Written questions by Dewhirst.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises in the (a) aviation and (b) maritime sectors have adequate access to Government procurement contracts.

The Department for Transport runs a series of regional Meet the Buyer Small Business roadshows across the UK to highlight opportunities and encourage participation in our supply chains. This programme also enables the Department to identify opportunities to remove barriers to SME participation in our competitions. In total the Department has hosted nineteen events with around 3500 small businesses attending so far. The programme is continuing in 2025/26 following very positive feedback from the small business community.

What engagement she has had with small and medium-sized enterprises in the aviation sector to better understand the challenges and opportunities they face.

The Department believes that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have a vital role to play within the aviation and maritime sectors and in supporting our objectives on growth, innovation and the environment. The Department has regular engagement with SMEs and their trade bodies on these matters and on the challenges and opportunities they face. The Department and other government bodies have provided support to SME companies via innovation and decarbonisation funding in both the aviation and maritime sectors. This includes the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) Clean Maritime Demonstration Competitions. The Future of Flight Programme will also enable the routine use of drones and eVTOLs in the UK in this Parliament. This will unlock growth for small and medium businesses in the aviation sector and beyond, including innovative aerospace manufacturing startups, and existing service providers such as surveyors that use drones to expand their markets. In addition, the Department continues to work with the Civil Aviation Authority and Maritime and Coastguard Agency to consider how the regulatory regimes interact with these factors in relation to SMEs. The UK aviation and maritime sectors are predominantly privately operated therefore operators are responsible for managing their own contingency plans and ensuring that they are robust and meet their own individual circumstances. My officials engage regularly with these sectors to gain assurances that plans are in place to ensure that disruptions are kept to a minimum.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in supporting (a) innovation and (b) resilience in the UK (i) aviation and (ii) maritime sectors.

The Department believes that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have a vital role to play within the aviation and maritime sectors and in supporting our objectives on growth, innovation and the environment. The Department has regular engagement with SMEs and their trade bodies on these matters and on the challenges and opportunities they face. The Department and other government bodies have provided support to SME companies via innovation and decarbonisation funding in both the aviation and maritime sectors. This includes the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) Clean Maritime Demonstration Competitions. The Future of Flight Programme will also enable the routine use of drones and eVTOLs in the UK in this Parliament. This will unlock growth for small and medium businesses in the aviation sector and beyond, including innovative aerospace manufacturing startups, and existing service providers such as surveyors that use drones to expand their markets. In addition, the Department continues to work with the Civil Aviation Authority and Maritime and Coastguard Agency to consider how the regulatory regimes interact with these factors in relation to SMEs. The UK aviation and maritime sectors are predominantly privately operated therefore operators are responsible for managing their own contingency plans and ensuring that they are robust and meet their own individual circumstances. My officials engage regularly with these sectors to gain assurances that plans are in place to ensure that disruptions are kept to a minimum.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has a target for the (a) number and (b) combined area of Marine Protected Areas.

The UK is committed to ensuring that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of marine and coastal areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected protected areas. In England there is a comprehensive network of MPAs covering 40% of English waters. Defra’s focus is to ensure those areas are effectively conserved and managed.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been delivered through the UK Seafood Fund; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK's exit from the EU leads to investment in small-scale British fishing communities.

Since 2021, over £76 million has been delivered through the UK Seafood Fund. This Government remains committed to supporting the fishing industry and small-scale coastal communities. On 19 May 2025, we announced the £360 million Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund will help invest in the next generation of fishermen, while on 9 June we reopened the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, two schemes that will support this part of the industry.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has a long-term strategy for the fishing sector.

We recognise the calls from across the industry for a long-term strategy for the fisheries sector. We are keen to engage with stakeholders to explore this further and shape a strategic approach that supports the industry's future. Nonetheless, our investment in the industry shows our long-term support for the sector: we have reopened the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme on 9 June 2025, allocating around £6 million to create a sustainable and resilient seafood sector. This is in addition to the recently announced £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, which will provide investment over the next 12 years to support sustainable fisheries and coastal communities.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many foreign-flagged vessels are licensed to fish in UK waters; and if he will take steps to ensure that UK fishermen have full access to UK fisheries.

The UK Single Issuing Authority (UKSIA), overseen by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), licenses all foreign vessels fishing in UK waters. As of 2025, 1,758 foreign-flagged vessels, mainly from the EU, are licensed to operate in the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The UK fleet includes over 4,500 licensed and registered vessels, all eligible to access national fishing opportunities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase the share of fishing opportunities in UK waters for British fishers.

The new UK-EU agreement signed on 19 May ensures retention of the quota uplift agreed in the Brexit deal, which transferred part of the EU quota shares to the UK’s fleet and was worth £175m in fishing opportunities in 2025. The UK’s shares for jointly managed stocks with other coastal states, namely the EU and Norway, are listed in Annex 35 and tables A, B and F of Annex 36 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). These shares will remain fixed from 2026 onwards. Separately, the UK continues to negotiate with other coastal States on new sustainable sharing arrangements for important jointly managed stocks in the North East Atlantic.

Food and Rural Affairs, what research his Department is supporting to facilitate the sustainable expansion of British (a) deep-sea species, (b) aquaculture and (c) other fisheries.

Defra is committed to supporting the UK fishing industry in line with our domestic and international obligations, including those in the Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement. Defra routinely supports significant scientific research to facilitate the sustainable management of fisheries, including through investments in the Seafood Innovation Fund and the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships Scheme under the UK Seafood Fund. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, (a Defra Executive Agency) also support a variety of innovative solutions to ensure a sustainable future for our seas, such as a recent project on the nitrogen and carbon sequestration potential of mussel and seaweed aquaculture.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce regulation for the transport of live crustaceans from the UK to Europe.

