Written questions by Robertson.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many Environment Agency staff worked on compliance with requirements for office workplace recycling in the most recent period for which data is available.

The corporate estate of the Environment Agency (EA), including offices and depots, is centrally managed by Defra. Many of the EA’s workplaces are shared spaces across the Defra group as a result. Defra group Facilities Management are specifically responsible for all workplace services across the group, which includes workplace recycling.

Communities and Local Government, what her Department's policy is on the personal use of IT equipment to access the internet through (a) desktops and (b) wifi by (i) staff and (ii) Ministers.

MHCLG do not provide desktop computers. However all corporate devices are covered by the same policy and terms and conditions.WiFi is provided by the GovWiFi service, which is covered by the GovWiFi Terms and Conditions (Terms and conditions - GovWifi) in conjunction with MHCLG acceptable usage policy, which is available to all staff on the Intranet. The policy allows for ‘limited personal use of MHCLG IT is acceptable as long as it does not cause a problem with your work or that of your colleagues’.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43345 on WRAP: Finance, if he will provide the hyperlink to the grant agreement .

The grant agreement contains commercially sensitive information and will not be published. Details of the grant will be published on the Grants register held at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-grants-data-and-statistics. This information is published retrospectively with data for the 2024/25 grant published later this year. Details of the 2025/26 grant will be published in 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Extended Producer Responsibility is a tax.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) decides the classification of taxes, while the Office of Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) determines how they are treated in fiscal forecasts. In earlier fiscal events OBR have treated pEPR fees as adjustment to departmental budgets as “there was previously not enough detail on the fees for this to be reflected as a tax in our receipts forecast”. The OBR determination is a technical classification that has no effect on pEPR policy. This technical classification does not affect the distribution of revenue to local authorities. Revenue from pEPR will be distributed directly by PackUK, the scheme administrator, to local authorities.

How many and what proportion of (a) moped and (b) motorcycle riders with provisional licences who have been convicted of (i) road traffic offences, (ii) robbery and (iii) drug trafficking in each of the past 5 years.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will be able to provide the information in relation to road traffic offences, but this requires a scan of the driver database. Officials will write to the Honourable Member as soon as the information is available. Information about robbery and drug trafficking offences is not recorded by the DVLA.

Food and Rural Affairs, what research his Department has commissioned on the potential role of insect protein in (a) animal and (b) human diets in the last ten years.

Defra’s scientific research is exploring ways to reduce environmental impacts of livestock production, including research to better understand the role of insect protein in pig and poultry feed (not human diets) in addressing this aim. Examples include a scientific review of the opportunities for the inclusion of insect protein in pig and poultry feed within the UK (2021). Research also considered insect-based proteins (for food and feed), as part of a wider review of alternative proteins (2022). A life-cycle assessment of UK insect protein production compared the environmental impacts of insect, soy and fishmeal protein production for animal feeds in the UK (2023). Defra has also committed funding via the Farming Innovation Programme and Farming Innovation Pathways for projects looking at insect protein in animal feed, including a themed competition addressing on farm protein. The FSA report on the ‘The Future of Animal Feed’ was published in April 2023. The report analysed the production and supply of protein for the global livestock sector, focusing on the potential opportunities, and threats, of alternative feeds. Under food law, it is the responsibility of food businesses to ensure food is safe. Edible insects, as novel foods, need authorisation from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), which requires provision of a safety case. Food businesses wanting an authorisation will develop the research and evidence to demonstrate the food is safe for consumption.

Innovation and Technology, what his Department's policy is on the personal use of IT equipment to access the internet through (a) desktops and (b) wifi by (i) staff and (ii) Ministers.

All users within the department must adhere to our IT Acceptable Use Policy which details how departmental IT should be used. Departmental provided internet access, corporate IT and email services are intended for business use. Limited personal use is permitted where this is not detrimental to the department. All staff and ministers are accountable for their actions while using departmental IT.

What funding her Department has awarded to Artemis Technologies in each of the past three years, broken down by project supported.

