Kerry McCarthy MP: written questions

Written questions

• Maternity Services: EpilepsyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 19878More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to improve maternity care for women with epilepsy.

  Answer: On 6 January 2026, NHS England published the Maternal Care Bundle, setting out best practice standards to tackle the leading causes of maternal death including epilepsy, thrombosis, mental health, and haemorrhage. The National Maternity and Neonatal Taskf...

  Answered 7 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce: EpilepsyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 19877More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to ensure that people with epilepsy are represented in the work of the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce.

  Answer: On 6 January 2026, NHS England published the Maternal Care Bundle, setting out best practice standards to tackle the leading causes of maternal death including epilepsy, thrombosis, mental health, and haemorrhage. The National Maternity and Neonatal Taskf...

  Answered 7 Sept 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Animal Products: LabellingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16385More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on introducing clearer country-of-origin and method-of-production food labelling to support higher animal welfare standards since the Government response to

  Answer: As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, and the Farming Roadmap published in June 2026, we are committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how and where their food was produced. To support this, we will continu...

  Answered 16 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Food: Public SectorDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16384More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which public bodies will be required to comply with the revised Government Buying Standards for food and catering services.

  Answer: Defra is considering the policy options available to deliver further on its ambitions for public sector food, including potentially updating the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services. Defra has not yet made any decisions on the conten...

  Answered 16 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Food: Public SectorDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16383More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that public sector food procurement meets the proposed requirement for 50% of food spend to meet higher environmental and welfare standards.

  Answer: The Government has already published a new national procurement policy statement which sets expectations for government contracts to favour products certified to high environmental standards that British producers are well-placed to meet. Data collection ...

  Answered 16 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Government Departments: FoodDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 16382More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on updating Government Buying Standards relating to food procurement.

  Answer: Defra is considering the policy options available to deliver further on its ambitions for public sector food, including potentially updating the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services. Defra has not yet made any decisions on the conten...

  Answered 16 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15936More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will bring forward regulations under the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

  Answer: The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities taking place abroad. As set out in th...

  Answered 14 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Textiles: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15935More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the forthcoming Circular Economy Strategy will include proposals to introduce Extended Producer Responsibility for the textiles sector.

  Answer: This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. This systemic change, with investment in green jobs and vital infrastructure, builds a path to economic growth, ...

  Answered 9 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record