Written questions by Perkins.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department still produces Emerging Trends reports, which were bi-annual publications highlighting key developments and their implications produced by the Defra Futures Project.

Awaiting answer.

What the Climate Security Taskforce's planned timetable is for holding its first meeting; and whether a record of that meeting will be published.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has (a) produced and (b) plans to produce a fifth edition of the global megatrends report that was published in 2024.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the insurance industry about extending Flood Re beyond 2039.

Government is engaging with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to examine whether the rationale to end the Flood Re scheme in 2039 as planned remains appropriate, or whether we need reconsider this timing in the light of the challenges of clima...

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Treasury about extending the Flood Re scheme beyond 2039.

Government is engaging with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to examine whether the rationale to end the Flood Re scheme in 2039 as planned remains appropriate, or whether we need reconsider this timing in the light of the challenges of clima...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to issue guidance to insurers on communicating flood risk to homeowners whose insurance policies rely on Flood Re.

The Government works closely with Flood Re and the insurance industry to improve awareness and understanding of flood risk. Flood Re made a recommendation in their 2024 Quinquennial Review that insurers are required to make clear on their policy documents...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to reach a policy decision before the end of this Parliament on the future of Flood Re beyond 2039.

Government is engaging with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to examine whether the rationale to end the Flood Re scheme in 2039 as planned remains appropriate, or whether we need reconsider this timing in the light of the challenges of clima...

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of closure of the Flood Re scheme in 2039 on the availability of mortgages for properties at high risk of flooding.

Government is engaging with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to examine whether the rationale to end the Flood Re scheme in 2039 as planned remains appropriate, or whether we need reconsider this timing in the light of the challenges of clima...

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of uncertainty over the future of Flood Re on mortgage availability for properties at high risk of flooding.

Government is engaging with the insurance industry and other stakeholders to examine whether the rationale to end the Flood Re scheme in 2039 as planned remains appropriate, or whether we need reconsider this timing in the light of the challenges of clima...

What proportion of East Midlands Railways trains from a) Sheffield to London and b) London to Sheffield have been i) on time, ii) less than fifteen minutes late, iii) 15-30 minutes late, iv) 30-59 minutes late,

The tables below show the proportion of East Midlands Railway’s (EMR) trains from:a) Sheffield to London trains that were i) on time, ii) less than fifteen minutes late, iii) 15-30 minutes late, iv) 30-59 minutes late, v) over 59 minutes late and vi) canc...

What proportion of trains on the East Midlands Railway Sheffield to London service a) had the requisite number of carriages and b) were short formed in each year between 2022 and 2026.

The Department can provide the percentage of trains which were short formed on East Midland Railway’s Sheffield to London service for the last three full calendar years.In 2023, 115 EMR trains between London and Sheffield were short formed, which constitu...

Whether her Department's contract with East Midlands Railway for train services from Sheffield to London specifies the number of carriages each service should have available.

The National Rail Contract does not specify the number of carriages for each service, it is for the Train Operator to prepare a timetable which sets out the train formation that best matches available capacity to the forecast passenger demand. EMR’s new A...

What is the average waiting time for children to access an autism spectrum disorder assessment in each ICB area.

NHS England publishes quarterly Autism Waiting Time Statistics, which are available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/autism-statisticsThese set out the waiting times for children to access an autis...

What steps he is taking to reduce the waiting time for children to access an autism spectrum disorder assessment.

NHS England publishes quarterly Autism Waiting Time Statistics, which are available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/autism-statisticsThese set out the waiting times for children to access an autis...

If the Government will introduce a statutory duty in England to calculate and take reasonable steps to maintain safe nurse staffing on adult acute wards, with ward-level public reporting and mandatory escalation when recognised staffing risk indicators are breached.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

How he plans to enforce new minimum NHS staff standards, and measure them at ward level.

The NHS Staff Standards will be mandatory. Trust performance against them will be measured via the NHS National Oversight Framework.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress she has made with relevant Overseas Territories on developing clear, time-bound action plans to come into line with UK requirements and international standards on money laundering and transparency.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers I gave on these issues at departmental oral questions on 21 April, and to my written ministerial statement updating the House on the outcome of discussions at the Joint Ministerial Council on 13 January (HCWS1237).

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the reduction in Overseas Development Assistance funding on the allocation of funding for Darwin Plus in 2026.

