Written questions by Moore.

What discussions she has had with schools on ensuring that (a) external and (b) other staff are subject to sufficient Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

There is already a robust safeguarding framework in place in the form of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), which is the statutory safeguarding guidance that all schools and colleges must have regard to when safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This guidance clearly sets out requirements regarding the checks schools should undertake for staff, including external staff, and visitors, to ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place.In particular, KCSIE provides guidance on how schools should manage visitors, distinguishing between those in a professional capacity (for example, educational psychologists, social workers) and general visitors (for example, parents attending events). KCSIE makes clear that schools should not request Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for general visitors, while those attending in a professional capacity should have their ID checked, and schools should be assured that appropriate DBS checks have been carried out by their employer. The guidance also highlights the importance of schools having policies in place to assess external organisations providing educational content.KCSIE is reviewed annually, ordinarily with substantive changes and public consultation taking place in one year and technical-only changes the next. This approach ensures that schools and colleges have sufficient time to implement any updates effectively while minimising disruption for their staff.

What criteria she used to identify the five local areas to hold local inquiries into child sexual exploitation, announced on 16 January 2025.

On 16 January 2025, the Home Secretary announced a funding package to deliver stronger national support for locally-led work on tackling group-based child sexual exploitation. This includes supporting Oldham Council who have confirmed that work to undertake a local inquiry has already begun. We are in the process of consulting with local authorities and relevant stakeholders on the design and delivery of this package and will update the House in due course.

When she expects the publication of the reports into the five local inquiries into child sexual exploitation, announced on 16 January 2025.

On 16 January 2025, the Home Secretary announced a funding package to deliver stronger national support for locally-led work on tackling group-based child sexual exploitation. This includes supporting Oldham Council who have confirmed that work to undertake a local inquiry has already begun. We are in the process of consulting with local authorities and relevant stakeholders on the design and delivery of this package and will update the House in due course.

What steps she is taking to prevent reoffending by people convicted of drug dealing.

We are tackling the causes of reoffending by investing in a range of interventions to address the underlying criminogenic needs of offenders (including those convicted of drug dealing). This includes accommodation, employment and substance misuse treatment services. There are also a range of accredited programmes in prisons and probation designed to address offending behaviour. Those convicted of drug dealing offences may be suitable, for example, for the Building Choices programme, which provides offenders with a structured opportunity to learn, strengthen, and practice skills and behaviour that targets areas of common criminogenic need. Accredited programmes are complemented by a range of interventions that aim to support individuals to change their attitudes, thinking and behaviour, which are commonly delivered by third sector organisations – and may also be suitable for those convicted of drug offences. Furthermore, people convicted of drug dealing are subject to licence conditions on release from prison which aim to protect the public, prevent re-offending and secure the successful re-integration into the community. For those convicted of drug dealing with substance misuse issues, licence conditions may require them to attend appointments with substance misuse services or to submit to drug testing.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of solar farms on underlying soil quality.

A wide range of public assessments have been made on the uses of land alongside and underneath solar panels, such as livestock grazing and other approaches to species-rich grassland creation. When considering development proposals that affect agricultural land and soils, the Government encourages developers and local planning authorities to refer to relevant Government policies and guidance that aim to protect all soils by managing them in a sustainable way.

How many cases were referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme between 2019 to 2025.

From 1 January 2019 to 21 February 2025, 781 sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal by the Law Officers under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.The number of referrals by Law Officers to the Court of Appeal each year since 2019 is as follows:2019932020972021155202213920231392024146202512 to dateThis data is available publicly using the Outcome of ULS Referrals Data Tool - Outcome of unduly lenient sentence referrals - GOV.UK.

Whether his Department has plans to remove the 28 day cap on the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Parliament intended the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme to be an exceptional power, and any expansion of the scheme must be carefully considered. While we understand calls for expansion, it is important for both victims and offenders that there is finality in sentencing. The Law Commission is undertaking a review of the laws governing criminal appeals. Last month, it launched a public consultation which invites views on a range of reforms to the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme, including extending the 28-day time limit. The consultation is open to all and runs until 30 May: Criminal Appeals Consultation Paper - Law Commission.

Food and Rural Affairs, how he allocated funding previously allocated to the Air Quality Funding Scheme for 2024.

The Local Air Quality Grant was withdrawn by the previous Air Quality Minister – the hon. Member for Keighley and Ilkley. The funding was allocated to be spent during the 23/24 financial year so was not at the disposal of the new Air Quality Minister for the current financial year.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to open the Air Quality Funding Scheme for local authorities in 2025.

The Local Air Quality Grant is not opening for the 24/25 financial year. Any future funding schemes will be subject to The Government spending review processes.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has plans to reform waste exemptions under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

Defra is developing reforms to the waste exemptions regime which will ensure activities carried out under waste exemptions are indeed low risk and small scale and which will prevent exemptions from being used to hide illegal activity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress he has made on securing consular access for Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

The UK Government continues to raise Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah's case at the highest levels with the Egyptian government. We have been consistently clear in calling for his release and continue to press for urgent consular access. The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi on 26 December 2024 and again on 8 January 2025. The Foreign Secretary raised this case with Egyptian Foreign Minister on 23 January; I raised the case with the Egyptian Ambassador to London on 18 February. National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell also raised this with the Egyptian Foreign Minister on 2 January.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the ongoing costs to his Department of the Manchester Clean Air Zone scheme.

