Toby Perkins MP: written questions 2025
85 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Packaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging on SME beverage producers.
Answer: In October 2024 the Government published a final impact assessment on the pEPR scheme. The impact assessment did not look at the specific impacts of the pEPR scheme on individual sectors. The Government recognises the importance of protecting small produc...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging fees on (a) food and (b) drink costs.
Answer: The Department has assessed the impact of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on both producers and consumers, including the potential effect on the affordability of food and drink. This assessment is included in Section 8 of the Producer Responsibilit...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingTreasuryTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51826More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on (a) the design of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging and (b) its interaction with wider econ
Answer: The Government is committed to moving towards a circular economy that delivers sustainable growth. Implementing the Collection and Packaging Reforms, including the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging is a critical step in this transition...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBiodiversity: FinanceTreasuryTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51825More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to meet commitments to contribute to the global target of $30 billion a year in international financial resources for biodiversity by 2030 under the Global Biodiversi
Answer: The Government is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Global Biodiversity Framework, working to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The Government recognises the importance of the collective global target of mobilising at least $30 billion p...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBiodiversity: Development AidDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51824More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions in levels of Official Development Assistance spending on levels of funding for (a) the Darwin Initiative, (b) the Ille
Answer: No decisions have been made regarding future levels of funding for the Darwin Initiative, the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, or Darwin Plus. Defra will allocate budgets to its Official Development Assistance programmes for future Financial Years a...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAnaerobic Digestion: InfrastructureDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45572More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of designating anaerobic digestion plants as critical national infrastructure.
Answer: The Department recognises the importance of anaerobic digestion plants. Where low carbon energy infrastructure, including anaerobic digestion plants, meets the threshold for being a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the National Policy Statem...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnaerobic DigestionDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45571More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that anaerobic digestion plants supported by renewable obligation certificates and feed in tariffs remain open following the end of those
Answer: The Government is aware that the expiration of Renewables Obligation accreditation may affect the commercial viability of generators from a range of technologies, including anaerobic digestion plants. We are continuing to assess the situation to understan...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAnaerobic Digestion: Climate Change and Energy SupplyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the closure of anaerobic digestion plants following the end of the Renewable Obligation Certificates and feed in tariffs on
Answer: The Government is aware that the expiration of Renewables Obligation accreditation may affect the commercial viability of generators from a range of technologies, including anaerobic digestion plants. We are continuing to assess the situation to understan...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBiomethane: UK Emissions Trading SchemeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45569More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of treating biomethane in the same way as (a) other renewable fuels and (b) renewable electricity under the UK Emissions Tradin
Answer: The Government recognises biomethane as a practical and cost-effective way of contributing to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) applies a zero emissions factor to combustion of biomethane where supplied directly to E...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the proportion of product liable for extended producer responsibility that will be sold to the on trade.
Answer: Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. We are planning next steps as a priority and will share m...
Answered 22 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGlass: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what engagement he has had with glass manufacturers on the business impact of the forthcoming Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.
Answer: The UK’s packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) policy has been in development since 2019. This is underpinned by extensive consultation and engagement with industry stakeholders, including the glass manufacturing sector, to provide businesses ...
Answered 23 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRecycling: Economic GrowthDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed fee structure for the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on economic growth.
Answer: In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector.
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: EmploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42433More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of working people in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) who will be forced to leave work if they cease to receive PIP.
Answer: No estimate has been made. The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost, as it would require a bespoke survey of claimants.
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Parliamentary ProceedingsLeader of the HouseTabled 31 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42432More
Question: To ask the Leader of the House, how many (a) oral statements, (b) urgent questions, (c) end of day adjournment debates and (d) Westminster Hall debates each Department has responded to since 5 July 2024.
Answer: Urgent questions, adjournment debates and Westminster Hall debates are a matter for the House. Information relating to each of these is available on the Parliament website.The Government is responsible for the arrangement of oral statements. As of 3rd Apr...
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPackaging: Hospitality IndustryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36059More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the definition of household waste under the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging scheme to apply exemptions
Answer: The Government has been engaging extensively with stakeholders from various sectors, including the hospitality sector, to develop a better understanding of the potential impacts of a change in the definition of household packaging. The government will set...
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordDrinks: PackagingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 6 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36058More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging scheme that will be introduced in April 2025 on the drinks industr
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I provided to PQ 33304 on 4 March 2025.
Answered 11 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordBatteries: StorageDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 4 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 28499More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of co-locating solar and onshore wind farms access to battery energy storage systems.
Answer: A smart and flexible energy system is essential for meeting net zero. Co-locating solar and onshore wind farms with battery storage are a part of this, making it possible for the delivery of stored electricity when the wind is not blowing, or the sun does...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordForests: Supply ChainsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 82 to 85 of the Fourth Report of Session 2023–24 of the Environmental Audit Committee, The UK’s contribution to tackling global deforestation, HC 405, whet
Answer: We note the committee’s recommendations regarding the rights of indigenous people and local communities, and customary land tenure. We will set out our approach in due course.
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordForests: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24831More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of broadening the scope of measures within the Environment Act 2021 to help tackle illegal deforestation.
Answer: The approach to tackling deforestation in UK supply chains is being considered and we will provide an update in due course.
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordForests: Environment ProtectionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24830More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the scope of the Environment Act 2021 to include more (a) sectors and (b) definitions of (i) legal and (ii) illeg
Answer: The approach to tackling deforestation in UK supply chains is being considered and we will provide an update in due course.
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordButterflies: NeonicotinoidsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24800More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the decision-making process on whether to grant conditional emergency authorisation to use a product containing neonicotinoids includ
Answer: Decisions on emergency authorisation applications must be taken in line with legal requirements. In making these decisions, Ministers take full account of the available evidence and expert advice, including on risks to pollinating insects. The Government ...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTeachers: Workplace PensionsTreasuryTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24632More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to issue guidance to people with a Teachers' Pension on the application of tax for (a) under and (b) over payments in the context of benefit rollback choices for the transitional protection re
Answer: HMRC has published comprehensive guidance on managing the tax implications of the public service pensions remedy, both for impacted pension scheme members and for schemes administrators. This guidance covers the position for under and overpayments of tax ...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers: DredgingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on dredging rivers.
Answer: Defra works closely with the Environment Agency (EA) to ensure it is equipped to carry out its functions effectively and deliver for the public and the environment; this includes flood risk management and watercourse maintenance. The EA focuses its effort...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordNeonicotinoidsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of neonicotinoids that have been used since 2020 following an emergency authorisation on wildlife.
Answer: Three neonicotinoids – clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam – are not permitted for general use because of the risks they pose to pollinators. However, emergency authorisations were granted by the previous Government for the use of the thiamethoxam...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the council tax.
Answer: The Deputy Prime Minister holds regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues about a range of issues, including their shared interests on local taxation. The government is focused on keeping taxes on working people as low as possible.
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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