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1678337

	registered interest
	date	15/12/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Sudan: Humanitarian Aid
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he is taking to help ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need in Sudan.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	7194
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/12/2023 answer text <p>The UK has announced £36 million in humanitarian aid this year to assist people in urgent need in Sudan. Securing improved humanitarian access into and across Sudan remains a top UK priority. Lack of security remains the biggest constraint for international agencies and NGOs delivering life-saving assistance. We continue to raise humanitarian access, including bureaucratic and administrative impediments, with the warring parties, our international partners and in international fora such as the UN. The UK is working with the UN, other donors and humanitarian agencies to coordinate the effective delivery of aid, and continues to put pressure on both parties to the conflict to abide by their commitments under International Humanitarian Law and to allow lifesaving humanitarian aid to reach the Sudanese people.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 27/12/2023 16:33:08 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1678207

	registered interest
	date	14/12/2023
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Religious Freedom
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to promote freedom of religion and belief in other countries.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	7033
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/12/2023 answer text <p>We continue to ensure that freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is central to our human rights and wider work. Our International Development White Paper published in November includes a commitment to prioritise FoRB in our bilateral and multilateral work.</p><p>We work with UN, G7, and other multilateral fora to promote FoRB. In June this year, the UN Security Council adopted, unanimously, a UK-United Arab Emirates (UAE) co-penned resolution on Tolerance and International Peace and Security, which contained language on FoRB. Bilaterally, Ministers and officials regularly raise specific cases of concern, and do not shy away from challenging those we believe are not meeting their obligations, whether publicly or in private.</p><p>This year, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for FoRB, Fiona Bruce MP served a second consecutive year as Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, a network of 42 countries committed to the promotion and protection of FoRB.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell question first answered 27/12/2023 09:10:47 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1677808

	registered interest
	date	13/12/2023
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Tax Evasion
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to tackle tax evasion.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	6786
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2023 answer text <p>Tax evasion is always illegal and HMRC’s aim is for everyone to pay the tax that is legally due, no matter who they are. HMRC’s role is to make it easy to get tax right for the compliant majority and make it hard for the dishonest minority to cheat the system.</p><p>HMRC has achieved a long-term reduction in the UK’s tax gap from 7.5% in 2005-06 to 4.8% (£35.8 billion) in 2021-22 (the latest estimate). The tax gap is composed of a range of customer behaviours: non-payment, use of avoidance schemes, legal interpretation, error, failure to take reasonable care, evasion, the hidden economy and criminal attacks on the tax system.</p><p> </p><p>Evasion is when people or businesses deliberately do not declare or account for what they owe. It made up 0.6% or £4.7 billion of the £35.8 billion.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC works to prevent fraud, tackle avoidance and evasion by designing policies and processes which minimise risk, by promoting good compliance with the tax system through education initiatives and responding with a range of interventions, capabilities and sanctions given to them by Parliament, including the exercising of strong civil and criminal investigation powers.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2010, the Government has introduced over 200 measures to tackle tax avoidance and evasion, including 21 measures introduced since 2021 that are forecast to raise over £7 billion. Of these measures, 4 measures were announced at the Autumn Statement 2022 and are forecast to raise £5 billion in tax revenues over the next five years.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC will continue to work hard, putting in place measures which mean we can go even further in reducing the tax gap, and making sure taxpayers and businesses meet their obligations and pay the tax they owe.</p><p> </p><p>Published information: ‘Measuring tax gaps tables 2023’ (Table 7.1) at gov.uk.</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 19/12/2023 16:04:47 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1671979

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Deposit Return Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on developing the interoperability criteria for deposit return schemes in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	2862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2023 answer text <p>In May 2023, the Government published a position statement setting out that deposit return schemes across the UK should be interoperable to reduce complexity for businesses and consumers, and to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade. Defra is working closely with devolved administrations at pace on the next steps to deliver interoperable schemes across the UK. We will be providing updates on this as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 29/11/2023 15:48:54 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1671430

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Seeds: Databases
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what objectives there are for the OrganicXseeds database; how long the database has been in operation; and how much his Department spent on (a) maintaining the database and (b) producing an annual report of non-organic seed authorisations in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	2577
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2023 answer text <p>The UK is legally required to maintain a database listing the varieties of available organic seed or seed potatoes. The regulation detailing that requirement notes that the database should help operators to find organic seed and seed potatoes. The UK database has been in operation since 2004, with a separate database for Northern Ireland going live in 2021 following EU-exit. Since its inception in 2004, Defra has delegated the operation and maintenance of the database, and production of the annual non-organic seed authorisation reports, to the Soil Association. In 2022-23, Defra paid the Soil Association £23,086 + VAT for carrying out those responsibilities.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/11/2023 16:00:54 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1671431

