Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 ensure that the Environment Agency is held accountable for levels of water pollution in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency (EA) is accountable to parliament via the Secretary of State. Defra constructively challenges and supports the EA to deliver for the public and the environment. Our landmark Water (Special Measures) Act empowers the EA with new powers to take tougher and faster action on water companies not delivering for customers and the environment.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 improve air quality in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra requires all local authorities to review and assess air quality in their areas and submit annual status reports detailing the actions they are taking. Surrey Heath’s 2025 report confirms that monitoring at 53 sites shows nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter levels remain below statutory limits. The council continues to develop its Local Air Quality Strategy to maintain compliance and further improve air quality.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in the frequency of severe weather events on flood management infrastructure in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Across all catchments in the Thames area, including those in Surrey and Surrey Heath, the Environment Agency (EA) continues to monitor potential flood risk, and its field staff have undertaken flood runs clearing debris.
The Surrey Local Resilience Forum (LRF) brings together all agencies, including local authorities, with a significant role to play in responding to and recovering from the effects of emergencies, such as flooding. LRFs aim to plan and prepare for localised incidents and catastrophic emergencies. The EA works closely with Surrey Prepared, a subgroup of Surrey LRF that looks at flood resilience across the wider county.
The EA has recently produced new flood risk modelling of the Addlestone Bourne catchment. This was published as part of wider improvements earlier this year, providing greater understanding of the flood risk posed to our communities.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of levels of local authority preparedness to respond to flood alerts in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Across all catchments in the Thames area, including those in Surrey and Surrey Heath, the Environment Agency (EA) continues to monitor potential flood risk, and its field staff have undertaken flood runs clearing debris.
The Surrey Local Resilience Forum (LRF) brings together all agencies, including local authorities, with a significant role to play in responding to and recovering from the effects of emergencies, such as flooding. LRFs aim to plan and prepare for localised incidents and catastrophic emergencies. The EA works closely with Surrey Prepared, a subgroup of Surrey LRF that looks at flood resilience across the wider county.
The EA has recently produced new flood risk modelling of the Addlestone Bourne catchment. This was published as part of wider improvements earlier this year, providing greater understanding of the flood risk posed to our communities.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of potential flood risk arising from heavy rainfall in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Across all catchments in the Thames area, including those in Surrey and Surrey Heath, the Environment Agency (EA) continues to monitor potential flood risk, and its field staff have undertaken flood runs clearing debris.
The Surrey Local Resilience Forum (LRF) brings together all agencies, including local authorities, with a significant role to play in responding to and recovering from the effects of emergencies, such as flooding. LRFs aim to plan and prepare for localised incidents and catastrophic emergencies. The EA works closely with Surrey Prepared, a subgroup of Surrey LRF that looks at flood resilience across the wider county.
The EA has recently produced new flood risk modelling of the Addlestone Bourne catchment. This was published as part of wider improvements earlier this year, providing greater understanding of the flood risk posed to our communities.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 of the potential impact of trading arrangements with the European Union on British agri-food exporters.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
An SPS agreement could increase the volume of UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by 16% [Methodology Note: How Defra has estimated the impact of a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement on the UK agricultural sector - GOV.UK ].
Defra commissioned research highlights significant non-tariff measure costs for exporting GB agri-food and plant products to the EU [Quantifying Non-Tariff Measures on GB to EU Agri-Food, Plant Products and Fisheries Trade - WR0717 ]:
The SPS agreement will significantly reduce these costs. Details are subject to negotiation. The government will follow normal processes for any necessary legislative changes and assess impacts accordingly.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 has undertaken a cost–benefit analysis of potential changes to sanitary and phytosanitary procedures applying to UK–EU exports.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
An SPS agreement could increase the volume of UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by 16% [Methodology Note: How Defra has estimated the impact of a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement on the UK agricultural sector - GOV.UK ].
Defra commissioned research highlights significant non-tariff measure costs for exporting GB agri-food and plant products to the EU [Quantifying Non-Tariff Measures on GB to EU Agri-Food, Plant Products and Fisheries Trade - WR0717 ]:
The SPS agreement will significantly reduce these costs. Details are subject to negotiation. The government will follow normal processes for any necessary legislative changes and assess impacts accordingly.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 has had discussions with exporters on sanitary and phytosanitary requirements when trading with the European Union.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has engaged closely with industry, including exporters, to understand the barriers faced when trading with the EU. Business groups broadly welcomed the announcement in May of the UK and EU’s commitment to work towards an SPS agreement. Defra will continue to engage with industry as we negotiate the agreement with the EU.
It is a priority for this government to deliver clear and timely information, and we recognise the need to support exporters to adapt to new trading arrangements. Defra is taking steps to support industry through the process and communicate forthcoming changes to businesses throughout 2026 to assist business readiness preparations.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many consignments of agri-food products were exported from the UK to the European Union in each (a) week, (b) month and (c) year since July 2024.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Data on the number of export health certificates issued for Great Britain to EU exports is available at: Export Health Certificates (Live Animals and Animal Product Origins) Issued between Great Britain and European Union by APHA - data.gov.uk. This data includes the exports of live animals and the products of animal origin.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 support younger people into agricultural careers in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Young farmers are essential to the long-term resilience of UK agriculture and DEFRA works closely with the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, alongside other industry bodies, to understand the challenges facing new entrants and how best to support them. During my recent visit to Harper Adams University, we explored how this partnership approach can help equip the next generation with the skills and opportunities they need.
Through our agricultural reform programme, we are investing £2.7 billion a year in the sector. This includes measures designed to improve business resilience, productivity and skills development, all of which help make agriculture a more accessible and attractive career option for young people, including those in Surrey and Surrey Heath.