Commons Drives Rural Reforms, VAWG Strategy and Ukraine Aid

High-Level Summary

The Commons day centred on environment, farming and rural affairs; justice system reforms; two major strategies on animal welfare and tackling violence against women and girls; support for Ukraine; and local government reorganisation. Ministers confirmed publication of Baroness Batters’ farming profitability review, pledged new governance and scheme reforms, and outlined steps on air quality, waste, water and dairy contracts. The Solicitor General defended plans to reduce backlogs while maintaining jury trials in serious cases and trailed a cross‑government VAWG strategy. The Government announced a £600 million air defence package for Ukraine and preparations for a peace framework, and invited councils to request a one‑year postponement of local elections linked to reorganisation. Royal Assent was reported for several Acts, January business was set out, and an Adjournment debate examined deprivation in Blackpool and targeted support.

Detailed Summary

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Oral Questions

The Government said it had published Baroness Batters’ 2025 farming profitability review and would implement governance and sector changes: “We are establishing a farming and food partnership board” [ref: b1039.6/1], alongside sector plans and work to “boost private finance into farming” [ref: b1039.6/1]. Ministers also promised simpler access to schemes and a refreshed Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): “the new iteration of the SFI will be out in the first half of next year” [ref: b1041.3/1]. On trade, Emma Reynolds cited progress on an EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement and said “our global network of agrifood attachés has already brought down 46 trade barriers” [ref: b1040.1/1].

On air quality, Government targets include “to cut exposure to harmful particles by nearly one third by 2030” with measures such as modernising permitting and tighter wood‑burner standards [ref: b1041.6/1]. A circular economy growth plan will reduce waste sent to incineration and landfill [ref: b1042.1/1]. To address the British Sugar/NFU dispute, Ministers launched “a public consultation on fairness and transparency in the combinable crops supply chain…open for eight weeks” [ref: b1043.0/1]. Flood mapping now incorporates surface water under NaFRA 2: “For the very first time, the mapping under the new national flood risk assessment—NaFRA 2—includes the risk from surface water flooding” [ref: b1043.5/1]. Extended Producer Responsibility was defended on costs and benefits, with reforms expected to “create 25,000 new jobs and see £10 billion of investment” [ref: b1044.2/2]. On sewage and waterways, a water White Paper “will set out long term reforms” in the new year [ref: b1045.1/2]. For dairy, Ministers highlighted enforcement under the milk fair dealing regime: “The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 now apply to all dairy supply contracts” [ref: b1049.0/1].

Solicitor General Oral Questions: jury trials, appeals and VAWG support

The Solicitor General said reforms aimed to cut court backlogs while preserving jury trials in serious cases: “Jury trials remain a cornerstone of our justice system” [ref: b1055.10/1], reiterating that “justice delayed is justice denied” [ref: b1056.1/1]. She noted that “less than 3% of cases are currently heard by a jury” [ref: b1056.5/1], and referenced Sir Brian Leveson’s proposal that “a permission stage on appeal” would allow meritorious cases to be heard [ref: b1056.1/1; b1056.5/2].

She also announced the publication that day of “a landmark cross-Government strategy to halve violence against women and girls” [ref: b1057.4/1], and highlighted the role of specialist domestic abuse courts in improving victims’ experiences, such as “the brilliant specialist domestic abuse court based at Westminster magistrates court” [ref: b1059.2/1].

Royal Assent

The Speaker informed the House that “the King has signified his Royal Assent” [ref: b1061.14/1] to several measures, including the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 [ref: b1061.14/2] and the Mental Health Act 2025 [ref: b1061.14/3].

Animal Welfare Strategy (Urgent Question)

The Secretary of State confirmed the animal welfare strategy would be published imminently and characterized it as a major overhaul: “we intend to publish our animal welfare strategy very soon” [ref: b1050.8/1], describing it as “the most ambitious reform to animal welfare in a generation” [ref: b1063.2/2]. She said the Government recognised the need to update veterinary regulation—“we absolutely appreciate that the Veterinary Surgeons Act needs updating” [ref: b1065.0/1]—and confirmed a consultation “on banning trail hunting” in the new year [ref: b1067.3/1]. She reiterated commitment to “banning hunting trophies” [ref: b1068.6/2], noted that policy on animal testing is a “joint responsibility with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology” [ref: b1067.5/1], and said the strategy would address issues such as fur imports: “we are looking at this issue” [ref: b1069.4/1].

