Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

We are the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.



Secretary of State

 Portrait

Angela Eagle
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Shadow Ministers / Spokeperson
Liberal Democrat
Tim Farron (LD - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Conservative
Victoria Atkins (Con - Louth and Horncastle)
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Liberal Democrat
Baroness Grender (LD - Life peer)
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Scottish National Party
Seamus Logan (SNP - Aberdeenshire North and Moray East)
Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Green Party
Adrian Ramsay (Green - Waveney Valley)
Green Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Robbie Moore (Con - Keighley and Ilkley)
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Lord Blencathra (Con - Life peer)
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Lord Roborough (Con - Life peer)
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Neil Hudson (Con - Epping Forest)
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Aphra Brandreth (Con - Chester South and Eddisbury)
Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers of State
Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab - Life peer)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Stephen Morgan (Lab - Portsmouth South)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Lab - Suffolk Coastal)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Oral Answers to Questions
Oral Questions
Select Committee Docs
Wednesday 21st October 2026
00:01
Select Committee Inquiry
Wednesday 18th March 2026
Land use and nature

The UK Government has set numerous goals related to habitat restoration under the Environmental Improvement Plan, much of which of …

Written Answers
Friday 23rd October 2026
Agricultural Machinery: Finance
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a) whether there will be funding available through …
Secondary Legislation
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities and Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
These Regulations amend the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/409) (“the 2011 Order”) and the Marine Licensing (Application …
Bills
Wednesday 4th September 2024
Water (Special Measures) Act 2025
A Bill to make provision about the regulation, governance and special administration of water companies.
Dept. Publications
Friday 23rd October 2026
17:00

Policy and Engagement

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Commons Appearances

Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs

Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:
  • Urgent Questions where the Speaker has selected a question to which a Minister must reply that day
  • Adjornment Debates a 30 minute debate attended by a Minister that concludes the day in Parliament.
  • Oral Statements informing the Commons of a significant development, where backbench MP's can then question the Minister making the statement.

Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue

Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.

Most Recent Commons Appearances by Category
Oct. 22
Oral Questions
Sep. 15
Urgent Questions
Oct. 13
Written Statements
Sep. 15
Westminster Hall
Sep. 10
Adjournment Debate
View All Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Commons Contibutions

Bills currently before Parliament

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs does not have Bills currently before Parliament


Acts of Parliament created in the 2024 Parliament


A Bill to make provision about the regulation, governance and special administration of water companies.

This Bill received Royal Assent on 24th February 2025 and was enacted into law.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Secondary Legislation

These Regulations amend the Marine Licensing (Notices Appeals) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/936) (“the Principal Regulations”), which provide for appeals to be made to the First-tier Tribunal against certain notices issued under Part 4 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c. 23).
These Regulations amend the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/409) (“the 2011 Order”) and the Marine Licensing (Application Fees) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/615) (“the Fees Regulations”).
View All Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secondary Legislation

Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Trending Petitions
Petitions with most signatures
Petition Debates Contributed

Create a public register of all offenders convicted of animal abuse and introduce an automatic, lifetime ban on animal ownership for anyone convicted of animal neglect or abuse. This register should be searchable by vets, breeders, charities and the public to prevent repeat offending.

Hold a binding national referendum on whether the water industry should be returned to public ownership. Water is a basic human necessity; we believe our privatised system has failed, so the public should decide who owns and controls it.

We think each year, individuals suffer because of loud fireworks. We believe horses, dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife can be terrified by noisy fireworks and many people find them intolerable.

View All Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Petitions

Departmental Select Committee

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.

At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.

Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.


