Written questions by Chowns.

Whether he plans to review (a) government contracts with and (b) the Business Appointments Rules for Former Crown Servants in relation to the Boston Consulting Group.

Government contracts are awarded in line with procurement regulations as set out in the Procurement Act 2023. Each contracting authority is responsible for monitoring supplier performance in accordance with the contract. Contracting authorities may exclude suppliers for a range of mandatory and discretionary measures under the exclusion regime in the Procurement Act, which came into force in February 2025. Those suppliers may also be added to a central debarment list by the Cabinet Office. Ministers and Crown servants at all levels, including all civil servants, special advisers, members of the armed forces and diplomats, are subject to the business appointment rules when accepting new appointments after Crown service.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring intensive poultry units to hold private insurance to cover losses in excess of DEFRA’s statutory compensation for poultry culls.

We would like to refer the honourable member for North Herefordshire to the response UIN 63221 published on 3 July 2025.

What steps the the Fair Work Agency is taking with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to ensure the effective enforcement of young women’s rights at work.

The Fair Work Agency will deliver a much-needed upgrade to the enforcement of workers’ rights. It will ensure better enforcement of rights at work for all workers, including young women. The Agency will work closely with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, including to share information relevant to the Commission’s role. We have provided for that by including the Commission in the list of bodies that the Fair Work Agency can share information with, at Schedule 9 of the Bill.

What steps she is taking to tackle the gender pay gap for young women.

The landmark Employment Rights Bill is set to have a transformative impact, ensuring workplace rights are fit for a modern economy and empowering working people, including young women. As part of the Bill we are increasing the time limit within which employees are able to make an Employment Tribunal claim from 3 months to 6 months. We are also strengthening protections against harassment; requiring employers to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of their employees; and introducing an obligation on employers not to permit the harassment of their employees by third parties. Furthermore, we have announced that we will ban non-disclosure agreements used by employers to silence employees subjected to harassment and abuse. These changes will give workers confidence that inappropriate behaviour in the workplace will be dealt with, not hidden. Finally, the Bill will establish the Fair work agency, to enforce labour rights and promote fairness in the workplace. This will be a single place where workers and employers can turn for help. With regard specifically to the gender pay gap, we know that ensuring every employer harnesses the talent, creativity and brilliance of women in their workforce is a crucial part of achieving economic growth. That is why, as part of the Employment Rights Bill, we are additionally taking the first steps towards requiring employers to publish action plans detailing the evidence based steps they are taking to narrow their gender gap. In requiring employers to produce a plan, this will prompt them to better understand the drivers of their gap, and the experiences of women in their workforce, including young women.

What steps she is taking to ensure the effective enforcement of young women’s rights at work.

The landmark Employment Rights Bill is set to have a transformative impact, ensuring workplace rights are fit for a modern economy and empowering working people, including young women. As part of the Bill we are increasing the time limit within which employees are able to make an Employment Tribunal claim from 3 months to 6 months. We are also strengthening protections against harassment; requiring employers to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of their employees; and introducing an obligation on employers not to permit the harassment of their employees by third parties. Furthermore, we have announced that we will ban non-disclosure agreements used by employers to silence employees subjected to harassment and abuse. These changes will give workers confidence that inappropriate behaviour in the workplace will be dealt with, not hidden. Finally, the Bill will establish the Fair work agency, to enforce labour rights and promote fairness in the workplace. This will be a single place where workers and employers can turn for help. With regard specifically to the gender pay gap, we know that ensuring every employer harnesses the talent, creativity and brilliance of women in their workforce is a crucial part of achieving economic growth. That is why, as part of the Employment Rights Bill, we are additionally taking the first steps towards requiring employers to publish action plans detailing the evidence based steps they are taking to narrow their gender gap. In requiring employers to produce a plan, this will prompt them to better understand the drivers of their gap, and the experiences of women in their workforce, including young women.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 145 of the skeleton argument of the Secretary of State in Al-Haq v Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Claim No: AC-2023-LON-003634, if he will publish all relating documents.

