Animal Cruelty and Domestic Abuse

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)]

I congratulate the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Sir John Hayes) on securing this really important debate, and I thank him for the thoughtful way in which he has set out these issues. I also thank other hon. Members who have contributed. I pay tribute to Annette Bramley, who joins us in the Gallery and who has campaigned tirelessly in memory of her daughter Holly.

Holly’s case is a deeply distressing reminder that cruelty towards animals can form part of a wider pattern of coercion, control and domestic abuse. As the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings mentioned, he and Annette met the former Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls earlier this year to discuss their proposals. I understand that those were very constructive discussions, and I am glad to hear that. I also note his recent request to continue this important conversation with Government Ministers. With that in mind, I am pleased to be able to set out the Government’s position today.

Let me start by saying that the Government take the issues of animal cruelty and domestic abuse extremely seriously. As we have heard this evening, evidence shows that there is a strong link between pet abuse and domestic abuse. That is why the Government are working to take forward specific actions relating to this issue as part of our violence against women and girls strategy and our animal welfare strategy. I will touch on those important actions in further detail later.

Let me turn to the proposed animal abuse register. I understand why there is public support for this idea and the reassurance that it is intended to provide, but it is important to say that systems are already in place to both record and share this type of information when it is right to do so. Convictions under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 are recorded on the police national computer, and enforcement bodies such as the police and local authorities have access to that information. There are also established disclosure mechanisms that allow the police to share relevant information with those who need it. That means that relevant information can be used where it is needed for licensing, safeguarding and public protection. The more effective approach is targeted disclosure, ensuring that relevant information is shared lawfully, proportionately and with the appropriate bodies at the right time.

[Sir John Hayes]

The Minister will be pleased to know that I agree, but there is inconsistency among police forces, which I mentioned in my speech. One of the things that is absolutely necessary is that consistency is delivered, perhaps through improved guidance—I would like there to be statutory guidance—on what is required of them in the terms that she has just set out.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

Courts already have strong disqualification powers, which can be lifelong where appropriate. A mandatory lifetime ban would remove judicial discretion and could create disproportionate outcomes. I believe that the right hon. Member raised some of those points previously with the Home Office and that he continues to engage directly on them.

[Tessa Munt (Wells and Mendip Hills) (LD)]

Would it not in fact be much more useful for police to push that information or in some way to tag addresses where this sort of thing happens? It is okay to hold the information to oneself, but it is of value only if it is shared with the relevant agencies willingly and openly. The Minister is saying that the information would be shared in a proportionate way, but it needs to be pushed towards the relevant agencies so that they know what they are looking for.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

The hon. Member has put her comments on the record. I will ask the Home Office to write to her directly on those points.

I am aware that there is support for the creation of a specific animal protection disclosure scheme more broadly. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is already working with the Home Office to support the effective use of the existing domestic violence disclosure scheme for animal cruelty offences. The scheme provides guidance for police to use existing powers to disclose information about an individual’s history of violent or abusive behaviour where that information is relevant to protecting a victim or potential victim from domestic abuse.

Police can also make a disclosure proactively where they believe someone may be at risk. Importantly, disclosures are not limited to criminal convictions or domestic abuse offences; the police may disclose information relating to animal cruelty where they assess it is relevant to the risk posed to an individual. I understand that the Home Office is currently reviewing how the scheme works in practice to ensure it is applied consistently and effectively across police forces. I am sure the points that have been raised in this debate have been noted—they are on record, and I am sure they will be heard.

I also welcome the proactive approach that the RSPCA has taken in exploring how information on animal cruelty can be shared more effectively with the police. It recognises that the information gathered by its inspectors can have a much wider role in protecting both animals and people. The RSPCA is working with the Home Office and the police to explore how that relevant information from its visits and investigations can be shared more effectively to support safeguarding and risk assessment processes.

[Sir John Hayes]

I am aware that we do not have long, so I will not intervene again, but the critical point is that this is not just about convictions; it is about incidents, because a lot of incidents do not lead to a conviction. That data needs to be shared in the way the Minister has described. As the hon. Member for Wells and Mendip Hills (Tessa Munt) said, it also has to be pushed forward to other authorities. Local authorities are a very good example—whether they are dealing with housing, education, or safeguarding of one sort or another, they need that information. It needs to be proactively shared.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

The right hon. Member raises an important point. This is about looking beyond convictions and making better use of the relevant information to help protect animals and people. The aim is to help the police build a fuller picture of risks and identify opportunities to act earlier, while ensuring information is accurate and shared lawfully and proportionately.

The concerns raised in this debate underline the importance of practical action to protect animals and support victim-survivors. To address an intervention made by the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Vikki Slade) regarding sex acts against animals and the sex offenders register, for the new offence of sexual activity with an animal, the notification requirements will still apply in specified circumstances. We will write to her with further information on the specific points she raised.

The animal welfare strategy for England sets out DEFRA’s commitments to help protect animals facing harm in domestic violence settings. We are working closely with the Links Group, which is doing important work to help veterinary professionals recognise signs of non-accidental injuries to animals. Alongside this, we are working to raise awareness of specialist pet fostering services that provide temporary care for the pets of victim-survivors fleeing domestic abuse. These include the Dogs Trust Freedom Project, Cats Protection Lifeline, Refuge4Pets and the Endeavour Project. Earlier this year, Baroness Hayman visited the Cats Protection centre in south London and saw at first hand the impact of the important work being done in this area.