In financial year 2024/2025, no funding was awarded to Artemis Technologies.In financial year 2023/24 the Department for Transport provided funding, via the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) R&D Programme, to Artemis Technologies totalling £4,091,119. This was made up of:£69,782 to project 10077453 (Retrofit 20m Mercurio CTV - 100% Electric), and£4,021,337 to project 10077769 (Electric Orkney).In financial year 2022/23 the Department for Transport provided funding, via the UK SHORE, to Artemis Technologies totalling £9,901,637. This was made up of:£204,021 to project 10041953 (eFoiler-Pilot Feasibility Study),£840,612 to project 10040815 (eFoiler-CTV Detailed Design),£1,675,591 to project 10041047 (Hydrogen Fuel Cell Range Extender),£2,323,895 to project 10059256 (Demonstration of 12pax fully-electric hydrofoiling Crew Transfer Vessel), and£4,857,518 to project 10060022 (Multipurpose eFoiler Platform).Artemis Technologies partner with others to deliver their projects. This includes subcontracting work out to others, which the funding ultimately covers. Funds are paid to Artemis once evidence of the costs being incurred and defrayed have been provided.Artemis have are also involved in a range of projects, and this is taken into account when projects bid for funding. As part of the bidding process, application assessments include scrutiny of the project's ability to deliver, including 'team and resources' requirements. Assessments are conducted by independent assessors. For ZEVI and CMDC3 (which Artemis successfully applied for), there was an additional interview stage ahead of projects being awarded funding where the interview panel questioned all projects on their ability to deliver during the project timeframe, especially those organisations that potentially would be involved in multiple projects at the same time.More information on these, and other projects funded through the UK SHORE programme, can be found at https://iuk-business- connect.org.uk/programme/uk-shipping-office-for-reducing-emissions/

What funding applications her Department has received from Artemis Technologies in each of the last three years; and which of those projects (a) have not been supported and (b) are being considered by her Department.

In financial year 2024/25 the Department for Transport received no funding applications from Artemis Technologies. In financial year 2023/24 the Department for Transport received six Artemis Technologies applications to the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) R&D Programme. Of these, three have been accepted whilst three were rejected. One of the accepted projects was subsequently withdrawn during project setup. In financial year 2022/23 the Department for Transport received six funding applications, via the UK SHORE from Artemis Technologies. Of these, five were accepted and one was rejected.

Communities and Local Government, what progress her Department has made on the long-term housing strategy.

The government intends to publish a long-term housing strategy later this year.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to enable social landlords to gain access to building safety remediation funding.

Across England, social landlords can apply to government remediation funds (Building Safety Fund and Cladding Safety Scheme). They can apply for funding equivalent to (1) the amount which the social landlord would otherwise be entitled to pass on to leaseholders; or (2) the full cost of remedial works where paying those costs would render the social landlord financially unviable. As of 30 April 2025, government has committed £606m to support remediation of social housing through government schemes. Social landlords face barriers to accelerating remediation, including access to upfront capital. From April 2025, we have increased funding for social landlords applying for government remediation funding so that remedial works can start sooner and we will this year announce a long-term strategy for accelerating social housing remediation.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to include glass in the deposit return scheme from 2027.

The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England will include single-use drinks containers from 150ml to 3 litres. Materials included are polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, steel, and aluminium drink containers In England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, glass is not in scope of DRS. Instead, glass will be included in the scope of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging scheme, to make sure it is appropriately and efficiently recycled. The government’s position is that glass in DRS would add considerable upfront cost and create complex challenges to delivery, particularly for the hospitality and retail sectors. It will also disproportionately impact small breweries and be inconvenient for consumers due to its weight and potential for breakage in transit to a return point. The decision to exclude glass drinks containers from DRS was taken following extensive reviewing of evidence and engagement with industry stakeholders. This includes glass producers, who, at the time, were strongly in favour of glass exclusion from DRS and inclusion in pEPR.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that UK Deposit Management Organisation Ltd includes representation from (a) small businesses and (b) the wider beverage industry.

