Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria her Department uses when selecting sites for potential new reservoirs.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Reservoirs require detailed feasibility studies to ensure they are located in the right place and designed to be safe, sustainable, and cost-effective. This involves surveying multiple potential sites, complex modelling for hydrology and geology, and refining designs through several rounds of consultation and technical review as new information is made available.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the ability of the proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction Scheme to provide resilience in a 1:200 year drought event, in the context of the 1:40 drought event of 2022 seeing naturalised flows over Teddington Weir drop as low as the limit of the M2 (LTOA) abstraction licence.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The performance of the proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction has been assessed through the water resources management planning process and shown to be effective under a range of drought conditions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of immigration levels on water (a) usage and (b) security.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water companies set out how they will meet their water supply duties in their Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). The plans show how they will secure water supplies in the long-term. Companies prepare revised WRMPs every five years and must take account of various factors such as population changes.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of immigration levels on water supply.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water companies set out how they will meet their water supply duties in their Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). The plans show how they will secure water supplies in the long-term. Companies prepare revised WRMPs every five years and must take account of various factors such as population changes.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8th September 2026, to Question UIN 26078, on Water Abstraction: Teddington, how many additional days would the proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction add to London’s potable water supply in a very severe drought when reservoir storage dropped to 25% and emergency drought orders were imposed.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction will be an important scheme in reducing impacts of severe droughts. Days of additional water supply depend on water demand, reservoir storage, river-flows, drought severity and operational factors.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of area-based agricultural support payments on poultry farmers and other farmers whose businesses require relatively small areas of land; and whether she has considered alternative payment models for such businesses.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is moving away from untargeted area-based direct payments like the EU Common Agricultural Policy’s Basic Payment Scheme and now provides support through a range of schemes and grants, including environmental, productivity, innovation and animal health and welfare programmes. These programmes are designed to support different types of farming businesses and are not solely linked to the amount of land farmed.

The Poultry Sector Growth Plan is being developed by industry, supported by Government and the Farming and Food Partnership Board, to identify opportunities for the sector to improve its productivity and profitability.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 7th September 2026, to Question UIN 26076, on Water Abstraction: Teddington, what assessment she has made of Thames Water’s M2 (LTOA) abstraction licence in continuing to allow abstraction into the Thames-Lee tunnel at Hampton, in the context of naturalised flow over Teddington Weir being at 300 Ml/d on average for 10 days.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) scheme is separate from the existing M2 abstraction licence. Any TDRA operation would require environmental assessment considering interactions with the existing M2 operations.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to coordinate transport, health, housing and environmental policy to reduce air pollution and exposure.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Government recognises that tackling air pollution requires coordinated action across transport, health, housing and environmental policy. Effective cross-government working is already underway through initiatives such as the 10-year health plan and Environmental Improvement Plan. We will also consider how collaboration can be strengthened through the Air Quality Strategy review.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department provides to (a) households and (b) businesses on ways to lawfully dispose of waste that is unsuitable for regular weekly collections.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Government guidance advises households to use local recycling centres, council bulky or special collection services, or authorised private waste operators where waste cannot be collected routinely. Businesses must use registered waste carriers or permitted facilities and ensure waste is managed lawfully. Guidance can be found at: Household waste; Business waste; Duty of care code.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will meet with Severn Trent Water to discuss expanding rainwater management systems across the public sector estate in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin so rainwater can be recycled for maintenance and irrigation of grounds and amenities owned by public sector bodies.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government recognises the benefits of water reuse and recycling and welcomes further engagement with Severn Trent on expanding rainwater management systems.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance, capability standards and funding her Department provides to strategic authorities and mayors to help them improve air quality.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As part of our commitment in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, this Government is delivering guidance, webinars and other resources to support local and strategic authorities in addressing air quality issues. Funding is provided through a simplified Local Government Finance Settlement.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the forthcoming Horticulture Strategy will include measures to increase domestic production and consumption of pulses.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to our horticulture and arable sectors and their role in providing home‑grown produce helping to feed the nation. The Horticulture Sector Plan is an independent sector led plan aiming to identify how the sector can increase productivity, profitability and strengthen the contribution of domestic production to our national food security.  The plan is relying on sector expertise to set out a clear vision for growth and a practical pathway to deliver it. Fresh peas and green beans grown as horticultural crops are in scope. While pulses cultivated as arable crops are outside scope, they are a vital part of domestic agricultural production. Lessons learned from current sector plans will help inform future rollout to other sectors.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) staff turnover rate, (b) vacancy rate and (c) average time taken to fill vacancies was for frontline operational and regulatory delivery roles in the Forestry Commission in each of the last three years.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Forestry Commission’s staff turnover rate for frontline operational and regulatory delivery roles was 16.08% in 2023-24, 13.77% in 2024-25 and 13.79% in 2025-26. Vacancy rate information for these roles is not held. Information on the average time taken to fill vacancies for these roles is only available for 2025-26 and was 87.5 days (12.5 weeks).

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department or the Forestry Commission will submit a pay flexibility business case in relation to Forestry Commission staff under the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance 2026-27 before the 31 October 2026 deadline.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Forestry Commission has no plans to submit a pay flexibility business case under the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance 2026-27 before the 31 October 2026 deadline.

