Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the annual volume of electronic waste generated by manufacturers withdrawing software support for otherwise functional connected devices; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of applying extended producer responsibility to smart technology.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra does not collect data relating to the volume of waste generated by devices made redundant due to software upgrades and only holds data relating to the Government’s own Information and Communication Technology devices.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a Circular Economy. The Government convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help map that transition, and will publish a Circular Economy Growth Plan that sets out how government will deliver a more circular and more prosperous economy. In the development of the Growth Plan, Defra are considering the evidence for action right across the economy and evaluating what interventions may be needed, including any interventions in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) sector.

The WEEE Regulations 2013 are founded on the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility and stipulate that all producers of electrical goods, including producers of smart technology, must take responsibility for the products they place on the market when they become waste.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether overseas tourism activities involving animals are currently being considered for inclusion within the Activity Regulations under the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad.

The Act grants enforcement powers to Trading Standards in England and the Department for the Economy for Northern Ireland to monitor compliance of future regulations.

It is important that any regulations are effective and work in practice, and as set out in the animal welfare strategy published in December 2025, we are continuing to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what enforcement mechanisms will be used to ensure compliance with the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 once the Activity Regulations are in force.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad.

The Act grants enforcement powers to Trading Standards in England and the Department for the Economy for Northern Ireland to monitor compliance of future regulations.

It is important that any regulations are effective and work in practice, and as set out in the animal welfare strategy published in December 2025, we are continuing to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what engagement her Department has had with animal protection organisations on the development of activity regulations under the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023, including the extent to which those organisations’ recommendations have informed policy development.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad.

The Act grants enforcement powers to Trading Standards in England and the Department for the Economy for Northern Ireland to monitor compliance of future regulations.

It is important that any regulations are effective and work in practice, and as set out in the animal welfare strategy published in December 2025, we are continuing to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of imported agricultural produce on farm-gate prices for British farmers.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, Defra will uphold high food and animal welfare standards. The Government recognises concerns about methods of production not permitted in the UK.

While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases and other contextual reasons, Defra will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact this might have. Where necessary, Defra is prepared to use the full range of powers at its disposal to protect the most sensitive sectors.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the regulation of travel companies advertising overseas animal tourism activities that involve low welfare standards.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on a range of issues.

As set out in the animal welfare strategy, published in December 2025, we are continuing to engage with stakeholders to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her department has assessed the potential implications of levels of workforce availability of sheep shearers on animal welfare.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

With a national flock of around 30m sheep, Defra recognises the good work that British Wool does in delivering training for domestic sheep shearers, the importance that shearing sheep plays in managing the health and welfare of the UK flock, and the continued challenges that the industry faces each year in sourcing sufficient numbers of trained shearers.

We continue to work closely with the industry in addressing these challenges.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed consultation on banning trail hunting will allow submissions on family pets being killed by hunting hounds; and what plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals on this matter.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will hold a consultation on its plans to ban trail hunting. Defra will be guided by the Government's consultation principles in shaping the proposed consultation. The department plans to introduce legislation to ban the activity of trail hunting when Parliamentary time allows. Under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is an offence to allow a dog to be dangerously out of control. The owner of any dog that is dangerously out of control may be put in prison for up to 14 years, banned from ever owning a dog and receive an unlimited fine.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of pressures on the sheep shearing workforce on (a) farm businesses and (b) the sheep industry.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

With a national sheep flock of around 30m sheep, Defra recognises the good work that British Wool does in delivering training for domestic sheep shearers, the importance that shearing sheep plays in managing the health and welfare of the UK flock, and the continued challenges that both individual farm business and the wider industry face each year in sourcing sufficient numbers of trained shearers.

We continue to work closely with the industry in addressing these challenges.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the contribution of British Wool's (a) sheep shearing training and (b) exchange with shearers and sheep farmers in Australia and New Zealand to farming in the UK.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

With a national flock of around 30m sheep, British Wool provides a unique and valuable service, for around 30,000 registered wool producers across the UK, to collect, grade, promote, and sell their fleece wool to the global textile industry.

British Wool is also the main provider and promoter of training for sheep shearers in the UK. In each of the last five years (2021-2025) British Wool has provided shearing training for between 798 and 898 people at skill levels ranging from beginners through to highly proficient commercial shearers. British Wool’s investment in this training includes subsidised courses for between 100- 200 young farmers a year.

Defra is aware of the role that shearers and sheep farmers from countries such as Australia and New Zealand have provided in sharing skills and expertise with UK sheep farmers and in supporting the health and welfare of the UK flock.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help prevent illegal persecution of hen harriers and other birds of prey on land managed for gamebird shooting.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The illegal killing of any wild bird of prey on land managed for gamebird shooting is unacceptable. Bird of prey persecution is a national wildlife crime priority and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against these birds. Defra supports the work of a national Tactical Delivery Group which brings stakeholders together to tackle such criminality.

Defra is a principal funder of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), which helps prevent and detect wildlife crime and directly assists law enforcers in their investigations. Defra is providing £494,000 for NWCU this year. In 2024, the NWCU launched the Hen Harrier Task Force (HTF) – a partnership designed to help tackle the illegal persecution of hen harriers. Through the HTF, more efficient channels of communication between partners expedites the coordination of effective enforcement responses. The HTF is also using innovative technology such as tracking drones and specialised detection dogs to enhance evidence collection in remote areas.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to HCWS1281 on reform to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, what plans she has to regulate veterinary and animal healthcare businesses; how price transparency and consumer protections will be enforced; what progress she has made in responding to the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into the veterinary sector.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is currently unable to regulate businesses. Defra’s consultation on reform of this Act, released on 28 January, proposes that all veterinary and animal health businesses (those owned by allied veterinary professionals) be licensed and regulated. This may include policies surrounding price transparency and consumer rights, in line with the outcomes and remedies of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) market investigation into the household pet veterinary sector.

The CMA’s investigation is currently ongoing. Its final report is expected in the spring and Defra shall respond to it within 90 days of its publication.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support dairy farmers.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government paid more than £2.6 billion to British farmers, including those in the dairy sector in 2024-25, the most funding in a single financial year since we left the EU. This included funding toward Environmental Land Management schemes, improving animal health and welfare on farm and grants to drive innovation in agriculture and food production across England.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is she taking to reduce the harmful impacts of long lining.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Longlining is a method of fishing used in parts of the UK. It is recognised that bycatch can occur in this fishery.

To address this, Defra funds the Clean Catch programme, a research programme dedicated to better monitoring and reducing bycatch of sensitive species in the UK, and the Bycatch Monitoring Programme (along with Scottish Government, given the devolved nature of fisheries management). Defra also commissioned the ongoing Bycatch Risk Prioritisation Framework, which assesses species vulnerability to bycatch in all fisheries in England and the UK.

The Department also plays a role internationally, for example, in tabling a proposal to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) to recommend the use of hook-shielding devices to reduce seabird bycatch in longline fisheries to help protect albatrosses and petrels in the South Atlantic and securing agreement at ICCAT to prohibit the retention of several vulnerable shark species.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of projected increases in domestic water bills on household finances.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

It is important that customers get value for money from their water bills and that support is available for those who need it.

