Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what guidance his Department has issued on the decommissioning of large-scale solar installations at the end of their operational life.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The department has not published any separate guidance on the decommissioning of solar farms.

However, as set out in the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) and the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy (EN-3), developers must set out in their planning applications arrangements for decommissioning projects. It is typically a condition of planning consent that the site should be returned to its previous use after decommissioning.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department requires solar developers to restore land to its original condition following the removal of solar infrastructure.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The overarching National Policy Statements for Energy (EN-1) and Renewable Energy (EN-3) provide decommissioning guidance for projects deploying under the Nationally Significant Project Regime. EN-3 sets out the expectation that generally solar panel arrays and structures will be decommissioned, and underground cabling removed so prior use of the site can continue.

Infrastructure may remain in place if considered less harmful for the ecology of the site, or if there may be socio-economic benefits in retaining after operational life.

Developers are required to set out in their planning applications, plans for decommissioning the project and restoring the land to a suitable use.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 97528 on Electronic Cigarettes: Public Houses, whether a pub vaping ban would constitute a material change of circumstances for the purposes of the Valuation Office Agency’s valuation of pubs.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

A vaping ban in pubs would not constitute a material change of circumstance that would impact the rating assessment of a property.

Section 14 of the Non-Domestic Rating Act 2023 in England, and in Wales, The Valuation for Rating (Prescribed Assumptions) (Wales) Regulations 2023, determined that any subsequent changes to legislation, government advice or policy could not be taken into account when determining the rateable value of a property.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance he has issued to local planning authorities on enforcing land restoration following the removal of solar developments.

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

The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on renewable and low carbon energy sets out that solar farms are normally temporary structures and that planning conditions can be used to ensure that installations are removed when no longer in use and the land restored.

Local planning authorities have powers to take enforcement action against any breach of planning requirements. The PPG on renewable and low carbon energy can be viewed here and guidance on planning enforcement can be found on gov.uk here.

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes policy on the decommissioning of renewable and low carbon energy development and site restoration.

The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether land previously used for solar farms is classified as brownfield following decommissioning.

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

Brownfield land, also known as previously developed land, is defined in the glossary of the National Planning Policy Framework which can be found on gov.uk here.

It is for those making decisions on specific planning proposals to determine whether a site constitutes brownfield land given the particular circumstances of the case, taking into account any requirements for site restoration.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the mean Rateable Value of a public house in (a) 2025-26 under the current Rating List and (b) 2026-27 under the draft Rating List in each billing authority in England.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Valuation Office Agency published data relating to your request which can be found here.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, further to his Department's consultation entitled Make Work Pay: Consultation - Draft Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Balloting for Statutory Union Ballots, published on 19 November 2025, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the security of e-balloting and postal balloting; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the level of (a) attempted and (b) actual interference by foreign state actors in trade union balloting for industrial action during the last five years.

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

The Government committed to enable unions to use modern and secure electronic and workplace balloting for statutory ballots, bringing union participation in line with modern voting practices that political parties and listed companies already use.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, further to his Department's consultation entitled Make Work Pay: Consultation - Draft Code of Practice on Electronic and Workplace Balloting for Statutory Union Ballots, published on 19 November 2025, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the potential environment impact of e-balloting and postal balloting.

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

The environmental impact of e-balloting, and anticipated reduction in postal balloting is estimated to have a net positive environmental effect. It is expected that e-balloting will reduce the physical printing and transport requirements of the existing postal balloting process.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of changes to soil quality.

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

The Government is working towards improving soil health across England by measuring and monitoring the national condition of soil. Establishing a baseline is essential for evaluating change and identifying improvements or declines in soil health.

National soil monitoring began in October 2023 under the England Ecosystem Survey, part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme. This five-year survey will provide a baseline of soil health in England, with Analysis Ready Data from earlier years published in December 2025: https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5610689568440320.

This data will feed into a Soil Health Indicator being developed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. A national soil health baseline will be published by 2030.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 89480 on Jeffery Epstein, whether those records are held in (a) electronic and (b) hard copy format; and whether Ministerial private office records for 2009-10 are searchable electronically.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury’s private office records for 2009-10, including for ministerial meetings and correspondence, are held within HM Treasury’s archives in both digital and paper formats, and those in electronic format are searchable electronically.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any staff (a) have and (b) will be made redundant following the closure of the Office for Value for Money.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Office for Value for Money (OVfM) successfully delivered on its remit.Its functions have been embedded within the Treasury, leaving a legacy of value for money improvements across the public sector.

