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

Angela Eagle
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)

Green Party
Adrian Ramsay (Green - Waveney Valley)
Green 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 - Life peer)
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Neil Hudson (Con - Epping Forest)
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Aphra Brandreth (Con - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers of State
Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
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)
Stephen Morgan (Lab - Portsmouth South)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Lab - Suffolk Coastal)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Tuesday 15th September 2026
Select Committee Docs
Tuesday 15th September 2026
16:01
Select Committee Inquiry
Wednesday 18th March 2026
Land use and nature

The UK Government has set numerous goals related to habitat restoration under the Environmental Improvement Plan, much of which of …

Written Answers
Thursday 17th September 2026
Fire and Rescue Services: Water Supply
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues …
Secondary Legislation
Wednesday 15th July 2026
Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026
These Regulations amend the Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (England) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1050) and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c.43).
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
Thursday 17th September 2026
10:00

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
Jul. 09
Oral Questions
Sep. 15
Urgent Questions
Sep. 03
Written Statements
Sep. 15
Westminster Hall
Sep. 10
Adjournment Debate
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 Environmental Offences (Fixed Penalties) (England) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1050) and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c.43).
Part 2 of these Regulations amends Part 7A of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/595, “the 2015 Order”), which makes provision about the form, timing, additional content, determination and appeals against refusal, or non-determination, of biodiversity gain plans.
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 Open
6,453 Signatures
(4,667 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
8,357 Signatures
(4,154 in the last 7 days)
Petition Open
12,459 Signatures
(2,822 in the last 7 days)
Petitions with most signatures
Petition Debates Contributed

Create a public register of all offenders convicted of animal abuse and introduce an automatic, lifetime ban on animal ownership for anyone convicted of animal neglect or abuse. This register should be searchable by vets, breeders, charities and the public to prevent repeat offending.

Hold a binding national referendum on whether the water industry should be returned to public ownership. Water is a basic human necessity; we believe our privatised system has failed, so the public should decide who owns and controls it.

We think each year, individuals suffer because of loud fireworks. We believe horses, dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife can be terrified by noisy fireworks and many people find them intolerable.

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.


10 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
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
Terry Jermy Portrait
Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Juliet Campbell Portrait
Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 17th November 2025
Ben Goldsborough Portrait
Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 22nd June 2026
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 Climate and weather resilience Moving animals across borders COVID-19 and food supply: follow up Land use and nature 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

9th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to bring forward regulations to introduce a public food waste reporting requirement for large businesses.

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

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to require supermarkets to donate edible unsold food to charities and community organisations instead of disposing of it.

The Government supports food waste reduction through WRAP’s UK Food and Drink Pact and Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, helping businesses measure, reduce, report waste and increase surplus food redistribution. Businesses should prioritise redistribution; in 2024 retail redistributed 97,889 tonnes, 46% of surplus food redistributed in the UK.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
1st Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many deaths were attributable to ozone, fine particular matter (PM2.5) and PM10 during each of the heatwaves between May and August 2026 inclusive.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates that the mortality burden of air pollution is linked to 29,000-43,000 deaths annually. The ONS does not produce estimates of the number of deaths attributable to ozone, PM2.5 or PM10 during specific heatwave periods.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Aug 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of (a) the replacement value of flood defence and water management assets in the Fens, (b) the proportion of those assets expected to reach the end of their design life by 2040 and by 2075, and (c) the capital investment required to maintain and replace those assets over the coming decades.

This information is publicly available: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fens-2100.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Aug 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2026, to Question 15567, on DEFRA: Marketing, how much has been spend on branded goods and merchandise in the last six months.

The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Aug 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment and research has been undertaken by her department of the performance of Northern Ireland water as a nationalised utility, including its handling of water pollution, as a potential model for water services in England.

The Government commissioned the Independent Water Commission which scrutinised different ownership models, including Northern Ireland Water.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Aug 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the cumulative increase in average household water bills since 2020 compared with increases in average domestic energy bills and council tax; and what assessment she has made of the impact of those increases on household affordability.