As the independent economic regulator, it is Ofwat’s responsibility to scrutinise water company business plans and ensure the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. It does this through its Price Review, every five years.

All water companies have measures in place for customers who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. Moreover, Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported.

Affordability must be at the core of any future investment plans. The Government will be doing an impact assessment for the water reform bill which will cover the costs and benefits of reforms.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has considered a) regulating the cost of veterinary procedures, and b) requiring increased transparency around costs of veterinary procedures for pets.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are finalising a market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. On 15 October, they released a Provisional Decision Report, which included proposed remedies such as increased transparency of veterinary fees, requiring vets to publish price lists, and a cap on the price of written veterinary prescriptions. The proposed remedies are subject to the CMA’s final report which is due to be released in the Spring.

Defra welcomes the CMA’s market investigation into the veterinary sector and will consider any remedies from the CMA’s final report.

Currently, businesses providing veterinary services are not regulated. Reforms to the Veterinary Surgeons Act (which are currently being consulted on) will bring in regulation of veterinary and other animal healthcare businesses and empower the regulator to ensure competition within the market.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will (a) hold discussions with stakeholders on Dartmoor and (b) attend the forthcoming annual Dartmoor Forum this spring.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to supporting our Protected Landscapes, including Dartmoor, recognising their vital importance to national priorities.

The Secretary of State will continue to engage with a wide range of partners and stakeholders on Dartmoor as part of this work.

The Dartmoor Land Use Management Group has been established to provide a collaborative and co-ordinated approach to land management on Dartmoor. Its purpose is to bring together farmers, conservation bodies, public agencies, and other stakeholders to help rebuild trust and improve working relationships.

The Secretary of State recently announced a new partnership between Dartmoor, Defra and social entrepreneur Dr Hilary Cottam OBE, working to transform the way uplands land can support food production and create new income opportunities, alongside wider public benefits.

I would be happy to attend the Dartmoor Forum this spring subject to confirmation of the date.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has considered the potential merits of including glass in the proposed deposit protection scheme.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Following consultations in 2019 and 2021, an extensive review of evidence was carried out in addition to engagement with industry stakeholders which informed our decision to exclude glass drinks containers from the Deposit Return Scheme.

Glass drinks containers are included in the scope of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging scheme.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to develop routine antimicrobial resistance surveillance across UK aquaculture sectors.

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

In 2022 the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) initiated a collaboration with the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture science (Cefas) with the support of the British Trout Association (BTA), to establish AMR surveillance in bacteria responsible for disease in UK farmed trout. Results from this pilot scheme have been reported in the UK Veterinary Antibiotic Resistance and Sales Surveillance Reports (2023 & 2024). Building on this work the development of a national surveillance programme for AMR in healthy aquatic animals – including finfish and shellfish – is currently under consideration.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has also established the Private Laboratories Initiative (PLI) to strengthen national AMR surveillance by capturing clinical data from private veterinary diagnostic laboratories, which are not currently included in government surveillance programmes. Addressing this surveillance gap will improve our ability to understand of AMR trends and detect emerging threats. This work includes aquaculture, with work underway led by Cefas. Further details can be found in the UK‑VARSS 2024 report (p.169).

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 21 January (HL13085), what evidence they received from trading partners to confirm that antimicrobials used for growth promotion have not been used in food-producing animals or animal products exported to Great Britain for human consumption; and whether they will publish examples of that evidence.

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

Defra requires all trading partners that export food-producing animals and animal products for human consumption to Great Britain to submit residue control plans each year.

The plans monitor for the presence of pharmacologically active substances, including antimicrobials used for growth promotion. Where non‑compliance is detected, Defra can impose safeguard measures, including compulsory pre‑ or post‑import testing and import bans.

Trading partners must also provide guarantees that antimicrobials intended for growth promotion or yield enhancement have not been used. Although returns are not published, the lists of countries with approved residue control plans can be found on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish a timetable for introducing a ban on the import of foie gras.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare and has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns.

Foie gras production using force feeding has been banned in the UK for nearly 20 years as it is not compatible with our animal welfare legislation.

Defra is continuing to consider the evidence and options in relation to foie gras.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to HCWS1281 of 28 January 2026 on reform to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, what assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of allowing veterinary nurses and allied veterinary professionals to practise more independently; what safeguards will be introduced to maintain animal welfare and clinical standards; how accountability will be enforced under a licence-to-practise model; and what steps will be taken to ensure public confidence in the regulatory framework.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Registered Veterinary Nurses are highly qualified and are regulated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Any work they do will remain within their competencies though some tasks that veterinary nurses regularly do now, may no longer need a veterinary surgeon to be present; this opens up the ability to undertake district nursing. Allied veterinary professionals (AVPs) are currently unregulated and work independently of vets; regulating them will protect animal health and welfare. Like veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, under our proposals, all AVPs will need the correct training, and be licensed and accountable to the regulating body. If they do not meet the required standards, they can be reported, and subject to the fitness to practise procedures (similar to the current RCVS disciplinary framework). Defra is additionally proposing an oversight body to review the actions of the regulator– ensuring further accountability.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) what estimate she has made of the proportion of the £104 billion investment package that will be funded through higher customer bills rather than through water company capital investment and (b) what safeguards will be put in place to protect consumers from bill increases linked to the £104 billion investment programme.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has secured a record £104 billion investment package to upgrade England’s water infrastructure by 2030. This investment will be funded through a combination of water company capital investment and customer bills, but the precise split cannot yet be confirmed. Affordability must be at the core of any future investment plans, and proposed bill impacts will be assessed through the statutory impact assessment for the Water Reform Bill.

The Government have already taken action to protect customers. Funding for vital infrastructure is now ringfenced so it can only be spent on upgrades that benefit consumers and the environment. Where companies fail to deliver promised investment, they will be required to return money to customers through lower bills.

Alongside this, we are strengthening safeguards for households, including reforms to WaterSure, expanding social tariff support, and introducing a new independent Water Ombudsman to ensure complaints are resolved quickly and fairly.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her department will confirm plans for the Environment Agency to hold a separate, stand alone bridges construction and maintenance budget to run alongside budgets for Locks & Weirs.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Environment Agency owned bridges along the non-tidal Thames are part of the overall Navigation infrastructure.

Construction and maintenance allocations for the Environment Agency’s Navigation assets has already been set for the current Spending Review period. This includes Locks, Weirs, Bridges and their associated assets. The Environment Agency is also developing a partnership funding mechanism to accelerate specific bridge refurbishment projects. This will increase the overall amount of bridge construction and maintenance that the Environment Agency can deliver and help towards creating a sustainable Navigation service.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support farming in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has allocated £11.8 billion this parliament to sustainable farming and food production, targeting public money where it delivers most value, which will include support in Surrey.