We are also working to strengthen protections for victim-survivors’ personal information held on microchip databases. Across Government, we are also looking at how stronger statutory guidance could better highlight the link between pet abuse and domestic violence. To inform future policy, DEFRA has commissioned research to look more closely at the issue and to identify additional opportunities for intervention. The research will report in 2027, and we will carefully consider the findings to help shape the next steps. Before I close, I will reference the direct, clear question from the right hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings about timings. I will ensure that the Home Office writes to him, but my understanding is that it will be coming forward with the work in early 2027.

I thank the right hon. Member for securing this important debate and all those who contributed to it and who continue to engage directly with the Government. The link between animal cruelty and domestic abuse is a serious one and, as I have set out, tackling it remains a high and clear priority for the Government.

Question put and agreed to.

Hunting Trophy Imports

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Wednesday 11th November 2026 Westminster Hall

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)]

It is an honour to respond to this important debate under your chairmanship, Mr Stuart. I start by thanking my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst (Clive Efford) for securing it and all hon. Members for their thoughtful contributions. We are used to hearing different views from different sides of the House, but I have heard the overwhelming consensus in the room today.

This is an issue that understandably generates strongly held views, both within Parliament and beyond, and raises important questions about the role that the United Kingdom should play in helping to protect biodiversity around the world. I therefore welcome the opportunity to clearly restate the Government’s position, which, as my hon. Friend rightly acknowledged, formed a clear part of our manifesto commitment in 2024. The Government have made a clear commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, and we remain committed to delivering on that promise.

The United Kingdom has a long history of championing global action to protect endangered species, demonstrated most recently by our chairing of the standing committee of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora—CITES—our leadership and engagement at the convention on biological diversity COP, and our more recent work under the UN convention against transnational organised crime to tackle the serious and organised crime that drives the illegal wildlife trade. Our approach to hunting trophy imports forms part of that wider commitment to protecting biodiversity and ensuring that international wildlife trade does not undermine the conservation of threatened species.

[Irene Campbell]

What has come over very clearly during the debate is that we are looking for a timeline. Can the Minister confirm whether one is forthcoming?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

My hon. Friend raises a critical point, which I acknowledge was the key and overwhelming theme of the debate. I have 10 minutes to talk and there are some other points that I want to make first, but I will come to it in a moment.

Ensuring that the UK plays its part in reducing pressures on species of conservation concern and supporting wider global efforts to protect biodiversity remain core commitments. I know that Members, campaigners and the public are understandably keen to see progress. Indeed, this issue has been debated in Parliament on a number of occasions and there is considerable public interest in it. The Government recognise that strength of feeling. Our commitment has not changed, and we will deliver a ban when parliamentary time allows. We are working to ensure that we are in a strong position to move forward when the opportunity arises.

[Imogen Walker]

Will the Minister give way?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I will not, because I am addressing the point of timing, but I will come back to my hon. Friend if she would like to intervene in a moment.

My hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst, the hon. Members for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (Seamus Logan) and for Strangford (Jim Shannon), my hon. Friend the Member for Newport West and Islwyn (Ruth Jones), the right hon. Member for Herne Bay and Sandwich (Sir Roger Gale) and my hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton and Clyde Valley (Imogen Walker) all raised very valid questions about timings. The timetable for any Bill will depend on wider parliamentary scheduling. Our aim is clear: to introduce the Bill at the earliest opportunity and within this Parliament.

[Jim Shannon]

Will the Minister give way?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I want to continue to make this point clearly, if I may.

A number of Members, including my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst, asked how we have progressed. We have undertaken considerable preparation and are ready to move quickly when the parliamentary timetable allows. I hope that reassures Members.

[Irene Campbell]

Will the Minister give way?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

Let me continue for one more moment.

I recognise that Members and stakeholders will want to see faster progress, but our objective is not simply to put legislation on the statute book that is not fit for purpose. We want to deliver a ban that is robust, enforceable and capable of securing positive conservation outcomes.

[Jim Shannon]

I understand the process only too well, but I encourage the Minister and the Government, because we all want to ensure that they get a win-win out of this. Eighty-six percent of the people of this nation want this to happen. That has to be a win-win for the Minister, for the Government and for all of us.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank the hon. Member for his intervention and for his earlier contributions. I hope I have made it clear that this formed a part of our manifesto commitment and we remain committed to it. I understand and recognise the public sentiment that he references. It remains a core part of our commitment, and we are fully committed to bringing forward legislation when the parliamentary timetable allows.

[Imogen Walker]

There have been clear cross-party calls today and in the lead-up to the debate. If the Minister is not able to give us a timetable here and now, will she commit to updating us at the earliest possible opportunity when this will be progressed in Parliament and when parliamentary time will be found?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank my hon. Friend for her intervention and for her speech earlier. I reiterate that we will bring forward the legislation when the parliamentary timetable allows. I am sure that we will be able to bring forward further announcements in due course.

