Written questions by Snowden.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's news story entitled Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England, updated on 22 May 2025, what criteria were used to determine the lifting of mandatory housing measures for (a) poultry and (b) captive birds.

During periods of increased risk of avian influenza Avian Influenza Prevention Zones (AIPZ) mandating enhanced biosecurity, with or without mandatory housing, are utilised to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring. The risk of avian influenza remains heightened and AIPZs remain in force across Great Britain. However, following a reduction in risk levels the mandatory AIPZ housing measures which have been in force across the highest risk areas of England were lifted from 00:01 on 22 May 2025. However, mandatory housing of all poultry and other captive birds is still a legal requirement within any Protection Zone or Captive Bird Monitoring Controlled Zone in force surrounding an infected premises where avian influenza has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds. The need for an AIPZ is kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza, and measures are introduced in a phased and escalating manner proportionate to risk in an area. Any decisions on when to introduce or amend AIPZs including the addition or removal of mandatory housing measures either on a regional or national basis are based on risk assessments, which are published on gov.uk and contain the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice. Housing measures are intended to reduce the risk that poultry and other captive birds will come into contact either directly or indirectly with wild birds which may be infected with avian influenza. When utilised, the enhanced biosecurity measures including housing mandated by an AIPZ have been vital in protecting flocks across the country from avian influenza.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to reintroduce housing measures should avian influenza risk levels increase.

During periods of increased risk of avian influenza Avian Influenza Prevention Zones (AIPZ) mandating enhanced biosecurity, with or without mandatory housing, are utilised to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of disease occurring. The risk of avian influenza remains heightened and AIPZs remain in force across Great Britain. However, following a reduction in risk levels the mandatory AIPZ housing measures which have been in force across the highest risk areas of England were lifted from 00:01 on 22 May 2025. However, mandatory housing of all poultry and other captive birds is still a legal requirement within any Protection Zone or Captive Bird Monitoring Controlled Zone in force surrounding an infected premises where avian influenza has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds. The need for an AIPZ is kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of avian influenza, and measures are introduced in a phased and escalating manner proportionate to risk in an area. Any decisions on when to introduce or amend AIPZs including the addition or removal of mandatory housing measures either on a regional or national basis are based on risk assessments, which are published on gov.uk and contain the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice. Housing measures are intended to reduce the risk that poultry and other captive birds will come into contact either directly or indirectly with wild birds which may be infected with avian influenza. When utilised, the enhanced biosecurity measures including housing mandated by an AIPZ have been vital in protecting flocks across the country from avian influenza.

What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of waiting times for driving licence renewals in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their driving licence within a few days. There are also no delays in straightforward paper driving licence applications which are being processed within normal turnaround times and drivers should receive their driving licence within three weeks.Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer. The length of time taken depends on the condition(s) involved and whether further information is required from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a decision on whether to issue a licence can be made.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to increase funding levels for grassroots sports facilities in (a) Fylde and (b) other rural areas.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of where they live, has access to and benefits from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.In March, DCMS confirmed an additional £100 million investment in new and upgraded facilities across the UK as part of our Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme. Our delivery partner for the programme in England is the Football Foundation, who plan their investment pipeline using Local Football Facility Plans (LFFPs), which are developed in partnership with local authorities so as to understand the needs of each community. These plans are currently being updated to better reflect demand in 2025.Future funding is subject to the ongoing Spending Review process, with further details to follow in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department is providing to farmers and agricultural businesses in (a) Fylde, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West impacted by the drought conditions.

The Environment Agency (EA) in the North West is meeting regularly with the National Farmers Union, in relation to the water situation (most recently last week). The EA released an updated Area Irrigation Prospect Report to inform the agriculture community of the current water resources situation to help farmers plan their water needs for the summer. The prospects for water resources irrigation availability in Cumbria and Lancashire are currently moderate, meaning controls on abstractions are possible. Abstractors must operate in accordance with licence conditions issued, an important mechanism to protect water rights. There are currently no concerns regarding irrigation from groundwater. Defra recognises the need to support water resources resilience of the agricultural sector. Government have funded Water Resources West to help create Water Abstractor Groups (WAG), which work collaboratively to find water resources solutions. The government are funding Local Resource Option screening studies, with the latest funding launched on 4 June, supporting farmers to collaborate on water resources resilience. Studies will assess shared options such as multi-farm reservoirs, water trading, or rainwater harvesting for the farmer groups, enabling future delivery.

What recent steps she has taken to ensure that the hospitality sector has adequate access to (a) seasonal, (b) international and (c) other labour.

The Government’s Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, sets out how relevant sectors will need to develop workforce strategies to reduce their reliance on international labour, including the hospitality sector. Further details will be set out in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of drought on the economy of the North West; and what steps he is taking to help mitigate that impact.