Subject to trade union negotiations, the Forestry Commission intends to implement the standard 3.5% pay award from 1 October 2026.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the forthcoming poultry growth strategy will support a transition away from intensive animal agriculture towards prioritising animal welfare, environmental and public health.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Poultry Sector Growth Plan is being developed by industry, with Government acting as a convenor and supporting the process. It is intended to identify how the sector can improve productivity, profitability and resilience while operating within the UK's environmental, planning, animal welfare and regulatory framework. Any proposals emerging from the plan would continue to be subject to existing planning, environmental and regulatory requirements.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration she has given to reviewing the requirement for planning applications to deliver a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain where a site is otherwise unviable and a considerable period of time has passed since the development site came forward.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In April 2026, the Government announced a package of reforms to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) to make it quicker, cheaper and easier for developers. This includes a new 0.2 hectare exemption which came into effect on 6 August 2026 and forthcoming changes to how priority habitat mosaics on brownfield sites are assessed and compensated for. Government continues to focus on implementing those changes already announced.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the carbon border adjustment mechanism on the price of fertiliser for farmers; and what consideration she has given to postponing the CBAM and conducting a market review in 12 months.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 June 2026 to the hon. Member for Chester South and Eddisbury, UIN 2499.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2026 to WPQ 27407, how many individual applications were (a) made and (b) successful under the Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme in the twelve months between June 2025 and 2026.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In total, 22,806 Pet Travel Document applications were submitted for the Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme between 1 June 2025 and 31 May 2026, of which 21,881 were approved by the Animal Plant and Health Agency (96% approved).

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the spread of emerald ash borer across Europe; and what steps she plans to take to prevent its spread into the UK.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK has robust measures in place to prevent the introduction of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), which is not present in the UK and has never been intercepted here. Imports of ash trees from countries where EAB occurs are prohibited, while imports of ash wood and bark are subject to strict controls.

Defra monitors EAB across Europe through international surveillance, research and information sharing activities, including the International Plant Sentinel Network, EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization), and the FraxNet project. Defra also supports research to strengthen surveillance, improve risk assessment, and inform contingency planning.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her department plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. member for Newton Abbot under case ref MW16977.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 23 September 2026.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether areas with the lowest levels of tree cover will be prioritised in the England Trees Action Plan.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Lower urban tree cover often correlates with higher socioeconomic deprivation. The Government supports urban tree planting through the Trees Outside Woodland Fund in partnership with the Tree Council, and England’s Community Forests. Both plant trees in and around urban areas to improve wellbeing, tackle climate change and create places for nature. The Community Forests planted over 1,800 hectares in 2025/26. Forest Research have estimated the value of the UK’s non-woodland trees based on the multiple benefits provided.

The recently announced £53 million Community Trees Fund will plant and establish up to 500,000 new trees outside woodlands, including on streets and in parks. We are considering how areas of deprivation or low tree cover could be further supported.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential financial impact of bluetongue virus on livestock farms; and whether she plans to provide additional financial support to farmers facing financial losses arising from livestock movement restrictions, reduced productivity and disease control measures.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government recognises that the current bluetongue outbreak is placing significant pressures on livestock keepers. Defra continues to work with industry representatives to consider further measures to support farmers. Keepers can apply for a funded annual vet visit under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, covering 2.5 hours of a vet’s time. This is intended to cover a range of issues and could include discussion about BTV and checking of animals, alongside the actions required as part of the scheme.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce the use of snares and prevent unnecessary suffering to wildlife in West Dorset.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy sets out its clear ambition for all animals to experience good welfare and not be subjected to suffering. The strategy reiterates the manifesto commitment to end the use of snare traps in England, and the Government will do this as swiftly as possible.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to strengthen regulations governing the use of snares in England.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy sets out its clear ambition for all animals to experience good welfare and not be subjected to suffering. The strategy reiterates the manifesto commitment to end the use of snare traps in England, and the Government will do this as swiftly as possible.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of current timescales in confirming bluetongue cases on farmers in West Dorset.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Since 11 September 2026, private vets in England can diagnose cases of bluetongue based on clinical signs, with cases then formally confirmed by APHA. This is supported by a new online reporting system, which reduces the time taken to both notify and confirm cases. It also frees up laboratory capacity for movement testing and surveillance. Defra continues to work with industry representatives to consider further measures to support farmers.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade on the potential impact of the proposed reduction in the maximum permitted noise level for consumer fireworks on animal welfare.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra ministers regularly engage with their counterparts across Government and have met ministers at the department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) to discuss firework policy. Defra will continue to engage with BIST following the consultation on fireworks and pyrotechnics in the UK.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her department has to implement Section 42 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to addressing the longstanding issues with private sewerage and recognises that current arrangements for sewer adoption need review.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increased urban tree cover on(a) heatwaves, (b) flooding and (c) drought in areas with low levels of existing tree cover.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Lower urban tree cover often correlates with higher socioeconomic deprivation. The Government supports urban tree planting through the Trees Outside Woodland Fund in partnership with the Tree Council, and England’s Community Forests. Both plant trees in and around urban areas to improve wellbeing, tackle climate change and create places for nature. The Community Forests planted over 1,800 hectares in 2025/26. Forest Research have estimated the value of the UK’s non-woodland trees based on the multiple benefits provided.

The recently announced £53 million Community Trees Fund will plant and establish up to 500,000 new trees outside woodlands, including on streets and in parks. We are considering how areas of deprivation or low tree cover could be further supported.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing tree cover in areas with the lowest levels of existing tree cover on health.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Lower urban tree cover often correlates with higher socioeconomic deprivation. The Government supports urban tree planting through the Trees Outside Woodland Fund in partnership with the Tree Council, and England’s Community Forests. Both plant trees in and around urban areas to improve wellbeing, tackle climate change and create places for nature. The Community Forests planted over 1,800 hectares in 2025/26. Forest Research have estimated the value of the UK’s non-woodland trees based on the multiple benefits provided.

