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

Steve Reed
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)
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 - Excepted Hereditary)
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Junior Shadow Ministers / Deputy Spokesperson
Conservative
Neil Hudson (Con - Epping Forest)
Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Ministers of State
Daniel Zeichner (Lab - Cambridge)
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)
Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Mary Creagh (Lab - Coventry East)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
There are no upcoming events identified
Debates
Wednesday 21st May 2025
Select Committee Inquiry
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Preventing waste and enabling a circular economy

Much of the UK economy is still linear, based on the principles of using and disposing of products and the …

Written Answers
Tuesday 27th May 2025
Foot and Mouth Disease: Dairy Farming
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment …
Secondary Legislation
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2025
These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European …
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
Tuesday 27th May 2025
15:05

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
May. 08
Oral Questions
Jan. 30
Urgent Questions
May. 12
Written Statements
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 are made in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants (recast) (EUR 2019/1021, “the POPs Regulation”).
These Regulations amend Annexes 2, 2A, 5, 7 and 11 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and the Council as regards protective measures against pests of plants (EUR 2019/2072) (the “Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation”).
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
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Petitions with most signatures
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103,856 Signatures
(660 in the last 7 days)
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37,405 Signatures
(8,773 in the last 7 days)
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18,266 Signatures
(2,202 in the last 7 days)
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not participated in any petition debates
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.


11 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
Tim Roca Portrait
Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Portrait
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Labour - Suffolk Coastal)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
Andrew Pakes Portrait
Andrew Pakes (Labour (Co-op) - Peterborough)
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
Helena Dollimore Portrait
Helena Dollimore (Labour (Co-op) - Hastings and Rye)
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Member since 28th October 2024
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 Moving animals across borders COVID-19 and food supply: follow up 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

12th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if they will make it their policy to not provide (a) translation and (b) interpretation for speakers of non-UK languages for services provided by their Department.

Language service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the UK/EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement to improve the ability of businesses to trade in EU countries.

The Prime Minister welcomed President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen and President of the EU Council António Costa to London for a UK-EU Summit on 19 May.

At that Summit we agreed the parameters for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers, and increasing choice in the shops.

This agreement will reduce delays and paperwork at the border, make it easier and cheaper to take pets on holiday into the EU, and trade in products such as fresh sausages and burgers will be able to resume.

Further information can be found at UK-EU Summit - Explainer (HTML) - GOV.UK.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing inspectors to carry out sanitary and phytosanitary checks at border control points after 5pm.

Border Control Posts (BCPs) and Control Points already operate on a range of schedules. The inspection hours are determined by the competent authorities and are based on factors such as the volume of traffic, arrival times, and the resources available at each specific point of entry.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent changes he has made to the Capital Grants scheme.

Defra announced on 24 February 2025 that the standalone Capital Grants scheme will re-open in summer 2025. We will introduce maximum grant thresholds for 4 groups of capital items in the standalone capital offer, from summer 2025. The thresholds will be £25,000 for water quality, air quality and natural flood management and £35,000 for boundaries, trees, and orchards. We will confirm the date that the standalone Capital Grants scheme will re-open and announce any further changes to the scheme in due course.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund announced on 19 May 2025 will be used to provide training to upskill the workforce.

We have launched the £360 million “Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund” to support the next generation of fishermen and breathe new life into our coastal communities.

We will engage with the industry to target investment where it matters most. For example, considering investment in new technology and equipment to modernise our fishing fleet, delivering new training and skills to back the next generation of fishers, and promoting the seafood sector to export our high-quality produce across the world.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase biosecurity.

Biosecurity is paramount – it underpins safe food; protects human, animal and plant health; and supports a prospering economy and trade. This Government will be decisive and take the necessary action to protect our country from new and emerging and notifiable disease threats.

We have in place robust measures to maintain and improve our ability to understand, detect, prevent, respond and recover from outbreaks. We monitor new and emerging threats to our biosecurity through our Veterinary Risk Group, Plant Heath Risk Group and the Human and Animal Infections Risk Surveillance Group, and our strong surveillance network provides an early warning system to detect signs of disease, pests or other threats such as antimicrobial resistance.

