Written questions by MacDonald.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support otter conservation.

This Government is committed to restoring and protecting nature. Later this year we will publish a revised Environmental Improvement Plan which will set out how we will meet our ambitious Environment Act targets. These include legally binding biodiversity targets on species abundance, species extinction, and habitat creation and restoration, which will support many of our priority species including otter.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is funding UK-wide research into mountain hare conservation.

Nature conservation in the UK is mainly a devolved responsibility. We are therefore not currently funding any UK-wide research into mountain hare conservation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support landowners in (a) managing and (b) eradicating Japanese knotweed.

Defra recognises the impacts caused by invasive species, including Japanese knotweed. Japanese knotweed is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This makes it an offence to cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild. In England Government has developed guidance on how to prevent the spread of Japanese knotweed, as well as how to treat and dispose of it, which can be found on GOV.UK: How to stop Japanese knotweed from spreading - GOV.UK. Recognising the limitations of manual removal Defra, in partnership with the Welsh Government and Natural England, is funding scientists at the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) to conduct biological control (biocontrol) research into the use of naturally occurring, living organisms to tackle Japanese knotweed and other invasive, non-native plants. Biocontrol could provide a more cost- and time-effective way of managing these invasive plants. This research has identified the psyllid (a sap-sucking insect), Aphalari itadori, as a biological control agent for tackling Japanese Knotweed. Information about the research can be found on CABI's website. Defra is providing funding for land managers to control and manage Japanese knotweed and other invasive plant species through the Environmental Land Management (ELM) Countryside Stewardship scheme. Further information can be found on GOV.UK: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions - GOV.UK. Defra is not providing specific support or ring-fenced funding to Local Authorities for Japanese Knotweed control. Local Authorities decide their priorities for widespread invasive species management locally.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the conservation of mountain hares.

This Government is committed to restoring and protecting nature. We will deliver for nature by taking action to meet our Environment Act targets, working in partnership with civil society, communities and businesses to restore and protect our natural world. Later this year we will publish a revised Environmental Improvement Plan which will set out how we will meet our ambitious Environment Act targets. Defra Ministers support the ambition to introduce a close season for hares in England. England and Wales stand out as being among the few European countries not to have a close season for their resident hares. A close season should reduce the number of adult hares being shot in the breeding season, meaning that fewer leverets (infant hares) are left motherless and vulnerable to starvation and predation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of measures to control the spread of Japanese knotweed.

Defra recognises the impacts caused by invasive species, including Japanese knotweed. Japanese knotweed is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This makes it an offence to cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild. In England Government has developed guidance on how to prevent the spread of Japanese knotweed, as well as how to treat and dispose of it, which can be found on GOV.UK: How to stop Japanese knotweed from spreading - GOV.UK. Recognising the limitations of manual removal Defra, in partnership with the Welsh Government and Natural England, is funding scientists at the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) to conduct biological control (biocontrol) research into the use of naturally occurring, living organisms to tackle Japanese knotweed and other invasive, non-native plants. Biocontrol could provide a more cost- and time-effective way of managing these invasive plants. This research has identified the psyllid (a sap-sucking insect), Aphalari itadori, as a biological control agent for tackling Japanese Knotweed. Information about the research can be found on CABI's website. Defra is providing funding for land managers to control and manage Japanese knotweed and other invasive plant species through the Environmental Land Management (ELM) Countryside Stewardship scheme. Further information can be found on GOV.UK: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions - GOV.UK. Defra is not providing specific support or ring-fenced funding to Local Authorities for Japanese Knotweed control. Local Authorities decide their priorities for widespread invasive species management locally.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on measures to protect otter populations.

We have not held discussions with the devolved Governments about measures to protect otter populations.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Scottish Government on the inclusion of species-rich meadows in the list of irreplaceable habitats in Scotland.

Planning is a devolved matter. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these should be applied, including policy on the protection of irreplaceable habitat.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in (a) managing and (b) eradicating Japanese knotweed.

