Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The 30by30 target, Target 3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, is a global target to effectively protect 30% of the global ocean and of land by 2030. Just over 9.8% of the global ocean is now protected. Achieving this global 30by30 target will require an international effort, from all countries and sectors and the UK is leading the way. In England, we have a comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering 40% of our waters, and we are focusing on making sure they are properly protected.

Marine regulators make evidence-based, site-by-site assessments of the fishing activities that could prevent MPAs from achieving their conservation objectives and put in place the necessary management measures. Nearly 60% of MPAs already have byelaws in place to protect them from damaging fishing activity and the Marine Management Organisation consulted last year on proposals to prohibit bottom trawling over sensitive seabed habitats in a further 41 MPAs. It is currently analysing the large number of responses received and decisions will be made in due course.

The Government recognises the disruption that consumers have suffered and takes the need for appropriate compensation to customers seriously. The Government is clear that it is the responsibility of the water company to provide compensation that is commensurate with the scale of the disruption.

The Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) sets the minimum standards of service for all customers of water companies. Where a company fails to meet any of the standards, it is required to make a specified payment to the affected household or business customer. The Government announced a major update to the GSS as part of its initial package of water sector reforms in July 2025. The updates reformed the GSS, improving consumer protections by further protections for customers – increasing the payment values, to double or more, and by expanding the scope to include additional standards. South East Water must make mandatory payments to affected customers in line with the GSS following the water outages in East Grinstead and Uckfield.

The Government recognises the disruption that consumers have suffered and takes the need for appropriate compensation to customers seriously. The Government is clear that it is the responsibility of the water company to provide compensation that is commensurate with the scale of the disruption.

The Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) sets the minimum standards of service for all customers of water companies. Where a company fails to meet any of the standards, it is required to make a specified payment to the affected household or business customer. The Government announced a major update to the GSS as part of its initial package of water sector reforms in July 2025. The updates reformed the GSS, improving consumer protections by further protections for customers – increasing the payment values, to double or more, and by expanding the scope to include additional standards. South East Water must make mandatory payments to affected customers in line with the GSS following the water outages in East Grinstead and Uckfield.

Water companies are more than doubling social tariff support for vulnerable customers and Government is working with industry to keep their support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. We are considering ways to drive more consistency across the schemes and increase awareness of the support consumers can access. Defra also expects companies to hold themselves accountable for their public commitment to end water poverty by 2030.

Government has committed to reforming the WaterSure support scheme. We recently consulted on proposals to increase scope and support to low-income households who have higher water usage due to medical needs or three or more children in the household.

We expect all water companies to make sure households are aware of the schemes and measures available to help those struggling to pay their bills and do everything they can to support all customers who are vulnerable, including having regard to the interests of individuals of pensionable age.

Water companies are more than doubling social tariff support for vulnerable customers and Government is working with industry to keep their support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. We are considering ways to drive more consistency across the schemes and increase awareness of the support consumers can access. Defra also expects companies to hold themselves accountable for their public commitment to end water poverty by 2030.

Government has committed to reforming the WaterSure support scheme. We recently consulted on proposals to increase scope and support to low-income households who have higher water usage due to medical needs or three or more children in the household.

We expect all water companies to make sure households are aware of the schemes and measures available to help those struggling to pay their bills and do everything they can to support all customers who are vulnerable, including having regard to the interests of individuals of pensionable age.

Local authorities do hold limited enforcement responsibilities, primarily through Environmental Health functions, for example, under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 in relation to certain industrial processes, and powers relating to flooding from ordinary watercourses. However, these are distinct from the regulation of water company discharges.

Enforcement against pollution from water companies is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, which issues discharge permits, monitors compliance, and takes civil or criminal enforcement action where offences occur. Defra sets the overall legislative and policy framework for this system, including recent reforms under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, which strengthens the ability of regulators to take faster and tougher action, including new criminal liability for company executives.

The Environment Agency does not register landowners in London as riparian owners. A landowner’s responsibility for a tidal flood defence arises under the Metropolis Management (Thames River Prevention of Floods) Amendment Act 1879, which requires flood defences to be created and maintained to a defined height (relative to ordnance datum) in order to protect London from flooding and inundations caused by overflows from the River Thames.