OVfM was made up of a combination of HM Treasury employees and people on loan from other departments or public bodies. Staff on loan have returned to their home organisations and the permanent HM Treasury employees have either taken up new roles internally or left the department for new employers.

The independent Chair's contract ended alongside the closure of OVfM. An exit payment was not made.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 92373 on Lord Mandelson, what the normal HR processes are for Heads of Mission.

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

They are the same processes that were in place when the Hon Member was in government.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the departing direct ministerial appointments in the Office for Value for Money will receive exit payments.

Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Office for Value for Money (OVfM) successfully delivered on its remit.Its functions have been embedded within the Treasury, leaving a legacy of value for money improvements across the public sector.

OVfM was made up of a combination of HM Treasury employees and people on loan from other departments or public bodies. Staff on loan have returned to their home organisations and the permanent HM Treasury employees have either taken up new roles internally or left the department for new employers.

The independent Chair's contract ended alongside the closure of OVfM. An exit payment was not made.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of households who will have child benefit reduced as a result of freezing of income tax thresholds.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

At Budget 2025, the Government announced that it will maintain the income tax Personal Allowance at £12,570 and higher rate threshold at £50,270 from April 2028 to April 2031. The additional rate threshold remains at £125,140 from April 2028 to April 2031. These decisions have no impact on entitlement to Child Benefit or liability to the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of households who will have (a) Married Couple’s Allowance and (b) marriage allowance reduced as a result of freezing of income tax thresholds.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC does not produce household-level analysis for either the Marriage Allowance or the Married Couple’s Allowance.

Data on the number of Marriage Allowance claimants up to 2022-23 can be found here:

Non-structural tax reliefs - GOV.UK

Published estimates of the number of Married Couple’s Allowance claimants up to 2024-25 can be found here:

Structural tax reliefs - GOV.UK

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2025 to Question 94722 on Public Spaces: Political Activities, whether local authorities may charge more than cost recovery when levying such fees for political street stalls in public places.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

When setting fees local authorities are encouraged to be mindful of their legislative requirements and any guidance issued to them.

The Local Government Association has published guidance on locally set licensing fees here which sets out the reasonable costs of administering, processing and enforcing a licensing regime.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance the (a) Government and (b) Planning Inspectorate has given to local planning authorities and inspectors on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the planning policy in relation to (i) retrospective planning applications and (ii) unauthorised development.

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

Neither the government nor the Planning Inspectorate has issued guidance to local planning authorities on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in relation to retrospective planning applications and unauthorised development.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what planning weight can decision-makers give to the emerging policy in the draft National Planning Policy Framework of 16 December 2025 during the consultation period.

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

The proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework published in draft on 16 December are subject to consultation prior to being finalised.

It is at the discretion of individual decision makers as whether any weight should be given to the proposals during this period, taking into account their status as draft policies.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the potential risk of soil contamination from materials used in solar panels, cabling, inverters or battery storage systems.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Solar panels are designed to be highly durable, and there is no evidence that they pose a leaching risk under normal operating conditions.

New solar sites must have conducted environmental surveys, and environmental and habitat impact assessments. They must comply with health and safety legislation throughout their lifecycle.

Battery systems are governed by regulations, such as the Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations, which mitigate the risk of soil contamination through improper disposal.

The Government has recently consulted on the principle of including battery systems within scope of the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR). If pursued, EPR will require developers to demonstrate how specific risks have been managed and will provide for ongoing regulatory inspections of BESS sites

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of whether solar panels, mounting systems and associated infrastructure can be removed without causing damage to agricultural land.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) and the National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy (EN-3) provide decommissioning guidance for large scale projects deploying under the Nationally Significant Project Regime. EN-3 states that solar panels can be decommissioned relatively easily and cheaply, although the extent of decommissioning a site goes through can vary.

Where projects are sited on agricultural land, developers are encouraged to develop and implement a Soil Resources and Management Plan to protect and preserve soil health and ensure the land remains productive for farming after the solar farm is decommissioned.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 15 December 2025 to Question HL12628 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, if he will make it his policy not to determine the planning application until the full unredacted internal drawings requested by his Department on 6 August 2025 have been provided by the applicant.

