Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

We are the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Steve Reed
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Liberal Democrat
Tim Farron (LD - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Conservative
Victoria Atkins (Con - Louth and Horncastle)
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Liberal Democrat
Baroness Grender (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Scottish National Party
Seamus Logan (SNP - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Robbie Moore (Con - Keighley and Ilkley)
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer)
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Lord Roborough (Con - Excepted Hereditary)
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Neil Hudson (Con - Epping Forest)
Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers of State
Daniel Zeichner (Lab - Cambridge)
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab - Life peer)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Mary Creagh (Lab - Coventry East)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Thursday 26th June 2025
Food Allergens
Lords Chamber
Select Committee Docs
Tuesday 24th June 2025
Select Committee Inquiry
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Preventing waste and enabling a circular economy

Much of the UK economy is still linear, based on the principles of using and disposing of products and the …

Written Answers
Monday 30th June 2025
Water Companies: Fines
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the revenue …
Secondary Legislation
Tuesday 10th June 2025
Water Supply and Sewerage Services (Customer Service Standards) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
These Regulations amend the customer service standards that apply under Part 3 of the Water Supply and Sewerage Services (Customer …
Bills
Wednesday 4th September 2024
Water (Special Measures) Act 2025
A Bill to make provision about the regulation, governance and special administration of water companies.
Dept. Publications
Monday 30th June 2025
11:38

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Jun. 19
Oral Questions
Jan. 30
Urgent Questions
Jun. 09
Written Statements
Jun. 25
Westminster Hall
View All Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament


A Bill to make provision about the regulation, governance and special administration of water companies.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 24th February 2025 and was enacted into law.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Secondary Legislation

These Regulations amend the customer service standards that apply under Part 3 of the Water Supply and Sewerage Services (Customer Service Standards) Regulations 2008 (“the 2008 Regulations”) to English service providers. English service providers include water undertakers, sewerage undertakers, water supply licensees and sewerage licensees operating in England.
These Regulations require the Secretary of State to issue a marking notice requiring that the retail goods specified in that notice be individually marked with the words ‘not for EU’, where the supply of certain retail goods to Northern Ireland is, or is likely to be adversely affected.
View All Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
Petition Debates Contributed
109,018
Petition Closed
21 May 2025
closed 1 month, 1 week ago

In modern society, we believe more consideration needs to be given to animal welfare and how livestock is treated and culled.

We believe non-stun slaughter is barbaric and doesn't fit in with our culture and modern-day values and should be banned, as some EU nations have done.

107,454
c. 503 added daily
108,212
(Estimated)
24 Jul 2025
closes in 3 weeks, 1 day

We think the UK Government must ban all cages for laying hens as soon as possible.

We think it should also ban the use of all cage and crates for all farmed animals including:
• farrowing crates for sows
• individual calf pens
• cages for other birds, including partridges, pheasants and quail