Since 1 January 2024, the Darwin Plus programme had awarded nearly 130 projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories with a lifetime value of over £20 million across its four funding schemes. The full details of funded Darwin Plus projects can be found on the programme website at www.darwinplus.org.uk. Darwin Plus funding schemeNumber of projects awarded since 1 January 2024Lifetime value of projectsDarwin Plus Main24£9,942,990Darwin Plus Local94£4,002,814Darwin Plus Strategic2£5,564,500Darwin Plus People & Skills (previously named “Darwin Plus Fellowships”)8£602,180Total128£20,112,484 At the Joint Ministerial Council in November, the UK Government reaffirmed its joint ambition with the UK Overseas Territories to protect their ecosystems and address the climate and nature crises. The new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy marks a new era of collaboration and communication between the UK and Territory governments, united for nature. Defra has now confirmed internal business planning allocations to its programmes leading to March 2029. The Darwin Plus programme’s plan for spending its allocation is currently progressing through Defra’s internal assurance processes before it is approved. This plan includes spending both for projects and to support the implementation of the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy and reflects the reduction in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget as a result of the necessary increase in defence spending last year. Applications for Darwin Plus Local Round 6 are currently being reviewed internally and applicants will be kept informed of developments. No date has yet been confirmed for the next funding round of Darwin Plus. Defra will provide an update in due course, and information will be published on the Darwin Plus website once future rounds are scheduled to open.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the total budget for Darwin Plus dedicated to the UK Overseas Territories will be in 2026.

Since 1 January 2024, the Darwin Plus programme had awarded nearly 130 projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories with a lifetime value of over £20 million across its four funding schemes. The full details of funded Darwin Plus projects can be found on the programme website at www.darwinplus.org.uk. Darwin Plus funding schemeNumber of projects awarded since 1 January 2024Lifetime value of projectsDarwin Plus Main24£9,942,990Darwin Plus Local94£4,002,814Darwin Plus Strategic2£5,564,500Darwin Plus People & Skills (previously named “Darwin Plus Fellowships”)8£602,180Total128£20,112,484 At the Joint Ministerial Council in November, the UK Government reaffirmed its joint ambition with the UK Overseas Territories to protect their ecosystems and address the climate and nature crises. The new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy marks a new era of collaboration and communication between the UK and Territory governments, united for nature. Defra has now confirmed internal business planning allocations to its programmes leading to March 2029. The Darwin Plus programme’s plan for spending its allocation is currently progressing through Defra’s internal assurance processes before it is approved. This plan includes spending both for projects and to support the implementation of the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy and reflects the reduction in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget as a result of the necessary increase in defence spending last year. Applications for Darwin Plus Local Round 6 are currently being reviewed internally and applicants will be kept informed of developments. No date has yet been confirmed for the next funding round of Darwin Plus. Defra will provide an update in due course, and information will be published on the Darwin Plus website once future rounds are scheduled to open.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to help deliver the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy.

Since 1 January 2024, the Darwin Plus programme had awarded nearly 130 projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories with a lifetime value of over £20 million across its four funding schemes. The full details of funded Darwin Plus projects can be found on the programme website at www.darwinplus.org.uk. Darwin Plus funding schemeNumber of projects awarded since 1 January 2024Lifetime value of projectsDarwin Plus Main24£9,942,990Darwin Plus Local94£4,002,814Darwin Plus Strategic2£5,564,500Darwin Plus People & Skills (previously named “Darwin Plus Fellowships”)8£602,180Total128£20,112,484 At the Joint Ministerial Council in November, the UK Government reaffirmed its joint ambition with the UK Overseas Territories to protect their ecosystems and address the climate and nature crises. The new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy marks a new era of collaboration and communication between the UK and Territory governments, united for nature. Defra has now confirmed internal business planning allocations to its programmes leading to March 2029. The Darwin Plus programme’s plan for spending its allocation is currently progressing through Defra’s internal assurance processes before it is approved. This plan includes spending both for projects and to support the implementation of the UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy and reflects the reduction in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget as a result of the necessary increase in defence spending last year. Applications for Darwin Plus Local Round 6 are currently being reviewed internally and applicants will be kept informed of developments. No date has yet been confirmed for the next funding round of Darwin Plus. Defra will provide an update in due course, and information will be published on the Darwin Plus website once future rounds are scheduled to open.