10 Members of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Alistair Carmichael Portrait
Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 9th September 2024
Charlie Dewhirst Portrait
Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Sarah Bool Portrait
Sarah Bool (Conservative - South Northamptonshire)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 21st October 2024
Henry Tufnell Portrait
Henry Tufnell (Labour - Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Josh Newbury Portrait
Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Jayne Kirkham Portrait
Jayne Kirkham (Labour (Co-op) - Truro and Falmouth)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Sarah Dyke Portrait
Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Terry Jermy Portrait
Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 27th October 2025
Juliet Campbell Portrait
Juliet Campbell (Labour - Broxtowe)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 17th November 2025
Ben Goldsborough Portrait
Ben Goldsborough (Labour - South Norfolk)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 22nd June 2026
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Upcoming Events
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - Oral evidence
The future of farming
27 Oct 2026, 9:30 a.m.
At 10:00am: Oral evidence
Stephen Morgan MP - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Mike Rowe - Farming Director at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Gareth Baynham-Hughes - Director of Marine and Fisheries at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

View calendar - Save to Calendar
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Previous Inquiries
Air Quality: follow up Labour in the food supply chain The work of DEFRA COVID-19 and food supply Rural Communities Milk prices Appointment of Jonson Cox as Chair of Ofwat Dog Control and Welfare Draft Water Bill Air Quality Desinewed Meat Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Flood Funding Future Flood and Water Management Legislation Farming in the Uplands Marine Policy Statement Draft National Policy Statement on Waste Water Welfare of Laying Hens Directive—Implications for the egg industry EU proposals for the dairy sector and the future of the dairy industry Implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy: Domestic Fisheries Management Outcome of the independent Farming Regulation Task Force Draft Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill Draft National Policy Statement for Hazardous Waste EU proposals for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy Defra Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11 Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Draft British Waterways Board (Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 and the Draft Inland Waterways Advisory Council (Abolition) Order 2012 Orders under the Public Bodies Act 2011 Bovine TB Vaccine Draft Wild Animals in Circuses Bill CAP Implementation 2014-2020 Insurance for flooding The Elliott review Primates as pets Winter Floods Pre-appointment hearing with proposed Chairman of Natural England Departmental Annual Report 2012-13 Food Security Waste management in England Rural Payments Agency Work of Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Appointment hearing for preferred candidate for Chair of the Environment Agency Horse welfare Defra's responsibility for fracking Defra performance in 2013-14 Food security: demand, consumption and waste Food supply networks Rural broadband and digital-only services Dairy prices Work of the Committee 2010-15 CAP payments to farmers EFRA topics Dairy prices inquiry Defra performance in 2014-15 inquiry Common Agricultural Policy inquiry Defra's responsibilities for air quality inquiry Farmgate prices inquiry Beef grading prices inquiry Food waste in England inquiry Rural tourism in England inquiry Forestry in England inquiry Environment Agency Chair pre-appointment hearing Work of Defra evidence sessions Winter floods 2015-16 inquiry Future flood prevention inquiry The work of Defra inquiry Farmgate prices: follow-up evidence session Brexit: Trade in food inquiry The work of Defra inquiry Improving air quality Work of the Environment Agency inquiry 2 Sisters and Standards in Poultry Processing inquiry Fisheries inquiry Performance of the Rural Payments Agency inquiry Defra's plans to improve air quality Feeding the nation: labour constraints inquiry Post-legislative scrutiny: Flood and Water Management Act 2010 inquiry Countryside Stewardship Scheme one-off session Improving air quality joint inquiry Countryside and Environmental Stewardship schemes inquiry The new farming programme inquiry Rural broadband and digital only services inquiry General licences for controlling wild birds inquiry Environment Bill inquiry Beef prices inquiry Agriculture, achieving net-zero emissions inquiry Peatland inquiry Puppy smuggling inquiry Draft National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure inquiry Pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for Chair of Natural England inquiry Plastic food and drink packaging inquiry Coastal flooding and adaptation to climate change inquiry Work of the Food Standards Agency inquiry Pre-appointment hearing for the Chair of Natural England inquiry Scrutiny of the draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill inquiry Farm Inspection and Regulation Review inquiry Dangerous Dogs: Breed Specific Legislation inquiry Regulation of the Water Industry inquiry Brand Britain: Promoting and Marketing British food and drink inquiry Proposed merger of Asda and Sainsbury’s inquiry Agriculture Bill inquiry Scrutiny of the Fisheries Bill inquiry Is Defra ready for Brexit? inquiry The Work of the Chief Veterinary Officer inquiry Work of DEFRA: Health and Harmony inquiry Work of the Rural Payments Agency inquiry Work and Role of the Groceries Code Adjudicator inquiry Fur trade in the UK inquiry Trade in sugar post-Brexit inquiry Work of the Chief Scientific Adviser: Defra inquiry Labour constraints inquiry Draft Animal Welfare Bill inquiry Air Quality Public Sector Procurement of Food Government support to the dairy sector during the COVID-19 pandemic Work of Defra Work of the Environment Agency Marine Mammals Work of the Environment Agency Pre-appointment hearing: Chair of the Environment Agency Environmental Land Management Scheme: Progress Update Food Security Species Reintroduction UK-Norway Framework Fisheries Agreement Soil Health Post-pandemic health and welfare concerns of companion animals, including abuse and mutilation Resources and Waste provisional Common Framework Pet Smuggling Tenant Farmers Fairness in the food supply chain UK trade policy: food and agriculture Urban Green Spaces Education and Careers in Land-based Sectors Common Framework on Food and Feed Safety and Hygiene Work of the Department and its Arm's Length Bodies The future of farming Reforming the water sector Fairness in the food supply chain Animal and plant health Environmental Land Management and the agricultural transition Fisheries and the marine environment Preventing waste and enabling a circular economy Climate and weather resilience Moving animals across borders COVID-19 and food supply: follow up Land use and nature Seafood and Meat Exports to the EU Agriculture Bill Agriculture, achieving net-zero emissions Proposed merger of Asda and Sainsbury’s Brand Britain: Promoting and Marketing British food and drink Coastal flooding and adaptation to climate change Countryside and Environmental Stewardship schemes General licences for controlling wild birds Is Defra ready for Brexit? Labour constraints The new farming programme Peatland Plastic food and drink packaging Puppy smuggling Rural broadband and digital only services Scrutiny of the draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill Scrutiny of the Fisheries Bill Draft National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure The work of Defra Work of the Food Standards Agency Beef prices Environment Bill

