Written questions by Chowns.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 September 2024 to Question 4844 on Land Use, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies of establishing a national land use authority to work on a cross-departmental basis on the proposed land use framework for the purpose of integrating government priorities on (a) housing, (b) energy infrastructure, (c) farming, (d) community ownership and (e) other related matters.

The Government will publish a consultation on land use to inform the publication of a Land Use Framework for England. The land use framework will support farmers and nature recovery, based on an evidence base and spatial analysis. We will set out our approach to governance in due course.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a citizens assembly to consider the future relationship between the UK and the EU.

The Government has no plans to establish a citizens’ assembly to consider the future relationship between the UK and EU. We fully recognise the importance of maintaining an effective dialogue encompassing a broad range of views across civil society, including through the TCA Civil Society Forum and Domestic Advisory Group, as we work to reset our relationship with the EU.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to require all newbuild homes to include solar photovoltaic panels.

Future standards next year will set our new homes and buildings on a path that moves away from relying on volatile fossil fuels and ensures they are fit for a net zero future. This will support our ambition that the 1.5 million homes we will build over the course of this parliament will be high quality, well designed and sustainable. That is why the Deputy Prime Minister and I are clear that rooftop solar should play an important role, where appropriate, as part of the future standards for homes and buildings.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on introducing auto-enrolment for Healthy Start vouchers.

The Healthy Start scheme is kept under review. There have been no discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on introducing auto-enrolment for Healthy Start.The Healthy Start scheme was introduced in 2006 to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old, from very low-income households. It can be used to buy, or put towards the cost of, fruit, vegetables, pulses, milk, and infant formula. Healthy Start beneficiaries have access to free Healthy Start Vitamins for pregnant women and children aged under four years old. Healthy Start now supports over 355,000 beneficiaries. This figure is higher than the previous paper voucher scheme.The NHS Business Services Authority operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. All applicants to the Healthy Start scheme, where they meet the eligibility criteria, must accept the terms and conditions of the prepaid card at the point of application. As the prepaid card is a financial product and cannot be issued without the applicant accepting these terms, the NHS Business Services Authority is not able to automatically provide eligible families with a prepaid card. However, we remain open to all viable routes to improve uptake.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the report by the Food Foundation entitled Broken Plate Report 2023, published on 27 June 2023; and what steps he is taking to tackle misleading health claims on baby and infant food.

We face a childhood obesity crisis, and the Government is committed to raising the healthiest next generation ever. It is vital that we maintain the highest standards for foods consumed by babies and young children and ensure that claims made about infant food or drink are accurate and not misleading. This will help to better support parents and carers to make the best choices for feeding their young children.The independent Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), for their 2023 report Feeding Young Children aged 1-5 years, recommended that foods, including snacks, that are high in salt, free sugars, saturated fat, or are energy dense, should be limited in the diets of children aged one to five years old, and that commercially manufactured foods and drinks marketed specifically for infants and young children are not needed to meet nutrition requirements.This is why baby and infant foods are already subject to robust regulations which set nutrition and composition standards through the Processed Cereal-based Foods and Baby Foods for Infants and Young Children (England) Regulations 2003 and its parent Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 on food for specific groups.Under our health mission and shift to prevention we are considering what further action is needed to respond to the SACN’s commercial baby food recommendations, in order to establish healthy habits as early as possible. We will continue to keep these regulations under review to ensure they reflect the latest scientific and dietary guidelines.

What steps she is taking to increase the procurement of sustainable local food for school meals.

It is important that children eat nutritious food at school and the department encourages schools to have a whole school approach to healthy eating. The School Food Standards regulate the food and drink provided at lunchtime and at other times of the school day. Compliance with the School Food Standards is mandatory for all maintained schools, academies and free schools. School Governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance and should appropriately challenge the headteacher and the senior leadership team to ensure the school is meeting its obligations.The government’s ambition is to source half of all food served in public sector settings from local producers or from growers certified to meet higher environmental standards, where possible. The government wants to use the purchasing power of the public sector food supply chain to lead the way and to set best practice in delivering our wider ambitions on sustainability, animal welfare, economic growth, nutrition and health. The government has also committed to supporting schools to improve the sustainability of school food. Schools can voluntarily follow the government buying standards, which include advice around sustainable sourcing.Ministerial teams are working with department officials on plans to deliver the government’s manifesto commitments, including making quick progress to deliver breakfast clubs in every primary school. Our aim is to deliver better life chances for all, through a system which works for all. As part of this, as with all government programmes, we will keep our approach to school food under continued review.