[Clive Efford]

With all due respect, “when parliamentary time allows” is not good enough. We have had too many delays on this issue. Other countries have introduced a moratorium, with the intention to legislate later. Will the Minister explain why we cannot do that, so that we can move urgently and quickly, here in the UK?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. A moratorium was the theme of many hon. Members’ contributions today, and I understand the strength of feeling behind that. We do not have the legal powers to stop trophy imports without primary legislation. That is why we are focused on doing this properly, so that the ban is clear, enforceable and robust, which requires primary legislation.

[Rachael Maskell]

Will the Minister give way?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I will make some progress, if I may.

I recognise that this is not always a straightforward issue. That is why we want to continue to engage with stakeholders representing different perspectives and to consider the evidence carefully as we develop a robust policy. That engagement has deliberately sought to build a balanced picture of the evidence, to ensure that the policy, when it comes, is robust, defensible and deliverable.

[Ruth Jones]

With all due respect, as my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst (Clive Efford) said, we have had the debates and arguments. We know what the stakeholders say and believe. We know we need action. My fear is that the planned legislation will come too late. It is no good bringing it in at the fag-end of this Parliament because we will not get it enacted. That will be a tragedy for us and the animals.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank my hon. Friend for her contribution. I hear the issues and the sentiment loud and clear, both in this room and from the public. Forming the right robust legislative process is different from having a debate. We have to get the legislation tight, robust and defensible. That work is ongoing and it requires engagement and evidence. We have committed to delivering that when the parliamentary timetable allows. I hope that provides reassurance that work is ongoing to build the most robust and defensible legislation.

[Several hon. Members rose—]

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

Apologies, but I need to make progress.

My colleague Baroness Hayman has engaged directly with representatives of affected range states, including in discussions with representatives from southern African countries—Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and others—where concerns have been raised about the implications of an import ban for wildlife management, conservation and livelihoods. At the same time, she has met extensively with organisations campaigning for stronger action on trophy hunting, bringing together conservation and animal protection organisations to hear their evidence and concerns.

Although we may not be able to reconcile every view on this deeply contested issue, we can and must ensure that the policy we bring forward is informed by evidence, by the experience of affected countries and communities, and by those organisations that have rightly and tirelessly worked on these issues for many years. Engagement will continue as we work towards legislation that delivers our manifesto commitment.

[Rachael Maskell]

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. A point I raised in the debate was that the Government could place an immediate moratorium on the issuing of licences. Will she go back to the Department and raise that with civil servants, and ensure that the Government put that immediate moratorium in place?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank my hon. Friend for her contribution. I think I have made clear the point on a moratorium: we need primary legislation to ensure that we bring in a ban that is defensible and robust. I am happy to meet her to discuss the specific point she raises in further detail, but I hope I have been clear that we stand by our manifesto commitments and we are committed to bringing forward a ban when the parliamentary timetable allows within this Parliament. I am happy to meet colleagues to discuss this in further detail.

[Sir Roger Gale]

This really is not good enough. The point has been made over and over again in this Chamber. All this work has already been done, twice. The Bill has been approved; the Minister’s Department has a drafted Bill ready to go. There is ample parliamentary time for the Government to introduce the legislation now. The time for kicking the can down the road is over. It has to be done now.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank the right hon. Member for his contribution. I hope I have been clear that we are committed to delivering this. We are committed to making sure that we bring forward the most robust piece of legislation, which is defensible and workable, and it will happen when the parliamentary timetable allows within this Parliament.

Let me conclude by saying that protecting species is central to our wider ambition to halt biodiversity loss and safeguard nature for future generations. We are determined that the UK should play its part, and we will deliver on our commitment to ban hunting trophy imports in a way that is robust, enforceable and delivers positive outcomes for conservation. I once again thank my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham and Chislehurst for bringing this important issue before the House, and all hon. Members who have contributed to the debate.

UN Biodiversity Conference—COP17

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Wednesday 4th November 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)]

Nature underpins our food and water security, health, economic resilience and prosperity. The Government remain committed to halting and reversing biodiversity loss and to implementing the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework at home and internationally.

The 17th conference of the parties to the convention on biological diversity—CBD COP17—concluded in Yerevan, Armenia, on 31 October. The conference adopted nearly 50 decisions, including the first global review of collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework. The review found that, although progress is being made, the world is not on track to meet the framework’s 23 targets by 2030 without accelerated action. The United Kingdom played an active and constructive role in securing the central package of decisions needed to maintain international momentum towards 2030.

The principal outcome was agreement of the Yerevan pathway, the negotiated response to the first global review. It sets priorities for faster implementation, including reforming incentives harmful to biodiversity; increasing financial, scientific and technical support for developing countries; aligning national budgets and economic decisions with the global biodiversity framework; and strengthening planning, monitoring, reporting and review. The UK welcomes this assessment of the implementation gap and will continue to support practical action to turn global commitments into measurable results.

Parties also reached agreement on resource mobilisation. The outcome recognises the need to increase finance from all sources, establishes criteria to guide a financial mechanism for the period after 2030, and provides a voluntary route for additional countries to signal an interest in contributing.

COP17 also advanced the multilateral mechanism for sharing benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources and the Cali fund. The decision retained the voluntary approach for UK businesses and did not increase the indicative contribution rates agreed at COP16. It established temporary arrangements for allocating funding to developing countries and a programme of further work on the operation of the mechanism. Four UK companies have now contributed to the Cali fund, supporting biodiversity while protecting open research and innovation.