As an example, Defra recently announced the extension of the Farming in Protected Landscape (FiPL) programme until March 2029. This supports farmers and land managers in National Parks and National Landscapes, including Surrey Hills National Landscape, deliver projects that achieve climate, nature, people and place outcomes. In 25/26 alone, Defra has allocated more than £580,000 to benefit farmers and land managers in the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many warning and fixed penalty notices were issued against licensed premises under the Noise Act 1996 by local authorities in England in each of the last five years.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Figures may be available from individual local authorities.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has assessed the potential impact on farm businesses and the sheep industry of the withdrawal of visa concessions allowing for temporary employment of sheep shearers.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra recognises the good work that British Wool does in training domestic sheep shearers and the continued challenges the industry faces with a national sheep flock of around 30m sheep in sourcing sufficient numbers of trained shearers. We are also aware of the role that shearers and sheep farmers from countries such as Australia and New Zealand have provided in recent years in sharing skills and expertise with UK sheep farmers and in supporting the health and welfare of the UK flock.

Defra continues to work with the industry in supporting the training of UK resident shearers. Visa concessions are a matter for the Home Office.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the (a) levels of welfare of hounds used in hunting activities and (b) adequacy of the arrangements for their care or rehoming when no longer required.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), it is an offence to cause any animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare. Anyone who does not provide for their animals’ welfare may be banned from owning animals. They may also face an unlimited fine, be sent to prison, or both.

The 2006 Act is backed up by the statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs which provides owners and keepers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their dogs, as required by the 2006 Act.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra will launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to financially support upland farmers in areas such as Exmoor.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is working with Dr Hilary Cottam to develop a place-based approach for what uplands communities need, co-designing solutions to specific problems.

The Government recently announced the extension of the Farming in Protected Landscape (FiPL) programme until March 2029. This supports farmers and land managers in England’s National Parks and National Landscapes, including upland farmers in Exmoor National Park, to deliver projects that achieve climate, nature, people and place outcomes.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive will be reformed to make it simpler and fairer. To ensure as many farmers as possible can benefit from SFI, we will begin by opening an initial window from June for small farms, and also those without existing Environmental Land Management agreements. This will be followed by a second window opening from September for all other farmers.

The Farming Roadmap and the government response to Baroness Batters’ Farming Profitability Review will be published later this year, setting out wider plans to boost profitability and long-term viability.

Information about agricultural scheme payments made to farmers and land managers in the Exmoor area can be found at the Find farm and land payment website.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of public toilet facilities on the health and wellbeing of people with stomas.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government oversees policy and legislation with respect to the safe management of waste and litter as well as the protection of drains and sewers. This however does not extend to compelling or explicitly encouraging local authorities with regard to types of waste receptacles or their placement. These decisions are for local authorities to make.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to assess the safety of dams and reservoirs given potential climate impacts, including monitoring and standards; and whether her Department has emergency preparedness for dams and reservoirs.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Reservoir safety in England is regulated under the Reservoirs Act 1975 for which the Environment Agency (EA) is the Enforcement Authority. Reservoir owners and operators are required to employ specialist civil engineers to build, supervise, inspect, and maintain their reservoirs to strict standards

Defra and the EA are leading a Reservoir Safety Reform Programme, which proposes updates to the safety regulation of reservoirs. This programme is based on recommendations from the Independent Reservoir Safety Review Report.

Further work with reservoir owners since the review includes developing on-site emergency flood plans for raised reservoirs, new guidance issued based on the available evidence of the impact of climate change on dams and reservoirs, and producing an updated research strategy for dam safety, with climate change a core theme.

Further work on safety management practices is in development, ensuring our reservoirs are safe and resilient in a changing climate.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will introduce a ban on the importation of foie gras into the UK during this Parliament.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare and has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns.

Foie gras production using force feeding has been banned in the UK for nearly 20 years as it is not compatible with our animal welfare legislation.

Defra is continuing to consider the evidence and options in relation to foie gras.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2025 to question 91566, on Fishing Vessels: Monitoring, what progress has been made on the volunteer early adopter phase for Remote Electronic Monitoring of fishing vessels.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In December 2025 Defra successfully completed the first Remote Electronic Monitoring early adopter project with a volunteer vessel from Fishery A, pelagic trawls over 24m. Defra is seeking volunteers for further fisheries.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when does her Department plan to announce the results of the Marine protected areas Stage 3 Consultation.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ely and East Cambridgeshire on 13 November 2025, PQ 88509.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment has she made of the benefits of a complete ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Bottom trawling in our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) needs to be managed appropriately due to the significant damage it can have on protected seabed habitats. Fisheries regulators make detailed assessments of the impact of all fishing activities on the protected species and habitats in our MPAs, based on advice from the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies. Regulators then develop byelaws to restrict fishing when it has been assessed as damaging. Some MPAs, such as those designated for highly mobile species, may not need protection from bottom trawling.

A consultation on the latest round of proposed fisheries byelaws, which proposes further restrictions on bottom trawling, closed on 29 September 2025. The Marine Management Organisation is now carefully considering all responses received, and decisions will be made in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to secure a carve out for animal welfare in the SPS agreement.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare and will look to raise standards further through our recently published Animal Welfare Strategy.

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area. The EU has accepted there will need to be a number of areas where we need to retain our own rules. Negotiations with the EU on the SPS agreement are underway and we cannot provide an ongoing commentary on these discussions, but we are clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, on Question 89461, on Greenpeace, what topics were discussed, on each date; and how many meetings have been held in total.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Ministerial meeting returns found on GOV.UK note these occasions and the topics.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the use of exemptions in the Hunting Act 2004 for stag hunting on stag population numbers in the South West.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The department has made no assessment of the potential impact of the use of exemptions in the Hunting Act 2004 for stag hunting on stag population numbers in the South West.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending existing legislation to prohibit stag hunting with hounds.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The department has made no assessment of the potential merits of amending existing legislation to prohibit stag hunting with hounds.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to restrict or ban the use of wood-burning stoves in homes.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We have launched a public consultation on a package of measures to reduce emissions from domestic burning, including proposals to tighten emission limits for new stoves, improve labelling and strengthen enforcement. We will consider all evidence before final decisions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing information about methods of slaughter on food labelling.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter. As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, we are committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, we will continue working with relevant stakeholders to explore how better food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency and promote better animal welfare.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her letter to the Environmental Audit Committee dated 30 January 2026, what steps she is taking to increase funding for flood risk management in local authority areas in instances where revenue funding from the Local Government Finance Settlement is being reduced.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion until 2036 to construct new flood schemes and repair existing defences.

In October 2025 the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy – optimising funding between building new defences and maintaining existing ones. Deprived communities will continue to receive vital investment - at least 20% of future investment will help protect the most deprived communities over the next ten years. New projects will be prioritised based on value for money. The list of projects to receive Government funding will be agreed in the usual way, on an annual basis, through Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, with local representation. The final list of schemes to benefit in 2026/27 will be published in March 2026.