The recently announced £53 million Community Trees Fund will plant and establish up to 500,000 new trees outside woodlands, including on streets and in parks. We are considering how areas of deprivation or low tree cover could be further supported.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce delays in confirming cases of bluetongue disease in the South West.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Since 11 September 2026, private vets in England can diagnose cases of bluetongue based on clinical signs, with cases then formally confirmed by APHA. This is supported by a new online reporting system, which reduces the time taken to both notify and confirm cases. It also frees up laboratory capacity for movement testing and surveillance. Defra continues to work with industry representatives to consider further measures to support farmers.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2026, to Question 15820, on Jam: Labelling, what assessment has been made of whether dynamic alignment under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement will mean certain (a) vitamins or (b) minerals on sale in Great Britain to the general public will be banned or restricted as a consequence of the annex of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1798, Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 and other EU law.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As part of the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement currently being negotiated, this Government is making a sovereign choice in the national interest to align in some areas where it makes sense to do so. This Government has published a list of EU legislation it currently expects to be in scope, including Regulation 1925/2006 on the addition of vitamins, minerals and certain other substances to foods. The final scope of the agreement, and its precise implications for particular products, remain subject to the outcome of ongoing negotiations with the EU. This Government will continue to work with affected industry to prepare for implementation.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026 to question 26686, when the planned end of the research and development programme on Marine Net Gain is.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Research and development (R&D) on marine recovery will continue until at least the end of the current financial year. Further R&D beyond that will be subject to prioritisation through the internal business planning process.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2026, to Question 15820, on Jam: Labelling, what assessment has been made of how dynamic alignment under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement will affect still and sparkling wine producers in Great Britain.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement is still being negotiated and the final list of legislation in scope remains subject to negotiations. This Government has begun publishing sector-specific information to help businesses prepare. The agreement will make agri-food trade with the EU cheaper and easier, cutting costs and removing barriers for British producers.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2026 to Question 18773 on Biodiversity, whether it remains her Department's policy that biodiversity net gain applies to most development.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Most planning applications have always been exempt from Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) because they have little or no impact on nature. BNG continues to apply to many new housing and commercial developments and will be mandatory for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects from November 2026. Government expects BNG to continue to play an important role in recovering nature in England while supporting the homes and infrastructure we need.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that water companies deliver a sustained reduction in storm overflow discharges by 2030; and what enforcement action her Department will take against companies that fail to meet targets.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water companies are investing over £10 billion to improve about 2,500 storm overflows in England, prioritised at overflows affecting the most sensitive sites. Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce – chaired by Minister Hardy – is working with regulators to hold water companies to account for delivery of their planned investments.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a reduction in the number of licensed greyhound stadiums in England on the welfare and rehoming of retired greyhounds.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) is responsible for the welfare of greyhounds on GBGB licensed tracks, including ensuring the welfare of racing greyhounds that have left tracks that have closed. Defra continues to monitor closely GBGB’s work in ensuring the welfare and homing of greyhounds.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to introduce legislation banning the (a) sale, (b) possession and (c) use of snares.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 12 March 2026 in response to PQ UIN 120391.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2026, to Question 14619, on Angling: Licensing, if she will provide a relevant hyperlink for the Cabinet Office spend control approval published by the Cabinet Office on gov.uk for that spending.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Cabinet Office spend control approvals are not routinely published on GOV.UK. The approval referenced in the answer of 9 July 2026 related to an internal Cabinet Office spend control process and no specific published GOV.UK hyperlink is available for that individual approval.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the value for money of (a) funding projects in China and (b) allocating the same funding to countries with substantially lower levels of income and domestic resources under her Department's Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund is a competitive grant scheme that supports projects which tackle the illegal wildlife trade, and wider environmental crime, while contributing to poverty reduction in developing countries.

Applications to the fund are assessed against published criteria, including their expected impact, value for money and strategic contribution to tackling environmental crime. An independent advisory group reviews eligible applications and provides expert advice to support funding decisions.

Defra has not undertaken a separate comparative assessment of the matters raised.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help increase the capacity of wastewater infrastructure.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water and sewerage companies in England and Wales must now produce statutory Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans outlining how they intend to manage their systems, accounting for population growth and climate change. In parallel, increased action on rainwater management and reduced sewer misuse will increase network capacity.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of (a) the costs and benefits for local authorities of installing underground refuse collection systems and (b) the potential impact on (i) collection efficiency, (ii) streetscape quality, and (iii) fly-tipping costs.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Collection methodology is a local decision. Government guidance states that local authorities should decide collection methodology in a way that meets local needs, provides value for money for the taxpayer, and does not lead to build-up of odorous waste at the kerbside or an increase in fly-tipping of residual waste.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2026 to Question 22817 on Reservoirs: Cambridgeshire, if she will publish a breakdown of the (a) nitrates and (b) phosphates found in water sources used to fill Grafham Water.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This information is publicly available here: https://environment.data.gov.uk/water-quality.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Baroness Batters’ review that outlined 57 recommendations on how the Government and industry can work together to boost growth for farming businesses, what measures are being put in place to deliver the nine actions the Government committed to: Utilising the newly created Farming and Food Partnership Board to develop Sector Growth Plans; Expanding export opportunities; Improving public procurement; Progressing fair dealing regulations and supply chain monitoring, Accelerating planning reform and simplifying regulation, Modernising grant delivery and maintaining investment through ELM schemes, Launching a new collaboration fund and skills strategy, Increasing investment in agri-tech and innovation, and Building frameworks to support private finance for environmental outcomes.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government’s response to the Review is already being delivered through the Farming Roadmap and associated measures.