Further decisions enabled the new subsidiary body on article 8(j) to begin its work with the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, and advanced co-operation on marine and coastal biodiversity, including with the agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. The UK also helped secure recognition of the critical contribution of the intergovernmental science policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services, defending independent science and evidence-based decision making.

We were disappointed that not all of the COP’s work was completed within the time available, and that decisions on biodiversity and climate change and language on harmful subsidies were less ambitious than the UK had sought. Nevertheless, the overall package enables parties to continue accelerating implementation. The UK will continue to promote practical synergies between the Rio conventions and the reform of subsidies and other incentives harmful to biodiversity.

Alongside the negotiations, the UK announced £1.94 million to support the Wildlife Trusts’ purchase of the Rothbury estate, helping to secure a nationally important landscape for long-term nature recovery. The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust will work with local communities, tenants and farmers to develop a shared vision for the estate, supporting wildlife, farming and rural livelihoods. Our 30by30 publication “From Commitment to Conservation”, which was launched during COP17, shows how countries, communities and conservation partners are turning the global 30by30 commitment into practical conservation outcomes. This is available online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-the-30by30-commitment

The UK also announced that, over the next three financial years, around £6 billion of UK aid will support international climate finance, with around a quarter expected to benefit nature.

This builds on the UK’s £330 million pledge to the ninth replenishment of the global environment facility and our intention to invest £400 million in the tropical forests forever facility, supporting developing countries to protect nature and mobilise finance for standing forests. We have also convened the world’s first climate and nature security taskforce, bringing together expertise from across security, the military, academia and industry to strengthen our preparedness for the risks posed by climate change and nature loss. As the Foreign Secretary recently set out, building resilience to climate, economic and security shocks is a matter of both values and national interest. We will carry that focus into our G20 presidency, working with partners to strengthen resilience, protect shared prosperity and support greater global stability.

The Government also published “Growing Places: Mobilising Private Finance for Local Nature Recovery”, setting out how we will unlock private investment in nature by strengthening demand, building confidence in nature markets and helping local partners to develop investable projects. This is available online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobilising-private-finance-for-local-nature-recovery

This will support nature recovery alongside sustainable growth and more resilient communities.

In England, we will drive delivery towards our 2030 global targets through the environmental improvement plan, backed by over £7 billion for nature recovery.

This includes delivering on our commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030—known as 30by30. We will also continue to reform agricultural subsidies, moving from land-based payments towards rewarding farmers for environmental benefits through environmental land management schemes, alongside food production. We will improve protected sites and are investing £26 million to support local nature recovery strategies to target action where it will have greatest impact. We will also invest £25 million in peatland restoration in 2027-28 to 2028-29, prioritising areas at greater wildfire risk, alongside support for land managers to create fire ponds and firebreaks. At sea, we will strengthen protection of marine habitats through fisheries management measures in English waters.

This sits alongside other measures to accelerate our work to drive nature recovery at home, including investing £60 million to support 130 conservation projects across England in 2026-27 to 2028-29, helping to support the recovery of over 350 threatened species. A further £30 million will support species recovery on the national forest estate, and another £30 million will support the creation of wildlife-rich habitat in protected landscapes. We will also support opportunities to reintroduce native species, as we have with bringing beavers back, where there are clear environmental and socioeconomic benefits.

COP17 delivered a balanced but hard-fought package, although it did not resolve every political disagreement. Further work will be required before COP18, which Ecuador will host in 2028. The UK will continue to work with parties and partners to accelerate implementation, protect the integrity of science, mobilise resources from all sources, and ensure that nature recovery supports security, prosperity and resilience.

[HCWS448]

Oral Answers to Questions

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I welcome the Minister.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The land use framework will help deliver faster, clearer and more co-ordinated decisions on housing and infrastructure, ensuring that our most productive farmland is safeguarded. As part of the implementation of that framework, we will complete a technical review of the agricultural land classification system by 2028.

[Mr Speaker]

Final question—I call Sir Jeremy Hunt.

Support for Farmers

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Wednesday 21st October 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)]

I thank the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Tim Farron), for his speech. Farming is not simply another industry. Farmers produce the food that sustains us, manage much of our countryside and underpin a wider food and drink economy. Agriculture alone contributes £14.5 billion to the economy, while the wider food and drink sector contributed £153.2 billion in 2023. That does not just matter to the economy; maintaining domestic food production to at least current levels is integral to our national security.

As the Prime Minister said in this House last month, farming and food production are part of this country’s sovereign production and manufacturing capacity, which we will need to strengthen in the years to come. We will need to depend on it, and therefore we need to strengthen it—that is a clear commitment. That is why this Government are committed to backing British farmers and maintaining domestic food production to at least current levels.

[Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)]

On the point about maintaining domestic food production, the Minister will no doubt be aware of the problems facing the pig sector. We have had tens of thousands of pigs backed up on farms, contracts cancelled, and farmers losing up to £50 a pig. What discussions have the Minister and colleagues had with the pig sector, and what plans do the Government have to support our Great British pig farms?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank the hon. Member for that important question. I can confirm that the Farming Minister and other colleagues have been in active conversation with the National Pig Association and are continuing that dialogue.

Our farming road map sets out a long-term direction for the sector that is more profitable, productive, sustainable and resilient, and better able to withstand climate, market and geopolitical shocks.

