Asked by: Peter Prinsley (Labour - Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to assess the potential impact of the recommendations from the Nuclear Regulatory Review on nature recovery targets set under the Environment Act.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is carefully considering all recommendations of the Nuclear Taskforce’s report and will present a full implementation plan by the end of February. Defra is working with DESNZ and other Government departments to set out this plan. The Taskforce recommendations on the environment seek to deliver better environmental outcomes compared with the existing regime, through a simpler regime which is less burdensome and disruptive for nuclear projects. We are considering these recommendations in line with our objectives to achieve win-wins for nature and growth, as well as meeting our international obligations.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to review the proposed timelines to implement the safety measures required for the transition to alternative refrigerants with flammability or toxicity characteristics in the consultation entitled Amending the hydrofluorocarbon phasedown schedule, published on 5 November 2025.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Information submitted through the consultation, which closed on 17 December 2024, is being used to inform our consideration of next steps. A response and an outline of next steps will be published on GOV.UK in due course.
Other regulatory changes may be considered in the future in relation to fluorinated gases (which include hydrofluorocarbons). The UK Government, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments, is committed to further exploring areas for reform considered out of scope of last year’s consultation. This includes assessing the situation regarding training on alternatives to fluorinated gases.
Asked by: Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat - Maidenhead)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to publish its response to the consultation entitled Amending the hydrofluorocarbon phasedown schedule, published on 5 November 2025.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Information submitted through the consultation, which closed on 17 December 2024, is being used to inform our consideration of next steps. A response and an outline of next steps will be published on GOV.UK in due course.
Other regulatory changes may be considered in the future in relation to fluorinated gases (which include hydrofluorocarbons). The UK Government, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments, is committed to further exploring areas for reform considered out of scope of last year’s consultation. This includes assessing the situation regarding training on alternatives to fluorinated gases.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the long-term costs of post-flood clean-up operations with the potential savings from investing in proactive flood prevention measures, such as enhanced maintenance, equipment procurement, and staffing for flood control infrastructure.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency is delivering the Government’s flood and coastal risk management (FCRM) Investment Programme.
For every £1 spent in the Investment Programme improving protection from flooding and coastal erosion, around £8 of property damages is avoided.
Post flood clean-up costs are considered as part of the wider economic appraisal of flood investment projects.
A new 3-year £4.2 billion FCRM Investment Programme will start in April 2026, where new projects will align with the strategic objectives set out within the Government’s new funding rules announced in October 2025.
The new investment programme will also reduce deterioration and target repairs to flood defence assets, benefitting an additional 14,500 properties in England.
The Environment Agency updated its National Flood Risk Assessment in 2025. This provides the best available evidence to inform the development of flood mitigation strategies.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department are taking to help support people with veterinary bills.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.
Asked by: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of requiring exporters to claim PRNs only once material has reached its final destination on those exporters.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Recent regulatory changes seek to ensure that exporters provide and maintain accurate, verifiable data to help combat fraud within the system. This includes ensuring that packaging waste that leaves the UK for recycling reaches its intended destination before PERNs can be issued, helping to drive down fraud in the system.
Changes in the regulations mean that PRN evidence can now only be issued once the material has been confirmed as received by the overseas recycling facility. Before this change evidence could be issued at the point of export. This will increase the accuracy of the data.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made about the potential impact of high veterinary bills in the context of the cost of living pressures.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent conversations her Department has had with the Competition and Market Authority regarding veterinary bill costs.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase transparency of the prices of veterinary bills.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made about the potential impact of high veterinary bills on animal health.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has not made a recent assessment of veterinary bills however it welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. The CMA has made provisional recommendations to make veterinary fees more transparent, helping pet owners to make more informed choices on the type of veterinary care they value. The CMA and Defra have regular discussions on the CMA’s investigation and Defra will formally respond to the CMA’s final report when it is published in the Spring.
Additionally, on 28 January, Defra released its consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 which seeks to incorporate the CMA’s provisional recommendations following further assessment. The consultation is also proposing increased ability for veterinary nurse-led care and the regulation of currently unregulated allied veterinary professionals, increasing the choices of animal owners and supporting the cost of living whilst enhancing animal health and welfare.