Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Countryside Stewardship agreements currently in place in Buckinghamshire are eligible for the one-year extension announced in October 2025.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There are 6474 hectares of farmland in Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreements in Buckinghamshire which are due to expire on 31 December 2025. The majority of these will be offered a one-year extension.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with (i) Buckinghamshire Council and (ii) the Environment Agency regarding the implementation of the proposed common-sense approach to environmental regulation.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Proposed changes to environmental permitting will make controls more proportionate for certain low-risk preparatory work associated with house building and other developments. The Environment Agency (EA) will be able to create new exemptions from environmental permitting subject to consulting on exemption conditions and providing a risk assessment. The EA will monitor use of the new exemptions and have power to amend or revoke new or current exemptions, with consultation, where necessary to protect the environment.
We anticipate that housing developments and similar projects will benefit from streamlined processes for low-risk construction activities, including certain earthworks (e.g. creating bunds and landscaping to shield the building site) and placement of materials near to watercourses. However, the EA will only be permitted to introduce new exemptions where robust safeguards are in place to maintain essential protections for the environment and local communities.
Local authorities will have the opportunity to engage in consultations on specific proposals when the EA exercises its new powers. Officials at Defra have worked closely with the EA to develop these proposals and will continue to collaborate to support effective implementation.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what monitoring arrangements will her Department put in place to ensure that environmental protections in Buckinghamshire are maintained following the introduction of the new permitting exemptions.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Proposed changes to environmental permitting will make controls more proportionate for certain low-risk preparatory work associated with house building and other developments. The Environment Agency (EA) will be able to create new exemptions from environmental permitting subject to consulting on exemption conditions and providing a risk assessment. The EA will monitor use of the new exemptions and have power to amend or revoke new or current exemptions, with consultation, where necessary to protect the environment.
We anticipate that housing developments and similar projects will benefit from streamlined processes for low-risk construction activities, including certain earthworks (e.g. creating bunds and landscaping to shield the building site) and placement of materials near to watercourses. However, the EA will only be permitted to introduce new exemptions where robust safeguards are in place to maintain essential protections for the environment and local communities.
Local authorities will have the opportunity to engage in consultations on specific proposals when the EA exercises its new powers. Officials at Defra have worked closely with the EA to develop these proposals and will continue to collaborate to support effective implementation.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many housing developments in Buckinghamshire are expected to benefit from reduced permitting times as a result of the new exempt-low-risk-activity provisions.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Proposed changes to environmental permitting will make controls more proportionate for certain low-risk preparatory work associated with house building and other developments. The Environment Agency (EA) will be able to create new exemptions from environmental permitting subject to consulting on exemption conditions and providing a risk assessment. The EA will monitor use of the new exemptions and have power to amend or revoke new or current exemptions, with consultation, where necessary to protect the environment.
We anticipate that housing developments and similar projects will benefit from streamlined processes for low-risk construction activities, including certain earthworks (e.g. creating bunds and landscaping to shield the building site) and placement of materials near to watercourses. However, the EA will only be permitted to introduce new exemptions where robust safeguards are in place to maintain essential protections for the environment and local communities.
Local authorities will have the opportunity to engage in consultations on specific proposals when the EA exercises its new powers. Officials at Defra have worked closely with the EA to develop these proposals and will continue to collaborate to support effective implementation.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
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 the proposed changes to environmental permitting on the delivery of new homes in Buckinghamshire.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Proposed changes to environmental permitting will make controls more proportionate for certain low-risk preparatory work associated with house building and other developments. The Environment Agency (EA) will be able to create new exemptions from environmental permitting subject to consulting on exemption conditions and providing a risk assessment. The EA will monitor use of the new exemptions and have power to amend or revoke new or current exemptions, with consultation, where necessary to protect the environment.
We anticipate that housing developments and similar projects will benefit from streamlined processes for low-risk construction activities, including certain earthworks (e.g. creating bunds and landscaping to shield the building site) and placement of materials near to watercourses. However, the EA will only be permitted to introduce new exemptions where robust safeguards are in place to maintain essential protections for the environment and local communities.
Local authorities will have the opportunity to engage in consultations on specific proposals when the EA exercises its new powers. Officials at Defra have worked closely with the EA to develop these proposals and will continue to collaborate to support effective implementation.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
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 measure the environmental impact delivered by extended Countryside Stewardship agreements in Buckinghamshire.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The targeted, time-limited extension of Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier is being offered to ensure farmers have the support they need to continue their vital activities to restore nature and produce food sustainably. This includes environmental work such as planting wildflower margins that boost pollinators and managing hedgerows to create vital habitats for birds and small mammals, alongside sustainable food production.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what engagement her Department has had with (a) farming and (b) land management representatives in Buckinghamshire on the future of (i) Countryside Stewardship and (ii) related environmental land management schemes.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government actively engages with representatives from the farming industry through regular meetings and discussions, ensuring we listen to their views, understand their concerns, and take their feedback into account.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
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 Tenant Farmers Commissioner has adequate powers to help tackle tenancy disputes.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As a non-statutory role, the Commissioner will promote and encourage good relations between tenants, landlords, and advisors, and provide a neutral and confidential point of contact for anyone who has concerns that the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for England is not being followed. Where concerns or issues cannot be resolved the Commissioner will signpost sources of further professional advice as appropriate. The Government is committed to keeping the effectiveness of this approach under review.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
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 proposed water-saving measures on water availability in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) Milton Keynes.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are consulting on tighter water efficiency standards for new homes in Building Regulations. Within this we have assessed the policy’s impact on home construction and will be considering developer responses to enable a smooth transition. Our assessment considered the policy at a national level and not specifically its impact on Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. Industry research found the cost of water efficiency is low for developers in comparison with the cost of development blockages caused by subsequent water scarcity. The cost of retrofitting water efficient devices is around £40-100 and can be offset by the incentives offered to developers by water companies.
The proposed measures will unlock stalled developments in areas of water scarcity and could unlock 1,000 homes for every 5,250 built, while saving households over £100 a year on bills.
The Government response to the consultation will outline how we propose to monitor and evaluate the final policy.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department plans to evaluate the long-term impact of proposed water-saving measures on water consumption.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are consulting on tighter water efficiency standards for new homes in Building Regulations. Within this we have assessed the policy’s impact on home construction and will be considering developer responses to enable a smooth transition. Our assessment considered the policy at a national level and not specifically its impact on Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. Industry research found the cost of water efficiency is low for developers in comparison with the cost of development blockages caused by subsequent water scarcity. The cost of retrofitting water efficient devices is around £40-100 and can be offset by the incentives offered to developers by water companies.
The proposed measures will unlock stalled developments in areas of water scarcity and could unlock 1,000 homes for every 5,250 built, while saving households over £100 a year on bills.
The Government response to the consultation will outline how we propose to monitor and evaluate the final policy.