Written questions by MacCleary.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support the long-term financial security of farmers, in the context of changes made to the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

We have allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. We are investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery, the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history to put healthy, nutritious food on our tables. We are working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future SFI offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced in summer 2025. That is only part of our commitment to farmers. We have also protected farmers in trade deals and provided a five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker route, giving farms certainty to grow their businesses. We have appointed former NFU president Minette Batters to recommend new reforms to boost farmers’ profits.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive on (a) (i) hedgerow and (ii) soil restoration, (b) pollinating wildflowers and (c) tree planting.

Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced in summer 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage farmers to farm sustainably.

The Government is backing British farming. We are prioritising investment that supports the Government’s Plan for Change and building 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 providing farmers and land managers with the support needed to help restore nature, which is vital to safeguard our long-term food security and build resilience to climate change. There are currently record numbers of farmers taking part in farming schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive. As of April 2025, these schemes supported 885,000 hectares of arable land being farmed without insecticides; 330,000 hectares of low input grassland being managed sustainably; and 85,000 kilometres of hedgerows being protected and restored. In the recent spending review, we committed to carrying on the transition towards paying to deliver public goods for the environment, with over £7 billion directed into nature’s recovery between 2026 and 2029. This includes environmental farming schemes (£5.9 billion), tree planting (£816 million) and peatland restoration (£85 million).

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage farmers to ensure that (a) rivers, (b) streams and (c) lakes are protected from pollution.

We are taking action to address agricultural pollution and support farm businesses. We are, as a priority, working with farmers and environmental groups to improve farm pollution regulations to ensure they are simple and effective. We are also doubling funding for Environment Agency farm inspections to work with farmers to raise standards and have issued amended Statutory Guidance on the Farming Rules for Water to set clearer expectations on enforcing the rules. We continue to invest in our farmers through Environmental Land Management schemes.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of (a) child psychologists and (b) other qualified specialists to assess severely disabled children for (i) ADHD and (ii) other neurodevelopmental conditions in (A) cases where a lack of assessment prevents access to appropriate (1) medication and (2) other support and (B) other cases.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards to make appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including access to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism assessments and support, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.NHS England has established an ADHD taskforce which is bringing together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support. An interim report was published on 20 June, with the final report expected to be published later in the year, and we will carefully consider its recommendations.The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, sets out the core principle of early intervention and support, without the need for diagnosis, including specifically for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In the autumn, the Government will bring forward a schools white paper, which will detail the Government’s approach to SEND reform, ensuring joined-up support for children and young people, including education and healthcare providers working together with other local services to plan and deliver evidence-based early interventions for children.The 10-Year Health Plan also sets out plans for new neighbourhood health services to work in partnership with family hubs, schools, nurseries, and colleges to offer timely support to children, young people, and their families, including those with SEND.

What estimate she mas made of the number of women born in the 1950s who have died since the publication entitled Government response to PHSO’s Investigation into Women’s State Pension age, published on 17 December 2024.

The Department has made no assessment.

Whether her Department plans to enter into alternative dispute resolution following confirmation of the Judicial Review into the reasons the Government decided not to pay compensation to women born in the 1950s impacted by her Department's maladministration of State Pension age changes.

The government has apologised for the maladministration and committed to learning the lessons from the investigation. The decision not to set up a compensation scheme is now subject to live litigation and the High Court has granted permission for a full hearing.

Whether English and Welsh wine was discussed during trade deal discussions with (a) India and (b) the US.

The UK Government seeks the best possible outcome for UK businesses in all aspects of negotiations and ongoing market access engagement with other governments, based on industry engagement and economic analysis.Under the UK-India FTA, we agreed a review mechanism, allowing us to revisit areas of interest in future, which could include liberalisation on English Wine.Negotiations with the US on the Economic Prosperity Deal are ongoing.The Department for Business and Trade also offers extensive export support for English wine producers through business.gov.uk. At the start of July there was a Meet-The-Market roadshow hosted across England with direct access to department trade officers from key growth markets.

Whether he has had discussions with the Indian Government on reducing tariffs on English wine.