This Government will act quickly to prevent pests and diseases entering the country by putting restrictions in place at the border. Our disease contingency plans are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose and that we have the necessary capacity and capability to respond to outbreaks should they occur. As part of this, the Government is committed to delivering a National Biosecurity Centre at the Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge campus - a world leading science centre protecting people and animals from disease outbreaks. We are also promoting best practice while providing practical support to livestock keepers in England through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the quantity of illegal food products that have entered the UK in the last six months.

It is not possible to estimate the amount of illegal food products which have evaded border checks and entered the UK in the last six months. Data supplied by Border Force to the end of 2024 indicates that it detained and seized 137,000 kilograms of illegal animal products and 18,000 kilograms of illegal plants and plant products at the UK border in the last six months of 2024.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled Government to launch £360m Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, published on 19 May 2025, whether the fund will be UK-wide; and what the Barnet consequentials will be for each of the devolved Administrations.

The Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund will be investing £360 million over the next 12 years. As part of that fund Ministers committed to working closely with the industry and local communities in order to ensure investment is targeted to where it is needed most. As part of that planned engagement we will work closely with Devolved Governments.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on publishing a timeline to bring forward legislative measures to end trail hunting.

The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal, such as Foxes, with dogs except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions in the Act.

The aim of Trail Hunting is to simulate traditional hunting as practised before the Hunting Act came into force. The trails are laid along a route that might be taken by the traditional quarry, through hedgerows and woods, along ditches, across fields, to simulate the natural movement of the wild mammal, e.g., a fox, as much as possible.  The most common method of laying the trail is to drag a scent infected sock or cloth along the ground. The scent occasionally lifted for a distance and dropped again, thus allowing the hounds to cast (search for the scent if they lose it). The Huntsman and followers often do not know where any of the trails have been laid, so that the days hunting will mimic its realistic form.

The Government made a manifesto commitment to ban Trail Hunting as part of a set of measures to improve animal welfare. Work to bring this forward is at a very early stage and there is not yet an agreed timetable.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
12th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a veterinary agreement with the EU.

The Prime Minister welcomed President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen and President of the EU Council António Costa to London for a UK-EU Summit on 19 May.

At that Summit we have agreed the parameters for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement making agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers, and increasing choice in the shops.

This agreement will reduce delays and paperwork at the border, make it easier and cheaper to take pets on holiday into the EU, and trade in products such as fresh sausages and burgers will be able to resume.

The holistic merits of an SPS agreement could see an increase in the volume of UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by around 16% and increase imports from the EU by around 8%; the agreement could also add up to £5.1 billion a year to our economy in the long run. Specifically, GB goods such as dairy, fish, eggs and red meat currently subject to 100% documentary checks and up to 30% physical checks will see these removed entirely; further merits can be found at UK-EU Summit - Explainer - GOV.UK.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
30th Apr 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what analysis they have undertaken of the expected contribution of precision-bred crops and foods to gross domestic product, agritech growth and public revenues; and whether any such analyses have been independently reviewed or validated by the Treasury.

The Department has taken an evidence-based approach, underpinned by expert scientific advice and published data, to estimate the impacts of implementing the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023. All estimations are informed by data from independent, reputable sources including market research, scientific papers, and reports by economic institutions.

This includes the Department’s De Minimis Assessment of the impacts of The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025, which has been compiled by Defra economists and reviewed by the Defra Chief Economist. The Treasury does not routinely assess departmental analysis.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
13th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprenticeship starts in his Department.

We remain committed to supporting the use of apprenticeships across all departments as part of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. This includes supporting the Government's commitment to 2,000 digital apprenticeships through its TechTrack scheme by 2030 to improve digital skills and drive improvements and efficiency in public services.

Additionally, a new cross-Government Level 3 apprenticeship programme in Business Administration, the Civil Service Career Launch Apprenticeship, will see new apprentices kickstart their careers, across various departments, starting from January 2026.

In addition, Defra has a group apprenticeship strategy with a clear ambition for year-on-year growth in enrolments. There is a focus on areas where apprenticeships can support organisational priorities, career development for existing staff and addressing key skills gaps.

