Written Question
Thursday 20th November 2025
Asked by:
Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question
to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme is measured by weight.
Answered by Mary Creagh
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In autumn last year my department published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on packaging producers as a whole, when the regulations were laid in parliament. This does not include an assessment of the impact on specific materials or sectors; however, Defra has engaged extensively with the glass manufacturing sector to understand the impacts on them. Through modulation, more recyclable materials, such as glass, will benefit from discounted fees, from Year 2 of pEPR (2026/2027).
Written Question
Thursday 20th November 2025
Asked by:
Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
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 protect UK food security.
Answered by Angela Eagle
- Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We need a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British farmers, fishers and food producers.
As part of the Government’s Plan for Change we are delivering on the Government’s New Deal for Farmers which includes a raft of new policies and major investment to boost profits for farmers.
We've allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
Land Use Change: Food Security
"As the hon. Gentleman said, there are some things that we agree on and others that we do not. However, I have long campaigned against building on the green belt—on our green fields. Even during our time in government, there were certain aspects of planning that I spoke out about—those …..."Wendy Morton - View Speech
View all Wendy Morton (Con - Aldridge-Brownhills) contributions to the debate on: Land Use Change: Food Security
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
Land Use Change: Food Security
"My hon. Friend makes a really important point. Sadly, suicide is very high among the farming community, which is another indicator of the many pressures that our farms are facing. I return to the point that I do not think that we appreciate our farms, farmers or farming communities enough …..."Wendy Morton - View Speech
View all Wendy Morton (Con - Aldridge-Brownhills) contributions to the debate on: Land Use Change: Food Security
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
Land Use Change: Food Security
"The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. We talk about a brownfield-first approach, and it can work. We saw examples of it in the west midlands under the leadership of the former mayor, Andy Street. Developments such as those on the Caparo and Harvestime sites show that it can be done, …..."Wendy Morton - View Speech
View all Wendy Morton (Con - Aldridge-Brownhills) contributions to the debate on: Land Use Change: Food Security
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
Land Use Change: Food Security
"The hon. Lady makes a really important point, setting out yet again the challenges that farmers face. I am a farmer’s daughter; my dad was a farm worker for many years. We lived on a farm; we grew up in a tied cottage. That sort of farm is often very …..."Wendy Morton - View Speech
View all Wendy Morton (Con - Aldridge-Brownhills) contributions to the debate on: Land Use Change: Food Security
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
Land Use Change: Food Security
"I do. The hon. Gentleman talks a lot of sense. There are so many areas where we should be putting solar panels. I despair when I drive down the M40 around the west midlands and see field after field full of solar panels. I can understand why a farmer may …..."Wendy Morton - View Speech
View all Wendy Morton (Con - Aldridge-Brownhills) contributions to the debate on: Land Use Change: Food Security
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
Land Use Change: Food Security
"I could not resist intervening on the hon. Gentleman about the rationale for this debate. I spoke about food security in the last Parliament, and I gently say that his interpretation of this debate does not resonate with mine...."Wendy Morton - View Speech
View all Wendy Morton (Con - Aldridge-Brownhills) contributions to the debate on: Land Use Change: Food Security
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
Land Use Change: Food Security
"I appreciate a bit of knowledge in Westminster Hall, but the point remains that we still need to be more creative in where we put our solar panels. Maybe they could be put on larger rooftop spaces, and we often talk about brownfield and urban sites; to go straight for …..."Wendy Morton - View Speech
View all Wendy Morton (Con - Aldridge-Brownhills) contributions to the debate on: Land Use Change: Food Security
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Nov 2025
Land Use Change: Food Security
"I am genuinely interested in what the Minister is saying about food and food systems, but how does she see the connection between that and our farmers? We do not want anybody to be reliant on a food parcel, but what is her Department doing to ensure that the food …..."Wendy Morton - View Speech
View all Wendy Morton (Con - Aldridge-Brownhills) contributions to the debate on: Land Use Change: Food Security