Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Badger culls are industry led and the cost of delivering them has been met by participants. The additional costs to Defra have related to licensing, monitoring and policing for public safety.

Badger control costs are published annually on GOV.UK and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-government-badger-control-costs.

Badger control costs for 2023 will be published in due course.

Whilst a breakdown of costs by individual county is not available, police costs are available on individual force websites. Costs for Devon and Cornwall Police can be found at: https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/police-forces/devon-cornwall-police/areas/about-us/about-us/transparency-and-financial-information/badger-cull-costs/.

On 30 August, the government announced the start of work to refresh the Bovine TB strategy for England, to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament and drive down disease to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods. This will be undertaken in co-design with farmers, vets, scientists and conservationists, ensuring a refreshed strategy continues to be led by the best scientific and epidemiological evidence and advice.

Further details can be found on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-end-badger-cull-with-new-tb-eradication-strategy.

In England, we have committed to halting the decline in species abundance by 2030. The UK Government is also committed to protecting 30% of the UK’s land and sea by 2030, and to playing our part in achieving the global 30by30 target adopted at the UN Biodiversity Summit COP15 in December 2022.

Delivering these targets sits at the heart of our mission to ensure nature’s recovery. To meet our species abundance target we will create, restore and connect wildlife-rich habitat, reduce pressures on species including from pollution and climate change and take targeted action to recover specific species, working in partnership with civil society, communities and business. Delivering 30by30 on land in England means ensuring that our most important and wildlife-rich habitats are benefiting from effective, long-term conservation and management. This will require a collaborative approach, and all sectors have a role to play.

We have launched a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to complete before the end of the year to make sure it is fit for purpose to deliver our ambitious targets. This review is an important step in turning the page on nature recovery and will provide the foundations for delivering these targets. This includes the Government’s manifesto promise to expand nature-rich habitats such as wetlands, peat bogs and forests so people can enjoy and wildlife can thrive, including on public land.

We have also commissioned an overarching evaluation framework for our 2030 species target and wider biodiversity targets programme. This will strengthen our understanding of our progress towards meeting our biodiversity targets and will follow Magenta Book guidance.

The Government supports species reintroductions where there are clear benefits for nature, people and the environment. All reintroductions in England are expected to follow the Code for Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations. We will continue to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions in England.

Over the past few years, several initiatives have been introduced to encourage take up of badger vaccination over larger, more contiguous areas.

• Bolstering APHA field teams to deliver badger vaccination in several areas where licensed badger culling had ended.
• Government funded community-led badger vaccination project in East Sussex.
• Improved guidance to increase efficiency of vaccination.
• The 'Train the Trainer' (TtT) scheme, which enables experienced cage-trappers and lay vaccinators to qualify as trainers and form their own local training hubs, creates more training capacity to enable more people to be trained.

• A simplified badger vaccination licence and registration process, alongside a smartphone reporting app making it easier to report activity in the field

• Streamlined cage-trapping and vaccination training courses to make them less time-consuming and more accessible.

As a result of these step, more than 3,000 badgers were vaccinated in England in 2023. This the highest number ever vaccinated annually in England to date

On 30 August, the Government announced the start of work to refresh the Bovine TB strategy for England, to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament and drive down disease to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods. This will be undertaken in co-design with farmers, vets, scientists and conservationists, ensuring a refreshed strategy continues to be led by the best scientific and epidemiological evidence and advice.

As part of this announcement, a new Badger Vaccinator Field Force will be established. This will increase badger vaccination to drive down TB rates and protect badgers. A badger vaccination study will also be carried out. This will supplement the Field Force. The Government will rapidly analyse the effect of badger vaccination on the incidence of TB in cattle to encourage farmers to take part and provide greater confidence that doing so will have a positive effect on their cattle.

Further details can be found on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-end-badger-cull-with-new-tb-eradication-strategy.

