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 the Gifford farm development on flooding via Parsons Drove drain in Huntingdon constituency.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) was consulted on the emerging Local Plan, which sets out potential locations for development in Huntingdonshire, and responded regarding the proposed Gifford’s Park site.

In the EA’s response, it advised:

• A detailed Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) and drainage strategy should be provided which addresses all flood risks including climate change.

• Only ‘water compatible’ development should be permitted in the small area of the site that is at flood risk. ‘Water compatible’ development are designed to be in or next to water so they can safely function in areas that flood.

• The FRA should consider opportunities for Natural Flood Management to reduce risk.

Until the above detailed work is provided by the developer, it is not possible to comment on whether this site may impact flooding specifically via Parson’s Drove Drain.

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 his oral contribution in response to the hon. Member for Newton Abbot during the Oral Statement of 21 January 2026 on Water White Paper, Official Report column 347, if he will hold discussions with the hon. Member for Newton Abbot on the risk of water shortages in the South West this summer.

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

I would be happy to meet the hon. Member to discuss this matter.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to review Farm Business Tenancy to enable longer leases, succession of tenancy and increases in security of tenure for tenant farmers.

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

The department recognises the benefits of longer leases and the importance of security of tenure for tenant farmers. Under the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, landlords and tenants may agree tenancy terms of any length. To encourage more landlords and tenants to enter into longer-term agreements the joint Defra and industry Farm Tenancy Forum is developing guidance and best practice. All parties to a Farm Business Tenancy are encouraged to employ the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice, which sets out expected standards for constructive tenancy negotiations, including succession.

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 make recycling (a) easier and (b) more consistent for households in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.

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

The Simpler Recycling reforms will ensure that across England, people will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school.

Every household and workplace (businesses and relevant non-domestic premises like schools and hospitals) across England will be able to recycle the same materials in the following core waste streams: metal, glass, plastic (including cartons), paper and card, food waste, and garden waste (for households only).

These reforms will make recycling easier and ensure there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England. This will reduce confusion with recycling to improve recycling rates, and with the other collection and packaging reforms will support the use of more recycled material in the products we buy, and the growth of the UK recycling industry.

Defra has created a Change Network, to support local authorities and others to prepare for the upcoming household collection requirements, which take effect from 31 March 2026.

Defra is also working with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) to provide guidance on best practice to help local authorities deliver services to all households.

The Government remains committed to supporting councils in delivering the collection and packaging reforms. Between Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) and Simpler Recycling, we have already invested over £1.4 billion in English local authorities to improve recycling collections, benefitting every household. We have guaranteed councils £1.1 billion income from pEPR this financial year, alongside having already invested over £340 million to support councils on weekly food collections.

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 protect hare populations in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

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

The department has supported Surrey County Council to prepare their Local Nature Recovery Strategy, with publication expected shortly. It will set nature recovery priorities and map specific proposals for habitat creation and improvement that will support many species such as hares.

Nationally, protection of the brown hare population is provided through hare coursing legislation which was brought in under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. Together with improved police tactics, intelligence and information sharing, they are reducing levels of hare coursing which will play a part in the recovery of the species.

In addition, the Government’s recently published Animal Welfare Strategy contains a commitment to consider the introduction of a close season on shooting brown hares.

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 councils to improve recycling rates.

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

The Simpler Recycling reforms will ensure that across England, people will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school.

Every household and workplace (businesses and relevant non-domestic premises like schools and hospitals) across England will be able to recycle the same materials in the following core waste streams: metal, glass, plastic (including cartons), paper and card, food waste, and garden waste (for households only).

These reforms will make recycling easier and ensure there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England. This will reduce confusion with recycling to improve recycling rates and, with the other collection and packaging reforms, will support the use of more recycled material in the products we buy, and the growth of the UK recycling industry.

By shifting the financial burden of the end-of-life costs from taxpayers to producers, Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging will secure local authority funding (approximately £1.4 billion annually in the UK and approximately £1.1 billion annually in England) for the improved management of discarded packaging materials, driving in turn improvements in the quality and quantity of recycled packaging materials, as well as investment in domestic reprocessing facilities.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed waste reforms on local authorities such as Walsall Council.

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

The Government remains committed to supporting councils in delivering the collection and packaging reforms. Between Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) and Simpler Recycling, we have already invested over £1.4 billion in English local authorities to improve recycling collections, benefitting every household. We have guaranteed councils £1.1 billion income from pEPR this financial year, alongside having already invested over £340 million to support councils on weekly food collections. Simpler Recycling is estimated to decrease local authorities' net waste service costs by £211 million by 2035 (2023 prices, discounted; source: The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025).

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 consistency of household waste collection services across the West Midlands.

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

Under Simpler Recycling, Section 45A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (amended by the Environment Act 2021) will require all local authorities in England to make arrangements for a core set of materials to be collected for recycling from households from 31 March 2026. This includes introducing weekly food waste collections for all homes, unless a transitional arrangement applies (a transitional arrangement is where a local authority has agreed a later implementation date set in regulations).

There will be additional requirements for plastic film to be collected as part of the plastic waste stream by 31 March 2027. Defra is working with local authorities to support readiness for these new obligations. To assist with this, we launched a Change Network to amplify existing information and guidance with endorsement from local authorities who are actively implementing or have recently implemented, the changes required.

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 support local authorities to (a) improve recycling rates and (b) reduce waste sent to (i) landfill and (ii) incineration in Surrey Heath constituency.

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

The Simpler Recycling reforms will ensure that across England, people will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school.

Every household and workplace (businesses and relevant non-domestic premises like schools and hospitals) across England will be able to recycle the same materials in the following core waste streams: metal, glass, plastic (including cartons), paper and card, food waste, and garden waste (for households only).

These reforms will make recycling easier and ensure there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England. This will reduce confusion with recycling to improve recycling rates, and with the other collection and packaging reforms will support the use of more recycled material in the products we buy, and the growth of the UK recycling industry.

The Environmental (England and Wales) Permitting Regulations 2016 include a permit condition for landfill and incineration operators, meaning they cannot accept separately collected paper, metal, glass or plastic for landfill or incineration unless it has gone through some form of treatment process first and is the best environmental outcome. This is in addition to existing permit measures that already prevent acceptance of recyclable material.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether private contractors operating Household Waste Recycling Centres on behalf of local authorities are permitted to levy charges on residents for the disposal of household waste; and whether the Government will review current guidance or legislation in light of proposals affecting the Purton Household Waste Recycling Centre in Wiltshire.