Alongside our £10.5 billion investment, the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion, a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024-2025. The majority of local Government funding is not ringfenced, recognising that local authorities are best placed to decide how to meet the rising service pressures in their local areas, including on flood risk management.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects further policy measures to be introduced to prevent biodegradable waste from entering landfill.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Reducing the amount of biodegradable waste being sent to landfill has a key part to play in tackling climate change. In February 2025, Defra published a summary of responses to the call for evidence on the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028. We are developing options.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential costs to the Treasury of remediating high-risk PFAS contamination sites where the polluter pays principle cannot be applied in full.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency has undertaken preliminary appraisal of potential PFAS remediation costs. A 2023 report indicates remediation could be significant at some legacy sites, though actual costs would depend on site specific factors. The polluter pays principle remains the primary mechanism to limit public expenditure. Actions in the PFAS Plan will improve understanding of contamination and future cost estimates.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will be providing guidance to local authorities on the floods funding criteria that will be in place for the 2026-27 financial year.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As part of the Environment Agency's wider programme of improvements to implement the new Defra flood funding policy, the Environment Agency will publish updated project funding guidance for practitioners before 1^st April 2026.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ensure that organic farming is appropriately supported within the relaunched Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, in the context of increasing trade balance for organic produce and levels of domestic organic production.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We recognise the importance of organic farming. The new SFI offer will continue to support sustainable farming by strengthening the environmental foundations of farm profitability. Healthy soil, clean water and thriving pollinators are essential to our long‑term food security.

Farmers and food businesses will also have a stronger voice through the new Farming and Food Partnership Board, which will focus on removing barriers to investment, improving supply chains and supporting homegrown British produce.

We have worked with Stakeholders to develop more detail on the new SFI offer, which will be announced at the NFU Conference in February, ahead of publishing full scheme details before the first application window opens in June.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department is working with other departments to coordinate delivery of the Government’s methane reduction commitments.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We are working closely with other departments to coordinate delivery of the Government’s methane reduction commitments. Alongside the Carbon Budget Growth Delivery Plan, we published our Methane Action Plan detailing historic progress on methane abatement and key abating policies, building on the £63 billion announced at the 2025 Spending Review for clean energy, climate and nature.

Through these plans, we are working closely with DESNZ and are exploring ways to reduce livestock emissions including through methane suppressing feed products (MSFPs). Reducing methane emissions in the waste sector is also a key focus. As we move away from the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme, we will work with DESNZ to increase methane capture from landfill gas sites and are exploring a long-term methane capture scheme with a suitable transition plan.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential long-term costs to the NHS of the public's exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government published a PFAS Plan on 3 February 2026, which sets out our approach towards protecting human health and the environment from risks posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. Our approach is science-based and evidence-led. This should ensure that effective and proportionate regulation is prioritised and implemented to address risks in a balanced way.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the status of the Border Inspection Post at Stansted Airport and what assessment they have made of the long-term future of the current site.

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

The Border Inspection Post at Stansted Airport is currently active. Defra is aware that Stansted has signalled an intention to relocate its Border Inspection Post to another site and that the timing of this remains uncertain. This is a commercial decision for the airport’s owners. No application to de-designate the existing site or designate a new site has been received. The Department stands ready to help progress such applications when received. A routine audit is due to be undertaken of the Live Animal facility in March. Further information may become available as part of the discussions of the day.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consolidate the legislation governing the Canals and Rivers Trust.

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

Consolidation of the legislation governing the Canal and River Trust is one of the 36 recommendations made by the independent Commission that reviewed the Trust’s boat licensing regime. The Trust accepted all the recommendations and recently announced plans for their phased implementation, including regular engagement and consultation with the boating communities. It will be for the Trust to bring forward proposals for legislative consolidation, and the Government stands ready to assist in that process as appropriate. Defra engages regularly with the Trust on a range of issues.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled PFAS Plan: building a safer future together, updated on 3 February 2026, is she will set out progress and next steps on the measures on consumer articles, including indicative timeframes for their delivery.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government’s PFAS Plan published on 3 February 2026 sets out the Government’s approach to PFAS, including those used in consumer articles. The timeline for implementing the next steps on measures relating to consumer articles is set out in the actions table in the PFAS Plan. Action is already underway, with the joint Defra-OPSS roundtable scheduled for April 2026. This will serve as a next step in understanding the risks associated with PFAS in consumer goods and assessing potential regulatory options.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled PFAS Plan: building a safer future together, updated on 3 February 2026, is she will set out the expected timeline for implementing the measures relating to consumer articles.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government’s PFAS Plan published on 3 February 2026 sets out the Government’s approach to PFAS, including those used in consumer articles. The timeline for implementing the next steps on measures relating to consumer articles is set out in the actions table in the PFAS Plan. Action is already underway, with the joint Defra-OPSS roundtable scheduled for April 2026. This will serve as a next step in understanding the risks associated with PFAS in consumer goods and assessing potential regulatory options.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans her Department has in place should Thames Water enter special administration.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government will always act in the national interest. While the company is stable, we stand ready for all eventualities – including being ready to apply for a Special Administration Regime if necessary.

A Special Administration order is a well-established mechanism to ensure the company continues to operate and customers continue to receive their water and wastewater services. The bar for entering a Special Administration is understandably high.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Environment Agency has made of the adequacy of permits supplied to manufacturers in Stanlow.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

There are two permits issued to manufacturers on the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex by the Environment Agency (EA): Argent Biodiesel LP3233DK and Essar Oil UK (Stanlow Manufacturing Complex) (FP3139FN). Both have permits under Environmental Permitting Regulations, determined and issued following due process.

For Argent, the most recent variation and consolidated permit was issued on 18 November 2024. For Essar, the most recent variation and consolidated permit was issued on 24 June 2025. In addition, there is a local authority regulated part B permit for Stanlow Terminals Limited for storage, unloading and loading petrol at road terminal.

A programme of inspection and audit by the EA’s local team checks compliance with permit conditions, including monitoring emissions to air, water and land, operating procedures reviewing reports, and verifying self-monitoring. If significant non-compliance is detected, then this is, and has been, addressed by follow-up inspection and appropriate enforcement response.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans are in place to protect consumers, affordability, and continuity of service in the event of a water company becoming financially unviable.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Under section 24 of the Water Industry Act 1991, if a water company becomes insolvent, the Defra Secretary of State and Ofwat (with the Secretary of State’s consent) can apply to the court to place the company into a Special Administration Regime. This allows the company to be rescued through measures such as debt restructuring or transferred as a going concern to new owners. A Special Administration Regime enables a company which provides vital public services (e.g. water, energy, rail) to continue to operate, and customers to continue to receive vital services.

The Government has committed in the Water White Paper to introduce a new Performance Improvement Regime (PIR) for poorly performing water companies, to enable a turn around, and minimize negative impacts of poor performance on customers and the environment.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what are the average cost differences between smart water meter bills and flatline bills.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Customers can be charged for water and sewerage through either the rateable value (unmetered) or via metered volume. Smart meters automatically monitor water usage, enabling water companies and customers to receive more regular data on water consumption. Smart metering offers an opportunity for customers to save money on their bills through identifying water wastage through leaks. Whilst the impacts on bills depend on individual circumstances and customer billing plans, the 2024 Baringa report on smart water metering showed that moving from unmetered charging to a ‘dumb’ meter can reduce water consumption by 12–15% and transitioning directly to smart meters can lead to reductions of up to 17%.

