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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will place in the Library Defra-held correspondence and assessments supporting the evidential basis that NEER155 underwent rigorous peer review.

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

The redactions made to Natural England’s response to EIR2026/00223, were applied because the material contained third-party personal data, which is exempt from disclosure under the Environmental Information Regulations. In addition, some material was outside the scope of the requestor’s EIR enquiry and was removed on that basis.

The Department does not consider it necessary to place the requested documents in the Library.

The NEER155 evidence review was carried out by Natural England, the Government’s statutory adviser on nature. As the statutory adviser responsible for the review, the tasks associated with carrying out that review including the peer review element were matters for Natural England. NEER155 built on Natural England’s 2013 review (NEER004) by incorporating 102 new studies on the effects of burning on peatlands. The external peer reviewers for NEER155 were leading peatland experts at major universities and other expert institutions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason two pages were redacted in Natural England’s response to EIR2026/00223 on its report on managed burning.

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

The redactions made to Natural England’s response to EIR2026/00223, were applied because the material contained third-party personal data, which is exempt from disclosure under the Environmental Information Regulations. In addition, some material was outside the scope of the requestor’s EIR enquiry and was removed on that basis.

The Department does not consider it necessary to place the requested documents in the Library.

The NEER155 evidence review was carried out by Natural England, the Government’s statutory adviser on nature. As the statutory adviser responsible for the review, the tasks associated with carrying out that review including the peer review element were matters for Natural England. NEER155 built on Natural England’s 2013 review (NEER004) by incorporating 102 new studies on the effects of burning on peatlands. The external peer reviewers for NEER155 were leading peatland experts at major universities and other expert institutions.

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 adequacy of the peer review for the Natural England Evidence Review with reference NEER155.

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

The redactions made to Natural England’s response to EIR2026/00223, were applied because the material contained third-party personal data, which is exempt from disclosure under the Environmental Information Regulations. In addition, some material was outside the scope of the requestor’s EIR enquiry and was removed on that basis.

The Department does not consider it necessary to place the requested documents in the Library.

The NEER155 evidence review was carried out by Natural England, the Government’s statutory adviser on nature. As the statutory adviser responsible for the review, the tasks associated with carrying out that review including the peer review element were matters for Natural England. NEER155 built on Natural England’s 2013 review (NEER004) by incorporating 102 new studies on the effects of burning on peatlands. The external peer reviewers for NEER155 were leading peatland experts at major universities and other expert institutions.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2025, to Question HL12107, on Trade Agreements: Maldives, if he will list every country currently within the Free Trade Agreement programme, where HM Government is looking to negotiate new or updated free trade agreements.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Negotiations with the Republic of Korea on an upgraded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) have concluded and both sides are preparing for signature later this year. FTA negotiations continue with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Switzerland, Turkey and Greenland. Discussions on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) also continue.

In addition, the UK is engaged in Costa Rica and Uruguay's Accession Working Groups, as part of their accession process to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to publish the Human Rights and Democracy Report for (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my letter to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee on 6 March, in response to her letter of 23 January on this issue.

This Government remains firmly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights globally, and to reporting transparently on our actions. We are currently considering the most appropriate form of future reporting on our human rights work.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026, to Question 107050, on Stamp Advisory Committee, on what dates those five meetings of the Committee took place.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The five meetings of the Stamp Advisory Committee which were attended by an official from the Department for Business and Trade took place, respectively, on 21 November 2024; 23 January 2025; 10 July 2025; 11 September 2025; and 20 November 2025.

Additionally, an official from the Department attended a Committee meeting on 22 January 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the transparency data entitled the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025 for all departments, published on 25 December 2025, UK Export Finance, Workforce Solutions, Alexander Mann Solutions, what was the purpose of the "Social Value - The number of Social Value network events delivered to the supply chain in the financial year" as a KPI, and what were the topics and nature of the specific network events that were delivered.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Government Departments are required to apply at least 10% weighting to Social Value in tender evaluations, in line with the Social Value Model. Additionally, procurement regulations require that for all contracts worth more than £5 million, departments report and publish four Key Performance Indicators, including at least one relating to Social Value.

