Written questions by Robertson.

What steps his Department is taking to monitor progress on reducing the number of people with a learning disability and autism in mental health hospitals.

The Mental Health Bill, introduced in the House of Lords on 6 November 2024, proposes a package of measures to ensure people with a learning disability and autistic people get the support they need in the community, improving care and keeping people out of hospitals.The Assuring Transformation data set is our primary source for people with a learning disability and autistic people who are in hospital for a mental health condition. This data is published monthly and shows the number of people with a learning disability and autistic people who are in mental health inpatient settings. We will continue to evaluate this data.National Health Service planning guidance, published on 30 January 2025, includes a focus on improving mental health and learning disability care and contains the objective to deliver a minimum 10% reduction in the use of mental health inpatient care for people with a learning disability and autistic people in 2025/26. This supports the aim to reach a position of no more than 30 adults or between 12 and 15 children aged under 18 years old for every one million population.

What steps his Department is taking to support landlords in areas with limited access to qualified professionals and contractors in meeting the proposed higher EPC requirements for private rented properties.

The Government is now consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector to EPC C or equivalent. We are proposing a phased implementation of the new standard from 2028 to 2030 to encourage early action. The consultation is accompanied with the Department’s assessment of the potential cost to landlords. We are considering how we can best support landlords to meet the new standards, including when and how exemptions should be applied for those unable to meet the new standard.

Whether it remains his Department's policy that there should be no more than 30 adult inpatients with a learning disability and/or autism per million adult population in mental health inpatient units.

Our commitment remains, as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, that there should be no more than 30 adults with a learning disability, autism or both in a mental health inpatient setting per million adults. As part of NHS Operational and Planning Guidance for 2025/26, integrated care boards are expected to set out plans for how they will continue to focus on making sure that people with a learning disability and autistic people are admitted into a mental health inpatient setting only for the purpose of care and treatment of a mental health condition. The aim is to achieve a further 10% reduction in the number of people with a learning disability and autistic people in inpatient settings by March 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance he has issued on using Community Protection Notices for household waste receptacles.

The Home Office, who administer the legislation for Community Protection Notices, have issued guidance on their use. This is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6422a19b60a35e00120cae63/2023_Update_ASB_Statutory_Guidance_-_FINAL__1_.pdf. Defra has issued guidance on using fixed penalties notices under section 46A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for household waste receptacle offences. This is available at:Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties - GOV.UK

What steps his Department is taking to incentivize contractors and service providers to operate in underserved areas with high demand for energy efficiency upgrades.

The Government recognises the need for a skilled, competent and robust supply chain to deliver the improvements to buildings necessary to meet our net zero and fuel poverty targets. We have invested in regional pilots through the Local Net Zero Hubs which are trialling regional solutions to retrofit supply chain challenges. Over £28 million has been committed to support skills in the energy efficiency and low carbon heating sectors since 2020. The Regional Skills Pilots is a £3.5 million investment in the retrofit skills supply chain across the English regions. The pilots support the five local net zero hubs to work with local delivery partners to identify and test solutions to regional supply chain challenges. We will set out further details in the Warm Homes Plan.

What financial assistance the Government is providing to landlords to help them meet the new EPC requirements for private rented properties.

The Government is now consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector to EPC C or equivalent. We are proposing a phased implementation of the new standard from 2028 to 2030 to encourage early action. The consultation is accompanied with the Department’s assessment of the potential cost to landlords. We are considering how we can best support landlords to meet the new standards, including when and how exemptions should be applied for those unable to meet the new standard.

What steps his Department plans to take to support landlords in (a) rural and (b) coastal areas to meet the new EPC standards by 2030.

The Government is now consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector to EPC C or equivalent. We are proposing a phased implementation of the new standard from 2028 to 2030 to encourage early action. The consultation is accompanied with the Department’s assessment of the potential cost to landlords. We are considering how we can best support landlords to meet the new standards, including when and how exemptions should be applied for those unable to meet the new standard.

Which office in his Department Alan Milburn sits in.

Alan Milburn was appointed as Lead Non-Executive Member to the board of the Department on 8 November 2024. Non-executive board members provide independent advice and expertise to inform the Department's strategy, performance, and governance, and the lead non-executive board member provides additional support to my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in their role as Chair of the Board.Non-executive board members do not have a designated space within the Department’s office buildings. They may attend meetings in person or virtually as required.

How much funding his Department allocated to improve community support for people with a learning disability and autistic people in 2024-25.