What steps she is taking to (a) monitor and (b) manage the standard of food provided by schools.

It is important that children eat nutritious food at school and the department encourages schools to have a whole school approach to healthy eating. The School Food Standards regulate the food and drink provided at lunchtime and at other times of the school day. Compliance with the School Food Standards is mandatory for all maintained schools, academies and free schools. School Governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance and should appropriately challenge the headteacher and the senior leadership team to ensure the school is meeting its obligations.The government’s ambition is to source half of all food served in public sector settings from local producers or from growers certified to meet higher environmental standards, where possible. The government wants to use the purchasing power of the public sector food supply chain to lead the way and to set best practice in delivering our wider ambitions on sustainability, animal welfare, economic growth, nutrition and health. The government has also committed to supporting schools to improve the sustainability of school food. Schools can voluntarily follow the government buying standards, which include advice around sustainable sourcing.Ministerial teams are working with department officials on plans to deliver the government’s manifesto commitments, including making quick progress to deliver breakfast clubs in every primary school. Our aim is to deliver better life chances for all, through a system which works for all. As part of this, as with all government programmes, we will keep our approach to school food under continued review.

If she will make it her policy to fund the holiday activities and food programme on a permanent basis.

The future of the Holiday Activities and Food programme beyond the 31 March 2025 is subject to the next government Spending Review, which is taking place this autumn. The outcome of that process will be communicated in due course.

How many (a) rapes and (b) other sexual offences were reported to police in (i) Herefordshire and (ii) each neighbouring area in each of the last five years; and what the rate of (A) rape and (B) other sexual offences per thousand population was in each of those years.

Please see the below tables for the number of rape and other sexual offences recorded by the police and the rate per 1,000 population in Herefordshire and all other Community Safety Partnership (CSP) areas within West Mercia Police Force Area in the last five financial years. Offences where information about the CSP area has not been provided by the force have been assigned to the “West Mercia (CSP Unknown)” field.NumberRape OffencesCSP2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/24Herefordshire, County of161195238215196North Worcestershire294225306318243Shropshire240251264276239South Worcester299243343367280Telford and Wrekin232245295302286West Mercia (CSP Unknown)1113161116 RateRape Offences, Rate per 1000s populationCSP2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/24Herefordshire, County of0.861.051.271.141.04North Worcestershire1.030.781.061.100.84Shropshire0.750.780.810.840.73South Worcester0.960.781.081.150.88Telford and Wrekin1.271.341.591.601.51 NumberOther Sexual OffencesCSP2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/24Herefordshire, County of317280410417381North Worcestershire410426566558446Shropshire466394545521502South Worcester519463610616529Telford and Wrekin446380404463428West Mercia (CSP Unknown)1217392527 RateOther Sexual Offences, Rate per 1000s populationCSP2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/24Herefordshire, County of1.701.512.192.212.02North Worcestershire1.431.491.961.931.54Shropshire1.461.231.681.591.53South Worcester1.661.481.931.931.65Telford and Wrekin2.452.072.172.452.26

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' Humanitarian Situation Update No. 221 on the Gaza Strip, if he will have discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the (a) proportion of (i) hospitals and (ii) primary healthcare facilities in Gaza that are not fully functional and (b) the shortages in (A) fuel, (B) medicine and (C) other essential supplies affecting such healthcare facilities; and what steps he is taking to support healthcare facilities in Gaza.