Defra currently has no plans to introduce and make quaternary treatment mandatory for domestic wastewater treatment. Where it is deemed necessary as an additional wastewater treatment process, costs and benefits will be assessed, and stakeholder consultations will be performed through the normal routes.

The impacts of coastal erosion and flooding on heritage assets are included in the economic impacts assessment for flood and coastal erosion schemes. Last year, the Environment Agency published the Environment and Historic Environment Outcomes Valuation Guidance which contains specific arrangements for the valuation of heritage assets such as religious buildings.

Flood schemes protecting world heritage sites attract funding through the Government’s Partnership Funding Policy. The amount of funding a project can attract will depend on the damages it will avoid and the benefits it will deliver, including those to heritage assets.

This Government is fully committed to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). Record numbers of farmers are now in an ELM scheme, and the Government wants to maintain the momentum built over recent months.

The Government will optimise ELM schemes such as the SFI in an orderly way, over time. The Government will work with the sector to make sure schemes produce the right outcomes for all farmers, including small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms, supporting food security and nature’s recovery in a just and equitable way.

The Malvern Hills Trust, also known as the Malvern Hills Conservators, is not considered to be a public body.

The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) helps prevent and detect wildlife crime by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights local or national threats and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations.

Defra supports the valuable work of the NWCU. Defra is providing £424,000 for it in financial year 2024-2025. Budgets for 2025-2026 and beyond have not yet been set.

As of 03 September, there are 63 farm businesses with a Countryside Stewardship Agreement for the South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

Local authorities can issue fixed penalty notices of up to £1,000 to fly-tippers. The income from these fixed penalty notices must be spent on enforcement and clean-up specifically. The department has not yet made an assessment of this policy, which was introduced under the previous Government, or how it might be changed.

The Government is supporting farmers and land managers through a range of grants and schemes beside ELM, designed to support a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports British Farmers. These grants are set out on Defra’s “Funding for Farmers” webpage.

The Secretary of State and the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland recently discussed the shared priority of improving water quality in the UK. There was agreement to collaborate further by enhancing joint scientific research and exchanging best practice methods to tackle pollution of culturally and economically important water bodies such as Lough Neagh.

Departmental officials engaged with businesses operating in Great Britain and Northern Ireland to ensure that Northern Ireland consumers have access to the same products as consumers in Great Britain whilst formulating this policy. Trade bodies representing retailers in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland were also consulted.

Following the initial findings of cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) virus in August 2024, Defra implemented a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) around the affected premises and humanely culled infected animals to prevent potential spread.

Following confirmation of BTV-3 on further premises and evidence of local transmission of bluetongue virus, in accordance with the bluetongue disease control framework we replaced the TCZ with a Restricted Zone and are no longer culling animals. This Restricted Zone prevents all ruminants, camelids and their germinal products moving outside the zone, potentially spreading disease. The Restricted Zone initially covered Norfolk and Suffolk and was subsequently extended to Essex.

Defra has also permitted the use of vaccines for BTV-3, under certain circumstances, in the high-risk counties of south east England.

Whilst we have never had an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in the UK, the risk level for an incursion of ASF is currently assessed as medium and we continue to prepare for an outbreak.

The practical impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of ASF were assessed in 2023 for the National Risk Register which is available on gov.uk.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) monitors the spread of ASF internationally and regularly publishes assessments of the risk posed to Great Britain. The latest assessment (published in June 2024) can be found as part of APHA's Animal diseases: international and UK monitoring collection on gov.uk. These assessments are used to review, and strengthen where necessary, measures to prevent ASF reaching the UK.

The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad. We are considering our next steps and future bans will be evidence based and subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Evidence will support why any specific advertising ban is needed and relevant stakeholder engagement will be undertaken to ensure future bans will not prohibit high welfare tourist activity.

The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver these commitments and will be setting out next steps in due course.

