Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
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 ensuring that children and young people have regular access to nature and natural spaces.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that children and young people can access and enjoy nature, and the benefits this can bring for their health, wellbeing and development.
Through the Environmental Improvement Plan, the Government is committed to expanding opportunities for people to access, enjoy and connect with nature, including for children and young people.
The Government also supports initiatives which help children and young people connect with nature, including the Department for Education's National Education Nature Park programme, which empowers children and young people to make a positive difference to both their own and nature's future.
Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to conclude the review of the Deer Act 1991 and other legislation underpinning the protection and management of deer; and when she expects to publish the review's findings.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is in the process of reviewing the Deer Act 1991 and other legislation which underpins the protection and management of deer. Any proposed changes in the law will be subject to Parliamentary time and suitable opportunities for making legislative changes being available.
Asked by: Julie Minns (Labour - Carlisle)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data or information their Department holds on the number and destination of gamebird imports, including eggs and chicks, from abroad.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
APHA holds data on the number of gamebird and egg imports. The age of the animal is not recorded on the import notifications, so Defra cannot provide data on gamebird chicks. In the interest of privacy, the department cannot publish information on the place of destination of the imports.
Asked by: James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat - Lewes)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which Government departments and agencies contributed to the national security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Nature Security Assessment on Global Biodiversity Loss, Ecosystem Collapse and National Security was published 20 January 2026. It is a cross-government strategic assessment, developed by analysts and subject matter experts across Government. The Assessment was not produced by a single department, it brings together scientific evidence, policy analysis and national security expertise to inform long-term resilience and security planning.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk to food and animal product exporters of a decline in official veterinarian capacity delaying export health certification ahead of the removal of sanitary and phytosanitary checks.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK is currently negotiating an SPS Agreement with the EU. These negotiations are at an advanced stage and expected to remove the requirement for Export Health Certificates (EHC). The Agreement will have implications for Official Veterinarians undertaking export certification, including the demand for EHC services. Defra isworking with the veterinary profession and wider industry stakeholders to monitor this capability and ensure an effective and well-managed transition.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost to UK exporters of any disruption to certification capacity during the period before dynamic alignment with the EU-UK sanitary and phytosanitary agreement takes effect.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK is currently negotiating an SPS Agreement with the EU. These negotiations are at an advanced stage and expected to remove the requirement for Export Health Certificates (EHC). The Agreement will have implications for Official Veterinarians undertaking export certification, including the demand for EHC services. Defra isworking with the veterinary profession and wider industry stakeholders to monitor this capability and ensure an effective and well-managed transition.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what decisions they have taken about the future status and functions of the Consumer Council for Water; and what planning assumptions they have asked the council to make about (1) whether it will continue as a statutory body, (2) the functions it will retain, and (3) its future staffing and budget.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is considering options for strengthening consumer protection and redress in the water sector. The Consumer Council for Water continues to operate in accordance with its current statutory responsibility and funding arrangements.
Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)
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 include plans to restore natural habitats in England’s next National Adaption Programme.
Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government’s plans for restoring natural habitats are set out in the 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan. I refer the Hon Member to information on gov.uk - Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2025 - GOV.UK.
We are exploring how to drive greater ambition for nature and climate in the Fourth National Adaptation Programme.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what the timetable is for implementing dynamic alignment on export certification with the EU-UK SPS agreement; and what assessment they have made of whether current certification capacity can be sustained throughout that timetable.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK is currently negotiating an SPS Agreement with the EU. These negotiations are at an advanced stage and expected to remove the requirement for Export Health Certificates. The Agreement will have implications for Official Veterinarians undertaking export certification, including the demand for Export Health Certificate (EHC) services. Defra are working with the veterinary profession and wider industry stakeholders to monitor this capability and ensure an effective and well-managed transition.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and veterinary sector representatives on export certification workforce planning for the transition period to dynamic alignment.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK is currently negotiating an SPS Agreement with the EU. These negotiations are at an advanced stage and expected to remove the requirement for Export Health Certificates. The Agreement will have implications for Official Veterinarians undertaking export certification, including the demand for Export Health Certificate (EHC) services. Defra are working with the veterinary profession and wider industry stakeholders to monitor this capability and ensure an effective and well-managed transition.