50 most recent Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department

19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures she is taking to prevent the pollution of rivers in South Shropshire.

In 2026, the Environment Agency has so far carried out 55 inspections of water company assets and 27 farm inspections in South Shropshire. Where non-compliance is identified, the Environment Agency will require remedial action and will not hesitate to take enforcement action.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress her Department made on developing proposals to end the use of horticultural peat in England; and what is the anticipated timetable for any legislative proposals.

The Government is committed to protecting nature-rich habitats, including peatlands, and has pledged to ban the sale of peat and peat-containing products when Parliamentary time allows. The timing and approach of the implementation of this ban, including details such as transitional arrangements or exemptions, are currently being considered by officials in the four administrations, and further details will be provided in due course.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ban rodenticides as part of the Government's animal welfare strategy.

While Defra recognises concerns associated with rodenticides, and has welcomed recent changes restricting their use, policy responsibility for rodenticides lies with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Government’s animal welfare strategy, published in December 2025, did not include any commitment to ban them.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the import and sale of foie gras in the UK, in the context of the Government’s commitment to high standards of animal welfare.

I refer the Hon Member to PQ 22185 that was published on 4 September 2026 in response to Liz Jarvis MP.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Scottish Government on the amount of land in the UK that NatureScot has purchased in the last 5 years.

Officials regularly engage with their devolved Government counterparts on land use and land management issues as necessary.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare Strategy published on 22 December 2025, what progress has been made in producing guidance on killing methods for (a) decapods and (b) cephalopods.

On decapod welfare at killing, Defra have engaged with industry, animal welfare scientists and non-governmental organisations about current industry practices and standards. Development of guidance will be sequenced alongside the broader set of policies set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.

Regarding cephalopod molluscs, current knowledge on how to humanely kill them remains limited, and the evidence-base is being developed. The department will continue to monitor and assess evidence as it becomes available.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much land in the UK has Natural England purchased in the last 5 years.