The Farming and Food Partnership Board is bringing Government and industry together to strengthen supply chains and open clearer routes to market. Sector Growth Plans for horticulture and poultry are already in development.

Other measures include the continuing rollout of Sustainable Farming Incentive 26 and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier; a new Farmer Collaboration Fund and work on skills; increased support for agri-tech innovation; work to develop frameworks to attract private investment into environmental outcomes; and work to ensure the planning system is more supportive of the infrastructure farmers need.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans her Department maintains to ensure the continued availability of essential food supplies in the event of significant domestic or international crop failures caused by extreme weather.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK has a resilient food supply chain underpinned by diverse sources, and this diversity remains a core strength, supporting response to disruptions without significant impact on national food security.

We are investing in resilience; spending £200 million up to 2030 through the Farming Innovation Programme, including an extra £50 million for Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements for short- and long-term resilience to our changing climate.

The Government has committed to develop adaptation objectives to improve preparedness for the impacts of climate change. This will support an ambitious and impactful fourth National Adaptation Programme due in 2028.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reducing the use of plastic packaging for unprocessed fruit and vegetables; and what steps her Department is taking to encourage a reduction in such packaging.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to reducing unnecessary plastic packaging for unprocessed fruit and vegetables, while ensuring food safety, product protection and avoiding increased food waste. pEPR incentivises producers to reduce packaging, increase reuse and improve recyclability. Government supports WRAP’s Packaging Pact, helping businesses address packaging challenges and accelerate circular solutions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to A UK government food strategy for England, published on 15 July 2025, what progress has been made towards the Government's objective of reducing food waste, including the latest estimate of the amount of edible food being wasted in England.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government supports action to reduce food waste across the food industry through WRAP’s UK Food and Drink Pact and is working with stakeholders to develop a national endeavour to end avoidable food waste. Latest UK figures show households waste 4.4 million tonnes of edible food annually.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) water recycling, (b) new reservoirs, (c) leakage reduction and (d) desalination as measures to increase water supply resilience.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water companies set out how they will provide a secure water supply through their Water Resources Management Plans. Within their plans, water companies must consider all demand management and water resources infrastructure options, including leakage reduction, water recycling, reservoirs and desalination, to ensure the most effective solutions are selected.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) what consideration was given to farming staff, particularly growers, when amending the national living ways increases, (b) what steps is her Department taking to give growers the confidence to invest in their businesses, and (c) can she confirm if the seasonal worker scheme will remain open to allow continued access to 41 000 seasonal workers for horticulture and 2000 for poultry.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Low Pay Commission provides recommendations to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade on the National Living Wage. It considers evidence from farmers, worker’s representatives and other employers when assessing the impact of National Living Wage increases on business costs, competitiveness, employment and the wider labour market.

The Farming Roadmap sets out a clear plan to 2050 and the practical steps to be taken in partnership with the industry. The Sector Growth Plans being developed by sector experts, starting with horticulture and poultry, will add further detail and should boost business confidence to invest.

The 2027 Seasonal Worker visa allocations for the horticulture sector was confirmed this month as 41,000 - the same as 2026. This timely announcement gives growers and operators good time to plan for the year ahead. The poultry allocation in 2027 will be 1,900 in line with sector needs.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the Access to Nature Green Paper includes provisions for increased public access to unregulated inland waterways.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors including blue spaces for people’s health and wellbeing. As set out in the EIP 2025, Defra committed to consulting on measures to ensure that everyone has access to nature close to home and to strengthen the public’s legal rights to access through an Access to Nature Green Paper to be published this Parliament. This includes exploring the feasibility of increased access onto unregulated waterways, and Defra is committed to working with stakeholders as this develops.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of sewage discharges such as those affecting Torbay on recreational water users, including paddlers; and what steps she is taking to ensure the Clean Water Bill addresses the health and safety of people who use rivers, lakes and coastal waters for recreation.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) monitors water quality at designated bathing waters, including 15 in Torbay. Where bathing waters have poor water quality, the EA works to understand the causes and identify opportunities for improvement. The Water Bill will prioritise public health, including by enabling solutions to reduce sewage spills.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that improvements in air quality are maintained by local authorities which have achieved compliance and had statutory air quality directions lifted.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Government monitors compliance with legal air quality limits nationally. Under Local Air Quality Management, local authorities are responsible for determining whether objectives are likely to be met and taking action where necessary. Defra guidance also recommends local authorities produce local Air Quality Strategies to support ongoing proactive action on air pollution.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will give local and strategic authorities the guidance, resources and funding to tackle poor indoor air quality.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Local authorities play an important role in improving air quality. Defra and DHSC are working with other departments to strengthen the evidence base and consider how housing, planning and public health can support better outcomes. Local authorities are best placed to determine local priorities and allocate available resources accordingly.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will develop a national approach to indoor air quality that brings together housing, planning and public health.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the importance of indoor air quality. Defra and DHSC are working with other departments to strengthen the evidence base and consider how housing, planning and public health can support better outcomes.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of funding under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund provided to projects benefiting China has been matched by financial or in-kind contributions from (a) the Chinese Government and (b) other Chinese institutions.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Since the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund was established in 2014, 13 of the 187 projects funded have included activities in China totalling an estimated £1.89m. These projects have been associated with financial or in-kind contributions of approximately £18,000 from the Chinese Government and £38,000 from other Chinese institutions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of ending Official Development Assistance under the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund for projects located in China and redirecting funding to lower-income countries with greater development needs.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government engages with a range of international partners, including China, to support action against the illegal wildlife trade and the implementation of international commitments under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This includes, where appropriate, through programmes funded by Official Development Assistance, such as the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.