Business of the House: January 2026 business and related issues

The Leader of the House announced the first fortnight’s business for January, including “Second Reading of the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill” and Committee of the whole House on the Finance (No. 2) Bill [ref: b1071.3/1; b1071.3/3; b1071.3/8-10]. On the Restoration and Renewal programme, he said “a report will be forthcoming early in the new year” [ref: b1078.4/1]. He also undertook to raise with the Home Secretary calls for clear national guidance on policing antisemitic chants: “I will draw the hon. Gentleman’s comments to the attention of the Home Secretary” [ref: b1077.3/2]. (Numerous constituency issues were raised; outcomes were not stated in the transcript.)

Local Government Reorganisation: potential postponement of local elections

The Minister said that, due to local capacity concerns during reorganisation, councils could request a one‑year postponement of May 2026 elections: “the Secretary of State is minded to make an order to postpone elections for one year only to the councils that raise capacity concerns” [ref: b1130.1/7]. She invited representations “by no later than midnight on 15 January” [ref: b1130.1/7], emphasising: “should a council say that it has no reason to delay its elections, there will be no delay” [ref: b1130.1/7]. The statutory timetable remains elections to new councils in May 2027 and go‑live in April 2028 [ref: b1130.1/3].

Backbench Business Committee: 15th Anniversary statement

Marking 15 years of the Committee, the Chair proposed procedural improvements, including extending the window for Select Committee statements—from five to “10 working days” [ref: b1140.4/3]—securing more time earlier in the week, potentially via “90-minute debates” [ref: b1140.4/5], and adjusting Westminster Hall Thursday timings “from 1.30 pm to 12.30 pm and from 3 pm to 2 pm” [ref: b1140.4/7]. He asked for a clearer Government framework on implementing outcomes of divisible motions [ref: b1140.4/4].

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy statement

The Minister launched a cross‑government strategy to halve VAWG “within a decade” [ref: b1096.1/3], built on prevention, pursuit and victim support. Prevention includes £20 million “to tackle harmful attitudes in young people” and curriculum change [ref: b1096.1/5]. Online measures include banning “nudification” tools [ref: b1096.1/7]. By 2029, “every police force in England and Wales will have a specialist rape and sexual offences team” [ref: b1096.1/8], with covert online operations to disrupt offenders [ref: b1096.1/10], and nationwide rollout of domestic abuse protection orders that do not rely on victim action [ref: b1096.1/11]. She announced “over £1 billion in victims funding” including safe housing and therapeutic support [ref: b1096.1/12].

Ukraine statement

The Minister paid tribute to Lance Corporal George Hooley, “tragically killed in Ukraine” while observing trials of a defensive drone system [ref: b1114.1/2]. He confirmed a record “£4.5 billion” of UK military support this year and UK training for “more than 62,000 Ukrainians” [ref: b1114.1/3], and announced a new “£600 million‑worth of air defence systems, missiles and automated turrets” package [ref: b1114.1/5]. He set out further pressure on Russia—“a further 24 sanction designations” [ref: b1114.1/7]—and action to release proceeds from the Chelsea sale to Ukraine: “a licence that enables the transfer of more than £2.5 billion” [ref: b1114.1/8]. On diplomacy, he said leaders were advancing a US‑initiated peace effort and that plans for a Multinational Force Ukraine were being updated “so that we are ready to deploy when peace comes” [ref: b1114.1/13].

Adjournment: Indices of Deprivation (Blackpool)

In an Adjournment debate, Chris Webb highlighted entrenched deprivation in Blackpool across income, employment, health, crime, education and housing, arguing that “one scheme is not enough” and calling for multi‑year, place‑based investment [ref: b1177.0/16]. He said the town “contains seven of the 10 most deprived areas of the country” [ref: b1177.0/2]. The Minister responded that funding reforms would shift resources to high‑need areas and that “Blackpool… will see an 11% increase in its core spending power between 2025‑26 and ’28‑29” [ref: b1179.1/4]. She also outlined Pride in Place support—up to “£20 million” for Little Layton/Little Carleton and for Fleetwood [ref: b1179.1/5]—and a £1.5 million local impact fund [ref: b1179.1/6], plus a “10‑year, £39‑billion social and affordable homes programme” [ref: b1179.1/7], the Household Support Fund [ref: b1179.1/9], employment support reforms [ref: b1179.1/11] and the NHS Coastal Navigators Network [ref: b1179.1/12]. No division was held; commitments were reiterated.