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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) where and (b) how standards apply in statutory regulations to control concentrations of pollutants in ambient air in England.

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

The key legislation that details how and where air pollutant concentration standards apply in England are the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 and the Environment Act Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) Targets (England) 2023. Requirements for local air quality management are set out in the Environment Act 1995 requiring local authorities to review and assess air quality concentrations in their areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what standards exist in statutory regulations for controlling concentrations of pollutants in ambient air in England.

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

The key legislation that details how and where air pollutant concentration standards apply in England are the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 and the Environment Act Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) Targets (England) 2023. Requirements for local air quality management are set out in the Environment Act 1995 requiring local authorities to review and assess air quality concentrations in their areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where the limit values set in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2016 to control concentrations of particulate matter (PM10) in ambient air apply.

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

The limit values set in the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010) to control concentrations of particulate matter (PM10) in ambient air apply across the UK. Compliance with the limit values is assessed through a combination of monitored and modelled data, with non-compliance being determined if any one location breaches the limit value.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which five pollutants in ambient air in England have seen the largest reduction in concentrations since Directive 2008/50/EC was introduced.

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

Trends on air pollutant concentrations can be found in Defra’s annual compliance reporting here.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) limit values, (b) objectives and (c) targets to control concentrations of pollutants in ambient air in England.

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

Limit values, national objectives and long-term targets complement each other and are all recognised as necessary in delivering cleaner air.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether there have been any formal complaints to the Office for Environmental Protection on exceedances of the nitrogen dioxide annual limit value in the UK.

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

As an independent public body set up to hold public authorities to account, the OEP does not routinely share information regarding specific complaints with Defra unless those complaints relate directly to Defra and are considered eligible by the OEP. To date, the OEP has notified us of one complaint in relation to this topic. The OEP publishes a quarterly complaints report on their website providing an overview of the complaints received and ongoing enforcement activity. They also publish information relating to individual casework where investigations have been launched and resolutions achieved.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce concentrations for pollutants in ambient air once the relevant limit value has been achieved.

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

Under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 where levels of pollutants are below the set limit values, they must continue to be maintained. We have also set a Population Exposure Reduction Target for PM2.5, which will continue to reduce peoples’ average exposure across the country.

The Government is committed to working with local authorities and stakeholders to continue reducing air pollution and its harmful effects.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether concentrations of nitrogen dioxide are allowed to exceed the annual mean limit value once achieved throughout a zone or agglomeration.

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

Under the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010), there is a requirement to meet annual mean limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) of 40μg/m³. This is an ongoing requirement and does not expire once the limit value has been met in a single reporting year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been paid to farmers to improve environmental sustainability since 2016.

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

The Government spent £3.745 billion on Environmental Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive from 2016 up to 28 February 2025 to improve environmental sustainability. An additional £36 million has been paid through the England Woodland Creation Offer.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason the NHS was preparing for AI auto contouring funding in September 2024; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of not providing this funding on planning by radiotherapy departments.

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

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services, and will support the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. While no assessment has been made, we will continue to monitor developments and any potential impacts on waiting times.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.

We will be spending £70 million on new radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to patients who need it.

The Department will continue to look at opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to diagnostic performance and ultimately bring down waiting times.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the NHS was instructed to proceed with engagement on AI auto contouring funding in 2024 following the previous Government's funding announcement.

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

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services, and will support the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. While no assessment has been made, we will continue to monitor developments and any potential impacts on waiting times.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.

We will be spending £70 million on new radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to patients who need it.

The Department will continue to look at opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to diagnostic performance and ultimately bring down waiting times.

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 withdrawal of AI auto contouring funding on NHS waiting times for radiotherapy treatment.

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

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services, and will support the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. While no assessment has been made, we will continue to monitor developments and any potential impacts on waiting times.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.

We will be spending £70 million on new radiotherapy machines, to ensure the most advanced treatment is available to patients who need it.

The Department will continue to look at opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to diagnostic performance and ultimately bring down waiting times.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the webinars held by NHS England with hospital staff on AI auto contouring funding in September 2024 on staff expectations for that technology.

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

The information requested is not held by the Department, but we are seeking advice from NHS England on the impact of these webinars and subsequent engagement that they have undertaken.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.

The Department supports the National Health Service in reviewing opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to transform performance, bring down waiting times, and support staff with their workload. We expect that radiotherapy treatment centres will use all appropriate technology for treating patients, to ensure that they receive the best possible care. This includes the use of artificial intelligence where available.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) webinars, (b) meetings and (c) other engagements NHS England undertook with radiotherapy networks on access to the AI auto contouring funding announced on 21 May 2024; and whether alternative funding will be made available to support AI use in radiotherapy.

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

The information requested is not held by the Department, but we are seeking advice from NHS England on the impact of these webinars and subsequent engagement that they have undertaken.

All future spending commitments beyond 2025/26, including this one, will be determined through the next phase of the Spending Review process, which will conclude in June.

The Department supports the National Health Service in reviewing opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to transform performance, bring down waiting times, and support staff with their workload. We expect that radiotherapy treatment centres will use all appropriate technology for treating patients, to ensure that they receive the best possible care. This includes the use of artificial intelligence where available.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were granted leave to enter (a) on the basis of family life as a (i) partner and (ii) parent and (b) due to exceptional circumstances in compliance with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in each year since 2022.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The requested data is not available from published statistics, and could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of local authorities providing housing for people seeking asylum.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is working closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while reducing the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.

A more proactive approach is being taken, placing greater emphasis on collaboration with local authorities and other key stakeholders, and building on lessons learned.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support local authorities to provide housing for people seeking asylum.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office is working closely with a range of stakeholders to fulfil its statutory obligations, while reducing the overall cost of asylum accommodation for the taxpayer.

A more proactive approach is being taken, placing greater emphasis on collaboration with local authorities and other key stakeholders, and building on lessons learned.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish all correspondence between the NHS, his Department and Ministers on AI auto contouring funding in 2024.

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

The Department does not plan to publish correspondence between the National Health Service and Ministers on this topic from 2024.

Ensuring stability for Ukrainian refugees in the UK

Restless legs syndrome

Abduction of Ukrainian children

Replacement of Personal Independence Payments with a voucher system

Whitchurch banking hub

Scientific hearing on animal experiments

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Found: Ferguson Simon Hoare Adam Jogee Mary Kelly Foy Wera Hobhouse Melanie Ward Barry Gardiner Tim Farron

Found: _NC17 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Tim Farron Ben Maguire COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 22 April

Found: Ferguson Simon Hoare Adam Jogee Mary Kelly Foy Wera Hobhouse Melanie Ward Barry Gardiner Tim Farron

Found: _NC17 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Tim Farron Ben Maguire COMMITTEE STAGE Wednesday 9 April

Found: _NC17 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Tim Farron Ben Maguire 23 COMMITTEE STAGE Tuesday 8 April

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Found: _NC17 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Tim Farron Ben Maguire .

Found: _NC17 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Tim Farron Ben Maguire .

Found: _NC17 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Tim Farron Ben Maguire .

Found: _NC17 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Tim Farron Ben Maguire .

Found: _NC17 Lisa Smart Anna Sabine Luke Taylor Tim Farron Ben Maguire .

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Found: In England, Tim Farron MP tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in June 2023 calling for every child to be