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Written Question
Floods: Insurance
Wednesday 12th February 2025

Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of making insurance cover of properties at risk of flooding mandatory for insurers participating in the Flood Re scheme.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 February 2025, UIN 27724.


Written Question
National Trails UK: Finance
Monday 10th February 2025

Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)

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 (a) merits of increasing funding for National Trails above 2012 levels and (b) impact of not increasing funding for National Trails on those trails.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As part of the Defra business planning process, we assess the requirements, opportunities and impacts of all projects that we fund. These are carefully considered within the wider context of spending review before final decisions are made. Further details will be provided in due course.


Written Question
Floods: Insurance
Wednesday 5th February 2025

Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)

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 merits of making it mandatory for insurers participating in the Flood Re scheme to provide insurance to properties at risk of flooding.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Flood Re is a joint government and industry flood reinsurance scheme established specifically to help UK households at high risk of flooding to access affordable insurance through their insurance provider. In 2023/24, Flood Re provided cover for over 280,000 household policies, and report that 99% of householders at high risk of flooding can now obtain quotes from 15 or more insurers.

All insurance companies providing home insurance policies in the UK are required to pay the Flood Re Levy irrelevant of whether they cede policies to Flood Re or not. It is for individual companies to decide the policies they offer, and when to cede a policy to Flood Re.

Householders are encouraged to always shop around for the most suitable policy for their needs, including flood cover. For anyone struggling to find appropriate insurance we advise them to look at BIBA’s Flood Insurance Directory, which can be accessed online via www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance. Alternatively, BIBA’s Find an insurance service can be contacted on 0370 950 1790, Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 5:30pm. Consumers must ensure the cover they choose provides appropriate cover for their circumstances.


Written Question
Outdoor Recreation: Health Services
Wednesday 29th January 2025

Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)

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 trends in the level of people (a) accessing national trails and (b) participating in outdoor activities on the cost to the public purse of providing NHS treatment.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises that promoting regular outdoor activity is a vital component of preventative health, as it fosters physical activity, reduces the risk of long term conditions, supports mental well-being, and strengthens community health by encouraging active lifestyles and social engagement in natural environments.

The 2017 baseline assessment covering the economic and health impacts of walking on English coastal paths found that for the 29 million leisure walking trips taken in 2017, the total benefit to the recreational wellbeing of people using the paths was valued at an estimated £1.8 billion.

A 2021 study identified that the physical health benefits of active visitors to National Trails are estimated in the range £186 million to £423 million per year, which represents cost savings to the NHS of between £46 and £107 million per year. Outdoor exercise overall delivers estimated health benefits to adults in England of between £2.0 and £4.7 billion annually.

It is clear from this evidence that there are significant benefits through improved access to national trails and engagement in outdoor activities. We will continue to work with other Government departments to embed access to nature as part of community-based preventative care approaches, in support of the Government’s Health Mission.


Written Question
National Trails UK: Finance
Tuesday 28th January 2025

Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the funding settlement is for National Trails UK for 2025-26.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recognises the value of the Trails and the benefits they bring. We understand the uncertainty around resourcing remains a challenge for National Trails UK. Defra business planning is ongoing, and we will communicate the outcome of the settlements for National Trails UK as soon as possible.


Written Question
National Trails UK
Tuesday 28th January 2025

Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)

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 merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to improving access to nature and is currently considering how best to continue to drive forward our goals in this area. There are no plans to undertake an assessment to consider the merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails at this time.


Written Question
Public Footpaths: Biodiversity
Tuesday 28th January 2025

Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)

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 contribution of national trails to biodiversity gain.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We are aware of the wider benefits that national trails can bring for nature recovery and biodiversity gain.

The Coast to Coast National Trail was the first to include wider benefits in the National Trail proposal. This resulted in funding being allocated to nature recovery projects from the start of the establishment phase. We are mapping biodiversity projects associated with the trails and encouraging Local Nature Recovery Statements to consider the potential of National Trails.


Written Question
Sheep: Livestock Industry
Monday 20th January 2025

Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)

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 support British sheep farmers.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has committed to support the farming sector, including sheep farmers, through a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, including £2.4 billion in 2025/26.

Our environmental land management schemes, such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive, include a comprehensive offer to support the management of a wide range of different grassland and moorland types that exist in England. They include actions to support the inclusion of sheep within an arable rotation, as well as actions to promote sustainable grazing management on moorlands and grasslands. The full list of actions available can be found on GOV.UK.

Eligible sheep farmers in England can also access support to continually improve the health, welfare and productivity of their animals through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

Furthermore, the Government is taking action to ensure fairness across the food supply chain to ensure producers receive a fair price for their livestock by bringing forward legislation to mandate sheep carcase classification and price reporting, bringing the sheep sector in line with the beef and pork sectors.


Written Question
Wool
Monday 20th January 2025

Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)

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 protect British wool businesses.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We have a proud tradition of wool production in this country. We recognise the sheep sector’s immense contribution to rural life, local economies, and iconic landscapes across the different countries of the UK.

British Wool is a public body that works on behalf of farmers to collect, grade, market and sell British wool to the wool textile industry. As a natural, versatile, and durable textile, which is renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally sustainable, wool from Britain is already used in flooring, furnishing, apparel and indeed insultation.


Written Question
Wool: Prices
Monday 20th January 2025

Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)

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 trends in the level of wool prices in the last (a) 6 months, (b) 12 months and (c) 8 years.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

British Wool, a public body, is responsible for the collection, sale and marketing of wool from across the UK. Sales are conducted through open auction and will reflect global market developments in price and availability.

This Government has made no assessment on the impact of policies on wool prices; however Defra officials meet regularly with British Wool, who share regular reports on auction sales and wool values.