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Agriculture: Seeds
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many emergency authorisations were granted to certified organic producers to use non-organic seed in each of the last five years; and if he will make an assessment of the reasons for the trend in the number of emergency authorisations granted in that period.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	2578
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2023 answer text <p>It is possible for non-organic seed (as part of a mix or entirely non-organic) to be used on certified organic farmland, but only under prescribed circumstances, and with prior authorisation in accordance with regulations. The annual non-organic seed authorisation reports produced by the Soil Association on behalf of Defra details the total number of authorisations in each of the past 5 years as follows:</p><p> </p><ul><li>2022 – 17,314</li><li>2021 – 16,598</li><li>2020 – 13,106</li><li>2019 – 15,783</li><li>2018 – 15,828</li></ul><p> </p><p>In cases where, due to limited availability, a producer cannot source the required seeds in sufficient quantities, the organic regulation allows producers to use non-organic seeds. This is because it is recognised that sometimes, insufficient stocks may be available. Authorisations to use non-organic seed are granted only under specific circumstances and must be obtained in advance of their use. It is also worth highlighting that these authorisations cover all crop species and varieties used by organic farmers within the UK, each with unique variables as to availability of supply. Defra’s engagement with seed suppliers has not highlighted any systemic or structural issues with the supply of organic seed beyond those associated with the well-documented supply chain issues caused by the Covid pandemic and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/11/2023 15:58:07 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1669727

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Sustainable Farming Incentive
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Sustainable Farming Incentive programme on (a) farm-level crop yields, (b) national agricultural productivity and (c) domestic food self-sufficiency levels.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	1545
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2023 answer text <p>Our overall assessment of the impacts of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) on yields, productivity and domestic food production is based on a review of quantitative and qualitative evidence. SFI is designed to support farmers in managing their land in an environmentally sustainable way. Many SFI actions are designed to be undertaken alongside their agricultural operations and do not require land be taken out of production. Some actions within SFI are likely to take small areas of often marginally productive land out of production, lowering overall output for the farm in the short term. In the longer term this is likely to be offset by long term improvements in soil health and pollinator abundance which will support increased yields. Some actions in SFI will also reduce the need for fertilisers or pesticides leading to lower inputs and higher productivity. SFI, along with other schemes in the wider farming and countryside programme (including for example the Farming Resilience Fund, the Farming Investment Fund and the Farming Innovation Programme) will collectively support increases in agricultural productivity over the agricultural transition. Overall, this should allow participating farmers to broadly maintain long-run food production and to meet the objective, set out on the Food Strategy, of maintaining national food production at current levels.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/11/2023 15:26:36 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1669728

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Land Use
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the Government’s land use framework for England; and with reference to the commitments in the Food Strategy published in June 2022, whether the framework will take account of the potential impacts of (a) the Sustainable Farming Incentive and (b) other environmental land management schemes.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	1546
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>The Government will publish a Land Use Framework for England this year. The Framework will provide a long-term perspective on the land uses required to deliver growth, Net Zero, climate change adaptation, nature recovery, food security, and economic infrastructure. Our work preparing the Framework is taking a broad range of factors into account, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and other environmental land management schemes.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 27/11/2023 11:19:32 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1667638

	registered interest
	date	07/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Wood-burning Stoves: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support local councils to tackle illegal log burning.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	196
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>Burning logs is not illegal, but we have introduced policies to reduce emissions from wood burning. These include:</p><ul><li>Restricting the sale of small volumes of wet wood (less than 2m<sup>3</sup>) - wood sold in small volumes must have a moisture content of 20% or less, and</li><li>Making it easier for local authorities to enforce smoke control area rules by replacing the criminal offence for smoke emissions with a civil penalty regime.</li></ul><p>The Environment Improvement Plan (EIP) sets out further measures to reduce emissions from wood burning. These include:</p><ul><li>Publishing outdoor burning best practice guidance.</li><li>Extending the solid fuels legislation, including to fuels burned outside.</li><li>Tightening the limits that new stoves in Smoke Control Areas must meet.</li><li>Driving a shift away from older, more polluting appliances to newer appliances which meet our tough new emission standards.</li><li>Continuing our targeted communications campaign to promote best practice when burning.</li></ul><p> </p><p>As set out in our recent Air Quality Strategy, we also continue to work with local authorities to help them tackle emissions from domestic combustion in their communities. This includes funding relevant local projects through our 2023/24 Air Quality Grant.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 16/11/2023 10:48:17 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

1667639

	registered interest
	date	07/11/2023
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Wood-burning Stoves: Air Pollution
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle air pollution from log burners.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	197
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>Air quality is a devolved matter. In England, regulations introduced in 2020 put restrictions on the sale of wet wood for domestic burning, placed limits on the emission of sulphur and smoke from manufactured solid fuels and phased out the sale of bituminous coal (traditional house coal). Through the Environment Act 2021, we also introduced measures to streamline the enforcement of Smoke Control Areas (SCAs).</p><p /><p>Since 1 January 2022 all stoves placed on the market in the United Kingdom must be Ecodesign compliant. This is in addition to the separate requirement in Smoke Control Areas (SCAs) that householders can only burn approved fuels or use a Defra exempt appliance.</p><p /><p>The Environment Improvement Plan sets out further measures to reduce domestic combustion emissions. These include:</p><ul><li>Publishing outdoor burning best practice guidance</li><li>Extending the solid fuels legislation, including to fuels burned outside</li><li>Tightening the limits that new stoves in SCAs must meet</li><li>Driving a shift away from older, more polluting appliances to newer appliances which meet our tough new emission standards;</li><li>Continuing our targeted communications campaign to promote best practice when burning</li></ul><p> </p><p>As set out in our recent Air Quality Strategy, we also continue to work with local authorities to help them tackle emissions from domestic combustion in their communities. This includes funding relevant local projects through our 2023/24 Air Quality Grant.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 16/11/2023 10:29:57 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy