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 deliverability of the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project within the proposed timescale.

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

The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) brings together the three water regulators Ofwat, Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate. RAPID provides a robust process to scrutinise strategic water resource options and ensure they are appropriate and deliverable. This includes the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Scheme, which passed RAPID’s Gate 3 assessment in February 2025.

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 the government transparency data, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for October to December 2025 for all departments, published on 31 March 2026, for what reasons the ICF Consulting Services Limited contract for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Services requires the supplier to ensure that 50% or more of professional staff within the core team for service orders are female or non-binary.

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

The referenced KPI in Defra’s contract with ICF does not require the supplier to ensure that 50% or more of professional staff within the core team for service orders are female or non-binary, nor does it impose any minimum staffing requirement.

Instead, the KPI reports the proportion of professional staff within the core team who are female or non-binary, assessing performance against three published bands: below 25%, 25–49%, and 50% or above. The supplier reported within the highest band in the published data, which is likely the source of the 50% figure cited.

This form of reporting is intended to provide transparency on workforce composition within significant contracts and reflects both Defra’s approach to considering diversity as part of its wider procurement framework and the supplier’s own stated values.

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 maximise UK food security in the context of climate instability.

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

Steps being taken to maximise food security in the context of climate instability include:

An £11.8 billion allocation to deliver sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. This includes increasing spend on nature-friendly farming, with Environmental Land Management Schemes to £2bn by 2028/29.

£120 million in funding, starting this year, to improve productivity, trial new technologies and drive innovation across the agricultural sector.

£70 million of this funding has been allocated to Farming Innovation Programme grants, supporting investment in new technologies to boost Britain’s food security.

Defra investment, with the Met Office Hadley Centre, in the Food, Farming and the Natural Environment programme strengthen the evidence base on adaptation options and identify and evaluate key adaptation measures to improve agri-food sector, resilience.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on developing an improved plant health alert system; and whether the new system will include real time updates on border holds.

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

For goods that are detained at the border, there are already measures in place to inform the persons responsible for the loads that corrective action may be required or that in the event of a pest finding, certain processes need to be followed. Any non-compliance that results in statutory action is also formally notified to the exporting country, with publication of the non-compliances also published on the Plant Health Portal. Following recent feedback from individual cases, the Animal and Plant Health Agency has reviewed and updated its processes to ensure individuals are aware of any action being taken.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan.

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

Defra is preparing a Sector Growth Plan for the horticulture sector, following the first meeting of the Farming and Food Partnership Board in March.

Defra officials are meeting with horticulture sector experts to shape an industry-led, sector-owned plan that brings together Government and industry expertise.

The plan will identify key industry challenges and opportunities to boost productivity and profitability, while cutting environmental impact, and taking into account market realities and government priorities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when were businesses notified of the reclassification of valerian root by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

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

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate considers valerian root to be medicinal by function, above a certain strength, in line with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 (as amended) definition of a veterinary medicine. The medicinal status applied to valerian root was established in 1992 and the substance has not been reclassified.

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 assessment of the risk of pollution to the Havant Thicket Reservoir arising from treatment failures, and what steps he is taking to ensure that such risks are fully mitigated.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) is currently in pre‑application permit discussions with Southern Water and has advised on the evidence and data needed to support a full permit application to discharge recycled water from the advanced water treatment plant to Havant Thicket Reservoir.

As part of the permitting process, the EA will assess risks to water quality from the proposed discharge and will regulate Southern Water to ensure compliance with permit conditions.

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 implications for its designation as a best‑value solution of the increasing cost estimates for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Project.

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

The Government is committed to delivering best value for customers through the water infrastructure programme, while supporting growth and ensuring a resilient water supply.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that households in high flood risk areas are proactively informed about the Flood Re scheme; and what responsibilities insurers, local authorities, and the Environment Agency have to ensure that eligible residents are aware of this Government-backed support to help reduce insurance premiums.

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

The Flood Re scheme is a joint Government and industry reinsurance scheme that helps households at high risk of flooding access affordable home insurance through the open market. It is insurance companies who engage with Flood Re, rather than households. The Flood Re scheme is designed to operate in the background, enabling households to purchase insurance from insurance companies in the usual way, without having to engage with Flood Re.

Flood Re leads national communications activity, provides public guidance and operates an online eligibility tool to help households and advisers understand access to affordable flood insurance. The Environment Agency and local authorities also support awareness by signposting high‑risk households to relevant guidance and community engagement on flood risk and emergency planning.

In 2024-25, Flood Re supported over 346,000 household policies, with more than 650,000 properties benefitting since the scheme’s launch. As of December 2024, the average home insurance premium following a flood claim was around £1,100, compared with approximately £4,400 prior to Flood Re.

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 assessment of the environmental risks associated with constructing the proposed effluent recycling plant on a contaminated landfill site adjacent to Langstone Harbour SSSI.

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

The Environment Agency has, through its role in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure planning process, assessed potential risks of constructing the proposed water recycling plant on a former landfill.

The Environment Agency considers these risks to be manageable with appropriate design and mitigation.

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 assessment of Southern Water’s progress against RAPID requirements at Gates 2 and 3, and what steps she is taking in response to repeated findings of outstanding actions and insufficient evidence.

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

The Hampshire Water Transfer Water Recycling project has successfully passed RAPID gate two and gate three.

Through the RAPID assessment process, RAPID and its partner regulators can set priority actions and recommendations in areas where they determine more work is needed. All priority actions and recommendations set at both gates have been completed. Any outstanding actions will be addressed through the Gate 4 assessment process.

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 adequacy of Southern Water’s appraisal of alternative water resource options in its draft Water Resources Management Plan 2024, following the plan’s rejection by regulators in 2023.

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

Defra is currently reviewing advice provided by regulators in respect to Southern Water’s Water Resources Management Plan and the strategic water resource options included within it. Defra will make a decision on the next steps in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent engagement her Department has had with SADC Heads of Mission to the United Kingdom about Trophy Hunting.