We are taking action to mitigate the impacts by:Working closely with the water companies to ensure that they implement their statutory drought plans. We expect water companies to be undertaking extra leakage activity and enhanced communications with their customers to use less water.We have convened the National Drought Group which includes senior decision-makers from across Government and principal drought stakeholders. It provides a cross-sector strategic steer on drought management in EnglandPublishing irrigation forecasts for the agricultural sector and providing advice to farmers and growers so they can assess and plan their water needs this summer.Working with fishery owners to ensure plans are in place to manage dry weather.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to engage with local communities impacted by drought.

The Environment Agency (EA) has been working to ensure that United Utilities follows its drought plan, as agreed by Defra Secretary of State, including its communications with the public / customers and ensuring the company engaged with local partners via Local Resilience Forums. The EA has contacted all the MPs in Cumbria and Lancashire on two occasions. The first on 13 May 2025 gave an initial update about the prolonged dry weather and MPs were advised on the actions the EA were taking. The EA updated MPs on 30 May 2025 to advise that the northwest was now in drought status. The EA has put out regular messages on social media to provide updates of the current drought situation. The EA has also carried out media interviews and provided statements to the press for any questions they had. Last week the EA issued a press release which was uploaded to gov.uk about the current dry weather / drought situation. The EA has been in regular liaison with the NFU, Canal & Rivers Trust and Fishery owners to gather intelligence on impacts, provide advice and guidance and confirm approach to regulation of licensed abstractions.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of pubs on (a) social cohesion and (b) economic activities.

We recognise the vital role pubs play in driving economic growth and strengthening community cohesion across the UK, I co-chair the Hospitality Sector Council to discuss matters affecting the sector and to recognise their contribution to the economy, which was around £50bn GVA in 2024, representing 2% total UK output. We've recently launched Hospitality Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), which fast-track individuals into hospitality vacancies by providing flexible training and support for job seekers.Additionally, we've launched a new £1.5 million Hospitality Fund to co-invest in projects that boost productivity and help community pubs adapt to local needs. We're working with the Licensing Taskforce to reduce burdens and encourage growth.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the pub sector on tourism to the UK.

DCMS recognises that pubs are an integral part of the UK’s cultural heritage and tourism offer. While no recent assessment has been made, pubs supports local economies particularly in rural and historic areas, by encouraging longer stays and increased visitor spending. In the Autumn Budget in October 2024, the Government announced an extension of the business rate relief scheme for retail, hospitality, and leisure worth over £1.5 billion in 2025/26. DCMS continues to work closely with the industry to ensure support for such an important part of our nation's history.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to review planning regulations on the conversion of public houses to other uses.

Planning permission is always required for the material change of use of a public house to another use, and the government has no plans to change this.

Media and Sport, what (a) nightclubs and (b) electronic music organisations her Department (i) consulted in the development of the Arts Everywhere Fund and (ii) is consulting in the development of the 12-point plan for music.

The £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund is made up of multiple funds which will support arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector. The Creative Foundations Fund will invest £85 million to support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. This fund is specifically designed to support not-for-profit arts organisations within the funding remit of Arts Council England. Eligible organisations must be not-for-profit and show that their primary aims are cultural and their activities fall within the remit of ACE. They must have delivered cultural activity in the last 12 months and be able to demonstrate that the investment is business-critical to delivering creative or cultural activity. Full eligibility details in the guidance can be found on ACE’s website. The fund was developed in partnership with Arts Council England (ACE), drawing on its knowledge of the arts and culture sector. We are continuing to support ACE’s Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26. This provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music. The Government’s industrial strategy is prioritising the creative industries, and we will publish a Creative Industries Sector Plan to set out measures to drive growth in the sector. DCMS is developing a music plan which will build on the Creative Industries Sector Plan, and on which we will work in partnership with representatives from across the music sector.

Whether he has made an estimate of the prevalence of long covid in adults in (a) England and (b) Lancashire.

The most recent data from the Winter COVID-19 Infection Study, a joint study carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the UK Health Security Agency, shows that, for the period 6 February 2024 to 7 March 2024, an estimated two million people, or 3.3% of the population, in private households in England and Scotland, self-reported experiencing long COVID symptoms more than four weeks after a COVID-19 infection. The following table shows a breakdown of this figure by age group:Age groupEstimateThree to 17 years old111,81618 to 34 years old406,53835 to 44 years old294,09945 to 54 years old397,80255 to 64 years old389,97765 to 74 years old271,37475 years old and over113,467 While no estimate has been made specifically for Lancashire, the same dataset from the ONS estimated 270,939 people of all ages self-reporting experiencing long COVID symptoms in the North West of England region in that same time period.