These include:

  • Trailblazer groups related to Asset Management Level 4 and Geoscientist Degree Level 6. Cohorts have been recruited this year, with more planned for 2026.
  • Development of a Soils Scientist Level 7 apprenticeship with first cohorts in 2025.
  • Development of an Environmental Practitioner degree and an Ecology MSc which are recruited to annually.

Following a successful pilot of a Data Protection and Information Governance cohort in 2023, plans for recruitment of a second cohort in early 2026 have begun.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Leading food experts join Government food strategy to restore pride in British food, published on 21 March 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure the planned Food Strategy incorporates all parts of the food supply chain in its development.

Since announcing the food strategy in December 2024, we have been building a coalition with the food sector, academics, charities, civil society, citizens and key thinkers.

The Food Strategy Advisory Board serves to stress test ideas and provide advice. We have hosted roundtables with academics. Our four, multi-stakeholder workshops in May include people chosen to represent a broad range of food system interests. There will be ongoing sectoral and thematic conversations through May and June, utilising existing Defra stakeholder groups. We are also working with The Food Foundation and Food Farming Countryside Commission to ensure the citizen’s voice is heard. This is just the start of the conversation, and stakeholders across the food supply chain will be engaged.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of a foot and mouth disease outbreak on the dairy sector.

The impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) were assessed in 2023 for the National Risk Register which is available on GOV.UK. These national risks are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account new developments.

Defra has robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of FMD as set out in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England. Defra continues to adapt its policies in response to developments and remains committed to protecting the UK’s biosecurity and livestock sector. In response to the outbreaks of FMD in Europe, this includes working with Dairy UK to update the milk code of practice for FMD, which is a set of guidelines for milk hauliers, processors, and buyers to prevent the spread of FMD through milk and dairy products.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to offer farmers badger vaccination in 2025 to tackle bTB in wildlife populations.

Badger vaccination is proven to significantly reduce the risk of infection and spread of disease within badger populations. The Government is committed to strengthening the evidence on how badger vaccination reduces TB in cattle. We know this is crucial for giving the wider farming industry confidence that participating in badger vaccination will have a positive effect on their cattle.

We are working with a range of organisations to continue the rollout of badger vaccination in England. This includes large-scale vaccination delivery by Animal and Plant Health (APHA) field teams, and an industry delivered vaccination approach in East Sussex. This work is demonstrating that large scale vaccination of badgers is practical, including in previously culled areas.

As part of the announcement of the start of work on a comprehensive new bovine TB strategy, the Government also outlined several actions it is taking immediately to underpin the policy with robust science and further increase badger vaccination at pace. This is available at the link below and includes:

  • Surveying the badger population for the first time in a decade, to estimate badger abundance and population recovery. Surveys of eligible land started this February.
  • Developing a new national wildlife surveillance programme, to unlock a data-driven approach that informs how and where TB vaccines and other eradication measures are deployed.
  • Establishing a new Badger Vaccinator Field Force, to continue increasing delivery to create progressively healthier badger populations that are less susceptible to catching and transmitting TB.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-end-badger-cull-with-new-tb-eradication-strategy.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the chalk stream recovery pack.

The Chalk Stream Recovery Pack was announced by the previous government, but delivery was paused due to the General Election. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our overall programme of reforms for the water sector.

Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams is a top government priority. That is why on 23 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works.

Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution and physical modifications of habitats.

Alongside this, we are continuing to direct investment to projects that will improve chalk streams. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), over 1000 improvement projects are planned within chalk stream catchments between 2024-2029.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate the risk of drought in England this summer, following reports from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology that reservoir levels are 10 per cent less full than they should be.

The Environment Agency has declared Prolonged Dry Weather status in Cumbria and Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, and Northeast areas. Drought plans have been activated in these areas to help mitigate any dry weather impacts. Water company reservoir levels in northern and central England are below storage levels expected for the time of year.