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

The Department’s most recent engagement with a number of SADC State representatives on trophy hunting was a meeting held by Baroness Hayman in May 2025 to discuss the Government’s commitment to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the she is taking to fulfil to help ban the importation of foie gras; and whether he has set a timeline for doing so.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the reply given to Ruth Jones on 17 March 2026 to PQ UIN 119441.

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 prevent biodiversity loss associated with deforestation globally.

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

We remain steadfast in working with partners to deliver our shared commitment to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030 while supporting sustainable development. We recognise the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is currently considering its approach to addressing the impact of the use of forest risk commodities in our supply chains and will set out its approach in due course.

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 the Planning Inspectorate has full access to environmental, technical and financial risk assessments before considering the Development Consent Order for the Havant Thicket scheme.

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

The Development Consent Order application for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Scheme, linked to Havant Thicket Reservoir scheme in construction, will provide interested parties a further opportunity to make representations to a Planning Inspector on this scheme.

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 the Environment Agency requiring National Highways to apply for permits to operate outfalls into the River Lune.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) is able to use its enforcement policy and sanctions on those that pollute the environment. As the EA needs to prioritise its resource on tackling sources with the greatest environmental risk it is taking a collaborative approach in working with National Highways to mitigate the impact from their highest risk outfalls.

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 level of ammonia pollution from poultry farming.

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

Large intensive poultry farms with livestock place numbers above specified size thresholds are regulated under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. The operators of these farms must hold a permit which requires implementation of best available techniques to reduce pollutant emissions, including ammonia. Regulated premises are regularly inspected to ensure compliance with permit conditions. BAT is reviewed periodically which delivers continuous improvement in environmental performance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency allows National Highways to discharge untreated toxic run-off into the River Lune.

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

The EA works closely with the National Highways Agency to minimise the environmental risk from surface water outfalls from public highways.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Environment Agency is not measuring pollution, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons, from motorway outfalls into the River Lune at Tebay.

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

If the Environment Agency is notified of pollution in watercourses such as the river Lune, then this is dealt with as a pollution incident and investigated and /or attended on a risk basis. Regarding the Lune at Tebay, the Environment Agency is already actively considering how additional monitoring could support their investigations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the principal statutory duties are of Thames Water Utilities Limited's licence.

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

Under section 37 of the Water Industry Act 1991 a water company has the duty to ensure the supply of water within its area of appointment and to develop and maintain an efficient and economical supply system for that purpose, as well as to ensure arrangements have been made for maintaining, improving and extending its water mains and other pipes.

In addition, under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991, a water company that also holds a sewerage appointment has the duty to effectually deal with the contents of sewers and provide the necessary infrastructure for that purpose.

All water and sewerage companies have the same statutory duties.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding her Department has made available for the upgrade of ageing water and sewer infrastructure.

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

We have secured £104 billion of private investment to transform our water infrastructure between 2025 and 2030. This includes funding to upgrade crumbling pipes and sewage treatment works across the country.

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 April to Question 127788 on Water Companies: Prosecutions, of the 37 completed prosecutions against Water and Sewerage Companies since 27 March 2020, how many of these prosecutions were for offences that took place before 27 March 2020.

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

Of the 37 prosecutions since 27 March 2020, 32 prosecutions were for offences that took place before 27 March 2020, and 5 prosecutions were for offences that took place after 27 March 2020.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what conditions are necessary to import juvenile trout from fish farms in Northern Ireland for stocking purposes in rivers, lakes or fish farms in i) England or ii) Scotland.

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

Movements into GB from Northern Ireland of live fish (including eggs and gametes) that are susceptible to or vectors for listed aquatic animal diseases must be accompanied by an animal health certificate issued by thecompetent authority in the place of origin. The certificate must confirm that the animals or goods meet the animal health requirements for entry into Great Britain. Certificate GBHC674 sets out the requirements for placing on the market aquaculture animals from Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependences into GB for farming, ornamental use, relaying or depuration, put and take fisheries and other purposes, this includes juvenile trout from fish farms in Northern Ireland moving to fisheries in GB for stocking purposes.

Notification to the relevant Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) (Cefas FHI in England and Wales; Marine Scotland FHI in Scotland) is required at least 24 hours before importing live fish. As required by The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 and The Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009 the destination premises must also be authorised by the relevant FHI. Further guidance on movements of fish into Great Britain from Northern Ireland has been published on GOV.UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will respond to the consultation entitled F gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC phasedown before Whitsun recess.

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

Defra is working at pace with the aim of providing more information to industry on the proposed HFC phasedown reform in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for steps following the recent consultation on F gas Regulation in Great Britain.

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

Defra is working at pace with the aim of providing more information to industry on the proposed HFC phasedown reform in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of trends in the level of breeding and ownership of brachycephalic animals.

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

Dog breeders licensed under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations are prohibited from breeding dogs if it can be reasonably expected that on the basis of their genotype, phenotype or health, this would lead to welfare problems for the mother or the puppies.

In the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government committed to launch a consultation on dog breeding reform to improve health and welfare, and also to improve understanding of the size, scale and current management practices related to cat breeding, and consider any further steps which may improve welfare practices in the cat breeding sector.

The strategy was developed following engagement with key stakeholders and consideration of sector evidence, such as the Animal Welfare Committee’s reports on canine and feline breeding practices.

Defra works with a range of sector organisations who are raising public awareness of the health risks associated with brachycephalic animals. This includes via tools such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare’s Innate Health Assessment, Royal Kennel Club’s Respiratory Function Grading scheme assessment for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome and the Canine and Feline Sector Group Code of Practice for Dog Breeding. Many organisations have public facing campaigns to promote awareness such as Cats Protection, and the UK Brachycephalic Working Groups ‘stop and think’ campaign to prioritise health when purchasing dogs.

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 trends in the level of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome in dogs in the UK.

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

Dog breeders licensed under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations are prohibited from breeding dogs if it can be reasonably expected that on the basis of their genotype, phenotype or health, this would lead to welfare problems for the mother or the puppies.

In the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government committed to launch a consultation on dog breeding reform to improve health and welfare, and also to improve understanding of the size, scale and current management practices related to cat breeding, and consider any further steps which may improve welfare practices in the cat breeding sector.

The strategy was developed following engagement with key stakeholders and consideration of sector evidence, such as the Animal Welfare Committee’s reports on canine and feline breeding practices.

Defra works with a range of sector organisations who are raising public awareness of the health risks associated with brachycephalic animals. This includes via tools such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare’s Innate Health Assessment, Royal Kennel Club’s Respiratory Function Grading scheme assessment for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome and the Canine and Feline Sector Group Code of Practice for Dog Breeding. Many organisations have public facing campaigns to promote awareness such as Cats Protection, and the UK Brachycephalic Working Groups ‘stop and think’ campaign to prioritise health when purchasing dogs.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness of the health risks associated with brachycephalic animals.

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

Dog breeders licensed under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) Regulations are prohibited from breeding dogs if it can be reasonably expected that on the basis of their genotype, phenotype or health, this would lead to welfare problems for the mother or the puppies.

In the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government committed to launch a consultation on dog breeding reform to improve health and welfare, and also to improve understanding of the size, scale and current management practices related to cat breeding, and consider any further steps which may improve welfare practices in the cat breeding sector.

The strategy was developed following engagement with key stakeholders and consideration of sector evidence, such as the Animal Welfare Committee’s reports on canine and feline breeding practices.

Defra works with a range of sector organisations who are raising public awareness of the health risks associated with brachycephalic animals. This includes via tools such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare’s Innate Health Assessment, Royal Kennel Club’s Respiratory Function Grading scheme assessment for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome and the Canine and Feline Sector Group Code of Practice for Dog Breeding. Many organisations have public facing campaigns to promote awareness such as Cats Protection, and the UK Brachycephalic Working Groups ‘stop and think’ campaign to prioritise health when purchasing dogs.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department plans to support dairy farms in North Shropshire, who fall within the highest area for heat risk in the country and face escalating climate-related challenges.

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

The Defra-funded Food, Farming & Natural Environment Climate Service led out of the Met Office has developed evidence on adaptation options which improve resilience of the agri-food sector, including cost and ease of implementation. These adaptation options include those which could be implemented in response to increasing heat risk to UK dairy farms such as using deep rooting and heat tolerant forage varieties.

The Government needs long-term, nature-based solutions to manage the risks of extreme wet and dry weather. To support rural communities and farmers, the Government is funding actions to improve the environment, mitigate flood risk, and boost resilience, through Environmental Land Management schemes.

Defra holds no data on potential impact of increasing heat risk to UK dairy farms on grazing land and silage production to feed livestock. However, Defra continues to work closely with the sector to monitor the production of grass and availability of silage as a feedstock.

The UK Government must prepare a UK-wide Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) every five years under the Climate Change Act 2008.

The third CCRA assessed the risks to and opportunities for agricultural productivity from extreme events and changing climatic conditions such as increased temperatures and heat. The next assessment, CCRA4, is due to be published in 2027.

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 increasing heat risk to UK dairy farms on grazing land and silage production to feed livestock.

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

The Defra-funded Food, Farming & Natural Environment Climate Service led out of the Met Office has developed evidence on adaptation options which improve resilience of the agri-food sector, including cost and ease of implementation. These adaptation options include those which could be implemented in response to increasing heat risk to UK dairy farms such as using deep rooting and heat tolerant forage varieties.

The Government needs long-term, nature-based solutions to manage the risks of extreme wet and dry weather. To support rural communities and farmers, the Government is funding actions to improve the environment, mitigate flood risk, and boost resilience, through Environmental Land Management schemes.

Defra holds no data on potential impact of increasing heat risk to UK dairy farms on grazing land and silage production to feed livestock. However, Defra continues to work closely with the sector to monitor the production of grass and availability of silage as a feedstock.

The UK Government must prepare a UK-wide Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) every five years under the Climate Change Act 2008.

The third CCRA assessed the risks to and opportunities for agricultural productivity from extreme events and changing climatic conditions such as increased temperatures and heat. The next assessment, CCRA4, is due to be published in 2027.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data her Department holds on trespassing incidents in waterways in quarries.

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

Defra holds no data on trespassing in waterways in quarries, but the Mining Remediation Authority may hold some information on this matter.

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 cost of regulation introduced since 2019 on the food and drink supply chain, including in farming, manufacturing, retail and hospitality, on food and drink inflation.

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

Food and drink inflation is determined by a range of factors and it is not always possible to isolate the direct impact of regulation on food prices. However, Defra is taking action to reduce cost pressures in the food system, including from regulation. In November, Defra launched the Food Inflation Gateway to ensure regulatory impacts on food businesses are appropriately assessed, and to identify where burdens can be reduced or better sequenced. Food price inflation rose sharply in 2022 (following the start of the war in Ukraine) to a peak of 19.1% in March 2023. Subsequently the inflation rate has decreased but not reached pre-2022 levels. Food price inflation averaged 4.6% over 2025 and in March 2026 stood at 3.7%.

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 Environmental Land Management schemes include funding for (a) integrated, evidence-based management of predation pressure and (b) specialist farmer advisory support to improve the effectiveness of agri-environment measures for breeding wader recovery, including the Eurasian Curlew.

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

Support for specific species is primarily delivered via Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier where land managers can benefit from 1:1 advice and support from Natural England Advisers. In addition to the payments for the correct land management for Curlew, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier also includes capital grants for specialised predator fencing to protect nesting sites.