For 2024/25, NHS England allocated £124 million of transformation funding for learning disability and autism services in local integrated care board (ICB) areas. This funding includes money for local systems to reduce reliance on mental health inpatient settings.In England, we continue to fund the locally administered Disabled Facilities Grant which helps eligible disabled people, including people with a learning disability and autistic people, on low incomes to adapt their homes to make them safe and suitable for their needs.We have provided an in-year uplift to the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) of £86 million in 2024/25. This increase will fund approximately 7,800 additional home adaptations. This is on top of the £625 million paid to local authorities in May 2024. The Government has also announced an £86 million additional investment in the DFG for 2025/26 at the Budget, bringing total funding for 2025/26 to £711 million.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the new EPC regulations on the supply of rental properties in underserved regions.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to the hon Member for Thirsk and Malton (Kevin Hollinrake) by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 14 January 2025 to Question UIN 22048. On the 4th December 2024 Government published the consultation on Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 23782 on Domestic Waste: Disposal, whether an outsourced contract for issuing fixed penalty notices in a manner that is in breach of the Code is grounds for appeal against the issuing of a fixed penalty notice.

There is no formal right of appeal against a fixed penalty notice. If an alleged offender does not accept their liability for the offence, there is no requirement on them to pay the fixed penalty. They may have to defend their case in court. As this is an informal process, there are no fixed grounds on which such a challenge may be made. The Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse states that “as a guideline, a single plastic sack of rubbish should usually be considered fly-tipping rather than litter.” Advisory guidance for local authorities is available on the use of littering enforcement powers which states that fixed penalty notices should only be used for the offence for which they were created. It also explains local authorities remain responsible for the entire enforcement process, even if they choose to use a private enforcement company. Defra is currently considering whether to make this enforcement guidance statutory.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ensure that councils are aware of the guidance entitled Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties, published on 23 April 2018.

The guidance, 'Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties' outlines the rules that councils must follow when issuing fixed penalties under section 46A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We routinely point councils to this guidance when we receive relevant queries. Additionally, we are working with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and the sector to provide further guidance and tools to support preparation for the implementation of Simpler Recycling.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish each of the responses to the final Simpler Recycling consultation.

In October 2023, Defra held two consultations on Simpler Recycling, and has since published consultation responses for both online, including a summary of responses:Simpler recycling in England: additional policies - GOV.UKExemptions and statutory guidance for simpler recycling in England - GOV.UK Note, the Government has since published a policy update on Simpler Recycling (November 2024): Simpler Recycling in England: policy update - GOV.UK.

Whether his Department has received representations on health warnings on bacon.

Department officials are not aware of any correspondence or meetings being held in relation to health warnings on bacon. Government advice is that people with relatively high intakes of red and processed meat, namely over 90 grams per day, should consider reducing their intakes. It was estimated that a reduction to the adult population average of 70 grams per day would not increase the proportion of the adult population with low iron intakes. Government recommendations on red and processed meat intake, including bacon, are based on advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), a committee of independent scientific experts. SACN reviewed the evidence on red and processed meat intake and the risk of bowel cancer as part of their report on Iron and Health, published in 2010. SACN concluded that red and processed meat is probably associated with increased bowel cancer risk.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to ban (a) three and (b) four weekly residual bin collections.

The Government has introduced mandating weekly food waste collections.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 27559 on Domestic Waste: Recycling and Waste Disposal, whether his Department has (a) funded and (b) supported the Waste & Resources Action Programme to produce guidance on this issue.

Yes, Defra has provided WRAP funding and support under its Collection & Packaging Reforms and Resource and Waste Strategy programmes.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025, to Question 23782, on Domestic Waste: Disposal, what is the process and right of appeal against an outsourced company that issues a fixed penalty notice in breach of the Code of Practice.

There is no formal right of appeal against a fixed penalty notice. If an alleged offender does not accept their liability for the offence, there is no requirement on them to pay the fixed penalty. They may have to defend their case in court. As this is an informal process, there are no fixed grounds on which such a challenge may be made. The Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse states that “as a guideline, a single plastic sack of rubbish should usually be considered fly-tipping rather than litter.” Advisory guidance for local authorities is available on the use of littering enforcement powers which states that fixed penalty notices should only be used for the offence for which they were created. It also explains local authorities remain responsible for the entire enforcement process, even if they choose to use a private enforcement company. Defra is currently considering whether to make this enforcement guidance statutory.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 24365 on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: WRAP, how much funding is being provided to WRAP in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26; if he will list each of the projects, programmes and activities that WRAP has been commissioned by his Department to undertake; and what access WRAP gives his Department to its internal research and datasets.

This information is published by WRAP in its Annual report and Accounts. Defra’s funding for WRAP in 2025/26 is subject to internal business planning allocations . To ensure value for money, Defra has access to all WRAP strategic boards, working groups, evidence, research, and reports.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25593 on Wood-burning stoves: air pollution, what assessment his Department has (a) made and (b) commissioned of the impact of the burning of household rubbish in the gardens of residential properties on air pollution.

No assessment has been made of the impact of burning household waste in gardens as there is legislation and guidance to prevent fires causing pollution or a nuisance.

Whether Baroness Casey of Blackstock will be paid for her review into social care; and how many civil servants have been assigned to support that review.

Baroness Casey of Blackstock will be paid for her role as Chair of the independent commission. We are currently in the process of recruiting the Commission Secretariat and therefore the number of civil servants supporting the commission is still to be confirmed.