The National Drought Group, including the water minister, met on the 7 May to coordinate the strategic management of drought across government, regulators, water industry, and stakeholders. Frequency of these meetings have increased due to the current dry weather situation. Specific actions include:

  • Water companies to increase action on leakage and communicate with customers about using water wisely.
  • Advising farmers and growers to plan their water needs this summer and seek advice from the Environment Agency and the National Farmers Union if they have concerns.
  • Environment Agency to work with fishery owners to ensure dry weather contingency plans are in place

An updated irrigation prospect report has been published to inform the agriculture community of the current water resources situation to help farmers plan their water needs for the summer. The Environment Agency has also issued some restrictions on abstraction licences to protect river flows where these are low.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to help reduce (a) waste and (b) pollution from waterways in the Thames Valley region.

Water quality impacts from wastewater pollution and agriculture are two of the key pressures resulting in many waterbodies not currently achieving good ecological status.

There are many Wastewater Treatment Works, operated by Thames Water, that discharge to rivers in the Thames Valley. Improving water quality by securing investment to improve wastewater treatment remains a priority for the Environment Agency (EA) and Ofwat. As does reducing pollution from waste and water quality from agriculture and road runoff.

The recent information published by the EA on 2024 storm overflows shows the number and duration of spills remains unacceptably high and water companies, including Thames Water, have a long way to go to reduce sewage pollution.

The EA continues to respond and investigate any significant pollution incidents. There have been a number of significant pollution incidents at some Thames Water sites in the Thames Valley region in recent years and these are subject to ongoing EA investigations. The EA has undertaken recent inspections of Wastewater Treatment Works across the Thames Valley.

Water quality impacts from diffuse pollution including agriculture are also a key pressure affecting waterbodies in the Thames Valley. The EA has increased the number of farm inspections, helping farmers comply with legal requirements and requiring actions to reduce pollution.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to amend the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017.

In October 2024 the UK and Welsh Government launched an Independent Commission into the water sector regulatory system, this is the third stage of the Government’s water strategy and is the largest review of the industry since privatisation.

The Commission will publish an interim report soon and final report later this summer with recommendations to the Government on how to tackle inherited systemic issues in the water sector. The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) and River Basin Management Plans are in scope of the Commission.

The UK and Welsh Government will respond to the report and consult on proposals they intend to take forward to fundamentally transform how the nation’s water system operates to tackle pollution and deliver a resilient water supply, turbocharge investment, and speed up the delivery of infrastructure upgrades to clean up the nation’s waterways.

The Corry Review into Defra’s regulatory landscape, published in April this year, has identified the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017 along with other regulations as a priority for reform. The review recommends modernising these regulations to ensure they are outcome-focused, proportionate and fit for the future- supporting both nature recovery and sustainable growth. Defra is actively considering implementation of the recommendations from the review.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on achieving (a) Good Chemical Status and (b) Good Ecological Status for waterways in Henley and Thame constituency.

The major waterbodies in the Henley & Thames constituency are the Thames (Wallingford to Caversham), Thames (Caversham to Cookham) and the Thame. These waterbodies do not achieve Good Ecological Status due to their Phosphate Status. All the other elements are at Good Status or above. The Environment Act (2021) puts obligations on water companies to reduce their Phosphorous loading from STWs by 80% using a 2020 base. This needs to be achieved by 2038. It is anticipated that once these improvements have been made, most waterbodies will be at or close to Good Status for Phosphate. Any additional reductions to get Phosphate to meet Good Status will need to be done with other sectors, particularly the agricultural sector.

The tributaries within the Thame catchment have various reasons for Not Achieving Good Status. During Asset Management Period 8 (which covers 2025-30), 8 Sewage Treatment Works (STW) overflows will be improved to meet Environment Act targets, and a further 7 will have storm overflow investigations, alongside Phosphorus reduction. It is expected that these measures will form part of the pathway to getting the waterbodies to Good Ecological Status.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to incorporate the needs of small-scale meat (a) producers and (b) processors into his Department's (i) food strategy and (ii) future rural support programmes.

Developing a food strategy is not a job for the Government alone. We are forming a coalition with the food sector, academics and charities, citizens, and key thinkers to pool our collective ideas, influence, and effort. As part of our engagement, we are holding sectoral and thematic conversations through May and June, utilising existing Defra forums. This includes the Livestock Chain Advisory Group, in which small-scale meat producers and processors are represented by sector bodies and associations.