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 ensure that the transition from general to specific licences does not adversely impact small bird‑keeping groups.

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

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The decision as to whether to allow gatherings by way of a general licence is kept under regular review and is informed by qualitative risk assessment containing the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice. 

Where risk levels are not sufficiently low to permit gatherings by general licence, applicants can apply for a specific licence for a gathering. A preliminary, individual risk assessment will be completed for each application, and a specific licence may be granted if the gathering and the transport of birds to and from it would not significantly increase the risk of the spread of bird flu.

Defra has engaged with stakeholders to understand the challenges for those applying for specific licences, including small bird-keeping groups, and regularly considers the feedback received from those applying for licences. Defra has reviewed and improved the clarity of guidance for bird gatherings on gov.uk. Defra continues to work on improving the application process for specific licences, to ensure those applying can provide all the required information for APHA to assess their application.

Although general licences are now in place for poultry (except Anseriformes) and other captive birds, Defra continues to engage with stakeholders to understand achievable conditions for gatherings held under specific or general licence.

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 conduct a review of whether both the General and Specific Licences are proportionate, enforceable and workable for organisers of bird gatherings.

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

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, and if the gathering, including the movement of birds to and from it, would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza. Detailed risk assessments can be found on Gov.UK.

As legislation requires this to be a risk-based decision, assessments of the impact to individual events, the number of events, or types of event, have not been made.

Defra’s disease control measures seek to contain the number of animals that need to be culled, either for disease control purposes or to safeguard animal welfare. Our approach aims to reduce adverse impacts on the rural and wider economy, the public, rural communities and the environment (including impact on wildlife), whilst protecting public health and minimising the overall cost of any outbreak.

Assessing the risk of each gathering is complex. Factors taken into account include, but are not limited to: the background risk; the origin locations of the birds; the species of birds attending; biosecurity measures; the number of birds and species; and the number of exhibitors. Gatherings, including mixed species exhibitions may be permitted, subject to licence.

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 revised bird gathering licensing regime on the long‑term viability of community bird shows and exhibitions.

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

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, and if the gathering, including the movement of birds to and from it, would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza. Detailed risk assessments can be found on Gov.UK.

As legislation requires this to be a risk-based decision, assessments of the impact to individual events, the number of events, or types of event, have not been made.

Defra’s disease control measures seek to contain the number of animals that need to be culled, either for disease control purposes or to safeguard animal welfare. Our approach aims to reduce adverse impacts on the rural and wider economy, the public, rural communities and the environment (including impact on wildlife), whilst protecting public health and minimising the overall cost of any outbreak.

Assessing the risk of each gathering is complex. Factors taken into account include, but are not limited to: the background risk; the origin locations of the birds; the species of birds attending; biosecurity measures; the number of birds and species; and the number of exhibitors. Gatherings, including mixed species exhibitions may be permitted, subject to licence.

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 bird‑gathering licensing arrangements on hobby keepers, small‑scale breeders and local bird events.

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

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, and if the gathering, including the movement of birds to and from it, would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza. Detailed risk assessments can be found on Gov.UK.

As legislation requires this to be a risk-based decision, assessments of the impact to individual events, the number of events, or types of event, have not been made.

Defra’s disease control measures seek to contain the number of animals that need to be culled, either for disease control purposes or to safeguard animal welfare. Our approach aims to reduce adverse impacts on the rural and wider economy, the public, rural communities and the environment (including impact on wildlife), whilst protecting public health and minimising the overall cost of any outbreak.

Assessing the risk of each gathering is complex. Factors taken into account include, but are not limited to: the background risk; the origin locations of the birds; the species of birds attending; biosecurity measures; the number of birds and species; and the number of exhibitors. Gatherings, including mixed species exhibitions may be permitted, subject to licence.

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 safety of the veterinary medicines Librela and Solensia.

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

All veterinary medicines, including Librela and Solensia, are subject to rigorous scientific assessment before approval to ensure their benefits outweigh risks when used as authorised. Once approved, they are continually monitored through pharmacovigilance to ensure this remains the case.

Available data show that reported adverse events are uncommon, occurring in approximately 1–10 animals per 1,000 treated. Reports include cases involving use with other medicines, off‑label use, or events later attributed to other causes.

Following in‑depth review of all available evidence, including for Librela, the Department is satisfied that the overall benefits of these products continue to outweigh the risks for the vast majority of animals. As with all medicines, risks exist, and monitoring will continue, with further action taken if new evidence warrants it.

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 set out the process her Department takes to determine an application for a bird gathering operating under the specific licence.

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

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

In England, bird gatherings are regulated under Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006. To hold a gathering which includes birds not covered by general licence, applicants can apply for a specific licence.

The specific licence application process is as follows:

1. Applications must be made at least 20 days before the planned event.
2. A preliminary, individual risk assessment will be completed by APHA for each application, based on the risk at the time of application. Assessing the risk of each gathering is complex. Factors taken into account include, but are not limited to: the background risk; the origin locations of the birds; the species of birds attending; biosecurity measures; the number of birds; and the number of premises.
3. Seven days before the gathering, the risk is re-assessed, to reflect any change since the preliminary risk assessment.
4. If the risk assessment supports this, a specific licence is issued for the gathering.

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 plans to review the requirement for digital‑only submission of licence applications and supporting documents for bird gatherings when operating under the Specific Licence.

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

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is committed to providing a digital first but not digital only service. Accessibility is a paramount concern and one that APHA is committed to adhering to and monitoring, as per Government Digital Services requirements. Gathering organisers who need assistance can call APHA and a team will assist with completing the online application.

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 trial plant results indicating inconsistent removal of bacteria and total dissolved solids, and what implications this has for water quality and public confidence in the proposed scheme.

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

Southern Water’s water recycling pilot plant was developed to provide evidence in support of, and to inform, Southern Water’s final permit application.

