Businesses are generally free to set their own commercial policies, including policies relating to product returns, provided these comply with consumer law. Some retailers may charge for returns due to the environmental impact of returning a product.

The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 provide for a 14 working days cooling-off period for distance contracts. If the retailer charges for refunds, they must make this clear to the consumer ahead of the transaction.

Where goods are faulty, traders must bear the reasonable costs of returning rejected goods as stipulated in the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the UK's data protection legislation independently of Government. The ICO has a range of powers to address organisations’ failures to comply with their data protection obligations, including where they have failed to implement appropriate security measures to protect personal data. These powers include enforcement notices, civil monetary penalties and, in certain circumstances, powers of prosecution. Information about enforcement action taken by the ICO since July 2024 is published on the ICO’s website (https://ico.org.uk/action-weve-taken/complaints-and-concerns-data-sets/) .

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, personal data breaches which pose a risk to individuals must be reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the independent data protection regulator.

The ICO publishes information on personal data breaches reported to it through its Data Security Incident Trends dashboard: https://ico.org.uk/action-weve-taken/complaints-and-concerns-data-sets/data-security-incident-trends/ . The Government does not hold information on the number of data breaches centrally.

We are taking steps to help revitalise wildlife populations, but not specifically in the context of the World Wildlife Fund's report entitled Living Planet Report. In England we have four legally binding targets to benefit our wildlife populations: to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030; to reverse declines by at least 10% by 2042, when compared with 2030; to reduce the risk of national species extinction by 2042; and to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat, also by 2042.

To deliver against the statutory targets we are taking action at scale to create, restore, manage, and protect wildlife-rich habitats, reduce pressures on biodiversity, and take targeted action for species. Actions include the Species Recovery Programme, which over the 2026-2029 period will fund 130 projects to benefit a wide range of species through recovery actions such as targeted habitat restoration, species reintroductions, and critical research.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s oral statement of 7 September.

The Newton Abbot to Heathfield line is currently out of use, having last carried freight traffic in 2015 and passenger traffic in 1959. Network Rail consider it important to safeguard the line in case it is restored for passenger and/or freight services in the future, subject to any viable future business case.

Network Rail has previously examined the case for reintroducing passenger services between Newton Abbot and Heathfield. While improved connectivity could deliver benefits, forecast demand was relatively low and was not considered sufficient to justify the significant costs of upgrading and operating a conventional rail service. The business case could, however, change in future if costs reduce or demand increases.

Interest has emerged in using the route as a trial corridor for battery powered Very Light Rail (VLR) vehicles. This could provide a lower-cost way of reintroducing passenger services while also testing innovative low-carbon transport technology. Before any decision could be made, further engineering, commercial and economic assessments would be needed to confirm whether a VLR scheme is viable. This work would need to examine funding and operating arrangements, technical and regulatory requirements, and the potential impact on any future plans to reinstate heavy rail freight services.

Network Rail considers that further work on the VLR option would help establish whether it could offer a practical and affordable means of restoring passenger services on the route.

The Government's response is being taken forward through the respective departments' responsibilities. Additionally, the Government has established the Taskforce on the National Security and Resilience Risks of a Changing Climate and Nature Loss, bringing together leading security, military and academic experts to help Government identify priority risks, strengthen cross-government coordination and turn evidence into practical action. The Taskforce will provide independent challenge and recommendations to ensure climate and nature risks are considered more systematically across national security and resilience planning.

The Government's response is being taken forward through the respective departments' responsibilities. Additionally, the Government has established the Taskforce on the National Security and Resilience Risks of a Changing Climate and Nature Loss, bringing together leading security, military and academic experts to help Government identify priority risks, strengthen cross-government coordination and turn evidence into practical action. The Taskforce will provide independent challenge and recommendations to ensure climate and nature risks are considered more systematically across national security and resilience planning.

The Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. The Government continues to work closely with the industry to ensure this is delivered, including through the identification and removal of barriers to deployment.

We are also undertaking a Mobile Market Review with the aim of better understanding how the Government can go further in supporting the sector to deliver widespread high-quality connectivity.

This Government has increased Farming Innovation Programme funding by £53 million this year, bringing total investment to £123 million in 2026/27, including support for sustainable food technologies such as robotics, soil health and water management to help increase food security.

Community pharmacies do not have to wait 90 days for payment for the medicines they supply. Contractors that submit their claims on time for a given month’s activity can receive an early advance payment on or around the 10th of the following month. If they miss the deadline for that payment, they can still receive a later advance payment on or around the end of that month. The final amount due is calculated by the NHS Business Services Authority and paid through a later reconciliation payment.

The Government is committed to ensuring community pharmacies are paid promptly. Under the 2025/26 Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework agreement, the Department committed to work with Community Pharmacy England to improve the payment timetable and strengthen contractors’ cash flow. The agreed changes will be published in the Drug Tariff before implementation.

Community pharmacies do not have to wait 90 days for payment for the medicines they supply. Contractors that submit their claims on time for a given month’s activity can receive an early advance payment on or around the 10th of the following month. If they miss the deadline for that payment, they can still receive a later advance payment on or around the end of that month. The final amount due is calculated by the NHS Business Services Authority and paid through a later reconciliation payment.

The Government is committed to ensuring community pharmacies are paid promptly. Under the 2025/26 Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework agreement, the Department committed to work with Community Pharmacy England to improve the payment timetable and strengthen contractors’ cash flow. The agreed changes will be published in the Drug Tariff before implementation.

I refer the Hon Member to the current guidance on the neighbourhood health plans and the policy statement made collectively by the Cabinet Office on 31 July, links to both of which are provided below. The Cabinet Office policy statement made a clear commitment to aligning key public service boundaries to facilitate a place-based approach that better meets local priorities.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neighbourhood-health-framework/neighbourhood-health-framework

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rewiring-the-state-cabinet-statement

We will make further statements in due course on the implications of this approach for local delivery of health services.

I refer the Hon Member to the current guidance on the neighbourhood health plans and the policy statement made collectively by the Cabinet Office on 31 July, links to both of which are provided below. The Cabinet Office policy statement made a clear commitment to aligning key public service boundaries to facilitate a place-based approach that better meets local priorities.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neighbourhood-health-framework/neighbourhood-health-framework

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rewiring-the-state-cabinet-statement

We will make further statements in due course on the implications of this approach for local delivery of health services.