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

Local Authorities are responsible for the provision of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in their area. Householders must be allowed to deposit waste deemed to be ‘household waste’ for free. Where waste does not meet the criteria for being classified as household waste, such as construction waste, then the waste local authorities may charge for this. WRAP provided updated HWRC guidance in March 2025. There is currently no intention to carry out a further review of guidance or legislation. [The Government would encourage local authorities to consider ease of access and availability of services for residents when determining service provision.]

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 18 December 2025 to Question 98739 on Biodiversity and Pollution: Sutton Park, whether additional monitoring is in place to ensure that the recommendations from Natural England and the Forestry Commission are being implemented.

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

Natural England is in regular dialogue with Birmingham City Council, Severn Trent Water and other partners to review progress with the implementation of its recommendations relating to the condition of Sutton Park SSSI. This is in addition to its condition assessment programme, which monitors the status of the site’s habitat features.

Natural England officials would be happy to offer a meeting with the Rt Hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield to discuss Sutton Park SSSI, its management, and the pressures affecting its condition in more detail, should that be helpful.

The approved woodland management plan for Sutton Park includes the requirement for the author of the plan to review progress against site objectives after five years, including objectives to support the recovery and resilience of the woodlands. In addition, the Forestry Commission operate a risk-based inspection regime of approved management plans, which considers the scale and environmental sensitivity of woodland sites. Under this approach, sites such as Sutton Park are more likely to be selected for inspection.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the £104 billion of private investment referred to in ‘A new vision for water’, published January 2026, that will be spent across each region of England and Wales.

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

Ofwat, the independent economic regulator, monitors and reports on water company spending and financing through its annual performance report and its monitoring and financial resilience report. These documents are publicly available.

Ofwat’s five-yearly ‘price review’ sets the price, investment and service package for water companies in England and Wales. Ofwat’s Price Review 2024 (PR24) final determination by water company can be found here: Final determinations in the 2024 price review - Ofwat. This publication sets out the investment programme by water company, and therefore by region.

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.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that water companies deliver the improvements promised through the £104 billion of private investment referred to in ‘A new vision for water’, published January 2026.

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

Ofwat, the independent economic regulator, monitors and reports on water company spending and financing through its annual performance report and its monitoring and financial resilience report. These documents are publicly available.

Ofwat’s five-yearly ‘price review’ sets the price, investment and service package for water companies in England and Wales. Ofwat’s Price Review 2024 (PR24) final determination by water company can be found here: Final determinations in the 2024 price review - Ofwat. This publication sets out the investment programme by water company, and therefore by region.

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.

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 implications for her policies of the International Journal of Wildland Fire's article entitled Assessing soil heating beneath prescribed burns, published on 15 January 2026.

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

The date and title of the citation provided does not correspond to any article published by the International Journal of Wildland Fire, but research on this topic is reviewed and taken into account in our policy development.

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 respond to correspondence of (a) 19 November 2025, (b) 15 December 2025 and (c) 6 January 2026 from the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs.

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

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

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 increase urban and peri-urban horticulture.

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

The Government recognises that expanding urban and peri‑urban food growing can support communities by increasing access to fresh produce, improving local green spaces and contributing to public health and environmental outcomes.

The Environmental Improvement Plan, published in December, describes the actions we will take to restore nature, improve environmental quality, create a circular economy, protect environmental security and improve people’s access to nature.

Community‑led initiatives are available to support projects that create opportunities for people to grow food locally and sustainably in urban and peri-urban areas and will play an important part in supporting urban greening.

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 HCWS1230, how her Department will define small farms for the purposes of reopening the Sustainable Farming Incentive; what assessment she has made of barriers to participation for small and family-run farms under previous schemes; and how her Department will measure whether access to support has improved.

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

The Government will publish a precise definition of a small farm before the first application window opens in June. This is one of the details the Government will be testing with key stakeholders.

As confirmed at the Oxford Farming Conference, the Government will open two Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) application windows in 2026:

• an initial window from June for small farms, and also those without existing Environmental Land Management agreements

• a second window opening from September for all other farmers

The Government will provide more detail on the new SFI offer ahead of publishing the full scheme details before the first application window opens in June.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how many nests of Asian hornets have been discovered and destroyed in England in the past 10 years; and what discussions they have had with (1) the National Bee Unit, and (2) the NHS, about new initiatives to combat the threats posed by Asian hornets.

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

Since 2016 the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Bee Unit (NBU) have been taking action against incursions of Yellow-Legged Hornets (YLHs) also known as Asian hornet. During this time a total of 270 YLH nests were found and destroyed. Defra remains committed to taking action against YLH and the NBU stand ready to respond to reports of YLH in 2026. Defra have not engaged with the NHS about how to combat the threats posed by YLHs.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the state of the infrastructure of canals and waterways in England and Wales.

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

The condition of the canal and waterway infrastructure is the responsibility of the navigation authorities that own them. The two largest authorities are the Canal and River Trust with 2,000 miles of waterways, and the Environment Agency (EA) with 630 miles of river navigations. The Government provides an annual grant of £52.6 million to the Trust to support its infrastructure programme, and this financial year is providing grant-in-aid of £25 million to the EA to support its navigations.

As of 31 March 2025 (latest published figures), the Trust had 81.25% of its towpaths in conditions fair to very good (target not less than 50%), 13.77% of principal assets in conditions poor to bad (target not more than 25%), and 0.58% of flood management assets (principal culverts and embankments) in conditions poor to bad (target not more than 7%). These targets form the conditional element of the annual government grant. Trust assets are subject to a regular inspection regime by accredited inspectors. Defra officials meet the Trust’s senior management team formally three times a year to discuss the Trust’s work and use of the grant funding.

EA-owned and maintained navigation assets are also inspected by accredited inspectors as part of a risk based scheduled programme. Where identified, maintenance repairs on assets below the required condition are prioritised and allocated funding according to factors including sustaining navigation, public safety, and flood risk in the event of failure.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to uphold their previous commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies; and whether they plan to introduce further legislation.

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

The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter.

The department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban.

Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution made by canals and waterways to (1) the economy, and (2) the environment and wildlife.

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

Our inland waterways are important for the natural environment by providing green corridors along which biodiversity can flourish. They also directly contribute to the growth of local economies, through domestic tourism and facilitating active transport links. They have a wider positive benefit for our economy and culture through providing many public benefits, including health and wellbeing, leisure and recreation uses, and industrial heritage attractions.

Defra officials meet regularly with the Trust to discuss a range of issues. The Trust publishes its annual Impact Report on its contribution to the economy, environment, and wildlife. The Environment Agency has not undertaken specific quantitative assessments of the contribution its waterways make to the economy, environment, and wildlife; however, its previous navigation plans acknowledge the benefits they bring.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the numbers of canal boats and other craft moored in canals and waterways in England and Wales; and of the numbers of boaters who sleep on them.