Whether he has made an estimate of the prevalence of long covid in children and young people in (a) England and (b) Lancashire.

The most recent data from the Winter COVID-19 Infection Study, a joint study carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the UK Health Security Agency, shows that, for the period 6 February 2024 to 7 March 2024, an estimated two million people, or 3.3% of the population, in private households in England and Scotland, self-reported experiencing long COVID symptoms more than four weeks after a COVID-19 infection. The following table shows a breakdown of this figure by age group:Age groupEstimateThree to 17 years old111,81618 to 34 years old406,53835 to 44 years old294,09945 to 54 years old397,80255 to 64 years old389,97765 to 74 years old271,37475 years old and over113,467 While no estimate has been made specifically for Lancashire, the same dataset from the ONS estimated 270,939 people of all ages self-reporting experiencing long COVID symptoms in the North West of England region in that same time period.

Communities and Local Government, how much agricultural land has been converted for solar panel use in (a) England, (b) Lancashire and (c) Fylde constituency in the last 10 years.

The government places great importance upon our agricultural land and food production. The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should recognise the benefits of the Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land (land in grades 1, 2 and 3a of the Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) system). Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, areas of poorer quality land should be preferred to those of a higher quality. As of the end of September 2024, ground-mounted solar PV panels covered an estimated 21,200 hectares. This amounts to around 0.1% of the land area of the UK. The government does not hold information on the number of ground-mounted solar projects that have been permitted and built on different agricultural grades, or the number of acres of grade 1 and 2 land which has been built on since 2020.

What recent assessment he has made of the affordability of weekly care home fees in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

Fee rates are set by providers of adult social care, the majority of which are in the independent sector. The Department does not have powers to set or recommend the level of fees that care homes charge. However, all businesses are required to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by ensuring that they use fair and clear terms in their standard agreements with customers.As well as self-funders sourcing their own care, local authorities also agree fees with care home providers for local authority funded placements. According to Market Sustainability Fund data, in 2023/24, Lancashire paid an average care home fee rate of £707 without nursing, and £738 with nursing. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/market-sustainability-and-improvement-fund-2024-to-2025-care-provider-fees/market-sustainability-and-improvement-fund-msif-provider-fee-reporting-2024-to-2025#main-pointsWe have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The Commission will deliver recommendations for the transformation of adult social care including how to best create a fair and affordable adult social care system.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce the cost of care home placements in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

Fee rates are set by providers of adult social care, the majority of which are in the independent sector. The Department does not have powers to set or recommend the level of fees that care homes charge. However, all businesses are required to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by ensuring that they use fair and clear terms in their standard agreements with customers.As well as self-funders sourcing their own care, local authorities also agree fees with care home providers for local authority funded placements. According to Market Sustainability Fund data, in 2023/24, Lancashire paid an average care home fee rate of £707 without nursing, and £738 with nursing. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/market-sustainability-and-improvement-fund-2024-to-2025-care-provider-fees/market-sustainability-and-improvement-fund-msif-provider-fee-reporting-2024-to-2025#main-pointsWe have launched an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The Commission will deliver recommendations for the transformation of adult social care including how to best create a fair and affordable adult social care system.

What guidance he provides to SMEs that face disruption as a result of changing tariff regimes.

The Government is conscious that this is an anxious time for all businesses, not just those trading with the USA. We have announced a range of measures to support SMEs dealing with cashflow difficulties linked to recent changes in global tariff rates, including an additional £500 million in lending capacity under the Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS), delivered by the British Business Bank. We are also expanding UKEF’s business support package by £20 billion, £10 billion of which will be used specifically for businesses impacted in the short term by the current US tariffs.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 38171 on Farmers: Lancashire, what steps his Department has taken to ensure support from the Farming Recovery Fund reaches the most vulnerable farmers (a) quickly and (b) effectively.

Environment Agency and Met Office data was used to identify which farm businesses will receive the Farming Recovery Fund recovery payment. This data on river flooding and exceptional rainfall allows us to determine affected land and make payments directly to eligible farms. By focusing on those with the most significant impacts, this approach ensures the payment contributes to uninsured costs resulting from the extreme wet weather.There was no need for farmers to submit an application or claim form. This straightforward process meant payments could be made quickly—usually within 28 days of receiving a letter or email from the RPA — without further evidence or confirmation of eligibility.

What steps she is taking to improve road safety in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

There is not a specific DfT road safety strategy for Flyde or Lancashire. It is for local authorities to decide upon the most appropriate road safety interventions, based on its knowledge of an area and taking into account local needs and considerations. However, the Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Department is developing its Road Safety Strategy and will set out more details in due course.