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

My Department does not comment on live planning cases. The full reasons for the decision will be set out in the final decision letter.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to allow a reduction in the Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifying period for Meat Hygiene Inspectors who are qualified veterinary surgeons from overseas but unable to register as Official Veterinarians due to Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons accreditation requirements.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, will raise the standard qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years.

We are proposing a series of tests that will measure a person’s contribution to this country and either reduce or increase the amount of time to settlement. This will include work undertaken by the individual. This earned settlement model and the tests which measure contribution are currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.

The consultation also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.

Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to introduce transitional arrangements to exempt existing Skilled Worker visa holders in (a) meat hygiene inspector roles and (b) other skilled roles from the retrospective application of the extended Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifying periods.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, will raise the standard qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years.

We are proposing a series of tests that will measure a person’s contribution to this country and either reduce or increase the amount of time to settlement. This will include work undertaken by the individual. This earned settlement model and the tests which measure contribution are currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.

The consultation also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.

Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed 15-year qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the earned settlement model on the retention of migrant meat hygiene inspectors currently employed on Skilled Worker visas.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, will raise the standard qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years.

We are proposing a series of tests that will measure a person’s contribution to this country and either reduce or increase the amount of time to settlement. This will include work undertaken by the individual. This earned settlement model and the tests which measure contribution are currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.

The consultation also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.

Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of visa renewal costs and salary thresholds for migrant Meat Hygiene Inspectors under the proposed earned settlement model on food price inflation.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, will raise the standard qualifying period for settlement from five years to ten years.

We are proposing a series of tests that will measure a person’s contribution to this country and either reduce or increase the amount of time to settlement. This will include work undertaken by the individual. This earned settlement model and the tests which measure contribution are currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.

The consultation also seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement.

Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77563,on Palantir, why the visit to the offices of Palantir Technologies in Washington with Lord Mandelson on 27 February 2025 was out of scope of the Prime Minister's transparency return of the publication Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP meetings, January to March 2025.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 13 October 2025, Official Report, PQ 77563.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to consult political parties on the methodology for the allocation of Conference Security Grant for 2026.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office will be conducting an internal review of departmental funding for Party Political Conferences, including allocations from the Conference Security Grant, to ensure public funds are used effectively. The Home Office will consult relevant stakeholders on these arrangements.

The UK government’s security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, including disclosure of costs, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect future security operations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework, published on 16 December 2025, what guidance his Department intends to provide to local planning authorities on how to consider (a) retrospective planning applications and (b) planning enforcement appeals by travellers on (i) Green Belt land and (ii) open countryside.

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

The government will consider whether any new guidance is required following consideration of responses received to the consultation process. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission would request information on the type of cryptocurrency used to make political donations when such donations are reported to the Commission.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

In line with guidance issued by HMRC and the Financial Conduct Authority, donations in crypto assets are treated as non-monetary donations. Recipients are required to identify the nature of non-monetary donations. For crypto assets, this means identifying the type and amount of crypto asset. This will be underlined in the forthcoming update to the Commission’s guidance.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has provided guidance on requirements for candidates for election to report cryptocurrency donations in their Representation of the People Act returns.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Electoral Commission’s guidance states that candidates must report all monetary and non-monetary donations they accept or return as impermissible, including donations in crypto assets. The Commission will shortly publish updated guidance for parties and candidates on the reporting and valuation of donations in crypto assets.

Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2025, to Question 97532, on Local Government: Elections, when the Electoral Commission was informed by the Government of the decision to cancel the 2026 mayoral elections.

Answered by Jeremy Wright

The Commission was first made aware of the UK Government’s proposals on the same day as the publication of the Secretary of State’s written ministerial statement on 4 December 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2025, to Question 97532 on Local Government: Elections, what consideration was given by Ministers to consulting the Electoral Commission before the cancelation of the 2026 mayoral elections.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government has announced that it is minded to hold the inaugural mayoral elections for Sussex and Brighton, Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Greater Essex in May 2028, with areas completing the local government reorganisation process before Mayors take office.

The inaugural elections have been postponed because devolution is strongest when it is built on strong foundations, and Government will keep the Electoral Commission informed as we proceed.

The Government intends to establish Mayoral Strategic Authorities via secondary legislation for all the Devolution Priority Programme areas as soon as possible, subject to the councils’ consent.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates his Department has received Freedom of Information requests relating to the Downing Street flats since 4 July 2024; what information was requested; and what the substantive decision was in each case.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Requests made under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act (2000) are handled on a case by case basis. The relevant records are not structured in such a way that would provide an answer without incurring a disproportionate cost.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2025 to Question 94727 on Water Charges, if she will provide a hyperlink to that information.