Noting that Natural England (NE) only covers England, not the UK, NE purchased the freehold of approximately 1,500 hectares of land in England during the five completed financial years from 2021/22 to 2025/26

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to provide additional financial support to farmers who reduce their reliance on chemical pesticides and adopt integrated pest management.

There is support for farmers in England to adopt Integrated Pest Management through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). The SFI pays farmers and land managers to carry out actions that support the sustainable production of food while protecting and enhancing the environment. The budget for new SFI26 agreements this year was £310m. These agreements will invest a total of £930m in environmentally sustainable farming over the next 3 years.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has considered the potential merits of including cephalopods in the core protections of the Animal Welfare Act 2026.

Defra set out in its Animal Welfare Strategy that the department will develop the evidence base through research and continued stakeholder engagement. This work is ongoing and the Government will keep the legislative position under review, as is standard practice.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the current bathing water designation process.

Following stakeholder feedback highlighting limitations in the previous one-size-fits-all approach, the Department updated the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 in November 2025 to improve how bathing waters are designated and monitored. The changes better reflect how the public uses bathing waters, while continuing to support public health through water quality monitoring.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what provision will be made in SFI27 for farmers whose existing agreements expire in March 2027; whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of transitional arrangement; and what alternative application process is being considered for 2027.

In line with the Farming Roadmap 2050, we plan to make an SFI27 offer available. Following the closure of SFI26 Window 2, we are working with farming representative organisations and the wider sector to consider how the scheme can be refined.

Decisions on the detailed design of SFI27, including arrangements for farmers with expiring agreements, are being considered as part of this work. We will provide further information in due course.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th Oct 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to review the current definition of horticulture within the relevant standard industrial classification code in order to recognise horticulture as an energy intensive industry for the purposes of the network charging compensation scheme.

The UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) is maintained by the independent Office for National Statistics and is used to classify economic activity across the economy. Decisions on eligibility for the Network Charging Compensation Scheme are a matter for BIST. Defra continues to work closely with BIST to share evidence and case studies on the energy challenges felt by parts of the horticulture sector.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department verifies the accuracy of the destination data reported by local authorities to WasteDataFlow for aluminium packaging.

The information included in the full dataset is raw data as provided by Local Authorities, published to provide additional detail for users.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a) whether there will be funding available through a Farm Equipment Technology Fund (FETF) in 2027 and b) whether goat dairy producers will be eligible for the FETF.

FETF 2026 is the final FETF grant round in its current form. From 2027, we intend to bring together the strongest elements of our grant schemes, simplifying applications and making it easier for farmers to access funding. The Government keeps the scope and eligibility of grant offers under review.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the value of commercial goat dairy production a) in the UK b) in England.

While recognising the place of the UK’s longstanding goat milk sector within UK agricultural, no assessment of the value of commercial goat dairy production has been made.

A range of support has been made available in England that businesses including those in the goat milking sector might access including support on farm productivity and slurry and through the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support commercial goat dairy producers.

While recognising the place of the UK’s longstanding goat milk sector within UK agricultural, no assessment of the value of commercial goat dairy production has been made.

A range of support has been made available in England that businesses including those in the goat milking sector might access including support on farm productivity and slurry and through the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help support the financial viability of (a) farming businesses and (b) food manufacturing business in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

The Government is backing farm profitability through £11.8 billion for sustainable farming and food production, including investment in productivity and innovation.

Currently, 198 customers in the constituency have live CS or SFI agreements.

The Farming Roadmap sets out how Government will support farmers to cut costs, access markets and build resilient businesses.

The Government also recognises the importance of food manufacturing to local economies and is working with industry to strengthen supply-chain resilience, address dependencies including energy, water, labour, transport and essential inputs, and support investment, productivity and growth.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Marine Spatial Prioritisation Programme remains active; what progress has been made since its introduction; and what plans she has for the next phase of the programme.