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

The responsibility to monitor or record the numbers of boats and boaters on canals and waterways in England and Wales rests with navigation authorities as they manage and administer boat registration and licensing regimes for the use of their waterways. The two largest navigation authorities are the Canal and River Trust and Environment Agency (EA). The Government has regular engagement with both authorities.

The Trust recorded 33,080 registered and unregistered boats on its waterways in its 2025 national boat survey. The Trust’s boat licensing requirements do not include the number of people per boat or whether they sleep on board. The EA records that there are just over 20,000 registered and unregistered boats on its waterways. It also does not collect information on the number of people who use the boats, including as their primary residence for sleeping purposes.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the report by World Animal Protection, Bred to Entertain, published on 12 January, in particular the case for the full implementation of the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

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

World Animal Protection has shared its report “Bred to Entertain” with the Government. Defra will consider the information set out in the report carefully as we continue to build the evidence base on which activities would be most suitable for inclusion in any future regulations.

As set out in the animal welfare strategy, published in December 2025, the Government is 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 and offering for sale of low-welfare animal activities abroad and will set out next steps in due course.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the communications between boaters and The Canal and River Trust.

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

Communications between boaters and the Trust are a matter for both parties. The Trust recognises the importance of communications with boaters, conducts an annual boater survey, and has published its ‘Better Boating Plan’ that sets out areas of boaters’ concerns and actions being taken to address them. The recommendations in the Independent Commission on Boat Licensing’s report published last November included improved communications with the boating community. The Trust has accepted all the recommendations and is now considering how best to implement them.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to issue national guidance on the application of sustainable drainage systems.

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

The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). In December 2024, we made changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to support increased delivery of Sustainable Drainage Systems.

The department is now consulting on a revised National Planning Policy Framework – including for flood risk and Sustainable Drainage Systems – and, separately, on proposals to increase adoption of shared amenities, with planned guidance to ensure lifetime maintenance.

In June 2025, the Government introduced new national standards. (opens in a new tab)Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. A final decision on this matter 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, with reference to the policy paper entitled A new vision for water: white paper, published on 20 January 2026, how members of the working groups were selected; which (a) people and (b) organisations participated in the working groups; and if she will publish the minutes of the working groups.

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

A wide range of stakeholders were consulted on reforms through the Independent Water Commission’s Call for Evidence, which received over 50,000 responses.

While there was not a formal working group for the White Paper, ahead of publication the Government also engaged with stakeholders across the water system, including investors, water companies, consumer groups, regulators and environmental groups.

The Government will continue to work constructively with interested parties on reforms and consult on specific measures as needed.

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 Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to be brought into force in England.

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

The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). In December 2024, we made changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to support increased delivery of Sustainable Drainage Systems.

The department is now consulting on a revised National Planning Policy Framework – including for flood risk and Sustainable Drainage Systems – and, separately, on proposals to increase adoption of shared amenities, with planned guidance to ensure lifetime maintenance.

In June 2025, the Government introduced new national standards. (opens in a new tab)Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. A final decision on this matter 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, how many of the 88 recommendations proposed in the independent report entitled Independent Water Commission: review of the water sector, published in July 2025, are included in her Department's policy paper entitled A new vision for water: white paper, published on 20 January 2026.

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

Defra thoroughly reviewed the Independent Water Commission’s final report in its entirety, and the White Paper sets out our overall response to the Commission’s recommendations.

This Government’s priority is to deliver the best possible outcomes for customers, the environment and investors through this once-in-a-generation reform of 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, on which dates the Water Delivery Taskforce has met.

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

Defra has established a Water Delivery Taskforce to ensure that water companies deliver on their planned investments to provide water and wastewater capacity. It ensures that water availability and wastewater capacity are not a constraint on growth.

The Water Delivery Taskforce first met in April 2025 and has convened on a six-weekly cycle since, including meetings in June, July, September, November, and December 2025. Its next meeting is scheduled for February 2026.

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 plans to take to help support UK (a) farmers and (b) fishers where (i) animal welfare standards and (ii) climate and nature policies contribute to higher farming costs, in the context of the cost of imported produce.

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

The Government has been clear that it will protect farmers in trade deals. The Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. It will create new export opportunities for our high-quality British produce.

Supporting British farmers and boosting the nation’s food security are key priorities for the Government. The Government allocated £11.8 billion this Parliament to sustainable farming and food production, targeting public money where it delivers most value.

In terms of wider support to the fishing industry, the Government is committed to the industry’s long-term prosperity and sustainability, which is why we launched the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

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 consultation on amending the Hunting Act 2004.

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

The Department has no plans to publish a consultation on amending the Hunting Act 2004. The Department will consult early this year on how to deliver a ban on trail hunting.

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 a ban on trail hunting on (a) employment and (b) local businesses in rural communities; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that ban on conservation charities that use trail hunting for fundraising.

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

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. Defra intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, Defra plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice. Defra will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evidence her Department has gathered on the comparative impact of trail hunting, and traditional pest control and other outdoor activities on the level of harm to wildlife.

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

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. Defra intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, Defra plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice. Defra will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals.

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 global deforestation and desertification on the UK’s national food security, supply chains and food prices.

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

The UK imports 40% of its food and is therefore exposed to supply chain risks such as deforestation and desertification via food security and price impacts associated with food imports.

Defra routinely conducts and updates assessments on a range of threats. HMG pub-lishes assessments in the National Risk Register and Chronic Risks Analysis, includ-ing on biodiversity loss and its interactions with ecosystems, on gov.uk.

The Government is committed to supporting sustainable production, trade and use of deforestation linked products. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, sponsored by Defra, have created the Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption indicator, an indicator which includes analysis of the impact of forest risk commodities in global supply chains. The indicator estimates that UK consumption drove 29,300 hectares of deforestation in 2023.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment her Department has has made of the differing impacts on wildlife of (a) trail hunting and (b) traditional pest control and other outdoor activities.

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

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. Defra intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, Defra plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice. Defra will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the size of the probiotics market in the UK, and (2) its potential for growth.

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

The size of the probiotics market in the United Kingdom was £1.07 billion in 2024 (table 1, Euromonitor International*). The UK market value for probiotic products grew by 19% between 2019 and 2024 (in 2024 prices) and 41% by sales volumes. Recent growth in the probiotic market has been attributed to the increasing popularity of probiotic dairy products like Kefir.

Table 1 – UK probiotic product retail sales (GBP million, Euromonitor)

Euromonitor have considered growth in the wider UK diary and dairy alternatives market and forecast that the value of probiotic dairy market will grow by 14% up to 2029, to £1.2 billn. There is no forecast for the overall probiotics market, but as probiotic dairy products make up 99% of the market by volume, this forecast is sufficient for the market overall.