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

Price Review 2024 Final Determinations financial models for each water company can be found on the Ofwat website.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the written statement of 16 December 2025 HCWS1186, on electoral resilience, whether the review will consider the foreign influence on UK politics through US-registered Resolute 1850 Inc.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

It is, and always will be, an absolute priority for this Government to protect our democratic and electoral processes. On 16 December, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced an independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics.

The purpose of the review is to provide an in-depth assessment of the current financial rules and safeguards and make recommendations. The review will be led by the former Permanent Secretary Philip Rycroft, reporting both to the Secretary of State responsible for elections, and to the Minister of State for Security, as the Chair of the Defending Democracy Taskforce.

The terms of reference for the review can be found here.

Given the review’s independence, we cannot pre-empt specifics of the ground it will cover, nor the recommendations it will make. It is right that the review is independent of Government and independent of any political party. However, we will be looking to mitigate the risk of foreign financial interference in UK politics from any actors and individuals who might wish to undermine our democracy.

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether guidance has been provided to any hon. Members on receiving donations in the form of cryptocurrencies.

Answered by Nick Smith

The House of Commons Commission has no responsibility for issuing such guidance.

It may be helpful to know that the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules on Registration does not directly reference crypto currencies.

Paragraphs 14 to 20 of the Guide to the Rules on Registration set out the requirements for registering donations under Category 2: Donations and other support for activities as a Member of Parliament.

Electoral Commission Guidance on political party donations and loans in Great Britain includes guidance on cryptoassets and says:

“The same rules apply to donations received in cryptocurrencies as any other donations. Sufficient information must be collected to check permissibility. There must be a means of valuing the donation given in any cryptocurrency.”
Political party donations and loans in Great Britain

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 84923 on Public Houses: Electronic Cigarettes, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of a ban on vaping in pubs on their (a) financial viability and (b) profitability.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill gives the Government powers to make most public places and workplaces that are smoke-free also vape-free.

We plan to consult on making most indoor settings, that are subject to existing smoke-free legislation, vape-free. This would include inside pubs and other hospitality venues. A number of places have already done this voluntarily.

These measures will be subject to a full consultation, and we will be guided by public health advice. All future regulations will be accompanied by an impact assessment that will consider the economic effects of the proposed measures and will be published as part of the consultation process.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help ensure that revised steel safeguard measures applying from June 2026 maintain access to steel feedstock covered by categories 1A, 12A, 12B and 16, in cases where UK steel mills may produce steel within the same HS codes but not to a quality suitable for bright drawing applications.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government continues to closely monitor market trends, including for categories 1A, 12A, 12B and 16, to ensure UK manufacturers retain reliable access to appropriate feedstock. We are exploring a range of options to support the UK steel industry and ensure security of supply beyond the expiry of the Safeguard in June this year. We will share more information in due course.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of imports of bright steel bar on (a) the viability of UK bright drawing businesses and (b) levels of (i) business closures, (ii) administrations, (iii) deactivation of production and (iv) production in the sector since 2021.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation.

The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The sector is facing a challenging and uncertain global landscape due to significant steel overcapacity. We are therefore developing robust new measures in light of the steel safeguard expiring at the end of June 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the removal of tariff rate quota safeguarding measures for bright steel bar (category 27) in 2021 on UK producers; and whether he plans to re-introduce safeguarding measures for that product as part of the current review of steel safeguards before their expiry in June 2026.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation.

The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The sector is facing a challenging and uncertain global landscape due to significant steel overcapacity. We are therefore developing robust new measures in light of the steel safeguard expiring at the end of June 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of import penetration in the UK bright steel bar market since the removal of safeguarding measures in 2021.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In 2021, the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) conducted a transition review of the steel safeguard measure which is applied via tariff-rate quotas. The TRA recommended maintaining protections on steel categories only where justified; bright steel bar (category 27) was among the product categories where evidence did not support continuation of the safeguard. The Secretary of State at the time accepted the TRA’s recommendation.