Defra has not made separate assessments of the matters raised.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of encouraging China to address illegal wildlife trade without UK Official Development Assistance.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government engages with a range of international partners, including China, to support action against the illegal wildlife trade and the implementation of international commitments under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This includes, where appropriate, through programmes funded by Official Development Assistance, such as the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.

Defra has not made separate assessments of the matters raised.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she had discussions with the Scottish Government before announcing the decision to agree to the English Whisky Guild application for a Geographical Indication for English Whisky.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra officials worked closely with counterparts from all the Devolved Governments of the UK, including the Scottish Government, to assess whether the application for registration of ‘English Whisky’ as a PGI met the requirements of the regulations. The assessment process concluded that the requirements of the regulations had been met.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her decision to agree to the English Whisky Guild application for a Geographical Indication for English Whisky on distilleries in Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government supports whisky producers across the UK. The UK is home to world class whisky production, and English Whisky joins Scotch, Welsh and Irish whiskies as recognised and protected products. Scotch Whisky's protected status and strong reputation are unchanged, and this Government is confident that the Scotch Whisky industry will continue to thrive.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an impact assessment of the decision to agree to the English Whisky Guild application for a Geographical Indication for English Whisky on the Scotch Whisky sector and the Single Malt Scotch Whisky category.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government supports whisky producers across the UK. The UK is home to world class whisky production, and English Whisky joins Scotch, Welsh and Irish whiskies as recognised and protected products. Scotch Whisky's protected status and strong reputation are unchanged, and this Government is confident that the Scotch Whisky industry will continue to thrive.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with colleagues in the Treasury on the potential impact of reducing food waste on the cost of living.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra officials engage regularly with His Majesty’s Treasury as part of the policy making process. Latest data from WRAP show that 58% of UK food waste occurs in households, with the average family wasting around £80 of food each month.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her decision to agree to the English Whisky Guild application for a Geographical Indication for English Whisky on distilleries in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government supports whisky producers across the UK. The UK is home to world class whisky production, and English Whisky joins Scotch, Welsh and Irish whiskies as recognised and protected products. Scotch Whisky's protected status and strong reputation are unchanged, and this Government is confident that the Scotch Whisky industry will continue to thrive.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of requiring large businesses to publicly report food waste.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the importance of improving food waste data to help reduce food waste and improve resource efficiency. Defra is engaging with industry to improve reporting and data quality, while considering a range of policy options.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on innovative water tariffs.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government supports water companies trialling regulated innovative charging approaches to assess their impact on affordability, fairness and water efficiency. Ofwat regulates trials through charging rules and consumer safeguards, with vulnerable customers protected or appropriately excluded.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the Environment Agency's policy on the number of miles its staff may be asked to walk in a day.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency does not have a specific policy or guidance defining the maximum number of miles staff may be required to walk in a day.

Found: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) (2023) Statistical Digest of Rural England

Found: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: .  Recommendation 3: Defra should (i) reconsider its approach to EPR glass fees, (ii) address the long-standing

Found: Letter from Defra on Results from the Single-Use Carrier Bags Charge 2025-26 23.09.2026 Correspondence

Found: should be agreed by all four nations before legislating, not after (House of Commons Library, 2026) (DEFRA

Found: Burden and Opportunity Assessment should be led by the Scotland Office with HM Treasury, HMRC, DBT, DEFRA

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, when funding opportunities for engineering biology businesses will be launched by Innovate UK through the National Engineering Biology Programme.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Innovate UK recently launched several funding opportunities for engineering biology businesses including an £8.5m collaborative R&D competition, an £8m Investor Partnerships competition, and a £3m Contracts for Innovation pilot competition with Defra and FSA through the National Engineering Biology Programme. Further funding opportunities will be launched across the SR period, including an Accelerator (with aligned Feasibility funding) towards the end of the year, supporting early-stage businesses and entrepreneurs in commercialising engineering biology innovations. The UKRI future research and funding opportunities pages will provide details of forthcoming calls.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to improve police forces’ ability to tackle organised rural crime.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities and the agricultural sector. That is why this Government is committed to reducing crime in rural areas. We are improving the safety of rural communities with tougher measures to clamp down on organised rural crime, equipment theft, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

This Government recognises that there can be challenges in responding to organised rural crime and is taking a coordinated, cross-system approach to tackling this issue. To support the policing response, the Home Office is providing over £800,000 in 2026/27 to the National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit. These specialist capabilities provide intelligence, analysis, coordination and operational support to forces across the UK, helping to identify, disrupt and pursue offenders operating across force boundaries.

The Home Office has worked closely with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to support the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025–28. This strategy provides a framework through which policing and its partners can work together to tackle the crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, including organised criminality affecting farms and agricultural businesses.

