Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the enforcement of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is continuing to engage closely with the Police, local authorities, and rescue and rehoming organisations to monitor the impacts of the XL Bully dog ban.
We are also working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to explore measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. We have reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce and look forward to receiving their findings and recommendations in due course.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the likely trends in food production over the coming decade.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK Food Security Report sets out an analysis of statistics relating to food security, providing an evidence base to inform future government policy and public understanding. It tracks trends in domestic production, import reliance, inflation, and supply chain shocks. The UK was 65% self-sufficient for all food and 77% self-sufficient for indigenous type food in 2024, continuing a broadly stable trend.
The new annual Food Security Statistics Publication will be published in the years between the UK Food Security Report, with the first one by the end of 2025.
Defra also contributes to the OECD and FAO’s forward-looking, ten-year projections for UK agricultural production, which are published annually as part of the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook. The most recent Agricultural Outlook was published in July.
The projections are based on historic trends, macro factors such as population growth, and projected world prices in these commodities.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an estimate of the level of (a) water and (b) sewage infrastructure investment required to maintain existing levels of capacity, in the context of the Government’s plan to build 1.5 million homes in this Parliament.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ofwat’s Price Review 2024 (PR24) final determinations set a total expenditure allowance of £104 billion over the 2025-2030 period. This provides:
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
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 his Department's press release entitled Reed: Government to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, published on 19 July 2025, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the interaction between the planning system and pressures on (a) water and (b) sewerage infrastructure.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to requiring sustainable drainage systems in new developments and we are working together with MHCLG to ensure that new developments do not overwhelm the existing sewerage network. Defra has established the Ministerial Water Delivery Taskforce to ensure that water companies deliver on their planned investments to provide water and wastewater capacity. It will look at projects that are essential for growth. It will ensure the additional water, wastewater and drainage capacity needed to meet the ambitious growth targets in the Government's Plan for Change are understood, and that suitable plans are in place for delivery within and beyond the PR24 programme. It is currently working closely with MHCLG colleagues to identify and resolve blockers to wastewater projects that require cross-government action and resolve challenges before they are able to obstruct growth ambitions.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Rural Business and the Rural Powerhouse entitled The Rural Premium, published on April 2023.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra regularly publishes statistics on a range of social and economic topics and provides broad comparisons between Rural and Urban areas by settlement type, including assessment on the rural economy, transport, housing and cost of living. These are available through The Statistical Digest for Rural England.
This Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas, so that we can realise the full potential of rural business and communities. We have made a commitment that all policy decision-making should be rural proofed to ensure that rural areas are not overlooked and that the intended outcomes are deliverable in rural areas.
The specific challenges and opportunities that make rural economies distinctive can be harnessed by funds such as The Rural England Prosperity Fund which provides targeted support to rural businesses and communities.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the rural premium on rural communities.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra regularly publishes statistics on a range of social and economic topics and provides broad comparisons between Rural and Urban areas by settlement type. These are available through The Statistical Digest for Rural England.
This Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people living and working in rural areas, so that we can realise the full potential of rural business and communities. We have made a commitment that all policy decision-making should be rural proofed to ensure that rural areas are not overlooked and that the intended outcomes are deliverable in rural areas.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
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 her Department's press notice entitled Reed: Government to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, published on 19 July 2025, if she will set out specific measures being taken on (a) sustainable drainage systems and (b) nature-based solutions.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government will introduce root and branch reform to revolutionise the water industry, working in partnership with water companies, investors and communities to deliver a systematic approach to improving drainage and wastewater systems. This will have benefits for communities, the environment, flood prevention, economic growth, and urban development, ensuring policies and services work better together to deliver real benefits for people and nature. This will include setting out the opportunity to make greater use of nature-based solutions where these represent good value for money and do more for the environment.
Ofwat published its final determinations from the 5-year price review (PR24) in December 2024. This set out a package of expenditure for the regulated water companies of £104 billion from 2025 to 2030, including over £10 billion to reduce sewage discharges from over 2,500 storm overflows in England and £4.795 billion to reduce phosphorous pollution.
Regarding the 50% target, storm overflows are designed to act as relief valves when the sewerage system is at risk of being overwhelmed, such as during heavy rain. The Government has required all storm overflows to have event duration monitors installed which provides information on sewage discharges. That information is published in near real time. The pledge is for a 50% cut in spills from storm overflows by the end of December 2029.
In addition, the pledge includes the EIP interim target to reduce Phosphorus loadings in treated wastewater by 50% by 31 January 2028, on a 2020 baseline. Phosphorus is a key cause of nutrient pollution in the environment, including contributing to algal blooms and eutrophication.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
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 her Department's press release entitled Reed: Government to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030, published 19 July 2025, if he will set out how the £104 billion investment is being funded.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government will introduce root and branch reform to revolutionise the water industry, working in partnership with water companies, investors and communities to deliver a systematic approach to improving drainage and wastewater systems. This will have benefits for communities, the environment, flood prevention, economic growth, and urban development, ensuring policies and services work better together to deliver real benefits for people and nature. This will include setting out the opportunity to make greater use of nature-based solutions where these represent good value for money and do more for the environment.
Ofwat published its final determinations from the 5-year price review (PR24) in December 2024. This set out a package of expenditure for the regulated water companies of £104 billion from 2025 to 2030, including over £10 billion to reduce sewage discharges from over 2,500 storm overflows in England and £4.795 billion to reduce phosphorous pollution.
Regarding the 50% target, storm overflows are designed to act as relief valves when the sewerage system is at risk of being overwhelmed, such as during heavy rain. The Government has required all storm overflows to have event duration monitors installed which provides information on sewage discharges. That information is published in near real time. The pledge is for a 50% cut in spills from storm overflows by the end of December 2029.
In addition, the pledge includes the EIP interim target to reduce Phosphorus loadings in treated wastewater by 50% by 31 January 2028, on a 2020 baseline. Phosphorus is a key cause of nutrient pollution in the environment, including contributing to algal blooms and eutrophication.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
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 her Department's press release entitled UK government gathers business and environment leaders in support of UN nature agreement, published on 25 June 2025, how much investment the UK will benefit from.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Investing in nature at home and abroad is critical to the UK’s security and prosperity. Healthy global ecosystems reduce the risk of supply chain shocks, create opportunities for UK businesses, and help prevent conflict and forced migration.
To advance this agenda, Defra Ministers hosted the flagship event “Nature Action: Mobilising Frameworks and Finance” on 25 June 2025 at Lancaster House during London Climate Action Week. The event, followed by a reception attended by His Majesty The King, brought together over 100 participants, including senior representatives from global financial institutions and major corporations representing over £12 trillion, alongside Indigenous leaders, NGOs and Government ministers. It made a strong business case for investing in nature and led to several announcements aimed at accelerating private finance for nature.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
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 prepared an impact assessments on the decisions to (a) merge Ofwat and the Drinking Inspectorate and (b) remove the environmental regulatory functions of the Environment Agency and Natural England.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has committed to establishing a single, powerful regulator for the entire water sector that will stand on the side of customers, investors and the environment. The current fragmented approach to water has led to contradictory and competing priorities. The reforms will ensure regulation is in lock step to deliver for customers and the environment. Defra will work closely with the regulators to ensure a smooth transition. Further information will be provided in the white paper.