This is just the start of the conversation, and all stakeholders across the food supply chain will be engaged.

Defra plans to simplify and rationalise grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and nature. We are currently working to agree our capital settlement as part of the Spending Review. Once agreed, we will consider how best to use capital to achieve outcomes and will confirm any future grant rounds in due course.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the proportion of beef imports from the US that will be (a) carcass and b) valuable cuts following the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal.

On 8 May, the UK Government announced a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump. This delivers on the commitment by the Prime Minister and the President on 27 February to agree an economic deal in our respective national interests.

This deal has created a reciprocal agreement to lower tariffs for British beef exporters to the US, while acting in the UK’s national interest by ensuring that we uphold our rigorous food standards while protecting our farmers.

The agreement on beef means that around 1.5% of the UK beef market could come from the United States, and the same quantity of British beef can be exported to them.

We have always been clear that this Government will protect British farmers, secure our food security, and uphold our high food, animal welfare, and environmental standards in trade deals. That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Explainer, updated on 19 May 2025, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact on (a) UK fish exports and (b) domestic fish processing businesses.

Over 70% of all UK seafood by value is exported to the EU. Removing the need for Export Health Certificates and border checks saves time and money – especially for fresh and live seafood that needs to reach markets quickly. This agreement has secured practical wins for the seafood sector – cutting costs, reducing delays, and protecting key quota, and providing business certainty – while also unlocking broader economic benefits that support UK growth and livelihoods.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to update guidance on the ownership of XL Bullies.

The ban on XL Bullies is vital to protect the public and we expect all XL Bully owners to comply with the conditions. Up to date guidance for owners of XL Bullies is available on GOV.UK.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Explainer, updated on 19 May 2025, what discussions he has had with representatives of the fishing industry on the new 12-year access arrangement.

The Secretary of State and Fisheries Minister meet regularly with representatives from across the UK fishing industry. During meetings with fishing industry representatives the implementation of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement is often discussed, including (but not limited to) the setting of annual fishing opportunities, the work of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries, and the end of the fisheries access adjustment period in 2026. Most recently, the Secretary of State and Fisheries Minister spoke with key industry representatives on 19 May.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce microplastic pollution from combined sewer outflows.

Tackling marine litter and plastic pollution is a priority for the UK Government, which is why we are working domestically and internationally to implement measures that will prevent macro-sized plastic litter which are sources of microplastics from reaching rivers, seas and the ocean in the first place.

As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record levels through the £22.1 billion Water Industry National Environment Programme. This includes over £11 billion to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales which OfWat expects will reduce storm overflow discharges by 45% by 2030, compared to 2021 levels. This will help to reduce discharges of raw sewage which can contain organic pollutants, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, nutrients, and heavy metals, as well as visible litter that is flushed down toilets.

We are also taking forward investigations through the water industry’s Chemical Investigations Programme, to understand how we can reduce the levels of microplastics entering the water environment through treated wastewater. Microplastics have been recognised as a significant standalone issue and the water industry are funding six further investigations between 2025 and 2030.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of fish caught in UK territorial waters was caught by (a) UK vessels and (b) EU vessels in each of the last three years for which data is available; what his Department's policy is on the application of the zonal attachment principle for determining fishing quotas after June 2026; and what estimate he has made of how catch percentages will change.

The UK does not collect data on catches of fish at a level of detail that allows us to determine the proportion of catch made by UK or EU vessels in UK territorial waters. However, under the TCA, 149, 152, and 152 EU vessels were licensed to fish in the UK 6-12 nautical mile zone at the start of 2023, 2024, and 2025 respectively. This compares to 5,418 registered UK fishing vessels in 2023.

The UK seeks to ensure sustainable exploitation of fisheries through the establishment of comprehensive total allowable catch sharing underpinned by the principle of zonal attachment. UK fishing quotas for shared stocks with the EU are set in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). UK shares will gradually increase until 2026, after which further changes are a matter for the TCA Partnership Council.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support communities affected by coastal erosion through the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

We are unable to provide detailed information prior to 2022 due to time/cost involved. Limited landscape designation work was delivered and funding for this was from Natural England’s baseline’ settlement.