This Government is committed to keeping essential living costs affordable.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Aug 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2026 to Question 3763 and with reference to the Answer of of 19 January 2026 to Question 104195 on Government Communication Service: Staff, how many headcount staff in each of the department’s Arm’s Length Bodies are (a) members of the Government Communication Network and (b) are embedded communicators who are not counted as members of the Government Communication Network.

All communicators are members of the Government Communication Service.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Aug 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help support councils to tackle industrial scale fly-tips from organised criminal operators.

Enforcement and disruption of industrial-scale waste crime is carried out by the Environment Agency. Through the Waste Crime Action Plan Defra has granted the Environment Agency an additional £45 million for waste crime enforcement over three years. The Environment Agency is strengthening intelligence-led enforcement, investing in drones and satellite technology.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
1st Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Environment Agency made of the adequacy of Capita Pension Solutions' performance on other public-sector pension administration contracts before exercising the option to extend its contract for administration of the Environment Agency Pension Fund.

The Environment Agency Pension Funds (EAPF) contract was awarded in accordance with procurement regulations applicable at the time. As part of the decision to exercise the option to extend its administration contract with Capita Pension Solutions (CPS), the EAPF undertook an assessment and due diligence on the performance of other public sector pension contracts.

The EA is a separate contracting authority, and the EAPF contract is separate from other CPS public-sector pension administration contracts. The EAPF has in place an 8-year contract with CPS. During the initial four-year term of the contract, CPS met its contractual service standards with the EAPF in full. Conscious of the experience of other public sector pension contracts, the EAPF considered potential performance risks and put in place mitigations to provide assurance that CPS would continue to meet its contractual service levels throughout the extension period.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to answer Question 26883.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 September to PQ UIN 26883.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what definition her Department uses of a failing water company for the purposes of regulatory intervention.

All regulatory intervention is considered based on the specific facts and circumstances at the time.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what metrics her Department and Ofwat use to assess whether a water company has failed to meet its statutory obligations under the Water Industry Act 1991.

Water companies' principal statutory duties are set out in the Water Industry Act 1991. 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. 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.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has she made in replacing St Ives sluice with a fixed weir.

St Ives Sluice is progressing through the Environment Agency full business case approval process. The fixed weir option currently provides the best whole life cost solution.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps further to those previously anticipated are needed by the Environment Agency to justify and gain approval to deliver the replacement of St Ives sluice.

St Ives Sluice is progressing through the Environment Agency full business case approval process. The fixed weir option currently provides the best whole life cost solution.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the difference between grounds for special administration based on (a) insolvency and (b) performance failure in relation to Thames Water.

The statutory grounds for placing a water company into a Special Administration Regime (SAR) are set out in the Water Industry Act 1991 and apply consistently across all water companies.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a company's environmental performance rating as assessed by Ofwat's Environmental Performance Assessment forms part of the criteria for determining regulatory failure.

Environmental Performance Assessment and persistent sewage discharges in breach of permit conditions may each be relevant factors for the purpose of a number of different regulatory interventions by Regulators and, if needed, Government.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether persistent sewage discharges in breach of permit conditions constitute evidence of failure by water companies for the purposes of regulatory intervention, including Special Administration.

Environmental Performance Assessment and persistent sewage discharges in breach of permit conditions may each be relevant factors for the purpose of a number of different regulatory interventions by Regulators and, if needed, Government.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with Ofwat on the threshold for recommending Special Administration for a water company.

Defra works closely with Ofwat on issues of financial resilience and performance across the water sector through regular engagement.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to (a) customers and (b) the public purse of placing a water company into (i) Special Administration and (ii) continued private restructuring.

The costs of a SAR would vary significantly depending on the circumstances of the individual company, including the duration of the special administration, the company's operational and financial position, and the arrangements required to ensure continued delivery of water and wastewater services. The costs of a private sector restructuring would likewise depend on the specific terms of any restructuring proposal and the funding commitments made by investors and creditors.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 on the (a) criteria and (b) process for placing a water company into Special Administration.

