Written questions by Heylings.

On what statutory basis his Department can prevent biomass companies from claiming renewable subsidies for burning wood from irreplaceable primary forests.

The Secretary of State has the statutory authority to determine the sustainability criteria for biomass subsidies either by secondary legislation such as regulations under the Renewables Obligation scheme, or by determining the terms of a contract under the Contracts for Difference scheme. While the Secretary of State sets the sustainability framework, it is for relevant regulators such as Ofgem, or the Low-Carbon Contracts Company as the contractual counterparty to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, to enforce sustainability requirements. Government only supports biomass that satisfies sustainability criteria. The proposed Low-Carbon Dispatchable CfD will strengthen sustainability criteria by excluding biomass sourced from primary forest and old-growth areas from receiving subsidy.

What steps his Department is taking with Companies Houses to ensure that businesses are adequately insured.

Companies House supports the Registrar of Companies in the fulfilment of her functions to incorporate and dissolve companies, and to provide public access to company information by maintaining the public register of companies.Insurance is a matter for individual companies and businesses. Where insurance is mandatory to operate or trade in a particular sector or environment, it would be for the relevant regulatory body to take action if a particular company’s insurance arrangements were inadequate. In England, Scotland and Wales the Health and Safety Executive enforces the legal requirement for businesses to maintain employers’ liability insurance.

What steps her Department is taking to improve road safety for to e-bikes to reduce the number of injuries involving e-bikes.

Everyone who cycles, whether they are riding an e-bike or a conventional pedal bike, has a duty to behave in a safe and responsible matter and must follow the rules set out in the Highway Code. E-bikes can only be ridden legally on public roads where they comply in full with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983. These Regulations are there to ensure the safety of e-bikes both for the riders and for other road users. The enforcement of any offences relating to cycling is a matter for the police, and the Government is providing the police with more powers to make it easier to seize any vehicle, including an e-bike, where it is being used in an anti-social manner. Measures contained in the Crime and Policing Bill will allow the police to seize the vehicle without first being required to provide the rider with a warning. This will help get dangerous and unsafe e-bikes off our roads for good.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Land Use Framework will be applied retrospectively to existing Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project applications.

When the Land Use Framework is published, it will set out the evidence, data and tools needed to help safeguard our most productive agricultural land and identify the best areas for nature’s recovery. The Framework will be a guide for decision makers on how we make the most of what our diverse landscapes have to offer, and its evidence base has underpinned wider Government reform, including the Strategic Spatial Energy plan. It will not bind decision makers or prescribe land uses in specific places.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the final Land Use Framework following the consultation process.

The Government ran a consultation on land use in England from January to April this year. The responses to this consultation, and feedback from supporting workshops, are being analysed. These responses and outputs will inform the preparation of the Land Use Framework, which will be published in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, how the Land Use Framework and the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan will work together to inform decision-making on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

The Government consulted on land use in England earlier this year, the outcomes of which will inform the publication of the Land Use Framework later this year. The analysis underpinning the Land Use Consultation for England has fed into the development of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan’s methodology. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Defra will continue to work closely to ensure that the SSEP and the Land Use Framework work together cohesively alongside other sector plans.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans for the Land Use Framework to be afforded material consideration in relevant planning policy documents.

By law, planning applications are determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. What constitutes a material consideration is very widely defined and it is for the local planning authority to determine what is a relevant consideration based on the circumstances of a particular case. The evidence base that underpinned the Land Use Consultation, and feedback on it, will inform the Government’s wider strategic planning agenda.

What steps he is taking to improve the safety of cooking appliances in order to reduce the number of home fires.

Regulations require manufacturers to place only safe gas-fuelled and electric powered cookers and ovens on the market. Regulations require gas-fuelled cookers to be installed by a competent and Gas-Safe registered engineer. Landlords must ensure gas safety checks are carried out annually and have a Gas Safety Certificate for their property, and that electrical checks are carried out every five years, and that they obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report.The current Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will give the Government powers to amend and update existing product safety legislation should this be needed.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of large-scale solar Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects on (a) long-term food production capacity and (b) the natural environment.

Defra does not collect information on the potential impacts of constructing green energy infrastructure. However, Defra does produce statistical estimates of agricultural land areas each year from the annual June Survey of Agriculture: In 2024, the utilised agricultural area (UAA) in England was 8.7 million hectares and this has remained broadly stable, only changing by around +/-1% each year over the past decade. Full breakdowns of agricultural land areas are published here Agricultural land use in England - GOV.UK In 2024, around 7,300 hectares of this land were used for solar panels (less than 0.1% of UAA). However, 50% of this land is still being used for agricultural production, such as for livestock grazing. It is recognised that solar can, when delivered in line with relevant planning policy, have a positive impact on the natural environment, and large-scale solar farms can contribute significant gains for local biodiversity with intelligent design and planning.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) applicant tracking systems and (b) artificial intelligence-based CV screening on the (i) fairness and (ii) accessibility of job applications.

AI assurance is crucial to ensuring that AI systems are developed and deployed responsibly and safely. That is why we have designated AI assurance as a key pillar of support for meeting the commitments made in government’s response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan.To help organisations address the potential risks associated with the use of AI in CV screening, DSIT published its ‘Responsible AI in Recruitment’ guidance in 2024, setting out good practice for the procurement and deployment of AI systems for HR and recruitment. DSIT also ran the Fairness Innovation Challenge, funding the development of novel solutions to address bias in AI systems. One of the winning projects focused on detecting and reducing bias in CV screening algorithms.