The UK Government seeks the best possible outcome for UK businesses in all aspects of negotiations and ongoing market access engagement with other governments, based on industry engagement and economic analysis.Under the UK-India FTA we agreed a review mechanism, allowing us to revisit areas of interest in future, which could include liberalisation on English Wine.The Department for Business and Trade also offers extensive export support for English wine producers through business.gov.uk. At the start of July there was a Meet-The-Market roadshow hosted across England with direct access to department trade officers from key growth markets.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) the timely availability of pollution data, (b) that water companies are held to account for sewage discharges and (c) that improvements to storm overflow infrastructure are prioritised.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. We are putting water companies under special measures through our landmark Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act has introduced new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against law breakers and made it mandatory for water companies to publish plans to reduce pollution incidents. The Act is also introducing independent monitoring of every sewerage outlet, with water companies required to publish real-time data for all emergency overflows. Discharges will have to be reported within an hour of the initial spill. This will match the pre-existing duty for storm overflows and will meet the Government commitment to ensure monitoring of every outlet.

If she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to remove the two-child benefit cap as part of the Tackling Child Poverty strategy.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The Child Poverty Taskforce is developing an ambitious Child Poverty Strategy which we will publish in the autumn. We are considering all available levers to give every child the best start in life as part of our strategy. In the meantime, we are pressing ahead with action. As a significant downpayment ahead of strategy publication, we have already taken substantive action across major drivers of child poverty through the Spending Review 2025. This includes an expansion of Free School Meals that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament, establishing a long-term Crisis and Resilience Fund supported by £1bn a year including Barnett impact, investing in local family support services, and extending the £3 bus fare cap.

What steps her Department is taking to help protect supermarket delivery drivers from (a) threats, (b) abuse and (c) violence.

This Government recognises the dedicated work delivery drivers do, especially when their efforts support the most vulnerable in our society. We are determined to protect them from any form of assault, whether verbal or physical, as part of our wider work to combat retail crime.We are strengthening neighbourhood policing to better protect our communities and target offenders. As part of the Neighbourhood Policing Grant, the Government has allocated £200 million to forces for 2025-26 to deliver additional personnel into neighbourhood policing. The Home Office is also providing £66.3millon funding in 2025-26 to forces in England and Wales to deliver high visibility patrols in the areas worst affected by knife crime, serious violence and anti-social behaviour.Where assaults against delivery drivers do occur, they can be prosecuted as an offence (Common Assault) under the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The Offences against the Person Act 1861, also covers assaults, alongside more serious violence, including actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.Section 156 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 created a statutory aggravating factor in sentencing cases of assault against public facing workers. It applies where an assault is committed against those providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing a service to the public, including delivering goods to customers. This aggravating factor ensures the courts treat the public-facing nature of a victim’s role as an aggravating factor when considering the sentence for an offence and sends a clear message that violence and abuse towards any worker, including supermarket delivery drivers, will not be tolerated.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the political situation in Georgia on (a) UK-Georgia bilateral relations and (b) UK support for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.

I am seriously concerned by the recent sentences imposed on several prominent Georgian opposition figures including Mr Japaridze, Mr Khazaradze and Mr Vashadze. These were blatantly politically-motivated, and aimed at blocking political opposition from future elections. On 23 June I called on Georgian Dream to end its misuse of the courts to silence dissent, and free all political prisoners. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) summoned the Georgian Chargé d'Affaires on 30 June, to make clear the UK's firm opposition to Georgia's increasingly harmful trajectory. We continue to keep the worsening situation under close review, and on 1 July I spoke with a number of European partners to discuss our collective concerns.I have consistently expressed my serious concerns about Georgia's deteriorating democratic trajectory, which has adversely affected UK-Georgia bilateral relations. Any assessment of the current situation must also take into account Mr Ivanishvili's and his affiliates' influence on Georgia's political landscape. The UK's support for the Georgian people's Euro-Atlantic aspirations remains steadfast, and we stand ready to assist in any return to a trajectory towards European values and democratic norms.We do not comment on or speculate about future sanctions designations in any context, as to do so could reduce their effectiveness.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the recent imprisonment of Georgian opposition leaders (a) Mamuka Khazaradze, (b) Badri Japaridze and Giorgi Vashadze; whether he has made an assessment of the potential motivations of these; and what representations he has made to his Georgian counterparts in relation to these arrests.