I want to acknowledge just how difficult this year has been. The Liberal Democrat spokesperson set out the extraordinary combination of pressures that farmers have faced this year alone: drought and water shortages, reduced grass and forage growth, difficult crop conditions, and higher irrigation and feed costs. At the same time, the conflict in the middle east has put further pressure on fertiliser and fuel prices.

[John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (Con)]

The Minister highlights fertiliser costs. Last week, this Government pushed through the fertiliser tax, which will put up the price of fertiliser by between £80 and £90 a tonne, which the Conservatives voted against. The Liberals sat on their hands and did not oppose the tax, which was, frankly, shocking. Does the Minister not recognise the pressures that farmers are facing and the fact that this additional tax that this Government have imposed will do nothing to help?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I will remind the hon. Member that the last UK ammonia production facility closed under the Conservatives without any Government intervention.

We recognise that resilience is not evenly distributed and that some farm businesses have significantly less capacity than others to withstand those short-term shocks. The impacts of climate change and drought have been particularly severe, with more than 80% of the country now in drought. The south-east and south-west experienced their driest period from April to September in more than a century, and pressure on water resources continues despite the rain that we are seeing today.

We understand what that means on our farms—less grass, lower forage growth and new crop yields, pressure on irrigation and reservoirs, greater demand for livestock water, and, ultimately, greater uncertainty about the year ahead—so we have acted. In August, we introduced a package of drought support measures including temporary adjustments to environmental land management agreements so that farmers affected by drought could continue receiving payments while taking practical steps to protect their businesses. We also reminded farmers and growers that they can apply to the Environment Agency for temporary abstraction flexibility through local enforcement protections to help them to access water during dry periods where environmental impacts can be appropriately managed.

Liberal Democrat Members ask now what we are doing on water and climate resilience, but the last time they were in government, they cut flood defence spending by a fifth within six months of taking office. We are taking water and weather extremely seriously.

However, responding to one dry summer is not enough; farmers need greater long-term water security. That is why we are making up to £15 million available through a further water management grant to help to build farm reservoirs, which allow water to be stored when it is most readily available and then used to support food production during the drier periods. This will help to reduce reliance on direct abstraction when rivers and groundwater are under greatest pressure. We are also making it easier to build reservoirs by updating planning guidance and working with industry to review whether further planning reforms are needed.

We have also simplified applications for longer-duration abstraction licences, helping farmers to secure finances for on-farm reservoirs by better aligning licence duration with investment and loan repayment periods. We have also brought forward the reservoir refill season from November to October for this year. We are also encouraging farmers to work together through water abstraction groups to strengthen local water resilience, while trialling dynamic abstraction in places like Cambridge, using real-time monitoring and data to help farmers to access water when it is available while also protecting the natural environment.

Drought and climate change are not the only sources of uncertainty, though; the middle east conflict remains a significant source of disruption to fertiliser and red diesel prices. The continued pressures underline something fundamental: our farming system needs to become less exposed to global shocks and expensive imported inputs. That means not simply telling farmers to absorb higher costs, but helping them to become more productive and more efficient, with farming schemes including actions supporting variable-rate nutrient application, companion cropping, legumes and herbal leys, all of which can help to improve nutrient efficiency and reduce reliance on synthetic fertiliser.

[Ian Roome (North Devon) (LD)]

Does the Minister agree that it is simply unacceptable for farmers to be expected to deliver the Government’s environmental ambitions when they have less than six hours to secure the funding to do so? Will she commit to a fairer system for the SFI scheme, with sufficient funding and guaranteed opportunity to apply—for North Devon farmers especially—instead of leaving farmers’ livelihoods subject to a scheme operated on a first come, first served basis?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that contribution. I will tackle the SFI later in my speech. The Farming Minister has been clear on many of the lessons that will be learned, but I will set them out further shortly.

Across the sustainable farming incentive, countryside stewardship and higher level stewardship, 534,000 hectares are already using precision applications of fertiliser and manure. We have also increased fertiliser market monitoring and encouraged greater use of nutrient planning to help farmers optimise fertiliser use, and we are rolling out an online tool to help farmers use fertilisers more efficiently.

Beyond DEFRA, the Treasury reduced the duty on red diesel earlier this year in response to price increases resulting from the middle eastern crisis. We are investing in innovation, because lasting resilience must ultimately come from producing more efficiently. For ’26-27, £123 million has been allocated to the farming innovation programme, with support for technologies and approaches that can raise productivity and strengthen resilience.

[Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)]

Will the Minister give way?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I will make progress, because I am coming on to something important.

I want to address the issue of SFI26 frankly. I really do recognise the disappointment and frustration caused by the closure of the second application window on 22 September. The SFI is a scheme that the Government inherited from the previous Conservative Government. They designed this first come, first served scheme, sent a quarter of the money to 4% of farms and now complain that it was oversubscribed.

When we inherited it, the scheme had no budget control and no proper alignment of SFI actions to environmental and sustainability targets, and it included that first come, first served application process. For 2026, we made improvements to the offer to ensure that more farmers could access funding. We made the offer simpler and more focused, with fewer actions while retaining actions for all farm types. We introduced a £100,000 per annum max agreement value cap to spread the availability of funding more widely.