View All Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


11 Members of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Alistair Carmichael Portrait
Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 9th September 2024
Charlie Dewhirst Portrait
Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Sarah Bool Portrait
Sarah Bool (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Henry Tufnell Portrait
Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Tim Roca Portrait
Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Portrait
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour - Suffolk Coastal)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Andrew Pakes Portrait
Andrew Pakes (Labour (Co-op) - Peterborough)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Josh Newbury Portrait
Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Jayne Kirkham Portrait
Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Sarah Dyke Portrait
Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Helena Dollimore Portrait
Helena Dollimore (Labour (Co-op) - Hastings and Rye)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Previous Inquiries
Air Quality: follow up Labour in the food supply chain The work of DEFRA COVID-19 and food supply Rural Communities Milk prices Appointment of Jonson Cox as Chair of Ofwat Dog Control and Welfare Draft Water Bill Air Quality Desinewed Meat Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Flood Funding Future Flood and Water Management Legislation Farming in the Uplands Marine Policy Statement Draft National Policy Statement on Waste Water Welfare of Laying Hens Directive—Implications for the egg industry EU proposals for the dairy sector and the future of the dairy industry Implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy: Domestic Fisheries Management Outcome of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force Draft Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill Draft National Policy Statement for Hazardous Waste EU proposals for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy Defra Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11 Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Draft British Waterways Board (Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 and the Draft Inland Waterways Advisory Council (Abolition) Order 2012 Orders under the Public Bodies Act 2011 Bovine TB Vaccine Draft Wild Animals in Circuses Bill CAP Implementation 2014-2020 Insurance for flooding The Elliott review Primates as pets Winter Floods Pre-appointment hearing with proposed Chairman of Natural England Departmental Annual Report 2012-13 Food Security Waste management in England Rural Payments Agency Work of Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Appointment hearing for preferred candidate for Chair of the Environment Agency Horse welfare Defra's responsibility for fracking Defra performance in 2013-14 Food security: demand, consumption and waste Food supply networks Rural broadband and digital-only services Dairy prices Work of the Committee 2010-15 CAP payments to farmers EFRA topics Dairy prices inquiry Defra performance in 2014-15 inquiry Common Agricultural Policy inquiry Defra's responsibilities for air quality inquiry Farmgate prices inquiry Beef grading prices inquiry Food waste in England inquiry Rural tourism in England inquiry Forestry in England inquiry Environment Agency Chair pre-appointment hearing Work of Defra evidence sessions Winter floods 2015-16 inquiry Future flood prevention inquiry The work of Defra inquiry Farmgate prices: follow-up evidence session Brexit: Trade in food inquiry The work of Defra inquiry Improving air quality Work of the Environment Agency inquiry 2 Sisters and Standards in Poultry Processing inquiry Fisheries inquiry Performance of the Rural Payments Agency inquiry Defra's plans to improve air quality Feeding the nation: labour constraints inquiry Post-legislative scrutiny: Flood and Water Management Act 2010 inquiry Countryside Stewardship Scheme one-off session Improving air quality joint inquiry Countryside and Environmental Stewardship schemes inquiry The new farming programme inquiry Rural broadband and digital only services inquiry General licences for controlling wild birds inquiry Environment Bill inquiry Beef prices inquiry Agriculture, achieving net-zero emissions inquiry Peatland inquiry Puppy smuggling inquiry Draft National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure inquiry Pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for Chair of Natural England inquiry Plastic food and drink packaging inquiry Coastal flooding and adaptation to climate change inquiry Work of the Food Standards Agency inquiry Pre-appointment hearing for the Chair of Natural England inquiry Scrutiny of the draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill inquiry Farm Inspection and Regulation Review inquiry Dangerous Dogs: Breed Specific Legislation inquiry Regulation of the Water Industry inquiry Brand Britain: Promoting and Marketing British food and drink inquiry Proposed merger of Asda and Sainsbury’s inquiry Agriculture Bill inquiry Scrutiny of the Fisheries Bill inquiry Is Defra ready for Brexit? inquiry The Work of the Chief Veterinary Officer inquiry Work of DEFRA: Health and Harmony inquiry Work of the Rural Payments Agency inquiry Work and Role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator inquiry Fur trade in the UK inquiry Trade in sugar post-Brexit inquiry Work of the Chief Scientific Adviser: Defra inquiry Labour constraints inquiry Draft Animal Welfare Bill inquiry Air Quality Public Sector Procurement of Food Government support to the dairy sector during the COVID-19 pandemic Work of Defra Work of the Environment Agency Marine Mammals Work of the Environment Agency Pre-appointment hearing: Chair of the Environment Agency Environmental Land Management Scheme: Progress Update Food Security Species Reintroduction UK-Norway Framework Fisheries Agreement Soil Health Post-pandemic health and welfare concerns of companion animals, including abuse and mutilation Resources and Waste provisional Common Framework Pet Smuggling Tenant Farmers Fairness in the food supply chain UK trade policy: food and agriculture Urban Green Spaces Education and Careers in Land-based Sectors Common Framework on Food and Feed Safety and Hygiene Work of the Department and its Arm's Length Bodies The future of farming Reforming the water sector Fairness in the food supply chain Animal and plant health Environmental Land Management and the agricultural transition Fisheries and the marine environment Preventing waste and enabling a circular economy Moving animals across borders COVID-19 and food supply: follow up Seafood and Meat Exports to the EU Agriculture Bill Agriculture, achieving net-zero emissions Proposed merger of Asda and Sainsbury’s Brand Britain: Promoting and Marketing British food and drink Coastal flooding and adaptation to climate change Countryside and Environmental Stewardship schemes General licences for controlling wild birds Is Defra ready for Brexit? Labour constraints The new farming programme Peatland Plastic food and drink packaging Puppy smuggling Rural broadband and digital only services Scrutiny of the draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill Scrutiny of the Fisheries Bill Draft National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure The work of Defra Work of the Food Standards Agency Beef prices Environment Bill

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help support high-yield, productive farming in the context of its environmental targets.

