Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to reduce instances of civil servants wearing a) ideologically controversial and b) party political symbols.

Answered by Mark Ferguson - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Each Government department operates as an individual employer with delegated authority to manage their own HR systems and it is for them to set policies that relate to this. All civil servants are bound by the civil service code.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve access to nature in a) Romford and b) other constituencies where over 20% of properties are located more than 15 minutes’ walk away from green and blue spaces.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to improving access to nature through measures set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, including National River Walks, National Forests and an Access to Nature Green Paper. We are also using the new 15-minute access data to help target action towards areas with poorer access to green and blue space.

Through the Pride in Place Programme, Harold Hill East in Havering will now receive up to £20 million. A neighbourhood Board will work with the community to decide how this funding is spent, which could include investments in parks and green spaces. In Romford, Raphael Park and Cottons Park have received Green Flag Awards in 2026, a recognised accreditation setting the national standard for green spaces across the UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of improved access to nature on the health and wellbeing of local communities.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the important role that access to nature plays in supporting physical health, mental wellbeing and wider quality of life. As set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, we are committed to improving access to nature through a range of measures, including creating nine National River Walks, establishing three new National Forests and publishing an Access to Nature Green Paper.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her department has for implementing the reforms to the microchipping system announced in 2024.

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

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, the Department is committed to working with the pet microchipping sector to improve the effectiveness of the microchipping regime, including by improving the accuracy and accessibility of pet microchip records and strengthening oversight of microchip databases.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Access to Nature Green Paper will be published.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government committed in the 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan to bringing forward an Access to Nature Green Paper. This will explore options for improving and expanding access, test potential approaches, and gather robust evidence before any decisions are taken.

A timetable for publication has not yet been confirmed.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to begin mapping the presence and activities of Chinese state-linked entities operating within the UK; and whether consideration will be given to establishing a public register of such entities following the rollout of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS).

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

Upholding national security and keeping the public safe is the first duty of Government.

China poses a series of threats to UK national security – from cyber-attacks, foreign interference and espionage targeting our democratic institutions, to transnational repression of Hong Kongers and China’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and we challenge these robustly.

The Government, working alongside operational partners, keeps potential threats to the UK and its residents, including from China, under constant review and, where necessary, we use all the tools at our disposal to mitigate these.

Support for retired service animals

Battle of Britain Day 2026

150th anniversary of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876

Air Ambulance Week 2026

Support for hospices

100th anniversary of Limavady Baptist Church

His late Majesty King Harald V