We also gave priority access to the scheme for small farms and farms without existing ELM revenue agreements. Those two groups had been under-represented in the SFI previously. This priority access through SFI26 window 1 remained open for two months. The SFI26 window 2 was open to all eligible farmers and land managers. It experienced exceptionally high demand and closed after around six hours once available budget had been allocated.

[Josh Fenton-Glynn (Calder Valley) (Lab)]

I have met with a lot of farmers since the deadline closed, and there is an overwhelming feeling of anxiety, but because they are practical the main thing they want to know is that we are going to learn the lessons of this. Could my hon. Friend please let me know what lessons we will learn and how we will move forward on that basis?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I thank my hon. Friend for the work he is doing to engage with his local farming community. I will be talking about that more, but work is already under way to make those improvements and scrap the first come, first served element of the scheme.

We anticipated stronger demand and increased the window 2 budget significantly over this summer. An additional £50 million was announced by the Prime Minister in August as part of the response to the dry weather that we saw, and a further £20 million was added before window 2 opened.

[Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)]

rose—

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I will give way because it is the right hon. Gentleman.

[Mr Carmichael]

I am grateful to my former colleague on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee—these links are important. Can she tell the House how many applications the Department expected? It was modelled by some that there would be somewhere in the region of 40,000. In fact, there was money available for 12,000. Did it come as a total surprise to the Department that it got as many applications as it did?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

The right hon. Gentleman is correct that modelling was undertaken. As a result of that modelling, a further £50 million was announced by the Prime Minister and a subsequent £20 million was announced by the Secretary of State.

I recognise that the substantial demand remained unsatisfied when window 2 closed, and I understand how difficult that was for farmers who were ready to apply but did not have the opportunity to secure an agreement. Let me say this clearly: there will be future SFI offers, and we plan to make an SFI27 offer available as soon as possible.

[Sir Ashley Fox]

Will the Minister give way?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I am sorry; I am going to make progress.

To that end, we are working with the farming sector on how the scheme can be improved, and the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth South, confirmed that we will scrap the “first come, first served” application.

It is important to stress that the SFI is only one part of our support for farming. Across this Parliament, the Government have allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production. That includes £788 million this year alone in new funding for farmers to boost farm productivity, develop cutting-edge technologies that will drive future growth, and maintain a healthy natural environment. Capital grants have provided £225 million this year for practical environmental improvements on farms. At least £50 million is available for new countryside stewardship higher-tier agreements. We have also committed £173 million in 2026-27 for productivity, equipment and innovation through the farming equipment and technology fund and the farming innovation programme. That represents an extensive ongoing commitment to farm adaptation and improvement. I hope that the Opposition support those aims.

Our Government support is not only about grants. Farmers need thriving markets and fair returns for the food they produce. That is why we have established the Farming and Food Partnership Board, which brings together leaders from farming, food, retail and finance to focus on productivity, profitability, home-grown produce and national food security. We are taking action on fairness in the supply chain, too. Fair dealing regulations have been introduced for dairy and pigs, with further work covering eggs, fresh produce and crops.

Our farming road map makes our long-term approach clear: we will maintain domestic food production at least at current levels; we will protect productive land for food production; we will support investment in technology and skills; and we will build resilience to the climate and geopolitical shocks that farmers are increasingly having to manage. That is because healthy soil, reliable water supply, efficient use of nutrients and profitable farm businesses are not competing objectives but the foundations of our food security.

[Sir Ashley Fox]

Will the Minister give way?

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

I am going to make progress.

Farmers have endured an exceptionally demanding period. We recognise the pressure that many businesses are under, and I recognise the real frustration for those who have been unable to secure an SFI26 agreement, but our commitment to farming has not changed. We will continue to invest in farmers, support productivity and innovation, improve water resilience, make supply chains fairer and work with the sector to build businesses that can withstand changing weather and an uncertain world. Above all, we will continue to back the people who produce our food, because supporting British farming is not simply about supporting one sector; it is about our food security, our economic security and our national resilience. The Government are determined to secure all three.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)]

I call the shadow Minister.

Global Biodiversity and Ecosystems: National Security

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Thursday 3rd September 2026 Westminster Hall

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)]

I congratulate my constituency neighbour, the hon. Member for Waveney Valley (Adrian Ramsay) on securing this incredibly important debate. I also thank hon. Members for their powerful and thoughtful contributions. I am very aware that many did not get the time to make the contributions that they would have liked to make. In the interests of time, I will not be taking interventions, but I am more than happy for Members to write to me after the debate and I will get back to them in writing.

I will start by addressing the point made by the hon. Member for Waveney Valley about the status of the assessment and the material behind it, and I know that issue has been raised by a number of Members from across the House. As my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry East (Mary Creagh), outlined in some detail to the hon. Member for Waveney Valley in a session of the Environmental Audit Committee in July, it is standard and given practice that the Government do not comment on speculation about different drafts or versions. That position has not changed as I stand here today, nor will it likely change tomorrow. With that in mind, it is far more important that I focus my response on the critical themes raised in the debate.

Publishing the assessment was clearly vital, so that Parliament, the public and our international partners can see its core findings. Those findings are clear: biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation pose a real risk to security, resilience and prosperity. We cannot, and this Government will not, shy away from the real challenges that creates. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time, and this Government are the first to lead this country with both a Climate Minister and a Nature Minister. That reflects how seriously this Government take climate change and nature security.