The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad. We are considering our next steps and future bans will be evidence based and subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Evidence will support why any specific advertising ban is needed and relevant stakeholder engagement will be undertaken to ensure future bans will not prohibit high welfare tourist activity.

The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver these commitments and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Defra spent £1,503,000 on communications activity in the 2023/2024 financial year. Defra publishes details on spend on a monthly basis on GOV.UK as part of routine Government transparency arrangements.

Communications campaigns are an important part of delivering some of the Department’s policies. Communications spend allows us to reach audiences in places and ways that ensure they are more responsive and open to hearing about our work and hopefully changing their attitudes and behaviours towards positive action.

On 30 August, the Government announced the start of work to refresh the Bovine TB strategy for England, to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament and drive down disease to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods. This will be undertaken in co-design with farmers, vets, scientists and conservationists, ensuring a refreshed strategy continues to be led by the best scientific and epidemiological evidence and advice.

As part of this announcement, existing cull licences will be honoured to ensure clarity for farmers involved in these culls whilst new measures can be rolled out and take effect. This follows previous advice that the gap between the end of one form of badger disease control and the successful deployment of another, should be as narrow as possible to bank the maximum disease control benefits.

Further details can be found on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-end-badger-cull-with-new-tb-eradication-strategy.

The Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers.

We are considering the most effective ways to deliver our commitments in this area and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Protecting communities around the country from flooding and coastal erosion is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities.

In July 2022, a ring-fenced £100 million Frequently Flooded Allowance (FFA) was created as part of the Government’s £5.6 billion investment programme into flood and coastal erosion schemes.

The eligibility criteria for the FFA were designed, in collaboration with the Environment Agency, to ensure funding is targeted towards communities that have flooded more than once within the past ten years. They were subject to targeted testing with Regional Flood and Coastal Committees and representatives from Risk Management Authorities. The criteria aim to address some of the specific challenges faced by frequently flooded communities, particularly those that are smaller and more rural and can face barriers accessing funding due to the relative complexity and cost of building flood defences compared to the size of the community.

Projects not eligible for the FFA are able to apply for Grant in Aid as part of the Government’s floods investment programme. We will review this programme to ensure flood risk management is fit for the challenges we face now and in the future.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 22 July (UIN 322).

The Government is committed to delivering for nature, taking action to meet our Environment Act 2021 targets, to restore and protect our natural world. On 30^th July, we launched a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) to make sure it is fit for purpose to deliver our ambitious targets to save nature. This will be followed by the introduction of a new, statutory plan to protect and restore our natural environment, with delivery plans to meet each of our targets.

We understand the potential benefits that beavers can bring, including through creating wetland habitats and increasing biodiversity. The Government supports species reintroductions where there are clear benefits for nature, people and the environment.

All reintroductions in England are expected to follow the Code for Reintroductions and other Conversations Translocations. We will continue to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions in England.

Protecting communities around the country from flooding and coastal erosion is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities.

This Government will improve resilience and preparation across central government, local authorities, local communities and emergency services to better protect communities across the UK. We will launch a new Flood Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the delivery of new flood defences, drainage systems and natural flood management schemes.

The Environment Agency (EA) currently have no flood defences within the constituency except a section of flood bank in Lowdham.

The EA and partners are in the process of constructing a larger flood storage reservoir upstream of Lowdham to reduce the risk of flooding to 191 properties in the village. The scheme is projected to have £50 million in whole life benefits and to be delivered by early 2027.

The EA also carry out maintenance on parts of the River Leen, Bakerlane Brook, Cocker Beck and Dover Beck, and continue to monitor river levels, issuing flood warnings when required. The EA are working with partners to raise community awareness, plan for and respond to incidents, and support communities, alongside Local Authorities, in running Flood Warden schemes.

As of 03 September, there are 90 farm businesses with a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement for the South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

A number of animal welfare and veterinary organisations provide advice and guidance to enable people to minimise the impacts of fireworks on animal welfare. Users of fireworks should be aware of animals in the neighbouring area and use them responsibly. As a matter of best practice, those organising displays should give neighbouring owners plenty of advance notice of the fireworks display and should ensure that fireworks are not set off near livestock or horses in fields, or close to buildings that house livestock.