We are investing £2.7 billion a year into sustainable food production and nature’s recovery, with funding for our Environmental Land Management schemes increasing by 150%.

We have more farmers than ever in nature friendly farming schemes and are reforming the Sustainable Farming Incentive to target funds fairly and effectively towards food, farming and nature priorities. We will announce further details later this year.

Additionally, up to £110 million is available in new grant competitions starting in 2025/26. These grants will support research and innovation, technology and equipment for farmers to boost farm businesses, food production, and the natural environment

Furthermore, our farming roadmap ‘Farming 2050: Growing England’s Future’ will involve government working with farmers and farming and environmental organisation representatives to set the course of farming over the next 25 years. It will provide a vision for our farming sector and set the direction for how we get there, with a focus on delivering our food security and environmental objectives and supporting farms to be resilient and profitable. Publication is planned later this year.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support local authorities in improving surface water drainage to prevent overloading of combined sewer systems.

The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and ensuring adoption and maintenance arrangements.

New national standards make clear that SuDS should be designed to cope with changing climatic conditions as well as delivering wider water infrastructure benefits in the form of flood prevention and storm overflow reduction, offering reuse opportunities, reducing run off, and helping to improve water quality, amenity, and biodiversity. The standards are a material consideration in deciding planning applications in accordance with paragraphs 181 and 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

The Environment Agency has a strategic overview role for all sources of flooding, including surface water; playing an active role in supporting and enabling local authorities to plan and adapt to current and future surface water flood risk.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Welsh government on the application of the Precision Breeding Act 2023 in Wales; and what steps he is taking to support (a) plant breeders and (b) farmers in Wales given the regulatory disparity.

The secondary legislation needed to implement The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 for plants in England was passed on 13 May 2025 and the new regulatory framework will commence on 14 November 2025.

The Department has engaged with the Welsh Government at Ministerial and official level to discuss the implementation of these regulations. The Department recognises the importance of working closely with Welsh Government on this and will continue to do so in the run up to the commencement of the new regulations.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of introducing booking systems at Household Waste Recovery Centres on fly tipping.

This Government has no plans to undertake an assessment of the impact of introducing booking systems at Household Waste Recovery Centres (HWRCs) on fly-tipping.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to help support UK-based innovation in fertiliser development in the context of the proposed UK-EU agreement on agri-food.

There are significant opportunities for innovation in the fertiliser sector, particularly development of newer types of fertilising products and production processes that improve nutrient use efficiency, which are made from clean energy or recycled nutrients from other materials.

Novel fertilisers have been in scope of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, including within the Programme’s £15 million nutrient management competition, and successful applicants to this competition started their projects earlier this year. We welcome the announcement within the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy to allocate at least £200 million to the Programme up to 2030 which will offer targeted funding to drive innovation in agriculture.

Recently Defra has launched the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies Fund (ADOPT) as part of the above Farming Innovation Programme, committing up to £20.6 million of funding in 25/26 to support the introduction of innovative technologies aimed at improving productivity, resilience and sustainability.

Fertiliser product regulation does not fall within the scope of the UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the size of the hedgehog population in each of the last ten years.

As hedgehogs are widespread but scarce, there are practical challenges in estimating their number nationally. In the last 10 years, only one estimate, updated in 2024, has been made which indicated a population size estimate of 597,000 hedgehogs in England. However, confidence in the accuracy of this estimate is low.

Natural England is supporting the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme, in partnership with the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society, to provide a more robust national estimate of Britain’s hedgehog population. The pilot is due to be completed in May 2026.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 44040 on Packaging: Recycling and with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England, updated on 21 May 2025, if he will clarify the circumstances in which the Environment Agency will issue fines for contaminated recyclable waste; and whether the level of a fine to a business will be affected by previous fines issued.

All compliance and enforcement activities are conducted in line with the Regulator’s Code and the Environment Agency’s Enforcement and Sanction Policy to ensure a proportionate, risk-based approach.

When contamination of workplace recyclables is suspected, the Environment Agency’s initial intervention is usually is to provide advice and guidance, as set out in Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England guidance updated on 21 May 2025. The Environment Agency does not possess powers to issue on the spot fines or fixed penalty notices and financial sanctions arise only via prosecution. Formal action, such as serving a compliance notice, however, is only likely to occur if advice and guidance is ignored.