Details of Greater Manchester authorities’ expenditure is available in reports to the GMCA available here. The Government has recently approved an investment-led non-charging Clean Air Plan proposed by Greater Manchester authorities. There are no ongoing costs to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from the earlier Clean Air Zone scheme and no further funding has been provided. Greater Manchester authorities are also exploring with the police whether the existing ANPR camera infrastructure may be used for law enforcement activity, and the potential reuse opportunities for signage infrastructure.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the cost to his Department of the Manchester Clean Air Zone scheme.

Details of Greater Manchester authorities’ expenditure is available in reports to the GMCA available here. The Government has recently approved an investment-led non-charging Clean Air Plan proposed by Greater Manchester authorities. There are no ongoing costs to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from the earlier Clean Air Zone scheme and no further funding has been provided. Greater Manchester authorities are also exploring with the police whether the existing ANPR camera infrastructure may be used for law enforcement activity, and the potential reuse opportunities for signage infrastructure.

What estimate her Department has made of the private children's' care capacity of private care homes within (a) Bradford, (b) Leeds, (c) Calderdale and (d) Kirklees Council area.

The department collects data on children looked after by local authorities. The latest available information on the number of children in care by each requested local authority within private care homes on 31 March 2024 is shown below:Local AuthorityNumber of ChildrenBradford193Leeds122Calderdale29Kirklees20 The figures include children looked after in secure children’s homes, children’s homes subject to Children’s Homes Regulations and residential care homes under private provision. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.Ofsted’s latest annual publication of ‘Inspection and regulation of children’s social care providers’ shows the following private children’s homes and places as at 30 September 2024:Local AuthorityChildren’s HomesPlacesBradford3092Leeds1646Calderdale3086Kirklees34103 This publication can be accessed in full at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inspection-and-regulation-of-childrens-social-care-providers.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of children in care within private care homes in (a) Bradford Council, (b) Leeds Council, (c) Calderdale Council and (d) Kirklees Council.

The department collects data on children looked after by local authorities. The latest available information on the number of children in care by each requested local authority within private care homes on 31 March 2024 is shown below:Local AuthorityNumber of ChildrenBradford193Leeds122Calderdale29Kirklees20 The figures include children looked after in secure children’s homes, children’s homes subject to Children’s Homes Regulations and residential care homes under private provision. Figures exclude children looked after under a series of short-term placements.Ofsted’s latest annual publication of ‘Inspection and regulation of children’s social care providers’ shows the following private children’s homes and places as at 30 September 2024:Local AuthorityChildren’s HomesPlacesBradford3092Leeds1646Calderdale3086Kirklees34103 This publication can be accessed in full at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inspection-and-regulation-of-childrens-social-care-providers.

Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department first knew about the 7 day delay to changes in the IPAFFS IT system, following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Germany.

We do not recognise the assertation that there was a delay in controls being implemented. The department acted quickly to stop consignments that presented a risk. Following the confirmation of outbreak, we immediately instructed Port Health Authorities (PHAs) across Great Britain to suspend susceptible FMD imports that posed a risk to UK biosecurity. Additionally, we immediately informed border authorities, including Dover Port Health Authority and businesses, with the first communications issued at 17:42 and 21:00 on 10 January, and implemented measures to suspend commercial and personal imports of commodities from susceptible animals.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) victims and (b) perpetrators of live cases of gang-based child sexual exploitation.

The Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce has brought together the best police data that is currently available on group-based offending. This was published in November 2024: https://www.hydrantprogramme.co.uk/publications/hydrant-publications#LatestNews).The taskforce reports that 127 major police investigations across 29 police forces are currently under way into child sexual exploitation and gang grooming. However, as the Home Secretary set out in her statement on 16 January, the Home Office will overhaul the data that we expect local areas to collect on child sexual exploitation and abuse as part of a new performance framework for policing, and we have already asked the Taskforce to immediately expand the data it collects and publishes, including on ethnicity.To go further, the Home Secretary has asked Baroness Louise Casey to oversee a rapid audit of the current scale and nature of gang-based child sexual exploitation across the country. That work is currently underway.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of farm size on farm productivity.

We collect detailed information on the financial position and physical and economic performance of farm businesses in England through the Farm Business Survey (FBS). The Farming Productivity Dashboard provides key statistics on farm performance and productivity in England (Productivity Dashboard).

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandatory registration on the Ofsted register for nannies.

Early years providers required to register with Ofsted on the Early Years Register, or with an early years childminder agency (CMA) are under a legal duty to comply with the early years foundation stage (EYFS), which includes learning and development requirements, and the quality of their provision is regulated by Ofsted or their CMA. All other early years providers who are not required to register with Ofsted or a CMA, including nannies, do not have the same legal requirements. They are not required to implement the EYFS or provide any form of education and are not regulated or inspected by Ofsted against the EYFS, even if they choose to register on the voluntary part of Ofsted’s General Childcare Register, which they may do in order to bring them within the scope of government schemes such as Tax-Free Childcare. This enables parents for whom they are working to make use of government support. The services that nannies provide are subject to a private arrangement with parents, and there are no plans to alter this by requiring nannies to register. However, the department is in contact with the National Nanny Association who campaign on this issue, and we continue to discuss with them matters affecting nannies and those who use them.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of building energy infrastructure on protected peatland.

The Government has committed to ensuring nature’s recovery and recognises the vital role of peatlands in storing carbon, tackling climate change and fighting biodiversity loss. The National Policy Statements for energy set out the requirements on developers to undertake Greenhouse Gas Assessments and the mitigation hierarchy they must apply, including consideration of peatland restoration through a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy. Where significant effects are likely, energy infrastructure developers must submit an Environmental Impact Assessment with their planning application, demonstrating how they have applied this hierarchy to any impacts arising from proposed development.