We currently do not have plans to publish these assessments. Information on these assessments has been provided to the relevant Parliamentary committees and more detailed information on this assessment can be found in the judgement the High Court handed down on 30 June. The action we have taken, as announced to Parliament, is consistent with our legal obligations and we remain wholly committed to international law.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of time required to ensure adequate levels of (a) awareness and (b) voter registration ahead of a General Election in which 16 year olds vote.

The government believes that enabling 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in all UK elections will foster early and sustained participation in civic life and enhance engagement in our democratic processes. We want young people to find their voice and exercise their right to vote. Registering to vote is a vital first step towards doing that.This will be a major change to the electoral franchise, and changes to electoral law of this magnitude require careful planning and should not be rushed. We have taken time to engage with stakeholders in the electoral sector, devolved and local government, education, civil society - and importantly, with young people themselves. We will continue this engagement to ensure the change is implemented successfully.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for publication of the revised Environmental Improvement Plan.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tamworth on 17 March 2025, UIN 37341.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the petition entitled Introduction of a business, human rights and environment act, submitted to his Department on 19 June 2025, on the potential merits of creating a new UK business, human rights and environment act to support (a) workers, (b) communities and (c) the environment in (i) the UK and (ii) overseas.

The Department for Business and Trade has engaged with the Corporate Justice Coalition on the petition entitled Introduction of a business, human rights and environment act, submitted on 19 June 2025. In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review into the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on tackling human rights and labour abuses, modern slavery, and environmental harms in global supply chains. The review will be a neutral, objective appraisal of policy, led by officials at the Department for Business and Trade. It will consider the effectiveness of the UK’s current regime and alternative means of supporting responsible business practices. It will have due regard to costs on business and the approaches taken by our trading partners. Throughout the review, we will harness the insights and expertise of businesses, investors, trade unions, academia and civil society.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken to introduce the due diligence scheme for forest risk commodities enabled by schedule 17 of the Environment Act 2021 on the achievement of targets in the global biodiversity framework.

Deforestation linked to UK consumption is estimated to have fallen by 55% since 2005. However, progress has slowed over the last decade and in 2022 UK consumption was still associated with 35.6 thousand hectares of deforestation. The Government recognises the urgent need to address the deforestation impact of UK demand for forest risk commodities, and we will set out our approach in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to ensure that the process of appointing the new Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection protects its independence.

The Chair role is appointed by the Secretary of State acting jointly with the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. The appointment will be conducted in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments as regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The role will be publicly advertised, and an Advisory Assessment Panel, including a Senior Independent Panel Member, will be appointed to assess candidates objectively against the published criteria. The appointment will also be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by a Parliamentary Select Committee.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 57896 on Funeral Payments, how many applicants (a) responsible for funeral costs and (b) in receipt of a qualifying benefit did not receive a social fund funeral expenses payment because (i) there was an immediate family member or (ii) a close relative of the deceased who was not in receipt of a qualifying benefit, in each of the last five years.

The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur a disproportionate cost.

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on conditions attached to the spending of the farming budget to ensure (a) value for money, (b) increased food security and (c) environmental targets are met.

The Chancellor and I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on a range of matters. Defra’s settlement will invest more than £2.7 billion a year in sustainable farming and nature recovery from 2026-27 until 2028-29. This will protect the natural ecosystems underpinning food production, boosting food security and delivery of our environmental targets. We are increasing value for money, and accelerating progress towards our environmental targets, by rapidly winding down subsidy payments that do not provide a return on investment to increase funding for Environmental Land Management schemes from £800 million in 2023-24 to £2 billion by 2028-29.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the farming budget is used to meet legally-binding (a) environmental targets under the Environment Act 2021 and (b) emissions reduction targets under the Climate Change Act 2008.