The Social Value events delivered for UK Export Finance by Alexander Mann Solutions aimed to educate participants in the delivery of Social Value commitments and Government requirements.

The event delivered in that quarter covered 'Wellbeing in the Workplace'.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether changes have been made to the number and location of portraits of (a) Queen Elizabeth II and (b) King Charles III within her Department’s HQ since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The official portrait of His Majesty The King resides in the reception area of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office headquarters. On portraits that are part of the Government Art Collection, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 May 2025 in response to Question 52692.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the International women and girls strategy 2023 to 2030 remains government policy; and whether she plans to publish an updated strategy.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary has made clear that advancing the rights and safety of women and girls around the world will be a top priority for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office over the coming years. We are refreshing our international strategic approach on Women and Girls and will set this out in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2026 to Question 101383 on Government Actuary’s Department: Freedom of Information, what the cash terms monetary cost to the UK is of the Chagos Islands deal before the application of the assumed GDP deflator rate and social time discounting.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 3 February in response to Question 108232.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost was of rebranding Strategic Command to Cyber and Specialist Operations Command.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The transition from UK Strategic Command (UKStratCom) to Cyber and Strategic Operations Command (CSOC) was executed with a strong emphasis on efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Up-front CSOC visual identity changes have currently incurred no additional cost by utilising pre-approved Ministry of Defence branding. Most signage updates were completed at no additional expense through existing contracts, whilst specific Northwood Headquarters signage changes cost £5,245.50. Additionally, staff lanyards were procured for £1,075.

The total expenditure to date of £6,320.50 reflects an investment that ensures the Command’s identity aligns with its mission to integrate cyber and electromagnetic capabilities, balanced against ensuring value for money.

There is an expectation that some further branding may take place in Financial Year 2026-27, with a potential for a new logo and more signage changes, however these costs have not yet been scoped.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2025, to Question 88685, on Coinage: Design, on what dates the Committee and Sub-Committee have met since July 2024; and what changes have been made to coinage theme and design policy since July 2024.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

Following the conclusion of each financial year, the Royal Mint Advisory Committee publishes its annual report on the Royal Mint Museum website. These reports contain detail on when the Committee and the Sub-Committee on the selection of themes met over the financial year and themes that were recommended to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in her capacity as Master of the Mint and HM The King. The annual report for 2024-25 can be found here: www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/siteassets/about-us/rmac-annual-report-2024-25.pdf

The annual report for 2025-26 will be published later this year.

All designs for the themes recommended by the Committee can be found on The Royal Mint website, here: Coin Designs and Specifications | The Royal Mint

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to answer of 4 February 2026, to Question 108748, on Growth Mission Board: Membership, if she will list each of the internal and external members who attended the most recent meeting of the Growth Mission Board.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor chaired the Growth Mission Board. The membership was flexible, at the Chancellor's discretion, with internal and external attendees determined based on their relevance to the agenda. The Growth Mission Board was a Cabinet Committee. It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its committees, including attendance, is not normally shared publicly.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026, to Question 105914, on Cryptocurencies, what information her Department holds on the Financial Conduct Authority and the Financial Stability Board conducting a review into Tether.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMT does not hold any information on this matter.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding has been provided to (a) Torchlight, (b) Torchlight Group, (c) Torchlight Solutions and (d) TAG International since July 2024.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Details of all central government commercial contracts above a value of £12,000 are routinely published on the Contract Finder website.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2026, to Question 105915, on Katie Martin, for what reason her adviser is unpaid.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the hon member to my answer of 3 March 2026, to PQ UIN 114888.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has held meetings with the Grandview Institution in 2025.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Details of ministerial meetings with external individuals and organisations are routinely published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on a quarterly basis.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, further to the UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, 22 December 2025, whether he intends that the UK Government will make additional financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the new provisions on (a) reinforced law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and (b) judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Government has agreed that when the UK participates in an EU instrument, programme or other activity, the UK will make a fair financial contribution to cover the costs of our participation. No decisions have yet been taken as to whether the UK will make additional financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the new provisions set out in the Common Understanding of 19 May 2025 on a) reinforced law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and (b) judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters.