Customers may wish to contact the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) for additional support and advice on getting a smart meter installed and the impacts this could have on their bills. Customers can use the CCW water meter calculator, to assess any potential bill savings they could make if they installed a smart water meter.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Ofwat in preventing excessive debt accumulation in the water sector.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Independent Water Commission (IWC) assessed the issue of water companies accumulating excessive debt. It concluded that Ofwat has not been effective in preventing excessive debt accumulation in the water sector.

In response, the government committed in the Water White Paper to introduce reforms to ensure companies do not accumulate unmanageable debt. The government is abolishing Ofwat, and replacing it with a new, single water regulator. This is a key step towards implementing a more effective approach to strengthening financial resilience across the water sector.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many completed flood and coastal erosion risk management capital schemes have undergone formal post-project appraisal in each of the last five financial years; and what proportion of all completed schemes this represents.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Every individual project is managed following the Gateway process set out in the Government Functional Standard for Project Delivery. As a project nears completion, Project Managers are required to test the readiness for service (Gateway 4) and then check that the required benefits have been delivered (Gateway 5). This allows for contracts with suppliers to be formally closed and for lessons to be learned and shared.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a national standardised water social tariff with clear eligibility and consistent discount levels.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is working with industry to keep support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. We are working with water companies to ensure vulnerable customers across the country receive support. This includes improving the guidance for companies to design the best social tariffs for their customers.

Over the next five years, water companies will have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through social tariffs from 4% in 2025 to 9% in 2030. We expect companies to hold themselves accountable for their commitment to end Water Poverty by 2030 and will work with the sector to ensure appropriate measures are taken to this end.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help reduce the odours emanating from Stanlow.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) has initiated an investigation into the source and cause of odours in the area, visiting Stanlow refinery and other regulated businesses. EA officers have undertaken odour checking in the community, through scheduled visits and in response to complaints. The refinery environmental permit sets out emission limits as well as requiring the operator to take action to minimise odours by using appropriate measures.

The EA identified one potential source of odour, and the operator is installing equipment to reduce odorous emissions from this source. The EA further directed the company to review their plant operations, to identify any other potential causes of the odour and to update their management systems including a comprehensive revision of their Odour Management Plan. The EA is assessing available air quality, emissions, and meteorological data and has engaged with the UKHSA and Local Authority Cheshire West and Chester on this.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether they will require their department and agencies to offer payroll deductions to all employees to enable them to join a credit union.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra does not offer a credit unions payroll deduction process to staff. Defra does operate a comprehensive employee benefit offering with access to retail discounts, savings, Cycle to Work schemes, dental and health wellbeing programmes, and has recently launched additional Financial Wellbeing products, accessible through payroll savings, the Government “Help to Save” scheme and access to more affordable borrowing solutions through our benefit partners.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward policies to ensure all Marine Protected Areas are returned to Good Ecological Status by 2030.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Good Ecological Status is an objective under the Water Framework Directive Regulations and applies specifically to inland, estuarine, and coastal waters up to 1 nautical mile from the coast and so covers only a small part of the entire MPA network. The Government has set out its new vision for water through a White Paper published on 20 January 2026. The White Paper sets out once in a generation reforms that will transform the water system for good, with a renewed focus on securing a fair deal for customers, investors, and the environment, to rebuild trust and secure a water system that works for everyone. It sets out how we will deliver on our promise to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas – not just for today, but for generations to come. In the meantime, we continue to work towards our obligation to secure continuous improvement for the water environment.

With respect to the wider MPA network in English waters, the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 sets out a programme of actions to support delivery of the statutory MPA target under the Environment Act. This includes implementing any necessary fisheries bylaws, non‑statutory fisheries measures and management measures for other damaging activities.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is she taking to improve marine conservation efforts.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to strengthening marine conservation both at home and overseas.

The UK’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) commits the UK, in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, to effectively conserving and managing at least 30% of our seas by 2030. In England, we have a comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering 40% of our waters, and we are focusing on making sure they are effectively managed. We are delivering the UK Marine Strategy to restore marine ecosystems and support the recovery of habitats and species.

Internationally, the UK plays a leading role in marine conservation efforts by working with international partners to address marine pollution, protect vulnerable ecosystems, and promote sustainable ocean governance, delivering commitments under the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We are completely committed to ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, and we are a contracting party to the Oslo and Paris Convention for the Protection of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR).

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to localise food supply chains.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The good food cycle recognises the key role that regional and local food systems can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes. Defra wants to enable an environment that champions UK food cultures and celebrates British food. Connecting local communities can be a key vehicle for achieving this outcome and for harnessing a stronger food culture. As Defra develop a food strategy, the Government will be considering how we can better support local and place-based initiatives, to deliver the changes needed to deliver our outcomes.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the ongoing impact of large scale industrial bottom trawling on the small-scale inshore fishing fleet.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

No assessment has been made of these impacts. However, the activities of all vessels fishing in our waters, including large scale industrial vessels, are monitored by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). If it is considered that the activities of one sector are harming another, such as the small-scale inshore fleet, Defra can restrict those activities by using licence conditions and byelaws to introduce management measures.

Last year, the MMO also consulted on prohibiting the use of bottom towed gear in 41 of England’s Marine Protected Areas for conservation purposes. Work on this issue is ongoing.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to UIN 107393, where the Minister responded that "there was not a formal working group for the White Paper", to clarify whether her Department intends to issue a correction to the White Paper, which states on page 16 that working groups were set up to inform the development of the White Paper.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government’s water White Paper states that we established ‘numerous working groups’ for the purpose of developing the policies behind our extensive reforms, as opposed to a single formal working group for the White Paper. We have clarified this is our response to PQ UIN 107393.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that imported food products meet the same animal welfare standards as those which are domestically produced.

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

All agri-food products must comply with our import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. This includes ensuring that imported meat products have been slaughtered to animal welfare standards equivalent to our domestic standards.

The Government shares the public’s high regard for the high welfare standards we have in this country. As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, we will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards.