People in rural communities often feel that they don’t receive the same timeliness and quality of response from their local force as those living in urban areas. Our police reforms will end that postcode lottery by setting central targets, increasing transparency so people can see how their force is performing, and taking robust action where forces are not performing. With our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, every neighbourhood, rural or urban, now has a named contactable officer, dedicated to addressing the issues facing their communities.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether her Department has produced modelling on the timing of Government responses to a) wildfires and b) flooding.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office works with other government departments, including MHCLG (lead government department for wildfires) and Defra (lead government department for flooding) to closely monitor emerging risks to enable the government to respond rapidly and proportionately as required. The Cabinet Office will continue to liaise with the relevant departments throughout any response required.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps her Department is taking to ensure compliance with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regulations for legacy solar panels where the original equipment manufacturer or installer has ceased trading.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (as amended) are a matter for my Rt Hon friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

As set out in the Solar Roadmap published in June 2025, the Government has committed to maximising the use of resources and reducing waste by moving to a circular economy, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has convened a taskforce of experts from across government, industry, academia and non-governmental organisations to develop a Circular Economy Strategy.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to deliver a coordinated national wildfire strategy.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

To strengthen resilience, MHCLG and Defra have established joint governance arrangements with partners across government and the resilience sector to drive coordinated action on prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. This work is helping to inform the development of a cross-government Wildfire Action Plan to improve resilience over the short, medium and long term.

The Prime Minister announced that he will convene a Wildfire Summit in the autumn, which will provide an opportunity to continue to consider wildfire resilience measures across prevention, response and recovery. Officials from all nations will continue to work together post Summit to ensure coordination across the wildfire risk landscape.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of trends in organised crime groups affecting rural communities since the introduction of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act of 2023; and what steps she is taking to tackle such crime

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Rural crime can have a devastating impact on communities and the agricultural sector, particularly when machinery and equipment are stolen.

We are improving the safety of rural communities with tougher measures to clamp down on organised rural crime, equipment theft, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 received Royal Assent in July 2023, but its substantive provisions require secondary legislation before they can take effect. The Government’s response to the Call for Evidence, published on 10 March 2026, sets out the proposed scope of that legislation. It will require all new All-Terrain Vehicles to be forensically marked, and their details recorded on a property database.

The Department has not made an assessment of trends in organised crime groups affecting rural communities, or of the impact of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 on levels of agricultural equipment theft, since the Act's provisions are not yet in force. However, the National Farmers’ Union Mutual Crime Report reported reductions in the cost of rural crime by 6% in 2025.

We recognise that organised criminal groups are involved in rural offences, including the theft of agricultural machinery, livestock and fuel. The Home Office is therefore providing over £800,000 in 2026/27 for the National Rural Crime Unit and the National Wildlife Crime Unit. These specialist capabilities provide operational support, intelligence, analysis and coordination to police forces across the UK, helping them to identify, disrupt and pursue offenders operating across force boundaries.

The Home Office has also worked closely with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to support the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025–28. This strategy provides a framework through which policing and its partners can work together to tackle the crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, including organised criminality affecting farms and agricultural businesses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2003 on levels of theft of agricultural equipment.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Rural crime can have a devastating impact on communities and the agricultural sector, particularly when machinery and equipment are stolen.

We are improving the safety of rural communities with tougher measures to clamp down on organised rural crime, equipment theft, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 received Royal Assent in July 2023, but its substantive provisions require secondary legislation before they can take effect. The Government’s response to the Call for Evidence, published on 10 March 2026, sets out the proposed scope of that legislation. It will require all new All-Terrain Vehicles to be forensically marked, and their details recorded on a property database.

The Department has not made an assessment of trends in organised crime groups affecting rural communities, or of the impact of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 on levels of agricultural equipment theft, since the Act's provisions are not yet in force. However, the National Farmers’ Union Mutual Crime Report reported reductions in the cost of rural crime by 6% in 2025.

We recognise that organised criminal groups are involved in rural offences, including the theft of agricultural machinery, livestock and fuel. The Home Office is therefore providing over £800,000 in 2026/27 for the National Rural Crime Unit and the National Wildlife Crime Unit. These specialist capabilities provide operational support, intelligence, analysis and coordination to police forces across the UK, helping them to identify, disrupt and pursue offenders operating across force boundaries.

The Home Office has also worked closely with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to support the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025–28. This strategy provides a framework through which policing and its partners can work together to tackle the crimes that predominantly affect rural communities, including organised criminality affecting farms and agricultural businesses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the additional barriers faced by victims of domestic abuse in rural communities compared with those in urban areas.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In 'Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’ we set out the actions this Government is taking to prevent violence and abuse, pursue perpetrators, and support victims. This Government recognises the importance of ensuring support is accessible to all victims, including those living in rural and isolated communities.

A wide range of work is ongoing across government to improve the support for victims in rural areas, including:

• A call for evidence by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to better understand the specific challenges faced by victims in rural communities. This will help our wider work to improve support provision and address disparities in access to services.
• Investing in helplines to support victims of domestic abuse, which provide crisis support and advice to victims across England and Wales, regardless of location.
• Investing more than £1 billion over the next three years to support victims. Most of this funding will go to local commissioners, such as local authorities and Police and Crime Commissioners, who are best placed to commission services tailored to local needs.
• Reforming the commissioning landscape, including through a new cross-government commissioning statement and the forthcoming Duty to Collaborate, to improve the consistency, accessibility and effectiveness of support services for victims. Rurality will be a key consideration within this work.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of funding for specialist domestic abuse services operating in rural areas.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In 'Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’ we set out the actions this Government is taking to prevent violence and abuse, pursue perpetrators, and support victims. This Government recognises the importance of ensuring support is accessible to all victims, including those living in rural and isolated communities.