The Environment Agency does not register landowners in London as riparian owners. A landowner’s responsibility for a tidal flood defence arises under the Metropolis Management (Thames River Prevention of Floods) Amendment Act 1879, which requires flood defences to be created and maintained to a defined height (relative to ordnance datum) in order to protect London from flooding and inundations caused by overflows from the River Thames.

The Government published a PFAS Plan on 3 February 2026, which sets out our approach towards protecting human health and the environment from risks posed by PFAS. In the recently revised Environmental Improvement Plan, we have committed to reforming UK REACH. This will enable protections to be applied more quickly, more efficiently and more closely aligned with our closest trading partner the EU.

Attenuation ponds are deployed by Risk Management Authorities as a flood alleviation measure; they are determined by a range of factors including cost to benefit ratio and the standard of protection that can be achieved. In recent years, the highway sector has been innovative in its use of sustainable drainage and green infrastructure to help manage road flooding.

A new three-year £4.2 billion Flood and Coastal Risk Investment Programme will start in April 2026, where new projects will align with the strategic objectives set out in the Government’s new funding rules announced in October 2025. This means investment goes where it is most needed, accounting for flood risk, value for money, natural flood management opportunity and additional contributions to make Government investment go further. This investment will benefit properties, infrastructure and agriculture.

The Government and the Environment Agency are committed to improving England’s picture of flood and coastal erosion risk, including from surface water. The Environment Agency published its new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) data in 2025.

Attenuation ponds are deployed by Risk Management Authorities as a flood alleviation measure; they are determined by a range of factors including cost to benefit ratio and the standard of protection that can be achieved. In recent years, the highway sector has been innovative in its use of sustainable drainage and green infrastructure to help manage road flooding.

A new three-year £4.2 billion Flood and Coastal Risk Investment Programme will start in April 2026, where new projects will align with the strategic objectives set out in the Government’s new funding rules announced in October 2025. This means investment goes where it is most needed, accounting for flood risk, value for money, natural flood management opportunity and additional contributions to make Government investment go further. This investment will benefit properties, infrastructure and agriculture.

The Government and the Environment Agency are committed to improving England’s picture of flood and coastal erosion risk, including from surface water. The Environment Agency published its new National Flood Risk Assessment (NaFRA) data in 2025.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) leads the cross‑government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PiE) Group and is taking forward a programme of work to address the presence of chemicals from pet flea and tick treatments in UK waterways. In response to detections of fipronil and imidacloprid above toxicity thresholds for aquatic invertebrates, the VMD published a roadmap setting out planned actions.

Progress includes holding the first PiE stakeholder workshop in Summer 2025, commissioning research on pet owner behaviours and exposure modelling, and working with environment agencies to improve monitoring data consistency. The VMD is also undertaking an evidence‑based review of the legal distribution categories for products containing these substances and contributing to international work to consider updates to environmental risk assessment approaches.

Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion until 2036 to construct new flood schemes and repair existing defences, helping to avoid disruption to transport and other infrastructure damage, as well as continuing to protect communities from the devastating impacts of climate change.

As published in the Flood and coastal erosion risk management (Section 18) report – in 24/25 – Wessex, and Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly received a combined £173 million, better protecting 4,036 properties across these regions.

The final list of schemes to benefit in 2026/27 is due to be published on GOV.UK in March 2026.

Defra, Natural England, and Environment Agency are working closely with our Great Fen partners to look at the benefits of paludiculture (wetter farming) and trialling a range of diversification options. This is vital to enable thriving and sustainable rural businesses, protection of our precious lowland peat resources, and enhance biodiversity. The Great Fen provides opportunity to act to test these principles, and will be looking at the benefits of growing reed and a host of other crop types for food and fibre.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues.

Swimming and water safety is a vital life skill. Swimming and water safety are compulsory elements of the PE National Curriculum at Key Stages 1 and 2. In addition, the changes made to the Government’s statutory RSHE guidance will ensure all pupils are taught about the water safety code, supporting them to be safe in different types of water.

This will help ensure all pupils are taught about the water safety code, supporting them to be safe in different types of water.

The Government is also providing a grant of up to £300,000 to deliver Inclusion 2028 – a programme which upskills teachers to deliver high quality, inclusive PE, including swimming and water safety, to pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

We maintain a continued dialogue on ambient air quality with international partners and technical expert groups to inform our air quality policy, including through the ongoing revision of the 2012 amended Gothenburg Protocol and its obligations.