The Government recognises concerns about methods of production which are not permitted in the UK. While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases and other contextual reasons, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, we will be prepared to use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect our most sensitive sectors.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate the Environment Agency has made of the annual funding required to maintain all flood defence assets at their target condition grade, and what the actual expenditure has been on a) routine maintenance and b) capital repair of existing flood defence assets in each of the last five financial years.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency’s (EA) Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) assets play a critical role protecting communities from the impacts of flooding. The EA has an annual programme of around 110,000 asset inspections, which can increase in-year to 165,000. The EA’s asset register is updated daily, meaning the baseline is in flux, preventing a meaningful comparison of figures between years. The EA therefore reports the percentage of assets at or below target condition. During quarter 2 of the 2025/26 financial year, 92.9% of the EA’s assets were currently at or above target condition.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Environment Agency flood defence assets recorded a change in condition grade between consecutive inspections in each of the last five financial years, broken down by whether condition improved or deteriorated.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency’s (EA) Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) assets play a critical role protecting communities from the impacts of flooding. The EA has an annual programme of around 110,000 asset inspections, which can increase in-year to 165,000. The EA’s asset register is updated daily, meaning the baseline is in flux, preventing a meaningful comparison of figures between years. The EA therefore reports the percentage of assets at or below target condition. During quarter 2 of the 2025/26 financial year, 92.9% of the EA’s assets were currently at or above target condition.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many flood defence asset inspections the Environment Agency carried out in each of the last five financial years; and what proportion of flood defence assets have been inspected at least once in the last three years.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency’s (EA) Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) assets play a critical role protecting communities from the impacts of flooding. The EA has an annual programme of around 110,000 asset inspections, which can increase in-year to 165,000. The EA’s asset register is updated daily, meaning the baseline is in flux, preventing a meaningful comparison of figures between years. The EA therefore reports the percentage of assets at or below target condition. During quarter 2 of the 2025/26 financial year, 92.9% of the EA’s assets were currently at or above target condition.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many Environment Agency flood defence assets were at each condition grade (1 to 5) in each of the last five financial years.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency’s (EA) Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) assets play a critical role protecting communities from the impacts of flooding. The EA has an annual programme of around 110,000 asset inspections, which can increase in-year to 165,000. The EA’s asset register is updated daily, meaning the baseline is in flux, preventing a meaningful comparison of figures between years. The EA therefore reports the percentage of assets at or below target condition. During quarter 2 of the 2025/26 financial year, 92.9% of the EA’s assets were currently at or above target condition.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Environment Agency has made of the potential impact of the reformed flood funding rules announced in October 2025 on the prioritisation of asset maintenance relative to new construction.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency is delivering the Government’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Investment Programme of flood and coastal defences, investing £2.65 billion over 2024/5 and 2025/6 with a target of 52,000 properties better protected.

A new three-year £4.2 billion FCRM Investment Programme starts in April 2026. New projects will align with the strategic objectives set out within the Government’s funding rules announced in October 2025. It is expected to result in more eligible capital asset maintenance projects. These projects will either refurbish or replace existing assets that already provide protection to communities. The prioritisation of projects for investment will follow the approach set out in Defra’s flood funding policy published in 2025.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will review the incomplete Answer her Department provided to Question 97203 on 6 January 2026.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The incomplete answer to Question 97203 on 6 January 2026 was due to a processing and formatting error on the Written Parliamentary Questions website. This error has been corrected and the complete answer to Question 97203 is below:

In core Defra, high performance substantive senior civil servants are those with an end-year performance rating of “Exceeded”. The headcount and proportion of each grade for those employed during the period November 2024 – October 2025 were:

* Where individuals changed substantive grade during the period, they are reported against their earliest substantive grade.

c. These numbers are suppressed in accordance with the Defra data protection policy.

End-year performance decisions were removed from the performance management framework for delegated staff grades in April 2023. Delegated staff grades are recognised through continuous recognition awards.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support innovation on UK farms.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Farmers will benefit from £120 million of investment in farm innovation in 2026.

This includes £70 million for the Farming Innovation Programme to support practical research and development, which forms part of the Government’s commitment to invest at least £200 million in agricultural innovation by 2030, and £50 million for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) to help farmers adopt new technology, cut emissions and boost productivity.

Applications for FETF open from 17th March. Farmers, growers and foresters can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to invest in innovative equipment that can help businesses improve productivity and protect profits.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance is available to musicians to ensure compliance with CITES Appendix I and II species rules when travelling for performances.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Guidance to assist touring musicians in complying with CITES requirements is available at www.gov.uk/guidance/cites-imports-and-exports. Specific queries can be directed to the APHA CITES team Wildlife Licensing mailbox (wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk) or by calling the APHA enquiries line (03000 200 301).

UK CITES Authorities also hold regular forums for CITES stakeholders including music industry representatives and unions, to provide them with support and guidance on sector-specific queries.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to review the operation of Musical Instrument Certificates for touring musicians following recent feedback from the sector.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government recently undertook a public consultation on potential reforms to the UK CITES regulatory framework and the music industry’s feedback was considered in detail as part of the Government’s response. There are currently no further plans to review the operation of Musical Instrument Certificates.

The rules governing the use of Musical Instrument Certificates are set internationally under CITES and the UK will continue to advocate for rules to be updated as appropriate to reflect the needs of touring musicians.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of CITES regulations on musicians travelling internationally with instruments containing protected materials.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

No recent assessment has been made of the potential impact of CITES regulations on musicians travelling internationally with instruments containing protected materials. However, Defra and its agencies regularly engage with representatives of the music sector on the implementation of CITES requirements.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 111664, how many individual receiving sites have failed to supply the required post-shipment Annex VII information.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Of the 50 approved receiving sites, the Environment Agency (EA) has post shipment information outstanding beyond the eight-week deadline from 16 sites.

Exporters have informed the EA that shipments are not arriving at the intended destination within eight weeks' notice period which is why the post-shipment information is delayed. Delays at Indian Customs, container handling sites and onwards transport have been cited as reasons. The EA is now considering extending this time period to ensure it is achievable.

It is the responsibility of the exporter rather than the receiving site to provide the required information to the Environment Agency.

The EA has issued 14 warnings on exporters who have failed to provide the required information

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 111664, how many exporters or brokers who have failed to provide the required post-shipment Annex VII information have been suspended from making further shipments or issued with stop notices to prevent the risk of further non-compliant exports.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) is yet to suspend or issue a prohibition (stop) notice on any exporters or brokers who have failed to provide post shipment information.

It has issued 14 warnings on exporters who have failed to provide the required information and is closely monitoring the returns.

The EA is assessing the feasibility of responding within 8-weeks as evidence from exporters is highlighting delays beyond their control.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 12 February to Question 111664, how many individual receiving sites that have failed to supply the post-shipment Annex VII information required have been suspended from receiving future consignments.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) is yet to remove sites from its acknowledged list to prevent them from receiving future consignments. At this point there is no evidence to show that any receiving sites are deliberately not supplying the information needed to exporter which would be grounds for their removal.

The Waste Shipment Regulations put legal duties on the exporter. The EA will therefore focus its regulatory efforts on the exporter rather than the receiving site.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on (a) reviewing and (b) strengthening penalties for cruelty against wildlife.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The commitment to review and look to strengthen penalties for cruelty against wildlife - so they are consistent with higher levels of sentencing available for animal welfare offences against pets and livestock - was made in the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, published in December 2025. The strategy notes the importance of working closely with stakeholders and Defra will engage with partners inside and outside of Government to discuss next steps on delivering the strategy.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking to steps to (a) amend processes for applying for biodiversity net gain exemptions and (b) require developers to provide objective evidence that an exemption applies before it can be claimed.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has announced its intention to introduce changes to biodiversity net gain (BNG), including a new area-based exemption set at 0.2 hectares. Full details will be set out in the consultation response to be published shortly.