The Environment Agency (EA) will determine what permitting standards are required for environmental protection in line with existing legislation.

The EA will expect Southern Water to comply with any permit that is agreed to allow them to discharge recycled water into Havant Thicket reservoir.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason Passeriformes was included under the Specific Licence effective from 8 December, 2025.

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

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, and if the gathering, including the movement of birds to and from it, would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza.

The November 2025 qualitative risk assessment assessed the overall risk of spread of avian influenza at a gathering of Passeriformes as medium.

Given the heightened risk in December 2025, gatherings involving Passeriformes could not be permitted by general licence. They were therefore permitted only by specific licence, allowing case-by-case assessment and tailored risk mitigation measures.

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 had discussions with the Animal and Plant Health Agency on the adequacy of the notice period required when applying for a specific licence and the time to communicate the decision to applicants.

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

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

A specific licence must be applied for at least 20 days before a planned gathering. This is to allow sufficient time to undertake an individual risk assessment and to inform the gathering organiser whether in principle, the gathering could be licensed. As provisional approval is based on the risk at the time of application, the risk will need to be re-assessed within 7 days of the event, in case the risk has changed. Defra has ongoing discussions with APHA to streamline the assessment process.

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 assessed the adequacy of the availability of suitably qualified veterinary professionals to support bird gatherings under revised licensing rules.

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

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra takes a proportionate approach to veterinary input and oversight at bird gatherings. At all gatherings there is a requirement that a veterinary surgeon must be available to attend at short notice if birds show signs of ill-health or there are welfare concerns. Events held under general licence do not have any additional requirements for veterinary professionals, in line with the low risk assessed for these events.

For events held under specific licence, the licence conditions will be based on the APHA’s preliminary, individual risk assessment for that application. These conditions may vary, depending on the assessed risk level of the gathering.

All exotic disease prevention and control measures, including licence conditions and the need for veterinary input, are kept under regular review, and regularly discussed with APHA, as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of exotic disease.

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 Animal and Plant Health Agency on securing veterinary oversight for licensed bird gatherings.

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

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra takes a proportionate approach to veterinary input and oversight at bird gatherings. At all gatherings there is a requirement that a veterinary surgeon must be available to attend at short notice if birds show signs of ill-health or there are welfare concerns. Events held under general licence do not have any additional requirements for veterinary professionals, in line with the low risk assessed for these events.

For events held under specific licence, the licence conditions will be based on the APHA’s preliminary, individual risk assessment for that application. These conditions may vary, depending on the assessed risk level of the gathering.

All exotic disease prevention and control measures, including licence conditions and the need for veterinary input, are kept under regular review, and regularly discussed with APHA, as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of exotic disease.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is their policy that farmers farming on common land are provided with equivalent financial support to those occupying freehold land.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

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 consulted bird keepers prior to introducing the Specific Licence on 8 December 2025.

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

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra officials engaged with stakeholders during summer 2025 including show organisers, auctioneers and breed societies, to better understand achievable conditions for gatherings. Engagement was via a number of stakeholder groups which occur regularly, and a series of individual discussions with key impacted parties. This process helped to shape a set of template conditions which could mitigate the disease risk associated with some gatherings. Each gathering is subject to an individual risk assessment, which determines which set of conditions are associated with the licence issued for the gathering.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increased agricultural fuel costs on (a) UK food prices and (b) food security.

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

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 help tackle inflation in the cost of produce caused by increased energy costs due to the conflict in Iran.

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

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 used artificial intelligence to assist with drafting (a) legislation and (b) policy in the last 12 months.

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how many on-farm reservoirs have been built in each of the past five years.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Approximately 34 newly built Large Raised Reservoirs (reservoirs with an above ground capacity of more than 25,000 cubic metres of water) have been built on farms in England in the last five years.

Note: the final certificate is the document that marks the end of the ‘under construction’ phase for a reservoir under the Reservoirs Act 1975.

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 Ofwat on ensuring that future price review processes consider strategic developments including new towns such as Tempsford.

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

Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working to bring together Government, regulators and water companies to ensure sufficient water and wastewater capacity is delivered to accommodate the government’s growth ambitions, including for new homes.

Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers and set out how they plan to continue to do so through statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). Water companies consult on revised WRMPs every five years, which inform Ofwat’s price review decisions.

The water companies must also maintain their WRMPs and are required to review the plans annually to take account of changes. This includes changes to demand forecasts as a result of housing growth that cannot be accommodated in existing WRMPs. This year, we strengthened and clarified this change process with water companies, issuing guidance to companies on how we will engage and assess any change needed to accommodate growth.

The WRMP process works closely alongside Ofwat’s price review cost change process, which allows companies to access additional funding for investment to support the growth, including investment such as sewage treatment works: PR24-Cost-change-process-–-Demand-growth-investment-additional-guidance.pdf.

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 effectiveness of the water industry regulatory framework in providing flexibility to enable water and wastewater companies to respond to major new housing growth, including the proposed Tempsford new town.

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

Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working to bring together Government, regulators and water companies to ensure sufficient water and wastewater capacity is delivered to accommodate the government’s growth ambitions, including for new homes.

Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers and set out how they plan to continue to do so through statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). Water companies consult on revised WRMPs every five years, which inform Ofwat’s price review decisions.

The water companies must also maintain their WRMPs and are required to review the plans annually to take account of changes. This includes changes to demand forecasts as a result of housing growth that cannot be accommodated in existing WRMPs. This year, we strengthened and clarified this change process with water companies, issuing guidance to companies on how we will engage and assess any change needed to accommodate growth.

The WRMP process works closely alongside Ofwat’s price review cost change process, which allows companies to access additional funding for investment to support the growth, including investment such as sewage treatment works: PR24-Cost-change-process-–-Demand-growth-investment-additional-guidance.pdf.