Marine Spatial Prioritisation work continues to help ensure more strategic decisions are taken about how the English sea is used, including through improving colocation outcomes. For example, in June 2025 the Government provided The Crown Estate with a steer on Government policy priorities to support their spatial refinement for future offshore wind locations.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her department has made of the potential merits of classifying large pig and poultry units as industrial installations rather than agriculture.

Large pig and poultry farms above certain thresholds require an environmental permit under legislation derived from the Industrial Emissions Directive. Regulators set and enforce conditions to limit emissions from these sites to protect the environment and human health in the same way as industrial installations. These farms remain part of the agricultural sector.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a poultry growth plan on UK food security.

The purpose of the Poultry Sector Growth Plan is to strengthen food security, through increased productivity, profitability and resilience while operating within, and supporting, the UK's environmental, planning, animal welfare commitments within the current regulatory framework.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Poultry and Horticulture Sector Growth Plan will be published.

The two separate Poultry and Horticulture Sector Growth Plans are being developed by industry-led Sector Expert Groups, supported by Defra. Publication timing will therefore partly be determined by the sectors’ own drafting and engagement processes. Current expectations are for the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan to be completed and published in early 2027 with the Poultry Sector Growth Plan shortly after, later in 2027.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help increase woodland cover.

The Government is committed to meeting the statutory Environment Act target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover in England to at least 16.5% by 2050. We are investing over £1 billion in tree planting and support to the forestry sector over this parliament.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on the viability of upland livestock farms of requiring consent under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2006 for reseeding and liming of grassland in National Parks.

The agricultural EIA regulations are primarily intended to protect uncultivated and semi-natural land, including priority habitats, from agricultural intensification. The performance and impact of the regulations were most recently examined in the 2023 Post Implementation Review where the Ag EIA was found to have met their objectives in part and have had a generally positive effect overall when triggered.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding has been made available to assist with the UK Squirrel Accord supporting research into immunocontraception.

Defra provides ongoing funding for the laboratory facilities used in the UK Squirrel Accord research. Defra and the Forestry Commission also provide wider support to the UK Squirrel Accord, including funding towards its Director post.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) the NHS and (b) other public services are resilient to extreme heat and the impacts of climate change.

The Government is committed to strengthening the resilience of the NHS and other public services to extreme heat and the wider impacts of climate change. Further details of the action being taken are set out in the Secretary of State’s letter to the Environmental Audit Committee of 14 July 2026: committees.parliament.uk/publications/54314/documents/301804/default/.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the progress the Forestry Commission has made towards achieving its target of improving the semi-natural score of plantation in ancient woodland sites by at least one class by 2044.

Progress towards the target is assessed annually through Forestry England's semi-natural scoring of plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS), which is reported in Forestry England's Natural Capital Accounts. Between April 2024 and April 2026, 337 hectares moved out of semi-natural score 4 and 303 hectares moved into semi-natural score 1, demonstrating progress towards the 2044 target of improving the semi-natural score of PAWS by at least one class.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support is available to farmers affected by increased input costs and adverse weather conditions.

Defra has committed £173 million in funding for 2026/2027 to improve productivity, trial new technologies and drive innovation in the agricultural sector to improve productivity, trial new technologies and drive innovation in the agricultural sector. This includes up to £70 £123 million available for Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) innovation grants.

In August, the Government announced a package of support for framers affected by adverse weather. This package included temporary adjustments to Environmental Land Management agreements, extra funding for the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 Window 2, and action and funding to make it easier to build reservoirs. Further details can be found at our Farming Blog: https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/15/new-drought-support-for-farmers/.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the level of the contribution of the UK Exclusive Economic Zone in Europe on (a) economic growth, (b) energy security, (c) food security and (d) coastal security.

Government recognises the significant contribution of the UK Exclusive Economic Zone to economic growth, energy security, food security and coastal resilience, supporting key sectors including fisheries, offshore renewables and other marine industries.

The natural capital accounts define the extent of the UK marine area using the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone boundary and estimate that the annual measurable value of natural capital services provided by the UK Marine and coastal margins habitats was approximately £43 billion in 2022, with an estimated asset value of £272 billion.

Further information on the value of marine and coastal margin ecosystem services relating to a) economic value, b) oil, gas and renewable energy provisioning, c) fish provisioning and d) health and tourism recreation can be found in Table 3 of the Marine and coastal margins natural capital accounts, UK: 2025 (ONS)

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of measures to prevent and prosecute fly-tipping on private land in rural communities.

This Government recognises the significant impact of fly-tipping on private land within rural communities. Through the Waste Crime Action Plan, we are working with partners to strengthen prevention, enforcement and prosecution activity, including exploring affordable insurance options to help landowners meet the costs of waste clearance.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
12th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire police forces have exercised their powers to seize dogs under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 since those powers came into force, broken down by police force area.

Defra does not hold central data on how police forces exercise such powers. Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, police forces are required to keep a register of all dogs seized under section 2(1), where the dog is suspected of attacking or worrying livestock and no owner or person in charge is present.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
13th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the reduction in the area of oilseed rape cultivated in England since 2013 on the availability of nectar and pollen resources for pollinators.

As part of our Environmental Improvement Plan, we will publish a new Pollinator Action Plan, which will set out key actions to support pollinators in England.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her department has modelled the potential impact on (a) customer bills and (b) infrastructure investment of retaining within the North West water system sums currently used by United Utilities for shareholder distributions.

I refer the Hon Member to PQ 32257 that was published on 19th October in response to Tom Hayes MP.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
13th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Waste Crime Action Plan.

Defra is working with the EA to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of the Government’s waste crime measures as they are developed and delivered. This includes improving the waste crime performance scorecard and developing an evaluation method for the Waste Crime Action Plan measures and the Prime Minister’s recent crackdown on criminal gangs.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2026 to WPQ 34448, what type of sites were inspected for the 6,130 carried out at sites other than wastewater treatment works.

6,130 inspections were carried out at water-company-operated sewage pumping stations and combined sewer overflows. These are permitted wastewater assets within sewerage networks. Inspections assess whether sites comply with environmental permit conditions and may also follow reported pollution incidents or evidence of environmental impact at an asset or its outfall.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to extend the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 to cover pet sitters who care for animals in the owner's home and commercial dog walkers.

Anyone responsible for an animal, including pet sitters and dog walkers, is required to comply with the Animal Welfare Act. The Act places a duty of care on those responsible for animals and provides authorities with powers to investigate and take action where welfare standards have not been met.

The Canine and Feline Sector Group (CFSG) has published guidance to assist commercial dog walkers in ensuring the welfare of animals in their care.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what indication she has of the timescale for publishing the Government's response to the consultation on the prohibition of trail hunting in England and Wales; and whether she plans to publish that response before the end of 2026.

On 18 June, Defra closed its consultation seeking views on how best to deliver an effective and enforceable ban on trail hunting in England and Wales. The consultation received 184,000 responses. Defra plans to publish a summary of responses as soon as possible.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s monthly market overview of aluminium prices for local authorities referred to in the debate of 1 September 2026, where that overview is published and on what date publication began.

The Defra funded WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and MRW (Materials Recycling World) have published a Material Recycling Weekly price report for over fifteen years. This is a weekly publication that users can access free of charge.

Emma Hardy
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
12th Oct 2026
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to bring forward the necessary legislation to repeal the 2031 cut-off date for registering historical rights of way in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

This Government remains committed to repealing the 2031 cut-off date for recording historic public rights of way, Repeal will require primary legislation, and we are considering the most appropriate legislative vehicle through which to deliver this commitment as part of our wider programme of access and rights of way reforms.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the contribution that National Lottery funding has made and will make toward delivery of targets under the Environment Act 2021, the Environmental Improvement Plan, and the Global Biodiversity Framework.

The Environmental Improvement Plan is a cross-government plan. We will be working with DCMS/National Lottery to capture their contributions.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the impact of rural crime on farm businesses.

