable Farming Incentive agreement that may not be allowed under the scheme rules and as clearly set out in the customer guidance. These cases have been identified through eligibility checks carried out and the RPA are working through these.

The RPA is conscious of the impact delay to payments may have and are contacting affected customers as required to resolve this and ensure any payments due can be made as soon as possible.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to fund accessibility improvements at train stations.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Since its launch in 2006, the Access for All programme has delivered step free upgrades at more than 260 station across Britain. The government is committed to continuing to improve the accessibility of the railway.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending disability living allowance for children up to the age of 25.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Through our Green Paper, Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, we are consulting on raising the age at which young people move from Disability Living Allowance for children (DLAc) to the adult disability benefit Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The aim of this proposed change is to better align the age at which young people first claim adult disability benefits with other key milestones in the transition to adulthood. It also aims to reduce pressure on still relatively young people going through adult PIP assessments.

The consultation question asks if the age for young people to move from claiming DLAc to PIP should be 18, and if not, at what age this should happen. We encourage the public to respond to the consultation. More details can be found at Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring mandatory quotas of disability accessible housing for new developments.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The revised National Planning Policy Framework that was published on 12 December 2024 requires local planning authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those of disabled people, and to reflect this in planning policies.

Where an identified need exists, plans are expected to help bring forward an adequate supply of accessible housing. This can include setting out the proportion of new housing to be delivered to the M4(2) accessible and adaptable standard.

The government will shortly set out its policies on accessible new build housing, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to a safe, suitable home.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the next deer management strategy will be published.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We recognise new and existing woodlands are under pressure from increasing damage caused by over-foraging of young trees and woodland flora by wild deer. We are considering how to go further to reduce these impacts and will provide an update in due course. Defra provides a range of grant support to individuals and for projects, to help landowners and managers tackle deer impacts. We have also invested in relevant research and provide guidance and in-person advice, including via dedicated Deer Officers within the Forestry Commission.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether housing associations can evict existing tenants in order to house illegal immigrants.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

A housing association can only end a tenancy following the relevant specific legal procedure. For example, if they have a legal reason to do so as set out in the grounds for possession in law, such as rent arrears or antisocial behaviour.

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Found: At this point, I put on record my thanks to Alicia Kearns, who recently gave birth.

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Found: _NC51 Matt Vickers Alicia Kearns Harriet Cross .