The UK has a robust and comprehensive framework in place, which has driven sustained reductions in air pollution and continues to hold us to account. We remain committed to continuous improvement and will keep our targets under review.

Defra does not have responsibility for setting standards for indoor air quality.

The Government supports communities and local authorities to take effective action on air pollution through the Local Air Quality Management framework, which requires local authorities to assess air quality and implement measures to address local issues. Defra provides technical guidance, modelling tools, and monitoring support to help authorities identify pollution sources and develop targeted action. Since taking ownership of the Air Quality Hub in 2024, Defra has enhanced the platform to improve access to guidance, training, and examples of best practice, strengthening local capability and enabling communities to benefit from successful approaches used elsewhere.

Defra’s ambient air quality policy is delivered within the wider framework of the Environmental Improvement Plan, which sets out commitments to improve air quality, restore nature and support climate objectives. The plan highlights that actions to tackle air pollution such as reducing emissions, support nature recovery and contribute to resilience against climate change.

Air quality is also a material consideration in planning decisions and Government policy is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

I will continue to work collaboratively with colleagues across government to ensure we take a joined-up, holistic approach.

Defra’s ambient air quality policy is delivered within the wider framework of the Environmental Improvement Plan, which sets out commitments to improve air quality, restore nature and support climate objectives. The plan highlights that actions to tackle air pollution such as reducing emissions, support nature recovery and contribute to resilience against climate change.

Air quality is also a material consideration in planning decisions and Government policy is set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

I will continue to work collaboratively with colleagues across government to ensure we take a joined-up, holistic approach.

The World Health Organisation’s Air Quality Guidelines inform our approach to improving public health. We remain committed to continuous improvement and the WHO guidelines will continue to inform our evidence when considering next steps.

137 responses to the consultation were received. Defra is currently considering their contents.

Defra officials meet regularly with representatives of the heating, refrigeration and air conditioning industries, including to discuss the topic of training regarding flammable refrigerants. They have gathered incredibly useful input through such engagement. They would be open to further meetings on this topic.

Evidence shows that levels of social tariff provision vary between regions because each water company sets its own eligibility criteria and level of support. The Government keeps support schemes under review and expects industry to do the same to ensure vulnerable customers across the country are supported, and customers know what support schemes are available and how to access them if they need help.

Water companies have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through social tariffs – from 4% to 9%.

Defra expects water companies to ensure that their customers know what support schemes are available and how to access them if they need help. Companies offer a range of support schemes for customers struggling to afford their bills, including social tariffs, WaterSure, debt support schemes, financial hardship funds, flexible payment plans and payment breaks. Defra is working with water companies to ensure social tariffs are more consistent and taken up by those most in need.

Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), businesses are prohibited from misleading consumers and must have evidence to substantiate any claims made. Where a business markets a product as made from ocean plastic or beach clean materials, but either does so falsely, or does not have evidence to substantiate the claim, the business may be infringing the consumer protection provisions of the DMCCA and could be subject to enforcement action.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. We will soon publish a Circular Economy Growth Plan that sets out how the Government will deliver a more circular and more prosperous economy. The plan will set out the biggest opportunities in sectors right across the economy, including chemicals and plastics.

The regulatory phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons has been in place since 2015, with the gradual transition of industry to alternative refrigerants occurring as the phasedown has continued. As stated in last year’s consultation document, the proposal put forward only covered reform of the phasedown. Other changes to the fluorinated gas regulatory framework may be considered in the future. The UK Government, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments, is committed to further exploring areas for fluorinated gas regulatory reform considered out of scope of the consultation, which could for example include training and certification relating to alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons.

The current regulatory framework already sets minimum training and certification requirements for handling hydrofluorocarbons as regards refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment.

The regulatory phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons has been in place since 2015, with the gradual transition of industry to alternative refrigerants occurring as the phasedown has continued. As stated in last year’s consultation document, the proposal put forward only covered reform of the phasedown. Other changes to the fluorinated gas regulatory framework may be considered in the future. The UK Government, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments, is committed to further exploring areas for fluorinated gas regulatory reform considered out of scope of the consultation, which could for example include training and certification relating to alternatives to hydrofluorocarbons.

The current regulatory framework already sets minimum training and certification requirements for handling hydrofluorocarbons as regards refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment.