The level of any fine will not be adjusted on the basis of previous fines issued, as sentencing follows standard judicial criteria including the seriousness of the offence and culpability of the offender. The Government remains committed to supporting businesses in meeting their recycling obligations whilst safeguarding the quality of recyclable materials.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will strengthen the provisions of the Hunting Act 2004.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans in a generation to improve animal welfare and that is exactly what we will do. The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs, except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions in the Act and completely bans hare coursing. Those found guilty under the Act are subject to the full force of the law. The government has committed to a ban on trail hunting. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and further announcements will be made in due course.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential long-term impact of the UK agreement with the EU, announced on 19 March 2025, on British farmers.

On the 19 May 2025, Defra published a methodology note setting out an assessment of the impact of a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement on the UK agricultural sector. This can be accessed here: Ad hoc analyses and data releases - GOV.UK.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
25th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many vehicles were seized in relation to waste crime offences in each of the last three years.

Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement actions, including vehicles seized, to Defra, which are published annually at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england.

We are conducting a review of council powers to seize and crush vehicles of fly-tippers, to identify how we could help them make better use of this tool.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
25th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the badger population in each year since the enactment of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Since the enactment of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, two national badger monitoring surveys have taken place. A 1994-97 survey estimate did not provide an estimate of the overall population but instead estimated there were 46,100 family groups in England and Wales. A survey of the badger population in 2011-13 estimated that there were approximately 424,000 badgers in 71,600 family groups in England and Wales.

In February 2025, the Animal and Plant Health Agency commenced the latest badger population survey which will estimate badger abundance and population recovery to illustrate the impact of widespread culling over the past decade.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
25th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when statutory fly‑tipping enforcement guidance for local authorities will be published; and what his planned timeline is for its implementation.

The Government is seeking powers in the Crime and Policing Bill to provide statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance. Following Royal Assent, we will carry out a consultation with relevant stakeholders including local authorities. Once the consultation has concluded and responses taken into account, we will look to publish the guidance as soon as is practical.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on tackling non-exhaust emissions from road transport as a source of particulate pollution.

The Government is committed to meeting legal targets for air quality, including the PM2.5 targets recently set under the Environment Act 2021. My officials have regular discussions across Government about the policies needed to ensure we meet these targets, including officials in the Department for Transport on action to reduce non-exhaust emissions from road transport.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle the sources of littering in (a) Bedfordshire and (b) England.

Littering is a crime that blights communities and the environment. Local councils are usually best placed to respond to littering and related problems, in a way tailored to the community in which they occur. They have a range of enforcement tools at their disposal including fixed penalty notices of up to £500 and prosecution action which can lead to a criminal record and a fine of up to £2500. We are considering how we can further support local councils.

In the meantime, we are targeting some of the more commonly littered items to reduce the presence of these on our streets. The sale of single-use vapes was banned on 1 June and a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will go live in England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland in October 2027. The DRS will introduce a redeemable deposit on single-use in-scope drinks containers which can be redeemed when the empty container is returned. Litter composition data indicates that 55% of litter by volume is made up of containers in-scope of DRS. The DRS will therefore significantly reduce this form of litter.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Special Protection Zone regulations on the ability of small towns to establish new burial grounds; and what assessment he has made of the merits of providing (a) guidance and (b) funding support for communities facing (i) environmental and (ii) planning barriers to cemetery provision.

Source Protection Zones are sensitive areas because the underlying groundwater contributes towards public drinking water supplies.

To protect those supplies from pollution, unless exempt, new cemeteries must operate under an environmental permit and the Environment Agency has published guidance on this, including information needed to support a planning application. The Environment Agency has recently consulted on a proposal to develop simpler, cheaper, permitting options for cemeteries, which could lead to cost-saving for eligible operators.

The Government has asked the Law Commission to review the legal framework governing burial and cremation, including concerns raised about the long-term availability of burial space. They anticipate publishing the report on their findings in late 2025. The Government will consider the Law Commission’s recommendations once these have been published and will respond in due course.”

For context, the Government does not have operational day-to-day responsibility for burial grounds, which are managed locally, and there is no statutory duty on local authorities to provide burial facilities. Although Government (DCA/MoJ) does provide Guidance for Burial Ground Managers (which includes issues to consider when planning burial space) and Guidance for Operators of Natural Burial Grounds neither address this specific issue.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of bonfires involving non-garden waste materials on (a) the environment and (b) public health.