Defra provided direct funding of £1.1 million per annum for years 2022/23 - 2024/25. As well as the four National Landscape designation cases, this covered wider work on landscape designations and alternatives.

For 2025/26 the direct funding for National Landscape designation work was not continued. Natural England is using baseline budget to fund a reduced programme of landscape designation work.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) regulations and (b) testing are in place to monitor environmental lead.

The Environment Agency routinely monitors water quality in surface waters. The legal basis for assessing whether substances are causing water pollution is set out in The Water Framework Directive (Standards and Classification) Directions (England and Wales) 2015. Lead is a priority substance. Many rivers polluted by lead are downstream of abandoned metal mines; the Government has set a statutory target to halve the 1,491kms of English rivers polluted by target metals (including lead) from these mines by 31st December 2038. The Government supports the Water & Abandoned Metal Mines Programme.

The main responsibility for dealing with terrestrial legacy lead contamination in England lies with local authorities under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Deposition from sewage sludge spreading is controlled under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989.

Limit values for lead concentrations in ambient air are found in the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010) and lead emissions to air are measured as part of the Heavy Metals Network and the Particle Concentrations and Numbers Network. Emissions of lead from industrial sources are also regulated under the Environmental Permitting Regime. The UK has been compliant with the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010) limit values for lead since 2008.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Climate and Nature Bill.

This Government is absolutely committed to tackling the climate and nature crises and has agreed steps to take forward the spirit and substance of the Climate and Nature Bill with the Bill’s Sponsors. There is already a well-developed legislative framework that supports our actions in the areas of climate and nature including the Climate Change Act and the Environment Act. In accordance with parliamentary convention, the Government will set out its formal position on this Bill when its Second Reading debate is scheduled to resume.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average length of time was between the Environment Agency receiving a flood risk activity permit application and starting the determination process for the approval of said permit in the latest period for which data is available.

Flood risk activity permit applications are currently being allocated for assessment a maximum of 14 weeks from receipt.

For time critical applications that pose a significant risk to people or the environment, or where required for national infrastructure projects, we prioritise the assessment of the application. Currently about 40% of applications are prioritised.

A number of initiatives are underway to reduce application processing timelines, such as additional resourcing and streamlining our regulatory approach.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the value-for-money of levels of abstraction license fees for hydropower schemes in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) other countries.

Determining abstraction licences for hydropower projects is a complex activity due to the risks to the environment and water users.

Hydropower application charges are based on a scheme’s output power and its risk rating. Annual subsistence charges cover costs to protect the environment and the rights of licence holders. There is no annual fee for hydropower licences for electricity production of up to 5 megawatts.

The Environment Agency (EA) does not receive any government funding to subsidise application or annual charges. The EA charging scheme sets out the charges for hydropower schemes.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted to the Environment Agency on Markyate Sewage Works of 28 March 2025.

A reply to the hon. Member is being prepared by the Environment Agency and will be issued as soon as possible.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency is required to undertake an environmental impact assessment before cutting grass on embankments.

The Environment Agency regularly carries out maintenance works using its permissive powers to manage flood risk. Routine grass cutting, vegetation management and debris clearance on embankments are low-impact but essential preventative maintenance activities for our flood defences - ensuring they remain safe, and to sustain their condition.

A full assessment in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations isn’t necessary, however, we carefully assess each maintenance activity for environmental impacts through internal protocols.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their policy for publishing information about enforcement actions for non-compliance with fisheries regulations in English waters; and what measures they are implementing, if any, to increase public access to information about enforcement activities, penalties and sanctions, for breach of those regulations.

There is currently no requirement to publish enforcement statistics relating to non-compliance with fisheries regulations in English waters and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) does not routinely do so. It does, however, share details of specific court cases where there may be a wider public interest or where it is considered appropriate to do so, and it continues to engage with the fisheries sector on compliance matters directly, through established groups and networks, and through wider-reaching awareness campaigns.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including a farm education option in the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Educational access features as part of the wider Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes and we are developing it further as a new 3-year capital item; we expect this to be available later in 2025. It will be a stand-alone capital item, though applicants must have an agri-environment or woodland agreement with management actions for this capital item. In countryside stewardship, currently eligible visitor groups are school age children and care farming groups only, but in the new educational access capital item, more diverse groups of people will be able to visit and benefit from an educational experience on farms and woodland across England.