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 enforce the ban on single-use vapes in (i) the constituency of Broxtowe, (ii) the East Midlands and (iii) England.

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

The ban on the supply of single-use vapes is enforced by Local Authority Trading Standards in England. To support their vital work, the Government has provided £10 million of funding to support Trading Standards officers across England. Where an individual is caught supplying single-use vapes, they are liable to receive a £200 fixed monetary penalty and may also receive other civil sanctions. If these sanctions are not complied with, the individual will be guilty of an offence and could be liable for an unlimited fine or imprisonment.

Trading Standards have powers which allow them to enter premises to inspect for single-use vapes. They will be able to make enquiries as needed; this includes searching premises and breaking open containers to inspect stock. Regulators will be able to remove vapes from the premises, either for the purpose of investigation or for disposal.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of Collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) would lead to substantial oceanic carbon release and additional global warming, published on 27 March, whether they plan to update their models of the climate change impacts on the AMOC.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the importance of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) as a key component within the Earth’s climate system and its relevance to the UK's long-term climate risks. We are aware of recent scientific evidence indicating an increased likelihood of major weakening or potential loss of function of the AMOC this century, which would have significant climatic impacts, including effects on regional weather patterns and the global carbon cycle.

Through the Met Office and the Hadley Centre Climate Programme, the UK undertakes world-leading research into ocean circulation, climate tipping points, and Earth system feedbacks, including the AMOC. In light of evolving scientific evidence, HMG is actively updating and expanding UK climate projections through the new, Defra funded, UK Climate Information Programme (UKCI), led by Met Office. Meanwhile, work is continuing to improve representation of key processes relevant to AMOC behaviour, including ocean–carbon cycle interactions, freshwater inputs from ice melt, and ocean mixing. UKCI is due to enter its inception phase later in 2026, and will provide world leading information on climate change, including the AMOC.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on food security, including food packaging in protective atmospheres, of (1) the limitations of domestic production of the chemical precursors ammonia, carbon dioxide and ethylene, and (2) the disruption to the supply chain of those chemicals caused by the Iran conflict.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor any risks to our food system that may arise. At present, the conflict in the Middle East is not causing significant impacts to the supply of food to consumers, and the Government does not expect any short-term disruption. The Government will continue to monitor the situation and take all necessary steps. The Government has shored up the UK’s critical supplies of CO2, vital for Britain’s packaged meats and fresh food and for the nuclear and healthcare sectors, by temporarily restarting the Ensus bioethanol plant in Wilton, Teesside. This action forms part of wider Government work designed to ensure the UK maintains access to its critical industrial inputs during global supply shocks, such as the ongoing Iran conflict. The Government is also taking steps to diversify the UK’s long term CO2 supply, to strengthen UK resilience and reduce future reliance on imports. Defra will work with industry on our long-term plan to secure resilience in the sector.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government why the reduction of animals being subjected to non-stun slaughter is not an objective in their Animal welfare strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, but we respect the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

An industry-led initiative called the Demonstration of Life Protocol, which the Government supports, provides assurance for Muslim consumers that the stunning of sheep and goats is compatible with halal slaughter requirements, while protecting the welfare of the animals involved and supporting opportunities for trade.

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 has taken to ensure that the UK's approach to crop protection authorisation is safeguarded under the proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

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

The UK-EU SPS agreement is under negotiation and pesticides regulations are in scope. The Common Understanding sets out that the United Kingdom, acting in respect of Great Britain, will dynamically align with all the relevant European Union rules. The Common Understanding further sets out that the UK will be involved at an early stage to contribute to the decision-shaping process on areas within scope of the Agreement.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is her department taking to tackle the potential impact of the Yellow Legged Hornet on pollinators in Canterbury in wider Kent.

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

Defra remains committed to taking action against Yellow-Legged Hornets (YLHs) in England in 2026 and the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) stand ready to respond to reported sightings. The NBU will follow up credible reports of YLHs to find and destroy nests.

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 adequacy of the supply of British grown cauliflower and other brassicas in spring 2026.

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

The UK’s food security is built on supply from diverse sources including strong domestic production and imports through stable trade routes.

The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors and assess UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments. This includes consideration of the adequacy of the supply of both domestically grown cauliflower and brassicas, and where necessary, imports.

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 assessment of the potential impact of low consumer confidence in the quality of tap water on public behaviour, including increased bottled water use.

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

The quality of public drinking water in England is exceptionally high and among the best in the world with compliance rates of 99.97% over the last few years. According to the 2025 British Soft Drinks Association annual report, market data shows only a 3% year-on-year growth in volume of bottled waters sold for 2023-2024, as the most recent available data. This Government has also acted decisively on behalf of consumers, introducing a power in The Water (Special Measures) Act to enable the Consumer Council for Water, as the independent statutory consumer advocate for the water sector in England and Wales, to stand up Consumer Panels in every water company. These panels will help to rebuild trust in the water sector and support increased consumer confidence by creating a forum for further embedding customer views in the decision-making process.

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 intends to bring section 42 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 into force.

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

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

We have recently consulted on the adoption of shared amenities, including SuDS and sewers, and are now considering next steps. As part of this, we will consider whether section 42 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 should be brought into force.

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 help tackle the predominance of the grey squirrel population during this Parliament.

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

The Grey Squirrel Policy Statement was published in January 2026. This policy statement sets out the actions we will take over the next five years to manage the impact of grey squirrels.

Actions include encouraging landowners to take greater action through financial incentives and advice through Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier. The Government is paying £60 per hectare to manage and reduce the impact of grey squirrels. We are backing our nation’s conservation volunteers and landowners, by leading communication on the impacts of grey squirrels and providing support for training in grey squirrel management. We are also working with UK Squirrel Accord to support research into immunocontraception.

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 assessment of the level of customer engagement undertaken by Southern Water and Portsmouth Water on the acceptability of effluent recycling, and whether she plans to require earlier and more robust consultation.