Defra recognises the impacts caused by invasive species, including Japanese knotweed. Japanese knotweed is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This makes it an offence to cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild. In England Government has developed guidance on how to prevent the spread of Japanese knotweed, as well as how to treat and dispose of it, which can be found on GOV.UK: How to stop Japanese knotweed from spreading - GOV.UK. Recognising the limitations of manual removal Defra, in partnership with the Welsh Government and Natural England, is funding scientists at the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) to conduct biological control (biocontrol) research into the use of naturally occurring, living organisms to tackle Japanese knotweed and other invasive, non-native plants. Biocontrol could provide a more cost- and time-effective way of managing these invasive plants. This research has identified the psyllid (a sap-sucking insect), Aphalari itadori, as a biological control agent for tackling Japanese Knotweed. Information about the research can be found on CABI's website. Defra is providing funding for land managers to control and manage Japanese knotweed and other invasive plant species through the Environmental Land Management (ELM) Countryside Stewardship scheme. Further information can be found on GOV.UK: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions - GOV.UK. Defra is not providing specific support or ring-fenced funding to Local Authorities for Japanese Knotweed control. Local Authorities decide their priorities for widespread invasive species management locally.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support cooperation with devolved Administrations on the protection of irreplaceable habitats.

Planning is a devolved matter. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these should be applied, including policy on the protection of irreplaceable habitat.

What steps she is taking to ensure that motorists are aware of their rights in relation to mis-sold car finance agreements involving discretionary commission arrangements.

The government notes that this matter is currently being considered by the Supreme Court and a judgment is expected to be handed down in due course. The Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed that subject to the Supreme Court outcome, if consumers are found to have lost out from widespread failings by motor finance firms they are likely to set up a consumer redress scheme. On June 5, they published a statement setting out the key considerations that will influence the design of any redress scheme. The Financial Conduct Authority will set out their next steps within 6 weeks of the judgment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on protecting mountain hare populations.

We have not held discussions with the devolved Governments about protecting mountain hare populations.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is funding UK-wide research into otter conservation.

Nature conservation in the UK is mainly a devolved responsibility. We are therefore not currently funding any UK-wide research into otter conservation.

What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Scottish Government on improving mental health resources for (a) nurses and (b) other medical care providers.

The health and wellbeing of all National Health Service staff is very important. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work, by supporting our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals.In the formulation of the plan, officials from the Department have regularly met with their counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss and share updates.Within the 10-Year Health Plan, we have committed to introducing a new set of staff standards for modern employment, covering issues such as access to healthy meals, support to work healthily and flexibly, and tackling violence, racism, and sexual harassment in the workplace. We will work with the Social Partnership Forum to design and deliver these standards. We will also roll out Staff Treatment hubs to ensure staff have access to high quality support for mental health and back conditions.NHS staff in England currently have access to a helpline for mental health crisis support and the Practitioner Health service, which provides support for more complex mental health issues.

What support her Department has provided to help people with arthritis to (a) remain in and (b) return to work.

Good work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live. Disabled people and people with health conditions, including arthritis, are a diverse group so access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. We therefore have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems. Measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual including through Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care. Building on our WorkWell, Employment Advisers in Talking Therapies and Connect to Work programmes, we will ensure people with a health condition have access to the holistic support they need. In the Government’s Pathways to Work Green Paper, we further committed to developing a support guarantee, so that disabled people and those with a health condition get the work, health and skills support they need to access and thrive in employment. And we are delivering the biggest investment in support for disabled people and people with health conditions in at least a generation. Our support guarantee announced as part of the Green Paper is backed up by £2.2bn over four years, including £200m in 2026/27 when our benefit changes begin to take effect and, as announced in the statement on Welfare Reform (30 June) by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, an additional £300m over the next 3 years. This brings our total investment in employment support for disabled people and those with health conditions to £3.8 billion over this Parliament. We will further pilot the integration of employment advisers and work coaches into the neighbourhood health service, so that working age people with long term health conditions have an integrated public service offer. A patient’s employment goals will be part of care plans, to support more joined up service provision The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care have worked together on the 10 Year Health Plan. The 10 Year Health Plan will ensure a better health service for everyone, regardless of condition or service area. The Plan sets out the vision for what good joined-up care looks like for people with a combination of health and care needs, including for disabled people. Backed by £240m investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper launched in November 2024, will drive forward approaches to tackling economic inactivity and work toward the long-term ambition of an 80% employment rate. In recognition of the key role employers play a key role in increasing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, the Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions and Business and Trade asked Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead an independent review, considering how best to support and enable employers to recruit and retain more people with health conditions and disabilities, promote healthy workplaces, and support more people to stay in or return to work from periods of sickness absence. Sir Charlie will deliver his final report in the autumn. Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce. Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of Personal Independence Payment claimants with a primary condition of arthritis.