Small businesses, including small producers and retailers, are key to the success of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers. During the development of DRS policy and legislation, the Government worked closely with small businesses and their trade associations through dedicated sub-groups. The appointment of UK Deposit Management Organisation Limited (UK DMO) has been made by government, effective from 2nd May 2025 as the operator of the DRS for single-use plastic and metal drinks containers across England and Northern Ireland. UK DMO are continuing the engagement with small business and wider beverage industry representatives via their Advisory Group and their views must be taken into account as delivery of the DRS progresses. UK DMO itself is an organisation that represents a significant portion of the UK drinks and retail sectors. The DMO application process has ensured that there is a wide representation of industry needs on the DMO Board. UK DMO also has an Advisory Group, which will include small businesses representation.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the agreement between the EU and UK to create a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement of 19 May 2025, whether agri‑food tech exports would be required to meet (a) UK and (b) EU rules.

The EU have accepted there will need to be a number of areas where we need to retain our own rules. The details of these are subject to negotiation, but we have been clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards, support public health, and support the use of new and innovative technologies.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to review the inclusion of (a) plastic containers and (b) metal cans in the extended producer responsibility scheme following the rollout of the deposit return scheme in 2027.

The Government is not currently considering changes to the scope of pEPR or Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The DRS regulation sets out the requirement for the Government to conduct a post implementation review of the DRS to consider its effectiveness, costs, and benefits. This will be conducted once the scheme has been operational for enough time to allow sufficient data to be available. When considering whether the scope of the scheme needs to be updated, the department would be open to considering the views of those managing the DRS and those who represent materials which could be considered as part of the scope of a DRS in the future. Any changes being considered would be subject to the standard practices of consultation and analysis / impact assessment development. Such reviews would also need to consider associated policies, such as extended producer responsibility for packaging, which captures all non-DRS packaging. Potential changes to the materials scope would also need to reflect the additional costs from infrastructure requirements such as changes to collection, logistics, retrofitting, and equipment lifespan.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the (a) Extended Producer Responsibility and (b) Deposit Return Scheme thresholds for beverage manufacturers are applied (i) per‑brand and (ii) according to the size of the parent company.

If a business is the brand owner of the packaging, then they must include this when determining how much packaging they handle. There is guidance available on gov.uk and the ‘Extended producer responsibility for packaging: Regulators’ agreed positions and technical interpretations’ guidance to support producers in understanding their obligation. Businesses should continue to send their compliance queries to the regulators. We have included in the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in England regulations, a low volume products exemption to support micro producers selling less than 5,000 units per product line per year. These products can be exempt from DRS if the producer chooses to, by registering those products with the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO).

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to review extended producer responsibility fees.

Producers were required to submit their final 2024 data by 1 April 2025. Following this deadline, we are conducting regulatory checks. Once checks are conducted to an appropriate level, we will use 2024 data and insight from regulator checks to publish pEPR base fees in June 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether beverage industry manufacturers will be required to pay the Extended Producer Responsibility levy if they sell their products in the on-trade market with proof from the vendor of a non-council-funded recycling scheme.

The current regulations do not allow for this. This is because there are real challenges in effectively applying and compliance monitoring such an exemption across all sectors and producer types, resulting in a significant risk of misreporting and fraud. Government however recognises the strong views of stakeholders and is looking again at the household packaging definition. A new period of stakeholder engagement on this issue will commence shortly.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether a UK-based beverage manufacturer can accept returns of all recyclable product packaging to offset their Extended Producer Responsibility levy.

Existing provisions in the pEPR regulations only allow for offsets from disposal cost fees for: packaging that is not commonly collected by Local Authorities for recycling, defined as packaging collected by less than 75% of Local Authorities; orreusable packaging that has been used at least once and has become waste where that packaging is collected by a producer and recycled.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce a requirement for tethered caps on drinks before 2029.

There are no plans to introduce a tethered caps requirement before 2029.