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

Southern Water is due to submit its Development Consent Order application to the Planning Inspectorate for its scrutiny in May 2026. There will be further opportunity for representations to be made through any subsequent Examination in Public.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of a) companion animal ownership trends and b) recent legislative changes on local authority costs, including i) kennelling and ii) enforcement services.

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

The Department engages regularly with local authority representative groups to understand pressures on their animal welfare functions, including kennelling and enforcement.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of fuel costs on the financial viability of farms during the spring planting and silage-making season.

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

The Government is conscious of the increases to prices of red diesel/gasoil, influenced by the continued instability in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority has been asked to look into industry concerns about red diesel prices, including price transparency. The Government are determined to help keep costs down for our farmers. Red diesel continues to benefit from an 80% tax discount - saving farmers almost £300 million a year.

Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets throughout the year, including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent changes in the level of fuel prices on farm profitability.

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

The Government is conscious of the increases to prices of red diesel/gasoil, influenced by the continued instability in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority has been asked to look into industry concerns about red diesel prices, including price transparency. The Government are determined to help keep costs down for our farmers. Red diesel continues to benefit from an 80% tax discount - saving farmers almost £300 million a year.

Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets throughout the year, including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments.

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 hold discussions with the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers on protests outside their members' premises.

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

Defra engages regularly with stakeholders across the food and farming sector, including representative bodies, on matters within the Department’s remit.

Issues relating to protests and public order, including protests taking place outside commercial premises, are matters for the police and fall within the responsibility of the Home Office. The policing of protests is an operational matter for local police forces, who are responsible for balancing the right to peaceful protest with the rights and safety of others.

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 had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on introducing a Clean Air Act to enshrine the World Health Organisation's 2021 Air Quality Guidelines into law.

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

The Government is committed to cleaning up our air and protecting the public from the harm of pollution. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines inform our approach to improving public health. However, as the Guidelines do not take into account national circumstances or achievability, they cannot be readily adopted everywhere. We remain committed to continuous improvement and the WHO Guidelines will continue to inform our evidence when considering next steps.

Air pollution comes from many different sources and has wide-ranging impacts. Issues such as air quality, climate action, public health and nature recovery are closely linked, creating opportunities for policies that deliver benefits across all these areas. Because of this, every part of government has a role in shaping policies that help reduce air pollution and its effects. I will continue to work collaboratively with colleagues across government to tackle key sources of air pollution, such as through transport, health and energy policy.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding for the Alpha phase of the BNG metric digitisation programme was based on the Equal Experts Discovery Report on error rates in BNG metric submissions.

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

Funding for the Alpha phase of the BNG metric digitisation project followed completion of the Discovery phase, which is an early, exploratory stage in the Government Digital Service lifecycle. Decisions to progress from Discovery to Alpha, and to commit funding, are based on the overall findings of Discovery, including the nature of the problem to be addressed, user needs, strategic alignment and the potential value of a digital solution. While Discovery work considered a range of evidence, including issues affecting BNG metric submissions, the decision to fund Alpha was not based on any single factor.

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 UK’s reliance on food imports in the context of increasing climate-driven supply shocks.

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

The UK Food Security Report, published by Defra every three years and last published in 2024, sets out an analysis of statistics relating to food security, serving as an evidence base to inform government policy and public understanding. It tracks trends in domestic production, import reliance, inflation, and supply chain shocks.

The UK has a resilient food system, producing around 65% of all food consumed here. UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production and ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply.

In most scenarios, the UK’s ability to access supply from diverse sources is vital to its resilience.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support farmers in light of the increased cost of fertiliser as a result of the conflict in the Persian Gulf.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra has asked the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) to increase the frequency of its fertiliser price reporting. AHDB is now publishing this data on a weekly basis. This will give farmers more timely and transparent information to support their decision-making.

Defra has also issued a fertiliser survey aimed at farmers and land managers to help build better understanding of direct impacts

The Government has launched a consultation and call for evidence to modernise fertiliser regulations, which will help support innovation in the fertiliser sector, diversify supply, and strengthen the UK’s resilience to global market shocks.

The Government remains ready to support businesses as effectively as possible in these challenging times.

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 considered the role of legislation such as a Good Food Bill in improving the resilience of the UK food system to climate change.

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

Defra is working across Government and the food system to drive the Good Food Cycle outcomes, and other Government priorities, over this Parliament. This includes taking action to support the resilience of the UK food system to climate change, by implementing the third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) which sets out a range of measures to improve resilience and adaptation to climate change across the food supply and farming sector.

Transforming the food system is a long-term programme of work. The Government needs to use all available tools in a balanced, evidence-led way that avoids unintended consequences for industry and the consumer. Legislation will play a role in some areas, but the Government has not yet made a decision on the need for a dedicated Food Bill.

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 implications for her policies of trends in the levels of imported chicken products from China since July 2024.

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

All agri-food products must comply with our sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. While poultry imports from China to the UK are permitted they are subject to stricter, updated certification requirements as of December 2024, requiring approved premises.

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Found: How effectively are FCDO, DESNZ, DSIT and Defra coordinating their efforts to deliver the UK’s ICF commitment

Found: crowd in knowledge from our development expertise in King Charles Street, but also go to DESNZ or DEFRA

Found: Cabinet Office DBT Department for Business and Trade DCMS Department for Culture, Media and Sport DEFRA

Found: Development Goals, whether they be related to education, food systems, water and 52 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: defining British values see Foreign Policy Centre (UKA0209) para 16–17 52 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: I recall that at that time the clean-up was meant to be led by Defra; in reality, there was no capacity

Found: Building 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF T 03459 335577 defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk www.gov.uk/defra

Found: Jo Shanmugalingam: We are working in close partnership with DEFRA to take advantage of the new Planning

Found: We see that in the long-term monitoring network that is supported by DEFRA.

