Written questions by Bool.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Environment Agency took to communicate to operators that RPS248 would be withdrawn.

A Regulatory Position Statement explains when the Environment Agency will not take enforcement action for not complying with a legal requirement. In July 2021 RPS 248 was published. The RPS was time limited and written to enable the use of shredded waste carpet whilst industry and regulators did further work on understanding the environmental risks. RPS withdrawal was always a potential outcome from this work. In advance of RPS248 being withdrawn, the Environment Agency sent a briefing note to industry explaining the reasoning behind the planned withdrawal. The briefing was sent to Carpet Recycling UK (who had a working group on waste carpet in equestrian surfaces) and to companies notifying that they were using the RPS. A notification under the RPS was a critical requirement of the RPS. Some companies not notifying under RPS248 subsequently contacted the Environment Agency for further information and the briefing note was shared on request. The RPS was subsequently withdrawn in January 2024, as the RPS posed an unacceptable risk to the environment and the future liabilities of end users. Industry must now meet the legal requirement for an environmental permit for the use of shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with the Environment Agency to prevent companies from importing waste carpet from the EU.

Waste is a commodity, and there is a legitimate global market for secondary materials. The transfrontier shipment of waste, including waste carpet, is subject to strict controls that are set out in the UK’s legislation. All waste shipments from the EU to the UK must comply with these controls. The Environment Agency (EA) is England’s competent authority and conducts compliance activities on an intelligence led, risk-based approach to ensure that imports of waste to England are in compliance with the legislative controls. The EA welcome any information regarding possible illegal movements via their incident reporting system or via Crimestoppers.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Environment Agency on the potential merits of providing financial support to businesses with the cost of the removal of unusable stock, in the context of the withdrawal of the regulatory guidance statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing, RPS248.

We currently have no plans to discuss the potential merits of paying compensation to businesses affected by the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing. Withdrawing the RPS means that using shredded waste carpets for equestrian surfacing is not prohibited, but a waste management permit is needed instead. There is no mechanism to compensate businesses affected by the withdrawal of a regulatory position.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the Environment Agency on the potential merits of paying compensation to businesses affected by the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing RPS248.

We currently have no plans to discuss the potential merits of paying compensation to businesses affected by the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing. Withdrawing the RPS means that using shredded waste carpets for equestrian surfacing is not prohibited, but a waste management permit is needed instead. There is no mechanism to compensate businesses affected by the withdrawal of a regulatory position.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the adequacy of the length of the notice period for the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing, RPS248.

There have been no discussions with the Environment Agency about the adequacy of the length of the notice period for the withdrawal of the regulatory position statement entitled Using shredded waste carpet in equestrian surfacing RPS248.

If she will take steps to require the NHS to give the same priority to UK citizens as undocumented migrants when accessing A&E services.

The Government is clear that patients should expect and receive the highest standard of service and care from the National Health Service, and that people should be treated with compassion, dignity, and respect. Patients attending emergency departments will always be prioritised based on clinical need.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of waiting times for the commissioning of educational psychologists; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing assessments by educational psychologists arranged and paid for by parents to be used.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life, breaking down the barriers to opportunity.Educational psychologists play a critical role in the support available to children and young people, providing statutory input into education, health and care (EHC) assessments and advising the school workforce on how to support children and young people with SEND.As set out in the SEND Code of Practice, when carrying out an EHC needs assessment, local authorities are required to seek psychological advice and information from an educational psychologist, who should normally be employed or commissioned by the local authority.As the employers of educational psychology services, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that their services are adequately staffed. The department does not hold data on waiting times for the commissioning of educational psychologists.However, the department is taking measures to support local authorities by investing in building the pipeline. We are investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists from 2024. This is in addition to the £10 million currently being invested in the training of over 200 educational psychologists who began their training in September 2023.To support retention, following graduation, trainees who have had their training funded by the department are required to remain in local authority employment for a minimum period. For trainees beginning their course in September 2024, this requirement has increased to three years.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislative proposals to recognise development of diabetes (a) care and (b) management for drivers with group 2 licences.

The Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on driving and diabetes mellitus, has recommended that continuous or flash glucose monitoring systems, may be used to monitor glucose for the purpose of driving. Following a consultation with stakeholders in 2018, it was decided that the testing of interstitial fluid can be permitted for driving licensing purposes for people with diabetes and Group 1 licences (cars or motorcycles). The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is in the process of assessing the potential merits of introducing legislative proposals to extend the use of this technology to Group 2 licences (bus and lorry drivers) with diabetes. A targeted consultation was launched on 18 November 2024 and will run for a period of four weeks.

Whether she plans that HS2 Limited will offer land subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order that has not been used by the project back to its previous owner under the Crichel Down rules.

Land and property assets that have been acquired for HS2 via Compulsory Purchase Order or Statutory Blight, and that are no longer required, will be sold subject to the Crichel Down Rules. These require Government departments, under certain circumstances, to offer back surplus land to the former owner or the former owner’s successors at the current market value.