Whether her Department's plans to extend the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain for skilled workers from 5 to 10 years will be applied to (a) prospective applicants only or (b) retrospectively to people already living in the UK.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including indefinite leave to remain.This expansion of the Point-Based System will increase the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years.We will introduce reforms to expand the Points-Based System to both our settlement and citizenship rules, so they are based on contribution to the UK, with further details to be set out to Parliament by the end of the year.Individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period to settlement and citizenship based on contributions to the UK economy and society.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide further details at that stage.

Whether the (a) five-year residency requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain and (b) subsequent one-year period for naturalisation will remain in place for British National (Overseas) visa holders (i) retrospectively and (ii) prospectively.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including indefinite leave to remain.This expansion of the Point-Based System will increase the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years.We will introduce reforms to expand the Points-Based System to both our settlement and citizenship rules, so they are based on contribution to the UK, with further details to be set out to Parliament by the end of the year.Individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period to settlement and citizenship based on contributions to the UK economy and society.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide further details at that stage.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of US meat imports on trends in the level of UK farmers (a) lowering animal welfare standards or (b) ceasing trading.

We have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef – with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate. The deal does not change Britain’s high animal welfare and environmental standards. Imports of hormone treated beef or chlorinated chicken remain illegal. Our approach to this trade deal has ensured that agricultural imports coming into the UK meet the highest food standards. This is a major opportunity for British farmers to increase their exports to the world's largest consumer market, helping them to grow their businesses.

Whether she is considering (a) transitional arrangements and (b) specific exemptions to future immigration reforms for current British National (Overseas) visa holders.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including indefinite leave to remain.This expansion of the Point-Based System will increase the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years.We will introduce reforms to expand the Points-Based System to both our settlement and citizenship rules, so they are based on contribution to the UK, with further details to be set out to Parliament by the end of the year.Individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period to settlement and citizenship based on contributions to the UK economy and society.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide further details at that stage.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the UK-US trade deal prevents the importation of meat from low-welfare feedlots; and if he will consult animal welfare organisations on this matter.

On 8 May, the UK Government announced a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump.  This delivers on the commitment by the Prime Minister and the President on 27 February to agree an economic deal in our respective national interests. This deal has created a reciprocal agreement to lower tariffs for British beef exporters to the US, while acting in the UK’s national interest by ensuring that we uphold our rigorous food standards while protecting our farmers. We have always been clear that this Government will protect British farmers, secure our food security and uphold our high food, animal welfare and environmental standards in trade deals. That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do.

Whether she plans to introduce provisions to allow British National (Overseas) visa holders access to home-rate university tuition fees prior to obtaining settled status.

I refer the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire to the answer of 29 May 2025 to Question 52277.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential environmental impact of US meat imports on UK (a) farming and (b) climate goals.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential. On 8 May, the UK Government announced a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump.  This delivers on the commitment by the Prime Minister and the President on 27 February to agree an economic deal in our respective national interests. This deal has created a reciprocal agreement to lower tariffs for British beef exporters to the US, while acting in the UK’s national interest by ensuring that we uphold our rigorous food standards while protecting our farmers. The agreement on beef means that around 1.5% of the UK beef market could come from the United States, and the same quantity of British beef can be exported to them. We have always been clear that this Government will protect British farmers, secure our food security and uphold our high food, animal welfare and environmental standards in trade deals. That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he considered a derogation for vintage firearms that cannot safely use alternatives to lead shot in the proposed lead shot ban.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have now published a final opinion on their restriction proposal for lead in ammunition, informed by feedback from public consultations as well as independent scientific advice. As part of their Opinion, HSE have considered the socio-economic impacts of their proposed restriction in GB. Further information will follow in due course.

What plans her Department to integrate the work of the Industrial Strategy Council with (a) Life Sciences Council and (b) other governance structures.

Sector Plans are being designed in partnership with business, devolved governments, regions and other stakeholders, through bespoke arrangements tailored to each sector. This will vary by sector, but some may include Sector Councils, such as the well-established Life Sciences Council.There will not be formal reporting structures between Sector Councils and the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council. However, we expect there to be close collaboration including through information sharing and joint-working as part of their role advising government on the delivery of the Industrial Strategy. The Council will continue a programme to engage widely across government.

If he will take steps to ensure that a full blood count is (a) categorised as a core diagnostic service and (b) available at all community diagnostic centres.

Blood tests, particularly full blood count (FBC) tests, are among the most commonly requested diagnostic investigations across primary and secondary care, and are readily available across all 27 National Health Service pathology networks. FBC tests play a vital role in detecting and monitoring a wide range of conditions, and as such, FBCs are essential to timely diagnosis and treatment planning across multiple clinical pathways.Phlebotomy, the procedure to collect blood samples, is widely available across general practice, community health services, and secondary care phlebotomy clinics, supporting equitable access to essential blood testing.Phlebotomy is also a core service provided by all standard and large community diagnostic centres (CDCs). CDCs are designed to deliver a range of high-volume, low-complexity diagnostic tests, including common blood tests such as FBCs, closer to patients’ homes.