BNG applies to planning permission in England granted under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 unless exempt, and local authorities should check applications to determine if the development should be subject to the biodiversity gain condition.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether there is a delay in publishing the global ecosystem assessment.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security was published on GOV.UK on 20 January.

This assessment forms part of routine cross-government resilience planning and aligns with the UK’s National Security Strategy.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Ofwat’s correspondence to the Business and Trade Committee of 8 September 2025, what assessment her Department has made of Ofwat's conclusion that the Class A creditor consortium (the London & Valley Water consortium) does not fit the definition of the ultimate controller of Thames Water.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The classification of Ultimate Controller is a matter for Ofwat as the independent economic regulator. We are reassured that Ofwat have reviewed the matter and will continue to keep the position of Thames Water’s Ultimate Controllers under review.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is he taking to help tackle the theft and trade of wild falcons captured in the UK.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Bird of prey persecution is a national wildlife crime priority and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against them. Restrictions on the commercial use or trade of birds of prey are in place under the UK Wildlife Trade Regulations. Where any wild falcon is taken and traded illegally the full force of the law should apply to proven perpetrators of the crime.

Defra is a principal funder of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), which helps prevent and detect wildlife crime by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights local or national threats and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations. It has played a key role in securing the convictions of criminals found to have been illegally taking peregrine falcon eggs and chicks from the wild. Defra is providing 494,000 for the NWCU in 2025-2026.

Defra also provides funding to Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture to develop DNA forensic analysis for the police and other organisations investigating crimes against peregrine falcons. DNA profiling of peregrines is a critical element in deterring wild take and illegal export, and convicting criminals.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent engagement the Department has had with animal protection groups regarding plans for the activity regulations for the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad.

The Act grants enforcement powers to Trading Standards in England and the Department for the Economy for Northern Ireland to monitor compliance of future regulations.

It is important that any regulations are effective and work in practice, and as set out in the animal welfare strategy published in December 2025, we are continuing to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs have been seized from their owners under Section 18(5) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in each of the last five years.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra does not collect data on the financial costs to police forces associated with waiting times for Section 20 hearings under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, nor does it hold records on the number of dogs seized under Section 18(5) of the Act, or the length of time such dogs are held in dog homes or council facilities. These matters are operational responsibilities of police forces and local authorities, and any relevant information would be held by those bodies.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a letter of comfort or other formal assurance has been given to allow Thames Water to issue debt to finance South East Strategic Reservoir Option.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

No letter of comfort or formal assurance has been provided by Defra to Thames Water on the financing of the White Horse Reservoir (formerly SESRO).

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to UIN 89500, if she will publish a list of water companies which confirmed the use biobeads.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As Water Minister I have written to water companies to reiterate how unacceptable the pollution incident at Camber Sands is. Letters of response are currently being analysed and will be used for development of our understanding of bio-bead usage across the industry.

Found: We meet most frequently with DEFRA, our sponsoring Department, usually as part of the F4 group - FDF

Found: Defra and regulators should provide clearer expectations to show how they will align their environmental

Found:  Defra should make senior appointments to the new Shadow Regulator as early as possible, to enable

Found: A current example is the work being undertaken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: St Helena has regular engagement with some departments, particularly DEFRA, DHSC and UKHSA and to a

Found: Darwin Plus is managed by Defra and is funded by a blend of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) and

Found: decline were set out in the National Security Assessment on global biodiversity loss, published by Defra

Found: There are a number of functions and duties delivered by the Defra ALBs, some of which are duplicated

Found: DWP, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Home Office and Ministry of Justice have

Found: central government partners such as the Department of Work and Pensions and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: central government partners such as the Department of Work and Pensions and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: 0AA Cc: Clive Betts MP Cc: Paul Kissack, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Letter from the Chair to the Director General for Strategy and Water at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) and then we had to go to HSE and then we went to Defra

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2026 to question 111279 on Thatched Roofing, what steps is she taking to increase the number of thatching-straw growers in the UK.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Agricultural policy is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Government has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament, investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery. This includes the Government's Paludiculture Exploration Fund, which has been exploring opportunities to support multi-functional crops on rewetted lowland peatlands. One of the twelve trials, the Broads Authority's "FibreBroads", funded a series of workstreams including fibre products for building materials such as reed for thatch, as well as fibreboards and acoustic panels from other wetland crops.

DCMS supports thatching-straw growers through the work of Historic England, Government statutory advisors on the historic environment and arms length body of DCMS. Historic England is hosting a thatching-straw growers’ workshop on 11 March 2026, in Marlborough Wiltshire. The event is aimed at thatch straw growers, and will be a unique opportunity for them to meet one another, share knowledge, and hear updates from Historic England on the work being done to support the production of thatching straw. If you wish to find out more about the event and related issues you can contact the National Specialist Services Team at Historic England on nationalspecialistservices@historicengland.org.uk.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2026 to Question 111279 on Thatched Roofing, what is the date and location of the April 2026 thatching-straw growers workshop.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Agricultural policy is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Government has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament, investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery. This includes the Government's Paludiculture Exploration Fund, which has been exploring opportunities to support multi-functional crops on rewetted lowland peatlands. One of the twelve trials, the Broads Authority's "FibreBroads", funded a series of workstreams including fibre products for building materials such as reed for thatch, as well as fibreboards and acoustic panels from other wetland crops.

DCMS supports thatching-straw growers through the work of Historic England, Government statutory advisors on the historic environment and arms length body of DCMS. Historic England is hosting a thatching-straw growers’ workshop on 11 March 2026, in Marlborough Wiltshire. The event is aimed at thatch straw growers, and will be a unique opportunity for them to meet one another, share knowledge, and hear updates from Historic England on the work being done to support the production of thatching straw. If you wish to find out more about the event and related issues you can contact the National Specialist Services Team at Historic England on nationalspecialistservices@historicengland.org.uk.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of carbon emissions produced by Chinese manufacturing of UK energy infrastructure for (a) power grids, (b) battery storage, (c) offshore wind power and (d) green hydrogen; and whether he plans to include those emissions in the UK's overall emissions.

Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department estimates greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide) on a territorial basis, meaning emissions that occur within UK borders. This is the approach required by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UK’s Climate Change Act 2008. The latest estimates are published here: UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics - GOV.UK

Defra publishes consumption-based emissions statistics, calculated by the University of Leeds, which include emissions associated with imported goods and services. The latest estimates are published here: UK and England's carbon footprint to 2022 - GOV.UK

The Government’s industrial strategy and economic growth ambitions are underpinned by large-scale public investment into UK manufacturing and proactive measures to secure demand for UK made products through the deployment of clean energy technology, including through procurement and public finance.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of refusal to grant temporary visas to overseas sheep shearers on rural farming communities and animal welfare.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to fill this workforce gap. To provide plenty of time to plan and transition to new arrangements DEFRA and the sector was informed last year that the concession would not be renewed again.

In addition, those in the UK on visas which allow general work rights, such as dependants or Youth Mobility Scheme visa holders, are free to take up work as a sheep shearer subject to the relevant visa restrictions.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers on the sheep industry.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to fill this workforce gap. To provide plenty of time to plan and transition to new arrangements DEFRA officials were informed last year that the concession would not be renewed again.