The Government is charting a new course to develop an ambitious programme to turn the tide and better protect our natural environment. Recently we announced a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to deliver on our legally binding targets to save nature. This includes how best to manage chemicals, including the risks posed by PFAS. We have already announced plans to restrict firefighting foams and will set out more detail in due course.

This policy was introduced under the previous government. The department has not yet made any formal assessment on the implications of this policy. Defra supports and encourages local authorities to investigate all incidents of fly-tipping, including those on private land, and make good use of their enforcement powers.

By its very nature, we cannot know the true extent of puppy smuggling operations. However, the Animal and Plant Health Agency does hold data on the numbers of interceptions and detentions. In 2023, there were over 500 landings of cats and dogs intercepted at the Port of Dover and found to be non-compliant with the import requirements. Of these, 116 puppies and kittens were quarantined for being below the legally required minimum age for import.

The Government is committed to introducing the most ambitious boost in animal welfare in a generation.  As outlined in the manifesto, this includes ending puppy smuggling.

Protecting communities around the country from flooding and coastal erosion is one of the new Secretary of State’s five core priorities.

This Government will improve resilience and preparation across central Government, local authorities, local communities and emergency services to better protect communities across the UK. We will launch a new Flood Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the delivery of new flood defences, drainage systems and natural flood management schemes, which will ensure we’re prepared for the future and help grow our economy.

Over the past 10 years, the Environment Agency (EA) has deployed the temporary flood barriers within Ironbridge Gorge 19 times, reducing flood risk to 23 homes along the Wharfage. The EA is supporting Telford & Wrekin Council in developing a scheme to reduce flood risk to those properties currently undefended in the Ironbridge Gorge. The council has secured investment of £1.14m and the project is planned to reduce flood risk to a further 32 properties.

The EA is also exploring options to reduce flood risk in neighbouring Coalbrookdale investing £70k to update its flood model.

As well as investing in flood risk management projects, the EA also provides a free Flood Warning Service in the Telford constituency.

The Environment Agency is able to take a range of enforcement action against non-compliances by site operators, in line with its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy. Some enforcement action may lead to a prosecution resulting in a fine imposed by the court. Over the last ten years there have been 7 prosecutions at landfill sites, totalling £488,200 of fines. These figures relate to prosecutions at landfill sites but are not all directly attributable to site permit holders.

We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. All dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain non-commercially on approved routes undergo 100% documentary and identity check. We keep resource allocation for these checks under review in close liaison with enforcement agencies.

Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is an offence under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In 2021, the maximum sentence for this offence was increased to five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

The Government can seek independent, authoritative, impartial and timely advice from the Animal Welfare Committee for all animal welfare matters relating to animals kept by people.

In relation to companion animal welfare, the Committee advises the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Scottish and Welsh Governments. The Committee produce reports according to topics agreed annually, but do not have standing items on their agenda.

More information on AWC’s terms of reference and workplan is available on the GOV.UK page (here).

Decisions on future funding for the fishing industry will be taken through the Spending Review processes and in light of Government priorities, including food security, protecting nature and growing the economy.

Food security is national security, and a sustainable fishing industry is an important part of that. Decisions on future funding for the fishing industry will be taken through the Spending Review processes. Discussions on the opportunities and challenges facing the industry over the last two months have been helpful in gaining an understanding of what other types of support or Government action may be appropriate. These discussions will continue.

Decisions on future funding for the fishing industry will be taken through the Spending Review processes and in light of Government priorities, including food security, protecting nature and growing the economy.

Food security is national security, and a sustainable fishing industry is an important part of that. Decisions on future funding for the fishing industry will be taken through the Spending Review processes. Discussions on the opportunities and challenges facing the industry over the last two months have been helpful in gaining an understanding of what other types of support or Government action may be appropriate. These discussions will continue.