There were 471,358 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants with a primary medical condition of arthritis in April 2025. This information can be found on Stat Xplore in the ‘PIP Cases with Entitlement from 2019’ table. You can use the ‘Disability’ filter to select ‘osteoarthiritis’ and ‘inflammatory arthritis’ categories and the ‘Geography’ filter to select ‘DWP policy ownership’. You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user and, if needed, you can access guidance on how to extract the information required.

If he will take steps to ensure that community benefit payments from renewable energy developments are spent on (a) housing, (b) reducing levels of fuel poverty and (c) social care.

The government believes community fund packages will have the most impact if they can be tailored to the community’s preferences and priorities. The process should be community led and decisions on how community benefit funds are spent should rest with the community. This may include, for example, new school clubs, new bus routes, investment in biodiversity or local insulation.

What recent discussions he has had with renewable energy developers on establishing a statutory framework for community benefit payments based on a proportion of gross revenue.

On 21 May, the government published a working paper on community benefits and shared ownership of low carbon energy infrastructure. The paper seeks views on the proposed introduction of a mandatory community benefit scheme in Great Britain, which would require developers to contribute a set amount to a community fund. The working paper intends to gather insight into what level of benefit is appropriate and how best this is calculated. The government will need to consider the impact on operational costs for developers of infrastructure, impacts on bills, and meaningful level of benefit for communities. The government maintains regular engagement with key industry and community stakeholders across the country, which continues to inform policy development.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of community benefit packages from new renewable energy infrastructure projects on Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire constituency.

At present, the provision of community benefits in Great Britain is voluntary . In Scotland, developers are strongly encouraged to provide community benefits in line with the Scottish Government’s Good Practice Principles. The government is, currently exploring mandating community benefits as we believe that where communities host this low carbon infrastructure they should benefit and the proposals were set out in the working paper the government published on 21 May. Under voluntary or mandatory schemes, the process should be community led and the fund tailored to local priorities so that the impact can be maximized.

What steps he is taking to encourage consistent revenue-based contributions to community benefit schemes by onshore renewable developments.

On 21 May, the government published a working paper on community benefits and shared ownership of low carbon energy infrastructure. The paper seeks views on the proposed introduction of a mandatory community benefit scheme in Great Britain, which would require developers to contribute a set amount to a community fund. The working paper intends to gather insight into what level of benefit is appropriate and how best this is calculated. The government will need to consider the impact on operational costs for developers of infrastructure, impacts on bills, and meaningful level of benefit for communities. The government maintains regular engagement with key industry and community stakeholders across the country, which continues to inform policy development.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a statutory minimum revenue contribution from newly consented renewable energy developments to community benefit funds.

On 21 May, the government published a working paper on community benefits and shared ownership of low carbon energy infrastructure. The paper seeks views on the proposed introduction of a mandatory community benefit scheme in Great Britain, which would require developers to contribute a set amount to a community fund. The working paper intends to gather insight into what level of benefit is appropriate and how best this is calculated. The government will need to consider the impact on operational costs for developers of infrastructure, impacts on bills, and meaningful level of benefit for communities. The government maintains regular engagement with key industry and community stakeholders across the country, which continues to inform policy development.