Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Climate Change Committee's letter to the Minister for Water and Flooding, dated 15 October 2025, if she will make it her policy to introduce measures before the release of the next National Adaptation Plan to help reduce the impact of weather extremes should global warming levels reach 2 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels by 2050.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is taking forward action on climate adaptation including developing stronger adaptation objectives, improving governance through the cross Government senior officials forum, the Climate Resilience Steering Board, enhancing monitoring and evaluation, and launching a fifth round of reporting under the Adaptation Reporting Power covering key infrastructure. The Department is also supporting research through the £15 million Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change programme. These initiatives aim to improve preparedness and resilience across Government and society.
Defra recognises the urgency of preparing for climate change impacts and is committed to strengthening adaptation efforts. The Department is actively implementing the third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3), which includes activity across twelve departments and measures to improve resilience across sectors. Defra is also working to develop stronger adaptation objectives and delivery plans with these departments ahead of the fourth National Adaptation Programme (NAP4) in 2028 These efforts aim to reduce the risks posed by extreme weather events associated with a 2°C rise in global temperatures. Defra will respond to the advice from the Climate Change Committee letter on 15 October in due course.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce species-specific slaughter legislation for farmed fish.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Since publication of the Animal Welfare Committee’s updated Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing a GB-wide joint government-industry working group on farmed trout has been examining the issues raised in the report. This co-design work has made good progress on exploring potential options for more detailed welfare at killing requirements. We are now exploring all the potential next steps, including options for creating detailed guidance and new legislation.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department to ensure the humane slaughter of farmed fish.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Since publication of the Animal Welfare Committee’s updated Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing a GB-wide joint government-industry working group on farmed trout has been examining the issues raised in the report. This co-design work has made good progress on exploring potential options for more detailed welfare at killing requirements. We are now exploring all the potential next steps, including options for creating detailed guidance and new legislation.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of capital spending on flooding will be allocated to (a) hard infrastructure and (b) nature-based solutions.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
At the Spending Review on 11 June the Government announced a record £4.2 billion investment over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) to improve flood resilience by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. The list of projects to receive government funding will be agreed in the usual way, on an annual basis, through Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, with local representation.
Future flood investment schemes will also be subject to our currently open consultation on proposals to reform the way we fund flood and coastal defences. This new approach will make it easier to invest in natural flood management schemes that also boost nature, water resources and fight climate change.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the (a) Landscape Recovery and (b) Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship schemes will be re-opened for applications.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
A) The Government reconfirmed its commitment to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes in the recent Spending Review. Landscape Recovery projects that were awarded funding in rounds one and two are continuing, and we are moving into the delivery phase with the first round of projects. Plans for a third round of Landscape Recovery will be confirmed in due course.
B) Defra is rolling out the improved Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme this year. We have invited farmers and land managers to begin the pre-application process. There will be opportunities for other farmers and land managers to access CSHT in the future. More details on the timing and approach to widening applications will be published later this year.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's planned timetable is for publishing a consultation on banning farrowing crates.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 April 2025 to the hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield, PQ UIN 41698.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the food strategy complies with the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
The food strategy will articulate outcomes required to deliver food system change, and all outcomes will comply with the law.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution of precision bred (a) crops and (b) foods to the economy (i) in each of the next seven years and (ii) from 2032.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
The Department has taken an evidence-based approach, underpinned by expert scientific advice and published data, to estimate the impacts of implementing the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
This includes the Department’s De Minimis Assessment of the impacts of The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025, which covers a 10-year period. The De Minimis Assessment has been compiled by Defra economists and reviewed by the Defra Chief Economist.
This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to review the membership of the Chair of Cranswick plc on the Food Strategy Advisory Board.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Defra has no current plans to review membership of the Food Strategy Advisory Board. Members are senior leaders who represent important elements within the food system and the diversity of the sector, appointed for their individual experience and standing. Members do not represent their business interests.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of funding for (a) agricultural genetic modification research and development and (b) precision breeding techniques has been allocated to (i) non-UK companies and (ii) UK companies in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner
Innovate UK invested £0.15 million (2023) and £1.2 million (2024) into UK companies undertaking research using precision breeding techniques in crops and farmed animals. Innovate UK has not funded any agricultural genetic modification research and development over the last 10 years, nor has it funded any non-UK based companies.