Existing laws prevent burning household waste if it will cause pollution or harm people’s health. Local authorities may also issue an abatement notice if smoke from bonfires causes a nuisance. We have published further guidance on this issue Reducing air pollution from outdoor burning.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on meeting the good environmental status indicators set out in the report entitled Marine Strategy Part One, published in October 2019.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published a UK-wide consultation on 20 June this year, which details the latest assessment on the state of UK seas and progress toward Good Environmental Status. This follows publication of the updated UK Marine Strategy Programme of Measures in January this year, which sets out measures for achieving GES.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
30th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51391 on Water Charges, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) progressive and (b) rising block metering tariffs on water bills for homes occupied by families with children.

As the water regulator, Ofwat regulates the charging trials by issuing rules that require companies to set fair charges for all customers, and to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles. Companies must also consult with the Consumer Council for Water in developing their trials to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place. Through these trials the sector will learn how to best support customers, including families, with their water bills.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of digital-only (a) services and (b) reporting requirements on farming businesses.

Defra seeks to introduce services that are digital by default which help users to succeed first time, and an assisted digital route is provided for those who are unable to complete a service online. This equally applies to reporting requirements on farming businesses, the main requirement being the Annual Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture which is digital by default but also available as a paper survey form.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) funding and (b) other support his Department gives to seasonal campaigns run by (i) the RSPCA, (ii) the Dogs Trust and (iii) other campaigning organisations to highlight the risks of leaving pets in hot vehicles.

The Government greatly appreciates the work undertaken by the nation’s animal welfare organisations to highlight the risks associated with leaving pets in hot vehicles. The Government regularly engages with animal welfare organisations to discuss their campaigns but does not provide funds.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding and support mechanisms his Department is considering to establish a national programme for precision breeding (a) research and (b) public engagement.

The Government is committed to supporting research to unlock the potential of precision breeding. The latest programme of Defra’s Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs), which is supported by up to £15 million in funding over 5 years, includes funding for research into precision breeding.

Earlier this year under the Farming Innovation Programme we announced a £12.5 million competition focused specifically on precision breeding. We also welcome the announcement within the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy to allocate at least £200 million to the Programme up to 2030. This will offer targeted funding to drive innovation in agriculture. Precision breeding has also been recognised within the Industrial Strategy and will continue to be in scope within the industry led FIP competitions.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jun 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in implementing the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

We continue to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to take forward changes to low-welfare activities abroad.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jun 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to set out a timetable and a strategy for expanding the number of National Landscapes.

Natural England has the statutory responsibility for identifying areas for new or extended National Landscape designations.

Given the pressures on public finances, Defra has had to make difficult decisions about funding. It was not affordable to continue Defra funding to Natural England to continue the new National Landscapes designations programme in 25/26. As such, Natural England have made the decision to stop work on some of the planned programme. Other elements of the programme, including the Surrey Hills boundary review and potential new National Landscape in the Yorkshire Wolds, are being maintained and progressed as the work was further advanced.

Defra is prioritising supporting our existing Protected Landscapes to ensure they remain a source of national pride. We are committed to empower them to become greener, wilder and more accessible.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jun 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what information they have on changes in the population of hares in England and Wales over the past 30 years.

There has been a historic decline of brown hares in Britain, predominantly shown through the game bag records, but there is some uncertainty about whether that decline is continuing. The British Trust for Ornithology’s Breeding Bird Survey (Heywood et al, 2025), which records mammals as well as birds, shows an increasing trend of 47% in the English population of brown hare between 1996 and 2023. However, other sources, such as the game bag records and A Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals (Mathews et al, 2018), consider the population to be stable.

Mountain hares, which became extinct in England around 6,000 years ago, were translocated from Scotland to the Peak District National Park in the 1870s. They are now showing a continuing decline in population and a recent study by Bedson et al (2025) has shown a decline of 58% over seven years from 3,562 hares to 1,038 hares (2017-2024), putting them at risk of another extinction in England.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jun 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government how many hares they estimate are shot each year.

Defra holds no official statistics on the number of hares shot in England each year and therefore makes no official estimate. We are however aware of a number of estimates made by stakeholder groups which range markedly from the low tens of thousands to the low hundreds of thousands.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Food Standards Agency on a revision to its draft guidance on precision breeding to ensure it does not impose GMO-style data requirements.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has worked closely with Defra throughout the development of the Precision Breeding legislation and will continue to do so.