I have long said that net zero and nature are two sides of the same coin when it comes to tackling climate change. The assessment highlights the critical role that nature plays in our ability to tackle the climate crisis. Of course, we cannot fight this greatest challenge alone, and many hon. Members raised that point. Climate change and nature do not abide by rules or borders. Working to implement the advice raised through the assessment requires leadership at home and abroad, working with our international partners to strengthen food security, biosecurity, global supply chain resilience and international co-operation.

As many hon. Members highlighted, the findings of the assessment are stark. Global ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security and prosperity. That is not an environmental issue alone; it is a systemic risk to the UK’s resilience and long-term security, as many hon. Members articulated. The UK’s food security and economic resilience depend on healthy ecosystems at home and overseas. Nearly 40% of our food is imported, and for as long as we continue to enjoy bananas, rice, kiwis and avocados, we will never realistically be able to rely on domestic food production alone. That means we are at heightened risk of environmental pressures overseas disrupting our supply chains, increasing prices and reducing resilience in the UK.

That is not an isolated finding. The World Economic Forum’s “Global Risks Report 2026” identified extreme weather as the most severe global risk over the next decade, with environmental risks accounting for five of the 10 highest-ranked long-term risks. The nature security assessment suggests that domestic nature-related risk could reduce UK GDP by around 6% by the 2030s, with a further 6% reduction arising from international risks transmitted through global supply chains in some scenarios. The conclusion of our assessment is extraordinarily clear and should leave no one in any doubt: nature security is national security, and nature stability is global stability.

Responsible Governments identify emerging risks early, strengthen preparedness and build resilience before shocks occur. This Government are determined to rise to that responsibility. Other political parties may tell people simply to sit back and enjoy a rapidly changing climate, as we heard over the summer from Reform. However, we will not give up on tackling these threats head-on or put our head in the sand, as others in Opposition sadly seem determined to do.

It is important to stress that the assessment is neither a forecast nor a prediction. It is a forward-looking assessment designed to help the Government to plan for potential shocks, such as disruption to food systems, supply chains and economic stability, that are credible enough to warrant preparation. Its purpose is to help us to anticipate those risks, test our resilience and take appropriate action. That is exactly what the assessment does: it looks around corners rather than relying on the rear-view mirror. It is worth stressing that, via the assessment, the UK is doing something important that other countries are not. By creating, publishing and debating the assessment, we are a global frontrunner in discussing nature security.

Our assessment is the first published national security assessment of its kind in the world. After we published it, the UK’s presentations at the OECD resulted in several global partners using our approach to understand and consider how ecosystem-related risks affect their own resilience and national security. Later this month, the Foreign Secretary will bring Foreign Ministers together at the United Nations to discuss how to respond to climate and nature security threats. The assessment will provide an important evidence base for those conversations.

I recognise that this is a critical juncture for nature. We will continue to use upcoming international opportunities to make the case that protecting nature and tackling climate change must go hand in hand, because healthy ecosystems underpin resilience, security and prosperity.

Turning to this Government’s response, we have launched the first ever taskforce on the national security and resilience risks of a changing climate and nature loss, bringing together leading security, military and academic experts to help us to identify and prioritise risks, strengthen cross-Government co-ordination and turn evidence into practical action. The taskforce, launched in June this year, provides independent challenge and recommendations to ensure that climate and nature risks are considered more systemically across national security and resilience planning.

Separately, we have commissioned a three-year nature security research and development programme to improve indicators, early warning capability and analytical tools. That will help the Government to identify emerging risks earlier, stress-test resilience and take preventive action before disruption escalates.

A number of hon. Members on both sides of the House spoke about the importance of the food sector to national security and the functioning of the UK, which the Government have recognised by designating it as critical national infrastructure. DEFRA works closely with the Cabinet Office and other Government Departments to strengthen preparedness and resilience across the food system and supply chains. We are also investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery, supporting resilient domestic food production, healthier soils, pollinators and nature-friendly farming.

The nature security assessment makes it clear that severe ecosystem degradation can contribute to the emergence of novel zoonotic diseases. We are acting to bring down the risks that that poses, strengthening resilience to those risks through the UK biological security strategy, enhanced disease surveillance and a one-health approach that recognises the links between environmental, animal and human health. That improves our ability to identify, assess and respond to emerging biological threats.

This Government are also addressing nature-related risks at source through the international climate finance programme. Climate markets and green finance were mentioned by several hon. Members during the debate. The UK’s international climate finance strategy places nature at its core, investing in the protection and restoration of forests, oceans, freshwater and other critical ecosystems that support global stability.

It was mentioned right at the beginning, but I am delighted to confirm that today the Government have announced that they intend to invest £400 million in the Tropical Forest Forever facility. The TFFF represents a critical evolution in forest finance, providing long-term support for tropical forest protection. I am sure hon. Members recognise that investing in forests is one of the most effective ways to tackle the climate and nature crisis and to support UK growth and security.

As hon. Members across the House have acknowledged, the nature security assessment has made it clear that nature loss can impact food security, water security, economic resilience and national security. We are taking those findings seriously. There is no single Department that can address them alone, and that is why we are working across Government to ensure a co-ordinated response. These are global challenges, but they are being felt close to home. The recent wildfire at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk was in my constituency, and it was a stark reminder to me that the environmental risks are no longer distant or abstract, and that we must build resilience here in the UK as well as overseas.