The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led. Where UK industry believe they are being injured, or there is the threat of injury, from unfair foreign trade practices, I encourage UK industry to engage directly with the TRA. I am not aware of any current applications to the TRA from category 27 producers.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The sector is facing a challenging and uncertain global landscape due to significant steel overcapacity. We are therefore developing robust new measures in light of the steel safeguard expiring at the end of June 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has assessed the potential impact on UK producers of changes announced to EU steel safeguard quotas applying from June 2026..

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Steel is a high priority for this Government. We have worked closely with industry on potential impacts and their needs in terms of EU market access and are now engaging closely with the EU to make the case. We expect the EU to honour the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The UK will always defend its critical steel industry where required, and we want to work with our closest allies to address global challenges. We look forward to saying more soon, including in our forthcoming Steel Strategy.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Trade Remedies Authority on the treatment of bright steel bar and associated raw material categories; and whether he will ensure that representations from UK bright drawing businesses are included in that process.

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

The Department engages regularly with the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), including on matters related to steel product categories. The UK’s trade remedies system is industry led, and we encourage bright steel bar and bright drawing businesses to raise any concerns directly with the TRA. In the 2021 transition review, the TRA determined that category 27 (bright steel bar) did not meet the threshold for serious injury required to justify safeguard continuation; no subsequent evidence has been submitted to support reinstatement.

The Department continues to closely monitor market trends and actively engage with the steel industry to identify and address any significant developments affecting producers and supply chains. The Department will ensure industry views are considered as part of any formal procedure undertaken by the TRA with respect to bright steel bar and associated raw materials

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the timetable for his department and NHS England to (a) open and (b) close applications for voluntary exit following the merger of the two; and whether there are plans for a compulsory redundancy process.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Both the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England opened voluntary redundancy schemes in 2025, prior to the merger, to allow staff to leave before the merger takes place.

The DHSC voluntary exit scheme launched on 2 April and closed 30 April 2025. The first cohorts of staff left in November and December 2025. A small cohort of staff were placed 'on hold' and will exit between January and May 2026.

The NHS England redundancy scheme ran from 1 December 2025 until 5:00pm on 16 December 2025. This was announced to staff on 11 November 2025, and formal consultation with trade unions concluded on 14 November 2025.

We remain committed to the target of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for a leaner, more efficient centre that is approximately 50% smaller. We are currently aiming to meet this target through voluntary means. However, until we know the outcome of these schemes, we cannot rule out future compulsory redundancies.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed retrospective changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifying periods on (a) the number of migrant meat hygiene inspectors working in the Food Standards Agency and (b) food safety and export standards.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) does not have directly employed staff who are subject to skilled worker visas.

The FSA recruits and trains domestic Official Auxiliaries, Meat Hygiene Inspectors, twice a year in line with the Government strategy of placing a strong emphasis on developing a sustainable, United Kingdom-based workforce. The FSA is also supporting its delivery partners in the development of domestic recruitment and training capabilities and plans to align with this strategy.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the number of meat hygiene Inspectors.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) does not have directly employed staff who are subject to skilled worker visas.

The FSA recruits and trains domestic Official Auxiliaries, Meat Hygiene Inspectors, twice a year in line with the Government strategy of placing a strong emphasis on developing a sustainable, United Kingdom-based workforce. The FSA is also supporting its delivery partners in the development of domestic recruitment and training capabilities and plans to align with this strategy.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2025, to Question 92616, on Admiralty House: Valuation, for what reason the valuation report of a wholly-owned government building is commercially sensitive; and whether he plans to sell Admiralty House in the future.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

The valuation report is provided by the valuer to His Majesty’s Government on a confidential basis and is relevant only for that point in time considering prevailing market comparables. The valuer provides their report on condition it is not shared with third parties.

There are no plans to sell Admiralty House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 96203 on Admiralty House, for what reason the Secretary of State for Defence occupied the residence as a second home for the period September to November 2024.

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

As has been the case under successive administrations, the allocation of official Ministerial residences, including Admiralty House, is determined by the Prime Minister on the grounds of security or to enable Ministers to better perform their official duties.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's register of board members' interests, 2025 to 2026, published on 5 September 2025, what business A.M.Strategy undertakes.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Rt. Hon. Alan Milburn has declared A.M. Strategy Ltd in the Department’s register of interests. This is the business through which he has provided advisory services for several years.

Found: RMCRA notes that in answer to a question posed by Kevin Hollinrake MP on 17 th November 2025, Chris

Found: In his letter to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning of 29 August 2025, Kevin Hollinrake