Any decisions on such matters will be assessed in accordance with Government Accounting Officer rules, including value for money. The UK Government remains committed to close and effective collaboration with EU and EFTA countries in these matters.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme public register, how many registrations have been made since the introduction of the scheme which have not be publicly published; and for what reason there are no political influence registrations relating to countries on the enhanced tier.

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

As of the 5^th of March, there are 11 registrations on the FIRS public register. We will not provide details of registrations beyond that which is on the public register as to do so could identify information not intended to be published and undermine the scheme’s objectives.

Registrations under the enhanced tier will not be published, unless they relate to political influence activities. There are additionally circumstances where exceptions to publication may apply, for example where publication could create a risk to the safety or interests of the UK or to an individual or entity’s safety.

The Government will be publishing an annual report setting out, among other things, the number of registrations across both tiers, number of information notices issued, the number of persons charged with an offence and the number of persons convicted of an offence. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.

FIRS is a new scheme, and a published impact assessment sets out expected numbers of registrations in the first year (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-security-bill-overarching-documents/impact-assessment-foreign-influence-registration-scheme-accessible)

Where there is evidence of a criminal offence having been committed, including failure to register with FIRS, the Government will refer the matter to the police.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43485 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Flags, whether the (a) transgender, (b) asexual and (c) bisexual flag was flown in 2025.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

On Stonewall, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 April 2025 to Question 44591. On his other question, as far as I am aware, no such flags were flown by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has provided funding to Stonewall in 2025-26.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

On Stonewall, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 April 2025 to Question 44591. On his other question, as far as I am aware, no such flags were flown by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2025.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to comply with the Cabinet Office’s guidance not to hire standalone EDI roles.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department is fully compliant with Cabinet Office guidance relating to standalone EDI roles.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2026, to Question 107051, on DBT: Social Media, if he will name any other specific social media influencers who have been commissioned by the department or its contractors to undertake paid advertising for the department for any other campaigns or programmes since July 2024, including their social media handles.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Apart from the 2025 National Minimum and Living Wage campaign, no other social media influencers have been commissioned by the Department or its contractors to undertake paid advertising for other campaigns or programmes since July 2024.

Influencer marketing is regarded as a credible promotional channel, which is considered for government advertising campaigns and can be an effective way to reach audiences that the Government and traditional marketing channels find hard to reach. The Department will look to draw on influencer marketing in future campaigns where this helps achieve campaign objectives.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which trade unions are recognised by the British Library; and how much facility time is allocated to each expressed as (a) headcount and (b) FTE staff members, in the most recent period of time for which figures are available.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The British Library recognises three national Civil Service unions – FDA, Prospect and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

The table below shows the facility time for each union expressed in headcount, FTE staff members and total hours. These figures are for the most recent period of time available, April 2024 to March 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026, to Question 105913, on Revenue and Customs: Social Media, if she will name the social media influencers who were used, including their social media handles.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The social media influencers used across all of these campaigns were commissioned and managed by a specialist agency, who identify, contract and oversee creators on HMRC's behalf based on the objectives set for reaching and engaging with specific audiences.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what is the current policy of HM Courts & Tribunals Service on ensuring its courts facilities for (a) the public and (b) staff are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland v. The Scottish Ministers regarding the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) works to ensure its facilities comply with equalities law, in relation to the interpretation of sex under the Equality Act 2010.

HMCTS is presently awaiting updated cross-government guidance from the Office for Equality and Opportunity.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if the Government will publish a strategy on improving social mobility for white working class boys.