Defra’s Darwin Plus programme has invested more than £64 million across nearly 400 environmental projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories since 2012. These include projects to increase the Territories’ resilience by responding to, mitigating and adapting to climate change and its effects on the natural environment and local communities.

An independent evaluation in 2022 found that Darwin Plus projects have reduced key threats to the Territories’ natural environments, including climate change. An impact analysis of Darwin Plus projects in 2025 has since estimated that Darwin Plus projects have:

• Improved the climate and disaster resilience of almost 10,000 people since 2022 alone; and
• Brought over 46 million hectares of land and sea under ecological management since 2013.

Project applicants for Darwin Plus Local Round 6, which closed on 29 December, will be kept informed of developments. Updates on further future funding rounds will be published on the Darwin Plus website in due course.

Defra’s Darwin Plus programme has invested more than £64 million across nearly 400 environmental projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories since 2012. These include projects to increase the Territories’ resilience by responding to, mitigating and adapting to climate change and its effects on the natural environment and local communities.

An independent evaluation in 2022 found that Darwin Plus projects have reduced key threats to the Territories’ natural environments, including climate change. An impact analysis of Darwin Plus projects in 2025 has since estimated that Darwin Plus projects have:

• Improved the climate and disaster resilience of almost 10,000 people since 2022 alone; and
• Brought over 46 million hectares of land and sea under ecological management since 2013.

Project applicants for Darwin Plus Local Round 6, which closed on 29 December, will be kept informed of developments. Updates on further future funding rounds will be published on the Darwin Plus website in due course.

Defra’s Darwin Plus programme has invested more than £64 million across nearly 400 environmental projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories since 2012. These include projects to increase the Territories’ resilience by responding to, mitigating and adapting to climate change and its effects on the natural environment and local communities.

An independent evaluation in 2022 found that Darwin Plus projects have reduced key threats to the Territories’ natural environments, including climate change. An impact analysis of Darwin Plus projects in 2025 has since estimated that Darwin Plus projects have:

• Improved the climate and disaster resilience of almost 10,000 people since 2022 alone; and
• Brought over 46 million hectares of land and sea under ecological management since 2013.

Project applicants for Darwin Plus Local Round 6, which closed on 29 December, will be kept informed of developments. Updates on further future funding rounds will be published on the Darwin Plus website in due course.

Defra’s Darwin Plus programme has invested more than £64 million across nearly 400 environmental projects of benefit to the UK Overseas Territories since 2012. These include projects to increase the Territories’ resilience by responding to, mitigating and adapting to climate change and its effects on the natural environment and local communities.

An independent evaluation in 2022 found that Darwin Plus projects have reduced key threats to the Territories’ natural environments, including climate change. An impact analysis of Darwin Plus projects in 2025 has since estimated that Darwin Plus projects have:

• Improved the climate and disaster resilience of almost 10,000 people since 2022 alone; and
• Brought over 46 million hectares of land and sea under ecological management since 2013.

Project applicants for Darwin Plus Local Round 6, which closed on 29 December, will be kept informed of developments. Updates on further future funding rounds will be published on the Darwin Plus website in due course.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding.

The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected.

Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties.

The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March.

Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding.

The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected.

Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties.

The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March.

Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding.

The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected.

Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties.

The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March.

Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding.

The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected.

Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties.

The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March.

Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

We recognise the financial burden that clearing fly-tipped waste places on landowners. However, central Government generally does not compensate victims of non-violent crime. It is important not to create a perverse incentive for some people to dump, or facilitate the dumping of, waste.

However, where there is sufficient evidence, fly-tippers can be prosecuted and, on conviction, a cost order can be made by the court so that a landowner’s costs can be recovered from the perpetrator.

We are working with a wide range of interested parties through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group, such as the National Farmers Union (NFU), to promote and disseminate good practice, including how to prevent fly-tipping on private land.

Defra has not carried out a formal assessment of the potential cost savings and fire reduction benefits of mandatory nationwide kerbside collection of waste batteries and small electrical items.

Defra has however worked closely with industry and Material Focus on Material Focus’ UK electricals and portable batteries collections review (see attached), which was published in January. Material Focus is funded by the compliance fee that operates under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 and is paid by electrical producers if they do not meet annual recycling targets set by the government. This review indicated that although kerbside collections impacted the amount of recycling collected, the picture is complex and various other important factors may influence the 'best collection method' for each local authority.