Sections 14 and 15 of the Water (Special Measures) Act introduced new powers for the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers to modify water company licences to recover any shortfall following the provision of financial assistance to a company in special administration. Additionally, section 16 of the Water (Special Measures) Act ensures that, should a water company’s creditors apply to the court for the company to be wound up, 14 days’ notice would have to be given to the Secretary of State or the Welsh Minsters and Ofwat.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Aug 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether any internship schemes managed by (a) her Department and (b) each of its Arm’s Length Bodies are restricted to applicants on the basis of (i) ethnicity, (ii) social class and (iii) both.

Neither Defra nor any Defra group Arm’s Length Bodies manage internship schemes with such restrictions.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
7th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed AI-capable data centres in Essex on local water resources.

The Government recognises that, while data centre water use is likely to remain a small component of national water demand (less than 1%), local impacts may be significant, particularly during periods of peak demand. Defra’s Water Delivery Taskforce is bringing together government, regulators and the water industry to improve the evidence based on data centre water use.

Water companies are not required to supply water for data centre cooling and may refuse a connection where sufficient resources are unavailable. The Government expects developers to work closely with water companies to secure sustainable supplies and explore alternative water sources where possible.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of access to freshwater sources as a nationally developed capability for use in aerial firefighting.

When aerial firefighting is required, local emergency responders work collaboratively with partners to determine the best sources of water to use. This requires balancing the logistics of firefighting with a range of factors. These discussions are typically held at a local level.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to tackle illegal waste dumping.

This Government is committed to tackling illegal waste dumping. The Waste Crime Action Plan is ensuring we pursue offenders and clean-up the most egregious illegal waste sites. This includes reforms to the waste carrier regime, the introduction of digital waste tracking and strengthened enforcement activity to identify and act against waste criminals.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to introduce a national minimum urban tree canopy cover target for local authorities.

The Government is committed to meeting the statutory Environment Act target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover in England to at least 16.5% by 2050. We continue to support local authorities and partners to increase tree cover, including in towns and cities, through a range of tree planting and establishment programmes.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to increase reservoir infrastructure to mitigate potential extreme summer weather.

The Government is pushing ahead with reforms to the water sector under our Plan for Change, which includes £104 billion of private investment, including £8 billion dedicated to improved drought planning, long-term water resource management and the delivery of 9 new reservoirs alongside major infrastructure upgrades to reduce leakage and improve water security.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the potential contribution Sustainable Drainage Systems towards drought resilience and levels of demand on public water supplies over the next 25 years.

The Government recognises the importance of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in improving drought resilience and reducing demand on water supply. The National Planning Policy Framework requires SuDS in all new development, designed and maintained to the National Standards.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Sep 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding was spent on micro-woods between 2024 and 2026.

Defra supported a number of tree planting delivery partners between 2024 and 2026. These partners delivered a range of tree planting. This includes the Coronation Living Heritage Fund. This Fund spent £1.1 million on Miyawaki (micro wood) projects. The funding was distributed to local authority delivery partners in November 2023. The planting of these projects took place between November 2023 and March 2026.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to amend (a) environmental permitting and (b) waste licensing requirements to facilitate the reuse of treated wastewater for non-potable industrial uses.

Defra is exploring opportunities for businesses to use treated wastewater instead of drinking water or water taken from the environment. The Environment Agency supports innovation and wastewater treatment approaches where there is sufficient evidence, regulatory assurance, and protection of people and the environment.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what principles will guide decisions on water allocation where the water requirements of major infrastructure projects may potentially conflict with environmental flow requirements for protected habitats and chalk streams.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should protect and enhance valued landscapes and sites of biodiversity, which includes Chalk Streams. We have also set out more clearly expectations for development proposals to assess and mitigate adverse impacts to water quality on these sensitive waterbodies.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Sep 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the locations of (1) the coronation woods, (2) the projects of the coronation living heritage fund, and (3) the micro-woods.