Following stakeholder engagement on the draft technical guidance for Precision Bred organisms for food and feed use, the FSA is currently revising its draft technical guidance to be clearer about what information the Precision Breeding Regulations require.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure the enforcement of laws prohibiting piglet thumping on pig farms.

There are strict rules to protect the welfare of animals at the time of killing. Due to serious concerns about the welfare consequences of a manual percussive blow to the head, piglet thumping is not a permitted method for stunning or killing piglets.

Potential breaches of animal health and welfare legislation, such as the use of manual blunt force trauma on piglets, are taken very seriously. Any allegations of poor animal welfare are investigated by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and appropriate action is taken. The local authority, as the appropriate enforcement agency, may initiate prosecution action for animal welfare offences where there is sufficient evidence.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the introduction of mandatory food waste reporting.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. No recent discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State and Cabinet colleagues on the subject of mandatory food waste reporting.

This Government has announced the development of a food strategy as well as its plans to publish a Circular Economy Strategy for England. Defra recognises the importance of reducing food waste in the supply chain and as this work is developed, the evidence for action will be considered as we evaluate what interventions may be needed, including the potential introduction of a mandatory food waste reporting requirement for large food businesses.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Jun 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government how many reports have been made to police of illegal hare coursing since the Hunting Act 2004 came into force.

Hare coursing or poaching are not crimes which the police must record and notify to the Government. Where violence or intimidation are part of any hare coursing or poaching the most common crimes that could be recorded would be violence with injury, violence without injury or public order crimes where threats are used. However, there is no means of identifying if these are connected to hare coursing or poaching and for this reason the Government does not hold the information.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the restoration of (a) the River Colne in Huddersfield and (b) other urban rivers.

We are funding two projects led by the Calder and Colne Rivers Trust this year through the Water Environment Improvement Fund. One project is a three-year project looking at pollution,land and highway management issues on the River Colne and tributaries. The other is a feasibility and design project in the second of its three years, developing solutions for artificial barriers across the Calder and Colne catchment.

Through the WEIF, we are committing £3 million of investment this financial year to restore urban rivers. By combining this with rod licence income and working in partnership with organisations like the Wild Trout Trust, the Environment Agency is tackling urban waterway challenges and delivering lasting environmental improvements through collaborative action.

Cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas is a top priority for this government. We are putting water companies under special measures through our landmark Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act has introduced new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against law breakers and made it mandatory for water companies to publish plans to reduce pollution incidents.

The Independent Water Commission will recommend reforms to reset the water sector regulatory system and clean up our waterways for good.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to (a) review the (i) structure and (ii) market position of British Wool and (b) make an assessment of the effectiveness of the role of British Wool in supporting the incomes of British sheep farmers.

A new framework document was published in May 2025 and sets out the strategic relationship between Defra, the Devolved Governments, and British Wool. The Framework establishes clear governance arrangements and shared priorities, ensuring British Wool is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of the sector. The framework document was informed by a review of British Wool’s operations, including its structure and market position, conducted jointly by Defra and Devolved Governments, this was published on 15 March 2023.

While the Department is not currently undertaking a separate assessment of British Wool’s effectiveness in supporting farmer incomes, the Framework Document provides a foundation for ongoing collaboration and performance monitoring. Defra remains committed to working with British Wool and industry stakeholders to ensure the organisation continues to deliver value to sheep farmers and contributes to the long-term sustainability of the wool sector.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to raise extended producer responsibility base fees for plastic.

From year 2 of pEPR (2026/2027), base fees will be modulated to drive a shift to more environmentally sustainable packaging design, with recyclability as the indicator. Materials that are less recyclable, such as some plastics, will incur higher fees, with the additional funds raised being redistributed to lower the fees of more recyclable materials. PackUK intends to publish a modulation policy statement by the end of June, outlining this in more detail.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the amount that British Wool spent on its overseas operations in the last 12 months.

Defra does not regularly collect or monitor information on sales or uses of wool; this is managed by British Wool.

British Wool publishes its annual accounts and financial statements on its website, which include information on its operational activities, including any overseas expenditure. These documents are publicly accessible and provide transparency on the organisation’s use of funds.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the size of the badger population (a) in June 2025 and (b) in each of the last 10 years.

The first major badger population survey in over a decade began in February 2025 and is currently ongoing. The most recent previous national survey was conducted in England and Wales between 2011 and 2013, estimating the badger population at approximately 485,000 individuals across 71,600 social groups.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to meet with local stakeholders to discuss raising the bathing water quality rating at Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach.

