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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to ensure the timely completion of payments for Countryside Stewardship agreements.

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

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) understands the importance of cashflow for farmers and rural businesses. For the 2025 scheme year they have once again paid a higher proportion of Countryside Stewardship payments earlier in the payment window.

The RPA has taken steps to improve the flow of payments for the schemes they deliver, and the Countryside Stewardship scheme continues to be administered with payment frequency and timeliness in mind.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress his Department has made on the national roll-out of the Youth Jobs Guarantee.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department recently announced that, for national rollout, eligibility for the Jobs Guarantee will be expanded to include 22-24-year-olds, meaning all eligible 18-24-year-olds across Great Britain will benefit from a fully funded six month guaranteed paid employment opportunity. Once fully rolled out, the scheme is expected to support more than 90,000 young people over the next three years.

We know that young people need support quickly, which is why delivery of Phase One of the Jobs Guarantee will begin from Spring 2026. The grant application window for Phase One has now closed and applications are being assessed, with successful Delivery Organisations to be announced in due course.

This will be followed by national rollout across Great Britain in Autumn 2026. Learning from Phase One will be used to support effective national delivery of the scheme, alongside close working with Delivery Organisations and employers. This will ensure the scheme is delivered as intended for all eligible young people.

Further details on delivery will be set out in the coming weeks.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing the formula for flood defence and coastal protection in the Local Government Finance Settlement on local authorities.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As set out in the government’s response to the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the Foundation Formula is used to assess relative demand for flood defence and coastal protection, as the government does not consider having a bespoke formula to be proportionate. While expenditure on this service can pose significant revenue costs for a small number of local authorities, nationally this area accounts for less than 1% of total sector expenditure.

We have provided support to local authorities acutely affected by flooding through other measures. In 2026-27, the government will continue to provide targeted support for the local authorities which have experienced the most significant increases in Internal Drainage Board special levies.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consideration he has made of the potential merits of extending the Adjustment Support Grant in 2027/28.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 9 February, the government published the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in a decade. Following consultation feedback, the final Settlement included an update to how pooling gains are estimated for transitional arrangements. This was the right approach in order to distribute gains more equitably, improving how representative the assumption is of local arrangements.

To help councils adjust for this change, the government provided a one-off Adjustment Support Grant in 2026-27 to authorities who would otherwise see their Core Spending Power reduce in 2026-27, compared to indicative provisional Settlement allocations. The 2027-28 Settlement will be subject to consultation as is the usual process.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of defunding the Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist Apprenticeship on the outdoor education sector.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 April 2026 to Question UIN 123109.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support the haulage industry with increases in fuel prices.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport recognises growing concerns around rising fuel and transport costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The Department fully recognises the need to maintain the continuity of critical supply chains and is actively monitoring any potential impacts. The Department will continue to work with industry to understand the pressures and options to mitigate any risks.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the level of funding required to improve school food standards.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

We are consulting on proposed updates to the School Food Standards in England. Healthier food does not have to mean higher cost. We tested proposals to check affordability and are working closely with the sector.

Public inquiry into Epstein links

Torbay Hospital

Food Bill

Mountain rescue in Cumbria

Upland farmers and common land

Found: Q19 Caroline Voaden: I would like to move on to talk about a ban.

Found: ; Leeds South West and Morley) Peter Swallow (Labour; Bracknell) Chris Vince (Labour; Harlow) Caroline Voaden

Found: Johnson; John Milne; Joy Morrissey; Darren Paffey; Mark Sewards; Peter Swallow; Chris Vince; Caroline Voaden

Found: Q14 Caroline Voaden: This is a question for Margaret and Daniel.

Found: Q14 Caroline Voaden: This is a question for Margaret and Daniel.