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

White disadvantaged boys are consistently among the lowest performers on average over every key stage. This Government is committed to breaking the link between young people’s backgrounds and their future success.The Every Child Achieving and Thriving white paper outlines a coordinated plan to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children. This includes rebuilding early family support, reforming how disadvantage funding is targeted, and launching two place-based missions.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2026, to Question 103793, on Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, if she will place in the Library a copy of the invoice and receipt from TasteThatLove.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Government Procurement Card spend data is declared in relevant transparency publications.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2025, to Question 71458, on Counter-terrorism: finance, if he will list how much was paid to each individual local authority for (a) local authority posts and (b) project delivery in 2024-25.

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

In 2024/25, the Home Office paid dedicated Prevent grant funds to the 30 highest threat priority area local authorities. A breakdown of the funding that was paid to local authorities via the Home Office Prevent grant for posts and projects is outlined in Table A.

In addition, in 2024/25 all local authorities in England and Wales were able to apply for targeted Prevent projects, which were delivered through the Preventing Radicalisation Fund (PRF). The PRF is now available to local authorities in Scotland. These projects are delivered by trusted third sector organisations, including local civil society organisations. The funding for approved PRF projects was not paid to local authorities directly and was administered separately by a Grant Administrator. The funding that was allocated for PRF projects delivered in local authorities in 2024/25 is outlined in Table B.

Please note that some priority areas in receipt of Home Office Prevent grant funding also applied for additional project funding via the PRF to support project delivery in other adjacent local authorities as part of regional activities. In addition, some local authorities teamed up to place joint PRF bids to support project delivery across multiple local authorities, and have been grouped together in Table B.

Table A

Table B

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2025, to Question 71459, on Counter-terrorism: Finance, if she will list the individual quantitative and qualitative elements and metrics used by the Homeland Security Analysis and Insight team to determine the funding to individual councils.

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

Each year the Home Office conducts an annual prioritisation exercise to understand which Local Authorities (LAs) are facing the highest threat from radicalisation to terrorism. The process incorporates both quantitative and qualitative elements.

The quantitative element of the model draws on counter-terrorism investigations data and arrests data for terrorism and terrorism-related offences; the number of cases that have been discussed at a Channel multi-agency panel or are being managed separately under the police-led process; community tension reports; hate crime data; Indices of Multiple Deprivation; and annual employment statistics. It is regularly reviewed and adapted to ensure that it provides a sound basis to make effective evidence-based decisions.

As part of the qualitative element, we hold a series of regional roundtables with key Prevent delivery partners, which allows us to sense check the preliminary rankings and make adjustments by drawing on the knowledge and experience of front-line Prevent practitioners from across a range of sectors, including CT Policing; Department for Education; Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government; Health; and HM Prisons and Probation.

Funding for posts and dedicated projects is allocated as part of an annual bidding process, with funding allocations informed by factors including the amount of funding available, the level of threat, the level of funding provided for Prevent posts in the previous financial year, and inflation-related increases.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government will make additional financial contributions to the EU as a consequence of the agreement to ooperate in relation to drugs risks and threats.

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

No decisions have yet been taken as to whether the UK will make additional financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the new provisions set out in the Common Understanding of 19 May 2025 2025 to cooperate in relation to drugs risks and threats.

Our position remains that we are prepared to make an appropriate financial contribution to support the relevant costs associated with the European Union's work in this policy area, for example to access EU agencies or databases. We will need to work through the details of this in further discussions with the EU.

Any decisions on such matters will be assessed in accordance with Government Accounting Officer rules, including value for money.

Trafficking of the victims of grooming gangs overseas

Rape gang overseas trafficking

Found: EFRA Committee • Mr Alistair Carmichael MP (Chair) • Sarah Bool MP • Juliet Campbell MP • Charlie Dewhirst

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Juliet Campbell; Charlie Dewhirst; Terry

The UK Government has set numerous goals related to habitat restoration under the Environmental Improvement Plan, much of which of hoped to be achieved through the Government’s Environmental Land Management Schemes. The Government has also set several ambitious targets through its housebuilding programme and plans for net zero energy generation.