I am seriously concerned by the recent sentences imposed on several prominent Georgian opposition figures including Mr Japaridze, Mr Khazaradze and Mr Vashadze. These were blatantly politically-motivated, and aimed at blocking political opposition from future elections. On 23 June I called on Georgian Dream to end its misuse of the courts to silence dissent, and free all political prisoners. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) summoned the Georgian Chargé d'Affaires on 30 June, to make clear the UK's firm opposition to Georgia's increasingly harmful trajectory. We continue to keep the worsening situation under close review, and on 1 July I spoke with a number of European partners to discuss our collective concerns.I have consistently expressed my serious concerns about Georgia's deteriorating democratic trajectory, which has adversely affected UK-Georgia bilateral relations. Any assessment of the current situation must also take into account Mr Ivanishvili's and his affiliates' influence on Georgia's political landscape. The UK's support for the Georgian people's Euro-Atlantic aspirations remains steadfast, and we stand ready to assist in any return to a trajectory towards European values and democratic norms.We do not comment on or speculate about future sanctions designations in any context, as to do so could reduce their effectiveness.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Georgian counterpart on (a) human rights and (b) the independence of the media in Georgia.

On 15 May I raised my wide-ranging concerns about recent repressive legislation on civil society, media, and the opposition; restrictions on freedom of assembly and arbitrary arrests; and growing anti-Western rhetoric with high-level representatives of Georgian Dream. On 18 June I discussed my concerns about Georgian Dream's repressive legislation to restrict civil society, media, and opposition voices with Georgian 5th President Zourabichvili, and expressed my support for her work supporting democracy in Georgia. A free and fair media are crucial to any modern European state. On 26 June our Ambassador to Georgia raised concerns about attacks on civil society, media and non-governmental organisations with Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Botchorishvili. Following the recent sentencing to terms of imprisonment of opposition leaders, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office summoned the Georgian Chargé d'Affaires on 30 June, to make clear the UK's firm opposition to Georgia's increasingly harmful trajectory. We continue to keep the worsening situation under close review, and on 1 July I spoke with a number of European partners to discuss our collective concerns.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of Bidzina Ivanishvili and his affiliates on support for Georgian democracy; and whether he is considering sanctions.

I am seriously concerned by the recent sentences imposed on several prominent Georgian opposition figures including Mr Japaridze, Mr Khazaradze and Mr Vashadze. These were blatantly politically-motivated, and aimed at blocking political opposition from future elections. On 23 June I called on Georgian Dream to end its misuse of the courts to silence dissent, and free all political prisoners. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) summoned the Georgian Chargé d'Affaires on 30 June, to make clear the UK's firm opposition to Georgia's increasingly harmful trajectory. We continue to keep the worsening situation under close review, and on 1 July I spoke with a number of European partners to discuss our collective concerns.I have consistently expressed my serious concerns about Georgia's deteriorating democratic trajectory, which has adversely affected UK-Georgia bilateral relations. Any assessment of the current situation must also take into account Mr Ivanishvili's and his affiliates' influence on Georgia's political landscape. The UK's support for the Georgian people's Euro-Atlantic aspirations remains steadfast, and we stand ready to assist in any return to a trajectory towards European values and democratic norms.We do not comment on or speculate about future sanctions designations in any context, as to do so could reduce their effectiveness.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to protect (a) freehold property owners and (b) freehold property owners in new build housing estates from high maintenance fees.

The government remain committed to protecting residential freeholders on private and mixed-tenure housing estates from unfair chargeWe will consult this year on implementing the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s new consumer protection provisions for the up to 1.75m homes that are subject to these charges, and bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager.The government is also determined to end the injustice of ‘fleecehold’ entirely and we will consult next year on legislative and policy options to reduce the prevalence of private estate management arrangements, which are the root cause of the problems experienced by many residential freeholders.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the remedies available to people who are experiencing noise disturbances.

Local authorities are responsible for investigating noise disturbances brought to their attention under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act, 1990. If they agree that a statutory nuisance is happening, has happened or will happen in the future, councils must serve an abatement notice.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of parents and carers reading to children in the early years on the mental wellbeing of (a) children and (b) parents and carers.

Reading with young children supports not only early literacy but also emotional wellbeing, for both children and their parents or carers. Shared reading helps build secure attachments, supports emotional regulation and creates positive routines that help children feel safe and connected. These everyday interactions can also reduce stress and strengthen communication. Through our ‘Little Moments Together’ campaign and investment in home learning services, the department is helping families make the most of these moments. Family Hubs can play a key role in this, offering accessible, community-based support to help parents build strong, nurturing relationships that support both learning and wellbeing.

If she plans to establish family hubs across the country.

On 11 June, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026/27 onwards and committed that, the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme, working with parents to help give children the best start in life.This builds upon my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, published in December 2024, which outlined the ambition to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood.We are working within the department and the Department of Health and Social Care to share further information about what the Spending Review settlement means for the continuation and expansion of the programme. We recognise the importance of providing local authorities with certainty of future funding across the whole programme and will share further information when we are able to.