*Although Euromonitor aims to correct inaccuracies of which it is aware, it does not warrant that the Intelligence will be accurate, up-to-date or complete as the accuracy and completeness of the data and other content available in respect of different parts of the Content will vary depending on the availability and quality of sources on which each part is based. Euromonitor accepts no liability in regard to the derived data which has been presented here and furthermore, Euromonitor does not warrant that the Intelligence will be/is fit for any particular purpose(s) for which they are used as Euromonitor does not have any knowledge of, nor control over, those purposes.

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 taking steps to help support the expansion of urban and peri-urban food growing on the environment, public health and communities.

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

The Government recognises that expanding urban and peri‑urban food growing can support communities by increasing access to fresh produce, improving local green spaces and contributing to public health and environmental outcomes.

Defra’s revised Environmental Improvement Plan, published in December 2025, describes the actions the department will take to restore nature, improve environmental quality, create a circular economy, protect environmental security and improve people’s access to nature.

Community‑led initiatives are available to support projects in West Dorset that create opportunities for people to grow food locally and sustainably in urban and peri-urban areas, and will play an important part in supporting urban greening.

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 support urban and peri-urban horticulture projects in West Dorset constituency and other rural areas.

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

The Government recognises that expanding urban and peri‑urban food growing can support communities by increasing access to fresh produce, improving local green spaces and contributing to public health and environmental outcomes.

Defra’s revised Environmental Improvement Plan, published in December 2025, describes the actions the department will take to restore nature, improve environmental quality, create a circular economy, protect environmental security and improve people’s access to nature.

Community‑led initiatives are available to support projects in West Dorset that create opportunities for people to grow food locally and sustainably in urban and peri-urban areas, and will play an important part in supporting urban greening.

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 (a) customs checks and (b) regulatory barriers in UK-EU trade on food prices.

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

Consumer food prices depend on a range of factors including import prices, domestic agricultural prices, domestic labour and manufacturing costs, and Sterling exchange rates. Some of these factors are influenced by our trading arrangements with other countries. Changes in food prices are dependent on changes in one or more of these factors.

One source of barrier facing UK-EU trade are SPS checks. The Government estimates the measures introduced through the Border Target Operating Model would have a minimal impact on consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2 percentage points in total over a 3-year period.

Final_Border_Target_Operating_Model.pdf

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the mean size in hectares was of businesses ranked in the top 4% of SFI annual revenue payments by October 2025.

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

The mean size of a businesses ranked in the top 4% of Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) annual revenue payments as of October 2025 is 803 hectares.

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 question 103472 of 6 January 2026 regarding border control, what her plans are for the 2026 breeding season.

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

Equine germinal products are a high-risk commodity and require 100% documentary and identity checks upon import from the EU under the Border Target Operating Model.

For the 2026 breeding season, the Government will continue to maintain the existing system of official import controls. Specifically, all consignments of equine germinal products imported from the EU and EFTA will be subject to import controls at a designated Border Control Post; with the facilitation scheme available for chilled equine germinal products, where conditions apply.

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 considered introducing a cap on veterinary prescription fees.

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

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have been conducting a full market investigation into the supply of veterinary services for household pets in the UK since 23 May 2024. On 15 October 2025, the CMA released its Provisional Decision Report (PDR). The remedies raised in this report are subject to the CMAs final report which is due to be release in the Spring. One of the remedies being considered is a cap on the price of written veterinary prescriptions.

Defra welcomes the CMA’s market investigation into the veterinary sector and looks forward to continuing to engage with the CMA throughout this process. Defra will consider any remedies from the CMAs final report.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative estimate her Department has made of the cost of (a) veterinary medicines and (b) equivalent human medicines.

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

Veterinary medicine is a private service, including the prescription and supply of veterinary medicines. The Government does not regulate the cost of medicines and pricing structures are not subject to legislative controls. The costs of veterinary medicines are controlled by market forces.

The Government is not informed of the prices of individual products and has not estimated the comparative costs of veterinary medicines and human medicines.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department plans to issue to local authorities on implementing and enforcing a ban on trail hunting.

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

Enforcing a ban on trail hunting will be a matter for the police.

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 banning trail hunting on land management practices, including pest control and countryside access.

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

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. The Government intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, the Government plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice and its potential impact is understood. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals’ as there is nothing further we can say at the moment.

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 banning trail hunting on the additional enforcement resources that would be required by police forces.

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

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. The Government intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, the Government plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice and its potential impact is understood. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals’ as there is nothing further we can say at the moment.

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 plans to consult landowners, rural organisations and local authorities before introducing legislation to ban trail hunting.

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

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. The Government intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, the Government plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice and its potential impact is understood. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals’ as there is nothing further we can say at the moment.

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 economic and social impact on rural communities of proposals to ban trail hunting.

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

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. The Government intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, the Government plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice and its potential impact is understood. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals’ as there is nothing further we can say at the moment.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evidence her Department has used to inform its decision to bring forward proposals to ban trail hunting in England.

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

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. The Government intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, the Government plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice and its potential impact is understood. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals’ as there is nothing further we can say at the moment.

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 Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of providing further funding for its planned National Biosecurity Centre to meet the required level of funding specified in the National Audit Office's Improving the UK’s science capability for managing animal diseases Report in 2022.

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

Defra received the funding it requested in the current Spending Review to 2029-30 for the next stage of the National Biosecurity Centre, Weybridge Programme. Programme delivery is on track and in line with Government Project Delivery Functional Standards. Further funding in future Spending Reviews will be requested to secure operational delivery of the new facility by 2034.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her European Commission counterparts on border controls for the import of high-risk plants in the context of the 10 remaining species of plants on the EU's prohibitions list.

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

Since 2021 Defra has worked with the horticultural industry to submit 48 market access applications (including multiple species within the same genera) for the most widely traded High-Risk Plants, 40 of which have now resulted in the adoption of EU import requirements allowing the export of these species to resume to the EU. The industry has been consulted on a regular basis to ascertain the species of interest, as industry’s cooperation and input have been paramount in completing the relevant applications. Following the announcement of the intention to negotiate an SPS agreement with the EU and after consultation with the industry, work has been paused on further applications, in the expectation that under the agreement the High-Risk Plant prohibitions for third countries would no longer be applicable to the UK.

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 reduce reliance on imported fruit and vegetables.

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

The Government is committed to our horticulture sector and its role in providing fresh home-grown produce that helps to feed the nation.