The Forestry Commission publishes statistics on new planting of woodland, and trees outside woodland, in England, in the Forestry Commission Key Performance Indicators (copy attached). They plan to publish related geospatial data by the end of 2026-27 on the locations of the new planting wherever considerations such as data quality and data licencing enable this.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Sep 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 3 September (HL Deb col 243), what steps they have taken to ensure that water shortage is not significantly due to poor management by water companies of leakage.

Water companies have committed to halving leakage by 2050, from a 2017/18 baseline, and the Government has set an interim target of 30% reduction by 2032. The Water Delivery Taskforce is holding water companies to account for delivery of their planned investments, within and beyond Price Review 2024.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Sep 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the quality of Thames Water's supply and its potential impact on health and well-being of children in the area.

Thames Water achieved 99.97% compliance with the drinking water standards in 2025. Customers should have confidence that their drinking water is safe. All compliance failures are investigated by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) to ensure that public health of all consumers is safeguarded. Where there is an unmanaged or unmitigated risk to public health, the DWI will take appropriate enforcement action to protect the public.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what ways citizen science water quality monitoring groups will be involved in the development of regional water resources plans where they are not represented on Regional Water Planning Steering Groups.

We are investing in citizen science to improve environmental understanding and generate high-quality evidence to solve water system problems. Government has doubled support to catchment partnerships and funded Water Environment Improvement Fund projects which support development of citizen science. Catchment Partnerships will ensure regional plans are grounded in local knowledge.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to launch the consultation on reservoir safety reform.

The Government is reviewing the public consultation on reservoir safety reform. Many of the recommendations from the Independent Reservoir Safety Report have already been implemented – detail can be found at Reservoir Safety Reforms | Reservoir Safety Reform Programme | Engage Environment Agency.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment Ofwat has made of South Staffs Water’s progress in reducing leakage; how the reported saving of one million litres per day from leaks repaired in 2025 compares with the company’s total daily leakage; and what proportion of the forecast supply-demand deficit is expected to be addressed through (a) company-side leakage reduction, (b) customer-side leak repairs and (c) reduced household consumption following compulsory metering.

South Staffs Water has a target to reduce leakage by 17% during 2025-30. Ofwat assesses company performance through its regulatory reporting and performance framework, which includes leakage and demand management measures.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what requirements apply to South Staffs Water’s collection, retention and use of smart-meter consumption data; at what frequency household usage will be recorded; which third parties may receive identifiable or pseudonymised information; and whether customers will be able to access the same level of usage data used by the company for billing, leakage detection and demand-management purposes.

Water companies must comply with applicable data protection and privacy legislation when collecting and processing customer information. The collection, retention and operational use of smart meter data are matters for individual water companies, subject to relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Sep 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of trees planted through the coronation living heritage funds.

The Forestry Commission publishes statistics on new planting of woodland, and trees outside woodland, in England. The requested information is available at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/forestry-commission-corporate-plan-performance-indicators. These statistics are reported annually for each financial year with interim updates where data are available after mid-year. The Coronation Living Heritage Fund ran from August to September 2023, with planting taking place between November 2023 and March 2026. The planting figures are:

New planting of trees outside woodland

Financial year

Approximate area equivalent (hectares)

Number of individual trees newly planted (number)

2025-26

3

2,000

2024-25

16

13,000

2023-24

18

14,000

Total

37

29,000

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with Essex and Suffolk Water about the resilience of water supplies in Suffolk following the introduction of a temporary use ban in August 2026.

It is the responsibility of water companies to determine when and how Temporary Use Bans (TUBs) are implemented. The Environment Agency meets with the water company weekly to discuss water resources and drought actions. It provides monthly drought prospects assessing risks in future months.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what reduction in household water consumption South Staffs Water is required to achieve through universal metering; what the evidential basis is for the conclusion that moving an unmetered household to metered charging reduces demand by approximately 13%; and whether she plans to take steps to ensure the company will be required to publish actual consumption reductions separately from savings attributed to the detection of customer-side leaks.