The UK Government has secured a Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, which will remove routine SPS border checks with the EU Member States, and some technical barriers to trade such as food labelling, organics, marketing standards and pesticides. This deal will reduce costs and make the seafood exporting journey of live crustaceans to our biggest market simpler, cheaper and quicker.

With reference to the Written Statement of 22 May 2025 on NHS Workforce, HCWS663, what the evidential basis is for the reduction of NHS England costs by 50%; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that reduction on (a) patient care, (b) access to services and (c) regional health inequalities.

We are intending to reduce the headcount across the Department and NHS England, which will deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of savings each year which can be recycled into front line service delivery. Work is progressing to take forward the detailed design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, along with plans for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities. The precise reduction agreed will be done through careful design, deliberation, and consultation, in the spirit of making sure that the set-up is right for the longer term.It is only right that with such significant reform, we commit to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, as is due process. Evidence from these ongoing assessments will inform our programme as appropriate. Furthermore, the Government is committed to transparency, and will consider how best to ensure the public and parliamentarians are informed of the outcomes and impact of both the abolition of NHS England and the reduction in workforce.

If she will publish the modelling used for the proposed changes to (a) Agricultural Property Relief and (b) Business Property Relief.

I refer the Honourable Member to the PQ referenced UIN 29334 published on 5th February 2025 at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-02-05/29334.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to take steps to increase the flexibility of fishing quotas so that fishermen can respond to changes in species abundance.

Through participating in international negotiations with other coastal States, the UK sets total allowable catches for fish stocks based on the best available scientific advice, primarily that from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). The advice for most stocks is updated yearly, based on scientific data and sampling information from stock surveys, to reflect the current state of fishing stocks. Regular engagement with the fishing industry to communicate expected changes as early as possible, is also central to the UK’s approach.

Whether he is taking steps to accelerate the removal of retained EU law; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK's exit from the EU increases international competitiveness.

The Government’s approach to assimilated law reform (formerly ‘retained EU law’) is to deliver reforms that serve the national interest and support economic growth and wider Government priorities. Unlike the previous Government we will not set arbitrary targets for revoking assimilated law for the sake of it.This Government is seizing the flexibility of Brexit, making the best choices for business and citizens from its position outside the EU as evidenced through significant deals with the US and India and our new partnership with the EU.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ensure a (a) sustainable and (b) supportive approach to the fishing industry.

We are committed to the long-term sustainability and prosperity of the UK fleet and will continue to work closely with the fishing industry and coastal communities. In line with our domestic and international obligations, including those of the Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement, we strive to improve the sustainability of our fisheries, and publish annual independent assessments of our progress. In addition, on 19 May 2025 we announced the £360 million Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund will help invest in the next generation of fishermen and on 9 June we reopened the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, two schemes that will support the industry.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the safety of the Jewish community in the UK.

Antisemitism has no place in our society, and tackling it is a top priority for this government. We are particularly concerned about the steep increase in antisemitism we have seen since the abhorrent 7 October attacks. The government is committed to protecting the safety of the Jewish community in the UK and making our streets and communities safer. That is why funding of £72 million has been allocated for the Community Security Trust to continue their vital work from 2024/25 until 2027/28, providing security to schools, synagogues and other Jewish community buildings. The government works closely with the Independent Adviser on Antisemitism to provide independent advice to the Secretary of State on the most effective methods to tackle antisemitism and to ensure that the Jewish community’s concerns about antisemitism are heard and acted upon. We also work with the police to regularly review potential threats and ensure that everything is done to protect communities from hate crime.

When she plans to publish a hate crime action plan.

There is no excuse for violence or abuse driven by hatred and discrimination and we support the police in taking the strongest action against the perpetrators of these appalling offences.This Government is carefully considering how best to strengthen the response to hate crime going forward so we can tackle this offending head on.The Government funds an online hate crime reporting portal called True Vision, designed so victims of all types of hate crime do not have to visit a police station to report. We are also continuing to fund the National Online Hate Crime Hub which supports individual local police forces in dealing specifically with online hate crime.

What steps he is taking to remove barriers to trade for UK seafood exporters.

The Government has secured a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement with the EU that will remove red tape for UK seafood exporters and businesses. This will make it easier to sell British fish to our largest trading partner, which will in turn drive growth.UK businesses, including those in the seafood industry, can access DBT’s wealth of export support via business.gov.uk. This comprises an online support offer and a wider network of support including the Export Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.In addition, we will shortly be publishing our Trade Strategy which will set out our plans to explore opportunities for further lowering barriers to trade.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of legacy PFI contracts where BSSL contractors are failing to carry out repairs and maintenance on schools in (a) Bridlington and The Wolds and (b) throughout the UK; and if she will publish the full PFI contract terms and survey information for the affected schools.

The department is not familiar with ‘BSSL’ however we assume this is the name of the private finance initiative (PFI) contractor on the Bridlington Group Schools Project. The PFI contractor for the Bridlington Group Schools Project contract will be a special purpose vehicle which will likely hold just one contract. We do not hold the details of the Bridlington Group Schools contract as this contract was entered into by the local authority. East Riding of Yorkshire Council will be able to assist further with this enquiry.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has contributed to modelling on inheritance tax revenue expected to be raised by proposed reforms to (a) Agricultural Property Relief and (b) Business Property Relief.

HMT undertakes its own modelling on revenues raised by tax changes. See page 118 here Autumn Budget 2024 – HC 295. The expected revenue from changes to APR and BPR were based on HMRC data. This was independently assessed by the OBR. See page 58 here Economic and fiscal outlook – CP 1169.