A wide range of work is ongoing across government to improve the support for victims in rural areas, including:

• A call for evidence by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to better understand the specific challenges faced by victims in rural communities. This will help our wider work to improve support provision and address disparities in access to services.
• Investing in helplines to support victims of domestic abuse, which provide crisis support and advice to victims across England and Wales, regardless of location.
• Investing more than £1 billion over the next three years to support victims. Most of this funding will go to local commissioners, such as local authorities and Police and Crime Commissioners, who are best placed to commission services tailored to local needs.
• Reforming the commissioning landscape, including through a new cross-government commissioning statement and the forthcoming Duty to Collaborate, to improve the consistency, accessibility and effectiveness of support services for victims. Rurality will be a key consideration within this work.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to rural-proof her Department's policies and strategies relating to domestic abuse.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In 'Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’ we set out the actions this Government is taking to prevent violence and abuse, pursue perpetrators, and support victims. This Government recognises the importance of ensuring support is accessible to all victims, including those living in rural and isolated communities.

A wide range of work is ongoing across government to improve the support for victims in rural areas, including:

• A call for evidence by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to better understand the specific challenges faced by victims in rural communities. This will help our wider work to improve support provision and address disparities in access to services.
• Investing in helplines to support victims of domestic abuse, which provide crisis support and advice to victims across England and Wales, regardless of location.
• Investing more than £1 billion over the next three years to support victims. Most of this funding will go to local commissioners, such as local authorities and Police and Crime Commissioners, who are best placed to commission services tailored to local needs.
• Reforming the commissioning landscape, including through a new cross-government commissioning statement and the forthcoming Duty to Collaborate, to improve the consistency, accessibility and effectiveness of support services for victims. Rurality will be a key consideration within this work.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Rural Crime Network's report entitled Captive & Controlled, published in July 2019, what assessment she has made of the finding that domestic abuse lasts, on average, 25 per cent longer in the most rural areas than in urban areas; and what steps she is taking to tackle that disparity.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In 'Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’ we set out the actions this Government is taking to prevent violence and abuse, pursue perpetrators, and support victims. This Government recognises the importance of ensuring support is accessible to all victims, including those living in rural and isolated communities.

A wide range of work is ongoing across government to improve the support for victims in rural areas, including:

• A call for evidence by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to better understand the specific challenges faced by victims in rural communities. This will help our wider work to improve support provision and address disparities in access to services.
• Investing in helplines to support victims of domestic abuse, which provide crisis support and advice to victims across England and Wales, regardless of location.
• Investing more than £1 billion over the next three years to support victims. Most of this funding will go to local commissioners, such as local authorities and Police and Crime Commissioners, who are best placed to commission services tailored to local needs.
• Reforming the commissioning landscape, including through a new cross-government commissioning statement and the forthcoming Duty to Collaborate, to improve the consistency, accessibility and effectiveness of support services for victims. Rurality will be a key consideration within this work.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to domestic abuse support services for people living in rural and isolated communities.

Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

In 'Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’ we set out the actions this Government is taking to prevent violence and abuse, pursue perpetrators, and support victims. This Government recognises the importance of ensuring support is accessible to all victims, including those living in rural and isolated communities.

A wide range of work is ongoing across government to improve the support for victims in rural areas, including:

• A call for evidence by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to better understand the specific challenges faced by victims in rural communities. This will help our wider work to improve support provision and address disparities in access to services.
• Investing in helplines to support victims of domestic abuse, which provide crisis support and advice to victims across England and Wales, regardless of location.
• Investing more than £1 billion over the next three years to support victims. Most of this funding will go to local commissioners, such as local authorities and Police and Crime Commissioners, who are best placed to commission services tailored to local needs.
• Reforming the commissioning landscape, including through a new cross-government commissioning statement and the forthcoming Duty to Collaborate, to improve the consistency, accessibility and effectiveness of support services for victims. Rurality will be a key consideration within this work.

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Found: 2026-10-26 00:00:00 Contact: Agricultural Accounts and Market Prices team Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: 10-26 00:00:00 Contact: Agricultural Accounts and Market Prices team Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

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Found: Defra continues to invest in bird flu research and monitors the situation globally.

Found: Defra continues to invest in bird flu research and monitors the situation globally.

Found: DEFRA and Environment Agency's 'Land Condition and Risk Management (LCRM).

Found: DEFRA and Environment Agency's 'Land Condition and Risk Management (LCRM).

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Found: confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland. 2024 to 2025 outbreak season (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) Defra

Found: confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland. 2024 to 2025 outbreak season (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) Defra

Found: confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland. 2024 to 2025 outbreak season (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) Defra

Found: confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland. 2024 to 2025 outbreak season (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) Defra

Found: confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland. 2024 to 2025 outbreak season (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) Defra

Found: confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland. 2024 to 2025 outbreak season (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) Defra

Found: confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland. 2024 to 2025 outbreak season (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) Defra

Found: confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland. 2024 to 2025 outbreak season (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) Defra

Found: APHA approves and inspects these premises on behalf of Defra, the Scottish Government and Welsh Government

Found: The application was made before the introduction of DEFRA Guidance released in August 2023 (the Guidance

Found: Other Matters The objector has referred to 2007 guidance from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Found: farmyards and industrial or commercial premises (also known as the Presumptions Guidance) was issued by Defra

Found: Country Land and Business Association with input from Natural England and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: If you suspect it you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000

Found: Ensure safe access and exits are available for residential development in accordance with DEFRA guidance

Found: information is then used to provide annual average values for NO 2 which are reported annually to DEFRA

Found: equivalent DAA Directly associated activity DECC Department of Energy and Climate Change Defra

Found: coke and ethane, the figures in table 1 are taken from table 1c of annex 1 of 2012 Guidelines to Defra

Found: of coke and ethane, the figures in table 1 are taken from table 1c of annex 1 of 2012 Guidelines to Defra

Found: dioxide equivalent DAA Directly associated activity DECC Department of Energy and Climate Change Defra