Through the PR24 process the Environment Agency (EA) has secured the following work by South West Water to improve the quality at Church Cliff Beach:

Uplyme sewage treatment works and Gun Cliff sewage pumping station will be fitted with flow monitoring equipment, Uplyme storm sewage tanks will be improved to reduce stills, the Cobb sewage pumping station will be improved, two combined sewage overflows (CSO) will be investigated and assessed in relation to the possible impact on water quality, five further CSOs will be improved to meet the bathing water standard of no more than 2 spills per bathing season.

An investigation will be undertaken to confirm the benefits of these works for Church Cliff beach.

Lyme Regis Town Council, working with the EA, has set up a Water Quality Group to oversee improvements in the bathing water quality at Church Cliff beach.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of water quality at Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach on public health.

Through the PR24 process the Environment Agency (EA) has secured the following work by South West Water to improve the quality at Church Cliff Beach:

Uplyme sewage treatment works and Gun Cliff sewage pumping station will be fitted with flow monitoring equipment, Uplyme storm sewage tanks will be improved to reduce stills, the Cobb sewage pumping station will be improved, two combined sewage overflows (CSO) will be investigated and assessed in relation to the possible impact on water quality, five further CSOs will be improved to meet the bathing water standard of no more than 2 spills per bathing season.

An investigation will be undertaken to confirm the benefits of these works for Church Cliff beach.

Lyme Regis Town Council, working with the EA, has set up a Water Quality Group to oversee improvements in the bathing water quality at Church Cliff beach.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the bathing water classification at Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach.

Through the PR24 process the Environment Agency (EA) has secured the following work by South West Water to improve the quality at Church Cliff Beach:

Uplyme sewage treatment works and Gun Cliff sewage pumping station will be fitted with flow monitoring equipment, Uplyme storm sewage tanks will be improved to reduce stills, the Cobb sewage pumping station will be improved, two combined sewage overflows (CSO) will be investigated and assessed in relation to the possible impact on water quality, five further CSOs will be improved to meet the bathing water standard of no more than 2 spills per bathing season.

An investigation will be undertaken to confirm the benefits of these works for Church Cliff beach.

Lyme Regis Town Council, working with the EA, has set up a Water Quality Group to oversee improvements in the bathing water quality at Church Cliff beach.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Environment Agency on enforcement action relating to pollution affecting Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach.

Through the PR24 process the Environment Agency (EA) has secured the following work by South West Water to improve the quality at Church Cliff Beach:

Uplyme sewage treatment works and Gun Cliff sewage pumping station will be fitted with flow monitoring equipment, Uplyme storm sewage tanks will be improved to reduce stills, the Cobb sewage pumping station will be improved, two combined sewage overflows (CSO) will be investigated and assessed in relation to the possible impact on water quality, five further CSOs will be improved to meet the bathing water standard of no more than 2 spills per bathing season.

An investigation will be undertaken to confirm the benefits of these works for Church Cliff beach.

Lyme Regis Town Council, working with the EA, has set up a Water Quality Group to oversee improvements in the bathing water quality at Church Cliff beach.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the revenue that will be raised from fines imposed on water companies for environmental breaches in the next 12 months.

Environmental enforcement, including fines, is provided by independent regulators Ofwat and the Environment Agency (EA). Enforcement activity and subsequent fines are affected by a wide variety of factors and the Government does not have a predicted figure for the next 12 months. EA fines are imposed by the courts which apply the Sentencing Council’s Environmental Offences Definite Guideline on a case-by-case basis.

On 19 June 2025, the Government announced that over £100 million in fines and penalties levied against water companies since October 2023 will be reinvested into projects to clean up our waters which could include local programmes to address pollution and improve water quality.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of reducing funding to Natural England’s programme to designate or expand National Landscapes on employment.

Natural England (NE) has the statutory responsibility for identifying areas for new or extended National Landscape designations. Given the pressures on public finances, Defra has had to make difficult decisions about funding. It was not affordable to continue Defra funding to NE to continue the new National Landscapes designations programme in 25/26. As such, NE have made the decision to stop work on some of the planned programme. Other elements of the programme, including the Surrey Hills boundary review and potential new National Landscape in the Yorkshire Wolds, are being maintained and progressed as the work was further advanced.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the amendments made in Schedule 6, Part 2, Clause 41 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill relating to the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 on (a) the potential number of badgers killed and (b) local wildlife populations.