Fires in waste are a significant concern, and we are closely engaged with industry, including waste disposal operators, on the issue. The Government has already taken action to ban disposable vapes - one of the main ways in which lithium-ion batteries end up in general waste. We are currently considering options for reform of the batteries regulations in the UK and are in the process of engaging further with industry and other stakeholders on those options.

The Western Forest was launched on 21 March 2025 and is in its first tree-planting season. This runs between October and April. Monitoring will commence after this period. Consistent with Defra’s tree planting grants it will provide annual payments for up to 15 years after planting to support essential maintenance and tree survival. As part of the Trees programme, we will be commissioning research to improve our understanding of the success of survival rates, and the factors influencing successful woodland establishment for newly planted trees.

Simpler Recycling came into force on 31 March 2025 requiring all workplaces in England with more than 10 full-time employees to separate their waste before collection, including any waste produced by employees, customers and visitors. This includes dry recyclable materials (i.e. plastic, metal, glass, paper and card) and, separately, food waste. Supermarkets are therefore required to comply and separately collect plastic as well as the other recyclable materials. Defra has not assessed the plastic recycling provision in supermarkets.

Whilst supermarkets collect plastic film on their premises (e.g. plastic bags) this is not currently a requirement. However, additional waste streams that are not included in the Simpler Recycling legislation, may be collected in advance of 31 March 2027 when plastic film collections from all households and workplaces will also become mandatory.

The recently published Animal Welfare Strategy sets out that ending the use of cages and crates is a key priority for this Government.

We are currently consulting on a proposed timeline to ban the instalment of new enriched ‘colony’ cages for the keeping of laying hens and any other caged systems used for pullets and breeder layers from 2027 and the use of existing cages from 2032.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy we will be consulting on pig farrowing crates and a proposed timeline for the transition away from the use of farrowing crates to alternative systems: either flexible or free farrowing.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Windsor, UIN 106863.

The numbers of companies with Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2007 code 011, 012, 013, 014, 015 and 016 that entered insolvency in the UK in the last three years (2023 to 2025) are presented in the table below. This information has been provided by the Department for Business and Trade.

The Insolvency Service’s Monthly Company Insolvencies Official Statistics Publication provides more information and a breakdown of SIC codes.

Information on business closures for farms is best obtained from the Office for National Statistics’ quarterly business demography publication. This release is regarded as ‘official statistics in development’. However, it is not possible to separately identify farm closures from within the published group which contains them, which is ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing’.

Business closures in the UK for Agriculture, forestry and fishing from the first quarter of 2023 until the fourth quarter of 2025 are shown in the table below.

UK Agriculture, forestry and fishing business closures

Defra has not carried out a formal assessment of any increase in battery-related fires in waste and recycling infrastructure between 2021 and 2024, or the impact of such fires on the safety of works in waste and recycling facilities. Fires in waste are a significant concern, and we remain engaged with industry, including waste disposal operators, on the issue.

The Government has already taken action to ban disposable vapes - one of the main ways in which lithium-ion batteries end up in general waste. We are also considering options for reform of the batteries regulations in the UK and are in the process of engaging further with industry and other stakeholders on those options.

The Health and Safety Executive sits on the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) which has commissioned several pieces of research, in particular on ‘Reducing fire risk at waste management sites’ WASTE-28.pdf (see attached). WISH and the Environmental Services Association are also funding a PhD project to investigate improved methods to detect ‘hot spots’ where there is a build-up of heat deep within the waste, before a fire breaks out.

Defra has not carried out a formal assessment of any increase in battery-related fires in waste and recycling infrastructure between 2021 and 2024, or the impact of such fires on the safety of works in waste and recycling facilities. Fires in waste are a significant concern, and we remain engaged with industry, including waste disposal operators, on the issue.

The Government has already taken action to ban disposable vapes - one of the main ways in which lithium-ion batteries end up in general waste. We are also considering options for reform of the batteries regulations in the UK and are in the process of engaging further with industry and other stakeholders on those options.

The Health and Safety Executive sits on the Waste Industry Safety and Health Forum (WISH) which has commissioned several pieces of research, in particular on ‘Reducing fire risk at waste management sites’ WASTE-28.pdf (see attached). WISH and the Environmental Services Association are also funding a PhD project to investigate improved methods to detect ‘hot spots’ where there is a build-up of heat deep within the waste, before a fire breaks out.