As part of the development of the new educational access capital item, funding levels were considered, and agreement holders will receive £363 per visit, up to a maximum of 25 visits per agreement year.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
13th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on operational costs for pubs and brewers.

The Government has worked closely with industry, including the brewing and hospitality sectors, throughout development of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR). In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector.

Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the brewing and hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached.

We are continuing to explore options with producers and will bring forward a consultation as soon as possible. We recognise the strength of feeling but also the need for a system that can be effectively monitored and enforced, given the impact on the pEPR fees for the packaging remaining in scope of fees.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency is taking steps to streamline the (a) application and (b) determination process for (i) abstraction and (ii) impoundment licenses for new hydropower projects.

Determining abstraction and impoundment licences for hydropower projects is a complex activity due to the wide-ranging risks to the environment and water users.

The Environment Agency has implemented several steps to streamline and improve its permitting process through a wide-ranging transformation programme across all its work areas from application acceptance through to assessment. These benefit hydropower projects and create efficiencies for the benefit of all applicants.

Specifically for water resources and hydropower, a new validation process has been introduced to quickly assess if an application is technically valid once received. The aim is for the initial assessments to be completed within 4 weeks and applicants are told if more information is required. New efficient assessment processes for staff, significantly reducing the time taken to assess applications, are being continually introduced.

Delays to the process are often caused by incorrect payments and applications with missing information. Applicants are urged to make use of the enhanced pre-application service which reduces the risk of delays and support applicants to apply for the right type of licences with the correct supporting information.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
12th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the policy to require government catering contracts to favour high-welfare products will be determined in line with the highest animal welfare tiers set out in the consultation on fairer food labelling.

The National Procurement Policy Statement, published in February, underscores the Government's commitment to increasing the procurement of food that meets higher environmental standards, supporting local suppliers and upholding ethical sourcing practises across public sector contracts. This includes sourcing products from all farmed animals which have been raised to high UK welfare standards as defined in current animal welfare legislation.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a mixed public-private sector ownership model for water service provision in the South West.

The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will recommend reforms to reset the water sector regulatory system and is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation. It is considering a wide range of areas, including different water company ownership models, as set out in the Commission’s Call for Evidence. The Commission is expected to publish its recommendations later in the summer.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support farmers in the light of dry conditions this spring.

The UK has a resilient food supply chain that has frequently demonstrated its ability to adapt when required.

The Met Office’s 3-month weather outlook for May, June, and July indicates near average rainfall is most likely for the UK but with a slightly higher than normal chance of wet weather. Defra is aware of the current concerns around the ongoing dry conditions. However, it is too early to understand the impact of this period of dry weather on livestock, horticulture and crop plantings, and the subsequent impact this may have on yield and quality later in the year at harvest time.

We continue to engage and work closely with the industry and to monitor the weather impacts on domestic food production, through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG), which was established by Defra and the Devolved Administrations to monitor the UK market across all key agricultural commodities.

The Government is also engaged with research on climate change and adaptation measures through our work with the Met Office Hadley Centre Food Farming and Natural Environment (FFNE) service.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what notifications of changes to revenue grants for financial year 2025-6 have been sent to National Park Authorities (a) on and (b) since 2 April 2025.

Letters were issued to all National Park Authorities (including the Broads Authority) in early April confirming Defra’s intent to continue grant funding for the financial year 2025/26. The letters also set out the provisional revenue and capital grant allocation for each authority.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his Department's (a) collection and (b) packaging reforms on levels of private sector investment in advanced recycling infrastructure.

The Government has published updated impact assessments of each of the projects within the Collection and Packaging Reforms: pEPR in 2024, DRS in 2024, and Simpler Recycling in 2024.

These impact assessments do not specifically present private sector investment in advanced recycling infrastructure. However, The Environmental Services Association, alongside by the Chief Executives of the UK’s largest waste management companies, have stated that in response to the Collection and Packaging Reforms they will invest £10 billion over the next decade in the UK’s recycling infrastructure.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility fees for (a) glass and (b) plastic packaging on small producers of premium products.