As a result of the spending review and determination of the farming budget for this period: We are prioritising investment that supports the Government’s Plan for Change and builds on the Secretary of State’s work to reform Defra to drive growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to farming, food security, and nature’s recovery We are investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery. Funding for the Environmental Land Management Schemes paid to farmers will increase by 150% from £800 million in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29. Overall farmers and land managers will benefit from an average of £2.3 billion a year through the Farming and Countryside Programme. And up to £400 million from additional nature schemes, including those for tree planting and peatland restoration. This budget is the largest investment into nature in history, with over £7 billion directed into nature’s recovery. This includes environmental farming schemes (£5.9 billion), tree planting (£816 million) and peatland restoration (£385 million). These will make a significant contribution to the Environment Act and emissions reduction targets under the Climate Change Act 2008, including improving the quality of water, air, and spaces for wildlife so biodiversity can thrive.

Whether any guidance has been issued to UK businesses following the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators. We respect the independence of the International Court of Justice, and we are carefully considering the Court’s advisory opinion.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the Overseas Territories introduce public registers of beneficial ownership.

Please refer to my Written Ministerial Statement of 3 July which provides an update and details of next steps.We have made very clear to our partners in the remaining Overseas Territories the importance of delivering on the previously committed to deadlines, and have offered technical support to achieve this. We have communicated that we expect rapid and robust action to be taken, given the crucial importance of tackling illicit finance and increasing transparency. We have set out that we expect access to be granted to a wide range of legitimate users, that registers should enable proactive investigations and should act as a deterrent to those seeking to conceal illicit gains.Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have conducted an in-house assessment of the latest policies and proposals from these Overseas Territories against the discussions at the Joint Ministerial Council in November 2024. In addition, we have reviewed feedback from a range of external stakeholders including expert NGOs and parliamentarians. We have also considered emerging international modalities which cover legitimate interest access registers. I have recently discussed this issue with a range of Overseas Territory leaders and will continue to do so.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, published on 30 June 2023, whether (a) he and (b) officials from his Department had discussions with (i) J.C. Bamford Excavators Ltd , (ii) Opodo Ltd and (iii) Greenkote PLC on their inclusion in the list of companies undertaking business activities in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem in (A) 2024 and (B) 2025.

We are aware of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights database but do not comment on individual businesses. The Government does not encourage or offer support to business activity in Israeli settlements. When approached by businesses, we set out the UK's clear position on Israeli settlements and share with them our online guidance found on the Overseas Business Risk website. We advise British businesses to bear in mind the British Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.

With reference to the Spending Review 2025, CP 1336, published on 11 June 2025, how much and what proportion of the £5 billion funding for the Warm Homes Plan identified as financial transactions will be in the form of (a) loans, (b) equity investments and (c) guarantees.

The Government has committed £5 billion funding as financial transactions. We will work with the UK’s expert public finance institutions, including the NWF (National Wealth Fund), to agree ways to support the delivery of the Warm Homes Plan through this. Further details will be confirmed by October.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make future disease outbreak compensation payments conditional on (a) evidence of private insurance in place and (b) demonstrable compliance with specified biosecurity standards.

Compensation is paid by Defra for animals culled by the Government for disease control purposes, as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. In addition to the financial support offered to producers directly affected by outbreaks through compensation, producers can insure privately for losses not covered by Defra’s compensation scheme, this may include consequential losses including business interruption caused by control measures. Defra continues to monitor the situation and to remind producers that they are responsible for the on-farm management of their flocks. Having strong biosecurity measures in place, and maintaining them year-round, significantly reduces the risk of infection on site.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure a joined-up approach to tackling harms to the (a) environment and (b) human rights in UK supply chains.

In the Trade Strategy, the Government committed to promoting a coordinated approach to responsible business conduct. The Government’s review into responsible business conduct, focused on tackling human rights and labour abuses, modern slavery, and environmental harms in global supply chains, will consider the best way to give effect to this commitment.