Future support for the horticulture sector is being considered as part of Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and taxpayer value. The new Farming and Food Partnership Board, bringing together industry and government leaders, will also develop tailored growth plans for sectors including horticulture.

27% of the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) grant awards to date, over £41 million, has been granted to research projects benefiting the horticulture sector, offering targeted opportunities for fruit and vegetable businesses to become more profitable, resilient, and sustainable. Further opportunities for farmer and grower led trials to test ideas and solutions are also now available in FIP via ADOPT grants, and we have committed to allocating at least £200 million to FIP through to 2030.

Wider Government support includes: the five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route, providing much needed stability and certainty to businesses and extending the easement on import checks on medium risk fruit and vegetables ahead of the new SPS agreement deal with the EU.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to increase domestic fruit and vegetable production to improve food security.

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

The Government is committed to our horticulture sector and its role in providing fresh home-grown produce that helps to feed the nation.

Future support for the horticulture sector is being considered as part of Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and taxpayer value. The new Farming and Food Partnership Board, bringing together industry and government leaders, will also develop tailored growth plans for sectors including horticulture.

27% of the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) grant awards to date, over £41 million, has been granted to research projects benefiting the horticulture sector, offering targeted opportunities for fruit and vegetable businesses to become more profitable, resilient, and sustainable. Further opportunities for farmer and grower led trials to test ideas and solutions are also now available in FIP via ADOPT grants, and we have committed to allocating at least £200 million to FIP through to 2030.

Wider Government support includes: the five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route, providing much needed stability and certainty to businesses and extending the easement on import checks on medium risk fruit and vegetables ahead of the new SPS agreement deal with the EU.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to increase participation in the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme.

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

In the newly released consultation regarding reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, Defra proposes to replace the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme with a mandatory licence for all veterinary and animal healthcare businesses. This will ensure they all meet the required standards, including the 30% of practices not currently engaged with the Practice Standards Scheme.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to bring forward legislation to prohibit the use of dogs in hunting activities, including trail hunting.

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

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on the activity of trail hunting in line with its manifesto commitment. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and Defra intends to consult on how to deliver a ban this year. We plan to introduce legislation to ban the activity of trail hunting when Parliamentary time allows.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total annual payments made to businesses under the SFI for actions SAM1, NUM1, IPM1 and HRW1 (broken down by individual action) were at 1 October 2025.

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

As of 1st October 2025, there were 32,405, Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements which included actions (C)SAM1, (C) NUM1, (C)HRW1 or (C)IPM1.

The number of agreements containing these actions and the value of these actions broken down by individual action are shown in the table below.

To Note: An Agreement can have multiple options so for example may have NUM1, SAM1 & IPM1 so may be counted multiple times under number of agreements in the table above.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as of 1st October 2025 how many SFI agreements included actions SAM1, NUM1, HRW1 and IPM1 broken down by individual action.

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

As of 1st October 2025, there were 32,405, Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements which included actions (C)SAM1, (C) NUM1, (C)HRW1 or (C)IPM1.

The number of agreements containing these actions and the value of these actions broken down by individual action are shown in the table below.

To Note: An Agreement can have multiple options so for example may have NUM1, SAM1 & IPM1 so may be counted multiple times under number of agreements in the table above.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in reference to HCWS1230, 8 January 2026, when the Farming Roadmap will be published; what timescales it will set out for future changes to farm support; and how it will provide long-term certainty for farmers.

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

The Farming Roadmap will set the course of farming in England for the next 25 years. Over the last year, the Government has held workshops with farmers, industry leaders and farming and environmental groups to identify themes and content the roadmap should include. Defra will aim to publish later this year (2026).

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 HCWS1230, what funding she has allocated to the place-based uplands approach announced at the Oxford Farming Conference; what objectives it is intended to achieve; and how food production will be safeguarded within that approach.

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

The Government knows how important upland landscapes are for farming, nature and rural economies, and is committed to investing in this work to deliver meaningful benefits for upland communities. By empowering local decision‑making, Defra will unlock the economic potential of the uplands and ensure that the people who live and work there can shape their future and decide what will help their communities thrive.

Defra has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. The department will say more about funding for the place-based uplands approach 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, with reference to HCWS1230, when the Farming and Food Partnership Board will be established; what criteria will be used to ensure balanced representation across the farming and food sectors; and what role the Board will play in the development of future farming policy.

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

Defra is committed to resetting the relationship between the Government and food and farming sectors as a genuine partnership. More details on the timeline for establishing the new board will be made available as soon as possible.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the mean and median total income per business for the Sustainable Farming Incentive was in the year to October 2025.

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

Farm businesses can hold multiple Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements under the SFI scheme. As of October 2025, there were 44,474 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreements including SFI 23 and SFI 24. Over the full term of the agreement the mean value of these agreements was £57,000 and the median value of these agreements was £32,000.

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 HCWS1230, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to the Sustainable Farming Incentive on levels of domestic food production, farm profitability and the distribution of scheme payments; how the revised scheme will address the previous concentration of funding; and when revised actions, payment rates and transitional arrangements will be published.

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

Some of the main improvements the Government is making to the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer are:

• A simpler and more focused offer, with fewer actions and less complexity. There will still be plenty of choice – but with a stronger focus on actions that support sustainable food production.

• SFI must work alongside food production, not displace it, so the Government will limit how much land can be put into certain actions and review payment rates for others. These changes will make funding go further, allowing more people to benefit from agreements.

Previously, 90% of SFI spending went on fewer than 40 of the 102 actions available and a quarter of SFI money goes to just 4% of farms. This is not fair. Therefore, Ministers are considering ways to address this, such as introducing an agreement value cap, and are making improvements to the offer to ensure more farmers can access funding.

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 impact of potential barriers to rural workforce housing on farm labour availability.

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

The Government regularly reviews and publishes data relating to rural housing on GOV.UK: Housing Statistics for Rural England - GOV.UK. The Government gives all due consideration to this data, including implications for the rural workforce, when formulating policy.

In relation to seasonal workers via the visa route, there are no housing barriers identified for this cohort as accommodation is provided as part of the conditions of their sponsor, in the main part as on-farm caravan accommodation.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much their Department has spent on (a) advertising and (b) marketing in each of the last three years.

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

The table below details Defra’s advertising and marketing costs for the 22/23, 23/24 and 24/25 financial years. Defra publishes details on spend on a monthly basis on GOV.UK as part of routine government transparency arrangements.

The current Government came into power within the 2024/25 financial year and completed a review of all 131 public campaigns with spend of over £100k.

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 had recent discussions with the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on measures to control the spread of avian influenza in Northern Ireland.