Found: up An officer acting on behalf of the Local Authority wishing to sign up can write a letter to the Defra

Found: Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) The Office for Product Safety and Standards has been appointed by Defra

Found: Waste Water NPS for Water Resources Infrastructure These are produced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: The videos feature answers from Defra policy leads, with input from Cefas, AIFCA, and the Marine Management

Found: Inch (MMO) • Jacob Bestwick (MMO) • Phillipa Carr (MMO) • Chris Collins (MMO) • Andy Carroll (Defra

Found: Seafish, Defra and MMO drop-in Location: Warkworth Harbour Commissioners, 6 Coquet House, Amble,

Found: Seafish, Defra and MMO drop-in Location: Whitby Fishing School Whitby Mission and Seafarers Centre

Found: Qualtrics Experience Management Back in January 2023, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra

Found: FMP Infographics  Defra has commission the MMO to lead delivery of proposal three, the trial of finer

Found: Brian Dunn Ben Jo Ackers Stan Rennie Paul Widdowfield Andrew Shawl Jenny Sharon McDade Defra

Found: The revised byelaw is about to go to DEFRA for sign off.

Found: Attended participants 21 Start time 15:00 End time 16:30 Meeting duration 1:30 Attendees Industry DEFRA

Found: Defra are continuing work to remove that exemption.

Found: Where possible, the Environment Agency will work with other regulators in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: greenhouse gas emission reduction in the period 2021-2025 were set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: The FOI feedback to Defra on the performance of the Secretary of State’s Zoo Inspectorate.

Found: [email protected] www.gov.uk/apha APHA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: [email protected] www.gov.uk/apha APHA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Surrey KT15 3NB www.gov.uk/apha APHA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: [email protected] www.gov.uk/apha APHA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Addlestone Surrey KT15 3NB www.gov.uk/apha APHA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: the Defra office estate has increased.

Found: NET ZERO 61 DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT 65 DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Found: (Defra).

Found: HS2 and the EA are presenting to DEFRA about lessons learnt and Environment and Town Planning Director

Found: We also share this with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Found: We also share this with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Found: MMO and Defra are continuing to work with the European Commission and EU Member States to clarify how

Found: Her previous public appointments include service on the Science Advisory Council of Defra, the Royal

Found: Police, the Joint Unit for Waste Crime, the 6 local councils that make up the Liverpool City Region, Defra

Found: within the Environment Agency’s existing Investment Programme budget, provided by Government through Defra

Found: Our own experts work with leading scientific organisations, universities and other parts of the Defra

Found: Measurements from the Rural NO2 network are made available to Defra and its modelling contractors to

Found: & Hydrology (UKCEH) and WSP UK on behalf of the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Waste Safely' ('MRWS')69, 69 Managing Radioactive Waste Safely, consultation paper published by Defra

Found: In its April 2002 submission to the DEFRA consultation on developing UK policy for the management of

Found: addition, links to other sources of information, including reports from other parts of the APHA and Defra

Found: addition, links to other sources of information, including reports from other parts of the APHA and Defra

Found: Health Agency Personal Information Charter APHA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Defra approved disinfectant: application

Found: Defra approved disinfectant: application

Found: Defra approved disinfectant: application

Found: AB117 (Rev. 07/25) OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Scottish Government

Found: May 2026 consisting of: the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: 2026 yn cynnwys: yr Adran Fusnes a Masnach (DBT), yr Adran Amgylchedd, Bwyd a Materion Gwledig (DEFRA

Found: Islands Mairi Gougeon MSP  The Rt Hon Steve Reed MP Secretary of State Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: they derive or obtain conversion factors from elsewhere and enter these manually.16 Similarly, the Defra

Found: • DEFRA published a White Paper on 20 th January “A New Vision for Water” setting out it will deliver

Found: This licence has been issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Scottish Government

Found: • Defra estimates that the annual benefit NPAs add to the condition of National Parks is around £9m

Found: social challenges remain for equal access to the countryside as documented by recently commissioned Defra

Question

What discussions has the Cabinet Minister or Welsh Government officials had with industry representatives about the impact of rising production costs on the viability of Welsh farming businesses, including details of the industry representatives?

Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability

My officials and I have discussed rising production costs and the pressures facing Welsh farming businesses with representatives of NFU Cymru and the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW).  

Officials also engage with the industry through the monthly Livestock Chain Advisory Group, where production costs have been discussed. Industry representatives include FUW, NFU Cymru, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, the Livestock Auctioneers Association, The British Egg Industry Council, the International Meat Trade Association, the Provision Trade Association, Dairy UK and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

Alongside this industry engagement, officials have attended monthly Agricultural Market Monitoring Group meetings with counterparts from DEFRA, DAERA and the Scottish Government to monitor input costs including red diesel, feed and fertiliser.

Question

What discussions has the Cabinet Minister or Welsh Government officials had with industry representatives about the rise in production costs in Welsh agriculture, including details of the industry representatives?

Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability

My officials and I have discussed rising production costs and the pressures facing Welsh farming businesses with representatives of NFU Cymru and the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW).  

Officials also engage with the industry through the monthly Livestock Chain Advisory Group, where production costs have been discussed. Industry representatives include FUW, NFU Cymru, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, the Livestock Auctioneers Association, The British Egg Industry Council, the International Meat Trade Association, the Provision Trade Association, Dairy UK and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

Alongside this industry engagement, officials have attended monthly Agricultural Market Monitoring Group meetings with counterparts from DEFRA, DAERA and the Scottish Government to monitor input costs including red diesel, feed and fertiliser.