Decisions on future funding for the fishing industry will be taken through the Spending Review processes and in light of Government priorities, including food security, protecting nature and growing the economy.

Food security is national security, and a sustainable fishing industry is an important part of that. Decisions on future funding for the fishing industry will be taken through the Spending Review processes. Discussions on the opportunities and challenges facing the industry over the last two months have been helpful in gaining an understanding of what other types of support or Government action may be appropriate. These discussions will continue.

Decisions on future funding for the fishing industry will be taken through the Spending Review processes and in light of Government priorities, including food security, protecting nature and growing the economy.

Food security is national security, and a sustainable fishing industry is an important part of that. Decisions on future funding for the fishing industry will be taken through the Spending Review processes. Discussions on the opportunities and challenges facing the industry over the last two months have been helpful in gaining an understanding of what other types of support or Government action may be appropriate. These discussions will continue.

I refer the Honourable Member to the reply I gave to PQ 958.

For this Government, food security is national security, requiring a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports British Farmers. The Government is supporting farmers in this through a range of measures. This includes capital grants, designed to help farmers and land managers cover the cost of items that deliver specific environmental benefits.

The Government is also supporting farmers through Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELM) schemes, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). As part of the rollout of the SFI offer in 2024, we have been accepting expressions of interest and the first SFI agreements for 2024 are now live.

The Government will not be redesigning ELM schemes from scratch. Record numbers of farmers are now in an ELM scheme, and the Government wants to maintain the momentum that built over recent months. Therefore, the Government will optimise them in an orderly way, over time. The Government will work with the sector to make sure schemes produce the right outcomes for all farmers, including small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms, supporting food security and nature’s recovery in a just and equitable way.

More broadly, the Government will support farmers with a new deal to boost rural economic growth and strengthen Britain's food security. This new deal will include the Government’s plans to tackle rising energy costs, the biggest challenge to food production, cutting farmers’ bills by introducing a public sector sustainable energy company - GB Energy. The Government will also use its own purchasing power to back British produce. The Government has an ambition to be able to supply half of all food into the public sector from local British producers or certified to higher environmental standards, whilst being in line with WTO and domestic procurement obligations. This Government will also protect farmers from being undercut in trade deals. It will cut red tape to get farm exports moving more effectively, and reduce the UK’s reliance on foreign imports, ensuring that seasonal, sustainable, healthy British food is on tables across the country.

This Government will tirelessly promote high-quality seafood from all parts of the United Kingdom, both at home and abroad. As part of the UK Seafood Fund DEFRA and its partners in the Department for Business and Trade and in Seafish have delivered the Seafood Exports Package. Since 2022 the Package has invested £1m over 3 years to support UK businesses to attend international seafood trade shows, take part in trade missions, and leverage help from in-market specialists in key target markets to connect with buyers. The Package is now in its final year, and any future extensions of this work will be considered as part of the Spending Review.

This Government is fully committed to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and will not be redesigning the schemes from scratch. Record numbers of farmers are now in an ELM scheme, and the Government wants to maintain the momentum that built over recent months.

ELM’s design allows for ongoing improvements. The Government recently published a summary of recent changes to SFI actions and scheme information, made in response to feedback from farmers, stakeholder organisations, and other experts. These include specific technical changes to various SFI actions to ensure they are achievable and effective in meeting environmental goals.

Looking forward, the Government will optimise ELM schemes in an orderly way, over time. The Government will work with the sector to make sure schemes produce the right outcomes for all farmers, including small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms, supporting food security and nature’s recovery in a just and equitable way. To inform Defra’s work with the sector, the Government will increase the transparency of schemes by publishing data on the impact they are having.

The Government supports species reintroductions where there are clear benefits for nature, people and the environment. All reintroductions in England are expected to follow the Code for Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations. We will continue to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions in England.