Found: work with people such as Stephen and Anna on health effects studies, and I have been an adviser to DEFRA

Found: We have had an indication from the preliminary list issued by Defra of around 70 instruments.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing a statutory duty for firefighters in England to respond to flooding events.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government. Fire and Rescue Authorities already have duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to prepare for emergencies, including major flooding. We recognise the interest in creating a statutory duty for flood response and my officials are working with DEFRA, as lead government department for flooding, to consider this and any wider implications.

MHCLG supports Fire and Rescue Authorities in responding to flood incidents by providing the sector with national resilience High Volume Pump (HVP) capabilities. These are available to be used by Fire & Rescue Services across the country during major flood incidents. Additionally, DEFRA hold the Flood Rescue National Asset Register, a list of teams or assets that voluntarily join the register and maintain availability for national deployment in England.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to item 105 of the letter sent from Lord Strathclyde, Chair of the Constitution Committee to Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories regarding the UK-Overseas Joint Declaration, published 17 April 2026, which Ministers have (a) designated responsibility for Overseas Territories matters and (b) attend the cross-governmental Ministerial group on the Territories by Department.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Ministers who currently hold designated responsibility for Overseas Territories matters are: the Cabinet Office Minister of State; Economic Secretary to the Treasury; Ministry of Justice Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing, Youth Justice and International; Home Office Minister of State (House of Lords); Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Climate); Ministry of Defence Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for the Armed Forces); Department of Business and Trade Minister of State (Minister for Trade); Department for Culture Media and Sport Minister of State (Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts); Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Minister of State (Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear); Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Nature); Department of Health and Social Care Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Innovation and Safety; Department for Transport Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation); Solicitor General; Department for Education Minister of State (Minister for Skills); Secretary of State for Scotland and one of the Wales Office Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State.

All these Ministers are invited to attend the cross-governmental Ministerial Group on the Overseas Territories.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking through the Regulation Action Plan to align regulatory frameworks with the Modern Industrial Strategy.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Industrial Strategy sets out how targeted regulatory reform will support key sectors to unlock investment and increase productivity. This is reinforced by the Regulation Action Plan which aims to tackle the regulatory burden and complexity; reduce uncertainty and challenge risk aversion to drive growth.

This is supported by targeted regulatory reviews in growth-driving sectors. For example, DBT is working with Defra and the Regulatory Innovation Office on a regulatory review of agri-tech as a frontier industry, to help SMEs navigate the regulatory landscape and support farmer adoption. This approach ensures regulation supports innovation and investment while maintaining essential protections.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has undertaken any joint work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to assess the a) societal and b) economic impact of companion animal ownership.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

I refer my Hon. friend to the answer I gave on 13^th April to PQ 122869.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to WPQ 110045 titled 'Nature Conservation: Crime,' answered on 10 February 2026, what recent conversations she has had with the National Wildlife Crime Unit about the effectiveness of their intelligence, analysis and investigative assistance to tackle wildlife crime in [a] England and [b] Leicestershire.

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

The Home Office worked in partnership with Defra to support the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in delivering their Rural and Wildlife Crime strategy for 2025-28. The Strategy – which was published on 25 November -provides a framework through which policing, and its partners can work together to tackle the most prevalent threats and emerging issues including wildlife crime.

We also fund the National Wildlife Crime Unit who provide intelligence, analysis and investigative assistance to forces and other law enforcement agencies across the UK to support them in investigating wildlife crime. Throughout the grant agreement period, we hold regular official‑level meetings to discuss progress, engagement and delivery.

We are ensuring forces have the tools and resources they need to deal with rural crime including wildlife crime. We have hit our target of 3,000 more neighbourhood officers in March – and our target remains 13k by the end of the parliament

Found: Defra Social Science Expert Group (2022). Review of Public Engagement. 106.

Found: DEFRA (2026).

Sustainable Plastics APPG
Monday 27th April 2026

Found: The Chair noted that insights from this group should feed into discussions with Defra and other relevant

Found: converting them to kgCO2e using Department for Energy Security and Net Zero/Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Office’s register of licensed sponsors; and (b) has an endorsement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Change Committee Chair, Gas and Electricity Markets Authority 13 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: 1 28 5 3 0 0 57 6 30 12 6 1 2 0 6 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2025 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: 1 28 5 3 0 0 57 6 30 12 6 1 2 0 6 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2025 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: 2761 0 28 69 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1498 1464 0 34 840 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: class="govuk-table__cell">2025

Found: class="govuk-table__cell">2025

Found: 650 641 0 9 8 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 348 335 0 13 214 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Programme Fund -0.2 -0.2 (Section D) Transfer to Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA

Found: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs INTRODUCTION 1.

Found: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs INTRODUCTION 1.

Found: The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the MMO continue to encourage its use

Found: including: Marine Management Organisation (MMO) Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra

Found: Technical Guidance LAQM.TG(09) Defra).

Found: Permit Conditions 2.7 The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [“DEFRA”]Environmental

Found: Office’s register of licensed sponsors; and (b) has an endorsement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: 1 Evie Burke From: SM-Defra-RESP-noreply (DEFRA) Sent: 28 April 2026 08:49 To: Adam Patrick Subject:

Found: shall have the meaning given to it in the document published jointly by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: 1 Evie Burke From: SM-Defra-RESP-noreply (DEFRA) Sent: 23 April 2026 13:47 To: Edward Brain Subject:

Found: 1992 • Environment (Wales) Act 2016 • The UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework (2011-2020) (JNCC and Defra

Found: Published by the Animal and Plant Health Agency on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: APHA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and also works

Found: Veterinarian     Name in block letters     Date     APHA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: APHA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and also works

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

Found: APHA is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and also works

Found: You can read alist of Defra-approved disinfectantsfor use against poultry diseases.

Found: Which Defra approved disinfectant will be used and at what concentration?