South Staffs Water's metering programme forms part of its wider demand management activities. Ofwat's PR24 framework sets expectations for demand reduction and monitors delivery against company commitments through its regulatory performance framework.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to require data-centre developers and operators to disclose their expected and actual annual water consumption.

Current evidence suggests existing data centres in England account for just 0.2% of non-household demand. Defra is working across government and with the Environment Agency to better understand the sectors growth and reduce its impact, including by supporting rollout of smart meters in the non-household market.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the projected demand for water from data centres in each water-resource zone.

Current evidence suggests existing data centres in England account for just 0.2% of non-household demand. Defra is working across government and with the Environment Agency to better understand the sectors growth and reduce its impact, including by supporting rollout of smart meters in the non-household market.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Aug 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the percentage office workplace attendance requirement in each of the department’s offices, broken down by location; and whether attendance statistics are collated for each of those individual offices.

Defra wants thriving workplaces that benefit everyone and that meet the needs of our customers and partners. The department are committed to offering staff hybrid working to enable choice in where colleagues work, within a framework.

Recognising the value of coming together, like many other organisations across the Civil Service, staff are expected to attend workplaces for at least 60% of their working time (averaged over a 4-week period).

Attendance statistics are collated for departmental offices and are provided to senior management teams for the purposes of monitoring compliance with workplace attendance expectations.

This applies to employees in Defra, RPA, APHA & VMD, including any agency workers and contractors working alongside Defra.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what level of rainfall above which a water company such as Southern Water has been permitted by the Environment Agency to discharge storm sewage.

There is no fixed rainfall threshold for a storm overflow to discharge. Storm overflows may only operate as permitted, with compliance assessed case-by-case against site-specific rainfall, flow and network conditions.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of South Staffs Water’s compulsory universal metering programme; and how many household meters the company is expected to install in each financial year from 2025–26 to 2034–35, by local-authority area.

The adequacy of South Staffs Water's metering programme is assessed through the company's statutory Water Resources Management Plan and regulatory oversight arrangements. Defra does not hold a published forecast of household meter installations by local authority and financial year. Detailed delivery assumptions are a matter for the company and regulators.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what requirements apply to water companies undertaking compulsory metering in areas designated as seriously water stressed in relation to (a) advance notice, (b) customer consultation, (c) access to private property, (d) internal installation, (e) reinstatement following works and (f) complaints and redress; and how compliance with those requirements is monitored.

The adequacy of South Staffs Water's metering programme is assessed through the company's statutory Water Resources Management Plan and regulatory oversight arrangements. Defra does not hold a published forecast of household meter installations by local authority and financial year. Detailed delivery assumptions are a matter for the company and regulators.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what protections water companies are required to provide to customers whose bills increase following compulsory meter installation; whether South Staffs Water is required to identify potentially eligible customers proactively for WaterSure, social tariffs and other affordability support; and whether the Department holds data on how many customers affected by South Staffs Water's universal metering programme have received each form of support.

The adequacy of South Staffs Water's metering programme is assessed through the company's statutory Water Resources Management Plan and regulatory oversight arrangements. Defra does not hold a published forecast of household meter installations by local authority and financial year. Detailed delivery assumptions are a matter for the company and regulators.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
1st Sep 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the 2022 drought on the Queen Mary, Queen Mother and Wraysbury reservoirs.

In 2022 the Environment Agency declared a drought in south east England. This resulted in lower than average flows in the River Thames, reducing the volumes that could be abstracted and stored in reservoirs in London, including the Queen Mary, Queen Mother and Wraysbury reservoirs.

Thames Water has said London’s total reservoir storage fell to around 58%, compared to a normal seasonal average of 75%, as a result of this reduced abstraction and higher than normal demand associated with the prolonged dry weather. The reservoirs were subsequently filled when the drought ended, recovering to normal levels over the autumn and winter period.

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