Defra recognises the significant impact of illegal waste dumping and fly-tipping on farm businesses. The 2025 Waste Crime Survey estimates that 57% of landowners and farmers have been affected by waste crime. Through the Waste Crime Action Plan, the Government is strengthening prevention and enforcement.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect bee health and populations.

Defra protects honeybee health through work by APHA’s National Bee Unit on statutory pest and disease control, surveillance, education and working with beekeepers to keep bees healthy.

Under the Defra Environmental Improvement Plan, a new Pollinator Action Plan will be published, setting out key actions to support pollinators in England.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support farmers in adopting practices that protect bee health and provide suitable habitats and forage for pollinators.

Support for farmers includes the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Landscape Recovery, which fund creation and restoration of habitats in appropriate areas. Our Environmental Improvement Plan target will double farms providing sufficient year-round resources for farm wildlife, including pollinators, by 2030 compared with 2025.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of investing in alternative and supplementary diagnostic methods for bovine TB, as a means of reducing reliance on the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) skin test; and what steps she is taking to standardise the administration and interpretation of the SICCT test, including the calibration and pressure applied by callipers used to measure skin reactions, across veterinary practitioners.

The SICCT test is the internationally accepted standard for detecting TB infected cattle and is the cornerstone of bovine TB control in Great Britain. This is often supplemented in TB breakdown herds by the interferon-gamma and TB antibody blood tests.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency supports consistency in the administration and interpretation of the SICCT test through standardised instructions, training and competency requirements, regular revalidation, and quality assurance.

The Government funds research into improved TB diagnostics, including jointly funded research with the Welsh and Scottish Governments exploring use of constant-pressure callipers to improve measurement consistency.

The recommended bovine TB control strategy for England proposes greater flexibility for privately funded supplementary testing. The Government will respond in due course.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when they expect the consultation on banning high-concentration carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs to be launched; and what timetable they envisage for the phasing out of this practice.

As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, we will consult on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs and on possible timescales for phasing out this method. Further details will be set out soon.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimates her Department holds of the proportion of turkeys in England that are produced under free-range farming systems.

The data which Defra collects for the poultry sector does not include a breakdown by production type.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her department has taken since the publication of the outcome of Fairer Food Labelling consultation to consider the potential role of method of production labelling reform.

As set out in the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy and the Farming Roadmap, we are committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how and where their food was produced.

To support this, we will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the farming and food industry, scientists and NGOs to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare. We will set out next steps in due course.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to promote farming practices which create and preserve habitats for farmland birds.

Through Environmental Land Management schemes, Defra supports farming practices that provide food and habitats for farmland birds. Sustainable Farming Incentive actions include winter bird food on arable and horticultural land, while Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier supports targeted habitat and species management.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance Natural England and the Environment Agency have issued to privately developed carbon capture projects such as Peak Clusters on protecting wildlife and designated habitats on the Wirral and Dee Estuary.

Natural England has provided formal advice through the Environmental Impact Assessment scoping consultation. This identified several matters requiring further consideration, including gaps and inaccuracies in the assessment of designated sites, missing protected species survey data, including for natterjack toads on the Wirral, and the need for a more robust assessment of air quality, landscape and habitat impacts. Natural England also advised on the need for detailed agricultural land classification information.

On Wirral, Natural England has raised concerns regarding the marine ecology assessment, the adequacy of protected species surveys, and potential impacts on protected habitats and bird features.

Natural England will continue to engage with the applicant and provide evidence-based advice as the proposals develop, with the aim of securing appropriate protection for the natural environment.

The Environment Agency published carbon capture guidance and is developing its evidence and regulatory approach to understand and manage potential impacts from carbon capture developments.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th Oct 2026
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support the Forestry Commission to achieve its target of improving the semi-natural score of plantation in ancient woodland sites by at least one class by 2044.

Defra is providing support to expand training, monitoring, and on-the-ground restoration work. Targeted Defra funding of £5.9m for 2026–2029 is accelerating PAWS restoration on the Public Forest Estate, with progress closely monitored and a target to work towards doubling the recent restoration rate.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)