We have restored nearly 23,000 hectares of peatland since 2020 to store carbon. I was delighted to visit my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (John Whitby) recently to look at the work that the UK is doing to restore and invest in our peatlands. That work plays a vital role not just in managing and restoring nature but in helping to tackle the threat of wildfires. Such work, which is in addition to supporting farmers through nature-friendly farming schemes and delivering our environmental improvement plans, means we are taking practical action at home alongside our international efforts abroad.

I again thank the hon. Member for Waveney Valley for securing this important debate and the continued interest of the House in this agenda.

Question put and agreed to. 

Resolved,

That this House has considered the nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security, published in January 2026.

Gamebirds: Call for Evidence

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Thursday 3rd September 2026 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)]

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Lords (Baroness Hayman of Ullock) has made the following written statement:

As set out in the land use framework and the animal welfare strategy for England, the Government committed to strengthening the evidence base on gamebird rearing, release and shooting in England.

I am today announcing that a call for evidence will launch on 4 September 2026 as the next step in delivering that commitment.

Gamebird rearing, release and shooting are established activities within rural land use and management. They can contribute to rural economies and land management, but their environmental, animal health, animal welfare and wider impacts are not yet fully understood. The call for evidence will gather information and evidence to improve understanding of both the positive and negative impacts associated with these activities.

The call for evidence will consider the rearing of gamebirds, the release of reared birds from captivity, associated shooting and land management activities, and impacts at local, regional and national level. It will seek evidence on biodiversity, protected sites and habitats, biosecurity and disease, bird of prey crime, animal welfare, use of natural resources, and other relevant environmental or social impacts.

Evidence gathered through this exercise will be carefully reviewed, including by independent external reviewers for information on release and shooting. This will support DEFRA’s understanding of these activities and their impacts and inform any future policy development. No decisions have been taken at this stage on whether to introduce any changes, and any future proposals would be subject to public consultation.

The call for evidence will be published on gov.uk and will be open for responses until 1 November 2026.

[HCWS308]

Flood Insurance: Reform of Flood Re

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Wednesday 1st July 2026 Commons Chamber

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Suffolk Coastal) (Lab)]

I welcome the statement, and thank the Minister for her work. She has rightly observed that people are more likely to be at risk of flooding because of climate change, and that also brings with it a greater risk from coastal erosion. As she will know, my constituency lost 11 homes over the winter because of coastal erosion, which is set to put even more homes at risk over the years and decades ahead. In our report, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee recommended the extension of Flood Re to Coastal Re. Will the Minister comment on that recommendation, and commit herself to looking at it further?

[Emma Hardy]

I know how difficult the loss of those homes has been for the hon. Lady and her constituents. Losing one’s home because of coastal erosion must be devastating. There are no current plans to consider Coastal Re, but, of course, Flood Re keeps eligibility criteria under review.

Farming Road Map and Profitability Review

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Wednesday 24th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Emma Reynolds]

As we set out in our land use framework, our intention in working with the sector is to ensure that we have more productive and profitable farms and multifunctional land use so that we maintain, if not increase, food production levels, alongside the land use changes that we need to secure a sustainable farming transition.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Suffolk Coastal) (Lab)]

Over the next 20 years we are set to see a 30% reduction in water availability for farms and producers across the country, much of which will affect Suffolk Coastal. I was glad to see that the road map talks about applying lessons from water management pilot schemes to help farmers to manage those water challenges. I want to flag the managed aquifer recharge trial in Suffolk Coastal, which has recharged for irrigation 20,000 cubic metres while complying with stringent Environment Agency conditions. I know that the Minister responsible for water and flooding is keen to visit my constituency to learn more about the scheme. I hope that the Department will look at these examples as an opportunity that could help to deliver water ambitions as set out in this very welcome farming road map.

Farming: Financial Sustainability

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Wednesday 24th June 2026 Westminster Hall

[Maya Ellis (Ribble Valley) (Lab)]

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Northumberland (David Smith) for securing this timely debate and welcome the Minister to his place.

I asked local farmers in Ribble Valley what they would like to highlight in this debate about profitability. As hon. Members would expect, the responses included the increasing tax on fertiliser, energy prices, the short-sighted farming vision, the public’s understanding of where our food comes from and its value and quality, seasonal staff and many other things, so I am really grateful that the Government today outlined their farming vision to 2050.

In the interests of time, I want to highlight a broader question about who we what to be as British society. We could choose just to import most of our food, but to me, farming is core to our Britishness. We value our local farm cheese brands, we value our rolling green hills, and we value the role farmers play in maintaining our walkways and gritting our paths in winter.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Suffolk Coastal) (Lab)]

My hon. Friend is making an excellent point. It is not just about identity; we also cannot be reliant on food imports if we are going to be food secure as a nation.

[Maya Ellis]

I completely agree. The main point I want to make, alongside all the powerful financial and security arguments that have been made, is that we need farming to be financially sustainable because we want it to be sustainable. We want it to be part of what we prioritise as this country. A More In Common poll found that, after the NHS, our British countryside is what British people value most about this country, so please, let’s not take it for granted. With no farmers, the countryside is not sustainable either.