The FCDO is closely monitoring the impact of the conflict in Gaza on access to medical facilities and healthcare, and we are deeply concerned by reports of the destruction of hospitals and healthcare facilities. As set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement on 2 September, Israel could and must do more to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary continues to press Israeli leaders to ensure aid can flow freely into and within Gaza. Through our support for UK-Med, (including a further £5.5 million announced on 14 July) we are helping to run field hospitals in Gaza. We are also supporting other agencies such as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund and World Food Programme to support vulnerable families with lifesaving water, healthcare and specialist treatment for malnourished children.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 279 of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion entitled Legal Consequences Arising From The Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem, published on 19 July 2024, if he will take steps to uphold the direction not to render (a) aid and (b) assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

We respect the International Criminal Court's independence and impartiality. We continue to call on Israeli authorities to exercise restraint, adhere to international law and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions. We are deeply concerned by the ongoing Israeli Defence Force military operation in the occupied West Bank and the attacks from Palestinian militants. We continue to press Israel to take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties; allow the free passage of aid into Gaza; and prevent interference with humanitarian operations. We have been clear that if Israel's personnel are responsible for incidents, they should be held accountable.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' Humanitarian Situation Update No. 221 on the Gaza Strip, if he will have discussions with his Israeli counterpart on (a) the impact of air strikes on schools and (b) the proportion of school-age children who are accessing learning spaces in Gaza.

This Government is deeply concerned about the impact of the conflict on children, and the high level of destruction to civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary continue to press Israeli leaders to take all steps to avoid civilian casualties and the importance of upholding International Humanitarian Law. The Foreign Secretary stated that he was appalled by the tragic loss of life as a result of the Israeli military strike on the al-Tabeen school. The UK supports humanitarian agencies such as United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to provide education services to civilians in Gaza, including through UK funding to Education Cannot Wait, which delivers education to children in crisis.

With reference to UK Visas and Immigration guidance entitled Register of licensed sponsors: workers, updated on 2 October 2024, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of provision in place to support workers where scheme operator licences are revoked; and whether there are mechanisms in place to inspect the accommodation to which seasonal workers are transferred when the licence of their original sponsor is revoked.

Processes have been put in place to ensure individuals impacted by sponsor licence revocation are not detrimentally impacted. The Home Office has helped facilitate continuity of work with alternative sponsors for those who were originally attached to such companies. The Home Office is not responsible for setting or enforcing UK accommodation standards. Should any concerns be raised with the Home Office or identified during compliance activities, these will be passed to the relevant authorities.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the report by the Soil Association entitled Stop Killing our Rivers, published on 12 March 2024.

The levels of water pollution are unacceptable. Cleaning up England’s rivers, lakes and seas is a priority for the Government. Working with farmers to reduce agricultural pollution is key to delivering against this priority. We continue to work with farmers through a suite of proportionate and effective regulations, advice and incentives to deliver improvements.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the ITN investigation into seasonal worker accommodation, broadcast 5 September 2024; and if she will take regulatory steps to ensure that accommodation on farms for seasonal agricultural workers on the Seasonal Worker visa meets minimum standards for (a) occupancy rates and (b) quality.

We recognise the importance of all seasonal workers living in safe accommodation.Guidance is issued to sponsors for seasonal agricultural workers on the Seasonal Worker visa. It sets a requirement that scheme operators must ensure that safe and hygienic accommodation is in place, that complies with all relevant UK laws.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make it her policy to restore school funding in real terms to the level provided in May 2010.

This government is increasing overall core revenue funding for schools to almost £61.8 billion this financial year (2024/25). In July, the department announced that it is providing schools with almost £1.1 billion of additional funding in the 2024/25 financial year through the new core schools budget grant (CSBG), to support them with overall costs. This matches what the department has calculated is needed to fully fund, at a national level, the teacher pay award and the support staff pay offer in the 2024/25 financial year, after accounting for the available headroom in schools’ existing budgets. This increase in funding shows the government’s commitment to supporting schools as a part of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. Departmental expenditure limits for the 2025/26 financial year are yet to be agreed across government and will be set alongside the Budget on 30 October. This will include schools’ funding in the 2025/26 financial year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of implications for his policies of the points of action in the statement entitled Experts warn international order on a knife’s edge, urge States to comply with ICJ Advisory Opinion, published by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 18 September 2024.

We note the statement by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 18 September. The UK is fully committed to the international order, international law and the international rules based order. We continue to consider the ICJ's Advisory Opinion carefully. We are of the clear view that Israel should bring an end to its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as rapidly as possible - but we are clear that every effort must be made to create the conditions for negotiations towards the two-state solution. Our commitment to a two-state solution is unwavering. The UK abstained on the UN General Assembly resolution in September because it did not provide sufficient clarity to advance a negotiated two-state solution.