These amendments standardise licences for development purposes under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 with those for other species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2017. This is intended to facilitate strategic-level Environmental Delivery Plans.

We are legislating that all badger licences will be subject to strict tests required by the Bern Convention, which set a high bar. For licences under the Nature Restoration Fund, an overall improvement in the conservation status of badgers will be required.

The impact of these provisions will depend on practical application by Natural England through EDPs or individual licences.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
24th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 60563 on Livestock: Death, what resources his Department has made available to the Animal and Plant Health Agency to monitor compliance with animal welfare standards during periods of extreme heat.

APHA does not receive additional resources to monitor compliance with animal welfare legal requirements during periods of extreme heat. However, the Agency has provided guidance on how to care for animals on farm and in transport in case of extreme weather since 2013; the guidance has been regularly reviewed and updated and it is available on the following page Keeping farm animals and horses in extreme weather - GOV.UK. In addition, The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) issues guidance to transporters on transporting animals in extreme hot and cold weather. The guidance ensures that transporters consider the particular risks that extreme weather presents to animal welfare and that animals are transported in a way that avoids any pain, suffering or distress.

APHA continues to monitor reports of animals being transported in extreme weather conditions. Where incidents of unnecessary suffering caused by transporting animals in extreme weather are identified, APHA will take appropriate regulatory action which may include the suspension of transporter authorisations. The Local Authority will be notified and will consider any appropriate enforcement action.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
5th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 51391 on Water Charges, whether he plans to provide (a) guidance and (b) directions on innovative tariffs.

As set out in the previous answer, as the water regulator, Ofwat regulates the charging trials by issuing rules that require companies to set fair charges for all customers, and to ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of granting permissions for shelters to allow the public to adopt stray dogs as a means to reduce the number being euthanised.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990, sets out a minimum hold period of seven days for stray dogs that are brought into shelters. After this time if the owner has not been identified, the dog may be rehomed or humanely euthanised. Under the Act, local authorities have powers in certain circumstances to transfer stray dogs to rehoming centres.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support farmers in Wiltshire to (a) retain soil moisture and (b) protect (i) crops and (ii) livestock from high temperatures.

Defra is aware of current concerns around ongoing dry conditions, including in Wiltshire, and continues to closely monitor the situation.

Defra has provided support through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), where many farmers are carrying out actions that support soil management including cover cropping, companion cropping, and planting herbal leys which can help protect the soil surface and help improve soil structure and resilience to drought. We are now considering options for a reformed SFI scheme.

Defra’s Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides grants for commercial livestock farmers towards the cost of a list of items that deliver improvements in animal health and welfare. The latest round launched in May 2025 with a budget of £16.7m and includes kit intended to specifically target heat stress such as cooling systems and fans.

The Environment Agency has produced an updated irrigation prospects report for summer 2025 to inform the agriculture sector of the current water resources situation, to help farmers plan their water needs for summer and improve their water resilience in the longer term.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of stray dogs being euthanised in the latest period for which figures are available.

The Department does not collect data on the euthanasia of stray dogs.

The obligations for dealing with stray dogs are laid down in the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and the responsibility for implementing these obligations lies with each local authority.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
24th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Chalk Stream recovery pack.

Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams is a top Government priority. That is why on 23 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works.

Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution and physical modifications of habitats. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our overall programme of reforms for the water sector.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) improve water quality in the river Thames and (b) protect local wildlife from (i) plastic pollution and (ii) sewage discharges.

The Water (Special Measures) Act will enable the Environment Agency (EA) to build on its transformation in the way it regulates the water industry, enabling it to take faster, firmer action against poor performance. It will speed up civil penalties for less serious offences, so that it can focus prosecutions on the most serious offending. It will require water companies to publish information regarding the frequency and duration of discharges from all emergency overflows within an hour of a discharge occurring.

The EA has expanded the number of staff dedicated to regulating the water industry, including regulatory officers, data analysts, and enforcement specialists, whilst developing new digital systems and significantly increasing the number of water company inspections.

The EA works with water companies to develop investigations into microplastics, having been recognised as a significant standalone issue. The water industry is also funding further investigations. This will shape understanding regarding how the levels of microplastics entering the environment through wastewater treatment processes can be reduced.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farm visits (a) he has and (b) his Ministers have undertaken since 4 July 2024.

Defra ministers regularly visit farms in a range of counties and meet with farmers and the wider industry nearly every week.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)