Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes in England and Wales, which closed on 8 January 2021; and whether he plans to increase the minimum energy efficiency standards required for (a) rented and (b) leased non-residential buildings.

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

We will require private landlords to make improvements to their properties by 2030. Ensuring warmer, healthier private rented homes will lift many families out of fuel poverty and reduce energy bills. We will consider the evidence gathered as part of the 2020 consultation as we design the policy around increased Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.

The Government is committed to decarbonising non domestic buildings and is exploring the most appropriate way to do so, including through Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards where evidence gathered as part of the 2019 and 2021 consultations will continue to inform policy development.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost to her Department was of Ministerial severance payments during each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment; and how much each Minister received.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The provision of severance payments for Ministers is set out in legislation.

Details of the severance payments made to ministers when leaving office are published in the Departments’ Annual Reports and Accounts.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to his Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2122 on Great British Nuclear: Recruitment, if he will list (a) the organisations from which personnel have been seconded to Great British Nuclear and (b) the number of personnel recruited from each.

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

GBN has grown rapidly as an organisation to deliver on its mission and now has over 100 personnel working for it, including those seconded from a range of organisations. Permanent recruitment for the Executive Team is actively underway and this will be followed by recruitment for the rest of the organisation.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for public expenditure of the provision of a further £5.5 billion for additional development support for the proposed new nuclear power plant Sizewell C in (a) the current fiscal year and (b) each of the next four fiscal years.

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

While working towards a final investment decision on Sizewell C, we have established a new subsidy scheme of up to £5.5 billion to ensure the government can provide the project with the necessary financial support to remain on track. Decisions about providing investment and support under the scheme will be made in due course and will be subject to the relevant government approval processes, including where appropriate the upcoming Spending Review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to his Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment; and how much each Minister received.

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

The details of any ministerial severance payments can be found in our Annual Report & Accounts.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the merits of introducing mandatory food waste reporting.

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

The previous Government held a consultation wherein stakeholders were asked about their views on the scope of any reporting requirements. It can be found at Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Waste and Resources programme (WRAP) led voluntary Food Waste Reduction Roadmap supports business to target, measure and specifically act on reducing food waste. The roadmap includes guidance and templates for reporting developed by industry in collaboration with WRAP and the Institute of Grocery distribution (IGD) with funding from DEFRA. WRAP regularly reports on the progress of the roadmap and works closely with businesses to quality assure reported data and ensure that it is fit for purpose.

Ministers will consider any mandatory food waste reporting requirements in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to take steps to ensure that mandatory food waste reporting will take into account companies who (a) are aligned with existing reporting requirements under the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap and (b) already report their food waste as part of global ESG reporting.

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

The previous Government held a consultation wherein stakeholders were asked about their views on the scope of any reporting requirements. It can be found at Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Waste and Resources programme (WRAP) led voluntary Food Waste Reduction Roadmap supports business to target, measure and specifically act on reducing food waste. The roadmap includes guidance and templates for reporting developed by industry in collaboration with WRAP and the Institute of Grocery distribution (IGD) with funding from DEFRA. WRAP regularly reports on the progress of the roadmap and works closely with businesses to quality assure reported data and ensure that it is fit for purpose.

Ministers will consider any mandatory food waste reporting requirements in due course.

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 ensure that food waste reporting requirements on businesses are (a) effective and (b) not overly burdensome.

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

The previous Government held a consultation wherein stakeholders were asked about their views on the scope of any reporting requirements. It can be found at Improved food waste reporting by large food businesses in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Waste and Resources programme (WRAP) led voluntary Food Waste Reduction Roadmap supports business to target, measure and specifically act on reducing food waste. The roadmap includes guidance and templates for reporting developed by industry in collaboration with WRAP and the Institute of Grocery distribution (IGD) with funding from DEFRA. WRAP regularly reports on the progress of the roadmap and works closely with businesses to quality assure reported data and ensure that it is fit for purpose.

Ministers will consider any mandatory food waste reporting requirements in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce food waste; and what discussions he has had with industry representatives on the best way to tackle the issue.

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

The Department will hold discussion with the supply chain on a range of issues including how to prevent waste.

We remain committed to the programme of work led by The Waste and Resources Programme (WRAP) to drive down surplus and waste across the supply chain, with the aim to halve food waste by 2030.

The guidance Food and drink waste hierarchy: deal with surplus and waste - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) offers tools and advice to food businesses.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to support the application of the food and drink waste hierarchy for surplus food.

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

The Department will hold discussion with the supply chain on a range of issues including how to prevent waste.

We remain committed to the programme of work led by The Waste and Resources Programme (WRAP) to drive down surplus and waste across the supply chain, with the aim to halve food waste by 2030.

The guidance Food and drink waste hierarchy: deal with surplus and waste - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) offers tools and advice to food businesses.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the cost to her Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment; and how much each Minister received.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Ministerial severance payments are reported annually in the Annual Report and Accounts produced by the department.

Any severance payments post 31 March 2024 will be reported in the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024-25 when it is laid in Parliament next year.

World Mental Health Day and rural communities

Immediate ceasefire in Lebanon

Conflict in the Middle East

Peace in the Middle East

Saudi Arabia’s bid to join the UN Human Rights Council

The Legal Dragnet Joint Enterprise Report

Ban trophy hunting imports

Found: Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for transport, agreed the railways needed to be improved

Found: Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for transport, agreed the railways needed to be improved