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

Each of the three devolved Governments, along with the UK Government, is an integral part of the decision-making process for avian influenza control. They are core members of the regular chief veterinary officer strategic stocktakes and they also sit on the Animal Disease Policy Group (a UK-wide policy decision making group).

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 introduce fair food labelling to provide clear information on sourcing and production.

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

The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. All food sold on the UK market must comply with food labelling rules, which include the requirement for specific information to be presented in a specific way.

Food origin information is mandatory for some, but not all foods. In all cases where origin is provided, it must not be misleading. We continue to review origin labelling using comprehensive evidence to ensure clear and transparent labelling for consumers.

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 work with stakeholders to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers 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, what estimate her Department has made of the total capital and operational cost of transitioning its vehicle fleet to 100% Zero Tailpipe Emissions by 31 December 2027; and what assessment has been made of the difference in cost compared with retaining and maintaining a petrol and diesel fleet over the same timeframe.

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

The estimated cost to transition 309 vans from diesel to electric to achieve 100% Zero Tailpipe Emissions (under 3.5 tonnes) by 31 December 2027 is £10.1 million compared with a diesel equivalent of £12.2 million. These costs are based on “whole life costs” of five years and include electric maintenance costs forecast at 60% less than comparable diesel.

Defra also operates a fleet of 4x4s (1,132 vehicles). The department applied to the Department for Transport for an exemption from the requirements of the Government Fleet Commitment, with the productive engagement with Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. This was granted on 28 May 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much their department spent on X and xAI since July 2024.

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

Paid advertising on X was suspended in April 2023 following a SAFE Framework assessment. X is currently used only for organic (non-paid) content to communicate policies and public services.

One month of X Premium was purchased in August 2024 at a cost of £9.60. This was paid to use the livestreaming functionality available with X Premium at a departmental event.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the agricultural sector on the potential impact of proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief on the number of farm estates in the UK.

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

The Government regularly and actively engages with representatives from the farming industry through regular meetings and discussions, ensuring we listen to their views, understand their concerns, and take their feedback into account.

At the November 2025 budget, the Chancellor announced that any unused allowance for the 100% rate of agricultural property relief and business property relief will be transferable between spouses and civil partners from 6 April 2026. The Government has taken this action after listening to feedback from stakeholders, who have called strongly for this change to the planned reforms to reduce complexity and remove an unfairness for widows/widowers.

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 Department's policy paper entitled Animal Welfare Strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025, whether her Department plans to publish a timetable for the introduction of dog licences for dog breeders.

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

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, anyone in the business of breeding and selling dogs and/or who breeds three or more litters in a twelve-month period needs to have a valid licence from their local authority.

The Government is committed to ending puppy farming and the low welfare breeding of dogs. As part of the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government has committed to launch a consultation on dog breeding reform. Next steps will be announced 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 her Department is taking to ensure imported meat does not adversely impact disease prevention in farming and animal disease prevention zones.

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

Meat import controls include measures to prevent spread of animal disease such as veterinary health certification and border control post checks.

On farm biosecurity plays a key role in protecting farms from exotic diseases and can mitigate the risk of spread of such diseases in the event of an outbreak. Defra is working closely with the devolved governments, the livestock industry and veterinary bodies to improve the UK’s response and raise awareness of the risks of introduction of exotic disease.

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 made of the potential impact of electric shock collars on the welfare of dogs.

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

The Government is concerned about the possible welfare implications of the use of electric shock collars.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra will consult on whether to ban the use of electric shock collars later in this Parliament.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on developing the proposals in the 2024 Fairer Food Labelling consultation.

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

As set out in the animal welfare strategy, the Government is committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, the department will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the farming and food industry, scientists and NGOs to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare. Defra will set out next steps in due course.

The Government will continue to review origin labelling and aim to use the outcomes of the Fairer Food Labelling consultation as supporting evidence for future labelling policy.

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 convene an expert group of industry representatives, animal welfare organisations and other stakeholders to advise on developing a method of production labelling scheme.

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

As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, the department is committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, Defra will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the farming and food industry, scientists and NGOs to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare. The Government will set 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, when her Department plans to publish a consultation on trail hunting; and with which organisations she plans to discuss the scope.

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

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. Defra will consult early this year on how to deliver a ban on trail hunting.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce statutory protection of the title “Registered Veterinary Nurse”.

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

As set out in the newly released consultation regarding reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, Defra is proposing statutory protection of the Veterinary Nurse title in line with Veterinary Surgeons.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data she holds on (a) which animals are currently affected by the current legal noise level of fireworks and (b) how are they affected.

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

The Department does not hold data on which animals are affected by the current legal noise level of fireworks or how they are affected.

However, the Government is continuing to engage with animal welfare stakeholders, businesses, consumer groups and charities on the impacts of fireworks, to inform any future action.

On 20 January, Baroness Hayman of Ullock, the Minister responsible for animal welfare, met with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade, Minister Kate Dearden (Halifax) who is responsible for Employment Rights and Consumer Protection, to discuss lowering the decibel level of fireworks.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with UK fishers on (a) challenges and (b) support required.

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

Defra Ministers meet with representatives of the fishing industry regularly to discuss a wide variety of issues including to understand their perspectives on challenges and support they need.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her Department’s press release entitled ‘Government unveils biggest overhaul to water in a generation’ published on 19 January 2026, whether the roll-out of smart meters will remain voluntary for homeowners.

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

Under the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Water Industry (Prescribed Conditions) Regulations 1999, water companies do not have to ask customers before they install a water smart meter, but can only bill the customer (compulsory metering) where specific conditions are met. These conditions include where the property is in an area designated as under serious water stress, or where specific conditions are met, such as a change of occupier, a new property, or a swimming pool on premise. Any water company using these powers must show this approach represents value for money and has customer support in their Water Resource Management Plan consultations.

Moving to a metered supply can deliver water-use reductions of up to 17%. Improving water efficiency offers a win-win by reducing bills, supporting sustainable water supplies, and protecting the environment. Government's commitment to fairer bills and better data for customers in our White Paper seeks to maximise the benefits of this reduction in water usage for customers.