Ministers regularly meet with their DEFRA counterparts to discuss a wide range of issues, including the closure of this concession.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation the her Department has had with counterparts at the Department of Envronment, Food and Rurual Affairs on the potential impact on the UK sheep industry of withdrawing the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to fill this workforce gap. To provide plenty of time to plan and transition to new arrangements DEFRA officials were informed last year that the concession would not be renewed again.

Ministers regularly meet with their DEFRA counterparts to discuss a wide range of issues, including the closure of this concession.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consultation her Department has had with counterparts at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the withdrawal of the visa concession for temporary employment as sheep shearers.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Immigration Rules concessionary arrangements are temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession had been operating for 14 years and closed after the 2025 shearing season as it reasonable to expect that over this period a long-term sustainable solution had been found to fill this workforce gap. To provide plenty of time to plan and transition to new arrangements DEFRA officials were informed last year that the concession would not be renewed again.

Ministers regularly meet with their DEFRA counterparts to discuss a wide range of issues, including the closure of this concession.

Found: are typically the Home Office, DESNZ, DHSC and the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA

Found: ('Yes') 8 0 The same DEFRA E01_yes.

Found: 48.387 [c] 41.558 36.364 22.078 60.256 25.641 14.103 [c] 80.645 [c] 71.457 74.828 76.326 58.169 2025 DEFRA

Found: Sources Zapmap Office for National Statistics (Population estimates) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Date accessed: 02/09/19. 9 DEFRA (2019). Clean Air Strategy 2019.

Found: Prosecution Service £3,150 (RRA) N/A Yes + Inner London RRA Defence Nuclear Organisation £3,300 N/A N/A DEFRA

Found: Number 10 Construction Products Reform White Paper – 2026 136• Cabinet Office • H M T • D E S N Z • DEFRA

Found: A search for badger signs within the survey site boundary 144 Defra (2025) MAGIC, “Site Check,” [Online

Found: (Defra) (2007).

Found: Welsh Government. 14 Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (2010).

Found: assist defining the existing baseline conditions has been obtained from the following sources: • DEFRA

Found: and BS 4142:2014+A1:2019 are considered as appropriate in this chapter. 97 Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Cawdor Barracks – Targeted Groundwater and Vapour Assessment LQA Report. 300 DEFRA (2025) MAGIC maps

Found: methodology to evaluate environmental risks arising from potential land contamination, according to DEFRA

Found: Contaminated Land Statutory Guidance – 2012. 230 Defra (2011).

Found: (Defra) (2007).

Found: Capability DBA Desk-based assessment DCO Development Consent Order DCWW Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Defra

Found: Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPPs) (NIEA; DEFRA; SEPA; NRW, 2021)).

Found: 48.387 [c] 41.558 36.364 22.078 60.256 25.641 14.103 [c] 80.645 [c] 71.457 74.828 76.326 58.169 2025 DEFRA

Found: and outcomes 3 Department for Business and Trade; Department for Education; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found:

Found: Supplier Transaction Number Net Amount VAT Amount Gross Amount Description Project Code Expenditure Type Defra

Found:

Found: Expense Type Expense Area Supplier Transaction Number Net Amount VAT Amount Gross Amount Description Defra

Found: DESNZ, DEFRA, WG, EA.

Found: In 2017 Defra published a new air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) [132].

Found: Site-specific data for England and Wales was obtained from DEFRA Magic Maps [40]; this was used to provide

Found: Note that IPAFFs is a Defra system, rather than an HMRC system.Large businessFirms with 250+ employees.Medium

Found: • Feedback from MMO and Defra on any changes already underway • Feedback from MMO, Defra and local

Found: such as the MPLP and the ReMeMaRe M arine Licence Application Review, as well as collaboration with Defra

Found: Prosecution Service £3,150 (RRA) N/A Yes + Inner London RRA Defence Nuclear Organisation £3,300 N/A N/A DEFRA

Found: A report produced by ABPmer for Defra, May 2023.

Found: We work as part of the Defra group (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs), wit h the rest

Found: We work as part of the Defra group (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs), with the rest

Found: We work as part of the Defra group (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs), wit h the rest

Found: Reasons The PPG and Defra Rights of Way Circular 1/09, version 2, advise that costs may be awarded against

Found: Defra Rights of Way Circular (1/09) recommends alternative alignments for rights of way should avoid

Found: FROMLORDKATZMBEGOVERNMENTWHIPS’OFFICE GOVERNMENTWHIPCO,DEFRA,DWP,FCDO,HO,HOUSEOFLORDS LONDONSWIAOPW Telephone0

Found: technologymoreeffectivelyintheenforcementoftheseregulations.Iapologisefor theconsiderabledelayindoingso. 25thFebruary2026 Defra

Found: database of DNA profiles from wild peregrines was initiated by this investigation with funding from Defra

Found: These data contribute to UK statistics on milk utilisation, as reported by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: DEFRA) will be copied in for information. 16.

Found: Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is workable for all types of farmers, following a speech by Defra

Found: UKCEH report to Defra, October 2022.

Found: Two online drop-in events were held by Defra and Scottish Government officials to provide opportunities

Found: DEFRA, The Scottish Government, Llywodraeth Cymru. 2015. 83 Non-native Species: Code of Practice.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds regarding the presence of contaminants in farmed salmon produced in Scotland, including (a) microplastics, (b) heavy metals, (c) per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and (d) antibiotic residues.

Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

Local authorities are responsible for food safety sampling to ensure food producers comply with food safety legislation, however, it is the responsibility of food businesses to demonstrate the safety of their products. Sampling data is recorded centrally by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) on the Scottish Food Sampling Database to find data, spot trends and guide sampling and interventions.

The Scottish Government does not hold any data on microplastics in farmed salmon. There are currently no regulatory standards for microplastics in food and animal feed and methods for measuring microplastics in these matrices have not yet been standardised and harmonised.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), an agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), is responsible for the analysis of chemical contaminants in salmon and organises the testing of salmon samples for heavy metals, per and polyfluoroalkyl substances and antibiotic residues. Details of the testing outputs can be found on the VMD's webpage.

Found: Veterinary Medicine Directorate • Welsh Local Authorities • Food Standards Agency Wales • DEFRA

Found: assessment Personal No identifiers 2022-04-21 00:00:00 2022-10-21 00:00:00 3345 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: • Ensure you have registered with Defra – professional Plant Protection Products (PPP’s).

Found: Veterinary Medicine Directorate • Welsh Local Authorities • Food Standards Agency Wales • DEFRA

Found: (Defra) co-ordinates assessment and air quality plans for the UK as a whole

Found: Defra predicted background annual mean PM10 concentrations for the general locality are in the range

Found: Ministers highlighted the need for collaborative working and Defra expressed interest in learning from

Found: Agency Veterinary Medicine Directorate Welsh Local Authorities Food Standards Agency Wales DEFRA

Found: public health related to food and feed), animal and plant health and biosecurity at borders rest with Defra