In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector.

The Government recognises the importance of protecting small producers from direct cost obligations. This is why the regulations include a de-minimis threshold of £2 million turnover and 50 tonnes which exempts approximately 70% of the producers supplying packaging in the UK from paying scheme fees.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of funding for the National Park Authorities.

The government is providing £45.2 million of core funding to the 10 National Park Authorities, with a capital uplift of up to £15 million to support their contribution to protecting 30% of land by 2030. In challenging financial circumstances, this uplift in capital investment is recognition of the vital importance of national parks to government priorities. We have also extended programmes such as Farming In Protected Landscapes, providing £30 million to support projects in our National Parks and Protected Landscapes, until March 2026.

In addition to investing in these important landscapes we are also working with Protected Landscapes organisations to identify additional sources of funding and foster innovation to ensure their future for generations to come.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on the trail hunting consultation; and if he will an assessment of the potential merits of (a) reviewing current exemptions within the Hunting Act to prevent exploitation, (b) introducing stronger deterrents to illegal hunting, and (c) enhancing protections for (i) deer and (ii) other wildlife from being hunted with dogs.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England and Wales only.

This government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans in a generation to improve animal welfare and that is exactly what we will do. As part of this, we are committed to banning trail hunting. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing. Further details will be set out on due course.

The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs, except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions in the Act.

Enforcement of the Hunting Act is an operational matter for the police.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th May 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reporting materials by weight in the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on incentives for producers to use (a) soft plastics and (b) other lighter but less recyclable materials over (i) paper, (ii) glass and (iii) other more sustainable but heavier alternatives.

Defra and PackUK have engaged extensively with waste management experts and the packaging industry across all materials, to ensure that the modelling of local authority costs underpinning the pEPR scheme fairly reflects the on-the-ground reality of waste management operations. As a result, even though packaging weight is generally a key driver of waste management costs in the model, estimated packaging volume, rather than packaging weight, is used to calculate kerbside dry recycling collections costs, to best reflect practical limitations with waste collection systems. This is especially important for heavier materials, which would otherwise incur higher base fees under a modelling of costs solely based on weight. The introduction of base fees from 2025 is designed to incentivise a reduction in the weight of packaging placed on the market in the UK.

Defra and PackUK also engaged extensively across the waste and packaging sectors to agree modulation rates that will be introduce from 2026 to incentivise the use of most recyclable materials by reducing their fees when compared to unrecyclable alternatives.

PackUK will continue monitor the impact of these financial incentives, to ensure they deliver the intended outcomes.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to introduce specific legal protection for chalk streams.

Chalk Streams will be prioritised as part of the record £11 billion of investment to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows in England and Wales during Price Review 2024, with 75% of such High Priority Sites needing to be improved by 2035 and the rest by 2045. By 2050, we expect no storm overflow spill to cause any adverse ecological harm and spill no more than 10 times per year.

The Government is committed to securing better environmental outcomes alongside securing the development we need and is considering how best to reform environmental assessment processes with this objective in mind.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
6th May 2025
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of climate change on the availability of British agricultural produce for UK and overseas markets.

We celebrate the amazing job food businesses do in feeding the nation. The UK Food Security Report is a triannual statistical report required under the Agriculture Act 2020. The most recent report, published December 2024, assessed that the UK produces 62% of all the food we need and 75% of the food we can grow or rear in the UK for all or part of the year.

Food production faces pressing risks from climate change and nature loss, as assessed in the Government’s Third Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3). Strengthening food security by supporting our farmers and food producers is a top priority for this Government. Defra is taking action to reduce climate change impacts, for example through the third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3), which includes a range of measures for the agri-food system.

The government works with the Met Office Hadley Centre’s Food Farming and Natural Environment (FFNE) service on food supply resilience research in relation to climate change and adaptation measures.

The Government’s Land Use Consultation asked about the support that land managers, including farmers, would need to plan for climate change. Responses to this consultation will inform the Land Use Framework that will be published later this year.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)