Found: Our members are regulated primarily by Defra and its arm’s length bodies, particularly Natural England

Found: Street London SW1P 4DF T: +44 (0) 3459 335577 E: correspondence.section@defra.gov.uk W: gov.uk/defra

Found: Response from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: DEFRA is running a programme of decarbonisation of food production, including primary production and

Found: DEFRA is running a programme of decarbonisation of food production, including primary production and

Found: DEFRA spending on EDI Original refusal: Hansard, 8 May 2025, PQ45822, (link) (claiming the information

Found: between 40% and 46%—pretty steady—car parking income, which is 27% to 30%; grants, which are mainly Defra

Found: How effectively are FCDO, DESNZ, DSIT and Defra coordinating their efforts to deliver the UK’s ICF commitment

Found: How effectively are FCDO, DESNEZ, DSIT and Defra coordinating their efforts to deliver the UK’s ICF

Found: How effectively are FCDO, DESNZ, DSIT, and Defra coordinating their efforts to deliver the UK’s ICF commitment

Found: How effectively are FCDO, DESNZ, DSIT and Defra coordinating their efforts to deliver the UK’s ICF commitment

Found: climate finance is development finance when designed well. 3.9 How effectively are FCDO, DESNZ, DSIT and Defra

Found: disruption.32 The 2023 ICAI review of the Blue Planet Fund found weak coordination between FCDO and Defra

Found: for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra

Found: On oceans, FCDO-DEFRA introduced the Blue Planet Fund, which is partly ICF-funded and one of the only

Found: The Darwin Initiative (managed by Defra, one of the programmes within the BCFs) is increasingly supporting

Found: Office (FCDO); the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ); the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: MECS has worked across mandates typically associated with FCDO, DESNZ, Defra and DSIT (and has also

Found: .  Cross-Departmental Coordination: While FCDO, DESNZ, DSIT, and Defra coordinate through the ICF Strategy

Found: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), to Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA

Found: health related policy across the relevant government departments working on the issue, namely DHSC, DEFRA

Found: delivered by UKRI, in partnership with the Global Food Security Programme, BBSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC, Defra

Found: years food and nutrition, with responsibility for coordinating across departments (DfE, DHSC and DEFRA

Found: Third, we propose that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, alongside the Department

Found: vitaminsWhat the government could learn:  Cross-departmental working between the Department of Education, Defra

Found: ministerial meeting registers during the last term of government (January 2020 – June 2024) found that at Defra

Found: PLoS ONE, 15. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226731 50 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Foundation report found that food industry representatives and their trade associations met with Defra

Found: Letter from Baroness Sheehan to Baroness Hayman Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defra on waste

Found: We suggest HMT liaise with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) if flood risk

Found: Implement the proposals made by the CIA in our response to the recent DEFRA Modernising Environmental

Found: Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating

Found: Packaging Data (RPD) system would be up and running (it isn’t at the time of writing but that is a Defra

Found: production to retail in membership (including material specialists), the WSTA works closely with DEFRA

Found: Added to this is a lack of communication from DEFRA and/or the EA as to when and how the current situation

Found: The developer was informed when seeking approval to use DoWCoP, that ‘according to recent DEFRA guidance

Found: Our view is that some of this expenditure could be better targeted to improve value for money if Defra

Found: This is a challenge for DEFRA as well as the regulators, since the policy decision is theirs.

Found: 2025 sets 33 actions to improve air quality, all of which rely on effective coordination between Defra

Found: provides detailed evidence of our concerns about the regulatory environment at Natural England and Defra

Found: However, DEFRA changed (at the last minute) the timescale for their introduction.

Found: However, the programme was abandoned by DEFRA in summer 2015, a fact which was only discovered after

Found: The Government has repeatedly committed to growing private nature markets, for example, Defra consulted

Found: Derived late-response rate: 10.57% (100 minus 89.43). [4] ● Defra reports that at 31 March 2025, 62%

Found: Delivering on nature’s recovery would increase these figures, demonstrating that DEFRA could support

Found: Currently, DEFRA considers that street lights are not covered by the statutory nuisance legislation

Found: In 2024 Defra published some interim planning guidance, written to address these issues.

Found: the inquiry remit is to scrutinise the need for change by regulators and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Environment Agency, Natural England, and Department

Found: Some of the responses refer to the DEFRA guidelines but these cannot apply to the Trust if it does not

Found: Some of the responses refer to the DEFRA guidelines but these cannot apply to the Trust if it does not

Found: Defra carefully monitors trade data, including the usage of the quotas under the trade agreements with

Found: Street London SW1P 4DF T: +44 (0) 3459 335577 E: correspondence.section@defra.gov.uk W: gov.uk/defra

Found: Joint Air Quality Unit, the arm’s length body that was dedicated to running the NO2 programme between Defra

Found: It was carried out in tandem with a ‘Risk Reduction Strategy’ commissioned by DEFRA, also published

Found: Defra are working on the consultation and associated policy work to consider this standard.  The following

Found: national target for biomethane generation in 2030 and 2050  ESNZ committee examine the steps that DEFRA

Found: Source: DEFRA Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2022, Between 1996-2022, while UK demand fell

Found: Increase (y-o-y) DHSC 7,155 1 14,088 1 97% MHCLG 3,587 5 7,221 2 92% Home Office 3,786 4 7,219 3 101% Defra

Found: Last year, you told the Committee that on something like the SPS agreement, although DEFRA holds responsibility

Found: of State for Northern Ireland; Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Defra

Found: It is not just DEFRA writing that in a back room.

Found: As such, we are really encouraged that Defra and MHCLG are consulting on tighter water-efficiency standards

Found: We have reviewed Defra statistics23 over the period 1973-2018 and note the following in respect of the

Found: Street London SW1P 4DF T: +44 (0) 3459 335577 E: correspondence.section@defra.gov.uk W: gov.uk/defra

Found: These include DEFRA, DBT, DHSC and DESNZ.

Found: territories, sometimes with groups of overseas territories on issues like biodiversity where I think Defra

Found: Defra needs to take a leading role in co-ordinating the activities of these public authorities.

Found: high-profile failings: 8 criticisms by the Bank of England itself and by your regulator leading to the Defra

Found: map of common land held by the Worcestershire County Council Commons Registration Authority, which Defra

Found: defence spending or election regulation or cyber risk in public services or resilience spending in Defra

Found: defence spending or election regulation or cyber risk in public services or resilience spending in Defra

Found: It is us, Ministry of Justice, DEFRA and the Home Office. That team has done a great job.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of vaping devices that (a) contain and (b) can be configured to contain more than the standard 2ml tank capacity through (i) interchangeable and (ii) modular components on public health.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately branded, promoted, and advertised to children and provides the Government with new powers to restrict the packaging, device appearance, and display of vapes and other nicotine products to stop the next generation from becoming hooked on nicotine.

On 8 October 2025, we launched a Call for Evidence which sought evidence on the size and shape of vapes, vape tanks, and the components of vaping products, including pods, puff-count capacity, and nicotine delivery.

We are now reviewing the responses, and these will help inform decisions around our future regulatory approach once the Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been enacted.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as part of their upcoming Circular Economy Growth Plan, will consider evidence across a range of interventions, including but not limited to the regulation of product features to support increased recyclability.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the levels CO2 emissions caused by importing foreign steel for British manufacturing projects.

