Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
We are the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.
Secretary of State
George Eustice
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Ministers of State
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Victoria Prentis - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Lord Gardiner of Kimble - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Latest News (from Department Twitter Feed)
- 8 Apr 2021, 3:37 p.m.
- Disturbance can have devastating impacts on marine mammals up and down our coastline. You can give marine wildlife space by: 🔭Watching from the shore 🛶Steering well clear 🐬Not swimming with dolphins 🛥️Using a #WiSeScheme boat operator #RudeToIntrude https://t.co/AuRaJBQGZp - Link
- 8 Apr 2021, 1:30 p.m.
- Farmer Harry has been helping co-design our #FutureFarming schemes 🌱🚜 You can get involved too. Express an interest in joining the #SustainableFarmingIncentive pilot by 11 April 2021: https://t.co/8wLBnTznzc #TogetherForOurPlanet https://t.co/A2YeSs4CGt - Link View All Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Tweets
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Commons Appearances
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:- Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
- Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
- Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.
Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
| Date | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Mar. 04 | Oral Questions | Oral Answers to Questions |
| May. 22 | Urgent Questions | Transport Emissions: Urban Areas |
| Jan. 27 | Written Statements | Bovine TB |
| Mar. 17 | Westminster Hall | Offshore Wind Farms: Unexploded Ordnance |
| Mar. 24 | Adjournment Debate | Waste Incinerators |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Bills and Acts in the Current Session
This Bill received Royal Assent on Wednesday 11th November 2020 and was enacted into law.
A bill to make provision in relation to fisheries, fishing, aquaculture and marine conservation; to make provision about the functions of the Marine Management Organisation; and for connected purposes
This Bill received Royal Assent on Monday 23rd November 2020 and was enacted into law.
To make provision for the incorporation of the Direct Payments Regulation into domestic law; for enabling an increase in the total maximum amount of direct payments under that Regulation; and for connected purposes.
This Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 30th January 2020 and was enacted into law.
A Bill to make provision about targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment; for statements and reports about environmental protection; for the Office for Environmental Protection; about waste and resource efficiency; about air quality; for the recall of products that fail to meet environmental standards; about water; about nature and biodiversity; for conservation covenants; about the regulation of chemicals; and for connected purposes.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Laid Secondary Legislation
| Dates | Department | Title | Type |
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Laid 8 Apr 2021 In Force 30 Apr 2021 |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
Official Controls (Exemptions from Controls at Border Control Posts) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation |
Made negative procedure |
| These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 48(b) and 144(6) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products (EUR 2017/625). | |||
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Laid 31 Mar 2021 In Force 31 Mar 2021 |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
Trade and Official Controls (Transitional Arrangements for Prior Notifications) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 Parliamentary Status - Text of Legislation |
Made affirmative procedure |
| These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16) in order to address failures of retained EU law to operate effectively and other deficiencies (in particular under section 8(2)(d)) arising from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. | |||
Petitions addressed by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
| Current Signatures | Final Signatures | Title | Petition Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
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247,048 Petition Closed |
Ban the use of all non-recyclable and unsustainable food packaging Gov Responded - 18 Jun 2019 Debated on - 24 Jun 2019 |
5 Jun 2019 closed 1 year, 10 months ago |
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Today the Earth is at a crisis point due to our plastic consumption, and as a result, people in the UK are more willing than ever to engage in recycling. Yet so much food packaging remains completely, frustratingly unrecyclable. Let's aim for the UK to lead the world with a 100% recycling rate. |
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186,226 Petition Closed |
Reject calls to add Staffordshire Bull Terriers to the Dangerous Dogs Act Gov Responded - 5 Jul 2018 Debated on - 16 Jul 2018 |
22 Dec 2018 closed 2 years, 3 months ago |
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PETA, an organisation that is meant to be dedicated to protecting animals, has proposed to the UK government that it should add Staffordshire Bull Terriers to the dangerous dogs act, effectively banning them outright. Breed Specific Legislation is not the solution to the problem of dog attacks. |
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148,248 Petition Closed |
Ban the sale of puppies by pet shops & all commercial 3rd party dealers. Gov Responded - 20 Mar 2018 Debated on - 21 May 2018 |
1 Sep 2018 closed 2 years, 7 months ago |
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Removing puppies for sale from litter & mum often creates sick, traumatised, dysfunctional dogs. Puppies should be seen with their mum & transporting them to a different place for sale harms welfare. Regulating commercial 3rd party sales is ineffective to prevent harm & a ban is therefore necessary. |
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Departmental Select Committee
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.
Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.
11 Members of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 27 Jan 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 2 Mar 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 11 May 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 8 Jun 2020
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Upcoming Events
<i>At 2.30pm: Oral evidence</i><br/>James Russell - President at British Veterinary Association (BVA)<br/>Stuart Roberts - Deputy President at National Farmers Union<br/>Victor Chestnutt - President at Ulster Farmers' Union<br/><i>At 3.30pm: Oral evidence</i><br/>Professor Tim Morris<br/>Mr James West - Senior Policy Manager UK at Compassion in World Farming<br/>Malcolm Mitchell - Professor of Physiology and Animal Welfare at Scottish Rural College<br/>
20 Apr 2021, 2 p.m.
Moving animals across borders
View calendar
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - Private Meeting
22 Apr 2021, 1:30 p.m.
Seafood and Meat Exports to the EU
View calendar
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: 15 Current Inquiries
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Previous Inquiries
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Publications
Most Recent Publications
| Date | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Apr. 15 | Historical statistics notices on the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered in the UK, 2021 | Statistics |
| Apr. 14 | Government sets provisional fishing catch limits for 2021 | News and Communications |
| Apr. 13 | Sustainable Farming Incentive: expression of interest | Guidance and Regulation |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Written Questions
Written Questions are submitted by Members of Parliament and the House of Lords to receive information or updates from a Department.
Departments are required to respond in a timely fashion and provide a response or requested information. Written Questions can compel detailed and specific information to be produced, and are frequently used as the source of news stories about the work of a Department.
Latest Written Question
| Date | Title | Questioner |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Apr 2021, midnight | Fishing Vessels: Humberside | Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East) |
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Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to help secure (a) existing investment in the distant waters fishing fleet on Humberside and (b) future investment in that fleet and associated infrastructure; and what comparative assessment he has made between (i) the combined value of those investments and (ii) the cost of establishing the proposed freeport across the Humber ports. Answered by Victoria Prentis - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Significant funding is being made available by government to improve the infrastructure needed for the fishing industry, improve sustainability and help it adapt as we move away from the CFP.
The Government has announced £32.7 million in funding to support the seafood sector which meets the Government’s manifesto commitment to maintain funding for the sector. The new domestic funding scheme in England, the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, opened on 6 April. This scheme will support the long-term sustainable growth of the seafood sector and includes support to deliver improvements to vessels and to support port infrastructure.
In addition to this support, on Christmas Eve the Prime Minister announced a further £100 million that will support investment to modernise and rejuvenate the sector. This will include funding for infrastructure projects that support the development and modernisation of ports, harbours, and landing sites across the UK in order to land, process and market more sustainably managed fish.
The Government has also safeguarded investment in the sector by making up to £23 million available to support seafood businesses affected by the impact of Covid-19 and new trading conditions. With regards to the proposed freeport, no comparative assessment has been conducted. However, freeports will play a significant role in boosting trade, attracting inward investment and driving productive activity across the UK. This will level up communities across the country through increased employment opportunities. This is more important than ever as we begin to recover from the ongoing economic impacts of Covid-19.
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