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

Last year, the Department consulted on measures to accelerate the adoption of low carbon products, including low carbon steel. The consultation is published here: Growing the market for low carbon industrial products: policy framework - GOV.UK

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to introduce a public health campaign on air pollution.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out how the Government will take action to reduce exposure to harmful emissions, including commitments to increase public understanding of air pollution and to enhance communication of air quality information.

The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work with partners across the Government and the health system to ensure that the public has access to clear, evidence-based information. This includes working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to deliver commitments in the Environmental Improvement Plan, helping to ensure that air quality becomes part of everyday public conversations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Royal College of Physicians' report entitled A breath of fresh air: Responding to the health challenges of modern air pollution, published on 11 June 2025, what steps he is taking to support public awareness of ways to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As the Royal College of Physicians' report outlines, indoor air quality remains an important public health consideration.

Our 10-Year Health plan sets out Government actions to improve the quality of the air we breathe, with commitments to increase understanding of indoor and outdoor air pollution and improve communication of air quality information to the public.

We will continue to work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on commitments in the Government’s the Environmental Improvement Plan to help make air quality part of everyday conversations.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish a list of organisations represented at his Department's conference on food poverty on 14 and 15 January 2026.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The DWP Food Poverty Conference took place at the Abbey Centre on 15 January 2026.

Our aim was to bring together a range of local authorities, other government departments, charities and academics to share and discuss a range of good practice happening on the ground to respond to increasing need in relation to food poverty.

We received a high level of interest in the conference. Due to venue capacity, places were offered on a first come first served basis.

We saw over 30 local authorities represented from different regions across England. Examples include the Greater London Authority, Medway Council, Bristol City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, North Yorkshire Council, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and East Lindsey District Council. Local government sat alongside over a dozen national third sector organisations – such as Trussell, Feeding Britain, Sustain and Community Shop – as well as officials from across five government departments, including DWP, DfE, Defra, DHSC and MHCLG.

We’ve been encouraged by the positive feedback on the conference and the strong engagement shown across sectors. As a result, we are exploring the possibility of hosting a second conference online later in the year to enable more organisations to participate. We will provide further details as plans materialise.

Found: Sport Department for Education Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: to rising financial pressures on IDBs, and the farmers and local authorities who fund their work, Defra

Found: (Defra), National standards for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), 30 July

Bird gathering licences

Found: DevelopmentFCDO endorses UK Government policy on sustainable development produced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: estimate emissions outside the UK associated with UK consumption, however the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: product usesOther product uses2G3biEmission factor * activityCSDefra Milk Utilisation statistics (Defra

Found: (Defra).

Found: The salience of an eco-label depends on: 15 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and

Found: • Improvements to projection methodology, particularly Defra modelling of landfill methane, DfT’s

Found: These, such as the Landfill Tax, all contribute to the waste activity projections Defra provide) and

Found: Defra policy savings) -27.9552466222312 1.47412186134505 5.06640756164023 -26.9687270712452 Total -29.2158339110989

Found: Toolkit (EFT)1 website says that it “…is published by Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra

Found: Process Evaluation Glossary Acronyms: BCR - Benefit Cost Ratio CME - Continuous Market Engagement DEFRA

Found: and Sport 2378 Abraham Cooper Mr A W Tudor (Master of Foxhounds) on Horseback Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: For example, Defra has funded a Build and Pitch Hackathon in partnership with UKRI in January which

Found: For example, Defra has funded a Build and Pitch Hackathon in partnership with UKRI in January which

Found: A separate Defra-led piece of work, Marine Spatial Prioritisation (MSPri), has sought to address this

Found: Defra reviewed this methodology and concluded that the use of the COMEAP methodology is not generally

Found: Core funding for AONBs comes through Defra and the constituent local authorities.

Found: The online Response Form was hosted on a Defra consult.gov consultation portal, and online responses

Found: of its policies, is generally provided by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra

Found: NMPT-GB was developed by Defra, AHDB, RSK ADAS and RSK Business Solutions, using the latest guidance

Found: Dr Stella Peace, Managing Director at Innovate UK, said:   Working alongside Defra, Innovate UK is ensuring

Found: For example, Defra has funded a Build and Pitch Hackathon in partnership with UKRI in January which

Found: For example, Defra has funded a Build and Pitch Hackathon in partnership with UKRI in January which

Found: greenhouse gas emission reduction in the period 2021-2025 were set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Gallery VAM Victoria and Albert Museum NHM Natural History Museum VB Visit Britain Wallace Collection Defra

Found: A separate Defra-led piece of work, Marine Spatial Prioritisation (MSPri), has sought to address this

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

Found: FROMLORDKATZMBEGOVERNMENTWHIPS’OFFICE GOVERNMENTWHIPCO,DEFRA,DWP,FCDO,110,HOUSEOFLORDS SOANDWOLONDONSWIAOPW

Found: FROMLORDKATZMBEGOVERNMENTWIIIPS’OFFICE NTWHIPCO,DEFRA,DWP,FCDO,HO,HOUSEOFLORDS WOLONDONSWIAOPW 02072196802

Found: UK market (55,300 tonnes) to 24.4% (86,500 tonnes), an increase of 8.3 percentage points.18 18 DEFRA

Found: A: yes, can report to AMDO and they can escalate to DEFRA.

Found: down decision making process as currently there is a lot of time spent going back and forward.The DEFRA

Found: Extract of briefing pack provided for SG Perm Sec meeting with DEFRA Perm Sec – 27 October 2025 ANNEX

Found: Air Act 1993, it must be a recorded exempt appliance, showing that it meets the limits agreed by DEFRA

Found: Attendees: [REDACTED: REGULATION 11(2)] (Defra), [REDACTED: REGULATION 11(2)] (Defra), [REDACTED: REGULATION

Found: The analysis from the previous impact assessments, consultation, and corresponding Defra impact assessment

Found: The analysis from the previous impact assessments, consultation, and corresponding Defra impact assessment

Found: engagement between Scottish Government officials with representatives of both the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Defra [UK Government Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs] stated that the allocation had

Found: officials to support the development and implementation of the non-statutory biodiversity target- 114 DEFRA

Found: The first transition plan is a joint plan with Defra to ensure regulatory continuity, with the second

Found: Outstanding Natural Beauty CIC - Community Interest Company CLA - Country Land and Business Association Defra

Found: benefits: The scheme is administered by PackUK  [11] , a body hosted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: waste management statistics are also published for other parts of the UK.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: Pelagic and demersal: joint plans DEFRA-led Celtic Sea and Western Channel pelagic and demersal FMPs